Berkeley fault lines—literal and legal—dominated long hours of argument Tuesday during an intense hearing in Judge Barbara J. Miller’s crowded Hayward courtroom. 

At the end of the day, the Alameda County Superior Court jurist announced she would issue a ruling by Monday afternoon on a case that has brought nationwide attention to the tree-sitters nested in the branches west of UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium. 

Tuesday’s arguments pitted a world-renowned university intent on developing a massive complex of new buildings near a beloved campus landmark against a city worried about seismic calamities and increased demands on an overburdened infrastructure, neighbors worried about safety and congestion, and environmentalists out to save a grove of threatened trees. 

For the university, the main issues are costly construction delays and the need to clear-cut the grove and excavate a construction site before the onset of football season. 

Vice Chancellor Ed Denton, the university’s development boss, sat quietly in the audience, scowling once at a reporter who aimed a camera in his direction. Seated across the courtroom from him were Berkeley’s top two city lawyers, City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque and deputy Zach Cowan. 

Two strands of legal argument dominated the discussion—allegations that the university had violated key provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act and allegations that Denton’s projects violated—or potentially violated—the Alquist-Priolo Act, which governs construction near active earthquake faults. 

What the plaintiffs seek is a ruling by Miller holding that the evidence of potential violations they offered is strong enough to justify a preliminary injunction blocking further work at the grove until she can hold a full hearing and issue a definitive ruling. 

Charles Olson, a private attorney representing the regents, countered with claims that the university is fully in compliance with both laws, and that a delay would cost the university $20,000 a day—a figure based in part on construction cost inflation. 

Substantial delays now could postpone construction because excavations must be completed before football season and the onset of winter rains, he told the court, with a year’s delay likely to cost between $8 million and $10 million. 

Three lawyers presented the opposition case: Harriet Steiner of Sacramento for the city, Michael Lozeau of Alameda for the Panoramic Hill Association, and Stephan Volker for the California Oaks Foundation. Olson responded to each in turn. 

All of the plaintiffs urged the delay of the first stage of construction—taking the ax to a grove that includes 38 California live oaks, a protected tree inside city limits but not on campus. Five of the oaks are currently occupied by tree-sitters, as is a doomed California redwood currently inhabited by defeated mayoral candidate Zachary Running Wolf. 

The high-profile arboreal activists have drawn the ire of university officials and sometimes heavy-handed surveillance by campus police along with the attentions of reporters and the lenses of media photographers from coast to coast. 

One protester was in court Tuesday, and recognized by the judge during an exchange with Harriet Steiner, the Sacramento attorney hired by the City of Berkeley to plead its case. 

At issue was a key point raised by the plaintiff’s attorney—whether or not University of California Regents acted legally when they delegated the decision to approve an environmental impact report to a subcommittee. 

When Miller asked when the regents opted for a delegation policy, Steiner answer, “The grove has been in existence way longer.” 

“And longer than Shirley Dean and those other two ladies,” replied the judge. 

Dean, a 71-year-old former mayor, had joined 86-year-old City Councilmember Betty Olds and 90-year-old environmentalist Sylvia McLaughlin for a brief tree sit-in Monday, an event heavily covered by Bay Area media and the New York Times, which featured pictures on the day of the hearing. 

Sitting in the audience Tuesday, Dean beamed at the judge’s recognition. 

But there were few light moments during Tuesday’s session, which featured a courtroom-spanning table jammed with seven lawyers and a welter of papers, files and binders. 

Steiner said the city wants a court order revoking the environmental impact report (EIR) approved by the regents’ Committee on Grounds and Buildings Dec. 5. 

That document gave regents the power to undertake seven projects, starting with the 186,000-square-foot, $125 million gym—the Barclay Simpson Student Athlete High Performance Center—at the protest site. 

Other projects include a common office and meeting “connection” building for the faculties of the university’s schools of law and business, a 912-space multi-level underground parking lot, and a major retrofit and vertical expansion of Memorial Stadium, recognized as a landmark by the city and state and listed on the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. 

The stadium sits directly astride the Hayward Fault, rated by federal geologists as the most likely site of the next major Bay Area quake, and state and federal geologists have urged more testing at the gym site.  

The plaintiffs argued that no EIR should have been approved before the sites were cleared of Alquist-Priolo questions, and questioned building an expensive gym near a stadium which the university might not even be able to bring up to seismic code. The parking lot site directly north of the gym has also yet to be cleared. 

That issue—strongly contested in Tuesday’s arguments—could trigger a decisive appellate ruling defining just what can and can’t be done to upgrade old buildings on active faults. 

Alquist-Priolo limits improvements or additions to structures on fault lines to 50 percent of the structure’s value. But the question Miller must answer is just what “value” means in the context of the law. 

While the university claims the term means replacement value at current construction costs, the plaintiffs charge that the value means the worth of the existing structure including all its faults and defects—which both sides acknowledge to be extensive. 

Because no California court has decided the issue, whichever way the judge rules is likely to trigger an appeal and a decision that could greatly impact the future of construction in the country’s most fault-ridden state.  

Since the new gym was one of the hiring demands of winning Cal Bears football coach Jeff Tedford along with costly stadium alterations that go well beyond simple seismic upgrades, the issue carries significant implications for a university that depends increasingly on the largess of alumni and corporate donors. 

The preliminary plans call for major renovations within the coliseum’s interior and the addition of a new ranks of seats above the existing east rim and an elevated structure housing luxury skyboxes—a lucrative source of big-dollar donations—to be built above an elevated press box on the western rim. 

Just how much work is feasible depends of the definition of value, the crucial legal issue. 

Another issue involves the decision by regents in November to approve funding for the gym before reaching a decision on adoption of the controversial EIR, then to delegate the final decision on the environmental document to the board’s Committee on Grounds and Buildings. 

Michael Lozeau, representing Panoramic Hill, challenged the resulting approval because the adoption was made by a vote of seven regents, a total less than a quorum of the full board. 

“This was an illegal delegation under CEQA,” he said, making a point that seemed to draw great interest from the judge. 

Olson replied that that regents had delegated similar decisions in the past, including a vote to grant the Berkeley chancellor the right to decide on the Foothill Bridge. 

The university has been cagey about details of stadium plans since they were first unveiled by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau in November 2005. At the time, Birgeneau professed ignorance of the reasons for the uppermost western level of additions, later revealed by an athletic department representative to be the premium donor boxes. 

University staff also showed deceptively bucolic renderings to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission early in the following year which showed none of the additions above the western wall, an omission noted by commissioners. 

During testimony before the regents, Denton said construction at the stadium was critical to win the support of graduates who had fond memories of Big Games past and other events at the stadium. 

All of the funding for the stadium area projects will come from private donors, Olson said Tuesday, because all state construction moneys are already committed to seismic retrofits of existing buildings on the campus.  

Berkeley City Attorney Albuquerque was upbeat after the hearing ended shortly before 5 p.m. 

“Judge Miller has a tremendous command of the case,” she said, “and I was very pleased with the quality of her questions.” 

“It was almost as interesting as yesterday,” said Shirley Dean, referring to her high-profile fling at tree-sitting.

Neighbors of Alta Bates Medical Center denounced what they said was an effort on the part of the hospital on Wednesday to influence the results of a required parking and traffic survey by lowering the number of employees parking in the neighborhood on the days of the survey. 

Alta Bates is required, under a zoning permit from the city, to do a parking and traffic survey every January.  

The purpose is to make sure that the hospital maintains the parking limit allowed by the permit. If too many employees park in the neighborhood, the hospital is required to take additional measures, such as moving some facilities and employees to other locations. 

Area residents told the Planet on Wednesday that they had spotted Alta Bates employees leaving flyers on cars informing hospital staff about the survey—which was scheduled to be held on Wednesday and Thursday—and telling them not to park in the neighborhood. 

“This is clear manipulation of the data,” said Peter Shelton, a resident of Prince Street. “To take special steps on the day of the survey is uncalled for. The whole point of the survey is to see if there is a parking problem in the area. Tampering with the data will leave the survey with no validity.” 

Neighbors were surprised to see the abundant parking available on Wednesday morning. 

A car parked on Prince Street, about a block from the hospital, had a flyer on its window on Wednesday which read: 

“Attention All Employees: There will be a parking survey at the Alta Bates Campus on Jan 22–Jan 26. We encourage all employees to please utilize the shuttle services during this time. The Shuttles transport between campuses, and the BART stations. Thank you for your cooperation and have a nice day!” 

Prince Street resident Saskia Dennis-van Dijl said Alta Bates had promised to encourage its employees to park away from local streets for months, but never did until the day of the traffic survey. 

“Lo and behold, this morning at 8:30 a.m. every spot on the two blocks on Prince between Regent and Bateman was available,” Dennis-van Dijl wrote in an e-mail to the Planet on Wednesday. “I have lived in this house for almost ten years—never has there been this much parking at this time of the day.” 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington, whose district the neighborhood is in, called the act ethically questionable. 

“It’s quite disturbing to see that Alta Bates is trying to game the system,” he said. “I am concerned that they are trying to trick people by artificially inflating the numbers. It’s no use pretending that a parking problem does not exist when in fact it clearly does. It’ll definitely be better if they re-do the study.” 

Worthington added that since Alta Bates had exceeded the parking range in 2006 it made sense that they were trying to artificially lower the numbers during the current study. 

“But this will not solve the problem,” he said. “Alta Bates needs to provide free public transport to their employees just like the City of Berkeley does to its employees. Public transit can cost a lot of money.” 

Alta Bates has a garage in Oakland and surface parking on Shattuck Avenue from which employees can take shuttles to work. The garage located at the hospital charges $14 per day for parking. 

Deborah Pitts-Cameron, manager of public affairs for Alta Bates, called the situation unfortunate and said that the medical center will pay for an additional unannounced parking survey at a future date to gather more data. 

“Alta Bates said that the flyers had been left on the cars inadvertently,” said Aviva Laurenti, supervisor for Fehr & Peers, the traffic monitoring firm who carried out the survey. 

In an email to the Alta Bates campus neighbors, Pitts-Cameron thanked them for bringing the action of placing flyers on cars in the neighborhood to her attention. 

“I must apologize for the angst this has created. I was not aware of the flyer verbiage that could certainly be perceived as an attempt on the medical center’s part to manipulate the data,” she wrote. 

PItts-Cameron told the Planet that the action wasn’t an effort on the part of the hospital to influence the data. 

“We have been trying over the past two years to lessen the traffic impact on the campus, including moving services, increasing shuttle usage, working with the city to increase parking enforcement, supplementing that enforcement with our own security, increased transit subsidies and carpool incentives,” she said. 

“It’s kind of unfortunate that we made some hurry-up efforts to lessen the traffic which has raised concerns,” Pitts-Cameron added. “The truth is that all Alta Bates campus employees are always informed of the survey dates. As part of the required traffic monitoring process, each employee receives a written survey at home a few days prior to the survey asking them to note their mode of travel and parking habits. Therefore, the dates on the flyer would not be new information to employees. But we want to make sure that the data is not compromised in any way and will be redoing the survey.” 

The parking and traffic survey that was carried out this week, which will now be redone, cost Alta Bates $70,000.

It’s official. The Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (LPO) is headed back to the ballot box. 

Austene Hall, co-chair of the drive to force a voter decision on the revised LPO adopted by the City Council Dec. 12, received the official notice Wednesday afternoon in an email from Berkeley City Clerk Pamyla Means. 

“The random sample signature verification found that the petitions contain 120 percent of the number of signatures needed to qualify (4,073),” Means wrote. “The petition results will be submitted to the City Council on February 13.” 

“I think it’s great, and I’m very excited,” said Austene Hall, co-chair of the signature drive that began the same day as the final council vote on the new LPO championed by Mayor Tom Bates and Councilmember Laurie Capitelli. 

“Well, you know, we’ve been through it before and we’ll go through it again,” said Capitelli. That’s the democratic process and you’ve got to love it.” 

Certification of the signatures by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters blocks enforcement of the new LPO until city voters can cast yes or no votes during the next citywide election. 

Bates has rejected a special election on the issue, which means the vote could come during the June 2008, primary election or earlier if a special election is called on another issue. Capitelli agreed. “That’s just too much cost at this point,” he said. 

The new law had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 12, but was blocked when volunteers handed in petitions bearing 5,947 signatures. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters then had 30 days to conduct a random sample of three percent of the signatures to determine their validity. The referendum passed with flying colors. 

Wednesday’s announcement came 78 days after Berkeley voters defeated Measure J, an initiative launched after the council’s first vote in July to adopt a new LPO. 

In the Nov. 7 election—conducted after an expensive campaign by initiative foes bankrolled by Business for Better Government, the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce’s Political Action Committee—voters defeated Measure J by a 57-43 percent margin. 

Darrel de Tienne, the San Francisco-based developer’s representative whose clients contributed much of the anti-J funds, said he and his developers will be back in the fray when the initiative comes back for a vote. 

“I don’t think there’s much more to be said,” he said. 

Laurie Bright, co-chair of the Measure J committee, hailed the announcement of the referendum signature drive Thursday morning. “It’s their move now,” he said, referring to the council majority that adopted the threatened LPO. 

“That was pretty good news to wake up to,” he said of Means’ announcement. “The volunteers were everything. They worked their hearts out.” 

In addition to rallying support after a setback at the ballot box, referendum supporters also had to contend with gathering signatures over the winter holidays, an interval when many residents are either out of town or preoccupied with family matters. 

“We’re all happy campers today,” Bright said, “and if we could also get the university to back off the trees, it would be a really good week.” 

