Just days after the latest breakdown of contract negotiations between the Claremont Resort and Spa and Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 2850, about 30 union supporters picketed outside the exclusive Tunnel Road hotel early Tuesday morning. 

“Claremont, Claremont, you’re no good, treat your workers like you should,” the protesters chanted, as passing drivers honked their horns in support. 

The union and management, who have been locked in a contract dispute since last summer, failed to reach an agreement during extensive bargaining sessions Thursday and Friday, their first talks since Dec. 14. 

“We are still a far ways off from a settlement,” said Stephanie Ruby, the secretary-treasurer of the union, which represents a wide range of workers, from culinary staff to housekeepers. 

Ruby said there are three main points of contention: health care, wages and the union’s desire to recruit 160 non-unionized spa workers.  

Employees currently receive free health insurance, Ruby said, but under the latest Claremont proposal for a three-year contract, they would be required to pay up to $200 per month for individual coverage and $300 for family coverage. 

Wages are also at issue. The union, which previously asked for a $1.50 an hour raise every year, for the next three years, reduced that figure to $1.30 last week.  

But, according to Ruby, management is offering some employees raises of two-and-a-half cents per hour. 

“With the economy of the Bay Area and increased rent costs, people need more than a two-cent raise,” she said. 

Finally, the union is asking for a “right to organize” clause in the new agreement, allowing it to go after the spa employees. 

If the clause were included in the contract, Ruby said, the spa workers could join Local 2850 if a majority signed union authorization cards. 

Claremont marketing director Denise Chapman said management would prefer the union to call for a standard vote on the issue. Under this arrangement, spa workers would decide whether to join the union by secret ballot. 

“We’re strongly protecting our spa employees’ right to vote,” said Claremont marketing director Denise Chapman, arguing that the out-in-the-open, card-signing approach preferred by the union would unfairly expose spa employees who oppose unionization. 

“That’s very disrespectful of any spa employee with a different point of view,” she said. 

Ruby acknowledged that the authorization card model would allow Local 2850 to better control the unionization campaign. But, she said workers can be trusted to make their own decisions.  

“When any worker signs a union authorization card and the worker is an adult, I think we should treat them as adults and respect them as adults,” Ruby said.  

Chapman said it would be inappropriate to discuss specific health care and salary proposals in the midst of negotiations, and would not confirm the numbers provided by Ruby. But she said the hotel has been negotiating in good faith. 

“At our Dec. 14 meeting, we put forth what we thought was a fair and comprehensive offer,” said Chapman. 

“I don’t know how you can call it fair when you stick people with a two-penny raise,” Ruby responded.  

Chapman said the hotel asked the union to return to the negotiating table 12 times after Dec. 14, before Local 2850 finally agreed to last week’s session. 

“We’re pleased that the negotiations are back on track,” she said during the Tuesday protest. “We’re a bit disappointed to see union representatives focusing on a media stunt rather than negotiations.” 

“The workers are here because they’re saying enough is enough,” Ruby responded, at the 6:30 a.m. picket. “People would prefer to be sleeping in bed, but they’re fighting for their families.”  

Many of the Cal baseball team’s 14 wins this season have been dramatic, come-from-behind affairs. But on Tuesday against USF, the Bears didn’t need any late inning heroics as they scored nine runs in the first four innings on the way to a 12-4 win at Evans Diamond. 

Second baseman Carson White led the Cal attack with two doubles and four RBIs. The Bears also got multiple hits from three other players, with leadoff hitter David Nicholson finishing with three singles and three runs scored. 

The Bears set a season-high for runs against the Dons, all without a major contribution from leading hitter Conor Jackson, who had two singles and scored a run. 

“We have to get production from everyone,” Cal head coach David Esquer said. “We can’t rely on one or two players for the bulk of our runs. We need the top and bottom of the order to produce runs, not just the middle.” 

Esquer’s team got their first five runs without hitting the ball very hard. Nicholson led off the game with a swinging bunt down the third base line that pitcher Peter Dunkle threw away, sending Nicholson to second base. Following a sacrifice bunt, White hit a nearly identical squibber that Dunkle couldn’t get a handle on, scoring Nicholson. Jackson walked, and catcher John Baker hit a grounder into the right-side hole to score White. In all, the Bears three hits went a total of perhaps 150 feet, but they got the job done for a quick 2-0 lead. 

The third inning was more frustration for Dunkle and the Dons. Nicholson bunted his way on before David Weiner and White grounded out. Jackson then dumped a popup just over the infield, and Baker knocked a single up the middle to plate Nicholson. Brian Horwitz looped a soft single into right for another run, then got caught up in a rundown that allowed Baker to score from third. 

“We’ve been hitting some hard outs lately, so maybe that will be the start of us getting some breaks,” Esquer said. “We were fortunate to get some runs early, and we kept our pitching and defense solid behind it.” 

Tuesday marked another two-inning start from Cal’s Ryan Atkinson as he makes his way back from an arm injury. The senior right-hander looked solid, giving up two hits in his two innings before giving way to Brent Hale. 

“We thought maybe (Atkinson) was ready to get farther,” Esquer said. “But that’s two innings out of the way for us, and he’s getting healthier and healthier.” 

Hale threw four innings to pick up the win on Tuesday, giving up three unearned runs on four hits. The freshman looked alternately overpowering and wild, striking out four but allowing one runner to score from second on two wild pitches. Blake Read and Creighton Kahoalii combined to finish the game for Cal. 

Cal freshman Justin Nelson continued his slugging ways, taking advantage of a start in centerfield to hit his fourth homerun of the season, the second-most on the team. With Jackson’s move to first base and Nicholson vacating center to play third base, Nelson could get some more at-bats in the outfield as the season wears on. 

“We might have to look at (Nelson) a little more,” Esquer said. “He does some immature things, as you would expect from a freshman, but we’ve also seen some good things. Four of them, actually.”

Editor: 

Re: Nancy Alexander’s letter, “Bush’s actions are not at all patriotic.” 

I was surprised and taken aback that the Daily Planet would print such a long, tedious, one sided laundry list of alleged atrocities perpetrated by the Bush administration without any attempt at a fair and balanced counter to her accusations. The letter was nearly half a page long giving the impression that it was actually a news article. I won’t answer the letter point for point but let me ask her and your readers this: 

Are you alarmed by the sudden, deadly, ferocious attack on our nation? Are you concerned that over 3,000 innocent people were murdered, the Pentagon attacked, and the world trade center completely demolished? 

You question Bush’s high popularity rating. Perhaps, unlike you, many clear thinking, knowledgeable Americans appreciate the fact that he is defending the United States, our Democracy, and yes Nancy, even your constitutional right to speak your mind.  

You rant about “Starving Afghan moms, dads, and children, a country in ruins, warlords and drug dealers reigning supreme.” Just add beating women for not wearing a burkha, denial of education and the daily beheadings at the soccer stadium and it sounds suspiciously like Afghanistan under the Taliban before we ever got involved! 

And those hundreds of human beings “kidnapped and caged,” you failed to mention that they were trying to kill our troops. How about “constantly reinforced fear of terrorist threats?” Finally, to paraphrase Nancy: “When is it appropriate to confront a terrorist?” 

There is nothing patriotic about spouting anti-US propaganda. 

There is nothing patriotic about twisting the facts to match your agenda.  

There is nothing patriotic about surrendering to fascism. 

Exercise your freedom of speech.  

Saul Grabia

Wednesday, Mar. 13

Trees Forum 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

Amahra Hicks of USFS, and Jeff Romm of UCB discuss “Just Forests Initiative: Faith-based Activism for Public Land.” Free and open to the public. www.gtu.edu/StudServ/TREES. 

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Lawrence Saez, professor of East Asia Studies, UC Berkeley; “South Asia: Focus on India.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

Big, Big, Big Houses 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

UC Berkeley 

121 North Gate Hall, School of  

Journalism Library 

In 1949, the average size of a new home was 900 square feet and average family size was 4.2 people. In 2000, the average new home was 2,200 square feet and the average household size was 2.7. The Terner Series on Urban Development presents informal salon-style discussions with faculty, industry professionals, students, and community members invited to attend. 415-989-1111, dslarskey@bridgehousing.com. 

Thursday, March 14

Grizzly Peak Flyfishers 

Annual Flytying Festival 

7:30 p.m. 

Kensington Community Center 

59 Arlington Ave., Kensington 

Flytying demonstrations and tutoring for beginning through advanced. 524-0428. 

Hiking the Appalachian Trail 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Lisa Garrett and Francis Tapon will share slides and highlights of their 111-day journey through 13 East Coast states covering 2,167 miles. 527-4140, www.sonictrek.com.  

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Valerie Miles-Tribble Imani Community Church. 

Friday, March 15

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Keith A. Russell, president, American Baptist Seminary of the West; “A look at Moral Issues.” $1. 848-3533. 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Black History and Women's Months: Bessie Coleman, aviatrix. 232-1351. 

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AMEC 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Malvina Stephens Allen, Temple Baptist Church. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Saturday, March 16

76th Annual Poets’ Dinner 

11:30 a.m. 

Holiday Inn, Emeryville 

1800 Powell 

David Alpaugh will speak about “The Professionalization of Poetry,” followed by the reading of winning poems and prizes. 841-1217. 

Copwatch 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Copwatch 

2022 Blake St. 

Know your rights workshop. 548-0425. 

4th Annual Gay & Lesbian  

Family Night at the YMCA 

6 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA 

2001 Allston Way 

Open to all LGBT families and their friends. Pizza party, swimming, juggling demo and instruction, clowning, face painting, soccer, floor hockey, music, karate demo, and more for toddlers through teens. Free, donation requested. 665-3238, www.ourfamily.org.  

“Hooked” 

1:15 p.m. 

Alta Bates Hospital, Auditorium 

2450 Ashby Ave. 

A talk and slide show from the author of “Hooked: Five Addicts Challenge Our Misguided Drug Rehab System.” 763-0779, www.unhooked.com. 

Tax-Aid: Bay Area Free Tax Service for Low-income Taxpayers 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Lincoln Recreation Center 

250 10th St., Oakland 

Tax-Aid offers free tax return preparation to Bay Area families with incomes of less than $32,000. Eligible families simply bring their W-2s, other proofs of income and tax forms. Spanish, Chinese and Russian translators are available.  

Sunday, March 17

Art of Enlightenment:  

Symbolism, Visualization and  

Mandalas 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Rosalyn White, art director for Dharma Publishing, will discuss Tibetan paintings and how they are used in meditation. 843-6812. 

Women’s Day 

9:30 a.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Women Excelling in the Grace of Giving; Speaker: Dr. Sarah F. Davis, Pastor 

Bethel AMEC, San Antonio, TX. 

Sara’s Children: The  

Destruction of Chmielinik 

3 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center  

1414 Walnut St. 

Suzan Hagstrom will talk about her book, Sara’s Children, and host a discussion. 848-0237 x127. 

Monday, March 18

Conscientious Objection to War 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Friends’ Meetinghouse 

2151 Vine St. 

The Berkeley Society of Friends will discuss the 1965 United States Supreme Court’s reversal of the conviction of Daniel A. Seeger. Also a reading and discussion of Seeger’s pamphlet, The Seed and the Tree.  

Tuesday, March 19

Berkeley Garden Club  

1 p.m. 

The Berkeley Garden Club will hold its Benefit Spring Tea and Professional Floral Design Demonstration. Sakae Sakaki will create both Ikebana and Western style arrangements. $7.50, 526-1083, bgardenclub@aol.com. 

Self Help Strategies and Techniques from Feldenkrais and Pilates 

noon - 2 p.m. 

Alta Bates, Auditorium - Herrick Campus 

2001 Dwight Way 

Arthritis Foundation Northern California Chapter fibromyalgia support group. 644-3273.  

Wednesday, March 20

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Nunu Kidane, Epidemiologist, UC San Francisco; “AIDS in Africa.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

African Philosophy 

7 p.m. 

The Fellowship of Humanity 

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will interpret Nkrumah as a philosopher. Brief presentations followed by open discussion. 451-5818, HumanistHall@yahoo.com. 

Cealo is Coming 

7 - 9 p.m. 

St. John’s Presbyterian Church 

Fireside Room 

2727 College Ave. 

Gayuna Cealo is a Burmese monk who’s mission is to lead people to their true selves. $10 donation. 525-6472. 

Thursday, March 21

Still the Source of Grace?  

Reading the Bible as a Gay  

Christian 

5 p.m.  

Pacific School of Religion chapel  

1798 Scenic Ave. 

With L. William Countryman, professor in biblical studies at 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and co-author with M.R. Ritley of “Gifted by Otherness: Gay and Lesbian Christians in the Church.” Free and open to the public. 849-8206. 

Friday, March 22

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Robert Kruger, first vice-president, and Larry Miller, certified financial planner and senior vice-president, Solomon Smith Barney; “Investing in the Market Post 9-11.” $1. 848-3533. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

The Nature of Work: Joanna Macy and Matthew Fox in Dialogue 

7 - 9 p.m. 

University of Creation Spirituality 

2141 Broadway, Oakland 

Matthew Fox, Ph.D., founder and president of the University of Creation Spirituality, will engage in dialogue on the nature of work with Joanna Macy, Ph.D., an eco-philosopher and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. $10-$15 donation. 835-4827 x29, www.creationspirituality.org. 

The number of Latino groups who have received hate mail and envelopes laced with white powdery substances grew to 30 Tuesday, which included an incident at the Center for Latin American Studies on the UC Berkeley campus.  

Like most of the letters received by other Latino organizations Monday, there was a white powdery substance found inside the envelope at the UC site. 

The two staff members who handled the mail were told to go home and take showers, and if they experienced flu-like symptoms, to check themselves into the hospital. 

The hate mail has targeted Latino social service agencies as well as attorneys in the greater Bay Area — going as far south as San Jose.  

Authorities said Tuesday there are several similarities with each piece of mail — which includes a form letter containing an “anti-Latino diatribe,” white powder and Oakland postmarks.  

The FBI said they may have localized some of the mail to Pleasanton, but very little else is being released about the ongoing investigation.  

Four of the 30 incidents have occurred in Berkeley. 

La Pena Cultural Center was one of the first sites reporting the suspicious mail at about 9:30 a.m. Monday. 

According to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Christopher Arriola, president of La Raza Lawyers Association of California, the mail has been addressed to the leaders and executive personnel of the agencies and firms. 

San Francisco police also say three of the letters were received Monday in the city by a downtown attorney, a Mission District community group and a newspaper.  

The white powdery substance collected at all locations has so far tested negative for anthrax. FBI and police officials are investigating this rash as hate crimes meant to induce panic and fear rather than physical harm. 

“We are investigating the matter as a hate crime,” said Andrew Black of the FBI. 

“If it weren't for affirmative action, you would probably all still be bean pickers and prostitutes,” the letters said. 

The letters also warn recipients to be wary of the powdery substance contained in the letter. 

In addition, all of the letters have not contained return addresses. 

Paul Chin, executive director of La Pena who opened one of the first letters on Monday morning said if he had one piece of advice in all this it is not to answer mail that does not come with a return address.  

“Everyone here is taking it pretty easy. But I think in the back of people’s minds are other situations that ended badly,” Chin said, referring to several New York State letter carriers who died late last year from exposure to Anthrax.  

“We’re in this business of bringing people together, so to think that there are people out there that twisted and with nothing else better to do with their time that they are doing this is disturbing,” Chin said. “But hopefully this won’t translate into anything violent.” 

Ultimately Chin said he thinks the entire anthrax element is a hoax and that the entire episode is just a vehicle being used by some sick person who has an axe to grind against Latinos. 

Panthers excel at NSIC meet 

The St. Mary’s High track & field team headed to New York for the National Scholastic Indoor Championships last weekend, with five Panthers finishing in the top 10 in their respective events. 

The most impressive showing for St. Mary’s was by senior Solomon Welch. Welch placed second in the triple jump with a personal-best mark of 47”11’, also setting a personal mark with a 22”11’ in the long jump, good for fifth place. 

Senior Tiffany Johnson also placed in two events, finishing seventh in the triple jump and eighth in the 60-meter dash. Kamaiya Warren set a personal best and school record with a shot put toss of 46”7-1/4’, and Danielle Stokes and Bridget Duffy finished fifth in the 60-meter hurdles and mile run, respectively. 

Couglin a Sullivan finalist 

Natalie Coughlin, a sophomore swimmer at Cal, has been named one of the five finalists for the 72nd Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award that recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation.  

The Amateur Athletic Union announced the names of the five finalists – Michelle Kwan (skating), Mark Prior (baseball), Sean Townsend (gymnastics), Alan Webb (track and field) and Coughlin – who were selected based on their qualities of leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism in the year 2001. The recipient will be formally announced at the award's new presentation site, The New York Athletic Club, on April 9th, 2002.  

Over a five-day span earlier this winter, Coughlin won nine events and in the process set two world records, four American records and six meet records.

Editor: 

I understand that the Berkeley City Council has caved in to the university’s insatiable urge to grow ever larger. (In fairness to UC, much of the proposed growth is in response to pressure from Sacramento.) This is disastrous, not only to the City of Berkeley, but to the university itself. 

However, the situation is not hopeless. The following idea, suggested by the recent granting of “Landmark” status to the Claremont Hotel, might work. Simply declare the entire UC Campus, together with all its buildings, to be a National Landmark. Then, like the unhappy owners of the Claremont Hotel, the UC planners will not be permitted to cause any further growth, and there won't be a thing they can do about it. 

Paul R. Chernoff 

Professor of Mathematics 

University of California 

Berkeley

A group of local activists, including high school and university students and college professors, labeled the SAT racially-biased and urged the University of California system to drop the test as an entry requirement in a rally Tuesday afternoon at UC Berkeley. 

“The evidence is quite clear that the SAT, although it claims to measure intrinsic ability, in fact discriminates,” said Barrie Thoran, UC Berkeley professor of women’s studies and sociology. 

Activists cited the gap in SAT test scores between whites and minorities of similar economic and academic backgrounds as evidence of the racial bias. 

“That’s a charge that’s been debunked,” replied Chiara Coletti, vice president of public affairs for The College Board, which administers the test. 

Coletti, reached by phone, acknowledged that middle- and upper-class minority students have not fared as well on the SAT as their white counterparts, but said the test is not to blame. 

“There’s no racial bias in the SAT,” she said, arguing that the problem of poor minority achievement is a murky, cultural one about which academics can only theorize. 

Whatever the reasons for the SAT “achievement gap,” activists urged the University of California system to look elsewhere in determining which students to accept. 

“The best predictor of college grades are high school grades,” said David White of Berkeley-based Testing for the Public. 

A key UC academic committee, the Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, or BOARS, concluded in a report issued earlier this year that grades are in fact the best predictors of success.  

But, the study found that standardized tests do add significant “predictive value” in determining whether a student will fare well in the UC system. 

The report also found that tests focused on particular subjects are more useful than general aptitude tests, like the SAT-I, in predicting achievement. 

BOARS has recommended that the UC system abandon the SAT and develop a new testing regimen that reflects what is taught in California’s high school classrooms. 

The UC Board of Regents is discussing the BOARS recommendations this week in meetings at UC San Francisco, but is not expected to vote until the summer. 

Activists at the Tuesday protest said they planned to show up at the Regents meeting Wednesday.

Editor: 

I agree with both writers, Sennet Williams and Rob Wrenn, that UC must implement an Eco Pass for the faculty and staff and this should happen this semester. As the chair of the Improve Transit/Parking Subcommittee of the UCB Labor Coalition, that collaborates with other community groups, we have over 1,600 signatures on our petition showing the need for a free transit pass for staff/faculty. 

It is clear that UC has the money and needs to end the backward parking first “financial model” which prevents using parking funds for a free Eco Pass. UCLA is using parking funds for their free bus pass system. It is also clear that UCB may use California state monies for building parking or for alternative transportation, but these monies are not being utilized. Countless forward-thinking companies provide free eco-pass systems (The Chevron Company, provides free BART tickets to its employees). 

Many creative ideas for starting the Eco-Pass, carpool matching, a commuter “check” refund, more safe bicycle parking and paths would enable UC to be in the vanguard of alternative transportation. Starting with a free Eco-Pass, UC should definitely work with the City of Berkeley, which would support the Southside/Downtown TDM study and help mitigate the increase of traffic to the northern quadrangle. 

We all agree that if the City of Berkeley, UCLA and countless other forward-thinking employers provide free transit, why not UC this semester? 

Norah Foster 

Chair, Improve Transit/Parking 

UCB [Labor Coalition] 

Today is Wednesday, March 13, the 72nd day of 2002. There are 293 days left in the year. 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

One hundred and fifty years ago, on March 13, 1852, “Uncle Sam” made his debut as a cartoon character in the New York Lantern. 

On this date: 

In 1781, the planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel. 

In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate. 

In 1901, the 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, died in Indianapolis. 

In 1906, American suffragist Susan B. Anthony died in Rochester, N.Y. 

In 1925, a law went into effect in Tennessee prohibiting the teaching of evolution. 

In 1933, banks began to re-open after a “holiday” declared by President Franklin Roosevelt. 

In 1969, the Apollo 9 astronauts splashed down, ending a mission that included the successful testing of the Lunar Module. 

In 1980, Ford Motor Chairman Henry Ford II announced he was stepping down. 

In 1980, a jury in Winamac, Ind., found Ford Motor Co. innocent of reckless homicide in the fiery deaths of three young women riding in a Ford Pinto. 

In 1996, a gunman burst into an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, and opened fire on a class of kindergartners, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself. 

Ten years ago: The U.N. Security Council stood firm in its demand that Iraq comply totally with Gulf War cease-fire resolutions, rebuffing an appeal for leniency from Saddam Hussein’s special envoy, deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz. 

Five years ago: A Jordanian soldier fired on Israeli junior high school girls on a field trip, killing seven of them. (The soldier, Cpl. Ahmed Daqamseh, was later sentenced by a military court to life in prison.) In a southern Egyptian village, four masked militants shot and killed 14 people before escaping. 

One year ago: France announced its first case of foot-and-mouth disease, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend imports of livestock and fresh meat from the European Union. Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian national who was arrested with a carload of explosives just before New Year’s Eve 1999, went on trial in Los Angeles on charges of plotting to bomb Seattle and other U.S. cities during the millennium celebrations. (He was convicted of terrorism the following month.) 

Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Jan Howard is 72. Opera singer Rosalind Elias is 71. Songwriter Mike Stoller is 69. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka is 63. Actor William H. Macy is 52. Actor Fred Berry (“What’s Happening!!”) is 51. Actress Deborah Raffin is 49. Comedian Robin Duke is 48. Actress Dana Delany is 46. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2) is 42. Jazz musician Terence Blanchard is 40. Actor Christopher Collet is 34. Actress Annabeth Gish is 31. Actress Tracy Wells is 31. Rapper Khujo (Goodie Mob) is 30. Actor Danny Masterson (“That 70’s Show”) is 26.

Editor: 

Our pitifully incompetent governor now demands that his gray photo be displayed on every state agency Web site “to create a universal look” of “consumer-friendly good government service.” This is not unlike the decreed ubiquity of photos of Chairman Mao, Emperor Mugabe, Maximum Leader Fidel and Uncle Joe Dzhugashvili.  

Such egomania by the nitwit whose rank ineptitude managed to turn a handsome surplus into a $17.5 billion deficit, and who has condemned Californians to outrageous energy costs for the next 30 years, is the kind of behavior that gives a bad name to weasels.  

Fielding Greaves

The City Council is considering reducing the speed limit to 20 mph for all residential streets. 

Berkeley’s pedestrian accident rate is higher than San Francisco’s, which is infamous, and is 72 percent larger than that of Los Angeles, known for its car culture, said Nancy Holland, chair of the city council’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Task Force. 

Using figures supplied by the city of Oakland, the task force found that Berkeley’s average pedestrian accident rate per 100,000 people was 137.4, compared with 136.9 for San Francisco, 85.6 for Oakland and 79.8 for Los Angeles, Holland said. 

Councilman Kriss Worthington said his proposal would not apply to main thoroughfares. 

Councilwoman Polly Armstrong called the idea “a waste of time and a waste of money” that “would give people a false sense of security.” 

The city would have to post signs on all affected streets. Under state law, an unposted residential street speed limit is 25 mph.

LOS ANGELES — Mauling trial defendant Marjorie Knoller denied under cross-examination Tuesday that her dogs were dangerous, refused to concede she ever lost control of the dog that killed Diane Whipple and insisted she tried to save her. 

Knoller was calm during more than three hours of questioning by Assistant District Attorney Jim Hammer, unlike her tearful demeanor when she was questioned by her own lawyer about the violent scene in a hall of her San Francisco apartment building. 

“You said that you were in control the entire time,” Hammer asked. 

“I was trying to maintain control,” Knoller said several times. 

The defendant acknowledged, however, that during testimony to a grand jury she had said the dog “overcame my physical ability.” 

Knoller, 46 is accused of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and owning a mischievous dog that killed a person. Her husband, Robert Noel, 60, who was away at the time, is charged with the latter two counts. Both defendants are attorneys. 

Whipple was attacked by one of the couple’s two huge presa canario dogs, Bane, as she was bringing groceries into her apartment on Jan. 26, 2001. 

“Were you in control of Bane,” Hammer asked Knoller. 

“Bane was attached to me,” she said, insisting she held onto the leash throughout the attack. 

“That’s control?” the prosecutor asked. 

“He’s not running free,” she said. “He’s attached to me.” 

The prosecutor asked whether she remembered the expression on Whipple’s face. 

“I didn’t know her. She was a stranger,” Knoller said. 

“OK,” said Hammer, “This complete stranger. Did you ever say, ’I can’t control my dog. Get in your apartment.”’ 

“No,” said Knoller. 

“Not once?” asked Hammer. 

“Not once,” said the defendant. 

The prosecutor attacked Knoller’s claim that she put her body on top of Whipple while the dog attacked. Knoller was steadfast in her account. 

“I was in the middle of this the whole time,” she said. “I was putting my body on Ms. Whipple.” 

She cited the fact that she also was bitten, but Hammer noted that her bites were minor. 

She also acknowledged that she left the dying woman in the hallway and went into her apartment with Bane and the other dog, Hera, which had begun running loose. 

“I had to get Bane out of the hallway so he wouldn’t tear her apart more than he already did,” Knoller said. 

She also acknowledged that she came back out, walked past Whipple’s body and went into the victim’s apartment to look for her keys. 

Knoller frequently pleaded a poor memory, saying it “fades in and out because of the nature of the incident.” 

Prosecution witnesses who testified about frightening encounters with the couple’s dogs were “mistaken” or “inaccurate,” she said. 

The defendant denied one account by a building resident who claimed he was bitten by Hera.  

“My recall of the incident is Hera’s mouth and his butt were nowhere in proximity,” she said. 

The prosecutor also questioned her about a state prison inmate the couple adopted. She said she had no knowledge of a plan by the inmate to breed presa canarios for sale as aggressive guard dogs through a business called “Dog O’ War” 

Earlier, under questioning by her attorney, Knoller denied blaming Whipple for the attack. 

“I was angry at some of the things being said,” Knoller told the jury as she tried to explain comments she made to news media. 

“Do you blame Diane Whipple?” defense attorney Nedra Ruiz asked. 

“No, never have,” Knoller said. 

“Did you ever claim you were not responsible for what happened?” asked Ruiz. 

“I said in an interview I was not responsible but it was not in regard to the attack. It was in not knowing what he (Bane) would do,” Knoller said. 

Much of Knoller’s testimony focused on her own injuries, which she said were suffered in a “battle” that lasted between 10 minutes and 20 minutes. 

When it was over, she said, she knew Whipple was gravely injured and at one point applied pressure to the side of her neck while still trying to hold the dog. 

She said she finally decided it was more important to get the dog out of the hallway and into her apartment. She said she also was distracted by trying to locate Hera. 

The defense also called a Los Angeles emergency room supervisor, Dr. David Barcay, who examined two pictures taken the day of the attack and said Knoller’s injuries were identical to some bite marks found on Whipple. 

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is seeking to temporarily end habitat protections for 19 populations of salmon and steelhead in four Western states, which could open the areas to greater development. 

In a proposed settlement entered in federal court Monday, the National Marine Fisheries Service said it will eliminate and then revise the protections to settle lawsuits filed by the Association of California Water Agencies, National Association of Home Builders and 16 other groups of developers and local governments. 

Jim Lecky, the service’s Southwest regional administrator for protected resources, said the fish still will be protected under the Endangered Species Act while the habitat provisions are reworked, a process that could take roughly two years. 

The developers and local governments filed suit, arguing the protections were “excessive, unduly vague, not justified as essential” and “not based upon a required analysis of economic impacts.” 

Duane Desiderio of the homebuilders’ association said his group sees value in such habitat protection, but added: “We just want the government to do it right.” 

Environmentalists say President Bush is going against his campaign promise to help save the endangered fish and that the proposed settlement is part of a larger campaign to roll back environmental protections enacted under President Clinton. 

“It sounds like they are giving the home builders a pass,” said Nicole Cordan, policy and legal director for Save Our Wild Salmon. 

An environmental group, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, has asked to intervene in the case and planned to file an objection to the settlement on behalf of environmental and fishing industry groups. 

Critical habitat designations are one of the most controversial provisions of the Endangered Species Act. In some cases, they allow the National Marine and Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to limit or block activities in the areas if threatened or endangered species may be harmed. 

The critical habitat provisions for the salmon and steelhead were issued by the Clinton administration in February 2000. They outlined safeguards for populations of chinook, chum, coho and sockeye salmon and covered a wide swath of land, touching 150 watersheds, river segments, bays and estuaries in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho, including metropolitan areas like Seattle and Portland. 

The Fish and Wildlife Service also said recently that it plans to review, and in some cases set aside, critical habitat designations for up to 10 other endangered species in the West. 

The government’s proposal to eliminate the protections stems from a decision in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals requiring the federal agencies to do a better job analyzing the economic impact of the critical habitat protections. 

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, based in the District of Columbia, will decide whether to grant the motion for settlement.

Prison’s target ranges closed 

SAN RAFAEL — Two target ranges at San Quentin State Prison have been closed after stray bullets thought to have been fired at one range struck a man more than a mile away. 

The 32-year-old man, who works for George Lucas’ special effects company Industrial Light & Magic, was standing outside his building Monday when a bullet bounced off the sidewalk and hit his forearm. A second bullet grazed the left side of his head and another hit a car. 

San Rafael Police Department spokesman Margo Rohrbaher said U.S. Park Police were training when the bullets went over a hill and crossed Interstate 580 before hitting the man at Industrial Light & Magic. 

“Based on how they were shooting in a prone position, the bullets left their guns and traveled up over the hillside,” she said. “If you look at a topography map, you’ll see it’s almost a straight line from the top of that hill.” 

At least 15 bullets were thought to have left the range. 

The man was treated and released from Marin General Hospital. 

Public transit fares increase 

SAN JOSE — Citing the weak economy for a drop in sales tax revenue, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority has proposed hiking fares and reducing service across the board. 

The VTA says it will seek the changes to boost revenue and reduce operating costs. If the board approves the changes, fares for all riders, including seniors and disabled passengers, would increase in July, and the route reductions would begin July 8. It would be the first fare hike in three years. 

The board of directors, which typically follows VTA recommendations, is expected to vote on the plan at its May 2 meeting. 

For adults, a one-way fare would rise 15 cents to $1.40, a day pass would rise $1 to $4 and a monthly pass would rise $6 to $45.  

Youth fares would see the largest percentage bump in price: A one-way fare would rise 15 cents to 85 cents, a 21 percent increase, and a day pass would jump 75 cents to $2.50, a 43 percent increase. 

Of the 78 bus lines run by the VTA, 56 would face some service reduction. Passengers may have to wait longer between buses, and service may stop earlier in the evening and begin later in the morning, according to the agency. 

SAN RAFAEL — Winnfred Wright and the women who bore his 13 children have asked for more time before entering pleas on charges of second-degree murder and child endangerment in connection with the death of an infant and the alleged mistreatment of the other 12. 

Lawyers for Wright and the four women he lived with asked Judge Terrence Boren on Tuesday for more time to review court documents. Boren, meanwhile, continued to keep a tight lid on the case and ruled that a gag order on attorneys should remain in effect. 

Boren also refused to unseal the grand jury indictment, which is more than 900 pages. He said media accounts of such material would only serve to prejudice any potential jury that could be drawn from the small county of Marin. 

The case came to a head shortly after the 19-month-old infant, Ndigo Campisi-Nyah-Wright, was brought dead to a local hospital in November. A coroner concluded the baby died of malnutrition and neglect. 

Authorities immediately began investigating the cult-like family. The 12 remaining children have been placed in protective custody. 

The children lived in a home where they were lashed and force-fed chili peppers if they misbehaved, according to papers filed with the court. 

Officials also are investigating the death of Wright’s 3-month-old daughter in 1990. He brought the infant to a San Francisco hospital three days after she died, officials said. 

Wright, 45, and the three mothers — Carol Bremner, 44, Deirdre Wilson, 37, and Mary Campbell, 37 — remain in Marin County jail without bail. 

Kali Polk-Matthews, 20, who only joined the household months ago and did not bear any children, doesn’t face the murder charge. She was released from jail on $100,000 bail. 

At Tuesday’s hearing, attorneys for the five defendants urged the judge to keep important documents in the case, such as the grand jury indictment and search warrant documents, under seal to prevent sensational media coverage. 

John Posey, a lawyer for Polk-Matthews, said he would need more time to review all of the materials in the case and called any notion of unsealing those documents “premature.” 

Boren, granting that request, scheduled the next plea hearing for April 2. 

Nanci Clarence, an attorney for Wilson, said outside court that unsealing the grand jury indictment would “have a dangerous effect on the interests of the children and their privacy.” 

Boren also said he would not seal any documents in advance of their filing and would not conduct any hearings closed to the public or press.  

Lawyers for two newspapers have petitioned the court to lift the gag order and unseal the indictment. 

VALLEJO — A Catholic priest resigned as pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish after being accused of sexual misconduct with a woman. 

The Rev. Edward Lewis’ resignation was announced at all nine of the church’s Sunday services and came at the request of Bishop William Weigand, head of the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento. 

In the statement read to parishioners, Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia said the diocese received a complaint Feb. 26 accusing Lewis of sexual misconduct with a woman. The statement also said the complaint does not involve minors. 

Diocesan officials would not release the details of the complaint, saying only that it was contained in a letter they received. 

Lewis, 44, has been placed on leave and will not be allowed to perform any duties as a priest. 

In a statement printed in the church bulletin passed out to parishioners at Mass Sunday, Lewis wrote: “This entire episode has raised for me concerns about my issues that are fundamental to me as a person.” 

This is the first complaint against Lewis, Rev. James Murphy, spokesman for the diocese, told The Sacramento Bee. 

The quick action by Catholic officials in Sacramento comes as dioceses across the country are under intense pressure to explain how they handle allegations of sexual misconduct against priests. 

In Boston, a former priest has been convicted in one case and is waiting additional charges of molesting other boys. 

In Palm Beach, Fla., the bishop who leads the diocese resigned Friday after admitting he inappropriately touched a minor more than 25 years ago. 

In Modesto, a priest faces criminal charges of molesting a teen-age altar boy. 

The Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, which represents more than 500,000 Catholics in 20 counties, is expected to release an updated policy later this month that will outline how it handles allegations of sexual misconduct. 

“This policy has absolutely nothing to do with the mess in Boston,” Rev. David Deibel, the diocese’s vicar episcopal for canonical affairs, told The Bee. He said the policy, put together with the help of local social workers and mental health professionals, will explain how the church will respond in certain situations. 

SAN FRANCISCO — An auction house on Tuesday called off the sale of an extensive collection of speeches, journals and notes attributed to the late civil rights leader Malcolm X. 

Butterfields will not go ahead with the planned sale March 20 in San Francisco because it received a letter from an attorney for several of Malcolm X’s six daughters and the estate of his wife, Betty Shabazz, that raised questions about the chain of ownership of the documents, said Butterfields spokesman Levi Morgan. 

The family attorney, Joseph Fleming, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. He said earlier the documents were sold at a Florida self-storage center and claimed they were the family’s property. 

Butterfields has said it cannot reveal who the owner of the collection is, only that it is not a family member.  

Morgan said the possible problems with ownership occurred before the auction by the storage center. 

“Our client has demonstrated to us clear title,” he said. “The irregularities preceded the auction by the storage center.” 

Scholars said the collection could significantly add to existing Malcolm X documents. It contained photographs, handwritten speeches, a Quran owned by Malcolm X and four journals he kept during travels to Africa and the Middle East in 1964, a year before he was assassinated. 

The collection was displayed to potential bidders in Los Angeles last week. The surfacing of the documents was a surprise — and raised questions about their origin — but many scholars believe they are authentic. 

“These documents give us insight into a singular individual,” said Abdul Alkalimat, director of Africana Studies at the University of Toledo in Ohio. 

The collection was expected to bring as much as $500,000 at auction. 

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, based in New York, was trying to raise money to acquire the collection. Many scholars had been concerned that the documents could be scattered among different private collectors, inaccessible to researchers. 

The documents are currently being stored by Butterfields. 

“We’ll just hold onto them until we’re instructed how to proceed,” Morgan said. 

The lettuce in Arizona should be ready for harvest, but it’s not. The lettuce in Central California won’t be ready for at least another four weeks. 

That leaves California facing one of its worst lettuce shortages and the highest prices in 15 years, according to state agricultural specialists. And when California has a shortage, the whole nation has a shortage. The result has been lettuce costing up to $3 a head. 

That’s because more than 50 percent of the nation’s lettuce comes from three California areas — the Imperial Valley in the southeastern corner of the state, the area centered around Huron in Fresno County and the area around Salinas in Monterey County, according to Jesus Valencia, farm adviser for the University of California system. 

The lettuce farms rotate harvests to maintain a year-round supply of lettuce. The Imperial Valley usually harvests in the late fall, Huron in the spring and Salinas in the late spring and summer. Vegetable wholesalers rely on Arizona, because of its warm weather, during the winter months. 

But a spell of unusually cold weather this year stunted most of Arizona’s lettuce crops, pushing back their harvest window, Valencia said. Imperial Valley lettuce also turned out to be weaker than expected, and Huron crops may follow suit. 

“Because of the cold weather, the crops didn’t get as big and we didn’t get as many,” said Eric Schwartz, president of operations at Dole Fresh Vegetables in Salinas. 

At the same time, the East Coast had an unusually mild winter, which kept the shipping routes open and the demand for lettuce high. 

The steady demand and diminished supply translates into skyrocketing prices for most of the country. Markets have seen record prices in Northern California, jumping from around $12 a carton to nearly $50. 

“Every once in a while, Mother Nature comes along and slaps us in the face,” said Henry Gong, owner of the Star Market in Salinas. In recent days, Gong and his competitors have had to charge up to $3 for a head of lettuce. 

Steve Skuba of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fruit and Vegetable Market News said he’s never seen prices this high in his 25 years as a market reporter. 

Cartons hit $40 in 1995 after the Salinas floods wiped out much of the region’s lettuce, he said, but those high prices didn’t last long. 

Some experts also attribute the rise in prices to a reduction in the amount farmers planted this year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers planted 179,000 acres of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage between January and March, down 6 percent from the same time last year. 

It’s unclear how long the current shortage will last, but most say it will be at least another four weeks. At that time, Huron farms should be ready for harvest. 

But that could set up the market for another problem, according to Valencia. If Arizona farms don’t harvest soon, the market may be flooded by a double harvest, driving down prices and hurting farmers. 

“The guys who have lettuce now are happy,” Valencia said. “But by the time the others get theirs harvested, there might be too much on the market. It might not even be worth harvesting.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

USDA Fruit and Vegetable Programs: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/mncs/ 

SAN FRANCISCO — The wine flowed freely but no one tasted a drop when a tanker truck tipped over on Highway 16 east of Petaluma on Tuesday morning. 

About 3,200 gallons of white wine flooded from a broken steel tank after the semitrailer’s driver lost control going around a slight curve and capsized about 7 a.m. 

“I think it was chardonnay,” said Shannon King, a spokeswoman with the California Highway Patrol. 

Traffic was slowed for more than an hour on the two-lane highway about 30 miles north of San Francisco. The driver was not injured. 

“He was just happy no one else was hurt,” said CHP officer Curt Lubiszewski. 

Lubiszewski said the semi-trailer, owned by Cherokee Freight Lines in Stockton, slid 600 feet after tipping on its side. One of the steel tanks broke open, bathing the highway in a river of white wine and forming small, pinkish pools in the neighboring pasture. 

“It just smelled like fermented wine,” Lubiszewski said, noting the strong aroma was earthy — rather than bold or fruity. 

Nearly 20 firefighters, highway patrolmen and Caltrans workers were on scene to tow the truck away. As for the wine, there was no salvaging to be done, although emergency workers joked that cows in the pasture might get drunk if they decided to conduct a tasting. 

Lubiszewski said the chardonnay could have been toxic to drinking water, but since it didn’t run into a stream or groundwater, posed no risk. 

Gladys Horiuchi, communications manager for the Wine Institute in San Francisco, said 3,200 gallons equates to about 16,000 bottles of wine. At a meager $10 a bottle, that could mean a loss of $160,000. 

Cherokee Freight Lines executives could not be reached for comment. 

“What a shame,” Horiuchi said. “I haven’t heard of wine getting dumped since Prohibition.”

CHICAGO — United Airlines announced Tuesday that it is increasing the number of daily flights from O’Hare International Airport by 15 percent and will recall hundreds of furloughed employees to make it happen. 

The plan calls for United to restore hourly service to 14 markets, including Boston, LaGuardia Airport in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Dallas-Fort Worth. Only five of the 77 additional daily departures will be operated by a commuter partner. 

The carrier is making the move as part of intensified efforts to recapture business lost from corporate travelers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. 

The airline slashed capacity by 23 percent and laid off 20,000 employees after the attacks but wound up losing a record $2.1 billion for the year. Still losing about $5 million a day, it hopes to jump-start its recovery by rebuilding from its Chicago hub with the 77 additional daily departures. 

“As we continue to implement the driving principles of our recovery efforts, we are aggressively focusing on targeting revenue in every market we operate,” said Jack Creighton, United’s chief executive officer. “Naturally, that effort is anchored here in Chicago — United’s hometown — where we will offer consumers more flights and more destinations than any carrier serving O’Hare.” 

American Airlines, which surpassed United last year as the world’s largest airline and also has a hub in Chicago, was considered likely to respond to United’s move. 

When the new schedule starts June 7, United will be offering 614 daily flights from O’Hare, up from the current 537 flights but still five fewer than before the attacks. 

United will be operating about 1,950 daily flights systemwide, down about 16 percent from a year earlier. 

To help attract travelers, United said its most recent round of fare cuts would be available through Sept. 30, a six-month extension. Under that plan, some tickets booked 21 days in advance can be obtained at 50 percent discounts from full fares in all domestic markets, according to Chris Bowers, senior vice president for marketing and sales. 

To accommodate the increased flights from O’Hare, United said it will use some planes for more hours each day and will take delivery of additional airplanes this year from Boeing and Airbus. 

The expansion means hundreds of the airline’s customer-contact employees, ramp workers and mechanics who have been laid off in Chicago and around the country will be recalled. 

SACRAMENTO — Calling it a project whose time has come, the state treasurer and a group of Democratic lawmakers proposed a $6 billion bond measure Tuesday to begin construction of a high-speed rail line linking California’s major cities. 

“This is going to happen in California. The question is whether it happens sooner rather than later,” said state Sen. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, the bond bill’s lead author. 

Sale of the bonds — if approved by lawmakers, the governor and voters — would generate about half the money needed to build a line linking Los Angeles and the San Francisco area with trains running at top speeds of more than 200 mph. 

The federal government and possibly private sources would provide the rest of the money, supporters said. Revenue from the first link would pay for extensions to San Diego and Sacramento. 

“We’re not going to finance this by ourselves, just as we have not financed the interstate freeway system by ourselves,” said Costa, pointing to signs that Congress is increasingly interested in helping fund high-speed rail. 

Completion of the system would avoid a repeat of the transportation disruptions caused by the Sept. 11 attacks and help meet the state’s needs as its population nearly doubles in the next 40 years, supporters said. 

“We need this for mobility,” Treasurer Phil Angelides said at a news conference with Costa, several other lawmakers and officials representing unions and environmental groups. 

“We cannot succeed just by building more lanes on freeways and expanding our airports,” he added, citing the cost and controversies that could be generated by such moves. 

Costa said European countries and Japan have demonstrated the value of high-speed rail, and Angelides said the state could afford the additional debt created by the bond sale. 

“I don’t think we can afford not to do this,” he said. 

California has been moving toward development of high-speed rail for several years. 

A state commission, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, has proposed a 700-mile system that would connect the Central Valley with Los Angeles, San Diego and the Bay Area. The authority is in the midst of completing environmental studies needed before rails could be laid. 

The authority will decide the exact route later, but the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles line would generally run south from San Jose, through the Pacheco Pass to the San Joaquin Valley and then south to Los Angeles. Trains would share existing commuter tracks between San Francisco and San Jose. 

An express trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles would take about 2 1/2 hours. 

Costa’s bill will need two-thirds majorities to get out of the Legislature. That means it will need votes from at least a handful of Republicans. Costa said some Republicans have indicated at least a willingness to consider the project if the authority shows them it is feasible. 

But at least one Republican, Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Northridge, is highly critical of the proposal, saying the money would be better spent on more freeway projects.  

He calls projections that the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles line would produce enough revenue to pay for extensions to Sacramento and San Diego “happy thoughts and pixie dust.” 

Gov. Gray Davis hasn’t signed off on the bill either, although he is proposing that the authority receive $8.46 million in the coming fiscal year to complete an environmental impact report on the system. 

SACRAMENTO — The state of California spent $286 million to buy energy in February, the lowest monthly total since the Department of Water Resources started buying power on behalf of investor-owned utilities last year, the department announced Tuesday. 

DWR’s announcement comes a day after Attorney General Bill Lockyer sued four major energy companies of “gaming the market” by charging California millions for emergency generating capacity they never provided. 

Lockyer sued Dynegy Inc., Reliant Energy Inc., Mirant Corp. and Williams Energy Marketing and Trading Co. He is seeking more than $150 million in penalties. 

The state has a $10 billion power debt. 

DWR’s February costs were $40 million below January’s low of $326 million. 

It’s not just because February is a shorter month, said Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Gov. Gray Davis. 

In February, the state spent an average of $10 million a day, while it spent $61 million a day in February 2001 for a total of $1.726 billion. 