Bright was referring to the ongoing battle between UC Berkeley and environmental and neighborhood activists, joined by the city, over the fate of a grove of California live oaks and other trees along the western wall of Memorial Stadium, which the university plans to ax to make room for a $125 million gym complex. 

Hall said one encouraging sign for the upcoming election came from the Berkeley Hills, where signature gatherers found strong support for the referendum in the area where the vote against Measure J was the highest. 

“People are becoming more and more aware of the importance to their neighborhoods and the community of these architectural gems that are found both in the hills and in the flats,” she said. 

Hall said she would meet with referendum supporters in the near future to begin laying the groundwork for the electoral battle ahead. 

Critics of the mayor’s ordinance are particularly concerned with a “safe harbor” provision that gives owners and developers a two-year window of exemption from preservation efforts if the Landmarks Preservation Commission fails to act on a new legal mechanism called a Request for Determination, or RFD. 

Developers and the council majority said the provision is necessary to stop landmarking efforts launched less to save old buildings than to block new projects. 

Meanwhile, the stalled LPO passed by the council is undergoing a second challenge, this one in the courtroom. A coalition of neighborhood activists that includes Daily Planet arts and calendar editor Anne Wagley has filed a suit alleging the council acted illegally in adopting the ordinance without first preparing an environmental impact report. 

The city contends an environmental initial study adopted on the July reading of the Bates/Capitelli ordinance was sufficient.

The Peralta Community College District’s conversion to running district operations through an information management system purchased from the former PeopleSoft company was hastily managed at the beginning, is two years behind its initial projected completion, and is costing the district millions of dollars in unanticipated consultant fees, according to a report given last week by the district’s information technology office to Peralta trustees. 

Told by Peralta Chief Information Officer Gary Perkins at last week’s trustee meeting that the district’s technology department may need to increase its staff from 22 to 35 in the near future—including six additional staff members specifically earmarked for the PeopleSoft work—trustee Nicky Gonzalez Yuen said that “we have to remember that we are primarily an educational institution; we’re not in the business of technology. Should we stop [the conversion] now and say, this is enough?” 

Yuen estimated that the conversion cost “started at $5 million in 2004 and eventually went up to $11.5 million, and now we’re talking about a total cost of $16 million, plus proposed increases in staffing of a million dollars a year. I’m just trying to get over the sticker shock,” 

But Peralta Chancellor Elihu Harris told trustees that there was no choice but to complete the conversion as planned.  

“I think we’ve already jumped off the cliff on this one,” Harris said during a prolonged debate over the future direction of the district’s IT department. “That decision was made a number of years ago, and turning back is no longer an option. If the board thinks we have another choice, I’ll leave it to your wisdom. But though we’ve made some mistakes, I believe we have to move forward.” 

Trustee Linda Handy, chair of the trustee board’s IT Committee, agreed, even though she has been a longtime board critic of the way the PeopleSoft conversion has been going. “Handy said. “Much of the problem happened under the present trustee board during the last two years,” Handy said. “I kept coming back to the board and saying there was a problem, but it was ignored. This train has left the station, Controlling the stops we are going to make along the way and controlling the costs are the only options we now have.” 

And trustee Bill Riley said that the district was understaffed in its information technology department and “this is just a cost we are going to have to pay in order to continue in the field of high tech.” 

According to Perkins and Harris, the district now has six to seven weeks to decide whether to hire additional district staff to implement the conversion process and operate the new system, pay an outside company to provide consultant services for a district-operated system, or remove the system from the district entirely, paying hosting fees for hardware and software maintained offsite by an outside company. Harris said that district administration was researching the options, and would provide the board with detailed financial information on each option within a few weeks. 

Because the PeopleSoft conversion process is still ongoing, some of the money for the proposed possible new staff dedicated to putting the system in place can come out of existing Measure E bond money. But according to district officials, any portion of the actual cost of running the new computerized management system, once it is fully in place, must come out of Peralta’s regular operating budget, 

The PeopleSoft conversion initially began with high hopes. 

In the spring of 2005, the Peralta public affairs office reported optimistically on the conversion, stating in a press release that “the Peralta Colleges are abuzz with the energy generated by the District’s conversion from the old (and often revered) legacy system to the new PeopleSoft software, known as PROMT for Peralta Real-Time Online Management Technologies.” 

In June of that year, the Daily Planet reported that the conversion was on schedule, noting that “the finance, human resources, and payroll portions of that conversion are scheduled to ‘go live on July 5,’ according to Peralta Chief Information Officer Andy DiGirolamo. The PeopleSoft system is scheduled for full implementation by October of 2006.” 

DiGirolamo has since left his position with the district and Perkins, his replacement, now says that “July, 2008 is the target” for completion. 

In September of 2005, the Planet reported problems with the conversion in a story headlined “PeopleSoft Payroll Glitch Alarms Peralta Trustees,” noting that “in its end-of-August payroll, some Peralta workers were paid twice and some were not paid at all. In addition, a district union official said that some portion of the payroll deduction component did not work, with money deducted from some workers’ salaries but not transferred to the accounts needed to be paid.” 

And in his report to the board last week, Perkins said that the PeopleSoft problems began in its initial selection and implementation phases, noting in a bullet-list of issues that there was “fast implementation with no design specifications,” and that the software was designed with a “lack of review of Peralta policies.”  

During the initial phase of adapting the PeopleSoft software package to the Peralta system, Perkins said that district staff was directed to go to the PeopleSoft “solution center” operating out of Pleasanton in order to voice concerns about how the system would be implemented. “Many people were frustrated with that process,” he said. “They were told that ‘this is the vanilla program you chose to buy,’ and they didn’t pay attention to how Peralta did business. Six months later, they were implementing the first part of the system on-line, in real-time, with no parallel testing to see how and if it would work. It was a very fast implementation.” In the meantime, Perkins said that PeopleSoft brought “a lot of consultants on board who didn’t know what they were doing. They were operating without a plan.”  

Perkins said that the situation got even worse following the initial implementation, and the purchase of PeopleSoft by the Oracle company. He said that left Peralta “without any support” from Oracle. 

Handy said that Peralta had specifically turned down Oracle for the contract, and that when she told Harris by telephone about the purchase of PeopleSoft by Oracle, he answered “Oh my God!” 

Perkins now says that his office will be spending this year “stabilizing the Human Resources and Finance portions of the PeopleSoft system,” as well as bringing the Student Administration online. With the Student Administration system scheduled to handle student registration online, Perkins called it “our bread and butter. It’s our dollars coming it. It cannot fail.” 

A massive dog with bared fangs stands atop the blindfolded half-naked man lying face down on the jail-cell floor; an unclothed hooded man is hoisted upside down by the rope tightly tied around his left ankle; a prison guard with large army boots beats and kicks a bound prisoner. 

These images of Abu Ghraib are among the 47 paintings and sketches by celebrated Colombia-born artist Fernando Botero, 74, to be exhibited in the Doe Library on the UC Berkeley Campus Jan. 29 to March 25. The exhibit, which Botero will open Monday at 6 p.m. at 190 Doe Library, is sponsored jointly by The Center for Latin American Studies, Boalt Hall Law School and the Doe Library. 

“While the photos [of Abu Ghraib] are shocking and disturbing, the paintings add a profoundly different dimension. It’s like visiting the issues for the first time,” said Center for Latin American Studies Chair Harley Shaiken in an interview with the Daily Planet. 

The purpose of bringing the exhibit to the university is to present the artwork as a basis for discussion and analysis, he said. 

The paintings were first shown in Rome last year, then in Germany and Greece. The only exhibit in the United States ran for a month in the fall at the Marlborough Gallery in Manhattan.  

While Bolero’s work is exhibited in a number of U.S. galleries, the artist has found it difficult to find venues for his Abu Ghraib series in the U.S., which is where, as he told the Independent of London, he wanted the paintings displayed most of all. 

“The matter concerns that country above all,” he said. 

Asked why the San Francisco Museum for Modern Art did not host the exhibition, an SFMOMA spokesperson said it was not asked.  

Shaiken, however, did not wait to be asked. Having read reviews of the New York exhibition, he solicited the exhibit. 

The paintings are controversial, he acknowledged. Some people might believe “viewing the exhibit is unpatriotic,” he said. “But it’s more patriotic to engage the ideas and debate the differences. That’s the cornerstone of a democratic society.”  

Botero is not known for political paintings, at least not until recently. For 50 years, his work was of pastoral scenes featuring ordinary people. However, between 1999 and 2004, Botero created a series of paintings of Colombia’s long-lasting internal war.  

“He had decided he could not stay silent over a conflict he called absurd,” said Juan Forero, writing in the May 7, 2005 New York Times. 

Reuters reported that it was on an airplane trip that Botero, reading about the torture at Abu Ghraib, asked a stewardess for paper, so he could sketch.  

“The rage I felt at that moment made me take a decision,” he told Reuters. “The day the newspapers stop writing about [Abu Ghraib] and people stop talking about it, this art could serve as a permanent witness to a great crime that was committed.” 

Botero told the Colombian magazine Diners: “This conduct by the Americans was a total shock for me.”  

The exhibit is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in room 190 Doe Library. 

A number of events associated with the exhibit are planned: 

• A conversation between Robert Haas, U.S. poet laureate 1995-1997, and Botero, Jan. 29, 4 p.m., Chevron Auditorium, International House. The event is free, with one ticket per person distributed at 3 p.m. at International House; 

• A panel on “Art and Violence,” Jan. 31, 4 p.m., Morrison Library, Doe Library; 

• A panel on “Torture, Human Rights and Terrorism,” 4 p.m., March 7, Boalt Hall School of Law. 

Imaage: Fernando Botero’s “Abu Ghraib 72” (2005), oil on canvas, is one of the paintings in the UC Berkeley exhibit.

The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce political action arm spent $100,000 in a much-publicized attempt to influence local November elections and to direct the path of economic development in the city. 

But by filing campaign finance reports with the county rather than the city, the PAC may have made an end-run around a 2004 election law that attempts to limit—albeit to a small degree—campaign spending and to publicize that spending. 

The local law limits donors to $250 contributions, although there is no cap on spending and no limit on personal contributions. It prohibits corporate donations. 

“Local government should serve the needs and respond to the wishes of all citizens equally, without regard to their wealth,” the law says.  

Questions linger about whether the Chamber Political Action Committee—whose formal name is Business for Better Government, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce—has skirted the spirit and perhaps the letter of the law: 

• Why does a committee that endorses uniquely local candidates and issues file its campaign finance statements in the county offices rather than the city? 

• What relationship does the Chamber of Commerce have to its political arm? Is it independent of the PAC, as both the Chamber’s chair and executive director assert? 

• Who are the PAC’s board of directors? 

Filing with the county 

The PAC files its campaign finance statements with the Alameda County Registrar of Voters, rather than with the Berkeley City Clerk.  

In 1998 the chamber PAC was formed as a city committee, with the Chamber’s Chief Operating Officer Rachel Rupert as treasurer. In 2001, Mari E. Lee wrote then-City Clerk Sherry Kelly that she had become the new treasurer:  

“I am writing to inform you that owing to an expanded committee agenda, I have filed an amended [campaign reporting form] 410 with the Secretary of State designating this committee as a COUNTY committee….PLEASE CHANGE YOUR RECORDS TO REFLECT THE FACT THAT THIS COMMITTEE WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY REGULAR FILING OBLIGATIONS WITH THE CITY OF BERKELEY.” (Capitals are in the original text.) 

Normally, a committee must file its statements with the city if it endorses local candidates and issues, according to Chamber PAC Treasurer Stacy Owens, speaking in an interview during the pre-election season. 

The Daily Planet reviewed the Chamber PAC’s filings with the county for the last five years—the only filings the county retains. They show that the Chamber PAC spent money uniquely on local races. Contributions were made to the Berkeley Democratic Club ($1,500 in 2002), Coalition for a Livable Berkeley-No on P ($11,000 in 2002), Committee for Fair Representation ($1,557.32 in 2002) and No on O ($1,245 in 2004). 

This year the money was spent unsuccessfully attempting to defeat Councilmembers Dona Spring and Kriss Worthington and on the winning campaigns to defeat Measure J, the landmarks ballot measure, and to support Mayor Tom Bates. 

Chamber PAC president Miriam Ng said on Wednesday that she thought the PAC filed its campaign statements with the city, but referred the Daily Planet to treasurer Owens, who did not return calls before deadline. (The Chamber PAC did a limited filing in Berkeley of November contributions. Owens explained at the time that the PAC was only obligated to file locally when it spends funds. The bulk of the fundraising—$61,000—was done earlier and reported only to the county.)  

There are at least two consequences of the Chamber PAC’s filing with the county rather than the city. 

One is that the city is very efficient in posting on its website every contribution that is filed—this gives the public the opportunity to know who is supporting whom. The county only posts campaign finance reports filed electronically—so if an organization does not want its campaign contributions posted on the web, it need only make a paper filing. 

The election law also requires the city to publish campaign donations in a local newspaper. The 2004 law includes an explanation for this exposure: “The influence of large campaign contributors is increased because existing laws for disclosure of campaign receipts and expenditures have proved to be inadequate.” 

Secondly, Berkeley’s campaign laws prohibit an individual from giving more than $250 to any candidate. That means that a donor can give a council candidate’s own campaign organization $150, but is then limited to giving only $100 more to a political action group filing under Berkeley law and supporting that same candidate. 

On the other hand, as happened in the November election, developer Patrick Kennedy was allowed to give the maximum, a $250 contribution, to Tom Bates for his campaign fund, which reported in Berkeley, but was also allowed to give $5,000 to the Chamber PAC, filing with Alameda County. That PAC in turn could have given all or a part of that $5,000 to Bates—but the public will never know whether they did or how much money was involved if so. 