“Fortunately, we’ve been successful at increasing energy reliability as well as bringing prices under control, which was our main objective,” said DWR Deputy Director Pete Garris. 

During the energy crisis last summer, DWR spent $1.826 billion in May and $59 million per day. In July $761 billion was spent, averaging $25 million per day. 

Last month, Davis asked federal regulators to trim back the cost of long-term energy contracts the state scrambled to sign at the height of last year’s energy crisis. 

With the supply crunch seemingly passed and power prices plunging, Davis is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reduce by $21 billion the cost of 20-year contracts signed when prices were high. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Department of Water Resources 

www.water.ca.gov 

Antero Alli, the director of “Hysteria” was born in Finland and grew up in Toronto, Canada. He moved to the Bay Area at age 19 in 1972 and stayed for 10 years. Alli also resided in the Portland and Seattle areas before returning to the Bay Area in 1996.  

Prior to working with film, Alli wrote and directed plays that he toured with in Berkeley, San Francisco, Mendocino County and Sonoma County. Most recently, his two-act play, “Hungry Ghosts of Albion” played at the Noh Theater in San Francisco in 1999.  

Alli has created “exhibition films” (short run art house films) for 11 years, including “Tragos,” a cyber noir tragedy. In 2000, he screened “Tragos” to audiences in Seattle, Portland and the Bay Area at the Fine Arts Cinema in Berkeley and Cell Space in San Francisco.  

In addition to Alli, the key members of his film company, Vertical Power, include his wife, Sylvi Alli, who acts as a producer, composer, and sound editor; and Michael McWhirter, who does the special effects out of Austin, Texas. 

Their most recent project, “Hysteria,” Alli describes as a “a post-Sept. 11 suspense drama with moments of humor.”  

“Hysteria” is a completely independent film with absolutely no studio involvement.  

“I don’t really have commercial ambitions. I’m just an artist type, you might call it,” Alli explains. “I make movies that I want to make and then from there I go about the process of booking screenings.”  

Sometimes Alli will send his films to festivals, but mostly he’s been booking screenings himself. Because of his independent marketing, Alli’s films often end up at festivals where he will speak about his work, but they don’t get seen by large audiences. 

For instance, “Tragos,” his last feature, even though it received good reviews from upwards of a dozen film magazines, was only seen by a few thousand people. 

Hey said “Hysteria” may be a turning point for his career. His films are not necessarily “crowd pleasers,” he said, because they deal with unconventional, somewhat difficult material. And he thinks of himself as an experimentalist, though he sticks to the story, he added, 

“Hysteria” was inspired by the events that unfolded after Sept. 11. Alli wanted to make a film that explored hysteria in various contexts. He and his cast and crew felt an urgency to create a film that would capture their emotions in response to the nation's tragedy before they faded.  

They shot 14 hours of footage in the month of February and are now in their third week of post production. Alli anticipates that the completed work will be roughly 90 minutes. 

“Hysteria” takes place in Oakland in October 2001. The story begins when a young woman named Peri, traumatized by Sept. 11, decides to leave New York City and head to the West Coast. Peri, played by Anastasia Vega, moves in with her sister Marian, played by Atosa Babaoff, in Oakland. A Croatian amateur boxer and devout Catholic named Ikar, played by Jakob Bakulich, lives next door. Bakulich co-wrote the script with Alli. The suspense heightens as the sisters’ and Ikar’s lives radically change as a result of their encounters with each other in the post Sept. 11 world. In addition to exploring hysteria as a phenomenon, Alli also uses the film to question how the media disseminates mis/information: what is included and what is not.  

Although Alli claims that the film does not take a strong political position, he said he hopes it will breakdown stereotypes like the ones that led to the onslaught of hate crimes following Sept. 11. 

The film features music from local Bay Area bands, including Mark Growden and Lumen. 

Alli self-finances his films or he pools monies with the core crew from Vertical Pool. He does not rely on grants or outside producers, which he asserts “is fine with me because my main ambition is creative control, at this point.” 

Shooting in digital video allows him to keep his budget reasonable. Unlike many of his other works, for which he hired cinematographers, Alli opted to shoot more than 95 percent of “Hysteria” himself because the film is so personal to him. This is the first film he has done in response to an “external stimulus” and his feelings of being “part of a larger community.” 

For the past two-and-a-half years he has edited all his films using FinalCut Pro or rented out an S-VHS with an AB Roll system.  

Although I would argue that using shot lists, storyboards, and rehearsing can save a lot of time and money in the long run, Alli believes that “storyboarding is for wimps”.  

Instead, he elects to show up to the set and “react to the site specific shooting” with spontaneity. He admits that he may storyboard in the future and he does use a shot list to a certain degree. In general, though, he feels superstitious about “over rehearsing actors and over preparation” and declares that “problem-solving is very exciting to me”, so he tends to be “slightly under prepared.” 

“Hysteria” will screen at the Fine Arts in Berkeley on March 30 at 11 p.m. and at Cell Space in San Francisco on April 11 at 9 p.m. After these two initial screenings, the folks at Vertical Pool will either continue a release in Seattle and Portland or enter into a few festivals, possibly Sundance. Depending on audience reactions, Alli may re-edit the film. For more information about the cast and crew, and their projects, including “ Hysteria” access their Web site at www.verticalpower.com.  

It isn’t fun to face DaShawn Freeman on a basketball court. Even when you’re winning. 

Midway through the first quarter in a NorCal playoff game versus Oak Grove (San Jose), St. Mary’s High is trailing. Freeman’s opposite number, Oak Grove point guard Jade Davis, has already dropped a 3-pointer, and then another short jumper, over Freeman. 

But Freeman, looking much bigger than his 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds might indicate, is the one who is grinning.  

This is frightening. Freeman is brazen. Freeman is brash. Yes - and he is bearded. 

All beard and teeth now, Freeman is smiling at Davis. And talking to Davis – intensely – from close quarters. Between plays Freeman is all over Davis, trailing him. Touching him. Standing too close, jawing. Getting in his face. And Davis is starting to get rattled.  

After the game: What were you saying to him, DaShawn? 

“I can’t really say that [in the newspaper],” Freeman says. “I was getting in his head a little bit, seeing where he was at mentally. You do that. Guess I got to him, and after that he didn’t really play a part in the game.” 

Freeman’s attack goes on for several minutes. Then, shortly before the end of the half, Freeman is on the bench, catching a breather. His replacement, Tim Fanning, although he strikes a much less imposing figure than Freeman (his teammates call him “Babyface”), immediately continues Freeman’s mental assault on Davis. 

Waiting for an inbounds pass, Fanning stands so close to him that Davis’s face touches the hem of Fanning’s jersey. Freeman’s earlier intimidation has brought Davis to the boiling point, and now, with only slight provocation from the much smaller Fanning, Davis finally loses it – he shoves Fanning, thus drawing a technical foul. 

Freeman, after the game, laughs and says that he wasn’t watching when Davis shoved Fanning. “I missed that,” Freeman says. “I know he wasn’t trying to push me, though.” 

Indeed not. The baby-faced Fanning calmly converts both free-throws, and Davis departs the game shortly thereafter. Davis sees only limited action in the second half – he scores eight points before his technical foul and none thereafter – and St. Mary’s comes from behind to defeat the Eagles handily. Freeman has beaten Davis – and St. Mary’s has beaten Oak Grove. 

“[Davis] just couldn’t handle it,” teammate Simon Knight says. “He was getting too mad ... I guess DaShawn just scared him out there.” 

Freeman’s bravado is a perfect complement to his counterpart in the St. Mary’s backcourt, the businesslike John Sharper. But while Sharper and Freeman are equally capable of beating you on a basketball court, you would vastly prefer to be quietly dismantled by Sharper than abused, blatantly, by Freeman. 

“That’s because he’s DaShawn Freeman,” says St. Mary’s head coach Jose Caraballo. “He has that reputation. He’s a real ‘get after you’ type of player.” 

Beyond the intimidation, Freeman has a wealth of skills – watch him: bringing the ball across the mid-court line, bearing straight down on a retreating defense, Freeman lifts his lead foot forward, and up, somehow pointing at the defender: there is a slight hesitation in this position, a pose; and then a blur – the basketball flashes back and forth between the legs once, twice, more – and he is gone. 

A spin, and the defender is shaken, flying off in quite the opposite direction as Freeman. A drive, an acrobatic bucket. Two points. (He averages 11 per game.) 

Or: a slash through the middle, and a two-handed pass, backwards over his head this time, through a forest of defenders and into the waiting hands of Knight. Identical result: two points. (And an assist for Freeman – five per game on average.) 

Or: a Freeman steal (four per game), and then, on the break, just two steps across the center line, a one-handed baseball-style bounce pass - floating low, weaving between countless pairs of running legs, both offensive and defensive - right on the money to a streaking Sharper. Another two points. 

Freeman’s St. Mary’s High career ended Saturday night with a 72-57 playoff loss to powerhouse Oakland Tech, a well-fought game in which Freeman scored 10 points and had eight assists in the first half alone. 

Next stop, college. Freeman will be taking his considerable skills on the road. Where would he like to be? 

“I like medium-type weather,” he says. “Like it is here. I don’t like too hot or too cold.” 

Perhaps he’s in for a bit of a surprise as he heads east on I-80 this fall – Freeman is heading to the 110-degree summers and frosty winters of Sacramento State. 

I wanted to go to a school where I could play, and where I would be appreciated,” he says. “It’s a good school, too – they have good academics.” 

As the No. 1 recruit this season for a guard-starved Sacramento State team, Caraballo believes Freeman will start as a freshman. But Freeman, for all his audacity on the basketball court, is more reserved off-court. 

“Nothing’s given,” Freeman says. “Hopefully I will earn it. I’ve just got to work hard.” 

One gets the sense that he will do just that. Somebody better warn the guards around the Big Sky Conference – DaShawn Freeman is grinning already.

Editor: 

Recently there was an op-ed piece in a local newspaper advocating election study groups wherein people would organize on a local level and dedicate a certain amount of time to gather in each other’s homes to study the candidates and issues together before going out to vote. The idea is to help voters make more informed choices and, of course, to involve more people in the process. This is a well-intentioned idea, if only it would do what it is intended to do ... get people out to vote.  

Pardon my cynicism, but people are about as likely to foray out into their communities and initiate these groups as they are to participate in voluntary automobile moratoriums. Sadly, while we talk the talk, espousing our wondrous freedoms, expending billions upon billions of dollars and god knows how many lives in the name of “participatory” democracy, more than half our population can’t sacrifice an evening’s television viewing and a few minutes at the polls to participate in those freedoms and the responsibilities that should go with citizenship in a democracy. 

Our approach to voter participation is, in fact, as insidiously lackadaisical as our laissez-affaire political-economic corporate paradigm and will likely reap the same disastrous results if we don’t get serious about demanding awareness and engagement from all the people all the time, not just some of the people, some of the time. It is because we tolerate such an apathetic citizenry that disasters like Enron become possible, in the first place. Does anyone seriously believe that if there was a 90 percent voter turnout, these corporate clowns would be, in any way, as likely to attempt the ruse they did? Or, that George Bush, their conduit to power, would be sitting where he is today? Our self-righteous distortions about freedom (in the most passive sense of it) enables these avatars of avarice to remain so fiscally out of touch with everyday people and cavalierly dismissive of the consequences of their actions. 

The only way to bring the astonishing number of non-participants into the political process is to legislate that participation as part of continuing citizenship. We demand driver tests of some sort every so many years. Why not mandate voter education exams as well? Ultimately, isn't ignorance as lethal to a country and its communities as is recklessness behind the wheel? Multitudes of human beings have given their lives to support and maintain our democratic process. Citizens who are politically indifferent or too self-involved to engage in that process should be deported to countries where they do the voting for you. 

Marc Winokur 

Oakland

Tuesday, March 12

An Evening with Numfundo  

Walaza: The Burden of  

Forgiveness 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

An evening with Numfundo Walaza, director of the Trauma Center for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Capetown, South Africa. Walaza will talk about "The Burden of Forgiveness: Reflections from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of South Africa." $15. 204-0720, mkmorrison@cdsp.edu. 

Women's Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Frankie Moore McGee, Avenue Baptist Church. 

Wednesday, Mar. 13

Trees Forum 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

Amahra Hicks of USFS, and Jeff Romm of UCB discuss "Just Forests Initiative: Faith-based Activism for Public Land." Free and open to the public. www.gtu.edu/StudServ/TREES. 

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Lawrence Saez, professor of East Asia Studies, UC Berkeley; “South Asia: Focus on India.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

Thursday, March 14

Grizzly Peak Flyfishers 

Annual Flytying Festival 

7:30 p.m. 

Kensington Community Center 

59 Arlington Ave., Kensington 

Flytying demonstrations and tutoring for beginning through advanced. 524-0428. 

Hiking the Appalachian Trail 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Lisa Garrett and Francis Tapon will share slides and highlights of their 111-day journey through 13 East Coast states covering 2,167 miles. 527-4140, www.sonictrek.com.  

Women's Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Valerie Miles-Tribble Imani Community Church. 

Friday, March 15

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Keith A. Russell, president, American Baptist Seminary of the West; “A look at Moral Issues.” $1. 848-3533. 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Black History and Women's Months: Bessie Coleman, aviatrix. 232-1351. 

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AMEC 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Malvina Stephens Allen, Temple Baptist Church. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Saturday, March 16

76th Annual Poets’ Dinner 

11:30 a.m. 

Holiday Inn, Emeryville 

1800 Powell 

David Alpaugh will speak about “The Professionalization of Poetry,” followed by the reading of winning poems and prizes. 841-1217. 

Copwatch 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Copwatch 

2022 Blake St. 

Know your rights workshop. 548-0425. 

4th Annual Gay & Lesbian  

Family Night at the YMCA 

6 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA 

2001 Allston Way 

Open to all LGBT families and their friends. Pizza party, swimming, juggling demo and instruction, clowning, face painting, soccer, floor hockey, music, karate demo, and more for toddlers through teens. Free, donation requested. 665-3238, www.ourfamily.org.  

Sunday, March 17

Art of Enlightenment:  

Symbolism, Visualization and  

Mandalas 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Rosalyn White, art director for Dharma Publishing, will discuss Tibetan paintings and how they are used in meditation. 843-6812. 

Women’s Day 

9:30 a.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Women Excelling in the Grace of Giving; Speaker: Dr. Sarah F. Davis, Pastor 

Bethel AMEC, San Antonio, TX. 

Sara’s Children: The  

Destruction of Chmielinik 

3 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center  

1414 Walnut St. 

Suzan Hagstrom will talk about her book, Sara’s Children, and host a discussion. 848-0237 x127. 

Monday, March 18

Conscientious Objection to War 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Friends’ Meetinghouse 

2151 Vine St. 

The Berkeley Society of Friends will discuss the 1965 United States Supreme Court’s reversal of the conviction of Daniel A. Seeger. Also a reading and discussion of Seeger’s pamphlet, The Seed and the Tree.  

Tuesday, March 19

Berkeley Garden Club  

1 p.m. 

The Berkeley Garden Club will hold its Benefit Spring Tea and Professional Floral Design Demonstration. Sakae Sakaki will create both Ikebana and Western style arrangements. $7.50, 526-1083, bgardenclub@aol.com. 

Wednesday, March 20

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Nunu Kidane, Epidemiologist, UC San Francisco; “AIDS in Africa.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

African Philosophy 

7 p.m. 

The Fellowship of Humanity 

390 27th St., Oakland 

We will interpret Nkrumah as a philosopher. Brief presentations followed by open discussion. 451-5818, HumanistHall@yahoo.com. 

Thursday, March 21

Still the Source of Grace?  

Reading the Bible as a Gay Christian 

5 p.m.  

Pacific School of Religion chapel  

1798 Scenic Ave. 

With L. William Countryman, professor in biblical studies at 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, and co-author with M.R. Ritley of 

"Gifted by Otherness: Gay and Lesbian Christians in the Church." Free and open to the public. 849-8206. 

Friday, March 22

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Robert Kruger, first vice-president, and Larry Miller, certified financial planner and senior vice-president, Solomon Smith Barney; “Investing in the Market Post 9-11.” $1. 848-3533. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Saturday, March 23

5th Annual Summit – Last  

Chance for Smart Growth? 

10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 

Laney College Forum 

900 Fallon St., Oakland 

Regional public agencies will soon hold workshops to select from among three alternative visions for regional growth and finalize one Bay Area vision. Summit participants will learn about these alternatives and provide input that will affect future government policy. 740-3103, robert@transcoalition. org. 

Jazz Clinic 

2 p.m. 

Longfellow School for the Arts 

1500 Derby St. 

Terry Gibbs and the Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra will be holding a jazz clinic. $5, 420-4560, www.bigbandjazz.net. 

Monday, March 25

Free Legal Workshop “Too Sick to Work: Cash Assistance and Health Insurance if Cancer Prevents You From Working” 

12:30 - 2 p.m. 

Highland Hospital 

1411 E. 31st St., Oakland 

Classroom B 

This workshop will provide information about State and Federal disability programs that provide cash benefits and health insurance for people unable to work due to a serious health condition. 601-4040 x302, www.wcrc.org.  

Wednesday, March 27

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Dan Kammen, professor of Energy and Resources Group and director of Energy and Science, UC Berkeley; “Energy and the Environment.” 

$5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

Thursday, March 28

Seed Swap 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Ecology Center 

2530 San Pablo Ave. 

Bay Area Seed Interchange Library's annual Seed Swap. Bring seed and envelopes. A raffle for live plants. 823-4769. 

Friday, March 29

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Peter Hillier, assistant city manager, transportation; “Bringing About a Paradigm Shift.” $1. 848-3533. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Three Latino social service agencies were closed down Monday after their respective mail rooms received derogatory letters accompanied by a suspicious white powder. 

“This is an ongoing investigation, and we want to keep the content of the letters confidential,” said Assistant Fire Chief David Orth. “But it was derogatory, and it is being investigated as a hate crime.” 

The scare occurred at about 9:30 a.m. at three different locations, and a coordinated citywide team of personnel from the city manager’s office, the health department and police and fire departments responded to the situation. 

“They were all Latino community-affiliated organizations. One was located in the 300 block of Shattuck Avenue, the other in the 2500 block of San Pablo Avenue and the last one in the 1000 block of Carlton,” Orth said, refusing to disclose the organization’s name.  

Orth said preliminary testing indicated that the white residue left inside the envelopes is not anthrax, but it will not be known for sure what the substance is for 48 hours as it will take a full day to allow cultures to grow for further examination.  

The buildings were not evacuated. But all individuals who directly handled the mail were “properly decontaminated,” according to Orth, by being showered and having their clothes bagged up.  

Across the hall from Central Latino, the organization on San Pablo Avenue where the first letter was discovered, is the River of Words. And at least one person from that agency says she felt very uncomfortable with the handling of the situation.  

“It was handled very badly,” said Pamela Michael. “Without any information whatsoever, we were told that we could go back to work. And from what I understand it will be three days before the testing on the substance is conclusive, so why was it safe for us to go back to work within hours of this happening? Plus the mail room was accessible all day to people who did not know. And none of those people were tested.” 

Michael also stated that several employees were confused and concerned and were left with no one to call to answer their questions. After several attempts she said she finally got a hold of someone in the city of Berkeley’s Health Department who told her it was unlikely that the substance was indeed anthrax. Upon further investigation, Michael said she was informed that several Latino organizations in the area were being targeted. But none of that information was forthcoming earlier in the day.  

“No one knew who to call. It was a Hazmat team, that I knew,” Michael said. “ But I wasn’t even made aware who they were — we still don’t know whether it was federal or local. I don’t know how these things are usually handled but it was all very disturbing.” 

Orth said it was not necessary to evacuate the entire building due to the quantity of powder that was discovered as well as the physical configurations of the building. The mail room, he said, was well-divided from other areas of the building and there was such a small amount of powder discovered that any type of infection would have been very localized. 

According to Orth, it was more important that the public received information on how to recognize a possible illness at that point. 

“We didn’t think it was a good idea to evacuate the entire building and cause hysteria and now with the test coming back we know it would not have been a good idea,” Orth said. “At this point we are more concerned with the content of the letters.” 

The Berkeley Fire Department released mail-handling suggestions they hope will help the public identify and treat suspicious mail. 

Among a list of red flags is a lack of return address on letters. Due to the ongoing investigation, Orth would not say if the letters sent to the Latino agencies Monday were without a sender’s address 

He also stated that officials were investigating whether or not there is a correlation to this event and Monday being the six-month anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.  

“There investigating it but it’s too early to say if there’s a connection,” Orth said.  

He had no explanation as to why the Latino community was targeted but said that officials are now trying to get the message out to the Latino community that there is indeed a possible threat.  

“They are doing a notification throughout the Latino community to faith-based organizations and the releases we are putting out there are in Spanish. But there’s no phone tree to tap into the Latino community or anything,” he added.  

Orth said he believes this to be the only hate crime of this nature to occur in Berkeley in the last several years. 

Contact reporter Devona Walker at devona@berkeleydailyplanet.net 

Editor: 

In your article entitled “BCA Still Silent on Mayor Race,” you quote Councilmember Spring who indicated that I might be interested in running for Mayor in Berkeley. While I find Councilmember Spring’s comments to be flattering I must state, unequivocally, that I have no intentions of running for the office of Mayor in Berkeley. 

Also, I thoroughly enjoy working for the City of Berkeley and would not want to end my tenure with the City. 

I am very pleased and rather busy serving as the representative in Area 4 (covering Albany, Berkeley, and Emeryville) on the Peralta Community College Board of Trustees. I find this work to be challenging and most rewarding and I plan to continue since my term expires in 2004. 

Darryl G. Moore 

Vice President 

Peralta Community College  

Board of Trustees 

About 150 UC Berkeley students descended on the state Capitol in Sacramento Monday to speak to legislators about student housing, student fees and the University of California’s system-wide budget in the first-ever “Cal Lobby Day.” 

“The legislature can’t just vote on bills without knowing our perspective,” said Jay Bharadwa, a UC Berkeley sophomore. “These are the people who are going to be voting on our future.” 

But with the state roughly $15 billion in debt and cuts on the horizon, legislators warned students that higher education might take a hit. 

“We’re trying to hold the line wherever we can on education,” said Assemblymember Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, speaking to a group of three students who visited her office, “(but) everything is going to be affected in some way.” 

Students, who visited the offices of 108 legislators, focused on three major “talking points.”  

First, they asked representatives to support Gov. Gray Davis’s higher education budget, which holds steady on UC spending at $3.5 billion next year. They also called on legislators to keep student fees at their current levels. Finally, pupils asked the legislature to provide $15 million for student housing. 

Last month, the Assembly’s Appropriation Committee added $15 million for student housing to a larger, $2.1 billion housing bond authored by Sen. John Burton (D-San Francisco). 

The legislature and governor must sign off on the bond before it goes to California voters for an up or down vote in November. 

Students, urging legislators to support the measure, told stories of exorbitant rents, crowded living conditions and never-ending apartment searches in Berkeley. 

“I still have students who come to my office because they are sleeping on couches and sleeping in cars,” said Josh Fryday, vice president of external affairs for the Associated Students of the University of California, at a press conference on the capitol’s steps Monday afternoon. 

“It’s a question of access,” added Wally Adeyemo, student body president. Adeyemo said rents, often in excess of $2,000 per month for a two-bedroom apartment, prevent low-income students, particularly minorities, from attending UC schools. 

The problem is particularly acute, Adeyemo said, at “top-tier” schools in the system, including UC Berkeley, UCLA and the UC San Diego. 

The student housing money appears to have strong support in the legislature. A parade of Democrats, including Assemblymember Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley), who pushed for the $15 million addition, spoke in favor of the bond at the student press conference. 

Laura Zuniga, senior consultant for the Assembly Republican Caucus, said GOP support for the student housing money is also strong. But she said Republicans have concerns about other portions of the bond. 

The governor has raised general concerns about asking the voters for too much money all at once on the November ballot. In addition to the $2 billion housing bond, voters will likely face a school construction bond in excess of $10 billion. 

Aroner has asked students to “be vigilant” and ensure that the student housing money remains in the bond, despite Davis’s reservations. 

If the measure gets on the ballot, legislators told students, they should turn out in force to vote for it. 

“The place where you speak the loudest is at the ballot box,” said Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). 

Students plan to make “Cal Lobbying Day” an annual event.

Editor 

On March 7, discussions resumed after a one-year hiatus between the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Iraq’s Foreign Minister Naji Sabri. Mr Sabri described the talks as “a constructive and positive exchange of views” and Mr Annan's spokesman said they had made “a good start.” 

This should be a stepping-stone towards a dialogue between the United States and Iraq as well. 

It is not helpful that the US has dismissed dialogue out of hand. The nations have not held direct discussions since the cease-fire arrangement was imposed 11 years ago. 

US policy has been guided by threats and ultimatums - resulting in a narrowing of options for all parties and catastrophe for the Iraqi people. 

True leadership lies in accepting realities we may not like and accepting the challenge of engagement. 

Instead of continuing a policy of intimidation and condemnation, the administration of President Bush should negotiate based on principles of fairness, justice and peace. 

Valerie Jacobs 

San Francisco 

The wheelchair-bound Dede Dewey has been a precinct worker for the past 16 years. The Berkeley resident with short gray hair and eyeglasses, said she was the first disabled person in Alameda County to become a precinct worker. 

“I had to fight for the privilege of not only voting but working as a polling officer,” Dewey said.  

During the March 5 election, she was assigned to the polling station at the La Pena Cultural Center, which covers a South Berkeley block bound by Woolsey Street and Shattuck, Ashby and Deakin avenues. 

The area is predominantly lower-middle class and Democratic, said Robert Mann, another precinct worker there. 

It was a slow day. About 60 voters had turned out by 10:30 a.m., 20 to 30 percent of whom were African-American and the rest were white, Mann said. Roughly 50 percent were male and the other half female, he estimated. 

As a middle-aged man came in, Mann asked his name and got his signature on a blue roster. He asked the voter what kind of ballot he wanted.  

A Democratic one, the man said.  

Dewey’s job was tearing out ballot sheets for the voters. To ascertain the voter’s choice before handing him the ballot sheet, she offered, “Or Republican?” 

He stuck with his original choice. And the soft-spoken Dewey pleasantly said, “We just make it clear that you have a choice.” 

Mann said non-election years tend to be slow. During an election year, he said he would see a couple of hundred voters turn out at a polling station. For the 2000 primary election, the voter turnout in Berkeley was 46.6 percent, according to the Registrar of Voters. 

Even with the low turnout, Dewey said she feels she is participating in the political process and helping get people’s opinions heard, she said. 

As Dewey took a break, she reminisced about her years as a poll worker. For the more than a 12-hour shift, Dewey said she’d get paid $80. But there’s another motivation behind working precincts. 

“This is one form of community service,” she said. “That’s why I do it.”  

Dewey said when she first started working, at the stations she encountered difficulties as a voter. She said the polling stations just weren’t accessible. The doors weren’t wide enough for wheelchairs to pass through or the booths weren’t designed for disabled persons.  

And as a volunteer, “it was hard, when a disabled person came to vote, to convince my co-workers to let the disabled person vote,” Dewey said. 

“They would try to make the disabled person go to another precinct to vote. And that’s not right,” she said. “It happens much less today but it still happens.” 

The American Disabilities Act of 1990 requires all polling stations to be handicapped-accessible. That has greatly improved the situation, but it is still bad, Dewey said. She remembered a television campaign ad for Secretary of State candidate Michela Alioto. The ad mentions that there are about 1,000 polling stations in the state that aren’t handicapped-accessible. 

Dewey said she is also excited about another law on the books that will require precincts with 90-percent bilingual populations to have a bilingual interpreter.  

She remembers the struggles of communicating with a Spanish-speaking population when she worked at an Oakland precinct 10 years ago. 

“It was extremely difficult,” she said. “I could show them how to punch the ballot,” but other than that, she couldn’t help them. Dewey said those Hispanic voters were not as informed about their candidate choices as they should have been, because of the language barrier. 

Being a minority has made Dewey sensitive to other minorities’ needs. “I’m not required to speak Spanish , why should they be required to speak English? To me, that’s a form of discrimination,” she said. 

As a precinct worker, Dewey also stays abreast of the new laws or amendments in the voting procedures, such as voter registration deadline. It used to be that voters were required to register a month before the election. Now, it’s changed to two weeks, she said. 

“By being a precinct worker, I became a larger part of changing the system.”  

Today is Tuesday, March 12, the 71st day of 2002. There are 294 days left in the year. 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On March 12, 1933, President Roosevelt delivered the first of his radio “fireside chats,” telling Americans what was being done to deal with the nation’s economic crisis. 

On this date: 

In 1664, New Jersey became a British colony as King Charles II granted land in the New World to his brother James, the Duke of York. 

In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Guides, which later became the Girl Scouts of America. 

In 1925, Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen died. 

In 1930, Indian political and spiritual leader Mohandas K. Gandhi began a 200-mile march to protest a British tax on salt. 

In 1938, the “Anschluss” took place as German troops entered Austria. 

In 1939, Pope Pius XII was formally crowned in ceremonies at the Vatican. 

In 1947, President Truman established what became known as the “Truman Doctrine” to help Greece and Turkey resist Communism. 

In 1951, “Dennis the Menace,” created by cartoonist Hank Ketcham, made its syndicated debut in 16 newspapers. 

In 1969, Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London. 

In 1999, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic joined NATO. 

Ten years ago: The U.N. Security Council stood firm in its demand that Iraq comply totally with Gulf War cease-fire resolutions, rebuffing an appeal for leniency from Saddam Hussein’s special envoy, deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz. 

Five years ago: Authorities in Los Angeles arrested Mikhail Markhasev as a suspect in the shooting death of Bill Cosby’s son, Ennis. (Markhasev, who later admitted his guilt, is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole.) 

One year ago: A U.S. Navy jet mistakenly dropped a bomb on a group of military personnel at a bombing range in Kuwait, killing five Americans and one New Zealander. Abrasive, chain-smoking talk show host Morton Downey Jr. died at age 68. Spy adventure novelist Robert Ludlum died in Naples, Fla., at age 73. 

Today’s Birthdays: Former astronaut Wally Schirra is 79. Playwright Edward Albee is 74. Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young is 70. Broadcast journalist Lloyd Dobyns is 66. Singer Al Jarreau is 62. Actress-singer Liza Minnelli is 56. Singer-songwriter James Taylor is 54. Rock singer-musician Bill Payne (Little Feat) is 53. Actor Jon Provost (“Lassie”) is 52. Author Carl Hiaasen is 49. Actor Jerry Levine is 45. Rock musician Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) is 45. Singer Marlon Jackson (The Jackson Five) is 45. Actor Courtney B. Vance is 42. Actor Titus Welliver is 41. Baseball player Darryl Strawberry is 40. Actress Julia Campbell is 39. Actor Aaron Eckhart is 34. Rock musician Graham Coxon (Blur) is 33. Actor Samm Levine is 20.

Hundreds of RNs met on new nurse-ratio law and demanded reform of Kaiser Permanente’s arbitration system, which restricts the ability of patients to challenge managed care abuses. 

The two-day conference, which began Monday, is hosted by the California Nurses Association, and is being held at the Sacramento Convention Center.  

The nurses will be lobbying Diana Bonta, RN, director of California’s Department of Health Services and Daniel Zingale, director of California’s Department of Managed Care. 

CNA is supporting a bill, SB 458 by Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Norwalk) that would give patients who are denied needed care or face delays the choice of whether to remain in the arbitration system or to be able to go to court to seek redress.

MENDOCINO — It took a lawn mower and a mild summer day for Jim McCummings to create a pathway to the Mendocino Bay Viewpoint and its sweeping vistas of the craggy Northern California coast. 

That was the easy part. The real work came in court when John Brittingham, the man who owns the viewpoint, sued McCummings’ Mendocino Land Trust, the nonprofit group authorized by the state to operate it. 

The trust won, convincing a judge that California law guaranteeing coastal access gives the public the right to walk across Brittingham’s backyard and gaze across the bay at the pastel perfection of Mendocino. 

Now, a similar fight is unfolding over a disputed trail across Hollywood producer David Geffen’s property in Malibu, a battle that could be a turning point for quasi-private beaches up and down the state. 

McCummings is in the position of having been there and done that. The Mendocino trail, he says, has been “fine. People are pretty respectful of it.” 

The issues playing out in Malibu now — the rights of private property owners vs. public beach-goers — are similar to those raised in Mendocino six years ago when the land trust opened the bay viewpoint. 

The pathway had been promised to the public in 1977 by the then-owner in return for a building permit under a coastal access program then in place. But like many of the 1,300 or so pathways granted under that program, the trail had never been opened because it had never been adopted by a public agency as required. 

A 1987 U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively shut down the pathways-for-permits scheme, saying it amounted to extortion. Courts have upheld trails promised before then, but pathways expire in 21 years if not adopted, which means soon in many cases. 

In 1996, state officials tried something new, authorizing the Mendocino Land Trust to become the first nonprofit entrusted with one of the trails. 

In August, McCummings trundled his lawn mower from the property edge on state Highway 1 to the cliff, creating a recognizable path, and half the town turned out to celebrate the official opening with a wine and cheese reception. 

Then, Brittingham, who had bought the property in 1990, filed suit, claiming that public access would be harmful to the environment and disturb American Indian sites. 

A judge rejected Brittingham’s arguments in 1997 and the trust has continued to operate the viewpoint, along with a second pathway some miles north that leads to a nick in the coast known as Cantus Cove. 

Volunteers police the trails for trash and maintain signs marking where the public stops and the private starts. 

The Cantus Cove trail — marked by only a discreet sign at the property owner’s request — operates quietly. But Brittingham, who now spends most of his time in Florida and is trying to sell the Mendocino property, remains unreconciled to the pathway across his land. 

“It used to be a natural area and now it’s more like a little park. There’s a lot of cars there and people mistake the easement for my property so they go up to my house,” he says. “They think it’s a fort or they think it’s a restaurant. Even if you spell it out, “Private Property,” it’s like, well, what does that mean to people just roaming around or they’re drunk or who knows what.” 

Trust and state officials say there’ve been few problems. 

“It’s going very nicely,” says Linda Locklin of the California Coastal Commission, the agency that safeguards public access. 

Technically, California’s 1,100 miles of coast, from Mendocino’s surf-bitten bluffs to the broad, sandy shelves of Southern California, is owned by the public up to the mean high tide line. However, it’s often hotly debated by irate homeowners and towel-waving sunbathers exactly where that line falls. Meanwhile, just getting past the battalions of private homes that block some stretches of the coast often isn’t a walk on the beach. 

That’s the issue in Malibu, where Geffen’s beach-front home sits on a stretch of coast accessible to the public by only two pathways more than three miles apart. The path through his property is currently blocked by locked gates at the highway. 

Geffen spokesman Andy Spahn says he’s willing to talk about opening the pathway, but “there are a great number of public safety issues to be addressed.” For one thing, he says, the pathway opens onto the Pacific Coast Highway, which has fast cars and little parking. 

Other objections raised by property owners like Geffen are that officials aren’t making provisions for picking up trash or maintaining security. Even with the path closed, Geffen, whose low-slung house stretches across four oceanfront lots, has had to contend with an intruder in his living room. 

Steve Hoye, leader of Access for All, the nonprofit that has been approved by the coastal commission to open the Geffen pathway, is aware that Geffen has “definite public safety concerns. And I’m certainly, absolutely going to try to address those.” 

Geffen promised the pathway in 1983 in exchange for a permit to remodel his home on Carbon Beach. Over the years he also offered three horizontal easements behind his back patio in return for building a sea wall. Access for All has also been given the go-ahead to open those easements, but since they’re stretches of sand, they’re not as controversial as the main path. 

Hoye describes the beach behind Geffen’s home as “very white sand, beautiful crystal water. It’s a great piece of simple beach. You can see Malibu pier to the west, down coast, on a clear day ... you can see great views.” 

Hoye is considering installing a time-locking mechanism to close the Geffen gates at sunset. Still, he and other access advocates say homeowners’ fears are overblown. 

“These notions that somehow trails just drive down property values — it’s bogus,” says Richard Nichols of Coastwalk, a group trying to create an uninterrupted trail down California’s nearly 1,000 miles of coast. “A trail is an amenity; it’s not a negative.” 

Hoye sees coastal access as a vital link to a vanishing resource. 

“Our public lands in the United States, they really are the last chunk of wilderness left,” Hoye says. “People really want to go there.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

Coastal Commission: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/ 

Coastwalk: http://www.coastwalk.org/ 

The Berkeley Police Department is keeping tight-lipped about the arrest of the owner/operator of the Normandy Massage Studio for “suspicion of pimping, pandering and conspiracy.” 

They will say the business located in the 2300 block of Shattuck has been under surveillance for months and that search warrants have been served for the two residences of its owner Kathleen Phuong Que Chiem. 

A telephone call to the Alameda County Jail revealed that Phuong Que Chiem was arrested on Thursday and has since been released on bail. 

Heading the investigation for the BPD is Lt. Allen Yuen of the vice department. Yuen said the investigation was sparked by numerous complaints from neighbors and members of the community.  

BPD Lt. Cynthia Harris said Monday that a special enforcement team served a search warrant at the business on Thursday afternoon. Harris said she does not know if the establishment has since closed down. Several telephone calls made to the business went unanswered, and the doors remained locked all day Monday.

SAN JOSE — Two Hewlett-Packard Co. directors warned Monday that many board members and some of the company’s top executives might quit if shareholders reject the $22.6 billion purchase of Compaq Computer Corp. next week. 

If the acquisition fails, the eight HP board members who support the deal would have “personal conflicts” and “an important decision to make,” Phil Condit, the chief executive and chairman of Boeing Co., said in a conference call with analysts and reporters. 

“Each member of the management team will also have a personal decision to make,” he said. 

However, fellow board member Sam Ginn, the retired chairman of Vodafone AirTouch, said that if the deal dies and directors step down, they would not leave HP in chaos — nor put the boardroom solely in the hands of dissenting director Walter Hewlett. 

“I won’t walk away and pout,” Ginn said. “I will make sure if I decide to leave that I have a proper replacement before I walk out the door.” 

This is not the first time HP directors have threatened to leave if the acquisition is blocked. Chairwoman and chief executive Carly Fiorina also would be widely expected to move on if the deal crashes. 

But the subject is being renewed at a critical time, with HP’s March 19 shareholder vote appearing too close to call and many investors possibly on the fence. 

Walter Hewlett has said any implication that large numbers of directors and managers would leave is part of an attempt by HP to scare investors. He said Monday that Ginn and Condit actually affirmed his position that HP would remain stable. 

Ginn and Condit said they believe the integration of Compaq is being planned well and that they are confident the deal will dramatically improve the end-to-end technology “solutions” Hewlett-Packard can offer corporate customers. 

But while many big customers have offered glowing praise about the deal, others seem more circumspect. A Merrill Lynch survey of U.S. and European companies found that nearly half of those with HP or Compaq equipment oppose the deal. About one-quarter were in favor. 

Condit chalked that up to “familiarity and change,” and the usual ways suppliers have to win their customers over every day. He said both companies’ profitable recent quarters indicate that customers aren’t fleeing. 

He also said the deal is supported by a majority of HP’s 20 largest shareholders, but he would not offer specifics. 

Shares of Palo Alto-based HP rose 39 cents, nearly 2 percent, to $20.98 on the New York Stock Exchange, where shares of Houston-based Compaq lost 53 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $11.27. 

That widened the gap between Compaq’s stock price and the price HP would pay for the shares — indicating an increasing belief on Wall Street that the deal will be rejected. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Pro-merger site: http://www.votethehpway.com 

Anti-merger site: http://www.votenohpcompaq.com 

SAN FRANCISCO — The record labels blame online song swapping from services such as Napster for taking away valuable customers. In reaction, the labels have created their own legitimate online services for monthly subscribers. 

That move has left music retailers and distributors sitting on the sidelines, as the five major labels launched Musicnet and pressplay and made a beeline past store shelves, straight to consumer pocketbooks. 

Those music retailers gathered at the annual convention of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers on Monday to share their concerns over the digital distribution of music and how they might become more involved. 

Scott Young, who coordinates entertainment sales for BestBuy.com, sees digital music distribution as a promotional tool for CD sales. So do smaller retailers such as Joe Nardone Jr., who operates the 11-store Gallery of Sound chain in Pennsylvania. 

Nardone Jr. has partnered with Liquid Audio, a technology company that provides audio snippets to foster sales at his stores. 

“I think there’s a future there to market to our customers,” Nardone said of digital music downloads. But Nardone and another east coast retailer, Record Archive’s Alayna Hill-Alderman, expressed some reticence in expanding their online market presence as the labels appear to have gone forward without them. 

“I think people have become completely intoxicated,” with digital downloads, Hill-Alderman told fellow retailers during a panel discussion on online music. 

It’s uncertain if file-sharing networks have cost music retailers sales or lured even more customers into stores seeking CDs of music they discovered on the Internet. Statistics vary on the financial impact of Napster, Gnutella, Morpheus and the like, but one thing is certain — the sales potential of digital music distribution has everyone’s attention. 

The Recording Industry Association of America commissioned a survey of 2,225 music consumers and found that 23 percent of them bought less music in 2001 than the previous year because they found what they were looking for online — for free. 

With about $15 billion in annual U.S. music sales at stake, retailers are concerned about their position in the marketplace. Pam Horovitz, NARM’s president, says the major record labels are going in the right direction online, but retailers should be able to travel with them. 

“I think both Musicnet and pressplay are encouraging,” Horovitz said. “We would be happier if those first marketplace offerings from the record labels had involved more input from retailers.” 

In agreement with Horovitz was Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who addressed the convention Monday, warning that change was on the horizon and promising Congress would do its part to make the process somewhat orderly. 

Hatch, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently held hearings on the music industry’s fight against Napster and similar services. While he does not support compulsory music licensing, Hatch said he is keeping a close eye on Musicnet and pressplay and their willingness to license music to competing services that retailers might want to launch. 

The entire music industry is shifting, Hatch said. 

“This is in many ways a vastly different environment in which to deal than many of you are accustomed,” Hatch told music retailers. “Change is inevitable.” 

Jupiter Media Metrix analyst Aram Sinnreich said the Musicnet and pressplay services need improvement. Those services limit the number of downloads and streams available to the subscriber, don’t offer a permanent music collection and have only limited CD burning capabilities. 

Sinnreich predicts the online market for music sales, both downloads and CDs, will reach $5.5 billion by 2006. He told retailers they should insist to labels that they be included in the mix. 

“I really think the record labels are getting away with bloody murder here,” Sinnreich said of their direct-to-consumer approach. “I think retailers absolutely need to rebel against these things.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.narm.com 

http://www.musicnet.com 

http://www.pressplay.com 

http://www.galleryofsound.com 

The Berkeley Police Department reports that a man was shoot twice early Saturday morning at the intersection of Channing Way and San Pablo Avenue. 

Lt. Dennis Ahearn of the Berkeley Police department said the station received a call around midnight reporting that shots were fired. 

When officers arrive on the scene they found a male, whose name is still being withheld, sitting in a parked car.  

Ahearn said the victim was reportedly yelling at a passing car when someone from the moving vehicle began shooting. The victim was hit in the ankle and buttocks, and was transported to Highland Hospital.  

The wounds do not appear to be life-threatening. It is unknown whether police have any suspects in this shooting. 

Editor: 

Rob Wren's statement (March 2-3) that the feared Underhill Garage will "add a huge amount of additional parking" is misleading, The increased neighborhood traffic from the garage may be huge, but the benefit for drivers needing to park will be negligible after construction, during which the project will of course make the parking mess worse.  

Current demand for parking, and planned expansion, will hardly be solved with a few hundred more stalls, even if U.C. keeps using every last dime for garages. The strategy is clearly not working and has no real hope of solving the mess, because thousands of commuters will still be without alternatives.  

Instead, parking funds could be used to relieve parking now, so that more garages may not even be needed. The easiest/first help should be providing campus staff with toll-free transit eco-passes like the ASUC, UCLA, City of Berkeley, and countless forward-thinking employers do .  

A broader strategy is also needed because Berkeley's historic transit alternatives have been lost since the encroachment of autos. Without a single light-rail/streetcar line to Cal, and without even one of the three historic rail stations still open, traveling to campus is more difficult than before autos were first brought here!  

To re-store Berkeley transit to pre-auto levels, U.C.'s influence will be the best help for the parking monster. Cal now lacks direct transit to the Emeryville and Oakland Amtrak, the airport, and even some nearby residential neighborhoods where buses can help. 

Restoring transit will help drivers the most, because streets AND parking will be less crowded. Fortunately, we will have a safer, cleaner, and friendlier future when U.C. starts supporting transit over traffic. 

Cal staff are now calling for alternatives to the current worsening mess, and Berkeley should join the crowd. 

Sennet Williams  

Solve Parking.Network 

Berkeley 

ACME Observatory Contemporary Performance Series Mar. 17: 8 p.m., Vorticella; the laptop duo of Kristen Miltner and Kendra Juul; $0 to $20, TUVA Space, 3192 Adeline. 649-8744, http://sfsound.org/acme.html. 

The Albatross Mar. 12: Mad & Eddie Duran; Mar. 14: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Mar. 17: Bobby Nickels, Kyle Thyer, Cherlie, 8:30 p.m.; Mar. 18: Paul Schneider; Mar. 19: Carla Kaufman & Larry Scala; Mar. 20: Whiskey Brothers; Mar. 21: Keni “El Lebrijano”; All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted. 822 San Pablo Ave., 843-2473, albatrosspub@mindspring.com. 

Anna’s Bistro Mar. 11: Renegade Sidemen; Mar. 12: Singers’ open mic w/ Trio; Mar. 13: Jimmy Ryan Jazz Quartet; Mar. 14: Rev. Rabia; Mar. 15: Sallie/Dave/Doug Jazz Trio; 10 p.m., Hideo Date; Mar. 16: Bob Crawford Jazz Trio; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Mar. 17: Aleph Null; Music starts at 8 p.m. unless noted, 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center Mar. 17: 7 p.m., Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble and Combos; 1317 San Pablo Ave., 548-0425. 