Who is the PAC? 

During his re-election campaign, Worthington, targeted by the Chamber PAC for defeat, repeatedly asked for the names of the PAC board members, but was unable to get a response. 

During the 2006 election campaign, Chamber of Commerce Chair Roland Peterson wrote a letter dated Nov. 1 distancing the Chamber from the PAC, claiming that the PAC board is distinct from the Chamber board. He did not, however, say who the members of the PAC board are. The Chamber Board of Directors’ names are posted on the Chamber web site. 

“It is important to realize that the Chamber of Commerce is separate and distinct from the Business for Better Government PAC. They have separate boards and leadership. There is only a casual affiliation among the two, such as a shared address,” Peterson wrote. 

Last week, in response to a public query by Worthington and Spring at a City Council meeting, Chamber PAC President Ng sent a letter to councilmembers and to the Daily Planet naming the three PAC officers as herself as preident, Milton von Damm as secretary and Owens as treasurer. 

Reached by phone Wednesday, Ng said that the three served as the full board as well as officers. Asked if Chamber Executive Director Rachel Rupert were not the assistant treasurer, as the Chamber PAC filings indicate that she is, Ng conceded that Rupert, too, is an officer. 

Following up with an e-mail, Chamber CEO Rupert wrote: “Yes, I am assistant treasurer, but I only receive checks for the PAC and forward them to Stacy Owens. That is the extent of my current involvement.” 

It should be noted as well that Ng is listed on the Chamber web site as one of three vice chairs of the Chamber.  

Another vice chair is Jonathan DeYoe of DeYoe Wealth Management. While DeYoe is not named by Ng as belonging to the Chamber PAC board, a letter to the Daily Planet was sent on Nov. 2 on Business for Better Government letterhead signed by Ng and DeYoe, in which both identified themselves as Business for Better Government. 

PAC Ties to the Chamber 

When she spoke before the City Council at its Jan. 16 meeting, Rupert underscored the separation between the Chamber and its PAC. “I do no business for the PAC,” she told the council. “That was divided up so I wouldn’t be involved with the PAC.” 

At the same meeting, Chamber Chair Roland Peterson also distanced the chamber from the PAC, saying the Chamber does not contribute monies to the PAC. “Not one penny of membership dues goes to PAC activities,” he said. 

However, campaign contribution records show that the Chamber in fact gives money to its PAC. On Feb. 4, 2004 the Chamber contributed $200 as recorded on a PAC statement, and between Feb. 17 and April 18, 2006, the Chamber contributed $885.76, which went to Henry C. Levy & Company for PAC accounting services. 

First you see them. Then you don’t. 

Owners of the 21 or so 6-foot-high green metal boxes with the friendly “Gaia” label on the front that once were scattered around Berkeley have been picked up by their owners, Humana People to People. 

The boxes sprouted up around the city about a year or so ago, as a convenient way of leaving used clothes for recipients assumed to be people in need. 

At least, that’s what most people thought until CBS’s 30 Minutes Bay Area exposed the outfit, also known as Teacher’s Group (or Tvind), as a multi-million dollar profit-making group. (Research on the organization can be seen at www.tvindalert.com.)  

The report contends that the donated items in the boxes were sold for the owners’ benefit, rather than given to charity. 

“Critics call it a cult that is using people’s good will to make millions in profit,” the CBS show said. 

After the program aired, the city got a number of calls asking about the boxes, according to Roy Phelps of the city manager’s office. “They didn’t have a permit,” he said. Once he realized they were illegal, he had the organization pick the boxes up. “They can apply for a permit,” he said. 

Asked why the city didn’t contact the group earlier, Phelps answered that “some of them were on private property.” A number of the boxes, however, were on city sidewalks.  

The organization, now worldwide, got its start in the 1970s as a radical education project in Denmark and was supported by the Danish government, according to the Tvindalert website. The same website reports that the founder is currently on trial in Denmark for fraud. The Daily Planet has not independently verified these reports.

UC Berkeley’s building boom has chalked up plans for still more construction, with the unveiling this week of the final draft of another Long Range Development Plan (LRDP)—this one proposing to add nearly a million square feet of new construction by 2025. 

The newest LRDP covers plans for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility in the Berkeley Hills managed by the university. 

Dan Krotz, a lab spokesperson, said the document is mandated by the University of California Board of Regents, and will supersede the existing LRDP, adopted in 1987 and last updated 10 years ago.  

Also released was the draft environmental impact report (EIR) on the LRDP, a crucial document which must be adopted before the LRDP can take legal effect. 

“We hope to go the regents for review and approval in the fall,” said Krotz. 

The lab is now taking public comments on the EIR through March 23, with a public hearing planned for Feb. 26 at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 

Once known as the Radiation Lab, LBNL houses a variety of research centers, including a program for developing more efficient forms of solar energy and a Molecular Foundry for so-called nanotechnology. 

The lab also features the Bevatron, once the world’s largest accelerator of subatomic particles, which is now slated for demolition after a losing fight by Berkeley preservationists to save the massive but aging structure. 

The LRDP under review calls for: 

• 980,000 square feet of new construction, along with demolitions of 320,000 square feet of existing buildings, making for a net increase of 660,000 square feet; 

• addition of between 375 and 500 new parking spaces, the number to be determined by development of alternative transportation programs; 

• the addition of 1,000 new employees above the current base of 4,375. 

“That’s less than they originally planned, but that’s still a lot of development to put up on that hill,” said city Planning and Development Director Dan Marks, who has yet to receive a copy of the documents. 

“If you were going to chose a more difficult place to put a major development, you’d be hard pressed,” Marks said, noting the presence of the Hayward Fault along the base of the slope, along with steep terrain and ongoing fire hazards. 

“They were a lot more responsive to our concerns than the campus, and they did agree to scale back somewhat on the buildings and parking,” he said. 

Marks said he will prepare the city’s response when he receives the documents. 

The lab’s plans have come under fire from neighbors who were already energized by their losing battle to save the Bevatron and earlier comment periods after the release of the first LRDP draft more than three years ago. 

Major concerns raised during those fights were further congestion of streets north of the campus, possible contamination by waste being trucked out of the site and the danger of traffic accidents from increased movement of heavy equipment through narrow neighborhood streets. 

Both the LRDP and draft EIR are available for review on the LBNL website at www.lbl.gov/LRDP. 

Another UC Berkeley LRDP remains the bone of political contention as well as litigation—the LRDP 2020, adopted for the main campus and the university’s proposed addition of more facilities off campus in the city center.

UC Berkeley is looking for a representative of the Berkeley community to fill a vacant position on the People’s Park Community Advisory Board. 

Advisory Board members are appointed for one-year terms which are renewable to a maximum of three years. 

“All of the current advisory board members have indicated their desire to serve another year, but we do have one vacancy due to an advisory board member who resigned earlier this year,” said UC Berkeley Community Relations officer Irene Hegarty. 

Hegarty added that although Advisory Board members were usually Berkeley residents, they could also have a substantial involvement in Berkeley and interest in the area (for example, a Telegraph merchant or representative of a local church). 

People’s Park is operated as public open space for the benefit of the campus and the community by UC Berkeley. 

The Community Advisory Board is in charge of reviewing and making recommendations on park policies, programs and improvements. Members attend approximately ten meetings every year which are held in the evening on the first Monday of each month in the south campus area. 

The board, along with UC staff, is currently in the process of selecting a consultant who will be responsible for improving the park. The board will be working with the consultant in 2007 to engage community members in a planning process that would lead toward a possible redesign or improvement of the site. 

Applications and additional information is available at the People’s Park office (642-3255), the UC Office of Community Relations (643-5299), and via e-mail to pplspark@berkeley.edu. Applications will be accepted until Feb. 15.

The city has removed median strips in the middle of Telegraph Avenue between Prince and Russell streets, alarming area residents about pedestrian safety. 

Parents who walk their young children to LeConte Elementary School on Russell every morning have complained that they miss the islands in the middle of the avenue since they provided some safety when they weren’t able to cross the street in the time allotted by the traffic light.  

“When I crossed Telegraph at Russell this morning with my 4-year-old in tow, the walk sign gave us only 15 seconds to cross Telegraph,” LeConte Elementary School parent Peter Shelton said recently. “That’s not enough time for my child, and I doubt it’s enough time for an elderly or disabled person. With the number of schools and medical offices around Telegraph, it’s just a matter of time before a pedestrian is injured or killed. Especially since the straightening of the lanes on Telegraph allows drivers to go even faster.” 

The median strips were recently removed by the city Public Works Department to make room for bike lanes on Telegraph. 

A public works officer told Shelton that the city wanted to have more parking and faster traffic flow on Telegraph as well as a bike lane and therefore the islands had to be taken away. 

“I think this is absurd,” Shelton said in an e-mail to the Planet. “First, we have north/south bike boulevards on Hillegass and Milvia, why do we need one on Telegraph? Second, I thought Berkeley was supposed to discourage car trips to the city center, so why make it easier for people to drive to campus on Telegraph? Third, it totally ignores the safety of pedestrians who have to cross Telegraph anywhere between Ashby and Dwight.” 

Shelton said he is also indignant that there was never any notice or publication of the removal. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington, in whose area Telegraph falls, said the city first took away 24 parking spots from the area to make room for the bike lane. 

“When I complained to the Public Works about why the parking had been taken away, they put back the parking but removed the islands,” he said. “I can’t understand why the parking and the median strips cannot exist along with the bike lane. The street is wide enough.” 

Worthington added that both the parking and the medians had existed on the street together for decades. 

“The theory behind the medians was to make it safer for pedestrians to cross,” he said.  

Hamid Mostowfi, city supervising traffic engineer, said it was not possible for parking as well as the median strips to exist along with the bike lane. 

“Bike lanes by standard have to have a certain minimum width,” he said. “With the median, the width was not available. So in order to maintain the width and bring the bike lanes up to standard, the median strips had to be removed.” 

Marjorie Alvord, a Berkeley resident, said that not having the island was a problem, but added that the current parking situation also caused a dangerous visibility problem. 

“The younger kids with slower mobility could have problems with crossing,” she said. “But for me, parking so close to the corner makes it a big problem to see the cars that try to enter the street.”  

Worthington told the Planet that he was hopeful that when the city, county and AC Transit spend millions of dollars to improve the Bus Rapid Transit system, they would also study and improve pedestrian safety on Telegraph. 

“I think having a bike lane on Telegraph is a good idea because it helps to connect with the one in Oakland,” he said. “But the city needs to work in the area of pedestrian safety. It’s not that hard to provide a full network of services for residents which takes into consideration bikes, parking as well as pedestrians. If we can spend millions of dollars on a transport corridor, let’s do the same for pedestrians.”

The Berkeley Planning Commission agreed to continue through February the public hearing for zoning changes on Telegraph Avenue designed to help businesses on the strip which has experienced an economic downturn according to the city. 

The proposed zoning amendments would extend hours of operation from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and midnight Sunday through Thursday for businesses that don’t sell alcohol. The hours can be extended with a permit.  

For businesses that do sell alcohol, the hours of operation would be extended from 10 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. A permit would be required to extend these hours further. The by-right hours for other evenings would remain 10 p.m. 

The amendments would also make it easier for new businesses to open on the avenue and ease requirements to change the use and size of the business space. 

The board unanimously passed a motion to continue the public hearing to Feb. 28 because residents of Le Conte and Willard neighborhoods had not received notice of Wednesday’s hearing. 

Roland Peterson, director of the Telegraph Improvement Business District, told the board that Telegraph Avenue merchants supported the proposed zoning changes. 

“The Telegraph shopping district has suffered a steady, slow, long-term decline in business that results in loss of revenue to the city and business vitality for all merchants here,” Peterson said, adding that it could be very difficult for prospective merchants to open a business in the Telegraph district. 

“For example, it required 88 letters from nearby neighbors to persuade the Zoning Adjustments Board to approve a popular Peet’s store at Dwight Way and Telegraph Avenue,” he said. “This was necessary because of the antiquated quotas that restrict the numbers of certain types of business. Most entrepreneurs will not endeavor to overturn quota restrictions or wait for months for a permit to be approved because of arcane restrictions.” 

Robia S. Chang, a representative of Munger Properties—owner of the Granada Building on Bancroft and Telegraph—told the commission that Munger Properties supported the proposed amendments to the extent that they made starting a new business easier on Telegraph Avenue. 

Chang added that Munger did not support the extended hours of operation for businesses because it would lead to noise and safety issues for area residents. 

Other matters 

The board approved the Tentative Tract Map for a 16-unit condominium project at 2628 Telegraph Ave. The building is currently under construction.  

The board asked staff to come back with the Zoning Ordinance amendments clarifying roles and limiting appeal of final design review action.

Victim clings to life 

A 42-year-old homeless woman is behind bars today, charged with a Sunday beating that has left a 47-year-old man unconscious and clinging to life in a local hospital. 

“The victim is in critical condition and on life support,” Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Ed Galvan said Thursday afternoon. 

Police first learned of the attack about 7:30 p.m. when a cell phone caller reported a woman apparently beating a duffel bag or a sleeping bag near the Ashby BART station. 

Moments later, other callers reported that the woman was beating a man with her cane. 

“When officers arrived, they found the victim on the ground and suffering from serious head trauma near the corner of Essex and Adeline streets,” said Officer Galvan. “The woman had already taken off.” 

A young officer undergoing field training was able to identify the woman from witnesses’ descriptions and after a search was able to apprehend her a few blocks away. 

“She was taken to our jail and was arraigned yesterday on a charge of attempted murder,” said Officer Galvan. “She is presently in custody at the Santa Rita jail.” 

The suspect is identified as Sharon Sandford. Police are asking anyone with information about the crime other suspect to call the Berkeley Homicide Detail at 981-5741. 

Cellular punchers 

Berkeley officers arrested two suspects, one a juvenile and the other a 38-year-old Richmond man, after they allegedly beat and robbed a homeless man of his cell phone in the 1300 block of University Avenue just after midnight on Jan. 10. 

Officer Galvan said the victim flagged down a passing patrol car, and a quick search of the area turned up the suspects, who were booked on suspicion of robbery. 

Fires, misses 

A frustrated robber, rebuffed in his effort to rob an 18-year-old Berkeley man near the corner of Oregon Street and McGee Avenue just before 9 p.m. on the 10th, left with a parting shot—literally. 

“He fired one round from inside his car, but he missed,” said Officer Galvan. 

Botched heist 

Two 17-year-olds, one from Antioch and the other from Vallejo, were arrested by Berkeley police just after 1:30 a.m. on the 12th after they tried and failed to rob a 19-year-old Berkeley man of his wallet. 

The incident occurred near the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Bancroft Way, and quick response by police led to the arrests of both suspect. The youths were taken to juvenile hall. 

Argument turns violent 

An argument between a 43-year-old Berkeley man and a 25-year-old Ukiah man early on the morning of Jan. 15 left the Berkeley man worse for wear after the younger man clocked him in the cranium. 

The miscreant was gone by the time police arrived, and remained at large until the following afternoon when the Berkeley man spotted him in the same neighborhood, accompanied by a girlfriend. 

Forgetting the lesson of the previous day, the older man decided to make a citizen’s arrest, only to be bashed in the beezer once again, this time by the younger man’s skateboard, and assailed by the fellow’s companion as well. 

But Berkeley police were promptly on the scene, and captured the belligerent couple. The young man was charged with battery and assault with a deadly weapon and his companion, a 28-year-old Berkeley woman, was busted for battery. 

Paramedics treated the injured man at the scene. 

Pocket pistol 

A young man with a pistol visible in his pocket robbed a 35-year-old Oakland woman of her purse as she was walking near the corner of Alcatraz Avenue and Adeline Street just after 7 a.m. on the 15th, said Officer Galvan. 

The fellow had fled in a large green vehicle by the time police arrived. 

Dominos delivers. . . 

Cash, that is. 

A gang of four teen toughs, all clad in dark garb, used their fists to pound the cash out of a pizza deliveryman they accosted shortly before 10:30 p.m. in the 2900 block of Newberry Street on the 15th. 

“They didn’t take pizza,” said Officer Galvan, unlike Berkeley’s previous pizza delivery heist where the baddies went for the pie instead of the dough. 

Grocery heists 

Berkeley police believe the 17-year-old Berkeley youth they arrested after a holdup at the Grocery Outlet in the 2000 block of Fourth Street on the 16th may be part of a gang that has pulled off similar heists throughout the Bay Area. 

Officer Galvan said a store employee called while three armed men were inside the store pulling off the caper. 

Multiple prowl carts rolled to the scene in time to spot one of the suspects fleeing near the corner of Fifth and Delaware streets. 

Officers cordoned off the surrounding area, briefly spotting the young man, who quickly retreated. 

Oakland police chipped in with a K-9 unit, and it didn’t take the dog long to find the suspect, who was quickly clapped in handcuffs and hauled off to jail. 

“We are currently investigating to see if this is the same gang that has pulled off similar robberies at grocery stores in El Cerrito, Napa, Pinole and San Francisco,” said Officer Galvan. 

Home invasion 

A masked man packing a pistol burst into a residence near the corner of 10th and Delaware streets about 1:30 on the morning of Jan. 19, threatened the lone occupant and made off with three phones, a laptop computer and her wallet. 

Keeps purse 

A 58-year-old Berkeley woman hung onto her purse, even after a young gunman bashed her in the head during an attempted robbery at 8:16 a.m. on the 19th, reports officer Galvan. 

The incident happened on College Avenue near Woolsey Street. 

Bandits busted  

Berkeley police caught two teens red-handed after they robbed a 61-year-old Berkeley man of his backpack, cell phone and wallet outside a laundry in the 2900 block of Sacramento Street seconds after midnight on the 17th, reports Officer Galvan. 

Officers arrived moments later and found the youths still in possession of their loot. They were hauled off the juvenile hall. 

Another keeper 

A 23-year-old Oakland woman, armed with a loud scream, managed to fend off a gang of four hoodie-clad teens who attempted to seize her purse as she walked along Adeline Street near the 62nd Street intersection minutes before midnight on the 17th. 

Officer Galvan said neighbors who heard the screams called police. The boy bandits had boogied by the time officers arrived. 

Menaced 

Though he stood only about 5’7” there was something menacing about the young man who approached a 20-year-old Berkeley man as he walked along Euclid Avenue at Ridge Road just before 8:30 p.m. on the 19th. 

Told he’d be beaten if he didn’t hand over his cash, the Berkeley man complied, and no fists flew. 

Cut 

Police arrested a 52-year-old San Francisco man on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after a knife attack on a Berkeley man, 48, in the 1800 block of San Pablo Avenue just after midnight Saturday. 

Police responded quickly, and nabbed one suspect, though a second suspect eluded them. 

The victim sustained only a minor injury and refused the assistance of paramedics. 

Shelled out 

An angry man who claimed to have a gun convinced the clerk at a Shell Station in the 3000 block of Ashby Avenue to hand over her purse after he cleaned out the cash drawer just before 8:15 p.m. Sunday. 

The suspect then fled in a dark blue American sedan.

Three of the most prominent names in Berkeley politics ascended to an oak-borne platform Monday to put their bodies on the line in defense of a campus grove.  

Sylvia McLaughlin, 90, was joined by City Councilmember Betty Olds, 86, and former Mayor Shirley Dean, 71, in a specially constructed platform in an oak near UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium. 

The tree, along with many other coastal live oaks and other species, may be cut down to make way for a $125 million gym demanded by Cal Bears football coach Jeff Tedford as part of his contract with the university. 

“I’m a little nervous,” Dean told reporters before ascending a ladder to the plywood platform, “but between us we’ve got almost 250 years of experience.” 

Asked if she was prepared to be arrested, McLaughlin answered, “Of course.” 

Olds smiled at the question. “The university has done a lot of stupid things, but I certainly don’t think they’re going to arrest the founder of Save the Bay (McLaughlin), the former mayor and a councilmember.” 

All three bravely ascended a ladder brought in for their use, rather than strapping into the rope harnesses used by the activists in the higher branches. 

Once they’d taken their places in the triangular platform secured by nylon climbing ropes, the women smiled at reporters. 

Campus police, who are often present with video cameras and taking down names, were nowhere in sight as a throng of media types, armed with television and still cameras, tape recorders and notebooks, took it all in. 

How long would the protesters remain? 

“Until the bathroom calls,” said Olds, adding, “None of us drank anything this morning with that in mind.” 

Under the terms of his new contract with the university, approved by the regents last week, Tedford will get a bonus if the four-story high tech gym and office complex is built. 

Meanwhile, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara Miller is scheduled to hold a 10 a.m. hearing this morning (Tuesday) and motions by the City of Berkeley, the Panoramic Hill Association and the California Oaks Foundation. 

All want the court to issue a preliminary injunction barring the university from taking any further steps to develop the site pending a hearing on the merits of lawsuits filed by the groups. 

The three plaintiffs plus advocates of Tightwad Hill have charged that the university’s environmental impact report on the project violates the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 

The protest at the grove began Dec. 2 when former Berkeley mayoral candidate Zachary Running Wolf and two other activists ascended separate trees on the morning of the Big Game against Stanford. 

Despite citations, arrests, and a Dec. 12 police action that swept away supplies and shelters used by ground volunteers supporting the tree-in, the activists have persevered. 

Juliet Lamont, a Sierra Club activist and a member of the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee, hailed the protest. “What an incredible thing,” she said. “What an incredible statement to come out here and show the public their support.” 

Lamont said the Sierra Club opposes removal of the grove, and urges the university to find another location for the facility, “somewhere that’s safe for the students and not 20 feet from the Hayward Fault.” 

The seismic fissure runs directly beneath Memorial Stadium, and tests are underway to see how close it comes to the site of the 132,500-square-foot Barclay Simpson Student Athlete High Performance Center, as the gym complex is known. 

Doug Buckwald, ground support coordinator for the half-dozen activists encamped in the branches, hailed “these wonderful, brave women” for their commitment to the cause. 

A weekend rally at the grove held to coincide with the return of students after the winter break brought out an estimated 150 supporters, including Ignacio Chapela, a long-time critic of the university’s corporate ties who had to sue the school to hold onto his job. 

Chapela told supporters that the grove provided a critical pathway for native wildlife, which would face serious ecological consequences should the grove be destroyed. 

Councilmember Dona Spring called a Fair Campaign Practices Commission decision not to pursue a complaint against those responsible for a July opinion poll “a whitewash of a blatantly political” survey. 

Preservationist Roger Marquis first made the formal complaint to the commission in October, asking for an investigation into the survey, which, he said, involved expenditures that should have been reported for the November election. 

The 65-question survey polled 400 people between July 19 and 23. It included questions to elicit opinions on candidates for the November election and city issues, with particular emphasis on landmarks preservation and was conducted by San Francisco pollster David Binder. (It also asked for opinions on non-candidates such as Daily Planet editor Becky O’Malley.) 

The FCPC’s decision to dismiss the complaint was based on a report by Deputy City Attorney Kristy van Herick, who said she believed the survey was not used for political purposes and therefore expenditures for the poll should not be considered campaign expenditures.  

Spring’s concerns 

Spring draws a connection between the survey and the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce PAC, which spent about $100,000 attempting (unsuccessfully) to defeat her and Councilmember Kriss Worthington, to defeat Measure J, the Landmarks ballot measure, and to support Mayor Tom Bates. 

One connection Spring makes is based on the fact that some people, including Abrams/Millikan, James Hart and Pre-Development Projects, contributed both to the Chamber PAC and to the survey.  

De Tienne, who said he has not contributed funds to the survey to date—the $18,000 survey has not yet been fully paid for—is a consultant who works both for San Rafael-based Seagate Properties, which contributed $5,250 to the Chamber PAC effort and for the San Rafael-based Wareham Development Group, which kicked in $10,000 to the effort. 

“Mr. de Tienne told staff that he did share certain of the findings from the poll with his own private business clients,” the report says. 

Reached by phone Monday, de Tienne confirmed he had shared the information with Seagate and Wareham, but denied doing it with the intention of influencing the election. “I didn’t even know where the Chamber (office) is located,” he said. 

Van Herick explains in her report that she is aware of the dual contributions, but notes: “Staff has no information linking any of these individuals or organizations with any campaign committees as treasurers, candidates or committee officers or agents.”  

Spring makes the link on more than common donations. She thinks the survey questions were used as a basis for attacks against her during the elections. 

The question on the Berkeley Bowl is a case in point. It asked: “Do you support or oppose the decision by the City Council to approve a second Berkeley Bowl store?” Eighty-seven percent of the respondents said they approved and 6 percent disapproved.  

Van Herick said questions such as this indicated that the survey was not political, but included issues outside the landmarks ballot measure and candidates. “For example, Mr. de Tienne referenced that 87 percent of those surveyed supported the Berkeley Bowl project despite vocal opposition to the project,” she wrote. 

But Spring argued that the question is political and was used against her and Councilmember Kriss Worthington. Spring saidthat both the Chamber PAC mailer and Wilson’s campaign piece against Spring, using the survey results to shape their contentions, claimed that Spring and Worthington abstained on the final West Berkeley Bowl vote. Actually, both candidates voted in favor of the West Berkeley Bowl on the final vote, having abstained on the next-to-last vote in order to prepare a separate resolution supporting a union at the new store. 

Reached on Thursday, Steven Donaldson of Brand Guidance Design Intelligence, BGDi, who wrote and designed the PAC mailers, said the ideas expressed did not come from the survey, which he did not seen, but from discussions with others and from other sources such as the Daily Planet. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington agreed with Spring, saying that “it is straining credibility to think there was no coordination” between the Chamber PAC and the survey.  

He argued that the city attorney’s investigation was minimal. “Due diligence was not applied,” he said.  

Van Herick did not return Daily Planet phone calls to her office, but it appears from her staff report that she did not talk to David Binder or to the Chamber PAC representatives. She did try to reach the chamber president, who denies he is part of the PAC. Binder did not return a call for comment from the Daily Planet. 

Poll purpose 

Why was the poll conducted? According to Van Herick’s report, quoting de Tienne, “the group decided to commission the poll for the purpose of determining whether the vocal minority within Berkeley actually spoke for the views of the Berkeley community as a whole.” De Tienne confirmed by phone that, having worked in Berkeley for 15-to-20 years, and having heard vastly different viewpoints on various issues, he wanted to find out what people really thought. 

However, the poll recipients did not accurately reflect the community. 

Those interviewed were not equally distributed around the city. Forty-five percent of those polled live in the more affluent Districts 5 (18 percent), 6 (16 percent) and 8 (11 percent); only 6 percent were polled in the heavily-student District 7. Other districts comprised 11-15 percent of the poll. 

Eightly-five percent of those surveyed graduated from college, whereas in the Berkeley population, 64 percent are college graduates.  

Whereas white persons represent 59 percent of the Berkeley population, the survey polled 77 percent of whites. Asians represent 16 percent, but 7 percent were polled; African Americans represent just under 14 percent, but 5 percent were polled and Hispanics represent almost 8 percent, but 2 percent were polled. 