Blake’s Mar. 11 The Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Mar. 12: Colonel Knowledge, Mega Babes, $3; Mar. 13: Karate High School, Auto Punch, Simplistic, $5; Mar. 14: Ascension, $5; Mar. 15: King Harvest, First Circle, $5; Mar. 16: Omaya, $7; Mar. 17: The Lost Coast Band, The Real, $3; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Mar. 16: 8 p.m., Gyuto Monks perform multiphonic chanting in accordance with the spiritual practices of Tantric Tibetan Buddhism. $24 - $36; Mar. 17: 3 p.m., Andras Schiff, classical pianist. $28 - $48; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 642-9988 

Cato’s Ale House Mar. 13: Irish Session; Mar. 20: Saul Kaye Quartet; Mar. 24: Lost Coast Jazz Trio; Mar. 27: Vince Wallace Trio; Mar. 31: Phillip Greenlief Trio; 3891 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 655-3349 

Downtown Mar. 13: Dave Mathews; 2102 Shattuck Ave., 649-3810 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Mar. 11: Ledward Ka’apana, $17.50; Mar. 13: Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band, $16.50; Mar. 14: Carol Denney, $16.50; Mar. 15: David Maloney performs Irish folk opera “The Great Blight”, $17.50; Mar. 16: The Black Brothers, $18.50; Mar. 17: Tom Russell, $16.50; 1111 Addison St., 548-1761, folk@freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool Mar. 24: 4:30 p.m., Alegria, $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

The Starry Plough Mar. 11: Dance Class and Ceili (traditional Irish music session), free; Mar. 12: 7:30 p.m., Open Mic, free; Mar. 13: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik, $7; Mar. 14: 9:30 p.m., Giant Value, Warm Fields, $4; Mar. 15: 9:30 p.m., Moore Brothers, $6; Mar. 16: 9:30 p.m., St. Patrick's Celtic Meltdown, Blue on Green, Green Man Gruvin, $5; Mar. 17: 6 p.m., St. Patty's Day Celebration, Chameleon, Irish dancers & bagpiper, $10; 3101 Shattuck Ave., 841-2082. 

Tuva Space Mar. 21: 8 p.m., Blues Translation; Mar. 22: 8 p.m., Electro-Acoustic Quartet; Mar. 23: 8 p.m. Solo Guitar Performance, 9:30 p.m. Country, Folk, and Blues Standards. $8 All shows $8. 312 Adeline St. 649-8744, acme@sfsound.org 

UC Men's Octet Annual Spring Show Mar. 14 and 15: 8 p.m., all-male a cappella group; $7 students, $12 general, UC Berkeley, Wheeler Auditorium, 301-2367 octoevents@hotmail.com. 

“Harmonica Ace and Band” Mar. 15: 8 p.m., 10 p.m., Carlos Zialcita and his band team up with guest vocalist Ella Pennewell for a blues concert. $12. Dotha’s Juke Joint, 126 Broadway, Oakland, 663-7668 

“Expressionality” Mar. 13 through Mar. 16: Wed. 10:15 a.m., Thurs. 10:30 a.m., 7 p.m., Sat. to be announced. An opera created and produced by 4th and 5th graders. Wed. and Thurs. shows at Malcolm X Arts & Academics School, 1731 Prince St. Sat. show at Oakland Museum of Art. 644-6313 

“The Art of Disability” Mar. 16: 7 p.m., A showcase of performing artists with disabilities. $10 -$50 sliding scale. Alice Arts Center, 1428 Alice St., Oakland, hesternet@jps.net 

“Tribute to Oakland’s Gospel Greats” Mar. 16: 7:30 p.m., The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Youth Choir will present a free tribute concert. First Congregational Church of Oakland, 27th & Harrison St., Oakland, 839-4361  

“The Song of Songs” Mar. 16: 8 p.m., Composer Jorge Linderman creates a musical setting for Chana Bloch and Ariel Bloch’s translation of “The Song of Songs”. $32. Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Celebration for the Trees Mar. 17: 7 - 10 p.m., Benefit for the Ancient Trees Coalition Education Effort with Making Waves, Green, Marca Cassity, Folk This!, and Hali Hammer. BFUU Fellowship Hall 1606 Bonita. 

“Chamber Music Series” Mar. 17: 4 p.m., Joan Jeanrenaud, founding cellist of Kronos Quartet, gives a solo performance of both acoustic and electronic pieces. $10, free children under 18. The Crowden School, 1475 Rose St., 559-6910 x110, jamie@thecrowdenschool.org 

“Jazz Concert” Mar. 24: 2 p.m., Terry Gibbs and the Mike Vax Orchestra. $10 - $18. Longfellow School for the Arts, 1500 Derby St. 420-4560, www.bigbandjazz.net 

“Recital” Mar. 24: 3 p.m., Cal Performances presents pianist, Richard Goode, and vocalist, Randall Scarlata. $48. Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley campus, 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Jewish Music Festival” Through Mar 24: Several performers will perform Jewish music and dance from across the world. Call Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center for Acts, times and dates. 925-866-9559, www.brjcc.org 

“Compania Espanola De Antonio Marquez” Mar. 13 & 14: 8 p.m., Artistic Director Antonio Marquez showcases his dazzling and dynamic program of flamenco. $24 - $36. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

“Women’s Voices, Then and Now” Mar. 15 through Mar. 24: Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., Voices from a 1915 graveyard blend with voices from 1982 to present a vivid depiction of the lives of American women. $10. Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington, 525-0302 

“Curtain Up” Mar. 22 through Mar. 24: 8 p.m., Musical theater veteran Martin Charnin and Broadway conductor/comoser Keith Levenson join forces to create a semi-staged version of Gershwin and Kaufman’s 1927 musical comedy “Strike Up the Band”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

“The Golden State” Through Mar. 24: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., An aging Brian Wilson meets the ruling family of the sea, and a blend of comic book escapade and tragedy follows in the wake. $20, Sunday is pay what you can. Transparent Theater, 1901 Ashby Ave., 883-0305 

“Impact Briefs 5: The East Bay Hit” Through Mar. 30: Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., A collection of seven plays all about the ups and downs of in the Bay Area. $12, $7 students. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid, 464-4468, tickets@impattheatre.com. 

“The Merchant of Venice” Through Mar. 31: Wed. - Thurs. 7 p.m., Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., Women in Time Productions presents Shakespeare’s famous romantic comedy replete with masks and revelry, balcony scenes, and midnight escapes. $25, half-price on Wed. The Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 925-798-1300 

“Knock Knock” Through Apr. 14: Wed. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., 7 p.m., A comedic farce about two eccentric retirees whose comfortable philosophical arguments are interrupted by a series of strange visitors. $26 - $35. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org

Monday, March 11

The Science Behind Global  

Warming, and How You Can  

Reduce Your Impact 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Adult School 

University Ave. and Bonar St. 

Susan Ode, Berkeley Energy Commission, will provide an update on the science and implications of global warming for the world, plus a practical list of actions you can incorporate in your life to protect the global climate and improve the quality of your life. 981-5435, energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Odyssey of Conflict and  

Odyssey of Mastery -- Polanyi,  

Pirsig, Zen, and the Art of  

Knowing 

3:30 - 5 p.m. 

Pacific School of Religion, Mudd 206 

1798 Scenic Ave. 

Lecture and discussion presented by Allen Dyer, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at East Tennessee State University, also former chair of the ethics committee of the American Psychiatric Association. Free and open to the public. 849-8285. 

Learning from The History of  

Government 

noon 

UC Berkeley 

Harris Room (119 Moses Hall) 

Positive Political Theory Seminar with Roger Myerson, University of Chicago. 642-4608, http://www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/ 

Conscientious Objection to  

War 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Friends’ Meetinghouse 

2151 Vine St. 

The Berkeley Society of Friends will view the PBS documentary, The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It, and discuss it.  

Meet the Artists of the  

ARTS Ed Resource Guide 

6 - 8 p.m. 

James Irvine Foundation Conference Center 

353 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 

Artists and arts organizations will deliver brief presentation about their program offerings and address questions posed by the audience. Free and open to the public. 208-0842, www.artsedeastbay.org. 

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Cheryl Kirk-Dugan Center for Women & Religion. 

Tuesday, March 12

An Evening with Numfundo  

Walaza: The Burden of  

Forgiveness 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

An evening with Numfundo Walaza, director of the Trauma Center for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Capetown, South Africa. Walaza will talk about "The Burden of Forgiveness: Reflections from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of South Africa." $15. 204-0720, mkmorrison@cdsp.edu. 

Women's Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Frankie Moore McGee, Avenue Baptist Church. 

Wednesday., Mar. 13

Trees Forum 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

Amahra Hicks of USFS, and Jeff Romm of UCB discuss "Just Forests Initiative: Faith-based Activism for Public Land." Free and open to the public. www.gtu.edu/StudServ/TREES. 

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Lawrence Saez, professor of East Asia Studies, UC Berkeley; “South Asia: Focus on India.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

Thursday, March 14

Grizzly Peak Flyfishers 

Annual Flytying Festival 

7:30 p.m. 

Kensington Community Center 

59 Arlington Ave., Kensington 

Flytying demonstrations and tutoring for beginning through advanced. 524-0428. 

Hiking the Appalachian Trail 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Lisa Garrett and Francis Tapon will share slides and highlights of their 111-day journey through 13 East Coast states covering 2,167 miles. 527-4140, www.sonictrek.com.  

Women's Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Valerie Miles-Tribble Imani Community Church. 

Friday, March 15

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Keith A. Russell, president, American Baptist Seminary of the West; “A look at Moral Issues.” $1. 848-3533. 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Black History and Women's Months: Bessie Coleman, aviatrix. 232-1351. 

Women's Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AMEC 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Malvina Stephens Allen, Temple Baptist Church. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Saturday, March 16

76th Annual Poets’ Dinner 

11:30 a.m. 

Holiday Inn, Emeryville 

1800 Powell 

David Alpaugh will speak about “The Professionalization of Poetry,” followed by the reading of winning poems and prizes. 841-1217. 

Copwatch 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Copwatch 

2022 Blake St. 

Know your rights workshop. 548-0425. 

4th Annual Gay & Lesbian  

Family Night at the YMCA 

6 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA 

2001 Allston Way 

Open to all LGBT families and their friends. Pizza party, swimming, juggling demo and instruction, clowning, face painting, soccer, floor hockey, music, karate demo, and more for toddlers through teens. Free, donation requested. 665-3238, www.ourfamily.org.  

Sunday, March 17

Art of Enlightenment:  

Symbolism, Visualization and  

Mandalas 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Rosalyn White, art director for Dharma Publishing, will discuss Tibetan paintings and how they are used in meditation. 843-6812. 

Women’s Day 

9:30 a.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Women Excelling in the Grace of Giving; Speaker: Dr. Sarah F. Davis, Pastor 

Bethel AMEC, San Antonio, TX. 

Sara’s Children: The  

Destruction of Chmielinik 

3 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center  

1414 Walnut St. 

Suzan Hagstrom will talk about her book, Sara’s Children, and host a discussion. 848-0237 x127. 

Compiled by Guy Poole

Officials at the University of California at Berkeley are scheduling an open house today to answer questions and inform the public about plans for new student housing near the Southside neighborhood near campus. 

Architects and UC Berkeley planners will be on hand to discuss the master plan of the Underhill area, which will provide 1,200 beds by 2005, a new dining commons, a cafe, parking and recreational facilities. 

Officials plan to discuss the College-Durant project, which is scheduled to open for this year's fall semester, that will house 120 students in apartment-style units. The Central Dining and Office Facility, a four-story building east of Bowditch Street between Haste Street and Channing Way that will provide student food services, a coffee shop and house the administrative offices of residential service programs, will also be discussed. 

Editor: 

Thanks for the article last Friday about the closure of the library ("Library Switch-over"). It’s important that your readers know why the downtown library will be closed for five weeks. Similarly, it’s important that they realize this is not a "facelift," as your article suggested. Think instead "major new construction." Like an entirely new library office building…like a five-story library addition extending 100 feet to the west…like two new public levels…like earthquake retrofitting that involved sinking concrete piers deep into the ground. These are not mere cosmetic changes—which is why we’re calling it "New Central" not "Made-over Central." 

Diane Davenport 

Reference Services Manager 

Berkeley Public Library 

The National Nuclear Security Administration announced this week that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories have completed two of the largest computer simulations ever attempted and created the first full-system, three-dimensional simulations of a nuclear explosion. 

Both of the simulations, which were achieved on the Advanced Simulation and Computing White supercomputer, were completed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under the Stockpile Stewardship Program, which is responsible for maintaining the safety, security and reliability of the country's nuclear deterrent. 

The simulation is a milestone of the program, and applauded by Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham. 

“With this accomplishment the NNSA has advanced the state of the art in computer simulation,” Abraham said.  

Editor:  

In his letter (Daily Planet, 3/6), UC Director of Transportation Nadesan Permaul suggests that a bus-only Eco Pass transit pass might not be the answer for promoting transit use by UC employees.  

If UC wants a broader Eco Pass that includes BART, that would certainly be desirable and is also exactly what the City wants.  

The General Plan Transportation Element, adopted by the City Council last December calls for an Eco Pass program that includes both AC Transit and BART. The AC Transit Eco Pass program for City employees is only a first step. It is quite true that many people who commute to Berkeley by public transit take BART rather than riding a bus.  

Involving BART would certainly be a good idea. Right now, it costs more for UC employees who live in places like Concord or Hayward to commute by BART than to park in a UC lot. Why take BART when UC's below-market parking rates, even after recent increases, are less than the cost of a round-trip BART ride?  

However, there is no reason why UC shouldn't start with an AC Transit pass as the City has done. AC Transit has been willing to work with the City on Eco Pass and with UC on the Class Pass. BART may take longer to persuade, though hopefully they will get involved as well.  

Mr. Permaul suggests that it's too soon to tell whether Berkeley's Eco Pass program will be successful in reducing demand for parking. Evidence from existing Eco Pass-type programs in other cities and on other campuses shows that these programs have been successful in increasing transit use.  

UC shouldn't be afraid to give it a try.  

UCLA is now in the second year of a two year pilot transit pass program called Bruin Go. This program allows not just students, but faculty and staff as well, to ride Santa Monica's Blue Bus system for free. It is funded with parking fee revenues. Initial indications are that it has reduced demand for parking. If UC Berkeley tries Eco Pass for a couple of years and it proves unsuccessful, they can always discontinue it.  

Mr Permaul concludes that UC is going to work with City staff to achieve the goals of the Southside/Downtown TDM Study. One of the major recommendations of that study is to "Develop a City-Supported EcoPass Program".  

The TDM study suggests that Eco Pass costs be paid by employers and specifically calls for UC involvement. The TDM study has this to say about Eco Pass programs: "Almost all the prepaid fare programs implemented between employers and transit agencies have been successful,...".  

So, if UC is serious about implementing the TDM study and encouraging employee transit use, they should stop making excuses and move forward with Eco Pass.  

Rob Wrenn,  

Planning Commission  

Berkeley

Andrew Hintz, a UC Berkeley senior and member of Cal Democrats said, that recent casualties in Afghanistan hasn’t weakened his support for the war. 

“We’re fighting a war and part of war is casualties,” he said as he screamed at fellow students to go out and vote in Tuesday’s election. “I think that if you decide as a country to go to war, then you’ve decided to accept some casualties.” 

And he’s willing to accept as many casualties as necessary. “I don’t think there’s a threshold of a number of casualties,” he said.  

Today is Monday, March 11, the 70th day of 2002. There are 295 days left in the year. 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On March 11, 1942, as Japanese forces continued to advance in the Pacific during World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur left the Philippines for Australia, vowing: “I shall return.” (He kept that promise nearly three years later.) 

On this date: 

In 1810, Emperor Napoleon of France was married by proxy to Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. 

In 1861, the Confederate convention in Montgomery, Ala., adopted a constitution. 

In 1888, the famous “Blizzard of ’88” struck the northeastern United States, resulting in some 400 deaths. 

In 1930, former President and Chief Justice Taft was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law the Lend-Lease Bill, providing war supplies to countries fighting the Axis. 

In 1959, the Lorraine Hansberry drama “A Raisin in the Sun” opened at New York’s Ethel Barrymore Theater. 

In 1965, the Rev. James J. Reeb, a white minister from Boston, died after being beaten by whites during civil rights disturbances in Selma, Ala. 

In 1977, more than 130 hostages held in Washington, D.C., by Hanafi Muslims were freed after ambassadors from three Islamic nations joined the negotiations. 

In 1982, protesting his innocence, Sen. Harrison A. Williams Jr., D-N.J., resigned after 23 years in the Senate, rather than face expulsion in the wake of his ABSCAM conviction. 

In 1985, Mikhail S. Gorbachev was chosen to succeed the late Soviet President Konstantin U. Chernenko. 

Ten years ago: Members of the U.N. Security Council accused Iraq of playing a game of “cheat and retreat” from its promises to disarm and respect its people’s human rights; Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz lashed back, saying his country was complying with Gulf War cease-fire resolutions. 

Five years ago: In a startling turnaround, Senate Republicans agreed to a broader investigation of campaign financing that would include a look at huge “soft money” donations. Senate confirmation hearings for CIA Director-designate Anthony Lake began. Rock star Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. 

One year ago: Masked Zapatista rebels urged passage of an Indian rights bill after riding triumphantly into the heart of Mexico’s capital in a march supported by the president and welcomed by 75,000 cheering supporters. 

Today’s Birthdays 

Actor Terence Alexander is 79. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is 71. ABC News correspondent Sam Donaldson is 68. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is 66. Musician Flaco Jimenez is 63. Actress Tricia O’Neil is 57. Rock singer-musician Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge) is 55. Singer Bobby McFerrin is 52. Movie director Jerry Zucker is 52. Actress Susan Richardson is 50. Singer Nina Hagen is 47. Country singer Jimmy Fortune (The Statler Brothers) is 47. Singer Cheryl Lynn is 45. Actress Alex Kingston (“ER”) is 39. Actor Wallace Langham is 37. Actor John Barrowman is 34. Singer Lisa Loeb is 34. Singer Pete Droge is 33. Rock musician Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers) is 33. Rock singer-musicians Benji and Joel (Good Charlotte) are 23. Actress Thora Birch is 20.

LOS ANGELES — Some 500 friends and relatives of Daniel Pearl remembered the slain journalist Sunday as intelligent and sometimes clumsy, but always generous and committed to changing the world. 

“That was really our agenda in our own way,” said Pearl’s wife, Mariane, who spoke at the memorial service inside the Skirball Cultural Center. Information about the invitation-only service came through a single pool reporter who was allowed to attend. 

Daniel Pearl’s parents, Judea and Ruth Pearl, his sisters Tamara, 40, and Michelle, 32, and about a dozen friends and relatives shared their memories of the Wall Street Journal reporter. 

Others at the service included Wall Street Journal Managing Editor Paul Steiger, John K. Bauman, the consul general for Karachi, Pakistan, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who had pleaded for Pearl to be freed after his Jan. 23 kidnapping. 

Pearl, 38, South Asia bureau chief for the Journal, was kidnapped while researching links between Pakistani extremists and shoe-bombing suspect Richard C. Reid. A grisly videotape received Feb. 22 by U.S. diplomats in Karachi showed Pearl dead. His body has not been found. 

“He was courageous and brave, but not because he was a journalist out there in the trenches doing things that were risky,” said Daniel Gill, 38, of San Francisco, who met Pearl met when both were fourth-graders at a San Fernando Valley elementary school. 

“He was courageous and brave because Danny, more than anyone I knew, had the courage to live, and live well. I think he lived more in his 38 years than I have and probably ever will,” Gill said at a press conference after the service. 

There was more laughter than tears as people recounted anecdotes from Pearl’s youth in Los Angeles, his college years in Stanford University and his professional career with the Journal and other newspapers. They also recalled his musical talent on the fiddle and other instruments. 

Members of one of the bands Pearl played in, The Clamp in Washington, D.C., played a song they had composed together called “The World is Not a Bad Place.” 

Mariane, who married Pearl in Paris in August 1999 and lived and worked with him in India, said that the couple drew up their own wedding contract that contained commitments “to always remain open to new cultures and new people, and to inspire others with our relationship.” 

“We felt we were really lucky to have met each other,” Mariane said. “The more time we spent together, the more we loved each other.” 

Mariane, a French free-lance journalist, said she and her husband traveled everywhere together, and she doesn’t understand why she wasn’t with him the night he met his ultimate captors. 

“Even death cannot separate us. I make the commitment to enable him to live throughout me, throughout our son,” said Mariane Pearl, who expects to give birth to the couple’s only child in May. 

Pearl’s father, Judea, and his friends talked about his uncanny ability to land on his feet and talk his way out of predicaments — like the time he convinced a cab driver to loan him his belt for a job interview. 

They said that after he was kidnapped, they held on the hope that he would be able to talk his way out of that as well. 

“He knew for sure that no matter how complex the situation, some good fairy would take care of him, and she did for 38 years,” Judea Pearl said. 

Pearl was born Oct. 10, 1963 in Princeton, N.J., and grew up in the San Fernando Valley in northwest Los Angeles, graduating with honors in 1981 from Birmingham High in Van Nuys. He graduated from Stanford University in 1985 with a degree in communications. 

SAN DIEGO — After Sept. 11, a wave of fear swept through this beach town, better known for its sun, surf and laid-back attitude. 

The FBI revealed that two of the hijackers on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon had lived in the area. Several Middle Eastern men who knew them were rounded up. Criminal hearings were held in secret behind locked courtroom doors. 

Monday marks six months after the attacks, and for most here, the panic and alarm of those days has subsided. But for Muslims, whose leaders unanimously condemned the attacks, the wounds of Sept. 11 remain fresh. 

Many Arab-Americans are struggling with what they perceive to be their new status as a persecuted minority. There is a widespread belief that their phones are being tapped, that the media has made them into an object of hate and that the FBI may come knocking at any time, with devastating consequences. 

The enduring lesson, many say, is the fragility of one’s rights. 

“It makes me remember my dad, how they used to feel where they were being interrogated by the local regimes in their countries,” said Mohammed Nasser, a Lebanese-American who serves as director of the San Diego chapter of the Muslim-American Society. 

Randall Hamud, an Arab-American attorney representing two men arrested as material witnesses in the Sept. 11 attacks, said he sees a steady erosion of civil rights. Attorney General John Ashcroft, he said, is “putting the jackboot of repression on my people.” 

“I have no doubt my conversation with you is being recorded,” Hamud told a reporter from his cellular phone earlier this week. 

Scores of Arab-Americans have been questioned by FBI agents in San Diego since the Sept. 11 attacks. A total of four Middle Eastern men were arrested as material witnesses in the days after the attacks. One was let go but three others remain in custody, charged with document fraud or lying to a grand jury. 

While the terrorism probe is no longer front page news, the investigation isn’t dormant. Just last week, an Algerian detained with a former roommate of one of the Sept. 11 hijackers who lived in San Diego was charged with immigration document fraud. 

Many Muslims wonder if they’re next. Poor connections on calls placed to relatives back in the Middle East during the recent Muslim holidays were blamed on eavesdropping. One Muslim leader placed a device on his phone line that showed, he claimed, that his line is tapped. 

Bill Gore, special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Diego office, called the allegations of wiretapping “unfortunate.” He said the FBI does not arbitrarily tap phones. Such decisions, he said, are made with care and a judge must be shown probable cause before a tap can be installed. 

“We couldn’t do our job without the cooperation of law-abiding citizens in the Muslim community,” Gore said. 

Few know the feeling of scrutiny better than Abdussattar Shaikh, a Muslim and retired educator who rented rooms in his home in 2000 to Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf Alhazmi, who allegedly hijacked American Airlines Flight 77. The FBI said he is not a suspect, and Shaikh harbors no bitterness toward the 15 to 20 armed agents who searched his home in the suburb of Lemon Grove. 

“I have no complaint at all,” he said Sunday. “I try to look at things from the government’s point of view.” 

Shaikh said his anger is directed at the two hijackers who took advantage of his generosity as a fellow Muslim. He also said he felt mistreated by members of the media who made him a prisoner in his home for three weeks. 

But Muslims say San Diegans in general have treated them well, aside from some coldness in the days immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks. In fact, along with the ubiquitous reports of tapped phones are stories of unexpected acts of kindness. 

Omaran Abdeen recalled walking last month through a local mall with his wife, who wears a Muslim headscarf, when a fellow shopper approached them. 

“She came up to my wife and said ’I really admire your courage to come out with your scarf on and I want you to know we support you,”’ said Abdeen, the San Diego representative of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. 

officials divided on whether the war is winding down or taking shape 

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — Hundreds of weary U.S. soldiers descended from the Afghan mountains Sunday after a grueling eight-day battle against enemy holdouts. U.S. bombers pounded the caves where the remaining fighters were hiding. 

The Army said ground fighting was winding down but that Operation Anaconda would continue until the last of the al-Qaida and Taliban fighters had been killed or surrendered in the Shah-e-Kot mountains. 

About 400 U.S. troops returned to the Bagram air base north of Kabul on Sunday in wave after wave of CH-47 Chinook helicopters. It wasn’t clear when the remaining 600 would be out of the fighting zone. 

“We’re home!” the soldiers shouted, offering high-fives to elated colleagues. A few shook their heads in disbelief, grateful they had made it out alive. 

U.S. military officials in the United States and in Afghanistan characterized the state of fighting differently. 

Maj. Bryan Hilferty, the 10th Mountain Division spokesman, told reporters at Bagram that “the major fighting of the battle is over.” But Gen. Tommy Franks, the commander of the war, took issue with that statement. 

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Franks said that while some U.S. troops have been moved out of the battle area, others would take their places. “I don’t know that I could characterize it as winding down,” he said. 

Operation Anaconda was launched March 2 to crush al-Qaida and Taliban forces in the mountains of Paktia province. U.S. officials said the operation would continue until the last of the enemy troops surrendered or died. 

While the mission was hailed as a success, U.S. soldiers on the front lines were disappointed with one glaring absence: Afghan troops. According to pool reports from Sahikot Valley, the original plan was for U.S. soldiers to pull out after a couple days and be replaced by Afghan troops led by commander Zia Lodin. According to U.S. troops, Zia’s unit never showed. 

“Who cares,” said one soldier in the battle zone, south of the town of Gardez. “I don’t think anybody here cares anymore. If Zia comes, great. If not, oh well.” 

In Gardez, an Afghan commander, Ismail, said al-Qaida and Taliban forces in the area were ”75 percent spent” and he expected a final push within the next two days. Coalition forces said they killed at least 500 fighters and that about 200 were believed left. Eight Americans and three of their Afghan allies died. 

Ismail said American officers told him to wait for more bombing to soften up the last of the enemy forces. Late Sunday, the roar of U.S. jets and the distant thud of explosions could be heard from the battle area. 

SAN FRANCISCO – J. Eugene McAteer High School, an educational dumping ground where poorly performing students often were assigned, will close permanently at year’s end. 

Enrollment at the campus has declined over the past five years and graduation rates have suffered as well, according to the school district. 

“It got a reputation over the years of being a school that was underperforming,” San Francisco schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman said Sunday. “I think, in the end, people who felt emotionally abut McAteer closing felt it was in the best interest of the children.” 

The school district’s Board of Education voted 4-1 in favor of the shutdown at its meeting held Feb. 26. 

The underlying performance numbers at McAteer tell the story of school where few students wanted to be and most of them failed to keep up academically: 

• Over the last five years, enrollment has declined more than 50 percent. 

• Over the last four years, the graduation rate dropped from 95 percent to 87 percent. 

• In each of the three years that the state has measured schools on their Academic Performance Index, McAteer received a rank of one – the lowest ranking on the ten-point scale. 

And the district acknowledges that many of the students at McAteer were placed there in the middle of a school year because of discipline problems at other campuses. 

Ackerman said it became a fairly common practice for other schools to funnel poorly performing students and children with special needs to the McAteer campus, rather than equally distributing those students to several campuses in the district. 

“We’re now looking at making sure every high school gets its fair share of all students, and students with special needs in particular,” Ackerman said. 

About 75 McAteer teachers also will be placed at other campuses within the district. No layoffs were expected. 

The school’s principal, Patricia Fioriello, said the decision to close McAteer was met with mostly heavy hearts around campus. 

“Emotionally, it has not been easy for some of our students and staff,” Fioriello said. “Emotions aside, we all know and for the most parts the students know, this decision will reap great educational rewards for our students, especially as we implement a plan for mentors and tutors for the students who need that support.” 

McAteer students were told to list three campuses they would like to attend for the 2002-03 school year and will be granted one of those choices, Ackerman said. 

The district considered keeping a special senior class together for one last year, but a survey of 174 juniors found that just 40 were in favor of such a plan. 

Of the 850 students currently enrolled at McAteer, only 15 percent originally listed the campus as their first choice to attend.

WALNUT CREEK – A Walnut Creek pharmacist will be forced to surrender his license at the end of the month, after his business mixed a batch of medicine linked to an outbreak of illness and three meningitis deaths in June. 

Robert Horwitz, 62, a pharmacist for at least 35 years, must also give up his permit for Doc’s Pharmacy, although he sold the business in November. 

Horwitz was well-known for mixing custom medications, a practice known as “compounding.” 

But an Alameda County administrative law judge had found that poor sterilization techniques and other substandard practices during compounding led to a tainted batch of injectable steroid. 

Up to 38 people received the contaminated cortisone shots, and of those, 13 were hospitalized following the injections. Five of those people contracted meningitis and three later died. 

The state’s decision to revoke Horwitz’s license supported the judge’s finding. 

Horwitz’s former partner, Jamey Sheets, and two pharmacy technicians will receive 90-day suspensions and five-year probations. 

Sheets also must go through remedial education and, under the terms of his probation, is prohibited from mixing injectable medications. 

The state said Horwitz did not supervise the technicians who prepared the batch of shots. 

Family members of those who died after receiving the shots, as well as some who received the injections, have filed 15 separate lawsuits.

SAN FRANCISCO – An African American deputy probation officer in Marin County was awarded $1.6 million in damages in a civil rights suit. 

Officer Lonnie Morris, 44, along with fellow officer Wilfred Broom, sued the county government in 1999, asking for $2 million and accusing Marin County officials of maintaining a hostile work environment for racial minorities. The suit named the county, the board of supervisors, the probation department and Chief Probation Officer Ronald Baylo as defendants. 

The U.S. District Court jury in San Francisco issued a verdict Friday in favor of Morris that included $1.1 million in damages against the county and more than $500,000 against Baylo for racial discrimination. It also found Baylo liable for $20,000 in punitive damages, but rejected Morris’ claim that he was not promoted because of racial discrimination.

LOS ANGELES – As The Walt Disney Co. struggles to rapidly resuscitate ABC, the entertainment giant is looking to use the muscle of its ESPN cable sports network to bolster its flagging media division. 

Since Disney acquired it in 1996, the sports channel has expanded into an international brand, putting its name on a magazine, restaurant chain and its first original movie, “A Season on the Brink,” which aired Sunday. 

It has become one of the few bright spots on Disney’s disappointing balance sheet, generating profits at a time when Disney’s flagship network ABC is losing money. 

ESPN was key in a multibillion dollar deal for the rights to air NBA games on the cable network and ABC. Disney also is using ESPN as high-priced leverage in negotiations with cable and satellite television operators as it tries to launch new cable channels. 

Disney is even using ESPN’s appeal to young males to lure late-night TV host David Letterman to ABC by offering to market the show on ESPN. 

Meanwhile, Viacom Inc., which owns CBS, is trying to keep Letterman with a plan to market the show on its youth-oriented MTV and VH-1 networks. 

Overall, profits at Disney’s media networks division, which includes ABC, ESPN and other channels, dropped 58 percent in the last three months of 2001 as revenue declined by 3 percent. 

A weak advertising market, poor ratings at ABC and the increased cost of news programing after Sept. 11 contributed to the decline. 

But profits from Disney’s cable operations jumped 6 percent on an 18 percent increase in revenue, due largely to subscriber income and the fees Disney is able to collect from cable and satellite operators on the strength of ESPN, The Disney Channel and Lifetime. 

“Up until 2001, ESPN has been probably the fastest-growing division with consistency among all the operating divisions at Disney,” said Jeff Logsdon, an analyst at Gerard Klauer Mattison. 

Disney wants to spread that strength to other parts of the company, including ABC, which has found mixed results while trying to boost ratings. 

Ratings at ABC fell precipitously in 2001 after executives bet too heavily on the sustained success of the game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which had helped ABC become the top-rated network in 2000. 

Overall ratings have also dipped at ESPN since 1997 as the network expanded into four cable channels, partly cannibalizing its own audience. 

But ESPN ratings have increased 24 percent in prime time since October. Executives are hoping a mix of original shows, exclusive rights to key games and a strategy to attract a variety of sports enthusiasts, including bass fishermen, will keep the brand strong. 

Disney used ESPN’s clout to wage a joint bid with ABC for the rights to National Basketball Association games for six years. ESPN is now the only network that features all four major sports leagues. 

“We estimate the deal is worth around $2.4 billion and think it reaffirms Disney’s ABC Sports and ESPN as leaders in sports programming through 2008,” Jill Krutik, an analyst for Salomon Smith Barney, wrote in a recent report. 

ESPN’s dominance has allowed Disney to wield the network like a hammer over the heads of cable and satellite companies. 

Disney commands the highest possible price for ESPN and enforces a maximum 20 percent rate hike each year, while using the network as leverage to force cable operators to accept a host of new channels. 

The strategy is alienating some cable operators and is at the heart of a dispute between Disney and EchoStar Communications Inc., which wants to drop the ABC Family Channel from its Dish Network service. EchoStar has already stopped airing ESPN Classic, a channel ESPN acquired in 1997. 

“Disney wants to dominate every market they have and charge the maximum price,” said Larry Gerbrandt, chief content officer at Kagan World Media, a media research and consulting firm. 

ESPN defends its prices and points to a recent study conducted by Beta Research Corp. showing that cable operators consider ESPN the most valuable network carried by their systems. 

“We deliver a valuable product to cable operators,” ESPN President George Bodenheimer said. “We’re very comfortable that we have struck a balance in the price-value relationship with the operators. They make money off of ESPN.” 

ESPN The Magazine launched in 1998 and lags behind its chief rival, Sports Illustrated. But the ESPN magazine’s circulation grew 20 percent in the last six months of 2001, to 1.4 million, while SI’s circulation has remained fairly steady at about 3.2 million for the past several years. 

AOL Time Warner, which publishes SI, recently brought in a new editor to revive the title.

Extension employees have been negotiating with the university for better wages during the past six months 

Their red shirts were red flags. Clerical workers at the UC Berkeley Extension rallied outside their building on University Avenue Friday to protest what they see as a skimpy contract proposal from the university. 

UC administrators are offering the Coalition of University of Employees a 1 percent pay raise and have taken away merit increases, which would raise salaries based on good performance reports. CUE has been negotiating with the university for the last six months, but now clerical workers at the Extension school are fed up. 

Holding signs that said, “Honk if you think clericals deserve a raise” and blowing whistles, the workers wanted to make sure the university heard their discontent. 

“We need more than the 1 percent raise,” said Sue Meux, an administrative assistant. “There are no merit increases and most of us got good reports and earned them last year. We’ve also had layoffs and they expect us to pick up the work load. But there’s no incentive.”  

“We’re out here to let the university know we’re watching them and we’re not happy,” said Meux. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington was also out supporting the workers.  

“I think it’s very unfair that the university keeps having top-heavy increases and refusing to give reasonable cost-of-living increases for employees,” said Worthington. 

“If the City of Berkeley made this offer to its unions like the university is making to this union, people would laugh at us. It’s not a serious negotiation tactic,” he said. 

The issue is important to students, too.  

“At a big state school, it’s important that students get as much attention as possible,” said Cal student Snehal Shingavi. 

Without clerical workers who organize the process, he said, students could get lost in the shuffle.  

CUE has been unhappy with the university’s compensation package for some time. Members also held a rally on campus last week to protest the transit subsidy program. 

Meux hopes that the university realizes how important it is to have happy, productive clerical employees. 

“Take away the clericals and the university comes to a standstill,” she said. 

Vice Chancellor Horace Mitchell, who oversees business and administrative services, was out of town. Other human resources officials at the university could not be reached for comment.

Editor:  

Last year, I co-wrote a set of ecologically sustainable land use policies I hoped would be introduced into the General Plan Revision process called the Ecocity Amendment. The policies are based on the principles of ecological city theory and planning developed, in part, by Ecocity Builders, a Berkeley based NGO that works towards designing built human habitats that exist in balance with the surrounding biosphere. Over the course of several months, over 100 mostly local groups and businesses endorsed the polices. 

Additionally, both the moderates and progressives in the City Council submitted their versions of the amendments, as did the City Planning Department. Much of the policy language is now in the General Plan Revision, thanks to the support of our endorsers and the commitment of Council to ensure that the ideas were represented. 

Recently, it was brought to my attention that a new group calling itself The Berkeley Party had taken the text of the Ecocity Amendment and made a mockery of the document for their amusement, calling it the 'Eco-community Amendment', and posted in on their website. I was even more disappointed when I went to the members page and found that a few respected city officials had their names on the twelve person or so membership list. 

Strangely, while the Berkeley Party members call for more professional behavior from our elected officials, they quickly turn around and do something completely unprofessional themselves. 

But I guess maybe they think people who represent a break from the past aren't worthy of their respect. As a single parent living in a West Berkeley apartment, my way of living wouldn't be considered very 'livable' by many of the Berkeley Party anyway. They seem to believe that the only way to live a 'human scale' life is to own a single family home in a low density neighborhood. I am proud of the fact that I take up less energy and less land. I don't need a house or a bunch of stuff to have a good life, and although I don't have a front and back yard, I do have Codornices Creek three blocks away and the Karl Linn Community Gardens up the street. 

By refusing to build any significant housing in Berkeley for 30 years, we have created a car-swamped almost entirely gentrified city of incredibly expensive houses with a tokenistically small number of guilt-dispelling low income units that aren't really that low because the average price is so astronomically high in the first place. I wonder why?  

Well, if you go to the Berkeley Party website, you'll see that they have as their icon a picture of Berkeley from 1900. With this as their 'blueprint' for Berkeley, you can tell why we haven't come a very long way towards facing the realities, challenges and opportunities of the present. Let's make way for the future, and let's make it even better than Berkeley 1900. Let's plan for and create human habitats that will be equitable and healthy for both people and nature, not just for those who own single family detached homes and who are digging in their heels, closing their eyes and hears and pretending that returning to the past is the wave of the future. 

Kirstin Miller 

Ecocity Builders 

Berkeley 

Jewish music will take center stage in Berkeley for the next two weeks, but many people may be surprised by what they hear. 

The 17th annual Jewish Music Festival hits Berkeley today. The largest of its kind in Northern California, the 15-day festival presents and eclectic array of music that is not well known to local audiences, and is not typically viewed as traditionally Jewish. 

The Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center designed the festival to introduce Bay Area residents to the vast traditions and newest trends in Jewish music. From the centuries-old music of Central Asia to the latest innovations in Klezmer, the festival strives to present music that is both moving and relevant to music fans of all backgrounds. 

The specter of Sept. 11 and the ongoing violence between Israelis and Palestinians factored heavily in selecting this year’s performers. The organizers wanted to show that Jewish music, including that forged in Muslim-populated lands, has never existed in isolation, but has absorbed and influenced the traditions of its neighbors. 

“We want this to be an antidote to the daily headlines so people can understand that there is a rich history of collaborations between Jews and Muslims” said Eleanor Shapiro, co-director of this year’s festival.  

Highlighting the festival’s theme, the Gerard Edery Ensemble will perform music from the Golden Age of Spain. That was a time when Jews, Muslims and Christians forged a common musical language. Also in the spotlight is Darma, an Israeli ensemble acclaimed for its fusion of Middle Eastern Jewish and Arab music with the sounds of Eastern Europe, Ireland and jazz, and Shashmaqam, the Bukharan Jewish Ensemble, whose members were reared in the musical traditions of Central Asia, where the native songs and dances are as at home in a Muslim wedding as they are at a Jewish festival.  

In the spirit of blending musical traditions and styles, Kitka and Davka, two of the Bay Area’s most renowned ensembles will make there collaborative debut March 23 at the Roda Theater. Daniel Hoffman, Davka’s violinist and composer will premiere a new work, inspired by the Nachman Bialik’s Hebrew Poem “At Twilight.” The composition will be supported by the voices of Kitka, an eight-woman a cappella group, which will stray from its traditionally Balkan and Slavic repertoire to sing in Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino.  

Klezmer fans will have a chance to clap their hands and stomp their feet during a few special performances. On Sunday, March 17 Joshua Waletzky, a major force in the Klezmer revival, will perform at the Roda Theatre. The following Sunday at the International House, Michael Alpert hosts Soles on Fire, a community Klezmer dance party, featuring a band, which includes members of the acclaimed Klezmer ensemble, Brave New World. 

Shashmaqam will open the festival on Saturday, March 9 at the Wheeler Auditorium. Darma will perform at Wheeler on March 10, and The Gerard Edery Ensemble will perform on March 14 at the Roda Theatre.  

For a full list of events and ticket information call 925-866-9559 or visit www.brjcc.org 

The special historical connection between Jews and Muslims is getting extra attention this year, and fittingly, the festival opens with Shashmaqam, the Bukharan Jewish ensemble. The Bukharan Jewish Community has called the Central Asia home for centuries. The group’s repertoire 

924 Gilman Mar. 9: Not Flipper, The Sick, Lo-FI Niessans, Stalker Potential, Deficient; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

ACME Observatory Contemporary Performance Series Mar. 17: 8 p.m., Vorticella; the laptop duo of Kristen Miltner and Kendra Juul; $0 to $20, TUVA Space, 3192 Adeline. 649-8744, http://sfsound.org/acme.html. 

The Albatross Mar. 9: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet, 9:30 p.m.; Mar. 12: Mad & Eddie Duran; Mar. 14: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Mar. 17: Bobby Nickels, Kyle Thyer, Cherlie, 8:30 p.m.; Mar. 18: Paul Schneider; Mar. 19: Carla Kaufman & Larry Scala; Mar. 20: Whiskey Brothers; Mar. 21: Keni “El Lebrijano”; All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted. 822 San Pablo Ave., 843-2473, albatrosspub@mindspring.com. 

Anna’s Bistro Mar. 9: Vicki Burns and Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Mar. 10: Choro Time; Mar. 11: Renegade Sidemen; Mar. 12: Singers’ open mic w/ Trio; Mar. 13: Jimmy Ryan Jazz Quartet; Mar. 14: Rev. Rabia; Mar. 15: Sallie/Dave/Doug Jazz Trio; 10 p.m., Hideo Date; Mar. 16: Bob Crawford Jazz Trio; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Mar. 17: Aleph Null; Music starts at 8 p.m. unless noted, 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center Mar. 9: 7:30 p.m., “In Song and Struggle,” 3rd annual music, dance and spoken word celebration of International Women’s Day and 12 years of Berkeley Copwatch, $10-$20, www.berkeleycopwatch.org; Mar. 10: 2 - 6 p.m., California Friends of Louisiana French Music, $8; Mar. 10: 7:30 p.m., Be Sharps - The 22-voice student choir from El Cerrito’s Windrush Middle School, $5; Mar. 17: 7 p.m., Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble and Combos; 1317 San Pablo Ave., 548-0425. 

Blake’s Mar. 9: Motherbug, $5; Mar. 10: Earl Zero & the 7th Street Band, DJ Baggo, $3; Mar. 11 The Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Mar. 12: Colonel Knowledge, Mega Babes, $3; Mar. 13: Karate High School, Auto Punch, Simplistic, $5; Mar. 14: Ascension, $5; Mar. 15: King Harvest, First Circle, $5; Mar. 16: Omaya, $7; Mar. 17: The Lost Coast Band, The Real, $3; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cal Performances Mar. 10: 3 p.m., The Petersen Quartet perform the works of Beethoven, Shostakovich and Ravel. $34; Mar. 16: 8 p.m., Gyuto Monks perform multiphonic chanting in accordance with the spiritual practices of Tantric Tibetan Buddhism. $24 - $36; Mar. 17: 3 p.m., Andras Schiff, classical pianist. $28 - $48; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 642-9988 

Cato’s Ale House Mar. 10: Blue Eyed Devils; Mar. 13: Irish Session; Mar. 20: Saul Kaye Quartet; Mar. 24: Lost Coast Jazz Trio; Mar. 27: Vince Wallace Trio; Mar. 31: Phillip Greenlief Trio; 3891 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 655-3349 

Downtown Mar. 9: Mad and Eddie Duran; Mar. 10: Duncan James, Ned Boynton Jazz Guitar Duet; Mar. 12: Aaron Greenblatt; Mar. 13: Dave Mathews; 2102 Shattuck Ave., 649-3810 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Mar. 8 & 9: House Jacks, $17.50; Mar. 10: Todd Phillips, David Grier & Matt Flinner, $16.50; Mar. 11: Ledward Ka’apana, $17.50; Mar. 13: Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band, $16.50; Mar. 14: Carol Denney, $16.50; Mar. 15: David Maloney performs Irish folk opera “The Great Blight”, $17.50; Mar. 16: The Black Brothers, $18.50; Mar. 17: Tom Russell, $16.50; 1111 Addison St., 548-1761, folk@freightandsalvage.org 

Jazzschool Mar. 24: 4:30 p.m., Alegria, $6-$12. 2087 Addison St., 845-5373, www.jazzschool.com. 

Jupiter Feb. 23: Brenden Millstein Quartet; Feb. 27: J Steinkoler Duo; Feb. 28: Spectraphonic; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m., unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Peña Cultural Center Mar. 1: 9 p.m., 2nd Annual Women in Salsa Celebration, $10; Mar. 2: 8 p.m., Aywah! Ethnic Dance Co., $16; Mar. 3: 3:30 p.m. -6 p.m., Domingo de Rumba in the Café; Mar. 6: 7:30 p.m., Students of La Peña's classes perform Josh Jones' Latin Jazz and Hip Hop/Funk Ensemble perform with guest artists from Joyce Young's Poetry, Resistance and Cultural Arts Workshops, and students from Merritt College high school. $8; 3105 Shattuck Ave., 849-2568, www.lapena.org. 

The Starry Plough Mar. 1: 9:30 p.m., Darling Clementines, Swingin' Doors, $6; Mar. 2: 9:30 p.m., Jon Dee Graham, Naked Barbies, $8; Mar. 3: 8 p.m., The Starry Irish Music Session led by Shay Black; Mar. 4: 7 p.m., Dance Class and Ceili (traditional Irish music session), free; Mar. 5: 7:30 p.m., Open Mic, free; Mar. 6: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam $7; Mar. 7: 9:30 p.m., Bleachmobile, Grain USA, Knieval, $4; Mar. 8: 9:30 p.m., 5 Rue Christine Label Showcase, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Hella, Slim Moon Solo, $5; Mar. 9: 9:30 p.m., Gun and Doll Show, Visitor Jim, Anton Barbeau, $5; Mar. 10: 8 p.m., The Starry Irish Music Session led by Shay Black; Mar. 11: Dance Class and Ceili (traditional Irish music session), free; Mar. 12: 7:30 p.m., Open Mic, free; Mar. 13: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik, $7; Mar. 14: 9:30 p.m., Giant Value, Warm Fields, $4; Mar. 15: 9:30 p.m., Moore Brothers, $6; Mar. 16: 9:30 p.m., St. Patrick's Celtic Meltdown, Blue on Green, Green Man Gruvin, $5; Mar. 17: 6 p.m., St. Patty's Day Celebration, Chameleon, Irish dancers & bagpiper, $10; 3101 Shattuck Ave., 841-2082. 