About 68 percent of those polled own their own homes, but almost 43 percent of Berkeley’s population are homeowners. 

De Tienne was surprised at the assessment that the survey was not truly representative of Berkeley. “That’s why we hired David Binder,” he said. “I hired him to be as representative as possible.” 

Despite a city attorney’s finding that a secret pre-election poll on Berkeley landmarks law didn’t violate city election codes, supporters of Berkeley’s defeated Measure J remain skeptical. 

Deputy City Attorney Kristy Van Herick reported that she had “found no evidence indicating that the poll was used to craft or was quoted in any mass mailing, advertisement or other communication expressly advocating defeat of Measure J or otherwise unambiguously urging Measure J’s defeat.” 

Darrel de Tienne, the man who ordered the poll, said that while he shared the results with several people who gave money for the polling, “it was not meant to help anybody or defeat anyone.” 

But he said he couldn’t say if any of his clients had given copies of the 15-page report to the Chamber of Commerce or Business for Better Government, its Political Action Committee. 

“I don’t know if a client did pass it on,” de Tienne said, “but I would be very surprised.” 

Roger Marquis, co-chair of the Measure J committee, remains a skeptic. “Has anyone ever heard of a poll being done after a measure has qualified for the ballot for any other purpose than affecting the outcome of an election?” he asked. 

In her report to the city’s Fair Campaign Practices Committee (FCPC), Van Herick cited the poll’s questions on “a wide range of topics,” without mentioning that the only candidates probed in any detail were Mayor Tom Bates, who sponsored the rival ordinance adopted by the council, his strongly pro-J opponent Zelda Bronstein, and two of the three council candidates who opposed the mayor’s measure—along with their opponents in the November election. 

Most of the remaining questions were aimed at getting the demographic information needed to analyze the results. 

Marquis filed a formal complaint with the FCPC that led to Van Herick’s inquiry. Her report was accepted after a brief hearing by the commission last week, with no votes in opposition. 

The next step is a formal complaint at the state level, which Marquis and some political allies are preparing for submission to the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). 

The poll asked 400 registered voters in Berkeley questions about what would make them more likely to oppose Measure J. 

Formulated and administered by San Francisco pollster David Binder Research, the poll devoted 22 of its 65 questions to the issue of Berkeley landmarks, seven questions to general evaluations of public figures and organizations, and 11 questions to opinions about the mayor, Bronstein and Councilmembers Dona Spring and Kriss Worthington and their opponents, Raudel Wilson and George Beier. 

Other questions dealt with the planned new Berkeley Bowl in West Berkeley, other development issues, behavior of street people and policies on homelessness, parking and the general demographics of the sampled audience. 

Some of the most interesting questions focused on name recognition and popularity of an assortment of political figures and Berkeley organizations. 

The most popular subject among those targeted by questions was Assemblymember Loni Hancock who received a favorable rating of 62 percent. But it wasn’t her spouse, Mayor Bates, who came in second; that ranking was accorded to the incumbent Bates defeated when he captured the office four years ago, Shirley Dean, who racked up a 55 rating. Bates came in six points back.  

Spring placed fourth, with a rating of 45 percent—but only in her district. Her opponent managed to garner a 6 percent favorable rating. Voters in Worthington’s district gave him a 44 percent favorable rating, with 30 percent listed as unfavorable; the figures for opponent George Beier were 26 percent favorable and 4 percent unfavorable. 

Developer’s friend 

Considerable speculation about the source of funding for the poll arose after the calls began, but it was only in the deputy city attorney’s report that the conduit was revealed as de Tienne, a developer’s representative from San Francisco, frequently logged in as a visitor to Mayor Bates’ office, who has fronted for major projects in West Berkeley and for the controversial nine-story Berkeley Arpeggio, formerly known as the Seagate Building, now stymied in the city permit process. 

A tall, thin man with a shaved, well-tanned head and a melodramatic mustache, de Tienne makes frequent appearances before the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the city body responsible for administering the ordinance targeted by many of the poll’s questions. 

“My purpose was very simple,” he said. “I’ve been to so many meetings, and I got very tired of hearing anecdotal information—not just from so-called leftists, but from my own client group, too. I decided the best thing was to do a poll.” 

The poll cost “about $20,000,” and not the $40,000 to $50,000 that critics had suggested, de Tienne said. “I’m obligated to pay for it,” though nine of his clients have contributed a total of $3,300. 

He gave Van Herick a list of nine contributors, most located in West Berkeley. They include Cedar 4th Street Partners of Emeryville, Norheim & Yost, Steven Meckfessel Inc. (owned by a faculty member of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business), David Mayer’s San Pablo Avenue 2747 LLC, James E. Hart, Fourth street developers Denny Abrams and Richard Millikan, Predevelopment Projects, Stephen Block and Addison Property, the last owned by the branding consultants who arranged for the poll. 

“I did not give it to the Chamber of Commerce or their PAC,” de Tienne said, adding that “I didn’t even know where they were until this happened.” 

Questions about parking and homelessness arose from his own concerns, de Tienne said. “I was concerned about landmarks and about artists’ housing, too. 

“I basically wanted three things. I was concerned about the Berkeley Bowl, but only because I was watching it from the sidelines,” he said. Of those polled, 87 percent ranked themselves as strong or moderate supporters, with only 6 percent describing themselves as strong or moderate opponents. 

“I also wanted to know perceptions about how to handle the homeless, and not just as a matter of enforcement or getting them out of the way,” he said. “The answers seem to me like common sense.” 

While 16 percent of respondents said they thought the city’s enforcement of laws against sitting, camping or lying on city streets were enforced too strictly, 52 percent said enforcement wasn’t strict enough. But when asked if it was better to address homeless by enforcing laws against unruly behavior and drunkenness or by giving boosting founds for treatment and mental health services, treatment won by a margin of 62 to 18, with a combination of policies accounting for another 13 percent. 

“Third is landmarks. I’m not against landmarks, but the timing is something people think is unfair. They think it takes too long” to handle a landmarking application, he said. 

“The predetermination was the reason I opposed the proposition (Measure J), but I’m not against landmarks.” 

The predetermination is the Request for Determination (RFD), the central feature of the ordinance proposed by Mayor Bates and Councilmember Laurie Capitelli. It would give the Landmarks Preservation Commission two meetings to rule on owners’ requests to determine if their property should be designated a landmark. 

If the commission either failed to act or declared the property ineligible, the commission could not initiate the landmarking process for two years, giving the developer a window of exemption in which a building could be demolished if desired. 

Because landmark application under the new ordinance are not tied to development applications, critics like Marquis fear that a ruling granting developers the two year “safe haven” could be made before a community understood its implications for their neighborhood. 

Filing of petitions for a voter referendum on the measure has prevented it from taking effect for the time being. Other preservationists have challenged the mayor’s ordinance in court, alleging that it violates the California Environmental Quality Act.

A group of Berkeley community members and Bay Area skaters have come together to explore actions which could save the 67-year-old Berkeley Iceland from closing down in March. 

SaveBerkeleyIceland.org is a community-based organization which wants to preserve the historic art deco building at 2727 Milvia St. through local and possibly State or Federal landmarking, and to highlight its importance to the sports of skating and ice hockey on the West Coast. 

Thursday’s announcement of the closure of the ice rink seemed to mark the end of yet another Berkeley institution. On sale for a year now with a price tag of $6.45 million, the property has yet to find any takers willing to keep it open to skaters. 

Michael Kaplan, acting manager for the Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development, called the loss of Iceland a “shame.” 

“The economics just didn’t seem to work out,” he said. “It was taking up a lot of space and not making enough profit. The city worked with the rink to try and figure out a way to save it, but nothing could be done in the end.” 

Jay Wescott, General Manager for Berkeley Iceland for the last 10 years, blamed bad publicity and dismal profits as two of the main reasons for the closure. 

“We did everything in the last year to find a new operator for the rink, but there have been no buyers,” he said.  

“It’s extremely expensive to maintain a facility this old,” Wescott said. “We have been trying everything to keep this building open. We even brought in a temporary refrigeration system but the energy bills just kept going up. We had no choice but to make this decision.” 

Berkeley Iceland was scheduled to appear at the Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board meeting on Feb. 22 to request a use permit for a temporary outdoor refrigeration system. 

Board members had wanted to see proof of considerable reduction in the amount of noise generated by the system before granting the permit. The Berkeley Fire Department had considered its permanent ammonia-based cooling system a hazard in 2005 and had forced the rink to install a temporary system. 

“It was no secret that they were looking for a buyer. We had to do a delicate dance to see that they followed the rules in the meanwhile,” said ZAB commissioner Dave Blake. 

“I guess they realized that the business would not go on to make enough profit. It’s sad but young people don’t want to spend money on ice skating any more,” he said. 

Currently, the rink is used by skating clubs and hockey teams—including the UC Berkeley hockey team—as well as for skating lessons and broom ball events. 

Some rink users questioned why the UC Berkeley was not stepping in to buy the 66-year-old institution for use by its ice hockey team. 

“Cal does’t have its own rink to practice ice hockey. Why doesn’t it pick this up?,” asked UC Berkeley student Neal Dubinsky who was playing a pick-up game at the rink on Friday afternoon. “This is our rink. This is where we practice. I think it’s bullshit that we are letting this slip away.” 

Bryan Farris, captain of the Cal ice hockey team, told the Planet on Thursday in an email that he had not heard of any plans by the university to buy Iceland. 

“I don’t know why the university is not willing to do something about this,” he said. “This is perhaps the last chance the university will ever have to have an ice rink as a part of campus. It’s regrettable that so much money is being spent renovating Memorial Stadium when a fraction of that cost could be diverted to salvage a local heirloom.” 

Faris added that the Cal Bears ice hockey team would be forced to play in Oakland next year, which would significantly reduce their fan base, as students, band members and community members wouldn’t be able to come to games as easily 

The Bears will be playing their last game at Berkeley Iceland this Friday at 8 p.m. against Stanford. 

“UC Berkeley could certainly take over and keep it going. They know that it’s up for sale but they have never expressed any interest in it,” Wescott said. 

John Gordon of Gordon Commercial Real Estate Services—the firm responsible for the sale of the property—echoed his thoughts. 

“We have not seen any interest from UC so far,” he said, adding that there had been six queries about Iceland since the announcement on Thursday. 

Cal ice hockey head coach Cyril Allen told the Planet in an email on Thursday that “the university had no interest in purchasing the Berkeley Iceland rink for the purpose of providing the hockey team with a home for practices and home games.” 

“We have been extremely fortunate to have had access to an historic, albeit tattered landmark facility, located just minutes from our campus for several decades. The University does not provide us with significant budgetary assistance, nor is it likely to make a measurable capital investment on our behalf. As a club sport, we are exclusively funded through players' dues, ticket sales, merchandise sales and donations from our alumni and fans,” Allen said. 

The Cal Ice Hockey team is an intercollegiate club team which is a founding member of the PAC 8 Hockey Conference and is a member of the U.C. Berkeley Club Sports Department. 

Allen added that the team was currently researching options for a new ice contract with rinks throughout the Bay Area. 

Gabriel Desjardins, an UC Berkeley alumni and former member of the Cal hockey team, said that no one wanted to invest in hockey in California. 

The oldest skating club in California, Berkeley Iceland played host to the U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in 1947, 1957 and 1966 and was the home club for world and Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi. At 200 by 100 ft., the rink surpasses Olympic size. 

Berkeley residents Kristen and Jessie Quay expressed disappointment at the news. 

“Where else can you go at 11 p.m. with 40 friends, don sneakers and grab a broom, blast your own music from a loudspeaker and play a furious game of broom ball? With Iceland closing, it’s all going to end now,” said Kristen. 

Jessie, who organizes a broom ball event at Berkeley Iceland on the first day of spring every year, called the closure the end of a Berkeley institution. 

“They were trying hard to keep it going but we knew it was coming all along,” he said. “I think at one point they were talking of handing it over to a non-profit. They were also looking at solar panels. But that kind of stuff needs a lot of capital and I guess that’s just not possible.” 

Wescott told the Planet that the real concern at the moment was to come up with a way to make the transition for Iceland’s employees easier. 

“We are working with a couple of agencies, such as the Alameda County Workforce, to help find suitable employment for the thirty or so people who work here,” he said. “In the meanwhile we are hoping that people will come down and enjoy the rink as much as possible before it closes down for good in March.” 

Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee. 

Berkeley Iceland employees Jessica Cotton and Kwaku Boating arrange ice-skate rentals inside Berkeley Iceland on Friday afternoon. Both Cotton and Boating will lose their jobs if the ice-skating rink closes on March 31 as planned.

The 17-member Oversight Committee for Alameda County’s 2004 Measure A health services sales tax presented its first year of findings to the Board of Supervisors Health Committee this week, concluding that while funds were spent in compliance with the measure’s purposes during the ’04-’05 fiscal year, there were “inconsistencies” in expenditure reporting from organizations receiving Measure A “which did not allow consistent scrutiny of all fund recipients.” 

In addition, the Measure A Oversight Committee raised concerns about the auditing mechanisms of the county’s Health Services Agency, the process for determining future Measure A fund allocation by the Board of Supervisors, and even about the composition of its own membership, with the report raising concerns that the presence of some committee members representing Measure A recipients creates “a potential for the appearance of conflict of interest,” and that, in addition, the committee “do[es] not reflect the diversity of Alameda County’s population.” 

Of the 17 current members of the oversight committee, only three are women, and two are ethnic minorities. 

While Health Committee chair Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker told Oversight Committee chair Larry Platt that “the good news is that we’re in compliance” with Measure A spending, both Platt and Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Director David Kears came under sharp questioning by Board of Supervisors President Keith Carson on details of the report. 

The Essential Health Care Services Measure A was passed by Alameda County voters in March of 2004, authorizing a one-half cent sales tax increase to supplement indigent health care in the county. 75 percent of the revenue is allocated to the Alameda County Medical Center, the county’s primary indigent health care agency, which operates Highland Hospital in Oakland and several medical clinics throughout the county. 25 percent of the revenue is allocated by the Board of Supervisors to various public and private health care agencies and organizations in the county. 

This week’s oversight committee report, which took a year to produce, only deals with Measure A expenditures in fiscal year 2004-05, the first year the sales tax increase went into effect. 

The report found that of $95.7 million in Measure A sales tax revenue collected in that year, $71.8 million went directly to the county medical center, with $20 million allocated by supervisors to various agencies and organizations addressing eight areas of county health concerns. Of the $14 million of that $20 million actually spent in the first year, $5 million went to primary care clinics, $4.5 million to private and non-profit hospitals, $2.3 million to Alameda County behavioral health providers, $1.4 million to emergency room on-call physicians, $541,000 to school-based health centers, and $358,000 to public health. $10.8 million of that $14 million was spent to maintain existing health services, with the remaining $3.2 million for expansion of services. 

Platt told members of the supervisors’ Health Committee this week that some of the problems in the “inconsistency” cited in the report on expenditure information could be blamed on the committee itself learning how to ask the right questions. 

“We’re hoping to do our part by refining the reporting format in the future,” he said. He noted, however, that the committee “had to ask some providers three or four times before we got an answer. With some of them we want to be a little more tough in the future.” 

Platt said that the committee wanted the information because “part of our oversight function is not just finding out what went wrong but also what went right, and how Measure A money was spent. We want to be able to report back to the voters some of the wonderful things that were done with the money.” 

One specific concern raised but not answered in the report was that the county was using the influx of Measure A money to the Alameda Medical Center to shift county money out of the ACMC budget. 

The report said that the oversight committee could not conclude if this was being done, noting only that “the committee needed more information to determine whether Measure A’s prohibition against ‘supplantation’ of ongoing Alameda County funding provided to ACMC by the new sales tax receipts was being honored. Measure A was very clear that the new tax revenue was not supposed to substitute for ongoing county funding but was supposed to supplement the county contribution to ACMC.” 

And on the composition of the committee itself, while Kears conceded that the oversight committee did not reflect ethnic or gender diversity, he said that “we had a diversity of opinion and perspective, ” and Platt added that there were divisions within the committee over some of the issues and findings. 

In the area of auditing organizations on how the Measure A money was actually spent, for example, Platt said that “some of the members,” including himself, were “more or less comfortable that we were relying on the auditors from the HCA [Health Care Services Agency]. But there were other members who wanted feedback from an independent auditor to better educate us and reassure us of the validity of the HCA and [medical center] auditing process. There are some cynics and skeptics among us.” 

But while Platt said that it was “the county auditor who suggested we might want to hire our own auditor,” he said that the committee’s oversight function was limited by the language of Measure A. “The measure had very few details in it about spending,” Platt said. “It only said that the money should be spent on indigent health care. It didn’t give the oversight committee the discretion to say whether this program was better than that program, or to suggest how the money might be better spent. We were told by the county counsel’s office that we have a very narrow area of oversight.” 

With supervisors already beginning preparation for a new round of Measure A allocations in next year’s county budget, both Lai-Bitker and Carson were concerned about how soon the committee’s report would be ready for the ’05-’06 expenditures. 

When Platt suggested that the new report might take “maybe nine months; I know you’d like to get this out by June, but the problem is having to hear from so many recipients,” Carson told him “it’s important to push for a report for sooner rather than later. You’ve worked on this for a year, and you’ve now got a roadmap. It may be shaky and dusty and unclear, but it’s still a roadmap.” 

Marcia Freedman went to Israel in 1967 when her then-husband landed a temporary job as guest lecturer at Haifa University. She stayed for decades, becoming an Israeli citizen, a member of the Knesset (1973-77), an author, an out lesbian and a self-defined peace activist.  

She speaks now from her base in Berkeley for the organization of which she is president, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom. She will address issues of Israel-Palestine on Friday at 8 p.m. at the Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont.  

Freedman’s early impetus to go to Israel was, in part, a desire to leave the United States. “Remember the bumper sticker, ‘love it or leave it’?” she asked, in an interview Friday in her Berkeley home. In 1967 she saw Israel as a “struggling social democracy” and a place where one could find neighborliness and community.  

“We had never since we were children experienced that,” she said. 

In the 1970s, Freedman began to be active in what she describes as “the Israeli peace camp.” She sees the answer to the Israel-Palestine conflict, for which she continues to work today, as a two-state solution “that provides viable settlement for the Palestinians and security for Israel.”  

This solution encompasses the concept of “land for peace.” Palestine would be “a state established in the West Bank and on the Gaza strip, including East Jerusalem as its capital,” she said. The Palestinians would cede about 2.4 percent of their land to Israel, land on the West Bank, which comprises about 80 percent of the Jewish settlers in the West Bank.  

“We believe it is not an idealistic solution. The international community has made progress [toward a settlement along these lines] but then backed off.” 

The two-state solution would include a “demilitarized” Palestine, in which Israel would keep its army and Palestine would not be allowed armed forces, she said. Freedman contends that a majority of Palestinians want this solution. “Whatever is good enough for the Palestinians is good enough for me,” she said. 

Known at the time, she said, as “the major organizer of the women’s movement,” Freedman was elected to the Israeli Knesset in 1973. 

“My mandate, as far as I was concerned, was to represent women’s interests. And I needed to carry the Israeli-Palestinians peace issue as well, as there was a very small minority voice [in the Knesset] on those issues.” 

She is an advocate for abused women. “When you have a society that almost perpetually is embroiled militarily and has a culture of masculinity that is highly militarized, given its history, what you’ll find is there’s a bump in the level of violence against women,” she said, noting that this condition applies to Israel, but is not unique to that country. 

Freedman has also become a champion for the rights of gays and lesbians—she came out as a lesbian after her stint in the Knesset. During her term as a legislator, it was an issue that was not discussed, she said. 

Asked about the rights of Arabs living in Israel, Freedman said: “They do not have equal civil rights and liberties. There is a long way to go on that.” Arabs may find it hard to rent an apartment or get a job. 

“Arabs in Israel do not serve in the Israeli army. There are certain benefits associated with army service,” she said. 

On the other hand, Freedman noted that Israel has just named its first Muslim-Arab minister. 

Asked why there is need for a Jewish state today, Freedman asked, “Are we still arguing about that?”  

The answer has nothing to do with the claim, argued by some, that God gave Israel to the Jewish people, she said.  

“That’s not what the U.N. said in 1948. In 1948, the U.N. proposed that there be a state of Israel and a state of Palestine along partition lines,” she explained. “If you ask me as a Jew if I believe the Jewish people have a right to a state of their own, I say ‘Yes indeed.’ We are a religion, but we are also a nation, and have always been, with our own language, our own culture, our own history and our own legal system. And we have lived as a stateless people for a very long time. Under Christianity, they were very oppressive to us.” 

Freedman said she prefers living in Israel. “I think that when one is among one’s own kind, a certain self-consciousness about your being different falls away,” she said. “I could forget in Israel that I am Jewish. I can’t forget that I am Jewish here. And you never know when you’ll be walking into the next anti-Semite, as rare as it may be.” 

Stores on economically ailing Telegraph Avenue will be allowed to keep longer hours and many new businesses there will find permits easier to get under new zoning ordinances to be considered by the Planning Commission Wednesday. 

The changes, dubbed the Zoning Ordinance for Telegraph Avenue Economic Assistance, are the subject of a public hearing that is the first action item listed for the session that begins at 7 p.m. in the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

The changes would allow business that don’t serve alcohol to extend their hours of operation from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 10 p.m. to midnight on other nights. 

Business that serve or sell alcohol would also be allowed longer hours, form 10 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, with longer hours permissible with a use permit. 

Other changes would reduce the requirements for most new business from a use permit, which requires approval by the Zoning Adjustments Board to an administrative use permit, which can be granted by city staff. 

The measure would make it easier for businesses to win permission to exceed quotas established for the district and would ease restrictions on reconfiguring existing business premises into larger or smaller spaces. 

Commissioners will also hold a hearing on the subdivision map needed before the 16 units in the new building at 2628 Telegraph Ave. can be sold as condominiums, and they are scheduled for a hearing on zoning ordinance amendments changing procedures for appeals from decisions of the Design Review Committee. 

The final item on the agenda is a report on the Creeks Ordinance which took effect on Jan. 4.

The Zoning Adjustments Board on Thursday will once again hear a request by Verizon Wireless and Nextel Communications for a use permit to construct a new wireless telecommunications facility for 18 cell phone antennas and related equipment atop the UC Storage building at 2721 Shattuck Ave. 

At the last meeting, city staff requested additional time to finalize and report on a third-party engineering review of the project. 

The item has met huge opposition from area residents in the past who have cited concerns related to health, parking and loading docks. Verizon and Nextel have argued in letters to the ZAB that the companies need the antennas in order to fill “holes” in their system. 

Other matters 

Berkeley Developer John Gordon will once again appear in front of the ZAB to request a use permit for the conversion of an existing commercial building (The Wright’s Garage Building) into a multi-tenant commercial building at 2629-2635 Ashby Ave. 

At the last meeting area residents had voiced concerns about parking problems they said could crop up from having a large-scale restaurant on the property. 

The board will also again hear a request for a use permit for a full service restaurant with beverage service of beer and wine with prepared food, including the retail sales of beer and wine, for In and Out Deli, at 2012 Shattuck Ave., and to extend hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. 

The board will also hear a request to increase alcohol service at Ethiopian Restaurant at 2953-2955 Telegraph Ave. by adding service of distilled spirits to the existing service of beer and wine , and to extend daily closing time from midnight to 2 a.m. 

The Jan. 25 meeting will include a Joint ZAB and Design Review meeting, which will start at 6 p.m. with a Green Building Workshop which will be presented by the Office of Energy and Sustainable Development.  

David Arkin, principal of Arkin Tilt Architects will discuss the principles, benefits and practice of green building, and Billi Romain, Green Building Coordinator with the Office of Energy and Sustainable Development, will present the City of Berkeley’s green building requirements and incentive programs. 

The regular meeting of the ZAB will start at 7 p.m. 

Much glee in the Planet newsroom this week over the flock of photos in the bigger papers of what I affectionately call “the old birds in the trees.” (You shouldn’t call them that if you’re under 60, but at my advanced age it shows no disrespect.) A colleague observed that the story was “the real Berkeley.” We were not at all miffed that other papers had finally gotten around to copying the story about the struggle to save the oak grove, which we’d been following for a long time, though we did think our front page photo was the best of the lot. That’s always been a core mission of this paper: to persuade other media to give up their standard knee-jerk “Beserkeley” coverage and acquire some real understanding of what this city is all about. It’s about people who often and vociferously disagree with one another, but who get together when it counts to stand up (or sit down) for basic beliefs that most of us share. Conservation of natural resources is one of those core Berkeley values. 

The ringleader in the oak-sitting group, Sylvia McLaughlin, is a 90-year-old who climbs trees and poses for the camera like a well-preserved 65. Her lifetime achievement is organizing the doughty group of East Bay women who stopped the ’60s attempt to fill in San Francisco Bay for real estate development, but she’s been part of lots of other action as well. She was joined by Betty Olds, still a Berkeley councilmember at 86 and also an outdoors-woman, whose most recent courageous act was supporting Measure J, another battle in the ongoing war to preserve Berkeley’s urban amenities from greedy builders. Number three was someone not known as an athlete, former mayor Shirley Dean, who confessed to being afraid of heights as she ascended into the oak. Shirley seems well on her way to becoming Berkeley’s Jimmy Carter, trying to accomplish even more for the public good after being defeated for re-election than she did while in office. 

That can be a bitter pill to swallow for those among us who live and breathe partisanship. One cynical progressive politico in the oak grove was heard to say that what he most resented about Mayor Tom Bates is that Bates had made him admire Shirley Dean. It is quite remarkable how the winds have shifted in that respect, but that’s Berkeley—never predictable, never dull. 

All in all, it was a Very Berkeley week for me. Going straight from the excitement at the oak grove, on Monday afternoon I enjoyed a concert courtesy of the Etude Club, a 103-year-old group established to promote the study and performance of music, which still raises funds to support local music students. Most of the members appeared to be over 70, but there was a healthy sprinkling of younger participants, including one of the soloists, a 30-something graduate of Berkeley High School. In the audience I recognized Mister Chacona (who probably has a first name), who taught violin to one of my daughters at Malcolm X school. She didn’t pursue her study into adulthood, but now as the mother of daughters herself is avidly encouraging their violin playing, thanks to the love of music she learned in Berkeley schools.  

One hundred and three years is a long time to be doing good, even for an institution, but among those witnessing at the Oak Grove on Monday was another venerable Berkeley activist, Margaret Emmington, 102-years-young, decked out in a very stylish hat. Her most famous Berkeley moment was organizing the campaign to save old St. John’s Presbyterian Church from demolition, so it could survive to be reborn as the Julia Morgan Theater. The battle to save the grove has engaged three generations of her family, including her daughter, Lesley Emmington Jones, and her grandson, Stuart Jones. That’s Very Berkeley too. 