Tuva Space Mar. 21: 8 p.m., Blues Translation; Mar. 22: 8 p.m., Electro-Acoustic Quartet; Mar. 23: 8 p.m. Solo Guitar Performance, 9:30 p.m. Country, Folk, and Blues Standards. $8 All shows $8. 312 Adeline St. 649-8744, acme@sfsound.org 

“Free Men! Free Women!” Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Wing It performs a new a combination of dance, song and story. $12. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, 814-9584 

“John Glennon and Erika March” Feb. 24: 5 p.m., A program of French music including the works of Francois Couperin, Chambonnieres, and Muffat. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685 

“Soukous Xplosion Tour 2002” Mar. 1: 9 p.m. Madilu Systems, Nyboma, Diblo Dibala & Matchatcha and special guest Daly Kimoko will make the sounds of Africa come alive. $25, $30 at door. California Ballroom, 1736 Franklin St., Oakland, 415-421-8497 

“Cosi Fan Tutte” Through Mar. 3: The Berkeley Opera will perform Mozart’s classic opera. $10 - $30. Call for specific dates and times. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. 841-103, www.berkeleyopera.com 

“In Praise of Music: Berkeley Choral Festival” Mar. 4: 8 p.m., Several local choral groups will join the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra in a benefit for the Musicians’ Pension Fund. $25 - $49, $12 students. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 841-2800 

“Chamber Music” Mar. 9: 3 p.m., Berkeley High School musicians perform their second annual chamber music concert, featuring the works of Gershwin, Ravel, McMichael, Maniet and Couperin. Free. Berkeley Public Library North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, 981-6250 

“Splendors of Versailles and Madrid” Mar. 9: 8 p.m., Mar. 10: 7:30 p.m., Jordi Savall conducts the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra as they perform works from the Royal Court composers of Spain and France. $34 - $50. First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, 415-392-4400 

“Shashmaqam Bukharan Jewish Ensemble” Mar. 10: 8 p.m., An evening of traditional music and from Bukhara, Uzbekistan. $24. Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley campus, 866-9559 

“The Glory of Past Empires - Music of Great Civilizations in Europe and Western Asia” Mar. 10: 8 p.m., Tim Rayborn and John Waller. $10, $8 students. Hausmusik, 1185 Solano Ave., PMB #146, Albany, 486-2803 

“Empyrean Ensemble” Mar. 10: 2 p.m., The classical group performs two world premiers for this family matinee. $10 adults, $5 children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., 845-8542 x301, www.juliamorgan.org 

UC Men's Octet Annual Spring Show Mar. 14 and 15: 8 p.m., all-male a cappella group; $7 students, $12 general, UC Berkeley, Wheeler Auditorium, 301-2367 octoevents@hotmail.com. 

“Harmonica Ace and Band” Mar. 15: 8 p.m., 10 p.m., Carlos Zialcita and his band team up with guest vocalist Ella Pennewell for a blues concert. $12. Dotha’s Juke Joint, 126 Broadway, Oakland, 663-7668 

“Expressionality” Mar. 13 through Mar. 16: Wed. 10:15 a.m., Thurs. 10:30 a.m., 7 p.m., Sat. to be announced. An opera created and produced by 4th and 5th graders. Wed. and Thurs. shows at Malcolm X Arts & Academics School, 1731 Prince St. Sat. show at Oakland Museum of Art. 644-6313 

“The Art of Disability” Mar. 16: 7 p.m., A showcase of performing artists with disabilities. $10 -$50 sliding scale. Alice Arts Center, 1428 Alice St., Oakland, hesternet@jps.net 

“Tribute to Oakland’s Gospel Greats” Mar. 16: 7:30 p.m., The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Youth Choir will present a free tribute concert. First Congregational Church of Oakland, 27th & Harrison St., Oakland, 839-4361  

“The Song of Songs” Mar. 16: 8 p.m., Composer Jorge Linderman creates a musical setting for Chana Bloch and Ariel Bloch’s translation of “The Song of Songs”. $32. Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Celebration for the Trees Mar. 17: 7 - 10 p.m., Benefit for the Ancient Trees Coalition Education Effort with Making Waves, Green, Marca Cassity, Folk This!, and Hali Hammer. BFUU Fellowship Hall 1606 Bonita. 

“Chamber Music Series” Mar. 17: 4 p.m., Joan Jeanrenaud, founding cellist of Kronos Quartet, gives a solo performance of both acoustic and electronic pieces. $10, free children under 18. The Crowden School, 1475 Rose St., 559-6910 x110, jamie@thecrowdenschool.org 

“Jazz Concert” Mar. 24: 2 p.m., Terry Gibbs and the Mike Vax Orchestra. $10 - $18. Longfellow School for the Arts, 1500 Derby St. 420-4560, www.bigbandjazz.net 

“Recital” Mar. 24: 3 p.m., Cal Performances presents pianist, Richard Goode, and vocalist, Randall Scarlata. $48. Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley campus, 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Jewish Music Festival” Mar. 9 through Mar 24: Several performers will perform Jewish music and dance from across the world. Call Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center for Acts, times and dates. 925-866-9559, www.brjcc.org 

Dance 

“Here..Now” Through Feb. 24: Tues. - Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., 8 p.m., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs three distinct programs featuring the West Coast premiere of “Here...Now”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

“Kusum Africa” Mar. 1 & 2: 8 p.m., Sixty artists and four dance companies representing the traditions of the Congo, Republic of Guinea, and Ghana adapt sub-Saharan dance-drumming to tell the story of the occupation of Accra, Ghana to protest British colonialism. $18 - $30. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

"The Healing Has Time" Mar. 9: 8 p.m., Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, a tribute in dance benefiting the Mother of Peace Orphanage Living with AIDS in Zimbabwe. $15-$30. Kaiser Convention Center - Calvin Simmons Theater, 10th St., Oakland, 278-2681, diamanoc@aol.com. 

“Risk of Falling” Mar. 9: 8 p.m., Mar. 10: 4:30 p.m., Julie Drucker has assembled troupe of dancers ages 24 to 83 to perform an intergenerational dance project that weds improvisational movement and personal storytelling to explore issues of trust, fear, aging and community. $12 - $15, $10 seniors. Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito, 286-7922 

“Our Neighbors Dance Their Dances: A Celebration of World Dances” Mar. 10: 3 p.m., The African Queens, Patricia Bulitt, Betty Ladzekpo and Mimi Prather & Rotrease Yates perform their respective native dances. $5, children free. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 981-5150 

“Compania Espanola De Antonio Marquez” Mar. 13 & 14: 8 p.m., Artistic Director Antonio Marquez showcases his dazzling and dynamic program of flamenco. $24 - $36. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

Theater 

“Night, Mother” Feb. 23: 8 p.m., A drama exploring one young woman’s decision to take control of her life with one furious and heartbreaking act. Directed by Bahati Bonner. $12, $8 seniors. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid Ave. 496-1269 x1950, nightmother@onebox.com 

“The Pirandello Project” Through Feb. 23: Check venue for specific dates, times and prices. An original presentation of three short works by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Luigi Pirandello. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., 841-4082, www.pirandelloproject.org 

“Culture Clash in AmeriCCA” Through Mar. 3: Check theater for specific dates and times. The comic trio Culture Clash present their latest collection of political, ethnological and socialogical humor written for and about Berkeley. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Rhinoceros” Through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

“Divine Comedy: The Dante Project” Mar. 1 through Mar. 10: Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. A motorcycle and sidecar speeding over the Marsh of Styx, a flying bathtub touring the solar system, and a traveler passing through a wall of fire are some of the more spectacular moments in this comic twist on Dante’s poem. $6 - $12. Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9925, genturc@uclink.berkeley.edu 

“Women’s Voices, Then and Now” Mar. 15 through Mar. 24: Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., Voices from a 1915 graveyard blend with voices from 1982 to present a vivid depiction of the lives of American women. $10. Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington, 525-0302 

“Curtain Up” Mar. 22 through Mar. 24: 8 p.m., Musical theater veteran Martin Charnin and Broadway conductor/comoser Keith Levenson join forces to create a semi-staged version of Gershwin and Kaufman’s 1927 musical comedy “Strike Up the Band”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

“The Golden State” Feb. 23 through Mar. 24: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., An aging Brian Wilson meets the ruling family of the sea, and a blend of comic book escapade and tragedy follows in the wake. $20, Sunday is pay what you can. Transparent Theater, 1901 Ashby Ave., 883-0305 

“Impact Briefs 5: The East Bay Hit” Mar. 1 through Mar. 30: Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., A collection of seven plays all about the ups and downs of in the Bay Area. $12, $7 students. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid, 464-4468, tickets@impattheatre.com. 

“The Merchant of Venice” Mar. 9 through Mar. 31: Wed. - Thurs. 7 p.m., Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., Women in Time Productions presents Shakespeare’s famous romantic comedy replete with masks and revelry, balcony scenes, and midnight escapes. $25, half-price on Wed. The Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 925-798-1300 

“Knock Knock” Mar. 8 through Apr. 14: Wed. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., 7 p.m., A comedic farce about two eccentric retirees whose comfortable philosophical arguments are interrupted by a series of strange visitors. $26 - $35. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland, 239-2252, www.acteva.com/go/havefun. 

“A Fairy’s Tail” Mar. 16 through Apr. 20: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players present Adam Bock’s story of a girl and her odyssey of revenge and personal transformation after a giant smashes her house with her family inside. Directed by Patrick Dooley. $10 - $25. The Allston Street Theatre, 2116 Allston Way, 704-8210, www.shotgunplayers.org 

Film 

Pacific Film Archive Mar. 11: A Star is Born, 3 p.m.; Flesh, 7 p.m.; Mar. 12: An eye Unruled: An Evening with Stan Brakhage, 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 13: The Bicycle Thief, 3 p.m.; Daughter from Danang, 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 14: The Student I, 7 p.m.; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412 

“Asian American Film Fest” Mar. 8: 7 p.m., Obachan’s Garden; 9:30 p.m., Conjugation; Mar. 9: 7 p.m., Daughters of the Cloth; 9:20 p.m. E-Dreams; Mar. 10: 3 p.m., Chan is Missing; 5:30 p.m., Japanese Devils; Mar. 13: Daughter From Danang; Pacific Film Archive, 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Contra Costa Jewish Film Festival Through March 7th. On wednesday Febraury 27th at 7:30p.m. 2736 Bancrfot Avenue - Love, Israeli Style will be playing. On Thursday, March 7th at 7:30 p.m. 2451 Shattuck Avenue - The Search for Peace will be playingg ($5).  

Exhibits  

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Through Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ton of Joy” Through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

“Celebrating the African Diaspora” Through Mar. 1: A Black History Month Exhibit celebrating the contributions of Africans in America and throughout the Diaspora. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; University of Creation Sprituality, 2141 Broadway, Oakland, 835-4827 x31 

“Trace of a Human” Feb. 28 through Mar. 30: Jim Freeman and Krystyna Mleczko exhibit their latest works including mixed media sculpture installation and acrylic on canvas paintings. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, gallery709@aol.com 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

“A Retrospective Show” Through Mar. 13: The Women’s Cancer Resource Center “The Art of Living Black,” an Open Studios event for local African American artists. The Gallery features a retrospective show of the work of the late Jan Hart-Schuyers. Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m., Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 3023 Shattuck Ave., 548-9286 x307, www.wcrc.org. 

The Richmond Art Center Through Mar. 16: “The Art of Living Black 2002: The sixth Annual Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition and Art Tour,” group exhibition of 81 artists; “Introspección Dual: Recent Painting by Verónica B. Rojas and Santiago Gervas”; “Transmutations: Recent work by Tim Jag”; “The NIAD` Family,” Artwork from the National Institute of Art and Disabilities; “Still Here,” collaborative art project about AIDS in the 21st century; “Girls in the Hall,” artwork by girls incarcerated in the San Francisco juvenile justice system; Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; The Art of Living Black Art Tour Weekend: Mar. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 2540 Barrett Ave., 620-6772, www.therichmondartcenter.org. 

“Stas Orlovski” Feb. 16 through Mar. 23: New work by Stas Orlovski featuring a series of large paintings and drawings examining the relationships between body and landscape and eastern and western aesthetics. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Traywick Gallery, 1316 Tenth St., 527-1214 

“Average Female (Perfect)” Through Mar. 24: Manhattan-based artist Sowon Kwon projects footage of the first ever perfect-scoring gymnasts: Romanian, Nadia Comanece and Russian, Nelli Kim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Kwon superimposes over the gymnasts a hand-drawn outline of the “average” female body to direct the audience’s attention to the gymnasts’ movements throughout their performances. Wed. - Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4 - $6. University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“The Works of Alexander Nepote” Through Mar. 29: Nepote was a 20th century artist whose medium is a process of layered painting of torn pieces of watercolor paper, fused together in images that speak of the spirit that underlies and is embodied in the landscape he views. Check museum for times. Bade Museum, Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., 849-8272 

“Trace of a Human” Through Mar. 30: An exhibit of mixed media sculpture by Jim Freeman, and acrylic paintings on canvas by Krystyna Mleczko. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, gallery709@aol.com 

“Journey of Self-discovery” Through Mar. 30: Community Works artist Adriana Diaz and Willard Junior High students joined together to explore gender stereotypes, advertising, and other influential elements in society in a project that culminated in two life-size portraits that explore self-identity. Free. La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 845-3332. 

“West Oakland Today” Through Mar. 30: Sergio De La Torre presents “thehousingproject”, an open house/video installation that explores desire surrounding one’s sense of home and place. Marcel Diallo presents “Scrapyard Ghosts”, an installation that presents a glimpse into the process of one man’s conversation with the living past through objects of iron, wood, rock dirt and other debris unearthed at an old scrapyard site in West Oakland’s Lower Bottom neighborhood. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakland  

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

“Portraits of the Afghan People: 1984 - 1992” Through Apr. 6: An exhibit of black and white photographs by Bay Area photographer Patricia Monaco. Free. Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400 

“The Zoom of the Souls” Mar. 23 through Apr. 13: An exhibit of oil paintings by Mark P. Fisher. Sat. 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Bay Area Music Foundation, 462 Elwood Ave. #9, Oakland, 836-5223 

“Sibila Savage & Sylvia Sussman” Through Apr. 13: Photographer, Sibila Savage presents photographs documenting the lives of her immigrant grandparents, and Painter, Sylvia Sussman displays her abstract landscapes on unstretched canvas. Free. Wed. - Sun. 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. 64-6893, www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“Trillium Press: Past, Present and Future” Feb. 15 through April 13: Works created at Trillium Press by 28 artists. Tues. - Fri. noon - 5:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave., 549-2977, www.kala.org.  

“Art is Education” Mar. 18 through Apr. 19th: A group exhibition of over 50 individual artworks created by Oakland Unified School District students, Kindergarten through 12th grade. Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Building Atrium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland, 238-6952, www.oaklandculturalarts.org 

“Expressions of Time and Space” Mar. 18 through April 17: Calligraphy by Ronald Y. Nakasone. Julien Designs 1798 Shattuck Ave., 540-7634, RyNakasone@aol.com.  

“The Legacy of Social Protest: The Disability Rights Movement” Through April 30: The first exhibition in a series dealing with Free Speech, Civil Rights, and Social Protest Movements of the 60s and 70s in California. Photograghs by: Cathy Cade, HolLynn D’Lil, Howard Petrick, Ken Stein. The Free Speech Cafe, Moffitt Undergraduate Library, University of California-Berkeley, hjadler@yahoo.com.  

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

“Quilted Paintings” Mar. 3 through May 4: Contemporary wall quilts by Roberta Renee Baker, landscapes, abstracts, altars and story quilts. Free. The Coffee Mill, 3363 Grand Ave., Oakland 465-4224 

“Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs” Feb. 2 through May 12: An exhibit displaying models of the sets and dinosaur sculptures used in the Jurassic Park films, as well as a video presentation and a dig pit where visitors can dig for specially buried dinosaur bones. $8 adults, $6, youth and seniors. Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Dr., above the UC Berkeley campus, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

“The Image of Evil in Art” Feb. 7 through May 31: An exhibit exploring the varying depictions of the devil in art. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2541. 

“The Pottery of Ocumichu” Through May 31: A case exhibit of the imaginative Mexican pottery made in the village of Ocumichu, Michoacan. Known particularly for its playful devil figures, Ocumichu pottery also presents fanciful everyday scenes as well as religious topics. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2540 

“Being There” Feb. 23 through May 12: An exhibit of paintings, sculpture, photography and mixed media works by 45 contemporary artists who live and/or work in Oakland. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 12 - 5 p.m. $6, adults, $4 children. The Oakland Museum of California, Oak and 10th St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

“Scene in Oakland, 1852 to 2002” Mar. 9 through Aug. 25: An exhibit that includes 66 paintings, drawings, watercolors and photographs dating from 1852 to the present, featuring views of Oakland by 48 prominent California artists. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 12 - 5 p.m. $6, adults, $4 children. The Oakland Museum of California, Oak and 10th St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

Readings 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Mar. 17: 3 p.m., Suzan Hagstrom reads from her book “Sara’s Children: The Destruction of Chielnik,” chronicling the survival of one brother and four sisters in Nazi death camps. Free. 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 x127 

Black Oak Books Feb. 27: 7:30 p.m., Author & Activist Randy Schutt discussing his new book "Inciting Democracy: A Practical Proposal for Creating a Good Society." 1491 Shattuck Ave., 486-0698. 

Cody’s on Fourth St. Feb. 27: 6 p.m., Rodney Yee brings “Yoga: The Poetry of the Body”; Feb. 28: Rosemary Wells talks about children, children’s books, and the importance of reading; All events begin at 7 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 1730 Fourth St., 559-9500, www.codysbooks.com.  

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Feb. 25: David Henry Sterry describes “Chicken: Self-portrait of a Young Man for Rent”; Feb. 26: Carter Scholz reads from “Radiance”; All events begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Mar. 7: Carl Parkes, author of “Moon Handbook: Southeast Asia”, presents a slide show exploring his travels in the region; Mar. 12: William Fienne describes his personal journey from Texas to North Dakota as he follows the northern migration of snow geese; Mar. 14: Gary Crabbe and Karen Misuraca present slides and read from their book, “The California Coast”; Mar. 19: Barbara and Robert Decker present a slide show focusing on the volcanoes of California and the Cascade Mountain Range; Mar. 21: Stefano DeZerega discusses opportunities for study, travel, and work in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

GAIA Building Mar. 9: 3 - 7 p.m., Border Crossing Photos by Patrice Wynne; Mar. 14: 7 - 9 p.m., Lecture with Patricia Evans speaking from her book, “Controlling People: How to recognize, Understand and Deal with People Who Are Trying to Control You.”; Mar. 19: Reading and slide show with Carol Wagner, “Survival of the Spirit: Lives of Cambodian Buddhists.”; March 21: 6 - 9 p.m., 1st Berkeley Edgework Books Salon; Mar. 22: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Book Reading and Jazz Concert with David Rothenberg; All events are held in the Rooftop Gardens Solarium, 7th Floor, GAIA Building, 2116 Allston Way, 848-4242. 

UC Berkeley Lunch Poems Reading Series Mar. 7: Marilyn Hacker reads from her most recent book, “Squares and Courtyards”. Free. Morrison Library in Doe Library, UC Berkeley campus, 642-0137, www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events/poems 

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Mar. 3: Myung Mi Kim, Harryette Mullen & Geoffrey O’Brien; Mar. 6: Bill Berkson, Albert Flynn DeSilver; Mar. 10: Leslie Scalapino, Dan Farrell; Mar. 13: Lucille Lang Day, Risa Kaparo; Mar. 20: Edward Smallfield, Truong Tran; Mar. 24: Susan Griffin, Honor Moore; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

Poetry Reading @ South Branch Berkeley Public Library Mar. 2: Bay Area Poets Coalition is holding an open reading. 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Free. 1901 Russell St. 

Word Beat Mar. 9: Sonia Greenfield and Megan Breiseth; Mar. 16, Q. R. Hand and Lu Pettus; Mar. 23: Lee Gerstmann and Sam Pierstorffs; Mar. 30: Eleanor Watson-Gove and Jim Watson-Gove; All shows 7 - 9 p.m., Coffee With A Beat, 458 Perkins, Oakland. 526-5985, www.angelfire.com/poetry/wordbeat. 

Tours 

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

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387. 

Museums 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, 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; $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821. 

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. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. 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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science “Jurassic Park: Dinosaur Auditions Live Science Demonstrations” A directed activity in which children “audtion” to be a dinosaur in an upcoming movie. They’ll learn about the variety of dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park exhibit as well as dress up, act, and roar like a dinosaur. Through May 12: Mon. - Fri. 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.; Sat. - Sun. 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. 3 p.m. $8 adults, $6 children. Centenial Dr. just above the UC campus and just below

Saturday, March 9

Burma Human Rights Day 

6 - 10 p.m. 

Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship Hall 

1924 Cedar 

Benefit for women’s groups on the Thailand/Burma border. Burmese cuisine 6 - 7 p.m.; Min Zin, featured speaker, 7 - 8 p.m.; “Sacrifice,” feature film, 8 - 9 p.m.; $10-$20 sliding scale. 841-4824, www.badasf.org. 

Restore Hetch Hetchy 

5 p.m. 

MountainLight Gallery 

1466 66th St., Emeryville 

A short presentation describing the effort to obtain a “win-win” outcome for Yosemite National Park’s Hetch Hetchy Valley and the Bay Area’s water and power users. 209-372-8660, www.mountainlight.com/. 

Train for the Eco-Challenge 

2 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Liz Caldwell and Barry Siff, veteran members of Team REI-Salomon, with a slide presentation on their recent Eco-Challenge events in New Zealand and Borneo. They will discuss how to train for a competition, select team members and prevent injury. 527-4140. 

Sunday, March 10

Oakland Civic Orchestra’s 

Children’s Concert 

3 p.m. 

Oakland Veteran’s Memorial Building 

200 Grand Ave., Oakland 

A concert for children of all ages. There will be a raffle and young members from the audience will have a chance to conduct the orchestra. Free. 251-8362. 

Storytelling Women 

3 - 5 p.m. 

Live Oak Center, Social Hall 

1301 Shattuck Ave. 

Women tellers telling about women who inspire their lives. 4 storytellers and a musician. Part of the annual women’s and girls’ tea party and storytelling ceremony held in Codornices Park. $30 suggested. 841-6612. 

The Labor Movement, Democracy and the Political Vacuum 

noon 

The Fellowship of Humanity 

411 28th St., Oakland 

Presentation by Steve Zeltzer. 451-5818, HumanistHall@yahoo.com. 

Tibetan Art: Entering  

the Realm of the Sacred 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Sylvia Gretchen, Dean of Nyingma Studies, will uses examples of Tibetan art to explore the meaning of “sacred.” 843-6812. 

Monday, March 11

The Science Behind Global Warming, and How You Can Reduce Your Impact 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Adult School 

University Ave. and Bonar St. 

Susan Ode, Berkeley Energy Commission, will provide an update on the science and implications of global warming for the world, plus a practical list of actions you can incorporate in your life to protect the global climate and improve the quality of your life. 981-5435, energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Odyssey of Conflict and Odyssey of Mastery – Polanyi, Pirsig, Zen, and the Art of Knowing 

3:30 - 5 p.m. 

Pacific School of Religion, Mudd 206 

1798 Scenic Ave. 

Lecture and discussion presented by Allen Dyer, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at East Tennessee State University, also former chair of the ethics committee of the American Psychiatric Association. Free and open to the public. 849-8285. 

Learning from The History of Government 

noon 

UC Berkeley 

Harris Room (119 Moses Hall) 

Positive Political Theory Seminar with Roger Myerson, University of Chicago. 642-4608, http://www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/. 

Conscientious Objection to War 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Friends’ Meetinghouse 

2151 Vine St. 

The Berkeley Society of Friends will view the PBS documentary, The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It, and discuss it.  

Meet the Artists of the  

ARTS Ed Resource Guide 

6 - 8 p.m. 

James Irvine Foundation Conference Center 

353 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 

Artists and arts organizations will deliver brief presentation about their program offerings and address questions posed by the audience. Free and open to the public. 208-0842, www.artsedeastbay.org. 

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Cheryl Kirk-Dugan Center for Women & Religion. 

Tuesday, March 12

An Evening with Numfundo Walaza:  

The Burden of Forgiveness 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

An evening with Numfundo Walaza, director of the Trauma Center for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Capetown, South Africa. Walaza will talk about "The Burden of Forgiveness: Reflections from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of South Africa." $15. 204-0720, mkmorrison@cdsp.edu. 

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Frankie Moore McGee, Avenue Baptist Church. 

Wednesday, March 13

Trees Forum 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

Amahra Hicks of USFS, and Jeff Romm of UCB discuss "Just Forests Initiative: Faith-based Activism for Public Land." Free and open to the public. www.gtu.edu/StudServ/TREES. 

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Lawrence Saez, professor of East Asia Studies, UC Berkeley; “South Asia: Focus on India.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

Thursday, March 14

Grizzly Peak Flyfishers 

Annual Flytying Festival 

7:30 p.m. 

Kensington Community Center 

59 Arlington Ave., Kensington 

Flytying demonstrations and tutoring for beginning through advanced. 524-0428. 

Hiking the Appalachian Trail 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Lisa Garrett and Francis Tapon will share slides and highlights of their 111-day journey through 13 East Coast states covering 2,167 miles. 527-4140, www.sonictrek.com.  

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Valerie Miles-Tribble Imani Community Church. 

Friday, March 15

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Keith A. Russell, president, American Baptist Seminary of the West; “A look at Moral Issues.” $1. 848-3533. 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Black History and Women's Months: Bessie Coleman, aviatrix. 232-1351. 

Women’s Week of Power 

7 p.m. 

St. Paul AMEC 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Speaker: Rev. Malvina Stephens Allen, Temple Baptist Church. 

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Saturday, March 16

76th Annual Poets’ Dinner 

11:30 a.m. 

Holiday Inn, Emeryville 

1800 Powell 

David Alpaugh will speak about “The Professionalization of Poetry,” followed by the reading of winning poems and prizes. 841-1217. 

– Compiled by Guy Poole 

Copwatch 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Copwatch 

2022 Blake St. 

Know your rights workshop. 548-0425. 

4th Annual Gay & Lesbian  

Family Night at the YMCA 

6 - 9 p.m. 

YMCA 

2001 Allston Way 

Open to all LGBT families and their friends. Pizza party, swimming, juggling demo and instruction, clowning, face painting, soccer, floor hockey, music, karate demo, and more for toddlers through teens. Free, donation requested. 665-3238, www.ourfamily.org.  

Sunday, March 17

Art of Enlightenment: Symbolism,  

Visualization and Mandalas 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Rosalyn White, art director for Dharma Publishing, will discuss Tibetan paintings and how they are used in meditation. 843-6812. 

Women’s Day 

9:30 a.m. 

St. Paul AME Church 

2024 Ashby Ave. 

Women Excelling in the Grace of Giving; Speaker: Dr. Sarah F. Davis, Pastor 

Bethel AMEC, San Antonio, TX. 

Sara’s Children: The Destruction of Chmielinik 

3 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish  

Community Center  

1414 Walnut St. 

Suzan Hagstrom will talk about her book, Sara’s Children, and host a discussion. 848-0237 x127. 

Compiled by Guy Poole

When the St. Mary’s High boys’ basketball team faces off against top-ranked Oakland Tech in a Northern California Division I semifinal game tonight, there aren’t likely to be many surprises on either side. 

Tech star Leon Powe, one of the top juniors in the country, played on the same AAU team, the Oakland Soldiers, as St. Mary’s backcourt duo DaShawn Freeman and John Sharper. The Soldiers were coached by St. Mary’s assistant Mark Olivier. Freeman and Tech point guard Armando Surratt have played against each other for years, and the teams met early this season at the Modesto Christian tournament, with Tech coming out on top, 93-77. 

“Oakland Tech is the biggest challenge we’ve faced yet as a program,” St. Mary’s head coach Jose Caraballo said Friday. “They’re more talented and have more weapons than any team we’ve faced in the past two seasons.” 

That’s saying a mouthful, as the Panthers beat powerful Crossroads High, which featured current University of Arizona player Isaiah Fox, for the Division IV state title last season. 

But Powe is enough to scare teams all by himself. The 6-foot-8 forward is a sometimes-unstoppable force, averaging more than 25 points per game in the postseason. 

“I don’t think anyone matches up with Leon,” Olivier said. “If you hold him under his average, you’ve done a great job. The key is to contain the other players.” 

Oakland Tech has more than just Powe, however. Surratt, one of the quickest guards in the state, is headed to Fresno State next season, and wingman Quentin Thomas is also highly regarded. 

Lurking behind the name players is 6-foot-4 Kenneth Smith. Known as “Deuce,” Smith has shaken off a serious leg injury suffered this summer to have a great season, doing the dirty work while Powe and Surratt garner the accolades. 

“Smith is the heart and soul of that team,” Olivier said. “He’s the one that establishes their toughness. He does all the little things, and he is one of the best on-the-ball defenders around.” 

With that type of talent all over the court, not to mention their 16-point win over the Panthers in Modesto, Tech is a considerable favorite in the game. But the Panthers aren’t used to losing big games. They have lost just one postseason game in the past two seasons, a 76-70 loss to De La Salle in last Saturday’s North Coast Section final. 

Many observers criticized Caraballo’s decision to move up to Division I for this year, saying the Panthers were too small for the bigger competition, but the Panthers have proven the naysayers wrong. They weathered Freeman’s absence at the start of the season due to a stress fracture and had won 21 straight games before the loss to De La Salle. In fact, St. Mary’s only losses this season have come to the three other Division I semifinalists (they lost to Oakland High in a tournament to start the season). 

“If we want to be the best, we have to beat the best,” Caraballo said. “No one thought we’d get this far. But my kids are battle-tested, and they know what it takes to win.” 

What it will take to win tonight will be everyone’s best game. Sharper has to hit from the outside early and often, post players Chase Moore and Simon Knight must hold their own on the inside with Powe, and the St. Mary’s press must prove more effective than against De La Salle, which committed just nine turnovers. 

“We’re not going to be afraid to do what we do,” Caraballo said. “We have to go to the basket, go straight at Leon and maybe get him in foul trouble. And we have to pound the boards.”

Berkeley teachers react to layoff notices 

Henry Viets, an elementary school music teacher, knew he was going to receive a layoff notice this week. But that didn’t prepare him for the way he would feel Tuesday when his supervisor served the documents. 

“You get this feeling of, yes, you truly are expendable,” said Viets, in an interview earlier this week. “Today, teaching was just horrible.” 

The Board of Education, strapped with a $6 million deficit rooted in financial mismanagement and state funding cuts, voted Feb. 27 to issue layoff notices to about 200 district employees, including more than 150 teachers. 

The board plans to rescind many of the notices in the next two months as a cloudy budget picture clears up. But by law, the district must inform certain classes of teachers and administrators by March 15 if they might be laid off next year. Most of the pink slips went out this week. 

“It’s pretty disheartening,” said Gurjeet Ahluwalia, an extended daycare teacher at City of Franklin Microsociety Magnet School who received notice Wednesday. “They should have found some other way to (cut the budget).” 

“This is really, really difficult and puts us in a lot of distress,” said school board member John Selawsky. “Nobody wants to layoff teachers. ... But, because so much of our budget is personnel, it would be virtually impossible to make cuts without affecting personnel.” 

More than 80 percent of the district’s budget is tied up in salaries and benefits, said Selawsky, who added that the board has attempted to spread the cuts as much as possible, chopping $1.1 million in personnel at the central office. 

State law will determine which teachers actually get laid off in the end. The law prioritizes seniority, but makes exceptions for new teachers who have credentials in specialized areas held by no one else. 

Jody Sokolower, who teaches Identity and Ethnic Studies at Berkeley High School, said the district will suffer if it loses young teachers, particularly teachers of color. 

“For the kids, it’s really important to have teachers who are young and teachers who are non-white,” she said, arguing that some students find it easier to connect with these instructors. 

Kate Aughenbaugh, a seventh-grade science teacher at King Middle School who received notice Tuesday, said the loss of young teachers will also have an effect on staff chemistry. 

“You always need that balance between young idealism ... and the older, experienced veteran teachers,” she said. “Otherwise it gets stagnant.” 

Cynthia Allman, a kindergarten teacher at Malcolm X Arts & Academic Magnet School who received notice Tuesday, said the pink slips have an effect on teacher morale. 

“It’s hard to stay focused,” Allman said. “It’s hard to keep your optimism.” 

Barry Fike, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, said instructors, unsure about whether they will have a job in Berkeley next year, are facing a difficult decision about whether to search elsewhere. 

“As each week goes by here, it’s prime hiring season in other districts,” said Fike, noting that many teachers are asking the union what to do. “We can’t give them the answer. We’re really depending on the district to come up with that answer quickly.” 

Viets, the music teacher, said he is already looking elsewhere for a job. Even if he is not laid off, Viets said, some in the music department will not return, increasing the workload for the remaining staff, and making a job in the Berkeley schools less attractive. 

Allman said she will wait it out, hopeful that the board will rescind her layoff notice.  

“I love my job. I love my school,” she said. “I think the people of Berkeley are really commited to keeping young, well-trained teachers.” 

Editor: 

Thanks to Peter Teichner for his history lesson editorial on the term NIMBY.  

It isn’t often you learn something in Berkeley neighborhood development politics so it was interesting to hear that it all started with people defending their homes and lives against pollution at Love Canal. 

That’s definitely something I can agree with; I’m a NIMBY too: in fact I say “Not In My Berkeley Back Yard - but in my front yard, yes.” 

Urban back yards are the low density housing areas. Urban front yards are the lively streets and city downtowns and neighborhood centers. 

Berkeley’s back yards are the lower density neighborhood areas too - they should stay essentially that way; they should not be the location of larger new building, they should become even quieter and more peaceful, more “rural” as we expand parks, community gardens and stretches of our biologically rich waterways.  

In these areas we can remove houses occasionally, especially in car-dependent areas, as they become old and run down. (Historic gems should be preserved.)  

For the sake of convenience to lower income people, cheaper housing prices, energy conservation, pollution abatement, less car dependence, more efficient transit and bicycle access, safer streets, stable climate and so on, we should build in Berkeley’s front yards: the centers where transit serves us best, and especially Downtown. 

Thus it’s the Not In My Front Yards, the NIMFYs I have a problem with, those who want to freeze the whole city in the past, thus continuing the dependence on cars and the oil industry. 

Let’s look at the urban ecology of it all, the chains of causes and effects and the networks of interrelated parts. Teichner pointed out that it was the petrochemical industry that was killing people at Love Canal, giving rise to the NIMBY movement, and that the petrochemical companies twisted the term into a pejorative. Rings true to me! But, who buys the millions of gallons of gasoline the petrochemical industry sells in order to pursue its nasty agenda?  

The people driving cars, and they, all around the world and in Berkeley too, are most prevalent in the lower density areas where it is simply difficult to get around easily without a car. That’s why it’s an international truism that cars, low-density housing and the petrochemical industry go hand in hand. On the other hand, more compact and diverse transit/pedestrian centers go hand in hand with energy conservation of such high efficiency that solar, wind and other healthy energy systems become practical. After almost 100 years of auto dominance we are all stuck in the city built for the car, so it is often difficult to do much without it.  

Don’t feel guilty – do something about it! We can rearrange the city on into the future, gradually moving out of car dependent areas and into more compact pedestrian/transit areas. It takes flexibility, which isn’t the strong card of the Berkeley land use conservatives and reactionaries, and imagination and a little bit of courage, also scarce commodities there. And the city built for people instead of cars is not for everyone, but everyone is aging and young people will grow up with tastes unpredictable to us. That we can’t plan for. But we can plan for more independence from the Love Canal type results of auto/sprawl infrastructure by planning for cities built for people rather than machines, pedestrians rather than cars. That’s what higher density pedestrian/centers – and making the city’s back yards even quieter – is all about. Long live the NIMBYs! Down with the NIMFYs! 

Richard Register  

Berkeley

‘There are no risks for us in Hollywood. We deliver the bill or the dry-cleaning, do our karate chop and leave,” said actor Sung Kang at Thursday night’s opening of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. 

Say goodbye to pidgen-speaking sidekicks, chop suey slapstick and bad dubbing. This year’s festival is about valedictorians-gone-awry, thoughful politics and stylish craftsmanship. 

And it all started in Berkeley. 

The Bay Area’s first Asian American film festival took place at the Pacific Film Archives in 1982. The 13 films were part of a traveling show from New York’s Asian CineVision. 

This year’s series, produced independently by the National Asian American Telecommunications Association, features 135 films and videos. The festival plays not only at the Pacific Film Archives, but also at theaters in San Francisco and San Jose. 

Festival Director Chi-Hui Yang said this year’s 20th- anniversary event hopes to be a kind of Asian American Cinema 101 class. 

Playing on the 20-year theme, Yang said, “We’re trying to provide a 20/20 look into the past and the future of Asian American film.” 

The festival will dip into the archives – bringing back pieces like Flower Drum Song (1961) – and also is making room for up-and-comers like “Better Luck Tomorrow,” which features Kang as part of a young, hip cast. 

Directed by Justin Lin, “Better Luck Tomorrow” was one of the most talked about features at last month’s Sundance Film Festival. The neo-noir about clever high schoolers who are just as obsessed with getting around the rules as getting into college was also just picked up by MTV Films for nationwide distribution.  

Asian American filmmaking has come a long way since Wayne Wang’s “Chan is Missing,” the first Asian American film to make it big (relatively speaking). Wang’s film, which follows two Chinese Americans through San Francisco’s Chinatown in search of their disappeared business partner, premiered at the PFA in 1981.  

“It’s a breakthrough film both because it was ultra low-budget – he did it himself as an independent film – and also because of its subject matter, the Asian-American community,” said PFA staffer Shelley Diekman. 

Diekman said the PFA, which will be showing seven films this year, is proud to have a newly restored print of this landmark film to show again on Sunday. 

Berkeley residents – whether they are of Asian American descent or just foreign film lovers – seem to flock to Asian American movies, said Diekman. 

Next Wednesday’s showing of “Daugher from Denang,” produced and co-directed by Berkeley resident Gail Dolgin, is already sold out. The documentary, which follows one of the American-raised children involved in “Operation Babylift” at the end of the Vietnam War as she reunites with her Vietnamese mother 20 years later, won the highest prize for documentaries at the Sundance Festival. Good thing it will soon be showing on PBS television, said Diekman. 

In addition to Dolgin’s film, this year’s slate includes many films with local connections. Not only is there an entire program called “415/510 Local Calls” playing at the AMC Kabuki Theatre in San Francisco on March 9 and 12, but Berkeley resident Louise Lo’s documentary “The Floating World: Masami Teraoka and his Art” is making its world debut at the Kabuki on March 11. 

Lo said Berkeley has proved a creative environment for artists. “People like us gravitate to Berkeley,” said Lo, who works at KQED in San Francisco. “There are lots of grassroots arts – small galleries, galleries in people’s homes. It’s also a very literate community that has an emphasis on storytelling.” 

But, actually producing an Asian American film is another question entirely. When Lo first approached major funders for her documentary, she got a dismissive response. 

“They said he [Teraoka] was not well-known enough. It’s hard for Asian American artists to be treated like a Jackson Pollack or a Wayne Thibault even if they’re just as strongly represented in museums,” said Lo, who has also made documentaries on Thibault and Frida Kahlo. 

Lo’s film is a sensitive biography of Teraoka’s artistic development, starting with his “sketch boy” days during World War II when American soldiers stationed in Japan exchanged gifts for drawings of their girlfriends. Though Teraoka is best known for ukiyo-e works, in which geishas might be flourishing condoms or kabuki actors might be gawking at big-boned white women in bikinis, Lo follows the artist through to his current interest in looser forms and turn to a brooding, expressionist palette. 

Lo’s film, like Lin’s “Better Luck Tomorrow,” tries to describe the Asian American experience without having to throw in the standard exoticisms about East vs. West to tell the story. 

Participants in the festival hope that this can be a trend. Lin said Thursday he was glad that an Asian American film that was not about immigration or family issues á la “Joy Luck Club” could be made. And the actors were glad that they now have something to put on their preview tapes other than delivery boy roles. 

“The roles in this film were not one-dimensional, or a mold that they they made for us,” said Kang, whose character in “Better Luck Tomorrow” is both bully and bullied. “We could go in, work with the director, develop the character. It’s a dream come true.” 

LOS ANGELES – California improved by 34 points in a span of six days. It wasn’t nearly enough. 

Jason Gardner scored 25 points and Luke Walton added 20 Friday night to lead No. 15 Arizona to a 90-78 victory over the 25th-ranked Golden Bears in the semifinals of the Pacific-10 Conference tournament. 

The triumph wasn’t nearly as one-sided as Arizona’s 99-53 victory over Cal last Saturday in Tucson, Ariz., but that was the second-worst loss in school history and didn’t figure to be repeated, especially on a neutral court. 

The second-seeded Wildcats (21-9), who have won 20 or more games in 15 straight seasons, face No. 22 Southern California in Saturday’s championship game at Staples Center. 

The fourth-seeded Trojans (22-8) beat No. 9 Oregon, the tournament’s top seed, 89-78 in Friday night’s opener. 

The Pac-10 tournament champion earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, although it’s a good possibility six conference teams will be invited for the first time. 

Arizona brings an 11-game Pac-10 tournament winning streak into Saturday’s game – the Wildcats won the competition from 1988-90 before it was disbanded until this year. 

Arizona has won seven straight and 10 of 11 over Cal including a 68-58 win at Haas Pavilion on Jan. 31 – the Bears’ only homecourt loss in 18 games – and the 46-point victory last weekend. 

Joe Shipp scored 25 points and Brian Wethers added 22 for the Bears (22-8). 

Three-pointers by Gardner and Walton sandwiched around a layin by Will Bynum gave the Wildcats a 61-46 lead with 13:45 remaining, and it was 74-63 after Walton made two free throws with 6:42 left. 

However, the Bears battled back, and two straight baskets by Shipp capped an 8-3 run, cutting Arizona’s lead to 77-71 with 3:35 to play. 

But that was as close as the Bears would get. Two baskets by Walton another by Bynum made it 83-72 with 1:58 remaining, and the Wildcats had more than enough points to win. Arizona outscored Cal 13-7 to finish the game.

Chris Kavanagh hopes that three times is the charm. 

Kavanagh, a middle school teacher, environmental activist and affordable housing advocate, has tried and failed twice to unseat moderate City Councilmember Polly Armstrong, once in 1996 and once in 1998.  

Now that Armstrong has announced she will not run for re-election in November, Kavanagh has joined a growing list of local activists who say they might run for the District 8 seat. 

“I’m interested,” said Kavanagh, who joins Gordon Wozniak of the Planning Commission, Becky O’Malley of the Landmarks Commission and UC Berkeley student Andy Katz as City Council hopefuls. 

Kavanagh, a Green Party member, cobbled together a coalition of students, renters and progressive homeowners in 1996, and lost by less than 1 percent of the vote. The close race surprised many in local political circles who considered District 8 a moderate bastion. 

Kavanagh attributes his 1996 success, in part, to aggressive, door-to-door campaigning. City Councilmember Dona Spring, who supported Kavanagh, agrees and says his interpersonal skills would be an asset if he ran this year. 

“He’s a very likable guy,” said Spring. “He really does the personal contact. That’s what he’s good at.” 

Spring said Kavanagh’s weakness, in 1996 and 1998, when he lost by a 58 to 42 percent margin, was a lack of organization. 

“He’s going to have to be more serious about raising money, and having a campaign manager, and doing what the manager wants him to do,” Spring said. 

But Armstrong said Kavanagh got close in 1996 because she ran a low-profile campaign. The 1998 results, she said, are more representative of his chances this time around. 

“I think he was very soundly rejected last time, when I ran a good campaign,” she said. 

Armstrong has thrown her support behind Wozniak, and other moderates are taking note. Mayor Shirley Dean,told the Daily Planet Friday, that she would be “very interested” in any candidate backed by Armstrong, and that she has been “very impressed” with Wozniak’s work on the Planning Commission. 

With moderates lining up behind Wozniak, progressives are beginning to worry that a growing field of liberal candidates may splinter the left. 

“I would hope and expect that liberal and progressive candidates would understand that splitting the vote is counterproductive,” said City Councilmember Kriss Worthington. “That’s how we got George Bush.” 

Worthington and Spring have both called for progressives in District 8 to come together and choose a single candidate. 

O’Malley and Katz have resisted the “progressive” label, casting themselves as bridges between the two sides.  

But both said they have concerns about candidates splitting the student vote, and other traditionally liberal voting blocs. 

If elected, Kavanagh said he would work to ease traffic in the district by pressuring UC Berkeley to provide its employees with transit passes and shuttle buses to and from local BART stations. 

He added that halting university expansion and ensuring proper disposal of radioactive waste at the university’s tritium lab, which will shut down for good in about a month, would be top priorities. 

Wozniak worked for years at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which houses the tritium lab, and has defended the tritium operation against vocal opponents. 

Kavanagh said he would make Wozniak’s support for the lab a campaign issue. Wozniak described community concerns over tritium a “tempest over a molehill,” but said that, in his mind, the issue is a dead one anyhow since the lab is closing.

California scored four runs in the fourth inning against rival Stanford Friday afternoon at Evans Field, jumping out to an early lead in the opener of the non-league series. But the Cardinal responded with seven runs in the seventh inning, then eight runs in the eighth, pounding the Bears 15-4. 

California ace Trevor Hutchinson (4-2) faced the minimum amount of batters through the first six innings, allowing only three Cardinal baserunners and then promptly erasing them on two double plays and a caught stealing. But when second baseman Carson White bobbled an easy double-play ball in the seventh, the Cardinal erupted. 

“Getting two (outs) would have been great, but not getting one was big,” Cal head coach David Esquer said. “(The error) really changed the complexion of the whole inning.” 

Hutchison, who had been cruising, was visibly shaken by the error. The next batter, catcher Ryan Garko, took Hutchison deep to left-center for a three-run homer. Designated hitter Jason Cooper made it back-to-back jacks and a tie ballgame with a bomb to right. Three batters later right fielder Carlos Quentin chased Hutchinson with a two-run shot to left, and the rout was on. 

“You’ve got to play very well to beat them,” Esquer said of the Cardinal, Baseball America’s  

No. 1 ranked team in the nation. “I knew four wasn’t going to be enough to win - I just didn’t know it would take 16 to win.” 

The California bullpen gave up six straight hits to open the eighth inning, giving up four runs. Cooper, whose seventh inning solo home run had sailed deep onto the adjacent soccer field, then hit an even louder three-run shot - avoiding the soccer field by connecting dead-on about three-fourths of the way up the pole of a right field light standard. He finished the game 5-for-5 at the plate. 

The Cardinal rode seven strong innings from starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie (5-0), who is rated one of the top hurlers in the nation. Guthrie was the Pittsburg Pirates’ third-round draft pick last June, and is the highest-drafted player returning to the college scene this season. No less than fifteen scouts were seen raising and lowering radar guns on every Guthrie pitch in the first two innings. 

Guthrie leads a full complement of Cardinal stars returning from a team that was runner-up at last year’s College World Series. All nine players who started the championship game in Omaha last year remain on the Cardinal roster this season. 

Esquer, who starred at shortstop for the Cardinal from 1984 to 1987 under current Stanford head coach Mark Marquess, said that Friday’s loss wouldn’t get his team down. The Bears are the last team to defeat Stanford in a three-game series, taking two of three from the Cardinal at home last April. 

“We’ve got our work cut out for us in order to do it again,” Esquer said. “But we played them tough all year last year.” 

California faces the Cardinal again Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Evans Diamond.

Power has been restored to all but three buildings on the UC Berkeley campus after a blackout on Thursday. Etcheverry Hall, North Gate Hall and Soda Hall were still out of power Friday afternoon. 

At 5 p.m. Thursday, one of the university’s five electrical switching stations failed, causing a campus-wide outage, said Sandy Yang at the university’s Public Affairs Office.  

“So far we think it’s a water intrusion in an underground switching station near the Haas Business School,” Yang said. 

No injuries were reported, though several people were trapped in elevators, according to a press release issued by the university. They were cleared within two hours. 

Eighty percent of the buildings had their power restored by midnight Thursday, but several residence halls and other buildings did not have their power restored until 1:38 p.m. Friday. 

About 3,500 students living on campus made it through the night with the help of back-up generators and flashlights. Students in Bowles Hall, which did not have a back-up generator, were moved to other facilities. 

Alex Reese, who lives in one of the Foothill Dormitories on Hearst Street, said it was lucky she did not have to study Thursday night. But while she did not have to go to class Friday morning, she did have to shower. 

“There was no hot water, so it was very cold. Everyone was hunting for other places to take showers,” she said. 

The dining halls were open, but they had to stick to fruit and bagels for breakfast, sandwiches and lukewarm lemonade for lunch. 

But the blackout did have a more serious impact on students’ lab experiments. Alicia Cohn, Sarah Brownell and Laura McLaughlin were running an experiment in Etcheverry Hall that required a UV lamp. 

“I guess we’re not running it anymore,” said Cohn. 

They had been conducting their experiment since April, so one day’s loss of data did not severely set back their project.  

But Brownell said it was ironic that they had to take their weekly lunchtime meeting outside Friday.  

Their renewable energy lab actually has solar panels so it could theoretically generate electricity when conventional electricity is not available. 

“But we have no windows,” said Brownell. “We have to turn on the overhead light to get them to work.” 

The power outage was good news for one group, however. Friday was the deadline for applications to the undergraduate program at the Hass School of Business. Procrastinators now have until Monday.

Today is Saturday, March 9, the 68th day of 2002. There are 297 days left in the year. 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On March 9, 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia (formerly Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va. 

On this date: 

In 1661, Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the chief minister of France, died, leaving King Louis XIV in full control. 

In 1796, the future emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, married Josephine de Beauharnais. (The couple divorced in 1809.) 

In 1916, Mexican raiders led by Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, N.M., killing more than a dozen people. 

In 1933, Congress, called into special session by President Roosevelt, began its “hundred days” of enacting New Deal legislation. 

In 1945, during World War II, US B-29 bombers launched incendiary bomb attacks against Japan. 

In 1954, CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow critically reviewed Wisconsin Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy’s anti-Communism campaign on “See It Now.” 

In 1975, work began on the Alaskan oil pipeline. 

In 1977, about a dozen armed Hanafi Muslims invaded three buildings in Washington, D.C., killing one person and taking more than 130 hostages. The siege ended two days later. 

In 1981, Dan Rather made his debut as principal anchorman of “The CBS Evening News.” 

In 1990, Dr. Antonia Novello was sworn in as surgeon general, becoming the first woman and the first Hispanic to hold the job. 

Ten years ago: Former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin died in Tel Aviv at age 78. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. 

Five years ago: Gangsta rapper The Notorious B.I.G., whose real name was Christopher Wallace, was killed in a still-unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; he was 24. 

One year ago: A judge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., sentenced 14-year-old Lionel Tate to life in prison for killing Tiffany Eunick, a 6-year old girl. Tate, who had been convicted of first-degree murder, said he was imitating pro-wrestling moves. Attorney James St. Clair, who represented President Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal, died in Westwood, Mass., at age 80. 

Today’s Birthdays: Author Mickey Spillane is 84. Singer-actress Keely Smith is 70. Singer Lloyd Price is 69. Actress Joyce Van Patten is 68. Actor-comedian Marty Ingels is 66. Country singer Mickey Gilley is 66. Singer Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and the Raiders) is 60. TV personality Charles Gibson is 59. Chess player Bobby Fischer is 59. Actress Trish Van Devere is 57. Rock musician Robin Trower is 57. Singer Jeffrey Osborne is 54. Country musician Jimmie Fadden (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 54. Magazine editor Michael Kinsley is 51. Newscaster Faith Daniels is 45. Actress Linda Fiorentino is 42. Actress Juliette Binoche is 38. Rock musician Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five) is 34. Actor Emmanuel Lewis is 31. Actress Jean Louisa Kelly is 30. Actor Kerr Smith is 30.  

Rapper Lil’ Bow Wow is 15. 

Thought for Today:  

For release Saturday, March 9 

Berkeley police officers investigated a suspicious package found on the second floor of a state office building located at 1947 Center St. at around 6:30 p.m. Friday.  

After going into the building with a bomb squad and x-raying the package, it turned out to be nothing more than a box of papers, said BPD Lieutenant Bud Stone.  

The area of Center Street between Milvia Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way was blocked off for more than two hours after police arrived on the scene at 6:30 p.m. No one was hurt in the situation, though 10 to 15 people were evacuated from the building.

MIDWAY, Utah – Laughter erupts from down the hall in the direction of the medical room. Cross country skiers hoot and holler as they plunge into a natural hot spring to work on their “lung capacity.” An anxious athlete lets go of her fears and steels her resolve to compete with a reassuring “I know I’ll be OK.” 

It’s a safe bet that Dr. Cindy Chang is in the house.  

As the VIII Paralympic Winter Games are contested March 7-16 in Salt Lake City, the world will be focused on serious athletes engaged in serious competition. But in the midst of it all, there’s Chang whose best unprescribed treatment to health might be as simple as a joke or a reassuring hug. 

“She’s an extremely competent physician who demonstrates a great deal of caring for all her patients,” said Dr. Brent Rich, one of Chang’s colleagues on the U.S. Paralympic medical team. “And she’s pure high-energy.” 

Chang, the personable physician with the irrepressible smile, has taken a break from supervising the medical care of the 900-plus varsity athletes at UC Berkeley where she works as the head team physician, to tend to the medical needs of the nation’s elite cadre of athletes with physical disabilities. 

“When I was first approached to work at the Paralympics (for the 1998 Nagano Games), I was intrigued to be working with a population of athletes that I hadn’t had much experience with,” Chang said. “But I came away from Japan so moved and inspired by the athletes and their stories that I asked to be considered to help out in another four years.” 

It was a request the U.S. Olympic Committee was happy to comply with. Since Chang’s orientation with the Olympic medical staff in July 1996, she has been on their call list to assist at a number of national and international events. Due to her responsibilities as a doctor, clinical professor, wife and mother of two young children, however, it often became too hard to get away. 

“I know the Paralympics aren’t as high-profile as the Olympics, but I’m not doing this for any recognition on my part,” Chang said. “I just love the Paralympic athletes. They’re never disrespectful, they never complain, they’re very appreciative of the care they receive, and they’re very knowledgeable about their bodies and medical needs.” 

The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, conceding top honors only to the Olympics. The multi-sport competition showcases the talents and abilities of the world’s most elite athletes with physical disabilities in both winter and summer disciplines. Disability groups represented include amputees, blind or visually impaired athletes, athletes with cerebral palsy, athletes with spinal cord injuries and athletes who are affected by a range of other disabilities that do not fall into the aforementioned categories, such as multiple sclerosis or dwarfism. 

In Salt Lake, Chang is assigned to the U.S. Nordic Ski Team which is comprised of biathletes and cross country skiers who are visually impaired or use prosthetics or sit-skis to negotiate the hilly terrain of Soldier Hollow, the same venue used during the Olympic Games three weeks earlier. During that time, Chang will be staying in a home near Soldier Hollow with a majority of the Nordic ski team, a somewhat unruly bunch to say the least. 

“She takes a beating well,” joked Willie Stewart, a one-arm amputee and housemate. 

“Yeah, but she can definitely dish it back out,” chimed in Mike Crenshaw, another housemate and an amputee below his right knee. 

All joking aside, Chang’s personality and demeanor make her a perfect match for the team which let’s her do her job as a doctor even better. 

“We call her the ‘Question Lady’ because she wants to know everything about every little detail,” Crenshaw said. “But I think that’s what makes her such a great doctor.” 

“We all love her,” Stewart said. “She’s very fun and very charismatic.” 

And just as the athletes learn from Chang how to better treat their aches and pains, she learns from them about the world of adaptive sports and exercise – a knowledge she takes back to her patients in California. 

“When treating people with disabilities, it’s very important to keep them active in a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “Even though not everyone will become a Paralympian, they can still be involved in exercise in some way.” 

Chang also discusses her experiences with the Paralympics and adaptive sports movement with community organizations and the medical profession either at conferences or classroom lectures. 

“I think what these individuals accomplish as athletes is phenomenal, and what that means to all people, with or without disabilities as far as overcoming obstacles and leading healthy lives, is a message I want to share with the world,” Chang said. “To know that my involvement in their lives at these events help them come one step closer to achieving their goals makes me feel humble and proud all at the same time.”

SAN FRANCISCO — After three days of ballot counting, Harry Britt conceded the Democratic nomination for state Assembly to Mark Leno on Friday in a race that is expected to ultimately send the first openly gay man to Sacramento. 

“I guess I have (conceded),” Britt said, joking. 

Leno broadened his lead Friday with 1,246 votes. He had 43 percent of the vote to Britt’s 40 percent. 

About 10,000 absentee ballots remain to be counted along with about 4,000 provisional ballots, an elections department spokeswoman said Friday. It’s unknown when a finally tally will be reached. 

San Francisco is considered a safe Democratic district. If Leno is elected in November, he will fill the Assembly seat being vacated by Carole Migden, a lesbian. 

Leno and former Santa Cruz Mayor John Laird are set to become the first openly gay men in the California Legislature, joining three uncloseted lesbians in pushing an agenda that includes giving same-sex couples the same protections as married straight people. 

Laird ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat of Assemblyman Fred Keeley, D-Boulder Creek, who is being forced out by term limits. Laird will face Republican Chuck Carter, a Monterey real estate agent, this fall for what is considered a safe Democratic seat.

HALF MOON BAY — A body that washed up on shore Friday has been identified as one of two fishermen missing for nearly a week. 

The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office confirmed the body, found lying face-down on Redondo Beach, was one of the missing fishermen. 

The man’s identity was not released. 

The 24-foot fishing boat left Moss Landing Sunday and never returned as expected on Tuesday. A second crewman is still missing. 

Debris from the boat also washed up on the beach Friday.

Q. Volker asks: How do I change a leaking toilet tank? 

A. The first step in repairing a leaking toilet tank is to determine where the leak is located and what is causing it. There are several possible causes, the most obvious of which is a hairline crack in the tank — often virtually undetectable. Other possible causes are: the four factory penetrations at the bottom of the tank where connections are made to the water supply, where the tank is bolted to the bowl, and at the location where water flows from the tank to the bowl. 

Each of these locations has a rubber washer designed to ensure a watertight connection. Over time, the connections might become loose or the washers might deteriorate, requiring replacement. 

An easy means of determining the location of the leak is by placing a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. Wait about an hour and return to the scene to search for colored water at the outside of the tank. If the leak is at one of the factory penetrations, use a wrench or a screwdriver to tighten the connection. Dry the area and return in another hour to see if the problem has been solved. If it hasn’t been, try replacing the washers. 

Drain the tank by turning off the water supply and flushing the toilet. Disconnect the water supply and remove the two bolts that anchor the tank to the bowl. Clean the connections and openings with a soft dry cloth and install new washers. Also install a new washer where the tank discharges into the bowl. 

Before you tear out your toilet tank, be certain that your leak isn’t a sweating tank. This condition is caused by condensation that occurs on the outside surface of the tank due to the difference in temperature between the water in the toilet tank and the air in the room. If the problem is, in fact, condensation, it can be remedied in one of two ways — with a tank liner or a tempering valve. 

The tank liner consists of a rubber membrane that is installed in the interior surface of the tank as a layer of insulation. The tempering valve is a bit more complicated. It requires removing the existing water supply valve and replacing it with a model that mixes a small amount of hot water so that the water in the tank isnt so cold. This eliminates condensation. The former is a common do-it-yourself project, whereas the latter often requires a plumber. 

Q. Shirisha asks: I open any tap in my house and I hear train-like noises. It also feels as if air is being sucked into the tap! When we use two taps the noise disappears. Using two taps is not a permanent solution. So tell us what kind of problem we are facing and how to fix it. 

A. If faucets screech when you turn them on and pipes hum when water’s running, chances are you have a bad main-inlet valve or a bad pressure-regulator valve. Water enters a home at only one point. If all faucets groan and howl the same throughout the house, the main-inlet valve is bad where water enters your home. Over time, rubber gaskets can become brittle. Running water rushes in, passing over the gasket and acts as does a reed in a clarinet. Pipes carry the sound to every faucet and fixture, making it hard to pin down the source. In this case, check the main-inlet valve, but if it screeches at only one location, check the gasket of that particular faucet. Repairs can be done with basic tools. 

Q. Fran asks: I have well water in my home and of course the water smells. Someone told me if you take out the “rod” in the water heater, the water won’t smell anymore. But what rod is it and how do I get it out? 

A. The problem occurs when the metal rod in glass-lined water heaters (used to improve the life expectancy of the glass lining) combines with waterborne sulfate-reducing bacteria, resulting in the production of hydrogen sulfide. The water is not dangerous to consume, but is difficult to swallow. It smells like rotten eggs. 

Solution 1: Replace the magnesium metal rod (cathodic protection anode) with one made of aluminum (it might not be available for your brand of water heater). The aluminum rod produces 30 percent less current, and therefore generates less hydrogen gas while causing enough current to adequately protect the glass liner. 

Solution 2: Find the point of origin of the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and eliminate it. SRB is most common in new-water supply pipes contaminated by soil during construction. The soil carrying the SRB eventually ends up as solids at the bottom of the water heater. A thorough flushing to remove the dirt, then a second flushing with a dash of chlorine, and finally a third flush — to clean — should do the trick. Hydrogen gas without the presence of SRB will go unnoticed. SRB is not so easy to remove if your water company pumps the bacteria into your home along with the water. This will often be the case as increasingly water districts are reducing or ceasing their use of chlorine. Sulfate-reducing bacteria are devastated by chlorination, but will thrive otherwise. 

It is possible to inadvertently contaminate your own water supply by allowing sulfate-reducing bacteria — not to mention other more dangerous bugs — to enter your water system at your own property. This can happen through your sprinklers if you’re not using anti-siphon sprinkler valves, which prevent backwash. Backwash could also result when a water main in your neighborhood is turned off while your garden hose is running in a muddy puddle. 

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For more home improvement tips and information, visit our Web site at www.onthehouse.com. 

BEAVERTON, Ore. — The threat of terrorism has boosted military and corporate interest in high-tech security improvements at all levels, even turning something as simple as a chain-link fence into a sophisticated surveillance system. 

Fiber SenSys makes a virtually undetectable system of fiber optic cables that can withstand extreme climates, radio jamming, magnetic interference, harsh chemicals and flooding. 

After it is hooked up to a fence, the Fiber SenSys equipment can sense the slightest motion by an intruder, alert guards and pinpoint any attempted breach. 

Not surprisingly, the military came knocking at the Beaverton company’s door after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and recently awarded Fiber SenSys a $1.7 million contract to provide the high-tech security system for use by the U.S. Air Force. 

Fiber SenSys says it can’t reveal where exactly the equipment will be used or how. 

“We can’t associate individual locations with the technology for security reasons,” said Duane Thompson, vice president of sales and marketing at Fiber SenSys, which is based in Beaverton and is a subsidiary of CompuDyne Corp. 

Last November, the Pentagon put out the word it is interested in acquiring more high-tech surveillance equipment than it already had to help in the war on terrorism. 

“Because of the times, there is more interest in security,” said Glenn Flood, a Pentagon spokesman. “The bottom line is they (the branches of the armed forces) all want high-tech stuff.” 

That interest is turning into orders for equipment by the military, utilities, big companies and others. 

Some of the top names on the Forbes magazine list of the nation’s wealthiest people are already using fiber optic systems to bolster security at their homes and estates, Thompson said. 

Much of the new security technology is coming from small companies that can quickly adapt the basic research of private inventors or universities to the market, said Ken Morse of the MIT Sloan School of Management. 

“Generally speaking, corporate America has outsourced innovation to the venture capital industry,” Morse said. “Except for Hewlett-Packard and IBM, I wouldn’t look for major innovation from big corporate America.” 

Morse said that as a result of Sept. 11, investment in security technology is likely to increase and bring in venture capital firms seeking another fast-growth industry to replace the dot-com bust. 

“It’s just got a booster rocket stuck on it right now,” Morse said of the interest in security technology. 

Debra Logan, an analyst for the Gartner Group, said efforts to improve security will drive changes in computer data transmission and personal identification, beginning with government agencies and the military. 

“The first wave of government activity will be matched by a corporate response as the civilian sector moves to protect itself and will pick up speed as economic conditions improve,” Logan said. 

Another small high-tech company in Oregon, FLIR Systems Inc., is among the firms getting more business after Sept. 11. 

In fact, says FLIR Systems spokesman Jim Fitzhenry, the war on terrorism has helped turned around the Portland-based company, which had been struggling. 

FLIR Systems makes thermal imaging equipment that can “see” through fog, smoke and darkness. FLIR has been selling the equipment to the military for years and it is probably being used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, although FLIR won’t say so for security reasons. 

“We can tell you that the U.S. Marine Corps is a very good customer of ours,” Fitzhenry said. “Their entire fleet of Huey helicopters is equipped with our technology for nighttime operations, search and rescue, and navigational safety.” 

FLIR systems have also been used on Blackhawk helicopters and P-3 surveillance aircraft. 

Last November, FLIR Systems announced it had landed $25 million in new military contracts from the air forces of Britain and Australia, along with other customers. 

Whether it is the military, an oil company, a county courthouse or even homeowners, security is only going to get tighter, said Martin Roenigk, chief executive of CompuDyne, the Maryland-based parent company of Fiber SenSys. 

“What we’re finding is that companies which used to be comfortable with grocery store level security — call in a guard service, put up some cameras and a fence — realize they have to move up,” Roenigk said. 

——— 

On the Net: 

CompuDyne Corp.: http://www.compudyne.com 

FLIR Systems Inc.: http://www.flir.com 

By Sarah Freeman 

The Associated Press 

Laurel Perga knows that loyal customers will keep coming to her hair salon in Billings, Mont., even after the nearby Kmart is shuttered. But she’s worried about what will happen when shoppers start seeking bargains elsewhere. 

“It’s going to impact us big time, I think,” Perga said. “To build a new clientele, or to grow, that will make it more difficult.” 

Nationwide, business owners in retail centers anchored by soon-to-be closed Kmart stores say they’re worried about foot traffic once the discount retailer leaves. 

Kmart Corp. announced Friday that it will close 284 stores in 40 states and Puerto Rico, representing about 13 percent of its more than 2,100 stores nationwide. When the company filed for Chapter 11 on Jan. 22, it said it would close a number of unprofitable stores. 

Sixteen of those stores that will be closing are in California. 

The closing stores were chosen based on several criteria, including profitability, age and the amount of local competition, Kmart said. Stores will close in mainly rural and suburban areas, but some urban stores also will close. 

In South Sacramento, OnePrice! Fashions manager Yolanda Hernandez said many of her customers are from Kmart. 

“If they don’t find it at Kmart, they find it here,” Hernandez said. “We talked about it, my managers and I ... we don’t know what to do.” 

South Sacramento officials are already wondering how they’re going to fill four closed department stores and the boarded-up corner of a departed Oldsmobile dealer. 

“Every market is different,” said Robert Futterman, CEO of Robert K. Futterman and Associates. “There might be some (real estate) owners that will see this as a blessing in disguise, but for the most part, losing an anchor hurts.” 

Neil Jandron has owned Jandron’s Fine Jewelry at Westwood Mall in Marquette, Mich., for 14 years. Although the Westwood Kmart is on the closings list, Jandron is optimistic. 

“Personally, I think the mall is strong enough — we have enough of a mix of retailers where we’ll be all right,” Jandron said. “I’ve been in retail 33 years, it’s kind of how retail goes.” 

“We will stay (at the mall), there’s no doubt in my mind. If I was the last store in the mall, I’d stay,” he said. 

Jandron said he’s confident the landlord will work hard to secure a new tenant. 

That shouldn’t be terribly difficult, according to Ben Johnson, editor-in-chief of PRIMEDIA’s Shopping Center World. Shopping Center World is a trade publication that focuses on retail real estate. 

“If 284 boxes go dark, I don’t think it will take that long for them to find new tenants,” Johnson said. 

He said although Kmart has merchandising problems, the company has often made sound real estate decisions. He said that beside obvious replacement possibilities such as Target and Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, CostCo, and other warehouse clubs or home improvement stores may see real estate opportunities in closed Kmarts. 

“The market for value-oriented retailers is growing ... the list is long and getting longer,” Johnson said. “There’s also a ready-made labor force, already trained and ready to go.” 

Target employee Sandra Haney said she’s not sure that replacing Kmarts with other stores will keep customers coming back to the same shopping area. 

“To me, people went to Kmart if they wanted something particular from Kmart,” said Haney, 48, who works at a Livonia, Mich., Target that neighbors a closing Big Kmart. “And most of those shoppers will find another Kmart.” 

But Jody Brown, who manages a clothing store in Jacksonville, Ark., said he’s not worried about customers going elsewhere once the Kmart across the street closes. 

“I hate to hear they’re closing,” Brown said. “But it’s not going to hurt our business. I’m curious to see what comes in over there. That might even help us.” 

List of Kmart stores slated to close in California 

Kmart Corp. announced Friday it will close 284 stores in 40 states and Puerto Rico as part of its restructuring under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Sixteen of the 164 Kmart stores in California will close, affecting 1,379 of the 18,615 people employed by Kmart in the state as of Jan. 16, 2002. 

Here are the stores affected in California: 

3362 Big Kmart 233 East Compton Blvd. Compton CA 

Big Kmart 520 Hwy. 101 North, Crescent City 

Big Kmart 2398 Jamacha, El Cajon 

Big Kmart 1013 Riley, Folsom 

Big Kmart 16111 Harbor Blvd., Fountain Valley 

Big Kmart 4987 East Kings Canyon, Fresno 

Super K 4080 W. Shaw, Fresno 

Big Kmart 1050 W. Olive Ave., Fresno 

Big Kmart 26655 Highland Ave., Highland 

Big Kmart 1600 East Foothill Blvd., La Verne 

Big Kmart 11507 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles 

Big Kmart 397 W. Los Angeles Ave., Moorpark 

Big Kmart 39626 10th St., Palmdale 

Big Kmart 6100 Mack Road, Sacramento 

Big Kmart 7908 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee 

Big Kmart 6433 Fallbrook Ave., West Hill

Community voices concerns over future  

of African-American studies program 

The fate of City of Franklin school, the future of the African-American Studies Department and the quality of district budget figures all came up for debate at a Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, as the budget-cutting process continued to roil the community. 

The board, which has already approved $3.8 million in cuts for next year, must chop about $6 million to balance the 2002-2003 budget. 

In January, Superintendent Michele Lawrence recommended permanently closing Franklin, a K-6 school modeled after a city, to save the financially-strapped district an estimated $326,000. But the superintendent has shifted her position in recent weeks, and Wednesday night, she presented two options for keeping the school open. Board members suggested they are split over which option to pursue. 

Under one scenario, the K-6 school would remain open next year as a first to fifth grade school, on a reduced budget, during a one-year refurbishing of the building. The school would receive minimal funds during this time. Lawrence said the school is under-enrolled and the district cannot afford to allocate a full budget to the small school.  

A second option would be to move students elsewhere during construction, and re-open the school in the fall of 2003. No matter which option the board chooses, the district will likely place another program or administrative offices alongside Franklin school in 2003 to make better use of the large building, which is currently underutilized. 

Board President Shirley Issel and Vice-President Joaquin Rivera said it is not realistic to keep the school open during construction on a shoestring budget. 

“I really think that option one is a bad one,” said Rivera. “Only being able to give that school some partial support is a disaster waiting to happen.” 

But board member Terry Doran suggested that shutting down for the year would be disruptive both to Franklin and to the surrounding schools, which would absorb the redistributed students.  

In an interview Thursday, board member John Selawsky made similar arguments. 

“Quite honestly, the information given to me last night makes me really uncomfortable about closing that school for a year,” said Selawsky, who maintained that he is still undecided. 

Board member Ted Schultz, told the Daily Planet Thursday that he is remaining neutral while the superintendent gathers more information. 

Selawsky said some parents at Berkeley Arts Magnet, an elementary school housed in a small facility, have their eye on the Franklin building, further complicating the picture. 

“It’s on the table,” said Selawsky. “I think it makes sense, quite honestly. But that’s down the road, at least two years away.” 

Selawsky said Franklin and Berkeley Arts Magnet may be able to co-exist in the same building. 

African-American Studies and the six-period day 

Last week, the board voted to move from a seven- to a six-period day at BHS beginning next fall as part of the $3.8 million package of budget cuts. 

The schedule shift will reduce the number of electives available to students, including, quite possibly, African-American Studies courses. 

A parade of parents, students and community activists, including several Black Muslims dressed in suits and bow ties, spoke up for African-American Studies Wednesday night. 

“You’ve got to teach the most important knowledge in the world – knowledge of self,” said Yusuf Bey, owner of Oakland-based Your Black Muslim Bakery, urging the board to keep the department at full tilt. 

Lawrence said there will be a reduction in electives, likely including art, music and African-American studies courses, among others. But she emphasized that, contrary to prevalent rumors, no programs will be eliminated. 

Doran said the board had achieved a “delicate balance” in trimming the high school schedule and keeping valuable programs intact. 

“We didn’t eliminate the African-American Studies Department,” Doran said. “We could have. We didn’t eliminate the arts and we could have.” 

But parents said the cuts in electives will have devastating effects on students. Denise Jones, mother of a BHS graduate, said the school’s music program helped keep her oldest son in school. 

“If he’d had a six-period day in his four years, he never would have graduated from Berkeley High School,” said Jones, who added that high school athletics, which also face cuts, were instrumental in keeping her son on track. 

The district has put out conflicting messages about the cost savings associated with a shift to the six-period day. In a budget-cutting proposal released in January, Lawrence estimated a $520,000 savings. But, in a meeting with the Berkeley High School PTA this week, the superintendent said the savings would be closer to $150,000. 

At Wednesday’s meeting, Lawrence said the $150,000 figure is probably too low. Derick Miller, president of the Berkeley PTA Council, and a vocal opponent of the switch to a six-period day, challenged the board for making a decision without a solid sense for the cost-savings. 

“That’s a pretty difficult decision if we can’t even figure out how much we’re saving doing it,” he said.  

Editor: 

“What are we doing? Do we have a policy in regards to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?” 

These are questions people are beginning to ask the Bush administration as the body count continues to the multiply, daily, from the escalation of violence occurring in and around Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories. 

Over the last week, Secretary of State Colin Powell has passed through the gauntlet of media press, advocating restraint on both sides, but when pressed, the secretary repeats the same administration line - blaming Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for the suicide bombings, when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has limited his effectiveness by placing him under house arrest. Both the United States and Israel knows that Arafat's power does not extend to militant elements of Hamas and Hezbollah, their growing power in the region spurred by the frustration of Palestinians want to achieve an equal accord with Israel now, not later. Their frustration becomes magnified as all parties realized how close they actually came towards peace.  

During the Clinton administration, significant progress occurred because the U.S. decides to become a full third partner in the peace negotiation process. Israeli armies had left Gaza and West bank, suicide bombing were drastically reduced, and the talk between former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat was not about ‘building a wall,’ but rather how to manage a symbiotic economic trade policy between Israel and its fledgling Palestine neighbor. Flash-forward to the Bush administration, it is obvious that the current isolationist foreign policy towards the Middle East (besides the war on terror) isn’t working. 

Already, the cable news outlets have had a field day with the Gallop poll results released last week, showing that most respondents from the Muslim world had unfavorable opinions toward the U.S. The continuing debacle of the President's State of the Union phrase “axis of evil” and the U.S. Special Forces stalemate around Gardez, Afghanistan, does not help to discount this view. Increasingly even mainstream media outlets (with the exception of Fox News) is asking for a more detailed road map in between resolve issues within the war on terror. With the rate of violence spiraling out of control, shots of the Afghan warfront are competing with video of Israeli soldiers invading the Palestinian refugee camps. (Bad news for Sharon and Colin Powell.) 

Even with the peace proposals by Saudi Prince Crown Prince Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, missiles still bombard Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's compound. The latest being Wednesday when Arafat was receiving European Union Middle East envoy Miguel Angel Moratinos in an attempt to stimulate some positive dialogue against the rising tensions. Apparently former general Ariel Sharon would rather see the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in flames (appeasing Israeli conservatives), than go to the negotiating table and give land for peace.  

The irony of the situation is that Yasser Arafat is more popular among Palestinians and Europeans, than Ariel Sharon, whose sole ally in his ‘get tough’ stance is none other than the United States. However, it remains to be seen if the Secretary of State is willing to see more innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians die in attacks and reprisals, without commenting that all-out war would be disastrous. The United States cannot afford to lose its sphere of positive influence letting the burgeoning conflict spin out of control. 

Regrettably, the reason why the Bush administration will step in this Mideast conflict will have less to do mending fences, rather it will be another example of the conservative agenda trying to reinstate the image of American imperialism at home and abroad. An imperialism that, while able to preserve a ‘little vs. heavy’ peace, paradoxically caused many of the issues the region currently deals with (autocratic governments, religious extremist violence). 

The only answer to the unending volley of violence is for Secretary of State Colin Powell to again start the United States down a path of mediation between Israel and Palestine, treating Palestine President Yasser Arafat with the same degree of respect as the Israeli Prime Minister. Though it may ruffle the features conservatives and military hawks that view Arafat as a de-facto terrorist, the Palestinian people support him and he is their elected leader (Would Ariel Sharon and President Bush prefer militant Hamas?). To continue to disrespect and blame Arafat for the continued intifada, disrespects the Palestinian people, whose rights of self-determination and human decency continue to be eroded. Even Yasser Arafat’s political power in the region is limited, as Sharon and Powell know too well, as a ‘boxed-in’ Arafat makes the lure of Hamas and Hezbollah even stronger. This option leaves many Palestinians with no choice but to fight. Israeli military, while attempting to crush the Palestinian insurrection, clumsily are making even innocent civilians into targets, as decrepit refugee camps turn into mini-war zones. With this scenario, only one thing is certain: further Israeli violence only helps Hamas, bringing war everlasting. 

Tommy Ates 

Texas 

Friday, March 8

International Women’s Day 

1 - 2:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Music, history, and speakers.  

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Celebrating International Women’s Day 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Julia Morgan Theatre  

2640 College Ave. 

International Women’s Day celebration with Suheir Hammad, poet and author of “First Writing Since” and “Born Palestinian, Born Black.” This event is presented by the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and Women of Color Resource Center. All are welcome to both the reception at 6 p.m. and the 

program at 7 p.m. $10 - $30, sliding scale. 845-8542, www.coloredgirls.org. 

Berkeley Critical Mass Ninth Birthday Ride 

5:30 p.m. 

Downtown Berkeley BART 

Bike through the streets with glee to celebrate the ninth birthday of the monthly Berkeley Critical Mass ride. http://www.bclu.org/couch/. 

Men Considering Serving in the  

Roman Catholic church as a  

priest or brother 

9 p.m. 

Precious Blood Mission House  

2800 Milvia 

An evening of dialogue and discernment for men who are considering serving in the Roman Catholic church as a priest or brother. RSVP to Rev. Gary M. Luiz, 848-1053. 

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Mary Breunig, president, Landmark Heritage Foundation; “The Julian Morgan Building, the Berkeley City Club, and the Landmark Heritage Foundation.” $1. 848-3533. 

Still Stronger Women 

1:15 - 3:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave.  

Dancing with Lucretia, plus Haiti short story. Free. 232-1351. 

SafeTeens: Powerful Alternatives to Violence 

6:30 p.m. 

Berkeley YWCA 

2600 Bancroft Way 

Anita Roberts, founder of SafeTeen programs, is the featured guest. This event is designed specifically for preteens, teens, their parents and/or mentors, educators, and students. 848-6370. 

Saturday, March 9

Burma Human Rights Day 

6 - 10 p.m. 

Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship Hall 

1924 Cedar 

Benefit for women’s groups on the Thailand/Burma border. Burmese cuisine 6 - 7 p.m.; Min Zin, featured speaker, 7 - 8 p.m.; “Sacrifice,” feature film, 8 - 9 p.m.; $10-$20 sliding scale. 841-4824, www.badasf.org. 

Restore Hetch Hetchy 

5 p.m. 

MountainLight Gallery 

1466 66th St., Emeryville 

A short presentation describing the effort to obtain a “win-win” outcome for Yosemite National Park’s Hetch Hetchy Valley and the Bay Area’s water and power users. 209-372-8660, www.mountainlight.com/. 

Train for the Eco-Challenge 

2 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Liz Caldwell and Barry Siff, veteran members of Team REI-Salomon, with a slide presentation on their recent Eco-Challenge events in New Zealand and Borneo. They will discuss how to train for a competition, select team members and prevent injury. 527-4140. 

Sunday, March 10

Oakland Civic Orchestra’s 

Children’s Concert 

3 p.m. 

Oakland Veteran’s Memorial Building 

200 Grand Ave., Oakland 

A concert for children of all ages. There will be a raffle and young members from the audience will have a chance to conduct the orchestra. Free. 251-8362. 

Storytelling Women 

3 - 5 p.m. 

Live Oak Center, Social Hall 

1301 Shattuck Ave. 

Women tellers telling about women who inspire their lives. Four storytellers and a musician. Part of the annual women’s and girls’ tea party and storytelling ceremony held in Codornices Park. $30 suggested. 841-6612. 

The Labor Movement, Democracy and the Political Vacuum 

noon 

The Fellowship of Humanity 

411 28th St., Oakland 

Presentation by Steve Zeltzer. 451-5818, HumanistHall@yahoo.com. 

Tibetan Art: Entering  

the Realm of the Sacred 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Sylvia Gretchen, Dean of Nyingma Studies, will uses examples of Tibetan art to explore the meaning of “sacred.” 843-6812. 

Monday, March 11

The Science Behind Global Warming, and How You Can Reduce Your Impact 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Adult School 

University Ave. and Bonar St. 

Susan Ode, Berkeley Energy Commission, will provide an update on the science and implications of global warming for the world, plus a practical list of actions you can incorporate in your life to protect the global climate and improve the quality of your life. 981-5435, energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Odyssey of Conflict and Odyssey of Mastery – Polanyi, Pirsig, Zen, and the Art of Knowing 

3:30 - 5 p.m. 

Pacific School of Religion, Mudd 206 

1798 Scenic Ave. 

Lecture and discussion presented by Allen Dyer, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at East Tennessee State University, also former chair of the ethics committee of the American Psychiatric Association. Free and open to the public. 849-8285. 

Learning from The History of Government 

noon 

UC Berkeley 

Harris Room (119 Moses Hall) 

Positive Political Theory Seminar with Roger Myerson, University of Chicago. 642-4608, http://www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/. 

Conscientious Objection to War 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Friends’ Meetinghouse 

2151 Vine St. 

The Berkeley Society of Friends will view the PBS documentary, The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It, and discuss it.  

Meet the Artists of the  

ARTS Ed Resource Guide 

6 - 8 p.m. 

James Irvine Foundation Conference Center 

353 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 

Artists and arts organizations will deliver brief presentation about their program offerings and address questions posed by the audience. Free and open to the public. 208-0842, www.artsedeastbay.org. 

Tuesday, March 12

An Evening with Numfundo Walaza: The Burden of Forgiveness 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

An evening with Numfundo Walaza, director of the Trauma Center for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Capetown, South Africa. Walaza will talk about "The Burden of Forgiveness: Reflections from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of South Africa." $15. 204-0720, mkmorrison@cdsp.edu. 

Wednesday, March 13

Trees Forum 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

Amahra Hicks of USFS, and Jeff Romm of UCB discuss “Just Forests Initiative: Faith-based Activism for Public Land.” Free and open to the public. www.gtu.edu/StudServ/TREES. 

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Lawrence Saez, professor of East Asia Studies, UC Berkeley; “South Asia: Focus on India.” $5. 848-3533. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Berkeley/Richmond Jewish  

Community Center Library 

1414 Walnut St. 

From Op-ed to fiction, memoir to the feature article. Workshop format. Free. 524-3034. 

Thursday, March 14

Grizzly Peak Flyfishers 

Annual Flytying Festival 

7:30 p.m. 

Kensington Community Center 

59 Arlington Ave., Kensington 

Flytying demonstrations and tutoring for beginning through advanced. 524-0428. 

Hiking the Appalachian Trail 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Lisa Garrett and Francis Tapon will share slides and highlights of their 111-day journey through 13 East Coast states covering 2,167 miles. 527-4140, www.sonictrek.com.  

Friday, March 15

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Keith A. Russell, president, American Baptist Seminary of the West; “A look at Moral Issues.” $1. 848-3533. 

– Compiled by Guy Poole 

When Mixmaster Mike of Beastie Boys fame describes in the new documentary film “Scratch” the first time he heard a DJ scratch a record – on Malcom’s McLaren’s 1983 single “Buffalo Gals” – he said he didn’t know what he was hearing. “All that scratching was making me itch. Zigga zigga. Where’s that sound coming from?” 

The answer quickly arrived on TV when a performance of Herbie Hanckock’s breakdancing classic “Rockit” broadcast a sonic revelation. Mike could see that Mixmaster DXT was rubbing a record back and forth under a needle, sending him and legion of other budding young hip hop DJs on the path to turntablism. 

Fifteen years after “Rockit,” filmmaker Doug Pray was approached, on the strength of his 1996 documentary about the Seattle grunge scene “Hype,” to direct a documentary about scratching, and Pray admits he didn’t know anything about it at the time. “I know it sounds corny, but the journey of discovery is exactly what keeps you going,” said Pray from his Los Angles home. “There’s something to be said for being an outsider in a culture, because you do go in with an open mind.  

I’m able to go in and ask really simple, kind of stupid questions. And sometimes the answers are the most interesting things. The answers always end up in the movie.” 

Easy to do, hard to do well, scratching is the cosmic noise for the soundtrack of the hip hop world. It’s the flash behind the gold-ringed glimmer of Grandmaster Flash and the bounce in Run DMC’s beats. Deeply grooved in the roots of funk, the DJ searches for his scratches in the breaks of his record collection. 

One of the really simple questions Pray asked about scratching is “What is a break?” says Zulu Nation founder Afrika Bambaataa in the film, “... the break beat is the part you look for in a record that lets your God-self just get wild.” 

“Scratch” can’t resist getting a little wild itself with sampling and slipping of its own while it presents a history, a definition, and a portrait of scratching and its practitioners. Pray found that to adequately tell the story of scratching he would have to include all the hip hop arts: breakdancing, graffiti, the MC and the D. It’s an urban arts movement that has been saddled by its association with rap as a street fad but has grown to legitimately stake a claim in music, language, painting and fashion. 

The DJs in the film take stabs at explaining their frenetic techniques, but the art of scratching cannot be adequately explained apart from the other hip-hop arts; it’s a style working in symbiosis with rhyming and dancing and the heat of a house party. Filmmaker Pray said he had trouble making the 90-minute film informative to people who don’t know much about the hip hop scene while appealing to the people who are already steeped in it. “Some things are left out,” he said. “I can’t cover everything. I’m not Ken Burns.” 

"Scratch" digs into the old-school founders of scratching with DXT and Grandmaster Flash (seen in a clip from the legendary 1982 feature film "Wild Style" scratching in his kitchen), asks scratching poster boy DJ Qbert how he talks through his turntables, and follows downbeat DJ Shadow digging the vinyl treasure trove in the low-ceiling basement of his favorite record store in a hush-hush Sacramento location. 

"The whole old school section is 15 minutes long. At one point it was 45 minutes long," said Pray about trying to present the whole story in 90 minutes. "There’s always a point in the editing when it suddenly becomes more about the movie and less about who are you trying to please, and the movie takes on a logic of its own." 

By letting the story come out of the material, Pray’s film shows scratching as trying to overcome its own obscurity. DJs spinning records at parties gave MCs and rappers the platform for rhyming over syncopated beats, who then eventually overshadowing the DJ with their front-man stage personalities. Record companies began to do away with DJs altogether, paying just an MC with a drum machine to make records. 

Scratching, the film suggests, existed as a closeted skill in the fingertips of bedroom prodigies at garage parties, working under the noise complaints of their parents and, like celestial jazzman Sun Ra, by communing with alien forces to create a world of cosmic righteousness through grooves and beats. 

A breakthrough release was "Return of the DJ," a 1996 compilation record featuring just scratching by masters of the craft, stepping them up to front stage. Now, sales of turntables as musical instruments are rivaling those of guitars as kids spend endless hours practicing for Scratchcon, an annual scratching competition that trophies the winning scratcher of the world.  

Doug Pray found DJs who were eager to talk about their influences and techniques in spite of the competitive spirit of Scratchcon.  

"It seems like there’s a new energy, and honoring old hip hop," said Pray. "Hip hop has become mainstream corporate rap, and become a narrow closed-minded thing. Because of that these DJs are asking ‘why aren’t people having fun at hip-hop parties anymore? Why aren’t people dancing? Let’s take this back to what it used to be.’" 

924 Gilman Mar. 8: Dead and Gone, Drunk Horse, The Cost, Scurvy Dogs; Mar. 9: Not Flipper, The Sick, Lo-FI Niessans, Stalker Potential, Deficient; All shows start a 8 p.m. unless noted; Most are $5; 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. 

ACME Observatory Contemporary Performance Series Mar. 17: 8 p.m., Vorticella; the laptop duo of Kristen Miltner and Kendra Juul; $0 to $20, TUVA Space, 3192 Adeline. 649-8744, http://sfsound.org/acme.html. 

The Albatross Mar. 9: Larry Stefl Jazz Quartet, 9:30 p.m.; Mar. 12: Mad & Eddie Duran; Mar. 14: Keni “El Lebrijano”; Mar. 17: Bobby Nickels, Kyle Thyer, Cherlie, 8:30 p.m.; Mar. 18: Paul Schneider; Mar. 19: Carla Kaufman & Larry Scala; Mar. 20: Whiskey Brothers; Mar. 21: Keni “El Lebrijano”; All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless noted. 822 San Pablo Ave., 843-2473, albatrosspub@mindspring.com. 

Anna’s Bistro Mar. 8: Buddy Conner; 10 p.m., Bluesman Hideo Date; Mar. 9: Vicki Burns and Felice York; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Mar. 10: Choro Time; Mar. 11: Renegade Sidemen; Mar. 12: Singers’ open mic w/ Trio; Mar. 13: Jimmy Ryan Jazz Quartet; Mar. 14: Rev. Rabia; Mar. 15: Sallie/Dave/Doug Jazz Trio; 10 p.m., Hideo Date; Mar. 16: Bob Crawford Jazz Trio; 10 p.m., Ducksan Distones Jazz Sextet; Mar. 17: Aleph Null; Music starts at 8 p.m. unless noted, 1801 University Ave., 849-2662. 

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center Mar. 1: 9:30 p.m., Caribbean All Stars, $11; Mar. 2: 9:30 p.m., West African Highlife Band, $11; Mar. 3: 7:30 p.m., Flamenco open stage, $8; Mar. 4: 6:30 p.m., Vista College Class; Mar. 5: 9 p.m., Brass Menagerie; Mar. 6: 8 p.m., Tom Rigney and Flambeau, $8; Mar. 7: 10 p.m., Grateful Dead DJ Nite, $5; Mar. 8: 9:30 p.m., Henri-Pierre Koubaka and Kasumai Bare, $10; Mar. 9: 7:30 p.m., “In Song and Struggle,” 3rd annual music, dance and spoken word celebration of International Women’s Day and 12 years of Berkeley Copwatch, $10-$20, www.berkeleycopwatch.org; Mar. 10: 2 - 6 p.m., California Friends of Louisiana French Music, $8; Mar. 10: 7:30 p.m., Be Sharps - The 22-voice student choir from El Cerrito’s Windrush Middle School, $5; Mar. 17: 7 p.m., Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble and Combos; 1317 San Pablo Ave., 548-0425. 