The Etude Club concert took place at the home of an even older Berkeley institution, the Hillside Club, which was started around the turn of the 20th century to promote “building with nature.” It was responsible for persuading builders in the Berkeley hills to respect the natural environment—the oaks, the creeks and the rocky contours of the land itself. On Tuesday of this Berkeley week I went to another event held at the Hillside Club, a birthday party for Councilmember Dona Spring. Entertainment was supplied by Peter Dale Scott, a UC faculty member, reading his satiric and serious poetry about saving the oaks, addressed to Chancellor Birgenau, and by Sarah Cahill, another Berkeley High graduate, who’s gone on to a distinguished career as a pianist and essayist.  

People used to say that Ginger Rogers was a better dancer that Fred Astaire because she did everything he did backwards and in high heels. Dona Spring does everything any councilmember has ever done for Berkeley and more, and even more remarkable, she does it lying down in a wheelchair. Dona is hands down the most courageous fighter for what’s best for Berkeley on the City Council these days. She exemplifies the values of the old Berkeley—living with nature, support for culture—and at the same time supports worthy ideas which came to town more recently, including valuing diversity and ensuring adequate housing even for tenants and other low-income Berkeleyans.  

Berkeley has always been about surprises—attempts to stereotype our citizens are doomed to fail. A couple of issues back the Planet printed one of my favorite kinds of letters, the ones that start out “I don’t expect this to be printed…..” We take particular pleasure in proving people like that wrong.  

The writer, whose business is called “Wealth Management,” also submitted his epistle to the “Berkeley Business Advocate,” the newsletter published by the Chamber of Commerce, which our business receives as a chamber member. He’s described as the Chamber’s “Chairman of Governmental Affairs,” whatever that means.  

There he repeated his assumption that his letter wouldn’t be published in the Planet (it already had been), along with a couple of other errors. He said that “many letters that share a similar perspective” were not printed in the Planet “due to space constraints.” That’s simply not true. I called him and asked him to send copies of any letters that weren’t printed or to give me names of writers who said they’d submitted such letters, and he couldn’t do so.  

We pride ourselves on printing just about every opinion piece, no matter how stupid, though we do have an informal quota for a few chronic repeaters. We’re happy to print criticisms of our paper, though we reserve the right to correct false ones. For example, the writer claimed that the only time the Planet has done a door-to-door distribution was with our November pre-election issue. That’s another canard— we’ve done a number of similar promotions in the past, including distribution in the hills for a whole month last spring.  

Evidently also his ideas about appropriate “wealth management” are different from those of the owners of this paper. In his piece he indicated that he doesn’t seem to think that investing in a community newspaper is what he’d do if he could afford it. That’s his prerogative.  

We happen to believe in what might be called Berkeley Values, sometimes derided just as “San Francisco Values” were in the recent election. We’re proud of our “Old Birds in the Trees” who could be just sitting in rocking chairs enjoying a peaceful old age, even if (or perhaps especially because) we don’t always agree with all of them all the time. That’s what makes Berkeley Berkeley. 

“Freestylin’ 101: Hip-Hop D.I.Y.” (Do It Yourself) was the course of the day for some Berkeley Technology Academy students last week. 

At the Grammy Career Day national outreach program held at San Francisco State University last Wednesday, the hip-hop course was just one of the 13 classes that Bay Area students could choose from. 

Organized by the Grammy Foundation, “Grammy in the Schools: Careers in Music” drew more than 800 teenagers who saw first-hand how to scratch, write songs and record a hit from some of the top names in the music business. 

“The workshop has given these 21 B-Tech students new eyes, new hope,” said Michael McBride, B-Tech student support services director, who was at the event with the students. “We brought them here today with the mandate that when we go back, we would use their knowledge from the workshops to start an arts program in the school.” 

He added that the event had introduced the kids to the multiplicity of music, something that had been absent before. 

“Most of these youngsters have grown up listening to either gangster or sexually explicit music,” McBride said. “They are ignorant about the beauty of classical music, the historical legacy of jazz and the inspirational powers of gospel. Things changed with these workshops.” 

As the group from B-Tech split up into smaller clusters to pursue the workshop of their choice, the biggest crowds could be seen at the Hip-Hop and Rock Band Master classes. 

Renowned blues/rock drummer Larry Vann, who was teaching students how to get into the groove of rock and roll, said the program was phenomenal. 

“This is the best time to catch these kids,” Vann said. “The talent is fresh and the kids are eager to learn.” 

Next door, B-Tech student Julian Mcgee was having a good time rapping with RadioActive and getting his music mixed by producer Knocademus. 

“I learned that I can just take a mike and make music myself,” said Julian. “There are a lot of jobs in hip-hop and I want to make best use of that opportunity.” 

McBride said that although there was a lot of budding talent at B-Tech, many challenges laying the students’ path. 

“Private music lessons can be very expensive, and most of the kids at B-Tech don’t have that kind of money,” he said. “That is why it is up to the school to do something for them. We are trying to expose them to as many different things as possible. Sometimes music is the best way to enter the arts.” 

B-Tech has its fair share of poets, who McBride said would excel in literature if given the proper encouragement. 

Merl Saunders Jr., senior executive director of the San Francisco Chapter of The Recording Academy—which works in partnership with the foundation—said the program has been inspiring school students for the last 14 years. 

“It’s the energy of the kids that amazes me every year,” Saunders said. “This year the trend is in digital music. With websites such as MySpace and YouTube anybody can showcase their music to the world today. There are thousands of musicians to choose from and the possibilities of being an independent artist are limitless. Students need to know the inside of the music business well and who better to learn it from than the pros? It’s the musicians way of giving back to the community.” 

Tommy Copes, a senior at B-Tech, said that the workshop “Career Tracks Behind the Scenes” had educated him about money matters in the music industry. 

“I learned it’s not all about 50 Cents showing off his gold chains and his fancy cars,” he said. “A lot of these famous artists are actually living in debt. Being a musician is serious business and it’s easy to go bankrupt if you don’t handle your money carefully.” 

Tommy said he wanted to grow up to become a gospel artist and he said he would start by sending his demos and songs to record labels after graduating. 

Derrick Underwood, a junior at B-Tech, praised master turntablist Travis “DJ Pone” Rimando for teaching him the moves. 

“I learned to scratch. Before I didn’t even know what it was called,” he said smiling. “We learned the history of D.J.ing, the techniques and the tricks.” 

Underwood added that he was also looking at the possibility of applying to San Francisco State after graduation to pursue its music program. 

Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee. B-tech student Julian McGee raps with RadioActive and gets his music mixed by producer Knocademus at the GrammyCareer Day event at San Francisco State University.

OAK GROVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

This sunny clear afternoon I paid a visit to UC Berkeley coast live oak grove just north of the football stadium and International House on Piedmont Avenue and met the tree-sitters. I had time to chat with Redwood Mary who shared that she was given the Ronald Dellums Scholars Award, 2002-04 at Mills College; she is extremely dedicated and articulate about their protest. Thanks for your front-page coverage of Shirley Dean and elders tree sitting. 

I can imagine my parents who met at UCB in 1930, watching games from Tightwad Hill where the still majestic, sweet-smelling, shade-providing, healthy oaks stand, as habitat to a myriad of mother earth’s species thrive including ourselves. 

UC Regents, please build your sports center elsewhere; one earthquake fault line is here. Find a safer place for our future Olympic sportspeople to train. 

Sylvia P. Scherzer 

Albany 

• 

STINKY POLITICS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Judith Scherr is an excellent writer for your exciting paper that truly serves our community. She did a good job on her Jan. 23 front-page piece, “Dismissal of Survey Complaint Questioned.” Spring and Worthington are the kind of politicians that come along rarely, and we need to be sure that all is done to keep them in office, in spite of the money and nasty things done to stop their working class supportive agendas. 

This last election is the stinkiest politics I have smelled in my many decades filled with the hope that goes with believing in what Berkeley stands for. Money, land, greed, power, all add up to what happened in Worthington’s district. Forget the average working stiff, forget the needs of students, just suck up to the money that can get you elected, oh yeah. Follow the money. I miss the good old days when Berkeley voters got out into the streets and raised hell when there was something wrong. However, as many times as I have disagreed with 86-year-old Betty Olds, gotta give that woman credit this week for when she and the 90- and 71-year-old women risked their lives to climb into a tree to keep it from being killed by UCB. What the heck is UCB thinking? I thought that school was supposed to have great minds there. But the murder of the Oak Grove will put UCB at the very bottom of the Neanderthal thinkers. If anything is in your way, just kill it. Right, UCB? I hope better minds than UCB seems to have working for them prevail, and these venerable trees are not lost forever. 

And, Betty and gang, you go girrrls! 

Patty Pink 

• 

SAVING THE GROVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Here is my little idea on how the oak trees can be saved: Build a brand new stadium closer to downtown and BART. A football/track stadium where the current track stadium sits. You could knock down the building where the ticket office sits. The building has been condemned anyway. You could save money because you would not have to bus people around on game days. It is closer to the rec center, Haas Pavilion. Plus the class celebrating the 50-year reunion will find it easier going downhill than uphill. The one major thing is that it would move the stadium of the fault line! 

What to do with the current site on Memorial stadium build a world class earthquake research center. You save the trees and gas on Saturday game days. 

Sergio Blandon 

• 

SAVING BLACK OAK 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Black Oak Books has other options besides selling or closing. Here are some ideas: 

(1) Move into a smaller space. 

(2) Move to a lower-rent neighborhood. 

(3) Swap spaces with another store. The other store could be in a smaller space or a lower-rent neighborhood. 

(4) Find a way to buy out the landlord.  

This could involve: 

(a) getting donations from neighborhood residents 

(b) getting a foundation grant 

(c) getting money from a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving alternative bookstores 

Eckhard Festag 

• 

FIGHTING AIDS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Right now, Congress has an incredible opportunity to continue saving millions of lives in the world’s poorest countries by fully funding the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty. 

The last Congress left nine critical spending bills unfinished and now the new Congress is left with the hard work of deciding our budget for 2007. They’re facing tough decisions and at stake is $1 billion vital to continuing to provide clean water, education and life-saving medicines to people in Africa and the world’s poorest countries. There are few places in the U.S. budget where dollars translate so directly into lives saved. Without this funding, 350,000 people will not receive life-saving AIDS medicines, nearly 1 million anti-malaria bednets will not be distributed and 120,000 people will not receive treatment for tuberculosis. 

As a member of the ONE Campaign, I encourage Congress to protect this funding and ensure America’s continued commitment to the fight against extreme poverty and global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. America’s leadership in development assistance reflects the best American tradition of compassion and generosity. Together, we can give the world’s poorest people the tools they need to beat extreme poverty and the chance for a hopeful future. 

Carol Suveda 

• 

JAZZ AT THE LIBRARY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

For those of you who regard public libraries as a bit stodgy and restrictive, you would most certainly have gained another impression had you wandered into the Main Berkeley Library this past Monday afternoon, where, in the Third Floor Conference Room, the first “Jazz on a Monday Afternoon” was unveiled. This was the first of a six-part series which will run through June. Due no doubt to Galen Babb’s article in the July 19 Berkeley Daily Planet, the room was jammed, with people sitting on the floor, along the walls, practically swinging from the rafters.  

No one was more surprised by this huge turnout than Dr. Dee Spencer of San Francisco State College, who hosted the event. Expecting a small crowd, she planned to have participants sit in a circle and had printed only twenty handouts. She was clearly flabbergasted at the packed room. Dr. Spencer kept her remarks to a minimum, but traced the evolution of jazz from its beginnings in Africa to the mainstream forms of work songs, spirituals, country blues and New Orleans traditional marches. She also played a bit of rag time on her Wurlitzer. This was followed with tapes of Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton.  

But the highlight of the afternoon was the showing of ancient Louis Armstrong footage, dating back as far as the 1930s. With his broad smile and the familiar white handkerchief wiping his brow, Louie had the audience yelling their applause for his dynamic trumpet solos. The program ended all too soon with the singing of “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?” and “When The Saints Coming In.” All in all, it was a joyous afternoon and thanks should go to Dr. Spencer, Librarian Michelle McKenzie, and the American Library Association, to name just a few of the contributors to this fabulous series. 

The next session will be on Feb. 26, “The Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance.” Mark your calendars! 

Dorothy Snodgrass 

• 

SAVE ICELAND 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am writing in response to Riya Bhattacharjee’s Jan. 23 article “Community Launches One Last Attempt to Save Iceland.” 

Many issues are at stake for Iceland. Berkeley residents of all ages have a wonderful unique recreational facility which has been part of the community for many generations. It is too good to lose now.  

What makes a sensible solution is a “partnership” between the city, the school district, and University of California with a community-oriented business who wants to contribute and make a difference.  

Children (and adults) of all ages benefit from learning to ice skate—coordination skills, strength, and flexibility are natural outcomes. Everyone learns, benefits and enjoys skating at every age.  

This facility can be reborn, revitalized and used all day every day by all ages for years to come. School children can take lessons, high school and college students can practice and hold meets, adults and seniors can keep in shape.  

It’s time for the entire community to step in and support the current owner who should not be forced to close. Its worth much more than the asking price as a community-wide benefit. Why not enroll college team students to coach high school students in hockey and other ice skating skills? It’s time for UC to find new and positive ventures that benefit this community and not only make plans that tear down—good will, trees or structures, but instead find new and innovative solutions to solve traffic, parking, recreation, education, health, crime, business and other issues that affect us all—citizens, students, teachers, agencies, and commercial interests.  

What we do in Berkeley is after all a microcosm for the rest of the world. Let’s lead by example instead of giving lip service to “commitment, caring and community.” 