Blake’s Mar. 1: Roux, Ordinary K, $5; Mar. 2: Pseudopod, $5; Mar. 3: Cosmic Mercy, Wildsang, $3; Mar. 4: The Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Mar. 5: Wonderland Ave, Oh My God, $3; Mar. 6: Sisterz of The Underground, $5, Hebro, free; Mar. 7: Ascension, $5; Mar. 8: Five Point Plan, Subterraneanz, $5; Mar. 9: Motherbug, $5; Mar. 10: Earl Zero & the 7th Street Band, DJ Baggo, $3; Mar. 11 The Steve Gannon Band & Mz. Dee, $4; Mar. 12: Colonel Knowledge, Mega Babes, $3; Mar. 13: Karate High School, Auto Punch, Simplistic, $5; Mar. 14: Ascension, $5; Mar. 15: King Harvest, First Circle, $5; Mar. 16: Omaya, $7; Mar. 17: The Lost Coast Band, The Real, $3; 2367 Telegraph Ave., 877-488-6533. 

Cafe Eclectica Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Hip Hop show: Little Larry, with guest MCs and DJs. A teen cafe "for youth, by youth". All ages, $3 w/HS I.D., $5 w/o; 1309 Solano Ave., Albany, 527-2344. 

Cal Performances Mar. 10: 3 p.m., The Petersen Quartet perform the works of Beethoven, Shostakovich and Ravel. $34; Mar. 16: 8 p.m., Gyuto Monks perform multiphonic chanting in accordance with the spiritual practices of Tantric Tibetan Buddhism. $24 - $36; Mar. 17: 3 p.m., Andras Schiff, classical pianist. $28 - $48; Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, 642-9988 

Cato’s Ale House Mar. 3: Mo’ Fone; Mar. 6: Christopher Gamper Trio featuring Michael Emenau; Mar. 10: Blue Eyed Devils; Mar. 13: Irish Session; Mar. 20: Saul Kaye Quartet; Mar. 24: Lost Coast Jazz Trio; Mar. 27: Vince Wallace Trio; Mar. 31: Phillip Greenlief Trio; 3891 Piedmont Ave., Oakland, 655-3349 

Club Jjang-ga Feb. 23: Cheapskate, Eddie Haskels, Resiteleros, Dead Last; 261-1108, savageproductions1@yahoo.com. 

Downtown Mar. 1: Hal Stein; Mar. 2: Mel Martin; Mar. 3: Fredreick Nighthawk; Mar. 5: Aaron Greenblatt; Mar. 6: Michael Bluestein; Mar. 8: Post Junk Trio; Mar. 9: Mad and Eddie Duran; Mar. 10: Duncan James, Ned Boynton Jazz Guitar Duet; Mar. 12: Aaron Greenblatt; Mar. 13: Dave Mathews; 2102 Shattuck Ave., 649-3810 

Eli’s Mile High Club Every Friday, 10 p.m. Funky Fridays Conscious Dance Party with KPFA DJs Splif Skankin and Funky Man. $10; 3629 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. 655-6661 

Freight & Salvage Mar. 8 & 9: House Jacks, $17.50; Mar. 10: Todd Phillips, David Grier & Matt Flinner, $16.50; Mar. 11: Ledward Ka’apana, $17.50; Mar. 13: Ryan Shupe & the Rubber Band, $16.50; Mar. 14: Carol Denney, $16.50; Mar. 15: David Maloney performs Irish folk opera “The Great Blight”, $17.50; Mar. 16: The Black Brothers, $18.50; Mar. 17: Tom Russell, $16.50; 1111 Addison St., 548-1761, folk@freightandsalvage.org 

Jupiter Feb. 23: Brenden Millstein Quartet; Feb. 27: J Steinkoler Duo; Feb. 28: Spectraphonic; All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m., unless noted. 2181 Shattuck Ave., 843-7625, www.jupiterbeer.com. 

La Peña Cultural Center Mar. 1: 9 p.m., 2nd Annual Women in Salsa Celebration, $10; Mar. 2: 8 p.m., Aywah! Ethnic Dance Co., $16; Mar. 3: 3:30 p.m. -6 p.m., Domingo de Rumba in the Café; Mar. 6: 7:30 p.m., Students of La Peña's classes perform Josh Jones' Latin Jazz and Hip Hop/Funk Ensemble perform with guest artists from Joyce Young's Poetry, Resistance and Cultural Arts Workshops, and students from Merritt College high school. $8; 3105 Shattuck Ave., 849-2568, www.lapena.org. 

The Starry Plough Mar. 1: 9:30 p.m., Darling Clementines, Swingin' Doors, $6; Mar. 2: 9:30 p.m., Jon Dee Graham, Naked Barbies, $8; Mar. 3: 8 p.m., The Starry Irish Music Session led by Shay Black; Mar. 4: 7 p.m., Dance Class and Ceili (traditional Irish music session), free; Mar. 5: 7:30 p.m., Open Mic, free; Mar. 6: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam $7; Mar. 7: 9:30 p.m., Bleachmobile, Grain USA, Knieval, $4; Mar. 8: 9:30 p.m., 5 Rue Christine Label Showcase, Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Hella, Slim Moon Solo, $5; Mar. 9: 9:30 p.m., Gun and Doll Show, Visitor Jim, Anton Barbeau, $5; Mar. 10: 8 p.m., The Starry Irish Music Session led by Shay Black; Mar. 11: Dance Class and Ceili (traditional Irish music session), free; Mar. 12: 7:30 p.m., Open Mic, free; Mar. 13: 8:30 p.m., Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik, $7; Mar. 14: 9:30 p.m., Giant Value, Warm Fields, $4; Mar. 15: 9:30 p.m., Moore Brothers, $6; Mar. 16: 9:30 p.m., St. Patrick's Celtic Meltdown, Blue on Green, Green Man Gruvin, $5; Mar. 17: 6 p.m., St. Patty's Day Celebration, Chameleon, Irish dancers & bagpiper, $10; 3101 Shattuck Ave., 841-2082. 

Tuva Space Mar. 21: 8 p.m., Blues Translation; Mar. 22: 8 p.m., Electro-Acoustic Quartet; Mar. 23: 8 p.m. Solo Guitar Performance, 9:30 p.m. Country, Folk, and Blues Standards. $8 All shows $8. 312 Adeline St. 649-8744, acme@sfsound.org 

“Free Men! Free Women!” Feb. 23: 8 p.m., Wing It performs a new a combination of dance, song and story. $12. First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way, 814-9584 

“John Glennon and Erika March” Feb. 24: 5 p.m., A program of French music including the works of Francois Couperin, Chambonnieres, and Muffat. $15 - $18. MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda, 528-1685 

“Soukous Xplosion Tour 2002” Mar. 1: 9 p.m. Madilu Systems, Nyboma, Diblo Dibala & Matchatcha and special guest Daly Kimoko will make the sounds of Africa come alive. $25, $30 at door. California Ballroom, 1736 Franklin St., Oakland, 415-421-8497 

“Cosi Fan Tutte” Through Mar. 3: The Berkeley Opera will perform Mozart’s classic opera. $10 - $30. Call for specific dates and times. Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. 841-103, www.berkeleyopera.com 

“In Praise of Music: Berkeley Choral Festival” Mar. 4: 8 p.m., Several local choral groups will join the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra in a benefit for the Musicians’ Pension Fund. $25 - $49, $12 students. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 841-2800 

“Chamber Music” Mar. 9: 3 p.m., Berkeley High School musicians perform their second annual chamber music concert, featuring the works of Gershwin, Ravel, McMichael, Maniet and Couperin. Free. Berkeley Public Library North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, 981-6250 

“Splendors of Versailles and Madrid” Mar. 9: 8 p.m., Mar. 10: 7:30 p.m., Jordi Savall conducts the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra as they perform works from the Royal Court composers of Spain and France. $34 - $50. First Congregational Church, Dana & Durant, 415-392-4400 

“Shashmaqam Bukharan Jewish Ensemble” Mar. 10: 8 p.m., An evening of traditional music and from Bukhara, Uzbekistan. $24. Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley campus, 866-9559 

“The Glory of Past Empires - Music of Great Civilizations in Europe and Western Asia” Mar. 10: 8 p.m., Tim Rayborn and John Waller. $10, $8 students. Hausmusik, 1185 Solano Ave., PMB #146, Albany, 486-2803 

“Empyrean Ensemble” Mar. 10: 2 p.m., The classical group performs two world premiers for this family matinee. $10 adults, $5 children. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave., 845-8542 x301, www.juliamorgan.org 

UC Men's Octet Annual Spring Show Mar. 14 and 15: 8 p.m., all-male a cappella group; $7 students, $12 general, UC Berkeley, Wheeler Auditorium, 301-2367 octoevents@hotmail.com. 

“Harmonica Ace and Band” Mar. 15: 8 p.m., 10 p.m., Carlos Zialcita and his band team up with guest vocalist Ella Pennewell for a blues concert. $12. Dotha’s Juke Joint, 126 Broadway, Oakland, 663-7668 

“Expressionality” Mar. 13 through Mar. 16: Wed. 10:15 a.m., Thurs. 10:30 a.m., 7 p.m., Sat. to be announced. An opera created and produced by 4th and 5th graders. Wed. and Thurs. shows at Malcolm X Arts & Academics School, 1731 Prince St. Sat. show at Oakland Museum of Art. 644-6313 

“The Art of Disability” Mar. 16: 7 p.m., A showcase of performing artists with disabilities. $10 -$50 sliding scale. Alice Arts Center, 1428 Alice St., Oakland, hesternet@jps.net 

“Tribute to Oakland’s Gospel Greats” Mar. 16: 7:30 p.m., The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir and Youth Choir will present a free tribute concert. First Congregational Church of Oakland, 27th & Harrison St., Oakland, 839-4361  

“The Song of Songs” Mar. 16: 8 p.m., Composer Jorge Linderman creates a musical setting for Chana Bloch and Ariel Bloch’s translation of “The Song of Songs”. $32. Wheeler Auditorium, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Celebration for the Trees Mar. 17: 7 - 10 p.m., Benefit for the Ancient Trees Coalition Education Effort with Making Waves, Green, Marca Cassity, Folk This!, and Hali Hammer. BFUU Fellowship Hall 1606 Bonita. 

“Chamber Music Series” Mar. 17: 4 p.m., Joan Jeanrenaud, founding cellist of Kronos Quartet, gives a solo performance of both acoustic and electronic pieces. $10, free children under 18. The Crowden School, 1475 Rose St., 559-6910 x110, jamie@thecrowdenschool.org 

“Jazz Concert” Mar. 24: 2 p.m., Terry Gibbs and the Mike Vax Orchestra. $10 - $18. Longfellow School for the Arts, 1500 Derby St. 420-4560, www.bigbandjazz.net 

“Recital” Mar. 24: 3 p.m., Cal Performances presents pianist, Richard Goode, and vocalist, Randall Scarlata. $48. Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley campus, 642-9988, www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Jewish Music Festival” Mar. 9 through Mar 24: Several performers will perform Jewish music and dance from across the world. Call Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center for Acts, times and dates. 925-866-9559, www.brjcc.org 

Dance 

“Here..Now” Through Feb. 24: Tues. - Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., 8 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m., 8 p.m., Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs three distinct programs featuring the West Coast premiere of “Here...Now”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-0212 

“Kusum Africa” Mar. 1 & 2: 8 p.m., Sixty artists and four dance companies representing the traditions of the Congo, Republic of Guinea, and Ghana adapt sub-Saharan dance-drumming to tell the story of the occupation of Accra, Ghana to protest British colonialism. $18 - $30. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

"The Healing Has Time" Mar. 9: 8 p.m., Diamano Coura West African Dance Company, a tribute in dance benefiting the Mother of Peace Orphanage Living with AIDS in Zimbabwe. $15-$30. Kaiser Convention Center - Calvin Simmons Theater, 10th St., Oakland, 278-2681, diamanoc@aol.com. 

“Risk of Falling” Mar. 9: 8 p.m., Mar. 10: 4:30 p.m., Julie Drucker has assembled troupe of dancers ages 24 to 83 to perform an intergenerational dance project that weds improvisational movement and personal storytelling to explore issues of trust, fear, aging and community. $12 - $15, $10 seniors. Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito, 286-7922 

“Our Neighbors Dance Their Dances: A Celebration of World Dances” Mar. 10: 3 p.m., The African Queens, Patricia Bulitt, Betty Ladzekpo and Mimi Prather & Rotrease Yates perform their respective native dances. $5, children free. Live Oak Theatre, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 981-5150 

“Compania Espanola De Antonio Marquez” Mar. 13 & 14: 8 p.m., Artistic Director Antonio Marquez showcases his dazzling and dynamic program of flamenco. $24 - $36. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

Theater 

“Night, Mother” Feb. 23: 8 p.m., A drama exploring one young woman’s decision to take control of her life with one furious and heartbreaking act. Directed by Bahati Bonner. $12, $8 seniors. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid Ave. 496-1269 x1950, nightmother@onebox.com 

“The Pirandello Project” Through Feb. 23: Check venue for specific dates, times and prices. An original presentation of three short works by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Luigi Pirandello. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., 841-4082, www.pirandelloproject.org 

“Culture Clash in AmeriCCA” Through Mar. 3: Check theater for specific dates and times. The comic trio Culture Clash present their latest collection of political, ethnological and socialogical humor written for and about Berkeley. $10 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., 647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Rhinoceros” Through Mar. 10: Check theater for specific dates and times. An absurdist tragic-comedy about a small provincial town whose citizens slowly but surely transform into large cumbersome rhinoceroses. Directed by Barbara Damashek. $38 - $54. Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St. 647-2976 www.berkeleyrep.org. 

“Divine Comedy: The Dante Project” Mar. 1 through Mar. 10: Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. A motorcycle and sidecar speeding over the Marsh of Styx, a flying bathtub touring the solar system, and a traveler passing through a wall of fire are some of the more spectacular moments in this comic twist on Dante’s poem. $6 - $12. Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9925, genturc@uclink.berkeley.edu 

“Women’s Voices, Then and Now” Mar. 15 through Mar. 24: Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m., Voices from a 1915 graveyard blend with voices from 1982 to present a vivid depiction of the lives of American women. $10. Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington, 525-0302 

“Curtain Up” Mar. 22 through Mar. 24: 8 p.m., Musical theater veteran Martin Charnin and Broadway conductor/comoser Keith Levenson join forces to create a semi-staged version of Gershwin and Kaufman’s 1927 musical comedy “Strike Up the Band”. $24 - $46. Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, 642-9988 

“The Golden State” Feb. 23 through Mar. 24: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., An aging Brian Wilson meets the ruling family of the sea, and a blend of comic book escapade and tragedy follows in the wake. $20, Sunday is pay what you can. Transparent Theater, 1901 Ashby Ave., 883-0305 

“Impact Briefs 5: The East Bay Hit” Mar. 1 through Mar. 30: Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m., A collection of seven plays all about the ups and downs of in the Bay Area. $12, $7 students. La Val’s Subterranean Theatre, 1834 Euclid, 464-4468, tickets@impattheatre.com. 

“The Merchant of Venice” Mar. 9 through Mar. 31: Wed. - Thurs. 7 p.m., Fri. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m., Women in Time Productions presents Shakespeare’s famous romantic comedy replete with masks and revelry, balcony scenes, and midnight escapes. $25, half-price on Wed. The Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 925-798-1300 

“Knock Knock” Mar. 8 through Apr. 14: Wed. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., 7 p.m., A comedic farce about two eccentric retirees whose comfortable philosophical arguments are interrupted by a series of strange visitors. $26 - $35. Aurora Theatre, 2081 Addison St., 843-4822, www.auroratheatre.org 

“Murder Dressed in Satin” by Victor Lawhorn, ongoing. A mystery-comedy dinner show at The Madison about a murder at the home of Satin Moray, a club owner and self-proclaimed socialite with a scarlet past. Dinner is included in the price of the theater ticket. $47.50 Lake Merritt Hotel, 1800 Madison St., Oakland, 239-2252, www.acteva.com/go/havefun. 

“A Fairy’s Tail” Mar. 16 through Apr. 20: Thur. - Sat. 8 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. The Shotgun Players present Adam Bock’s story of a girl and her odyssey of revenge and personal transformation after a giant smashes her house with her family inside. Directed by Patrick Dooley. $10 - $25. The Allston Street Theatre, 2116 Allston Way, 704-8210, www.shotgunplayers.org 

Film 

Pacific Film Archive Mar. 11: A Star is Born, 3 p.m.; Flesh, 7 p.m.; Mar. 12: An eye Unruled: An Evening with Stan Brakhage, 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 13: The Bicycle Thief, 3 p.m.; Daughter from Danang, 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 14: The Student I, 7 p.m.; 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412 

“Asian American Film Fest” Mar. 8: 7 p.m., Obachan’s Garden; 9:30 p.m., Conjugation; Mar. 9: 7 p.m., Daughters of the Cloth; 9:20 p.m. E-Dreams; Mar. 10: 3 p.m., Chan is Missing; 5:30 p.m., Japanese Devils; Mar. 13: Daughter From Danang; Pacific Film Archive, 2527 Bancroft Way, 642-1412. 

Contra Costa Jewish Film Festival Through March 7th. On wednesday Febraury 27th at 7:30p.m. 2736 Bancrfot Avenue - Love, Israeli Style will be playing. On Thursday, March 7th at 7:30 p.m. 2451 Shattuck Avenue - The Search for Peace will be playingg ($5).  

Exhibits  

“Adventures in La Land” Through Feb. 23: Installations by Suzanne Husky and Paintings by Amy Morrell. Tues. - Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4920 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 428-2349. 

“Transformations: Through the Eye of a Needle” Through Feb. 23: Two-person exhibition by Rebecca Bui and Linda Lemon including procelain and fabric dolls and mixed media works on handmade paper. Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, www.artolio.com 

“Ton of Joy” Through Mar. 1: Group show of twelve painters and sculptors: Simone Anders, Susan Brady, Erin Fitzgerald, Karen Frey, Kei Hanafusa, Nancy Legge, Burke Rainey, Robin Sebourn, Kristen Throop, Clay Vajgrt, Whitney Vosburgh, Ann West; Mon. - Sat., 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Hollis Street Project, 5900 Hollis St., Emeryville. 

“Celebrating the African Diaspora” Through Mar. 1: A Black History Month Exhibit celebrating the contributions of Africans in America and throughout the Diaspora. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; University of Creation Sprituality, 2141 Broadway, Oakland, 835-4827 x31 

“Trace of a Human” Feb. 28 through Mar. 30: Jim Freeman and Krystyna Mleczko exhibit their latest works including mixed media sculpture installation and acrylic on canvas paintings. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, gallery709@aol.com 

“Ansel Adams in the University of California Collections” Through Mar. 10: A selection of photographs and memorabilia presenting a different perspective on Adam’s career as one of the leading figures in American photography; Through Mar. 24: “Migrations: Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado,” over 300 black-and-white photographs of immigrants and refugees taken by the Brazilian photographer. Wed. - Sun. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4- $6. The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

“A Retrospective Show” Through Mar. 13: The Women’s Cancer Resource Center “The Art of Living Black,” an Open Studios event for local African American artists. The Gallery features a retrospective show of the work of the late Jan Hart-Schuyers. Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sat. 12 - 4 p.m., Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 3023 Shattuck Ave., 548-9286 x307, www.wcrc.org. 

The Richmond Art Center Through Mar. 16: “The Art of Living Black 2002: The sixth Annual Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition and Art Tour,” group exhibition of 81 artists; “Introspección Dual: Recent Painting by Verónica B. Rojas and Santiago Gervas”; “Transmutations: Recent work by Tim Jag”; “The NIAD` Family,” Artwork from the National Institute of Art and Disabilities; “Still Here,” collaborative art project about AIDS in the 21st century; “Girls in the Hall,” artwork by girls incarcerated in the San Francisco juvenile justice system; Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; The Art of Living Black Art Tour Weekend: Mar. 2 and 3, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 2540 Barrett Ave., 620-6772, www.therichmondartcenter.org. 

“Stas Orlovski” Feb. 16 through Mar. 23: New work by Stas Orlovski featuring a series of large paintings and drawings examining the relationships between body and landscape and eastern and western aesthetics. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Traywick Gallery, 1316 Tenth St., 527-1214 

“Average Female (Perfect)” Through Mar. 24: Manhattan-based artist Sowon Kwon projects footage of the first ever perfect-scoring gymnasts: Romanian, Nadia Comanece and Russian, Nelli Kim at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Kwon superimposes over the gymnasts a hand-drawn outline of the “average” female body to direct the audience’s attention to the gymnasts’ movements throughout their performances. Wed. - Sun 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., $4 - $6. University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2626 Bancroft Way, 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“The Works of Alexander Nepote” Through Mar. 29: Nepote was a 20th century artist whose medium is a process of layered painting of torn pieces of watercolor paper, fused together in images that speak of the spirit that underlies and is embodied in the landscape he views. Check museum for times. Bade Museum, Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., 849-8272 

“Trace of a Human” Through Mar. 30: An exhibit of mixed media sculpture by Jim Freeman, and acrylic paintings on canvas by Krystyna Mleczko. Tues. - Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ardency Gallery, 709 Broadway, Oakland, 836-0831, gallery709@aol.com 

“Journey of Self-discovery” Through Mar. 30: Community Works artist Adriana Diaz and Willard Junior High students joined together to explore gender stereotypes, advertising, and other influential elements in society in a project that culminated in two life-size portraits that explore self-identity. Free. La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 845-3332. 

“West Oakland Today” Through Mar. 30: Sergio De La Torre presents “thehousingproject”, an open house/video installation that explores desire surrounding one’s sense of home and place. Marcel Diallo presents “Scrapyard Ghosts”, an installation that presents a glimpse into the process of one man’s conversation with the living past through objects of iron, wood, rock dirt and other debris unearthed at an old scrapyard site in West Oakland’s Lower Bottom neighborhood. Pro Arts, 461 Ninth St., Oakland  

"Earthly Pleasures" assemblage and photographs by Susan Danis, Through March 30: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Mon. - Sat.; Sticks, 1579 B, Solano Ave., 526-6603.  

“Domestic Bliss” Through Apr. 4: Collection of abstract paintings and mixed medium by Amy St. George. Albany Community Center Foyer Gallery, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany, 524-9283. 

“Portraits of the Afghan People: 1984 - 1992” Through Apr. 6: An exhibit of black and white photographs by Bay Area photographer Patricia Monaco. Free. Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St., 644-1400 

“The Zoom of the Souls” Mar. 23 through Apr. 13: An exhibit of oil paintings by Mark P. Fisher. Sat. 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Bay Area Music Foundation, 462 Elwood Ave. #9, Oakland, 836-5223 

“Sibila Savage & Sylvia Sussman” Through Apr. 13: Photographer, Sibila Savage presents photographs documenting the lives of her immigrant grandparents, and Painter, Sylvia Sussman displays her abstract landscapes on unstretched canvas. Free. Wed. - Sun. 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. 64-6893, www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“Trillium Press: Past, Present and Future” Feb. 15 through April 13: Works created at Trillium Press by 28 artists. Tues. - Fri. noon - 5:30 p.m., Sat. noon - 4:30 p.m.; Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave., 549-2977, www.kala.org.  

“Art is Education” Mar. 18 through Apr. 19th: A group exhibition of over 50 individual artworks created by Oakland Unified School District students, Kindergarten through 12th grade. Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Craft and Cultural Arts Gallery, State of California Office Building Atrium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland, 238-6952, www.oaklandculturalarts.org 

“The Legacy of Social Protest: The Disability Rights Movement” Through April 30: The first exhibition in a series dealing with Free Speech, Civil Rights, and Social Protest Movements of the 60s and 70s in California. Photograghs by: Cathy Cade, HolLynn D’Lil, Howard Petrick, Ken Stein. The Free Speech Cafe, Moffitt Undergraduate Library, University of California-Berkeley, hjadler@yahoo.com.  

“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” 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 Botticelli’s “Primavera” Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. 

“Quilted Paintings” Mar. 3 through May 4: Contemporary wall quilts by Roberta Renee Baker, landscapes, abstracts, altars and story quilts. Free. The Coffee Mill, 3363 Grand Ave., Oakland 465-4224 

“Jurassic Park: The Life and Death of Dinosaurs” Feb. 2 through May 12: An exhibit displaying models of the sets and dinosaur sculptures used in the Jurassic Park films, as well as a video presentation and a dig pit where visitors can dig for specially buried dinosaur bones. $8 adults, $6, youth and seniors. Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Dr., above the UC Berkeley campus, 642-5132, www.lawrencehallofscience.org 

“The Image of Evil in Art” Feb. 7 through May 31: An exhibit exploring the varying depictions of the devil in art. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2541. 

“The Pottery of Ocumichu” Through May 31: A case exhibit of the imaginative Mexican pottery made in the village of Ocumichu, Michoacan. Known particularly for its playful devil figures, Ocumichu pottery also presents fanciful everyday scenes as well as religious topics. Call ahead for hours. The Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., 649-2540 

“Being There” Feb. 23 through May 12: An exhibit of paintings, sculpture, photography and mixed media works by 45 contemporary artists who live and/or work in Oakland. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 12 - 5 p.m. $6, adults, $4 children. The Oakland Museum of California, Oak and 10th St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

“Scene in Oakland, 1852 to 2002” Mar. 9 through Aug. 25: An exhibit that includes 66 paintings, drawings, watercolors and photographs dating from 1852 to the present, featuring views of Oakland by 48 prominent California artists. Wed. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 12 - 5 p.m. $6, adults, $4 children. The Oakland Museum of California, Oak and 10th St., 238-2200, www.museumca.org 

Readings 

Black Oak Books Feb. 27: 7:30 p.m., Author & Activist Randy Schutt discussing his new book "Inciting Democracy: A Practical Proposal for Creating a Good Society." 1491 Shattuck Ave., 486-0698. 

Cody’s on Fourth St. Feb. 27: 6 p.m., Rodney Yee brings “Yoga: The Poetry of the Body”; Feb. 28: Rosemary Wells talks about children, children’s books, and the importance of reading; All events begin at 7 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 1730 Fourth St., 559-9500, www.codysbooks.com.  

Cody’s on Telegraph Ave. Feb. 25: David Henry Sterry describes “Chicken: Self-portrait of a Young Man for Rent”; Feb. 26: Carter Scholz reads from “Radiance”; All events begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted and ask a $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

UC Berkeley Lunch Poems Reading Series Mar. 7: Marilyn Hacker reads from her most recent book, “Squares and Courtyards”. Free. Morrison Library in Doe Library, UC Berkeley campus, 642-0137, www.berkeley.edu/calendar/events/poems 

Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore Mar. 7: Carl Parkes, author of “Moon Handbook: Southeast Asia”, presents a slide show exploring his travels in the region; Mar. 12: William Fienne describes his personal journey from Texas to North Dakota as he follows the northern migration of snow geese; Mar. 14: Gary Crabbe and Karen Misuraca present slides and read from their book, “The California Coast”; Mar. 19: Barbara and Robert Decker present a slide show focusing on the volcanoes of California and the Cascade Mountain Range; Mar. 21: Stefano DeZerega discusses opportunities for study, travel, and work in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Eastern Europe; All readings are free and start at 7:30 p.m., 1385 Shattuck Ave. at Rose, 843-3533. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Mar. 17: 3 p.m., Suzan Hagstrom reads from her book “Sara’s Children: The Destruction of Chielnik,” chronicling the survival of one brother and four sisters in Nazi death camps. Free. 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237 x127 

Poetry 

Poetry Flash @ Cody’s Mar. 3: Myung Mi Kim, Harryette Mullen & Geoffrey O’Brien; Mar. 6: Bill Berkson, Albert Flynn DeSilver; Mar. 10: Leslie Scalapino, Dan Farrell; Mar. 13: Lucille Lang Day, Risa Kaparo; Mar. 20: Edward Smallfield, Truong Tran; Mar. 24: Susan Griffin, Honor Moore; All events begin at 7:30 p.m., $2 donation. 2454 Telegraph Ave., 845-7852, www.codysbooks.com.  

Poetry Reading @ South Branch Berkeley Public Library Mar. 2: Bay Area Poets Coalition is holding an open reading. 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. Free. 1901 Russell St. 

Word Beat Mar. 9: Sonia Greenfield and Megan Breiseth; Mar. 16, Q. R. Hand and Lu Pettus; Mar. 23: Lee Gerstmann and Sam Pierstorffs; Mar. 30: Eleanor Watson-Gove and Jim Watson-Gove; All shows 7 - 9 p.m., Coffee With A Beat, 458 Perkins, Oakland. 526-5985, www.angelfire.com/poetry/wordbeat. 

Tours 

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

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Fridays 9:30 - 11:45 a.m. or by appointment. Call ahead to make reservations. Free. University of California, Berkeley. 486-4387. 

Museums 

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, 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; $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Mon. and Wed., 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tues. and Fri., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thur., 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111 or www.habitot.org. 

UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology Lobby, Valley Life Sciences Building, UC Berkeley “Tyrannosaurus Rex,” ongoing. A 20 foot 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. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 642-1821. 

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. “Constellations Tonight” Ongoing. Using a simple star map, learn to identify the most prominent constellations for the season in the planetarium sky. 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, www.lhs.berkeley.edu. 

Lawrence Hall of Science “Jurassic Park: Dinosaur Auditions L

Leukemia survivor Franklin headed into his last season at Berkeley High 

Lee Franklin has a dramatic life story to tell, but right now there’s simply no time. There are games to be played, and in those games we find these beautiful frozen moments called crunch time, and in crunch time, Lee Franklin just wants the ball. There’s no time for anything else. 

A late season game for Berkeley High football, and the score is tight. It’s third and long, and Yellowjacket quarterback Raymond Pinkston drops back to pass. Suddenly faced with a host of onrushing defenders, Pinkston wisely pushes the eject button: he heaves a pass toward the sideline - and ducks.  

The pass, aimed vaguely in the general direction of wide receiver Lee Franklin, is quite high, sailing toward the bench, the cheerleaders, the stands. But Franklin, all 5-foot-10 of him, elevates. And twists, contorts his body impossibly. And stretches. And, somehow, gets a hand on the ball. Just one hand, but somehow the ball glues there - and Franklin tumbles earthward, ball in hand. First down Yellowjackets. Momentum, Yellowjackets. Money play. 

“He’s one of those kids who always wants the ball,” Berkeley High football coach Matt Bissell says. “We joke that he’s like the title of that Keyshawn Johnson book: ‘Just give me the damn ball, coach, and we’ll win’” 

“Lee’s a money player,” Berkeley High baseball coach Tim Moellering says. “He’s at his best when the game is on the line.” 

Money play - this phrase keeps coming up with Lee. How about a definition? Franklin: “A money player is the guy down the stretch, he wants the ball in his hands. He wants the last shot.” 

Two months later, the Berkeley High basketball team faces Bishop O’Dowd in the first round of the NCS playoffs. Trailing 48-47 with twenty seconds left, with Bishop O’Dowd in possession of the basketball, the Yellowjackets season seems finished. But Lee Franklin, point guard for the ‘Jackets, wants the ball. So he takes it. Snatching the ball from the Dragons’ Dave Brutocao-Kemp, Franklin drives, scores, and gives the Yellowjackets the lead, 49-47. Money play. Unfortunately the ‘Jackets go on to lose the game on another money play, a buzzer-beating jumper by O’Dowd’s Johnnie Bryant. 

“Things didn’t go our way too much,” Franklin said of the heartbreaker. “We fought hard though. It’s just part of life, part of the game.” 

So life goes on. And just two days later, there is Franklin, batting leadoff and playing second base for the Berkeley High baseball team in their season opener. The Yellowjackets lead 5-2 in the top of the sixth inning, but have worked themselves into a two-out jam: opposing runners stand on second and third. Lee Franklin wants the ball. And then, a soft chopper up the middle, which Franklin backhands. The batter appears likely to beat the throw to first, but the force is Franklin’s only chance to stop the runner from third from scoring on the play. So Franklin spins, and plants, and looks to first. If his hurried, off-balance throw isn’t on the money, the runner from second will also score. 

And this is exactly what the runner from second is thinking as he turns hard around third base. The second baseman spins, and plants, and throws, and the runner from second looks home. But then Franklin turns back toward the third base line, and, look here, he is still in possession of the baseball. Making an unusually cool split-second decision for a high school infielder, Franklin has chosen to sacrifice one run and likely save another by only faking the dangerous throw to first. And the runner from second, realizing a second too late and now trying desperately to slam on the brakes, is hung out to dry. A short rundown between third and home, and the Yellowjackets are out of the inning. One run is in, but the inning is over - and the ‘Jackets still lead 5-3, the score by which they would win the game. Money play. 

“I just like to make plays,” Franklin says. “I like to get my teammates into it, get the crowd into it. I like to play to the crowd.” 

That much is apparent. But what’s this about a dramatic life story? 

Franklin, the three-sport starter, isn’t the one to bring it up. Football. Basketball. Baseball. And now, as a senior, college applications – an outstanding student-athlete, Franklin is already accepted to University of Arizona and Fresno State, and is waiting to hear from USC and a few of the UCs. He is hoping to play football and/or baseball at one of those schools, and is sending out highlight reels and letters of interest to coaches. He is busy talking sports with his number one fan, his grandfather, whom Lee calls “Pops,” who attends all of Lee’s games. He is busy spending his last few months in town with his best friend Darryl Perkins, a basketball teammate, who is bound for Howard University. And he is, of course, busy making plays. There’s simply no room, no time, for Franklin’s disease. 

So we won’t spend too much time on it here: One week before turning 13, shortly after he got back from winning the Bambino World Series with the 11-12 year-old Oakland All-Star baseball team, Lee was diagnosed with leukemia. Suddenly he found himself subjected to a two-year period of extended hospital stays, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy. Long before contemplating his driver’s test, Franklin was faced with the looming possibility of a bone marrow transplant. 

Franklin’s body responded to the radiation and chemotherapy, and now Franklin considers himself one of the lucky ones. The leukemia went into remission, and the bone marrow transplant was averted. Doctors now tell him that there is a less than five percent chance that the disease will return. 

Franklin downplays the drama inherent in all of this, says and it was impossible to keep his thoughts from returning immediately to athletics: “I never thought that the leukemia was going to overtake me,” Franklin says. “I kept a positive attitude. My main goal was to get back to the baseball field, to the court, to the football field.” 

One gets the feeling that the young man considers this, too, “all part of life, part of the game.” Lee Franklin continues to survive, and he survives in order to continue to make plays.

Residents upset that Planning Commissioners didn’t give a recommendation for the hotel and spa’s grounds 

To the disappointment of many Berkeley and Oakland residents, the Oakland Planning Commission decided Wednesday night to recommend only the building and not the grounds of the 86-year-old Claremont Hotel and Spa for landmark status.  

The commission’s 6-1 decision did, however, change the zoning guidelines for the grounds from a residential S-14 to a commercial S-4, but the change does not provide any more safeguards for historic preservation.  

There will be a design review if construction or significant alteration takes place, said Patricia McGowan, an Oakland city planner. The public will be allowed to voice their concerns during this review. 

“But a design review is not intended to limit, restrict or make more complicated the routine maintenance and operation of the hotel,” said McGowan. 

The Planning Commission also specified that if the City Council adopts its recommendations, the final ordinance would also require a design review when the sight lines of the hotel building and the amount of open space are threatened. 

Neighbors of the Claremont in Berkeley and Oakland wanted both the building and the green space around the hotel to be landmarked.  

The neighborhood group went into last night’s meeting armed with the unanimous approval of the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board to landmark “the grounds as a whole” and the support of city officials in Berkeley. They also had letters of recommendations from the state’s Office of Historic Preservation and a local preservation architect. 

While they were extremely happy that the building received landmark status, they were not happy that the grounds were left out because the Claremont is distinctive for being a garden hotel, said Wendy Markel of the Berkeley/Oakland Neighbors of the Claremont.  

“You could have some other hotel surrounded by a hot-scape, but that would be horrible,” she said. “You’d see nothing but gas stations. The way it is now, you could practically build a Taco Bell there.” 

But Denise Chapman, spokesperson for the Claremont, issued a statement saying that the company took their stewardship of the property very seriously. 

“We pride ourselves in being the only Claremont owners who have ever agreed that the building should be designated as a landmark,” she said. 

But Chapman said the company was happy with the decision not to landmark the grounds. “Our grounds are beautiful, but there is just not any special historical significance to our parking lots, tennis courts and gardens.” 

But it wasn’t just the grounds issue that rankled the neighbors, said Markel. It was also the process. 

“We worked like Trojans to do this thing and the city could have at least said thank you to the community or the Landmarks Board,” said Markel. “They didn’t even ask one question and it seemed like a done deal.” 

Markel, a Berkeley resident, said that she felt particularly embarrassed because the Oakland City Council seemed not to want Berkeley residents there. 

“The commission was rude. They were practically telling us to go home. ‘What were we doing here when we should be at home protecting the Berkeley Tennis Club?’ Well, it’s one-twenty-fifth the size of the hotel and it has less impact,” she said. 

But Berkeley residents should not think that Oakland does not value their input, said McGowan. When the commission spoke to the Berkeley folks, it was to the Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Commission officials. The commission simply wanted these officials to apply the same recommendations to the city’s own property – that is, the Tennis Club facing the Claremont. 

The city of Oakland is only obligated to give notice to Oakland residents within 300 feet of the Claremont, said McGowan. “But we gave notices to Berkeley residents within 300 feet of the Claremont, too. If we didn’t want them to come, we only had to tell the Oakland residents.” 

Berkeley Councilmember Polly Armstrong, whose district is adjacent to the Claremont property, said she is not surprised by the Oakland Planning Commission’s recommendation.  

She has supported the neighbors’ plan throughout the process, but she thought that the hotel would succeed in securing its development interests. 

“The hotel is one of the biggest tax generators,” said Armstrong. “I’m afraid that money talks more than history or aesthetics.” 

More Berkeley residents than Oakland residents are affected, explained Armstrong, because the hotel’s grounds practically make up many the front yard of many Berkeley residents. Moreover, since there are few parks in the area, the Claremont’s grounds have become the substitute. 

“Now this throws everything on the backs of the neighbors,” said Armstrong. “It makes them the guardians of the grounds of the Claremont Hotel. The Claremont Hotel has lots of money and power. The neighbors have energy and dedication, but it’s like Jack and the Giant.” 

It’s too bad the Claremont is in Oakland, said Armstrong. “If Berkeley was controlling this, you bet your boots the grounds would have been landmarked.” 

The Planning Commission is still writing its report, which should be presented to the Oakland City Council for a vote in a couple of months.

Editor: 

I have to apologize to Darrel Moore for slipping up and mentioning that he might be interested in running for Mayor on election night. I did not clear this statement with him and he had in no way indicated to me he was going to run for Mayor. I was really hoping he might consider running for Mayor because I think so highly of him.  

I guess I got carried away and spoke of my hopes rather than reality. I’m truly sorry for the problems this has caused him. At election time, people like to dream about candidates and what it would be like for them to run, but that does not mean it will become a reality. I hope to see a fine man such as Darrel Moore in higher political office someday. He is doing a great job right now as our Peralta Trustee. 

Councilmember Dona Spring

LOS ANGELES – Ryan Forehan-Kelly tied his career high with 20 points and Amit Tamir’s inside basket snapped a tie with 1:39 remaining, lifting No. 25 California over UCLA 67-61 Thursday night in the first round of the Pacific-10 Conference tournament. 

The third-seeded Golden Bears (22-7) will play No. 2 seed Arizona in Friday’s semifinals at Staples Center. 

UCLA freshman Ryan Walcott’s basket tied the game at 59 with 2:06 remaining after the Bruins rallied from 10 points down. 

But Tamir scored down low off an inbounds pass, helping the Bears outscore UCLA 8-2 over the final 1:39. Jason Kapono, Billy Knight and Matt Barnes — three of the Bruins’ best shooters — all missed down the stretch. 

Joe Shipp added 18 points for the Bears, who got six of their nine 3-pointers from Forehan-Kelly. 

Barnes led UCLA with 15 points. Kapono added 10 points and Walcott 10. 

The Bruins committed 19 turnovers, including six by freshman Cedric Bozeman and five by Walcott — not surprising because they averaged 18.5 miscues in splitting two games with Cal this season. 

Trailing 58-48, the Bruins scored eight points in a row to get to 58-57 with 2:31 remaining. Walcott had six points, including a 3-pointer. 

After Brian Wethers hit one of two free throws to put Cal ahead 59-57, Walcott tied the game with 2:06 left. 

After Tamir’s go-ahead basket, Shipp stole the ball from Walcott. Wethers, A.J. Diggs and Shantay Legans combined to hit six free throws in the closing 47 seconds. 

UCLA won the first conference tournament in 1987. The Bears were 2-4 in the first four years of the tournament before it was dropped in 1991. 

Despite playing in front of a rowdy partisan crowd at Staples Center, the Bruins couldn’t sustain a rally long enough to stay in front. 

A basket by Kapono provided UCLA’s only lead, 35-34, early in the second half. Cal ran off straight, including consecutive 3-pointers by Forehan-Kelly, for a 43-35 lead. 

Dan Gadzuric dunked for his first points of the game, launching a 9-2 spurt that drew UCLA within one with 11:35 remaining. 

But Forehan-Kelly stopped the Bruins with his sixth 3-pointer for a 48-44 lead. 

The Bruins rallied twice from nine points down in the first half to trail 34-31 at the break. Barnes hit three 3-pointers and could’ve gotten UCLA closer, but was 1-of-4 from the line over the final 1:12. 

UCLA wound up sixth in the regular-season standings, their worst ever finish in the conference. Their 65-62 loss to Oregon last Saturday kept them from grabbing a share of second. 

It used to be that a trip to the doctor’s office would only get you some foul-tasting medicine. Oakland Children’s Hospital, however, hopes that every kid can go home with a book. 

“Our goal is to make sure every kid has a book,” said Monique Williams of the hospital’s Reach Out and Read program. 

Now the Oakland Children’s Hospital will get a leg up from Berkeley residents. Mayor Shirley Dean kicked off a drive Thursday morning for the Half Pint Library, a project that aims to provide books to children who cannot visit libraries or bookstores. 

The three-year-old project aims to collect books and also build the shelves or carts to distribute them. It grew out of an idea by a Half-Price Books employee, and the stores serve as donation points. 

The project has helped institutions around the country, but the new partnership with the Oakland Children’s Hospital will create the first Half Pint Library in California. 

The Berkeley store has been involved with the program from the start, said Matt Dalton, Half-Price Books’ local district manager. So far, the Berkeley store has collected 600 books for the hospital and the three stores in the Bay Area have collected 1,500. 

Dean said she wanted to do her part to spread the word and will be circulating a memo to city employees.  

“It’s really important that when children are in the hospital for a period of time, and they’re frightened, that they have other things to do other than their medical care,” said Dean.  

Not only would this project give kids the opportunity to read books that might talk about the hospital experience or about kids coping with the same diseases, said Dean, but it also keeps them from getting bored. 

“Reading keeps the mind sharp and focused,” she said. “It also gives them pleasure and fuels the imagination. I can’t imagine any better thing for a child in a strange setting.” 

The Children’s Hospital has previously relied on donations from Boy and Girl Scout troops, community organizations and individuals to stock their waiting rooms and provide books for longer-term patients. Foundation funding and a discount program from publisher Scholastic, Inc. helped buy new books. 

Williams said this project could make their one-child-one-book dream a reality.  

Berkeley residents interested in donating new or gently used books should drop by Half-Price Books at 1849 Solano Ave. For more information, call (510) 526-6080.

The St. Mary’s-Oakland Tech Northern California Division I semifinal game on Saturday night will be played at California State University at Hayward, with tipoff tentatively set for 7:30 p.m. 

The boys’ game will follow a girls’ Division I semifinal between Oakland Tech and Archbishop Mitty. The girls’ game will start at 6 p.m. 

The other boys’ Division I semifinal between De La Salle and Oakland High will be played at St. Mary’s College in Moraga at 7:30 p.m.

Today is Friday, March 8, the 67th day of 2002. There are 298 days left in the year. 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

Three hundred years ago, on March 8, 1702, England’s Queen Anne ascended the throne upon the death of King William III. 

On this date: 

In 1841, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the “Great Dissenter,” was born in Boston. 

In 1854, U.S. Commodore Matthew C. Perry made his second landing in Japan. Within a month, he concluded a treaty with the Japanese. 

In 1874, the 13th president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, died in Buffalo, N.Y. 

In 1917, Russia’s “February Revolution” (so called because of the Old Style calendar being used by Russians at the time) began with rioting and strikes in St. Petersburg. 

In 1917, the U.S. Senate voted to limit filibusters by adopting the cloture rule. 

In 1930, the 27th president of the United States, William Howard Taft, died in Washington. 

In 1942, Japanese forces captured Rangoon, Burma, during World War II. 

In 1965, the United States landed about 3,500 Marines in South Vietnam. 

In 1986, four French television crew members were abducted in west Beirut; a caller claimed Islamic Jihad was responsible. (All four were eventually released.) 

In 1999, former New York Yankees baseball star Joe DiMaggio died in Hollywood, Fla. at age 84. 

Ten years ago: President George H.W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton headed toward “Super Tuesday” claiming big boosts from weekend victories. Ninety people were killed when a ferry carrying pilgrims to a Buddhist shrine collided with an oil tanker in the Gulf of Thailand. 

Five years ago: President Clinton, in keeping with his push for private businesses and churches to hire off welfare rolls, ordered federal agencies to do the same. 

One year ago: The Republican-controlled House voted for an across-the-board tax cut of nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, handing President Bush a major victory only 48 days into his term. Scott Waddle, the embattled commander of the Navy submarine that collided with a Japanese fishing vessel off Hawaii, offered a tearful apology to the families of some of the victims. Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet, died in London at age 102. 

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Sue Ane Langdon is 66. Baseball player-turned-author Jim Bouton is 63. Actress Lynn Redgrave is 59. Actor-director Micky Dolenz is 57. Lyricist Carole Bayer Sager is 55. Actress Jaime Lyn Bauer is 53. Baseball player Jim Rice is 49. Singer Gary Numan is 44. Actor Aidan Quinn is 43. Actress Camryn Manheim is 41. Actress Andrea Parker is 33. Actor Freddie Prinze Jr. is 26. Actor James Van Der Beek is 25. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kameelah Williams (702) is 24. Pop musicians David, Bob and Clint Moffatt are 18.

Oregon 86, Washington 64 

LOS ANGELES – Regular-season champion Oregon played like an also-ran for most of the first half in the first Pacific-10 Conference tournament game in 12 years. 

The second half was a different matter. 

Luke Jackson scored 16 of his 27 points after halftime, and leading scorer Frederick Jones also got going in the final 20 minutes Thursday as the ninth-ranked Ducks beat Washington 86-64. 

Jackson, who also had eight rebounds, made all of his career-high four 3-pointers in the second half, which began with the Huskies leading 42-35. 

The Ducks, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, moved within one on 3-pointers by Jackson and Jones to begin the second half. Jones’ field goal was his first of the game. 

A steal and dunk by Jones with 13:59 left gave Oregon its first lead since the opening eight minutes, and a 3-pointer by Jackson 35 seconds later snapped a 47-all tie and put the Ducks ahead for good. 

USC 103, Stanford 78 

LOS ANGELES – Despite what the rankings say, Southern California has proven it’s a better team than Stanford this season. 

The 22nd-ranked Trojans built a 23-point lead in the first half and never looked back, beating the No. 16 Cardinal 103-78 Thursday night in the first round of the Pacific-10 tournament. 

It was USC’s third victory over the Cardinal (19-9) this season. The Trojans won the first meeting by eight points in Los Angeles, then won the second by 19 points in Stanford’s worst loss at home since 1993. 

Sam Clancy led five USC players in double figures with 25 points. He was voted the Pac-10 player of the year Wednesday. 

Brandon Granville added 20 points and 11 assists, Desmon Farmer 19 points, David Bluthenthal 17 points, and Jerry Dupree 10 points. 

The fourth-seeded Trojans (21-8) will play top-seeded Oregon in Friday’s semifinals at Staples Center. 

Arizona 73, Arizona State 56 

LOS ANGELES – The Arizona players cleared the air after a recent three-game losing streak. 

And Luke Walton got a haircut. So far, so good. 

Walton had 25 points and eight rebounds Thursday night as the Wildcats (No. 14 ESPN/USA Today, No. 15 AP) beat archrival Arizona State 73-56 in the opening round of the first Pacific-10 Conference tournament since 1990. 

The second-seeded Wildcats (20-9) meet the winner of the UCLA-California game in Friday night's second semifinal matchup, after top-seeded Oregon faces fourth-seeded Southern California. 

Salim Stoudamire and Will Bynum added 10 points each for Arizona. 

Jason Braxton had 12 points and four assists and Chad Prewitt and Curtis Millage added nine points each for seventh-seeded ASU (14-14), which finished its season by facing six straight ranked teams – the most in school history. 

The Sun Devils were 1-5 during the stretch, beating only UCLA on Feb. 16. 

Prewitt also had 12 rebounds for ASU, who made only 2 of 12 foul shots in equaling its season-low point total.

A whale of a tale 

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Call this bobcat Jonah. 

Workers at the Science Center of Connecticut got a surprise Wednesday morning when they came across an 8-month-old bobcat that had been placed inside a whale statue that sits in front of the building. 

The 20-inch bobcat was left in a pet carrier in the belly of the 60-foot statue. A note attached to the box said the animal was not relating well with humans. 

“What a way to start the day, to have to take a bobcat out of a whale,” said Hank Gruner, the center’s vice president of programs and exhibits. 

Bobcats are not a serious threat to humans, said Paul Rego, a wildlife biologist for the state Department of Environmental Protection. They are native to the area around Hartford, and sightings are not uncommon, he said. 

Initially very agitated, the animal eventually calmed down and workers placed it in an outdoor cage. 

“Given his surroundings, he’s doing well,” said Gruner, who said that inappropriate pets are frequently abandoned to the center. It is illegal to possess a bobcat in Connecticut. 

The science center will assess whether the animal is healthy, and whether it will remain at the museum or be given to another agency which can better care for it, he said. 

The itchiest city  

SIDNEY, Neb. — People in this western Nebraska city were left scratching their heads over a recent bit of recognition. 

This city of about 6,000 people has knocked Denver out of the top spot as the “itchiest” city in the nation, according to the Lanacane Dry Itchy Skin Index. The February study placed Goodland, Kan., second, followed by the Colorado cities of Colorado Springs, Denver and Pueblo. 

“It’s a safe bet you won’t see us putting up a sign saying, ’Welcome to the itchiest city in America,”’ Sidney City Manager Gary Person said with a laugh. 

The itch index was created by the University of Delaware’s Center for Climatic Research and Lanacane, a manufacturer of lotions and skin cremes. The itchiest cities are usually in mountainous areas and the high plains, where dry winds and heavy use of heating systems rob skin of its moisture. 

A dry climate has its advantages, Person said. The lack of humidity makes for mild summer evenings and winters don’t seem as bitter.  

Kryptonite banned  

NEW YORK — The creator of Superman has decided it simply can’t allow Kryptonite to be sold on store shelves. 

DC Comics filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Wednesday to try to stop a hair company from marketing a green hair gel called Kryptonite. 

The comics company sued Wella Corp. for unspecified damages, claiming that the gel’s name infringes on the name given to an element from Superman’s home planet, Krypton, that weakens the hero. 

According to the suit, DC Comics first used the word “Kryptonite” in a 1943 Superman radio show. It said the word gained particular fame in a 1945 radio episode when the Scarlet Widow obtained a chunk of Kryptonite and gave it to several fellow villains to use against Superman. 

Leila Meresman, a Wella spokeswoman, said the company would not comment on the Kryptonite lawsuit. 

The possible effect on the man of steel notwithstanding, the company said in its online advertising that Kryptonite gel offers humans “extreme styling” and an “acrylic shine.” 

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Legislators tired of worrying about the state budget enjoyed a perfect diversion, zipping around in the Capitol on a battery-operated scooter. 

Segway, maker of the Segway Human Transporter, wants the Legislature to regulate it like a bicycle when it is operated on roads, but like a wheelchair when it is operated elsewhere. 

The company offered lawmakers rides Wednesday to show what they mean. 

“This would be perfect for meter maids,” said Sen. Roger Breske, 63, who tested out the two-wheeled scooter. “Man, they could write tickets like crazy.” 

The Democrat from Eland rode forward and backward across the marble floor outside his office on the scooter, which uses gyroscopes to detect shifts in a rider’s weight and move in that direction. The 85-pound scooter has a top speed of about 12 mph. 

The Assembly and Senate were expected to vote Thursday on measures to regulate the vehicle. The proposals would give the rider the same rights as a pedestrian, said Matthew Dailida, a lobbyist for Segway. 

Rep. Dan Schooff was among those eager for a ride. 

“We’re going to have to outlaw it unless I can ride it,” Schooff said, before taking the scooter on a spin around the Capitol rotunda. 

Friday 

Baseball – Cal vs. Stanford, 2 p.m. at Evans Diamond 

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

Saturday 

Track & Field – St. Mary’s at De La Salle Invitational, 9 a.m. at De La Salle High School 

Baseball – Berkeley vs. Irvington, noon at Irvington High School 

Baseball – Cal vs. Stanford, 2 p.m. at Evans Diamond 

Sunday 

Baseball – Cal vs. Stanford, 2 p.m. at Evans Diamond

LOS ANGELES — A young man who heard the fatal dog attack on Diane Whipple testified Thursday he thought it was a rape or domestic violence when screams echoed through a stairwell of a San Francisco apartment building. 

“I heard the dog barking throughout the whole thing. But it never occurred to me, nor did I have any reason to believe, that the dog was the agent of attack,” David Kuenzi said 

He followed a series of witnesses who portrayed the dogs involved in the attack as gentle, and a decision by Judge James Warren to look into whether an attorney violated a gag order by attacking the credibility of Sharon Smith, the victim’s domestic partner, during a TV interview. 

“My client has the right to have her side told,” attorney Nedra Ruiz, who represents defendant Marjorie Knoller, said outside court after the judge set a May hearing. 

Knoller, who was present during the fatal attack, is accused of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and having a mischievous dog that killed a person. Knoller’s husband, Robert Noel, faces the latter two charges. 

Whipple, 33, was mauled on Jan. 26, 2001, in a hallway of her San Francisco apartment building in an attack by her neighbors’ two big presa canario dogs, Bane and Hera. The trial was moved to Los Angeles because of extensive publicity. 

Kuenzi was a visitor to San Francisco and intended to stay with a friend in the building but got there before the friend arrived home. 

He said he was terrified by the screams. 

“I imagined at this point she was being raped,” he said. 

The screams began as a shrill, high-pitched sound which ultimately became a whimper, he said, and then there was a voice saying, “Stop, please stop.” 

“It was from someone being physically assaulted,” he said. 

Kuenzi said he ran up and down the stairwell, afraid to enter the floor where the attack was occurring and uncertain what to do. 

“I knew I was extremely close,” he said. “I knew it was a very violent situation. I was scared and I thought, ’I have to get the police.”’ 

He said he had to go down to the lobby to get reception on his cell phone. 

The defense called him to bolster its theory that Knoller was telling the attacking dogs to stop, a possibility raised by another neighbor. But Kuenzi declined to say that the voice of the screamer was any different from the voice saying “Stop, please stop.” 

“I now know there was a violent situation. I presumed it was the same woman saying, ’Stop, please stop.’ It seemed the woman was no longer screaming but was begging for mercy. It was truly terrifying,” he said. 

Another defense witness, Dave Neville, told the jury that two weeks after the killing he saw two dogs that looked exactly like presa canarios being walked five blocks from the Pacific Heights apartment where Whipple was mauled. 

Neville said the dogs’ owner gave him an unfriendly look and he turned away. 

Ruiz, who called the witness, explained later that she was trying to show that there might have been other dogs in the neighborhood that scared passers-by. She suggested that those who reported scary encounters with Bane and Hera may have been mistaken. 

Other defense witnesses included kennel owners and friends of the defendants who described petting and playing with the big dogs without being threatened. 

Kim Boyd, a legal client of the couple, said she visited their apartment, accompanied Noel down an elevator with one dog and saw a building tenant pass without incident. 

On cross-examination, Assistant District Attorney Jim Hammer stressed that Boyd saw the dogs in their home environment for only a few minutes and could not say what they did at other times when they met up with their neighbors. 

“The issue legally is whether Ms. Knoller had knowledge these dogs were dangerous. But the law does not require that they were always vicious,” Hammer said outside court. 

A couple who operate the Rowdy Creek Pet Motel near Pelican Bay State Prison in Northern California, also vouched for the dogs. 

Stephen Tornay and his wife, Galene, both described the dogs as “nice.” 

The dogs were left at the kennel twice in the weeks just before the killing. 

“They were big, massive dogs, a walking muscle would be a good way to describe them,” Stephen Tornay noted. 

The judge said a hearing on whether Ruiz violated his order will be held May 17. 

Warren, who had barred attorneys from commenting on the credibility of witnesses, was sent a transcript of a Fox News program interview in which Ruiz said Whipple’s partner was “exaggerating or lying” about Whipple being bitten previously. 

Interviewer Greta Van Susteren then asked: “Are you saying that Sharon lied about it? Is that what you’re saying?” Ruiz replied: “Yes, I am. I’m saying that....” 

RENO, Nev. — A winter storm that dumped more than 2 feet of snow on parts of the Sierra Thursday restricted travel over all mountain passes and threatened to bring more snowfall over night. 

A winter storm warning remained in effect into Friday morning at Lake Tahoe and much of the Sierra. Two feet of snow was reported by Thursday evening at Alpine Meadows ski resort at Tahoe City, Calif. 

Truckee Meadows Community College canceled classes Thursday night as the snow made its way down the mountains into Reno and Carson City, where a winter weather advisory was in effect and winds were gusting up to 32 mph. That advisory extended across much of northern Nevada as the storm moved east Thursday night. 

Some travel restrictions put in place late Wednesday were removed during the day Thursday, but the highway patrols in Nevada and California reinstated requirements for snow tires or chains across most interstates and highways in the Sierra. 

Chains were mandatory Thursday night on U.S. Interstate 80 from Truckee, Calif., east to Baxter, Calif. 

Chains or snow tires also were in effect on most or all of the Mount Rose Highway, State Route 431 to from Reno to Lake Tahoe; State Routes 28 and 88 at Lake Tahoe; and U.S. Highway 50. 

Chains or snow tires were also required on Geiger Grade southeast of Reno to Virginia City. 

Officials at Alpine Meadows said they anctipated an additional 2 feet of snow by Friday morning.  

Forecasters said another storm on the horizon could bring another dose of winter late Sunday. 

Tightening those doggone rear-view mirrors 

Dear Tom and Ray: 

I need your help. Here's the dilemma: I have a big black lab that rides around in my front seat all the time. When she sees something offensive – say, a cyclist or, God forbid, a truck – she is compelled to launch herself into the windshield, snarling and barking like the hound of the Baskervilles. In doing this, her big head always whacks the rear-view mirror out of place. Now the mirror is so loose that every time I hit a bump, it shifts and I can't see. I can’t get it to stay in place. I could replace it, but the car is a ‘74 Dart, and I don't want to put in a junky plastic thing. I could get a newer old one from the junkyard, but the same thing would eventually happen. So what do I do? I started thinking about duct-taping the dog to the seat, but her whining would make my ears bleed. Is there some kind of spray that would stiffen it, or is there a way to tighten it? – Kristen 

RAY: I'm pretty sure that by ‘74, the Dart mirror had an adjustment screw on the back, just for this purpose. 

TOM: That might even have been the major upgrade for that model year! 

RAY: If you reach behind the mirror – between the back of the mirror and the windshield – you should find a small screw. With a mini-screwdriver, tighten it up, and the mirror adjustment should stiffen back up and hold the mirror in place. 

TOM: If your mirror doesn’t have an adjustment screw, then a junkyard replacement is the next best bet. And you don't have to pull one from a ‘74 Dart. You can get one from any car, especially if it's the kind that glues onto the windshield. Or you can stay in the Chrysler family ***and upgrade to one from an Aspen or Volare. Now THAT’S living! 

RAY: By the way, there are "dog seat belts" you can buy that keep the dog more or less in place on the seat. And she'll eventually stop whining. That would solve your mirror problem, your (unmentioned) dog-slime-on-the-windshield problem and it would be safer for the dog, too, if you ever had an accident or had to stop short. 

TOM: Yeah. The only problem is teaching the dog how to buckle it.  

Anti-theft devices aren’t very effective  

Dear Tom and Ray: 

We just bought a new Toyota Camry – one of the most-wanted cars ... by thieves! I would like to buy an alarm system of some sort for this thing but am having trouble finding any information or comparison data. I hesitate to go to a dealer, since their job is to sell me stuff. Any help would be appreciated. – John 

TOM: Geez, this is a tough one, John. We're pretty much opposed to car alarms. 

RAY: Think about it. When you're lying in bed and you hear a car alarm go off down the street, what do you do? Do you jump out of bed and run toward that car in an attempt to thwart a crime? Of course not. If there were a crime in progress, that’s the last place you’d want to be. And most likely, it’s just that someone bumped into the car and set off the alarm. So you ignore it. And then – as it goes on for 10 minutes – you curse it. 

TOM: So we find that in reality, audible alarms are more of a deterrent to neighborhood sleep than to car theft. 

RAY: Plus, criminals get to know the new alarms pretty quickly, so they learn to cut the wire to the siren anyway. At least THEY’RE considerate of your neighbors’ need for sleep, even if you're not. 

TOM: That’s why our alarm of choice is a Rottweiler. That will deter most thieves, although I’m told it can be defeated by a bucket of extra-crispy Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

RAY: If you want an inanimate theft deterrent, John, I’d have to recommend an ignition-kill device. There are several varieties of kill switches. The general idea is to cut off electricity to something that the engine needs in order to run. 

TOM: The simplest ones cut off current to the starter. But if they just interrupt the hot wire under the dashboard (which is the easiest way to install them), an experienced thief can splice that wire back together and still get your car started. 

RAY: That’s why we prefer ignition-kill devices that are installed further down the line. They can be used to cut off power to the fuel pump, the fuel injectors or the spark plugs. Then the car will crank, but it won't start. And that makes it much harder to figure out what's going on. 

TOM: And most thieves are not going to hang around long enough to diagnose your car. They’re going to get out of there and move on to something else. Or they’re going to call their buddy with the tow truck. 

RAY: So the option we like best is getting good insurance, keeping it paid up and living your life without worrying about your car. After all, they sell about 400,000 Camrys a year in the United States. Remember, it’s just a car, John. It’s hardly irreplaceable.

The “lady of the forest” is in all her glory this time of year, her pure-white bark is especially lovely as she mingles with spruces and other dark-green evergreens. Unfortunately, the lady — a nickname for white birch — is often not nearly as happy in a suburban yard as she is in the forest. 

Be careful if you plant this lady. So much of gardening involves trying to extend the growing season or grow cold-tender plants farther north.  

Our native white birch has the opposite problem, loving cold winters and cool summers. 

Hot weather causes birch to languish, increasing susceptibility to other problems, such as bronze birch borer. This pest bores into the bark, causing whole branches to die back. Keep an eye on the lady because another pest, the birch leafminer, also stands ready for attack. This pest chews inside the leaves, which weakens the tree and increases likelihood of borer attack. 

Be careful when you plant a “white birch” that you really know what you are putting in the ground. The lady has a few cousins also sometimes sold as “white birch.” Most notable among the cousins are the European white birch and the Japanese white birch. 

The European species is widely planted and easily recognized by the large, black, diamond-shaped markings on its white bark. It is popular because its bark turns white at an early age.  

Young trunks and branches on our native birch are dark, reddish brown. With age, though, bark on European white birch turns black. 

The Japanese white birch is perhaps a better choice. This tree grows large, but remains graceful because of its thin branches.  

The variety Whitespire tolerates adverse weather so it is less likely to be attacked by borers. 

If you plant lady of the forest, give it special attention, whether its origins lie in our forests, or those of Europe or Japan.  

It does not like sites exposed to full sun and hot temperatures. Coddle it with water if it’s thirsty in summer. (Impatiens planted at its feet will quickly tell you — by wilting — when the soil needs water.) Feed it if it is hungry and keep an eye out for those borers and leafminers. 

Birch is not a frail tree in all respects. Like bamboo, the trunks are pliable, so they resist breakage. Trees bowed to the ground by ice storms slowly and gracefully unbend as the sun warms the trunks. 

What if you were ready to plant your garden and had nowhere to buy seeds? In many parts of the world, each growing season is not heralded in with garden catalogs in mailboxes and seedpackets lined up on racks in stores. Rather, gardeners not only grow vegetables and flowers, but also the seeds for them. Here, you might want to grow some seeds to ensure a supply of a particular variety of vegetable or flower not readily, perhaps not always, available. 

Perhaps your main reason to grow your own seeds would be the same reason that you garden in the first place. Gardening satisfies a primal urge to celebrate and partake in the cycles of life, with growth and decline measured not only month by month through the seasons, but also in terms of years. Growing the seeds that grow into your carrots, rather than just the carrots themselves, widens your participation in that cycle. 

Growing garden seeds is not difficult as long as you follow a few guidelines. Two worthwhile books on this topic include “Seed to Seed” (Suzanne Ashworth, 1991) and “Saving Seeds” (Marc Rogers, 1990). Don’t save seeds from hybrids or you’ll get plants different, and generally worse, than the ones that produced the seed. A hybrid is denoted as such on the seed packet. 

Seeds you do save should always be from the best and healthiest plants, not necessarily ones that produce the most seed. Collect seeds when fully ripe. If seeds ripening in a dried fruit (a dried bean pod, for example) tend to drop to the ground, tie a paper or cheesecloth bag around the nearly ripe fruit. Finally, store your seeds in a dry place. 

If you are a beginning seed-saver, keep your efforts in step with your enthusiasm and knowledge. Special techniques are required to save seeds of plants which are biennials (onions, and carrots, for example), or which need cross-pollination (the cabbage family, for example) or need strict isolation to avoid cross-pollination (squashes, for example). Also, at least initially, do not put effort into saving too many different kinds of seeds. 

The easiest seeds to grow are from plants that are annuals and self-pollinating. These include pea, bean, lettuce, pepper, and eggplant.  

Tomato also is in this category, and saving and growing seeds each year is the way many gardeners are able to harvest delectable “heirloom” varieties passed on to them by neighbors or relatives. 

Our father, although he had never worked in the trades, definitely was a handyman’s handyman. He loved his workshop. He favored plumbing, painting and carpentry, but was hesitant about doing electrical work. And, we never saw him do ceramic-tile work. 

As we have developed our own interests in construction and home improvements, we have discovered that our father’s fear of ceramic-tile work was not unfounded. Tiling is fun, but some tasks, such as those requiring intricate tile cutting and notching, can be very difficult. Also, some types of tile are more difficult to install than others. 

Generally speaking, the larger the tile the easier it is to install. This is because when large tiles are used, fewer have to be installed to cover a given area. This means less cutting, less grouting and less chance for mistakes. Tiny tiles are extremely hard to install because there are so many lines to consider, straighten and grout. 

The big problem with installing tile — even with the small jobs — is the unevenness of the surface (countertop, wall, ceiling or floor) to which the tile is going to be applied. Tile seems to exacerbate waviness in a surface. Most uneven surfaces look worse after tile is applied. In a home, practically every surface is wavy to some extent. Mortar is used to correct this kind of problem. Mortar is a substrate that can be made to be perfectly smooth no matter how wavy the surface. In short, troweled-in-place mortar is a backing that adds strength and smoothness for tile. A mortar bed can be built to work over a waterproof layer, like in a shower. 

First, a waterproof membrane is installed, then the mortar bed, and finally the tile and grout. When the grout fails and water gets behind the tile and mortar, the waterproof membrane protects the framing. All of these layers make tile in mortar very expensive. 

Thirty years ago, builders decided to try a new technique — tiling directly to wallboard. No mortar. At first everything looked great and tile showers in modern subdivision homes were selling like hotcakes. Soon after their warranties ran out, these unlucky homeowners were spending big bucks repairing those tiled showers. Before long, folks were discovering that tile-on-wallboard wasn’t a good application. Soon after, better building departments started to outlaw the technique. Before long it was apparent that another alternative had to be found. Wallboard wasn’t the answer and mortar-in-place installations were simply too difficult and expensive. 

Finally, a material was developed to replace wallboard for wet-tile installations. It’s known generically as “cement-backer board” or “mortarboard.” Mortarboard can be installed over a waterproof barrier and has the same water-stopping qualities of tile in mortar installation. Mortarboard is very different from the old-fashioned and far-too-flimsy tile-on-wallboard. Now you know why cement-backer board was developed and why it has become so popular. Once the grout starts to leak, the surface below doesn’t fall apart. Backer board was developed to hold together when attacked by moisture, and it does a good job of it. 

Even though mortarboard resists moisture better than does wallboard, it doesn’t smooth the surface. If the studs are crooked, the mortarboard will telescope the problem through. If you want good results, you have to make sure the wall studs are perfectly straight and that the face of each stud perfectly aligns with the face of each adjacent stud before applying the waterproof plastic and the mortarboard. Shimming and planning the studs as needed would be a smart thing to do. 

Each manufacturer will recommend a different fastening method. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions to the letter. What you do with one product might not be recommended with another. Once the board is up, joints are taped and filled with joint compound — usually latex-fortified mortar. Latex-fortified mortar is a fancy way of saying mortar mixed with glue. Be sure to leave a 1/8th-inch gap between sheets for expansion. Mortarboard expands and contracts just as wood does. 

Some say that mortarboard is the answer as a base for tile floors. We don’t agree completely. Yes, mortarboard is an alternative to plywood. However, troweled-in-place mortar is still the finest way of doing any tile job.  

With mortarboard, the floor that it will rest on must not vary in height more than 1/8th-inch. Believe it or not, this is a rather stringent tolerance. Most manufacturers recommended that a thin coat of mortar be used to level the floor before the mortarboard is applied. 

We sometimes wonder if our father would have tried tile work if mortarboard had been available then. We think he would have. 

If you are extremely careful with mortarboard, the job can look magnificent — without a lot of work, experience or cost. We have seen mortarboard tile jobs that look better than others where the tile was set in troweled-on mortar. However, a good mortar job is always better than a good mortarboard job. 

Tip of the week: Mildew Elimination 

We have long been passing along this formula to eliminate mildew. You can use it on any washable surface. All you do is add 1 quart of liquid laundry bleach and 1 cup of powdered laundry detergent – less if concentrated – to 3 quarts of warm water. Scrub the solution onto the mildew-affected area, and be sure to keep it wet until the black mildew turns white (when mildew changes color from black to white, it’s dead). Although this is a relatively safe concoction, to be certain of safety, use eye protection, wear rubber gloves and make sure there is plenty of ventilation.

PALO ALTO — Standard & Poor’s lowered the credit ratings for Hewlett-Packard Co. on Thursday, saying the potential benefits of the planned $22 billion acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp. are offset by the deal’s high risks. 

HP’s credit rating was lowered from single A-minus to double A-minus, and its commercial paper rating was lowered from A-1 plus to A-2 plus. The reductions may make it more expensive for the Palo Alto-based company to borrow money. 

S&P said it would have lowered HP’s ratings even without the proposed Compaq purchase, because HP’s profits and outlook have become increasinly uncertain in the weak market for computer hardware. 

The rating agency found some potential positives for HP — and its credit rating — in the Compaq deal. S&P said it “recognizes the strategic validity of the merger” and “the improved market position of the combined company.” 

But it said those positive factors were offset by the significant risks involved with integrating the companies. 

Even if the deal is rejected by HP shareholders March 19, both companies could be in for downgrades because of concern over their strategies as independent companies, S&P said. 

HP said in a statement that it was disappointed with the S&P decision and was confident it has been planning adequately for the complex absorption of Compaq. The company had $7.1 billion in cash and short-term investments in January, with debt of $6.0 billion and operating cash flow of $4.8 billion. 

HP shares fell 18 cents to $20.00 on the New York Stock Exchange, where shares of Houston-based Compaq gained 17 cents to $11.15. 

The contested acquisition got two important blessings this week, from U.S. antitrust regulators on Wednesday and from Institutional Shareholder Services, an influential proxy advisory firm, on Tuesday. But most analysts say the HP shareholder vote is too close to call.

SAN FRANCISCO — Fast-growing online DVD rental service Netflix Inc. plans to raise $115 million with an initial public offering of its stock, providing another flicker of optimism in the depressed dot-com industry. 

The Los Gatos-based company’s filing this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission didn’t specify how many shares will be sold or provide a per-share price target. Netflix will list its shares under the ticker symbol “NFLX” on the Nasdaq Stock Market. 

Earlier in the week, online clearance center Overstock.com Inc. of Salt Lake City filed an IPO seeking to raise $36.8 million. 

By pursuing the IPOs, Netflix and Overstock are betting skittish investors will be more receptive to putting money into unprofitable Internet companies with potentially bright futures. 

Wall Street has spurned most dot-com companies after being burned badly by the IPOs of Internet companies that went bankrupt over the past two years, saddling investors with huge losses. The frosty climate prompted Netflix to scrap a previously planned IPO in July 2000. 

“I wouldn’t say these offerings mean the door is open again, but there may be room for deals from companies that seem to have the right idea and right platform,” said David Menlow, president of IPOfinancial.com. 

Although the worst of the bleeding appears to be over, the dot-com industry remains wounded. Another 18 Internet companies collapsed in February, bringing the total number of dot-com failures to 806 since January 2000, according to Webmergers.com. The February failures represented the lowest total since August 2000, when 10 Internet companies shut down, Webmergers said. 

The stock market’s reception to the IPO of online payment service PayPal last month represented a heartening sign for dot-com startups. 

After overcoming legal and regulatory concerns, Palo Alto-based PayPal sold its IPO at $13 per share and the stock soared 55 percent in its first day of trading. PayPal shares have dipped since then, but the stock remains above its IPO price. 

Like PayPal, Netflix is steadily attracting new customers to its service, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the company says 2.6 percent of all households subscribe to its rental service. Netflix isn’t as popular in the East because DVDs take longer to be delivered there from the company’s only distribution center in San Jose. 

Since launching its service in September 1999, Netflix has signed up 500,000 subscribers, most of whom pay $19.95 per month to rent up to three DVDs at a time. Netflix mails the DVDs to customers, who return them in postage paid envelopes. 

Customers can keep Netflix DVDs as long as they want without incurring late fees, a feature that has helped the company lure business away from Blockbuster. Netflix offers a library of 11,500 movies. 

The service’s popularity still hasn’t translated into a profit. The company has lost $136.9 million since its inception, including a loss of $38.3 million last year on revenue of $74.3 million. 

——— 

On The Net: 

http://www.netflix.com 

http://www.overstock.com 

SAN JOSE— Chip-maker Intel Corp. tightened the range of its first-quarter sales forecast Thursday, saying demand for PC processors remains stable but the communications chip business is weak. 

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said it expects revenue to be between $6.6 billion and $6.9 billion — within the company’s previous guidance of between $6.4 billion and $7 billion for the period. 

Analysts are expecting sales of $6.77 billion for the first quarter, according to a survey by Thomson Financial/First Call. 

That would be an increase of 1.4 percent from the $6.68 billion reported in the same period last year, but a 3.1 percent decrease from the $6.98 billion last quarter. 

Intel did not provide any earnings estimates. Analysts, however, are expecting a profit of 14 cents a share, down 12.5 percent from the 16 cents a share profit reported in the first quarter of 2001. 

Revenues typically fall as much as 10 percent in the quarter following the holiday. 

Intel may be feeling the lingering effects of stronger-than-expected computer buying during the holidays. Now PC makers are replenishing their supplies, according to some analysts. 

The company also is expected to reap rewards from new technologies that not only make its microprocessors faster and more competitive, but also less expensive to build. 

Earlier this week, Intel introduced processors for mobile computers based on its flagship Pentium 4 architecture. The company also recently unveiled a Pentium 4-based chip for servers. 

Shares of Intel gained 2 cents, to $32.98 in Thursday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In extended trading, they lost 55 cents. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Intel Corp.: http://www.intel.com 

SAN FRANCISCO — Ailing credit card issuer Providian Financial Corp. on Thursday announced a deal to sell its Argentina operations to a group of Buenos Aires investors for an undisclosed sum. 

The San Francisco-based company put its Argentine business on the sales block in November as part of its survival efforts. 

As the economy soured last year, more of Providian’s customers defaulted on their loans, saddling the company with a fourth-quarter loss of $481.2 million. 

Providian, once the nation’s fifth-largest credit card issuer, previously sold 3.3 million of its lowest-risk accounts to J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. for $2.87 billion and sold 500,000 accounts in the United Kingdom to Barclays Bank for an undisclosed sum. 

The company’s shares fell 21 cents to close at $5.10 Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.

About 200 students walked out of Berkeley High School Wednesday afternoon and marched on to district headquarters protesting the move from a seven- to a six-period day beginning next fall. 

“We will not go quietly into the night, we will not give up without a fight,” chanted the students, who were met on the steps of district headquarters by Superintendent Michele Lawrence and her leadership team. 

“These decisions were made without our input,” said BHS senior Sean Dugar, one of the students who led the protest. “That is not OK.” 

Students raised concerns that the shift to a six-period day, approved by the Board of Education last week in a wave of $3.8 million in budget cuts, will harm the school’s successful double-period science class and lead to deep cuts in electives, including music, the arts and African-American studies courses.  

Some even said they were worried that the entire African-American studies department might be chopped. 

“You’re operating under a misunderstanding,” said Lawrence through a bullhorn, straining to be heard. “There is no intention, there was never an intention and I don’t believe there will be an accidental intention of in any way hurting the African-American Studies Department.” 

Lawrence said that there will be reductions in electives for the approximately 3,000 students including, quite possibly, African-American studies classes, as a result of the move to a six-period day. But she emphasized that reductions do not mean elimination. 

“There will have to be some reductions,” she said. “That doesn’t mean music is going to go away or African-American studies will go away.” 

After the protest Lawrence told the Daily Planet that the district will determine what reductions to make after meeting with administrators and department heads at the high school and evaluating which courses students choose to take next semester. Students will begin choosing classes in a couple of weeks. 

Lawrence said it was too early to determine which specific elective programs will face reductions and how steep those reductions will be. But, when asked about science in particular, she suggested that some double-period offerings will remain and some will not. 

Dana Johnson, a senior at BHS, said moving from double- to single-period science will harm the quality of the program and make it more difficult for students to get a handle on complex subjects. 

“Right now, I’m in advanced biology,” she said. “The class I’m in, if it’s one period, I won’t learn enough, and it’s going to be so much harder.” 

Johnson also raised concerns that cuts in African-American Studies classes will disproportionately effect African-American students. 

“Some African-American Studies classes are the only classes African-American students can take and pass, and not fall through the cracks,” she said. 

Dharini Rasiah, a video teacher who attended the protest, raised concerns about a reduction in arts classes. “I’m furious,” said Rasiah, who teaches five video classes. 

Rasiah said many of her students take video courses for two or three periods a day and are able to develop their skills and produce award-winning work. She worries that, with the shift to a six-period day, students will only be able to take one video class in their high school careers, reducing achievement. 

School board President Shirley Issel, who was at the protest, said the board has “a commitment to quality, academic excellence and our rich elective programs.” 

“They’ll be adjusted,” Issel said, of the elective courses, “but I don’t think they’ll be compromised.” 

Lawrence offered to meet with students in a more structured setting to answer their concerns about the six-period day. 

A furious third-quarter comeback wasn’t enough for the Berkeley Lady Yellowjackets as St. Ignatius (San Francisco) pulled off a 52-49 upset in a quarterfinal of the Northern California Section Division I playoffs. 

Berkeley forward Sabrina Keys was called for an intentional foul with seven seconds left in the game, and St. Ignatius seniors Katie Meinhardt and Maureen McCaffery each hit two free throws to give the Wildcats a three-point lead. Berkeley guard Angelita Hutton missed a half-court shot at the buzzer as the ’Jackets missed out on playing in the NorCal championship for the first time in nearly a decade. 

St. Ignatius survived Berkeley’s comeback from a 16-point deficit at halftime. Lauren Chambers hit two free throws, her only points of the game, to give the ’Jackets their first lead of the game at 45-44 with three-and-a-half minutes left in the game.  

The teams traded baskets twice, with Kalyca Seabrook getting a putback for a 49-48 Berkeley lead with 15 seconds left. Berkeley had three fouls to give before St. Ignatius would get to the free throw line, but Meinhardt got free under the basket, forcing Keys to foul her hard. The referee immediately called an intentional foul, giving the Wildcats two free throws and possession of the ball. Meinhardt hit her free throws, then McCaffery was fouled and made her shots with 5.1 seconds left. 

Berkeley came into the game as the second seed in Division I, while the Wildcats were unseeded despite winning the Central Coast Section title with a win over Archbishop Mitty. St. Ignatius didn’t even earn a first-round bye, having to beat Washington on Tuesday night just to get to Wednesday night’s game. 

“We knew we should have been seeded higher,” Meinhardt said. “We wanted to come in here and beat the team to beat and prove how good we are.” 

Meinhardt keyed the Wildcats’ strong first half, scoring 11 points with 4 steals in the second quarter alone. The Boston University-bound senior scored a game-high 24 points overall, and McCaffery, who will play at Harvard next season, helped out with 10. 

Berkeley committed 18 turnovers in the first half, allowing St. Ignatius to take more than twice as many shots before halftime. The ’Jackets struggled to solve the Wildcats’ zone defense and were unable to get Keys free inside, settling for jumpers and reckless drives.  

“We had an unbelievable number of unforced turnoversi n the first half that killed us,” Berkeley head coach Gene Nakamura said. “It wouldn’t have been that close of a game if we didn’t give them the ball so much.” 

The inside trio of McCaffery, Megan Niedermeyer and Kelsey Wegmann held Keys to 11 points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field. 

“We knew they’d come with a zone, but we were just standing around,” Nakamura said. “We started attacking in the second half, and that’s when we had success.” 

The Lady ’Jackets came out of halftime fired up, cranking up the defensive pressure. Angelita Hutton, Natasha Bailey and Shaquita Brown all hit 3-pointers during Berkeley’s 20-7 third quarter, cutting the Wildcat lead to three points at 36-33. Keys made her only field goal and was fouled, hitting the free throw to tie the game at 40-40 early in the fourth quarter. 

“We had a nice lead at halftime, but it disappeared before I could even think,” St. Ignatius head coach Jim Dekker said. “They started putting pressure on us, and they’ve got great athletes.” 

Berkeley, which lost the state championship game the last two seasons, will be home for the NorCal championship game for the first time since 1993, when they lost in the semifinals to Lincoln (San Francisco). 

St. Ignatius, with its wins over Mitty and Berkeley, has beaten the NorCal champs of the last five seasons.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Fueling the worst Hindu-Muslim violence in Indian in nearly a decade is a new Hindu nationalism that adopts the militaristic rhetoric of today's world leaders. PNS Associate Editor Sandip Roy fears that an older form of Hinduism that could accept, absorb and change other cultures is being lost. Roy (sandiproy@hotmail.com) is host of “Upfront” – the Pacific News Service weekly radio program on KALW-FM, San Francisco. 

By Sandip Roy 

Pacific News Service 

SAN FRANCISCO — When the bland bureaucratic form demands I write down my religion, I dutifully print HINDU. A religion I call my own with as little thought as I claim my parents – a given. 

Then the stories pour in of Hindu mobs barricading terrified Muslims in a schoolhouse in Gujarat and setting them ablaze. Of holy men with matted hair and saffron robes descending on the hot dusty town in Ayodhya with their iron tridents. They are Hindu, too – perhaps more Hindu than I. I look into the face of their Hinduism and realize I almost envy it, cloaked as it is in such certainty. My Hinduism, which is more about a culture than a temple, is civilized but effete in comparison – a cut flower in a crystal vase. 

Who is the real Hindu? What happened to my Hinduism? 

Much has been written about the rise of Hindu nationalism in India.  

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), once an outcast in Indian politics because of its Hindu chauvinism, is now in power. Not just in power, but presiding over a coalition with some of the very parties that not so long ago refused to associate with it, and caused the first BJP government in 1996 to fall in just 13 days. 

What does this mean? That India is finally declaring that the 1947 act of partition that created the Muslim state of Pakistan in effect created a Hindu state named India? That secularism was just a fig leaf plastered onto that Hindu state, and finally, inevitably, it is slipping off?  

That Hinduism is being reincarnated as a muscular nationalism hell-bent on settling scores from centuries ago? Against Muslim invaders, British traders. 

Dare I say it – Hinduism is becoming a certain kind of man, proclaiming a type of male certainty. Certainty – as in you have to be for us or against us. Certainty, as in smoking the enemy out of their caves. A single muscular line, like a missile that cannot be deflected from its purpose. 

Is this a Hinduism that Gandhi might have recognized? Gandhi, too, was Hindu. Gandhi was from Gujarat as well, where the communal riots now rage with unspeakable ferocity. But now he is a portrait on the wall of a bureaucrat, forever staring at the back of the bureaucrat’s head.  

When Time Magazine was choosing its man of the century, I was deluged by e-mails from Indians trying to make sure I went to Time’s Web site to vote for Gandhi. It was strange – their enthusiasm was no indicator of the resonance Gandhi had in their lives. He was merely our best bet at having an Indian named the person of the century – a commodity. 

Where is Gandhi now? Or Nelson Mandela? Or all the other leaders whose certainty was not a single-minded heat-seeking missile? Whose message was about looking into the eye of the opponent to see if they could see themselves in there.  

I don’t know if they could play any of the extreme sports our world leaders play now. After Sept. 11, the rhetoric has been so much more about nationalism, taking care of our own, closing doors, sealing borders, us vs. them, weeding out terrorists, “you can run but you can’t hide.” Bush, Putin, Arroyo, Sharon, Vajpayee – each a player more certain than the next of the destiny of the nation each leads. This new Hinduism is in tune with the world's rhetoric – black and white in its certainty, defining itself by how it can teach someone a lesson, show them who is boss. 

But there was another Hinduism that was about absorption. Absorbing conquerors, their music, their food, their poetry – and yes, their seed, their vices, their greed.  

That Hinduism is now derided as passive, unable to compete in the world. It cannot spearhead agitations or mobilize mob armies. But it still exists – not necessarily in secularists like me.  

Up in Marin County (yes, where else?), I met a master Indian musician, the sarode player Ali Akbar Khan. Now 80 years old, his name immediately reveals his Muslim parentage. Yet his sister is named Annapurna, a Hindu mother goddess. Now Khan teaches Indian classical raagas with mellifluous names like “Purbasree” in San Rafael, in a room whose window has the stained glass image of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of the arts and learning. 

I wanted to ask him if he was Hindu or Muslim. He said he was a musician – music to him was next to God. In some strange, romantic way, I felt more in touch with my Hinduism that night than I had in a long time.

Thursday, March 7

Ancient Cultures of the Indian Himalaya 

7 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Slide presentation by Barbara Sansone through the Kinnaur and Spiti Valley in eastern Himachul Pradesh. 527-4140. 

Resisting the Occupation: Jewish Peace Activists in Israel and Palestine 

7 p.m. 

La Peña Cultural Center 

3105 Shattuck Ave. 

Seth Schneider and Jerry Geffner were part of a recent American Jewish delegation that removed roadblocks, planted olive trees, monitored checkpoints, and met with Israeli and Palestinian peace organizations. Join them as they share slides and stories from their December trip. $5-10 sliding scale, proceeds benefit Rafah refugees. 301-0842, seth_schneider@yahoo.com. 

Sequencing the Human Genome: Eukaryotes 

4:10 p.m. 

International House Auditorium  

2299 Piedmont Ave. 

Public lecture by Dr. J. Craig Venter, chairman of the board for the Institute for Genomic Research. 643-7413, www.grad.berkeley.edu/lectures. 

Friday, March 8

International Women’s Day 

1 - 2:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center 

1901 Hearst Ave. 

Music, history, and speakers.  

Berkeley Women in Black 

noon - 1 p.m. 

Bancroft and Telegraph Ave. 

Standing in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian women to urge an end to the occupation and push the peace process forward. 548-6310, wibberkeley.org. 

Celebrating International Women’s Day 

6 - 9 p.m. 

Julia Morgan Theatre  

2640 College Ave. 

International Women’s Day celebration with Suheir Hammad, poet and author of “First Writing Since” and “Born Palestinian, Born Black.” This event is presented by the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and Women of Color Resource Center. All are welcome to both the reception at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. $10 - $30, sliding scale. 845-8542, www.coloredgirls.org. 

Berkeley Critical Mass Ninth Birthday Ride 

5:30 p.m. 

Downtown Berkeley BART 

Roll through the streets with glee to celebrate the ninth birthday of the monthly Berkeley Critical Mass ride. Party follows. http://www.bclu.org/couch/. 

Men Considering Serving in the  

Roman Catholic church as a  

priest or brother 

9 p.m. 

Precious Blood Mission House  

2800 Milvia 

An evening of dialogue and discernment for men who are considering serving in the Roman Catholic church as a priest or brother. RSVP to Rev. Gary M. Luiz, 848-1053. 

City Commons Club 

12:30 p.m. 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Mary Breunig, president, Landmark Heritage Foundation; “The Julian Morgan Building, the Berkeley City Club, and the Landmark Heritage Foundation.” $1. 848-3533. 

Saturday, March 9

Burma Human Rights Day 

6 - 10 p.m. 

Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship Hall 

1924 Cedar 

Benefit for women’s groups on the Thailand/Burma border. Burmese cuisine 6 - 7 p.m.; Min Zin, featured speaker, 7 - 8 p.m.; “Sacrifice,” feature film, 8 - 9 p.m.; $10-$20 sliding scale. 841-4824, www.badasf.org. 

Restore Hetch Hetchy 

5 p.m. 

MountainLight Gallery 

1466 66th St., Emeryville 

A short presentation describing the effort to obtain a “win-win” outcome for Yosemite National Park’s Hetch Hetchy Valley and the Bay Area’s water and power users. 209-372-8660, www.mountainlight.com/. 

Train for the Eco-Challenge 

2 p.m. 

REI 

1338 San Pablo Ave. 

Liz Caldwell and Barry Siff, veteran members of Team REI-Salomon, with a slide presentation on their recent Eco-Challenge events in New Zealand and Borneo. They will discuss how to train for a competition, select team members and prevent injury. 527-4140. 

Sunday, March 10

Oakland Civic Orchestra’s 

Children’s Concert 

3 p.m. 

Oakland Veteran’s Memorial Building 

200 Grand Ave., Oakland 

A concert for children of all ages. There will be a raffle and young members from the audience will have a chance to conduct the orchestra. Free. 251-8362. 

Storytelling Women 

3 - 5 p.m. 

Live Oak Center, Social Hall 

1301 Shattuck Ave. 

Women tellers telling about women who inspire their lives. Four storytellers and a musician. Part of the annual women’s and girls’ tea party and storytelling ceremony held in Codornices Park. $30 suggested. 841-6612. 

The Labor Movement, Democracy and the Political Vacuum 

noon 

The Fellowship of Humanity 

411 28th St., Oakland 

Presentation by Steve Zeltzer. 451-5818, HumanistHall@yahoo.com. 

Tibetan Art: Entering  

the Realm of the Sacred 

6 p.m. 

Tibetan Nyingma Institute 

1815 Highland Place 

Sylvia Gretchen, Dean of Nyingma Studies, will uses examples of Tibetan art to explore the meaning of “sacred.” 843-6812. 

Monday, March 11

The Science Behind Global Warming, and How You Can Reduce Your Impact 

7 - 8:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Adult School 

University Ave. and Bonar St. 

Susan Ode, Berkeley Energy Commission, will provide an update on the science and implications of global warming for the world, plus a practical list of actions you can incorporate in your life to protect the global climate and improve the quality of your life. 981-5435, energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

Odyssey of Conflict and Odyssey of Mastery – Polanyi, Pirsig, Zen, and the Art of Knowing 

3:30 - 5 p.m. 

Pacific School of Religion, Mudd 206 

1798 Scenic Ave. 

Lecture and discussion presented by Allen Dyer, M.D., professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at East Tennessee State University, also former chair of the ethics committee of the American Psychiatric Association. Free and open to the public. 849-8285. 

Learning from The History of Government 

noon 

UC Berkeley 

Harris Room (119 Moses Hall) 

Positive Political Theory Seminar with Roger Myerson, University of Chicago. 642-4608, http://www.igs.berkeley.edu:8880/. 

Conscientious Objection to War 

7 - 9 p.m. 

Friends’ Meetinghouse 

2151 Vine St. 

The Berkeley Society of Friends will view the PBS documentary, The Good War and Those Who Refused to Fight It, and discuss it.  

Meet the Artists of the  

ARTS Ed Resource Guide 

6 - 8 p.m. 

James Irvine Foundation Conference Center 

353 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 

Artists and arts organizations will deliver brief presentation about their program offerings and address questions posed by the audience. Free and open to the public. 208-0842, www.artsedeastbay.org. 

Tuesday, March 12

An Evening with Numfundo Walaza:  

The Burden of Forgiveness 

7:30 - 9 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

An evening with Numfundo Walaza, director of the Trauma Center for Survivors of Violence and Torture in Capetown, South Africa. Walaza will talk about “The Burden of Forgiveness: Reflections from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee of South Africa.” $15. 204-0720, mkmorrison@cdsp.edu. 

Wednesday, March 13

Trees Forum 

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. 

Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 

Tucson Common Room 

2451 Ridge Rd. 

Amahra Hicks of USFS, and Jeff Romm of UCB discuss “Just Forests Initiative: Faith-based Activism for Public Land.” Free and open to the public. www.gtu.edu/StudServ/TREES. 

City Commons Club, 

Great Decisions Program 

10 a.m. - noon 

Berkeley City Club 

2315 Durant Ave. 

Lawrence Saez, professor of East Asia Studies, UC Berkeley; “South Asia: Focus on India.” $5. 848-3533. 

Jacki Fox Ruby, a California Federation of Teachers official, soundly defeated incumbent Jerome Wiggins Tuesday in the race for Alameda County Board of Education Trustee Area 1, bringing an end to an often nasty campaign. 

Ruby, a former Berkeley school teacher, won 58 percent of the vote while Wiggins took 42 percent, according to county figures released Wednesday. The new board member will represent Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, Piedmont and portions of Oakland. 

“Yeah for the schools and the kids,” said Ruby on election night. 

Ruby said she will work to bring together all the local school districts under the jurisdiction of the Alameda County Office of Education, and craft regional responses to educational problems. 

She added that she will attempt to boost county support services to each of the districts, including violence prevention programs, fiscal assistance and teacher training. 

Wiggins blamed his defeat on heavy spending by the Ruby campaign, which raised $30,000, and opposition from County Superintendent Sheila Jordan, who contributed $10,000 of her own campaign money to the Ruby operation. 

“I thought it was going to be an uphill battle against the Sheila Jordan machine,” said Wiggins. 

“I’m not sure what that means,” Jordan responded. “I’ve never been called a machine before.” 

Wiggins raised particular concern about a mailer, shipped out by Jordan in the closing days of the campaign, which accused him of threatening the superintendent, fellow board members and Ruby supporters. 

“That was the most vicious hit piece that I have ever seen anyone put out,” Wiggins said. 

The piece quotes Wiggins e-mails telling the superintendent to stay out of Area 1, and accusing a fellow board member of “unethical, racist and despicable” conduct. 

The mailer also alleges that Wiggins called the associate superintendent at one point and said: “I’ll make an appointment to see Sheila Jordan and go home and get my baseball bat and no one will have computers.” 

“I never said that to him,” replied Wiggins, who argues that the piece is libelous, and warns that he will sue the superintendent. 

Much of the race centered on Wiggins’ stormy relationship with Jordan. The two clashed publicly last summer over the county’s $30 million budget. 

Jordan called for an increase in staff salaries, and for expanded support services for the various school districts under the jurisdiction of the county office. 

Wiggins and the board majority countered that Jordan’s proposals would come at the expense of students in programs run directly by the county, including the county juvenile hall and a series of community day schools serving young people expelled by the local districts. 

Eventually, the two sides reached a compromise. But the friction between Jordan and Wiggins remained. Jordan said Ruby’s election would restore civility to the county office. 

“This enables me, as superintendent, to focus on my job,” said Jordan. 

The county board approves the county budget, serves as an appeals board for students expelled by individual districts in the county and oversees county-run education programs, among other things.

The St. Mary’s boys basketball team found their rhythm shortly before halftime, cruising to an eventual 74-58 victory over Oak Grove (San Jose) and moved one step closer to a CIF Northern Section crown. 

A sluggish Panther team struggled in the raucous Oak Grove gym in the early going, and it appeared likely that the Panthers had made a grave mistake by overlooking the Eagles (28-2 in the regular season), anticipating a potential Saturday rematch against Oakland Tech, which defeated the Panthers early in the season. 

“All our preparation has been to play on Saturday against Oakland Tech,” St. Mary’s coach Jose Caraballo said. 

But the first 14 minutes of Wednesday’s game were all Eagles. Leading 23-22 midway through the second quarter, they lit up the home crowd with three consecutive baskets: a powerful one-handed dunk by John Williams, followed by a 15-foot jumper by Williams - and then, impossibly, an alley-oop pass by guard Gerald Green that missed his intended target completely – and fell instead into the hoop for a 3-pointer and a 30-22 Eagle lead. 

“We were a little dead in the first half,” St. Mary’s center Simon Knight said. “Then we started picking up in spurts. We decided we needed to come out with heart, come out running. That’s what we did – we just took it to ‘em.” 

The first of those spurts came to close the first half, as the Panthers went on an eight-point run in the final minute and a half of the second period to draw within one, 33-32. 

Senior guard John Sharper then took over during the third quarter, scoring 10 of his game-high 18 points, and the Panthers pulled away to a 52-42 lead heading into the final period. The Eagles would pull to within three points with 4:29 to play in the game, but an 11-point Panther run sealed the victory.

Right now, it is an empty section of railroad track blocked off on both sides by a cyclone fence. It used to be a hang-out for prostitutes and rowdy drinkers until the city erected these fences at Berkeley Way and University Avenue about 10 years ago. Now many groups in the city want to make it part of a landscaped pedestrian and bicycle corridor. 

But neighbors along the Old Santa Fe Right of Way don’t want the bad old days to come back.  

At a 7 p.m. meeting tonight at Liz Fogerty’s house at 1301 Berkeley Way, they hope to voice their concerns to city officials and talk to the police department about crime.  

Elena Nanapoulos, who has been active in the Berkeley Way Neighbors’ Group, said those who live closest to the proposed park have felt left out of the planning process. While the city has been working on the park idea since last summer, neighbors only got a chance to talk at a stakeholders’ meeting called by Councilmember Linda Maio on Feb. 11. 

“The issue is that while we’re in favor of green space – we’ve asked for it for years because it’s a fairly unattractive space – we’re worried about crime,” said Nanapoulos. 

The neighbors are happy that respected organizations like the Berkeley Montessori School and the Temple Nevitot Shalom will be making the neighborhood their home, but worried about what might happen to the open space at night. 

“We’ve heard from police that the drug traffic nowadays is not stationary and not just on street corners. It happens on bikes,” said Carol Sullivan, also active in the neighborhood group. A sunny family-friendly bike path could become an after-hours super highway for drugs, she said. 

Dave Campbell of the Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition said that his group is trying to be sensitive to the neighbors’ concerns. 

“I told the neighbors at the meeting that their concerns for safety are bigger than our concerns for a bike path,” he said. “We’re not going to ram a bike path down their throats if they don’t want it.” 

A gate could solve the problem. Putting in the fence in mid-1980s ended the “uncivilized behavior,” said Filmer. 

“I never thought I’d have the desire to have an ugly, tall fence in my surrounds, but it really improved the quality of the neighborhood,” she said.  

A gate that could be opened in the morning and closed at night by beat cops would give them both green space and safety, she said. 

Maio said she hopes all the groups can talk through their differences at tonight’s meeting because it seems everyone wants a green space, in theory. Then they can have another meeting to discuss the specifics of the development.  

Steven Swanson, president of the Berkeley Partners for Parks, the group that has spearheaded the effort, said it is about time.  

“Berkeley has been tardy with the greenway thing for a long time,” said Swanson. 

Now that the city has a large grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, his group’s vision of a grassy trail that fuses pedestrian and bike paths with community gardens or maybe a putting green can become a reality. 

“Our view on it is that an abandoned Right of Way doesn’t do anyone any good,” said Swanson. “A greenway tends to improve a neighborhood and there will be a lot of legitimate users, especially pedestrian activity. This is a self-policing mechanism.” 

The greenway would also join currently isolated parks that have been created along the Right of Way, as well as connect South Berkeley to Albany and El Cerrito.  

The city recognizes the people’s desire for more green space, said Maio. She said the park is at the top of the staff’s list of possible ways to use the HIP grant and high on her list of priorities, as well. 

“I’ve been wanting to improve the Right of Way since I was elected, but there was no money to do it,” said Maio, who has worked on the Santa Fe Right of Way project for the last two months. 

“Given the economy, I don’t think we’ll come across these kinds of funds again. I don’t want to miss the opportunity.” 

A staff working group has been considering the project since the city was awarded the $1 million HIP grant in July 2001. The money is given for transportation projects based on how much housing a city plans to build.  

Dave Fogerty in the city’s Office of Economic Development said $1 million would buy the city a pedestrian crossing at University Avenue, and a bike path to the Delaware Bike Boulevard that could connect to the BART station. 

Although Fogerty could not divulge the staff recommendation that will be presented to the City Council in April, he did say the Santa Fe greenway was very favorably viewed.

A 36-year-old Oakland man was struck and killed by an eastbound local freight train early Wednesday morning. At 3:27 a.m. the train hit Kevin Raney, who was apparently lying on the tracks a quarter-mile north of Gilman Street, according to Charles Brewer, an investigator at the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.  

Lena Kent, spokesperson for the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, said the man was lying on the tracks in a section that was not at a road crossing.  

The train, running on tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, was going 28 miles per hour, well below the speed limit. It was a Richmond-to-Richmond train that goes back and forth servicing local industries. The crew involved in the incident have been given several days off for trauma relief. 

The coroner’s office is still looking into the cause of the man’s death.  

It is too early to tell whether it was an accident or suicide. 

Union Pacific Director of Public Affairs John Bromley said the train crew called Union Pacific’s central dispatch in Omaha, Neb. at 3:28 a.m. saying the man appeared dead. The company’s railroad police arrived at 4:01 a.m. and notified the Berkeley Police Department, who sent an emergency crew. Brewer said the man was dead when he arrived at the scene at 4:30 a.m. 

John Bromley, director of public affairs for Union Pacific, said accidents like this happen every day on railroads across the country. Every year, there are 500 trespassing fatalities, he said. 

“It happens a lot in California in general, but especially in the Bay Area, we have a lot of problems with trespassers,” said Bromley. 

BPD Capt. Bobby Miller confirmed there was an accident near the Albany-Berkeley line, but he said the local police were only marginally involved. The railroad tracks are not in the BPD’s jurisdiction so the department simply assists the railroad police at the scene and allows the company to do its own investigation.  

Accidents like this are difficult to prevent, said Bromley. Even if the company puts up fences along the tracks, people can always get in at railroad crossings. Trespassing is an even worse problem in urban areas, he said. 

“We have a zero trespassers policy,” said Bromley. “We remove them because it’s a safety issue as well as a property theft and vandalism issue.”

Today is Thursday, March 7, the 66th day of 2002. There are 299 days left in the year. 

Today’s Highlight in History: 

On March 7, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for his telephone. 

On this date: 

In 1850, in a three-hour speech to the U.S. Senate, Daniel Webster endorsed the Compromise of 1850 as a means of preserving the Union. 

In 1911, the United States sent 20,000 troops to the Mexican border as a precaution in the wake of the Mexican Revolution. 

In 1926, the first successful transatlantic radio-telephone conversation took place, between New York and London. 

In 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered his troops to march into the Rhineland, thereby breaking the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact. 

In 1945, during World War II, U.S. forces crossed the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany, using the damaged but still usable Ludendorff Bridge. 

In 1965, a march by civil rights demonstrators was broken up in Selma, Ala., by state troopers and a sheriff’s posse. 

In 1975, the Senate revised its filibuster rule, allowing 60 senators to limit debate in most cases, instead of the previously required two-thirds of senators present. 

In 1981, anti-government guerrillas in Colombia executed kidnapped American Bible translator Chester Allen Bitterman, whom they accused of being a CIA agent. 

In 1994, the Supreme Court ruled that parodies that poke fun at an original work can be considered “fair use” that doesn’t require permission from the copyright holder. 

In 1999, movie director Stanley Kubrick died in Hertfordshire, England, at age 70. 

Ten years ago: Democrat Bill Clinton picked up additional victories in the South Carolina primary and the Wyoming caucuses, while fellow Democrat Paul Tsongas won the Arizona caucuses. President George H.W. Bush won the Republican primary in South Carolina. 

Five years ago: After a week of embarrassing disclosures about White House fund raising, President Clinton told a news conference, “I’m not sure, frankly,” whether he’d also made calls for campaign cash. But he insisted that nothing had undercut his pledge to have the highest ethical standards ever. 

One year ago: Ariel Sharon was sworn in as Israel’s prime minister. 

Today’s Birthdays: Photographer Lord Snowdon is 72. TV weatherman Willard Scott is 68. Auto racer Janet Guthrie is 64. Actor Daniel J. Travanti is 62. Walt Disney Co. chairman Michael Eisner is 60. Rock musician Chris White (The Zombies) is 59. Actor John Heard is 56. Rock singer Peter Wolf is 56. Rock musician Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum) is 56. Singer Peggy March is 54. Football Hall-of-Famer Franco Harris is 52. Football Hall-of-Famer Lynn Swann is 50. Rhythm-and-blues singer-musician Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 50. Actor Bryan Cranston (“Malcolm in the Middle”) is 46. Tennis Hall-of-Famer Ivan Lendl is 42. Actor Bill Brochtrup (“NYPD Blue”) is 39. Singer-actress Taylor Dayne is 37. Rock musician Randy Guss (Toad the Wet Sprocket) is 35. Actress Rachel Weisz is 31. Rock singer Hugo Ferreira (Tantric) is 28.  

Actress Laura Prepon (“That 70’s Show”) is 22.

SAN FRANCISCO — Democrats from Santa Cruz and San Francisco are set to become the first openly gay men in the California Legislature, joining three uncloseted lesbians in pushing an agenda that includes giving same-sex couples the same protections as married straight people. 

But state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, a lesbian from Santa Monica, predicts hostility from some lawmakers “because there’s more prejudice toward gay men from straight, homophobic men than there is toward lesbians.” 

Former Santa Cruz Mayor John Laird ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat of Assemblyman Fred Keeley, D-Boulder Creek, who is being forced out by term limits. Laird will face Republican Chuck Carter, a Monterey real estate agent, this fall in what is considered a safe Democratic seat. 

In San Francisco, another openly gay man was expected to take an Assembly seat. 

The Democratic primary race was too close to call between city Supervisor Mark Leno and former board of supervisors president Harry Britt, both of whom are gay. They were seeking an Assembly seat being vacated by Carole Migden, a lesbian, in a safe Democratic district. 

There currently are four women in the Legislature who are public about being lesbians, though Migden will be pushed out by term limits. Leno or Britt will try to keep that seat gay. 

“When a gay person is at the table on the Assembly floor, the dynamic of debate changes immediately,” Leno said, “just by the fact of our presence.” 

Britt was appointed to Harvey Milk’s seat in 1979 after the city’s first gay supervisor was assassinated at City Hall. 

The incumbent lesbians have been pushing the gay agenda in Sacramento, but it hasn’t been easy. In 2001, Gov. Gray Davis signed a measure allowing domestic partners who register with the state to make medical decisions for their incapacitated partners, sue for wrongful death, adopt a partner’s child and will property to a partner. 

But the legislation falls short of recognizing same-sex unions that would allow couples to enjoy the same protections as married straight people. 

“It took me six years to get through a bill just to protect students against harassment at school, and it only barely passed,” said Kuehl, a Democrat and the first open lesbian elected to the Legislature. “It is so hostile and insulting, and it’s all from the Republicans, really.” 

The other two open lesbians currently in the Legislature are Assemblywomen Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, and Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego. 

Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, said the election of an openly gay man to the state Legislature could be negated if Republican Bill Simon wins the gubernatorial race, but still would be a concern to his group. 

“The rub is that the homosexual agenda thinks it’s the only agenda in town,” Sheldon said. He pointed out that Californians voted against a same-sex marriage initiative in the past and that gay politicians from San Francisco may be out of step with the rest of the state. 

“It’s San Francisco that needs to awaken that they are pushing against the will of the people,” Sheldon said. 

Although only two gay candidates have a shot at winning legislative seats in the general election in November, gay rights advocates were pleased that other such candidates were on the ballot Tuesday. 

Holli Thier was on the San Francisco ticket, and Gregory Pettis lost in the district covering Imperial County as well as the Riverside County cities of Blythe, Indio, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and Cathedral City. 

“I’m not used to having to be at so many places at once for gay candidates on Election Night,” said Jean Harris, executive director of the California Alliance for Pride and Equality. “If civil unions is passed in California, it’s going to sweep across the country. They’re interested in taking this role, and they really want to be a part of making history.” 

The Daily Planet inaccurately reported in its March 5 article, “City settles with UC for less than expected” that Councilmember Linda Maio made a motion to sue UC Berkeley over the Northeast Quadrant program. It was Councilmember Dona Spring who made the motion.

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Wednesday to require any pipeline that would carry natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to pass along a southern route through Alaska instead of an alternative route mainly through Canada. 

The proposal, part of a sweeping energy bill expected to be debated for at least a week, also would provide $10 billion in loan guarantees in an attempt to spur construction of the pipeline. 

Although lawmakers have called an Alaska natural gas pipeline key to meeting the nation’s energy needs, there has been no rush by industry to begin construction at current, relatively low, gas prices. 

One industry report concluded that the pipeline, which would cost $15 billion to $20 billion to build, was not economical. 

Still, the energy bill seeks to provide incentive for building the line. Alaska’s Republican Sens. Frank Murkowski and Ted Stevens wanted to make certain if it is built it takes the southern route through Alaska. A consortium has proposed taking the line under the Beaufort Sea and south across Canada through the Mackenzie Delta, contending that route is cheaper and would bring more Canadian gas into the lower 48 states. 

After a call from Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles, a Democrat, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle offered an amendment directing the southern route. Murkowski added provisions that would assure Alaska’s industry would have access to some of the gas should the line be built. 

The provision was approved 93-5. 

“If this gas goes east (along the northern route) Alaskans will never enjoy a single benefit,” said Stevens. “I told the industry that line will go east over my dead body, and I’m not quite ready to leave this world.” 

Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said the government needs to act to persuade industry to build the pipeline so that the vast gas reserves along the North Slope can be brought south. Energy experts predict U.S. demand for natural gas will grow 40 percent over the next two decades. 

The gas line, which would take seven years to build and produce tens of thousands of jobs, also has been used to counter those who argue that jobs are key in opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. 

In addition to the loan guarantees, Daschle also has proposed that the government provide tax credits on the Alaska gas if the price falls below a certain level. 

A number of Western GOP senators from gas-producing states have balked at such subsidies, arguing it would put gas producers in the lower 48 states at a disadvantage. The tax subsidies were expected to be taken up later when senators consider energy tax issues. 

Sen. Don Nickels, R-Okla., voted against restricting the route and said he also questioned the $10 billion in proposed loan guarantees.  

He said neither provision had been studied adequately. 

A House-passed energy bill has a similar provision requiring the southern route, which would take the line along the path of the existing oil pipeline, then along the Alaska Highway and into Canada, and finally into the lower 48 states. 

——— 

On the Net: 

North Slope page from Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory: 

http://www.inel.gov/energy/fossil/environ/northslope-util-study.shtm l 

SAN JOSE — A small plane with three people aboard spun out of control and crashed into a canyon Wednesday, landing upside down. 

Police said they did not have any information about the fate of the plane’s occupants. 

The Cessna 425 left Reid-Hillview airport around 10:20 a.m. and was heading for La Paz, Mexico, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus. 

Because of the rough terrain that surrounded the crash site, it took more than an hour for emergency rescue teams to reach the plane. The plane crashed around 10:35 a.m. in an unincorporated part of San Jose near Cinnabar Hills Golf Course, according to San Jose Police spokeswoman Jessica Mullen. 

Cinnabar employee Steve Dennis saw the crash, saying the plane “made two flat spins and then went straight down.” 

A KCBS traffic plane that flew above the wreckage saw smoke coming from the plane and no signs of survivors. 

RENO, Nev. — It was slow going over the Sierra Nevada range Wednesday as a wet Pacific storm brought heavy snow to the Lake Tahoe region. 

Chains were mandatory Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit and U.S. 50 over Echo Summit. 

Travel restrictions were also in place for most other trans-Sierra roadways, including the Mount Rose Highway southwest of Reno and State Routes 88 and 267 in California. 

Forecasters said the latest storm is the first in a series poised to move into the area in the coming week and follows two months of unseasonably dry, warm weather. 

A winter storm warning remained in effect through Thursday for the Lake Tahoe region, where forecasters predicted 2-3 feet of snow could fall at the higher elevations. 

A winter storm watch for Thursday was issued for the foothill areas above 5,000 feet. 

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Wednesday approved the proposed $22 billion merger of Hewlett-Packard Co. and Compaq Computer Corp., a deal that would be the biggest in high-tech history. 

Announcing the decision, the Federal Trade Commission said it voted to close its antitrust investigation of the proposed deal. The 5-0 commission vote requires no additional action from the companies to meet antitrust requirements. 

The merger still faces a tough shareholder vote, with Hewlett and Packard family interests opposing it. 

The FTC “conducted an extensive investigation of the merger’s effect on competition in markets for personal computers, servers and microprocessors, among other products,” the agency said. “The commission did not find reason to believe that the proposed transaction would impair competition in any relevant market.” 

HP Chairwoman and Chief Executive Carly Fiorina said the FTC decision “validates our conviction from the outset that the merger can only enhance competition throughout our markets.” 

“We are now focused on winning the shareowner vote,” she said. 

A Compaq spokesman did not immediately return calls seeking comment. 

HP shareholders are scheduled to vote on March 19 and Compaq shareholders are to vote the next day. 

HP, based in Palo Alto, Calif., and Compaq, based in Houston, believe merging will improve the economics of their struggling personal computer divisions and generate $2.5 billion in annual savings. The deal also would make them dominant in several growing technology markets, especially corporate computing and high-tech services. 

European and Canadian antitrust officials also have approved the merger. 

On Tuesday, Institutional Shareholder Services, an influential research firm based in Rockville, Md., said HP’s acquisition of Compaq could be an excellent long-term move despite its sizable risks. 

But Hewlett and Packard family interests oppose the merger. 

Walter Hewlett and other opponents worry that absorbing Compaq into HP would be a difficult and distracting process, and that Compaq would dramatically increase HP’s exposure to the slumping PC business at the expense of the profitable printing and digital imaging division. 

HP and Walter Hewlett have been locked for months in a bruising, political-style campaign for shareholder support, and it is expected to only intensify as the vote gets closer. 

In a statement Wednesday, Hewlett said, “We all know that regulators vociferously express concern when there is even a whiff of competitive advantage in a merger.” 

“We believe that HP stockholders should be concerned when competitors like Sun, Dell and IBM don’t object to a transaction that is supposed to add value to HP,” he said. 

More than 20 percent of HP shares, including those held by the Hewlett and Packard families, are lined up against the acquisition. 

——— 

On the Net: 

Pro-merger: http://www.votethehpway.com 

Anti-merger: http://www.votenohpcompaq.com 

Shares of ImClone Systems Inc. surged more than 23 percent Wednesday on news the biotech company has settled its public feud with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. over the handling of a $2 billion deal to co-market a highly touted experimental cancer drug. 

ImClone agreed Tuesday to accept less money and revise its profit-sharing agreement with the drug titan, which was also given management of a key committee assigned to shepherd the drug Erbitux through the regulatory process. 

ImClone agreed to accept $100 million less than the $800 million the drug titan owed the small New York-based biotechnology company to share Erbitux’s future profits once approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Bristol, also based in New York, agreed in September to pay $1 billion for a 19.9 percent stake in the company, plus a $200 million signing bonus. It also promised another $300 million when the FDA accepted the drug’s application and an additional $500 million once the agency approved it to treat colorectal cancer. 

Now, Bristol will pay ImClone $140 million once the new agreement is signed and another $60 million on the signing’s year anniversary. Bristol also agreed to pay the $500 million, but in two installments. 

ImClone also agreed to give Bristol 61 percent of North American Erbitux sales. 

“We are confident that we will now be able to move forward in our partnership with ImClone Systems for the development of Erbitux,” said Peter R. Dolan, chairman and chief executive officer, Bristol-Myers Squibb. 

A month ago, Bristol was threatening to walk away from the deal after ImClone was rocked by waves of bad news over its handling of the FDA application. On Dec. 28 the FDA deemed ImClone’s application incomplete and refused to even review it. 

The rejection was followed by at least two dozen class action suits filed by angry shareholders that accused ImClone of misleading them about the drug’s chances for FDA approval this year.  

Three separate federal investigations were launched and ImClone’s stock price tumbled from as high as $73.83 a share in December to as low as $14.87 a share last month. 

The companies announced the agreement after the close of the markets Tuesday. In trading Wednesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market, ImClone stock rose $4.81 to close at $28.63. Bristol shares rose $1.79, or 3.7 percent, to close at $50.22 on the New York Stock Exchange. 

Bristol has already written off $735 million of its ImClone investment. 

On Feb. 26, things began turning around for the estranged couple after they met with the FDA. After the meeting, ImClone said the FDA may allow it to use data from a European trial conducted by another marketing partner to support efforts to gain approval of its star drug. Investors had feared the FDA would require ImClone to begin a new trial for the drug that has received high praise from a number of doctors and patient advocates. 

Erbitux has been widely hailed as a major advance in the fight against cancer because it targets diseased cells while leaving healthy ones alone. Doctors believe it could be useful in fighting several types of cancer. 

Erbitux was given a priority review at the FDA, a fast track reserved for breakthrough therapies. 

“To have these issues resolved is great news for both companies and cancer patients,” said Jim McCamant, an analyst with Moors & Cabot. McCamant and other analysts estimate Erbitux could ring up more than $1 billion in annual sales a few years after it’s approved. 

“The key now is how quickly it will get approved,” McCamant said. 

Analysts said Erbitux’s launch probably would be delayed until 2004 if the European trial data is used. If another trial is required, Erbitux probably would not hit the market until at least 2005. 

Part of the revised agreement calls for Bristol senior vice president Andrew Bodnar to oversee a joint ImClone and Bristol team tasked with “implementing a single clinical and regulatory plan for Erbitux,” according to a joint statement. 

——— 

On the Net: 

ImClone: http://www.imclone.com 

Bristol: http://www.bms.com 

FDA: http://www.fda.gov 

SAN FRANCISCO — California power regulators again have delayed a vote on a pair of proposals that either would end electricity competition in the state or only allow businesses with deals already in place to continue buying from an energy seller other than their local utility. 

Should the state Public Utilities Commission choose to end competition — more than a year after lawmakers first ordered it to — it effectively would conclude the state’s flawed effort to deregulate its electricity markets. 

Lawmakers had predicted in 1996 that deregulation would encourage competition between traditional utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and energy sellers such as Commonwealth Energy and Enron Corp. 

Instead, a rate freeze kept utilities from collecting the full amount of soaring energy costs from customers, driving the state’s largest utility, PG&E, into bankruptcy. Rolling blackouts darkened the state, and Californians now pay among the highest electric rates in the country. 

When prices went up last summer, thousands of businesses flocked to buy cheaper electricity from utility competitors. As of October, more than 81,000 Californians — mostly large businesses — bought electricity from a competing seller, according to the PUC. 

Some, including the California State University system and the San Francisco Giants, have saved thousands, even millions of dollars, as a result. 

But the state bought enough energy to supply them as well. Many lawmakers and consumer advocates say those businesses must buy from the state’s pool of power to avoid foisting the entire cost onto residential and small business customers. 

PUC spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said Commissioner Carl Wood — who favors retroactively barring competition back to July 2001, voiding thousands of contracts in the process — delayed Wednesday’s scheduled vote until March 21 to analyze Commissioner Jeff Brown’s alternate proposal. 

Wood’s proposal would prevent current customers from renewing their contracts when they expire, which energy sellers say will drive them from California.  

Brown’s plan would allow current contracts to continue, but charge customers an “exit fee” to help the state pay its $10 billion power-buying debt. 

Backers of consumer choice have rallied behind Brown’s proposal, and said Wednesday they think Wood hopes to gain support from Michael R. Peevey, a former Southern California Edison president whom Gov. Gray Davis has appointed to the commission. 

Had the vote gone forward with GOP-appointed Commissioner Richard Bilas still present, a majority of the PUC appeared likely to support Brown’s proposal, which would let customers such as the University of California and McDonald’s continue buying electricity from utility competitors, said Dan Douglass, legal counsel for the Alliance for Retail Energy Markets. 

That flies in the face of lawmakers, who last February ordered state regulators to end consumer choice. California has spent billions buying electricity for the customers of PG&E and two other utilities, and lawmakers wanted to ensure all customers helped pay that debt. 

The PUC already has blocked businesses and residents from making any new energy buying arrangements after September 2001. 

Wednesday was the last meeting for outgoing Commissioner Bilas, a strong advocate of deregulation who is leaving the commission to care for his ailing wife and because of policy frustrations. 

He said the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 “profoundly affected him.” 

“It is with regret that I leave but I think there comes a time in every person’s life where you have to look around you and see what it is that you have,” Bilas said with tears in his eyes. 

“I walked around the house, looked at what I had, walked around my property saw how beautiful it was. Looked at my wife of 45 years and discovered how beautiful she was, is. And from that time on I was saying to myself daily, I’ve got to leave.” 

——— 

On the Net: 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov 

People have thrown rocks and yelled at her. They’ve tried poisoning her dogs. She even ended up renting a small house on a Castro Valley ranch without heat or running water because she couldn’t find another place that would allow pit bulls. 

And despite the trouble, Kristine Crawford will load her pit bull search-and-rescue dogs into her 4X4 truck at any hour to help find a missing person. Crawford owns three pit bulls trained in specialized search-and-rescue techniques such as cadaver and area search as well as trailing a specific scent. They are also trained to navigate boulders in the forest and rubble in the city, Crawford said.  

Crawford is a member of the California Search and Rescue Dog Association, a volunteer group of animal owners who are on call to help find missing persons anywhere in the state.  

Last month Crawford was called to Pacifica to help find an 85-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease. At 2 a.m. Crawford had searched for an hour when another dog team found the man 600-feet down a ravine. Because it was 40 degrees outside, Crawford does not believe he would have made it through the night.  

However, the negative stigma attached to pit bulls causes Crawford to have her share of unpleasant moments as well. Once Crawford was helping a search-and-rescue effort in the Sierra Nevadas when a sheriff’s deputy pulled a gun on Dakota, her primary search-and-rescue dog.  

“He said, ‘That’s a vicious dog. You need to put him back in the car.’ Then another deputy who had worked with me told him to holster his weapon and thank his lucky stars because Dakota is one damn good search dog,” she said.  

In fact, Crawford said the characteristics that give pit bulls their bad reputation also make them good search-and-rescue dogs.  

“Whatever they do, they do they do to the best of their ability,” she said.  

Pit bulls are extremely focused, very obedient, agile and social, Crawford said.  

Scott Delucchi, spokesperson for the Peninsula Humane Society, said pit bulls are definitely a working dog and they can also be aggressive with other dogs. However, he said with the increased media attention, there’s a misconception that dog bites are on the rise. 

“In San Mateo County, bites are down, but they’re being reported more,” Delucchi said.  

Delucchi also said much of pit bulls’ reputation depends on their owners. 

“Different types of people want to have pit bulls,” Delucchi said. “Sometimes they have a macho mentality and they want to have an aggressive dog,” 

Crawford, a 40-year-old pet store manager who moved to the Bay Area from Minnesota 10 years ago, may be tough, but she’s anything but macho. Crawford has been training pit bulls for six years, ever since she saved Cheyenne from being euthanized. Crawford was fighting a severe illness at the time and adopted Cheyenne to help lift her spirits. Cheyenne, now 6 years old, learned to retrieve items for Crawford when she was sick.  

Now that Crawford has recovered from her illness, she wants to give back to society.  

“I decided to do more in my life. [As showdogs] if they do good, they’ll get a blue ribbon or a trophy. But now if they do good, they’ll save someone’s life,” she said.  

Crawford adopted the 5-year-old Dakota when she was 6 weeks old and part of a dog-fighting ring. Since then, Dakota has become the star of her crew. Her third dog is Tahoe, a 14-month-old who is the youngest dog in the group. All have undergone the search and rescue two-year training.  

Even though the dogs usually sport their “rescue dog” vests in public, Crawford said people have gotten so angry at her for having the breed that they have thrown rocks at her and screamed. Once, she discovered that someone had sprinkled rat poison in her car. Another time, she was training with Dakota on a golf course when a golfer hit the dog over the head with a golf club.  

“He said, ‘All I saw was a pit bull,’ “ she said.  

Crawford is committed to breaking the stigma attached to their breed and often brings all three dogs to schools, hospitals and nursing homes. The visits to schools are also important, Crawford said, because it can help children understand what to do if attacked by any dog.  

Most importantly, she said anyone should not run because that may provoke the predatory instinct. If attacked, Crawford said it’s critical to cover the neck and head. She added that most dogs will respond to the command, “No.” 

Visits to nursing homes can also benefit patients because they often go days without visitors. To the lonely, Crawford said it doesn’t matter if the dogs have a bad reputation.  

“They may not say anything, but you see the smile and know you made a difference,” she said.  

On Thursday upwards of 72 health care workers of the West Oakland Health Council went on a one-day strike opposing a 3.5 percent wage increase offered them by corporate management and today many are still waiting to be allowed to go back to work. 

“It’s pretty clear they’re doing this because they’re angry,” said psychiatric case manager Martin Rosen. “They are refusing to allow us to go back to work and compromising patient care because they are punishing us for asserting our constitutional rights. They have let some people go back to work with less seniority, and they have threatened to put others on administrative leave — those of us who have been more obvious and out in the open with this are being punished.” 

The health care workers have requested a 7.5 percent pay increase and say that management has been unwilling to budge on the 3.5 percent offer. 

Robert Cooper, director of the West Oakland Health Council did not return phone calls Monday for a comment. But union representatives say the official position of the clinic is that this is not a lock-out but that management is claiming there is simply a shortage of work that needs to be done to its nine area clinics.  

A late afternoon meeting between the health care union shop steward Rozalyn Taylor and the Council’s management did not go very far in securing the jobs of the striking workers.  

“They said they would start to think about letting some of us back to work,” Taylor said.  

According to Rosen the reality of this means that health care workers will go into work tomorrow and will be made aware at some point in the day whether or not they will be allowed to remain. 

“They’re trying to use divide and conquer and trying to use intimidation,” Rosen said. “Our union representatives are ready to go back to the bargaining table, but we can’t accept this ridiculous 3.5 percent wage increase.” 

Health workers at the council receive some of the lowest wages in the Bay Area, according to Sandy Mitchell a license vocational nurse with the clinic at the 900 Adeline Dr. location.  

Mitchell will be going back to work tomorrow, but says the fate of many of her co-workers is still uncertain and she feels that management is acting directly out of spite due to the Thursday walkout. 

“The most important thing is the hypocrisy in all this,” Rosen said. “They say that they are concerned with protecting patients, and here they are refusing to allow us to go back to work. Patients are being neglected, I had to cancel several appointments today. And this is health care.”

Latte looters plague Chicago 

CHICAGO – Chicago police are on the lookout for a band of latte looters. 

Since January, thieves have walked into six Starbucks coffeehouses and made off with brand new espresso machines. The latest theft happened Tuesday, just after police visited the store to warn employees. 

A man who appeared to be about 30 walked in and said he was waiting for someone, said Cassandra Clay, a “barista” who prepares drinks at the coffee bar. 

A little later, Clay said she looked up and saw the man walk out the door and hop into a car without license plates. Clay then noticed the display model of the machine — marked down from $399 to $299 — was gone. 

Police say they believe more than one person is at work, and while it’s possible the bandits are simply fans of a good cup of java, police don’t think that’s the case. 

Ark. Rep. welcomes 14th kid  

SPRINGDALE, Ark. Another year, another mouth to feed. 

Senate hopeful Jim Bob Duggar and his wife are looking forward to their fourteenth child in as many years. 

The state Representative’s wife, Michelle, made the announcement that she’s expecting to her family during a “praise report” while they gathered for weekend worship at home. 

“I paused and everybody looked at me. Jim Bob turned around and his eyes got real big,” she said. 

Duggar, 36, and his wife, 35, gave each of their children names that begin with the letter “J.” The oldest is 14, and they’ve had two sets of twins. 

Duggar is seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tim Hutchinson, also a Republican.

Body advertising 

LAS VEGAS — Well-placed logos at boxing matches have moved a step closer to the action — right onto the boxers’ backs. 

A judge ruled that Nevada boxing authorities would be violating the right to free speech if they outlawed the use of temporary tattoos as advertisements. 

The Nevada Athletic Commission banned the ads in January, but online casino GoldenPalace.com went to court to get a temporary injunction that allowed super bantamweight boxer Bones Adams to wear the company’s Web site address on his back in a fight last month. 

District Judge Valerie Vega extended the injunction Wednesday. It will become permanent unless appealed by the Nevada commission. 

Middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins wore the first tattoo ad in his title unification bout against Felix Trinidad on Sept. 29 in New York. 

Are you a cop? 

CINCINNATI — A would-be robber learned an important lesson: You never know who might be a cop. 

Police Spec. Dennis Ficker wasn’t in uniform when a man approached from behind, stuck something sharp in his side and said, “Gimme your money!” Ficker told investigators. 

Ficker, a 30-year cop, couldn’t believe what he heard. He asked, “What?” 

The man repeated: “Gimme your money,” Ficker said. 

That’s when Ficker reached for his gun, and the man ran. 

Ficker said he chased David Joseph Moore for a couple of blocks until, knife still in hand, Moore got on the ground and gave up. 

As he was in pursuit, Ficker said it occurred to him that Moore fit the description of a suspect in a convenience store robbery a week earlier. He asked Moore, who allegedly admitted it. 

Will you marry me? 

FALKVILLE, Ala. — Town Council member Matt Stiles is known for speaking his mind. On Tuesday, he let his heart do the talking. 

After completing a department report, Stiles rose from his chair. “I’ve got something else, but I’ll have to be excused to take care of it,” he told Roy Coley, mayor of the north Alabama town of some 1,200 people. 

Stiles then walked over to a woman in the audience, dropped to one knee and popped the question to an obviously surprised Rene Smith. 

“Rene, you’ve brought a lot of love and joy and grace into my life,” Stiles said. “I would be honored if you would become my wife. Rene, would you marry me?” 

With a smile, she answered, “I will.” 

Stiles gave her a ring and two red roses, and the audience burst into applause. 

——— 

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police are on the lookout for a band of latte looters. 

Since January, thieves have walked into six Starbucks coffeehouses and made off with brand new espresso machines. The latest theft happened Tuesday, just after police visited the store to warn employees. 

A man who appeared to be about 30 walked in and said he was waiting for someone, said Cassandra Clay, a “barista” who prepares drinks at the coffee bar. 

A little later, Clay said she looked up and saw the man walk out the door and hop into a car without license plates. Clay then noticed the display model of the machine — marked down from $399 to $299 — was gone. 

Police say they believe more than one person is at work, and while it’s possible the bandits are simply fans of a good cup of java, police don’t think that’s the case. 

“It’s somebody who apparently wants to make some quick money,” said Francis Kehoe, commander of the city’s Belmont police district. 

——— 

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) — Another year, another mouth to feed. 

Senate hopeful Jim Bob Duggar and his wife are looking forward to their fourteenth child in as many years. 

The state Representative’s wife, Michelle, made the announcement that she’s expecting to her family during a “praise report” while they gathered for weekend worship at home. 

“I paused and everybody looked at me. Jim Bob turned around and his eyes got real big,” she said. 

Duggar, 36, and his wife, 35, gave each of their children names that begin with the letter “J.” The oldest is 14, and they’ve had two sets of twins. 

Duggar is seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tim Hutchinson, also a Republican. 

“We figure by November it will be a good election baby. We’ll win either way,” Michelle Duggar says. 

LOS ANGELES — A collection of writings attributed to Malcolm X has surfaced under mysterious circumstances and is scheduled for auction, despite protests from the late civil rights leader’s relatives, who claim ownership of the items. 

The potentially invaluable trove contains hundreds of photographs and documents spanning two decades, including handwritten speeches, a Quran Malcolm X owned, and four journals he kept during travels to Africa and the Middle East in 1964, the year before he was assassinated. 

The documents are “phenomenally valuable material,” said David Garrow, a civil rights historian at Emory University. “Compared to everything else that exists in terms of original Malcolm documents, the scope of this collection is maybe 25 times as great.” 

The journals, kept in small, spiral notebooks, are of particular importance because they cover the period when Malcolm X broke from the Nation of Islam and renounced racial separatism. 

“This is a major kind of transformative period in his life,” said Howard Dodson, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. “The trips to Mecca and to Africa were major factors in his rethinking many of his previous perspectives on issues of race, religion, of politics, of virtually everything.” 

Many believe the documents are authentic, but question the circumstances of their appearance. Catherine Williamson, director of fine books and manuscripts at Butterfields, said she could not reveal the owner, but noted it was not a family member. She said the documents were acquired by the owner at an auction held by a self-storage center. 

Joseph Fleming, an attorney who represents several of Malcolm X’s six daughters and the estate of his wife, Betty Shabazz, said he traced the sale of the documents to a Florida storage center, and is seeking to void the sale.  

He also intends to seek an injunction in California to prevent the March 20 auction by Butterfields and eBay, which owns Butterfields. 

Fleming said family members believed the documents and photographs were in their possession, and only learned otherwise when they got word of the auction. He said he has discovered how the documents ended up in the Florida storage center, but declined to give specifics or say where they were previously stored, citing the pending legal action. 

He said he planned to file court papers in Florida and California as early as Monday. 

“This is their property,” he said. “When you lose a father and a mother the way they’ve lost their father and mother, you cling to those things that represent the legacy of your family.” 

Shabazz died in 1997 of burns sustained in a fire set by her grandson. 

The materials have been separated into 21 lots, and Garrow and others said they were concerned the documents could be divided and purchased by private collectors who might not make them available to researchers. 

In response to those concerns, Butterfields said Thursday it will also offer the documents as a single unit. 

“It would be a travesty if it were in fact auctioned off piece by piece and scattered to the four corners of the world,” Dodson said. “Once documents of this kind are in private hands you don’t even know where they are (and) for scholars to access them becomes a virtual impossibility.” 

Williamson said scholars’ concerns are unfounded. “I think that’s almost like a paranoid fear that if it’s sold to a private collector it will never surface again,” she said. 

Williamson said she initially divided the documents into separate groups because she believed it would make them more affordable, allowing more groups to participate in the auction. 

“If you put something out there with a really huge price tag there might just be a handful of people who can participate,” she said. “It was always my intention to market this collection to scholars and institutions.” 

Dodson said the Schomburg Center, one of the New York Public Library’s research libraries, is trying to raise funds to purchase all of the documents. 

Dodson and Garrow said many scholars support that effort. 

“I don’t think anybody in the scholarly community would want to see a bidding war that would simply result in unjust enrichment of whoever is selling these things,” Garrow said. “Everybody in the scholarly community would be happiest if the entire set of documents were to go to the Schomburg Center.” 

The materials were previewed for the media Thursday at Butterfields in Los Angeles, and will be available for public viewing there this weekend. They will be previewed at Butterfields in San Francisco next weekend, then are scheduled to be auctioned in San Francisco and on the Internet. 

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Eds: Minority Affairs Writer Deborah Kong contributed to this report. 

Smoking the good book 

MEDFORD, Ore. — Some prisoners at the Jackson County Jail haven’t exactly found religion in the Bible. 

They’ve discovered that pages ripped from the Bible make excellent rolling paper for smoking tobacco products and anything else they can get their hands on, jail officials said. 

Homemade cigarettes and tobacco are the most common form of contraband that correctional deputies find. But sauerkraut, lettuce leaves, coffee grounds and orange peels have also been smuggled out of the cafeteria, dried and substituted for tobacco. 

“It’s much more of a problem than drugs, although they still try that, too,” said jail Sgt. Dan Penland. “They do everything they can to find something to smoke.” 

The screening process for inmates’ mail has reduced the amount of contraband smuggled in over the years but the inmates can be creative. 

Holding it to catch ‘em in the act 

HERMOSA BEACH — To catch an alleged quarter thief at his coin-operated laundry, the owner of Espresso Wash staked out his business for hours, hardly eating or drinking so he wouldn’t have to go to the bathroom. And the plan paid off. 

Peter Buccoleri, a retired policeman, sat on a stool in a cramped space by a water heater for 14 hours last Thursday peering at his change machine and waiting to nab the alleged thief. 

Buccoleri said on Tuesday he saw a man slip a $20 bill into the change machine, then yank it back while the quarters poured out. 

“I snuck out and I told him, ’You are under arrest. Get your hands up against that wall,”’ Buccoleri recalled. 

“He said, ’I’ll give you your money back. I’ll give you your money back.”’ 

Police identified the alleged thief as XXX, a transient from Bulgaria. 

He was booked for investigation of burglary, and officers said they found about $325 worth of quarters in his car. 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Police have recovered 15 tons of microwaveable popcorn, worth $50,000, that was stacked from floor to ceiling in a two-car garage. 

The 1,920 cases of popcorn were stolen a month ago along with an unmarked trailer from ConAgra Foods, the plant in Marion, Ohio, where it was produced, company officials said. 

James Conway Jr., 48, and his daughter, Jennifer, 22, both of Columbus, each were charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property. They were scheduled to appear Wednesday in Franklin County Municipal Court. 

ConAgra sent a tractor-trailer Tuesday to pick up the popcorn. The original white trailer is still missing, plant manager Tony Jones said. 

Police said they found the food while searching Jennifer Conway’s home because the elder Conway’s son has been charged in the Jan. 19 shooting death of an Ohio State University student. 

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BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — Diane McCarthy has discovered how much it pays to clean up debris from her back yard. 

McCarthy found a box containing $1,300 stolen two weeks earlier from a Colchester High School hockey game. 

The Colchester High School Hockey Boosters had reported the theft to police, believing that the money was gone forever, Booster member Cheryl King said. 

McCarthy turned the treasure over to Burlington police, who returned the cash to the Booster club. 

“To get $1,300 back is absolutely amazing,” King said Monday. “It’s nice to know that there are some pretty honest people in the world.” 

King was working the Saturday night game Feb. 16 when a teen-ager approached the door, she said. The cashier told the boy it would cost $3 to get in to the game, King said. The boy grabbed the cash box and fled, according to police. 

When McCarthy first saw the gray metal box, it looked like cardboard, she said. Then she moved closer. 

“I saw it was more like a cash box, and I could hear some change, some coins, in there, and opened it up,” she said. “I was like, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of money in here; I better call somebody.”’ 

Police have not arrested anyone for the theft.