When I was growing up we skated at the Queens (NY) Ice rink where the World’s Fair was held. It was a special place for skating, music, fun—everyone had a great time. I thought about how fortunate we were Parks and Public Works Commissioner Robert Moses saw the potential of building parks and recreational facilities.  

Iceland is special to the East Bay. It’s a Berkeley treasure. Its value in human terms is worth much more than the millions needed to restore and revitalize. Everyone can benefit and find out how much fun it is to skate, keep in shape and keep healthy. We all have a stake to keep skates flying around the Iceland rink. Let’s Save Iceland! 

Stevanne Auerbach 

• 

2721 SHATTUCK 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Having just seen the staff report on 2721 Shattuck Ave., I have to second Ellin’s comment. It is the most dishonest piece of trash to have come out of the city yet. City staff’s latest interpretation of both the Zoning Ordinance and history of 2721 Shattuck are nothing short of flat-out lies. They should all be ashamed of themselves. Every Berkeley resident should be angered that our tax dollars are being spent on staff like Mr. Wolf to work against the very people who pay his salary. 

City staff has been in constant contact with Mr. Kennedy and the wireless companies, however not once in this entire process has any city staff tried to seek information from residents or been willing to meet with us.  

This latest interpretation of the Zoning Ordinance clearly show the depth of corruption going on within the City of Berkeley.  

It needs to stop! 

Jim Hultman 

• 

DIVERSITY A RED HERRING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

When Councilmember Moore provided the fifth vote to instruct the city attorney to draft legislation to bar Berkeley citizens from serving on more than one “major” commission, he explained that “putting a person of color on several commissions is tokenism, not diversity.” I’m Latino, and I’m the only person threatened with removal from office by the change. I don’t think Moore consciously meant to label me a token appointee, but I do think his comment detracted from the quality of the council’s discourse. 

I was appointed by Councilmember Worthington, who is known for his commitment to diversity, and also known for the most rigorous interview process for potential commissioners. He put me on the Zoning Board and the Housing Commission because he thought I was the best person for the job in both cases. I’m proud of the work I’ve done promoting affordable housing while protecting the quality of neighborhood life, and I take a twisted pride in being the focus of a Council majority so concerned about my effectiveness that they’re considering passing a special law just to rein me in. 

Jesse Arreguin 

• 

ADL CONFERENCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I couldn’t agree more with Tami Holzman of the Anti-Defamation League (Letters, Jan. 12) that anti-Semitism is a serious and growing problem. Yet I believe the conference she plugs as a remedy is seriously flawed and that that Holzman is not accurately describing it in her letter. 

According to Holzman and the conference website, the conference will address anti-Semitism from a progressive perspective. Yet when one looks at the lengthy list of co-sponsors of the event the most prominent and visible Bay Area progressive Jewish organizations (Jewish Voice for Peace, Tikkun, Progressive Jewish Alliance, and Brit Tzedek) are missing. Instead, the list is dominated by mainstream and right-wing Jewish organizations and groups such as the Blue Star PR and AIPAC, whose primary mission is to support the decidedly unprogressive actions of the Israeli government. 

My organization, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), has a strong record of standing up against anti-Semitism in the Middle East peace movement and has published a book called Reframing Anti-Semitism. This book, now in its fourth printing, has been used as a text in university classrooms and has been distributed internationally. My own essay in that book is precisely about anti-Semitism on the Left. Yet the ADL never consulted with us, asked us to co-sponsor, or invited us to present at the conference. (Though one of our activists will be on a panel there, she was invited by a third party, not by one of the conference co-sponsors.) 

Holzman claims that the Finding Our Voice conference “is not about Israel.” Yet the keynote speaker is touted as having been instrumental in overturning British boycotts against Israeli universities. Conference workshops include: “Dealing with Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions,” (against Israel, I presume), “The Israel You Don’t Hear About,” “Emphasizing What’s Right in Israel,” “Keeping Blue and White [the colors of the Israeli flag] Part of the Rainbow,” etc. 

A conference to examine anti-Semitism from a progressive perspective is sorely needed. Yet a truly progressive conference would involve bona-fide progressive organizations in the planning process, and include co-sponsors that strongly oppose Israeli policy, including those that believe sanctions, boycotts and divestment campaigns are a legitimate tool to pressure Israel to end its decades-long occupation. (Perhaps Holzman can explain why “criticizing the decisions and actions of the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic,” but backing up these criticisms with non-violent economic or diplomatic pressure is.) A truly progressive conference would examine the connections between anti-Semitism directed at Jews and anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism, and look at how Jews, Arabs and Muslims, can work together to end both oppressions. A truly progressive conference would look critically at the role of U.S. imperialism in fomenting anti-Semitism, would examine the difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, when these forces are coming together, and when they are not. 

In the meantime, the ADL should not be misleading people into believing that this conference will be something that it is not. 

Terry Fletcher 

There is no doubt that the present Bush administration has done serious damage to the image of the Republican Party. But as discredited as the Republican politicians may stand today, the Democrats could still lose the White House in 2008 if they choose the wrong flag bearer.  

Of all the democratic candidates aiming for the White House, polls show that John Edwards, Barak Obama, and Hillary Clinton, are at the top. It is the opinion of this writer that choosing either Clinton or Edwards over Obama would place the Democrats at a higher risk of losing the White House. Obama has unique advantages over both Clinton and Edwards. For example, as the son of an immigrant father, Obama has much more in common with the immigrant voters than Edwards and Hillary. The black votes are very significant, and very few blacks would vote for either Edwards or Clinton over Obama. Beyond the black votes, Obama’s life history brings hope and inspiration to all immigrants, and his story is naturally more appealing to the immigrant voters than the chronicles of the privileged white candidates.  

Unlike Obama, both Hillary and Edwards pose a threat to the Republicans in different ways. Business owners and corporations are afraid of Edwards. When it comes to Republican voters, the name Clinton still remains a liability for Hillary. It’s been over five years since Bill Clinton left office, but the conservatives still hate him and his wife with passion. Obama doesn’t have any such liability. If anything, Americans of all political persuasions are curious and fascinated by his “new ideas” philosophy. 

Not only that, Obama is already the darling of the women. Gone are those days when women didn’t matter in politics. Women like Oprah, for example, are powerful king makers today. Anyone who doubts this should ask Arnold Schwarzenegger. Obama is enjoying the backing of some of the most powerful women in the country. The same cannot be said of Edwards, and not all women are intrigued by Hillary Clinton.  

Perhaps the biggest advantage Obama has over his opponents is his good standing with the evangelical community. Needless to say, the evangelical Christians have become a force to reckon with in politics. For example, in the 2000 and 2004 elections, most Christians, black and white, voted for George Bush, all in the name of God and Jesus. There is no better candidate to tap into the vast Christian votes than Obama. More than Hillary and John, Obama receives ready welcome at the church. He is a member of the huge born-again club, Clinton and Edwards are not. Obama speaks the Jesus language, and he speaks it very fluently; Hillary and Edwards don’t speak it as well.  

Miracles do happen. It happened in Minnesota when a wrestler became the governor. It happened in Massachusetts when a black man was elected governor in 2006. It happened when a hard-core liberal from San Francisco, a woman, became the speaker of the House of Representatives. It could happen again if Obama is given a chance. 

Emeryville resident Peter Opa is from Africa and is a student of politics, philosophy and economics. 

The commentary in the Dec. 22 issue of the Daily Planet, while making some commendable points, fails to point out some of the problems and new twists to micro-lending. 

As a former advisor to central European delegations to the U.N. Beijing conference on Women and to the U.N. Development Program on micro-lending in central Asia, I would like to point out that the vast majority of the success rates of the micro-credit programs such as Yunas’s Grameen Bank are based on loan payback rates rather than whether the participating women have actually gotten out of poverty. In other words it’s the success of the lender, not the recipient. Even Yunus admits that he has probably only helped 50 percent of the borrowers obtain a tin roof, mosquito netting, clean water, and a latrine; but that he has , in his words, proven that “The poor can be reliable borrowers even at high interest rates.” 

As Krishna Bhattacharjee pointed out in his commentary, micro-lending is now being implemented in 50 countries; but he did not explain that the conflict between do-gooders and profit minded do-gooders that defines the current debate in this new profitable market. Micro-financing has become a global market with micro-finance futures that tend to serve the “less poor” rather than serving as a channel out of desperate poverty. Banks such as Citigroup and Duetsche Bank have gotten into the game of helping the “un-banked” become new clients. Their goal is financial inclusion, not reducing poverty. Carlos Labrathe, CEO of Compartamos, the McDonald’s of village banking in Mexico, predicts that in five years 80 to 90 percent of all micro-finance institutions will be for-profit institutions. 

Compartmos borrowers pay an annual rate of a hundred and five percent in interest and taxes and some are higher than a hundred and 20 percent. The Mexican Government is now requiring Compartamos to explain the hidden cost to clients. (New Yorker, Oct. 30, 2006) The women that I worked with through UN contacts wanted some modicum of business training such as how to judge which market needed which product. Most of the wee loans at usury interest rates go to women for activities that require the involvement of whole families. Paying the high interest from earnings of a garden plot, a small kiosk, a phone service, or basket making generally requires a 16-hour day and help from family members. Women wanted to become valued as good credit risks as men are valued so they could borrow money individually from local institutions. I won’t go into how belittled many women felt having to become a member of a group to get a loan rather than being respected as an individual because it places a tremendous burden on the women in the group to pay the interest for a member who becomes ill or has a problem in her family. (As the New Yorker article pointed out, some women unable to payback loans have committed suicide.) We regulate predatory lending practices in some parts of the United States. These overseas lending programs are entirely unregulated and borrowers need protections. (Bruck, Connie, “Millions for Millions” New Yorker, Oct. 30, 2006, p.62) 

There are some good programs out there that offer training, dignity and hope: Pro Mujer in Latin America, Kickstart, the Village Enterprise fund in Africa; but until all programs are evaluated for the effect the program has on the borrower rather than merely the payback rate, we will never know if micro-lending/financing is doing more harm than good. 

Sally Williams is a Berkeley resident.

That any book should be so universally vilified, especially in these final days of George Bush’s America, suggests good reason to read it and take it seriously. 

After six sojourns in Israel/Palestine, performing, teaching, meeting with activists, educators, artists, intellectuals, and people on the streets in towns and villages on both sides of the wall, I can say there is nothing exaggerated about Carter’s account of the destruction of farmland, the poisoning of well water, the dumping of garbage, the cantonizing of Palestine by the ubiquitous wall and multitude of check points, the arrogance and brutality of soldiers, the disruption of daily life inflicted at check points and by curfews, the imprisonment of children without due process, the imprisonment of duly elected officials, the appropriation of land and resources for the ever-expanding settlements. 

Carter’s use of the term apartheid is as clear-sighted as it is courageous, and though probably 50 percent of the good people currently throwing stones at his effigy have not read the book, the incendiary term will be as vindicated by anyone traveling to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Gaza, as it was for those who made their way to South Africa before the release of Mandela. 

Those who accuse former president Carter of anti-Semitism, if they did read the book, have not noticed that he begins his thesis stating that Israel has a legal right to statehood, and should enjoy peace and security within its borders, urging the acknowledgement of that right by all Arab countries, including Palestine. 

But at the heart of this book, and of at least one interview I have seen, is the statement by Dr. Mahmoud Ramahi, secretary and West Bank spokesman for the current government, now sitting in an Israeli prison. He indicated the willingness of his government to put a brake on all violence indefinitely, based on Israel’s willingness to refrain, and continued, “Where is the Israel you would have us recognize? Does it include the West Bank and East Jerusalem?” 

Must an occupied people acknowledge the rights of their occupier? Certainly it took much less provocation for our revered forefathers to take arms against King George. 

At an Arab/Israeli peace forum in Israel, I met a young Palestinian teacher who managed to get through the check points for the first time to deliver a short eloquent speech: 

“I work every day to teach peace, non-violence and brotherhood. How can I succeed when an Israeli soldier drives his Hummer up to my classroom and points his machine gun at me in front of my students? How can they listen to me when an Israeli soldier has made their friend walk on all fours through the check point, barking like a dog?” 

I visited his school. Every boy there had experienced worse. By the age of 12 they had watched as their homes were bulldozed, family members shot, burned or beaten. The artwork on the walls shows Israelis with tanks and machine guns. The blood is Palestinian. 

When I first set foot in the West Bank, it was with the hope of promoting interest in a collaborative exhibit between Palestinian and Israeli artists—an idea for which I had much support among Israeli friends. Now, so many visits later, my aims have become more humble. I travel there with my cello and my poetry, but what I have to say to these people is this: “As an American I am sorry. I am sorry that my government supports the Israeli government in its illegal and aggressive occupation of your land, and the displacement, and imprisonment, of so many of your people.” 

This is neither anti-Semitism, nor the advocacy of terror. I think Mr. Carter would agree. 

Matthew Owens is an El Cerrito resident.

UC OAK GROVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

“We’re trying to restore the area back to its natural state,” said Mitch Celaya, assistant chief of campus police, as the police forced the tree sitters out of the oaks and took away piles of supporting materials that the activists were using to support their “sit in.” 

If UC Berkeley wanted the oaks to be kept in their “natural state,” there would be no protest! 

My opinion of the university: There is no concern for the “natural state” of the oak grove or for its beauty, no concern for the danger of building a huge structure near a well-known earthquake fault, no concern for the opinions of the citizens of Berkeley. 

I believe that there are four lawsuits pending which would prevent the destruction of the oaks. I hope that these lawsuits keep the university from destroying the group of oaks. My respect for the university was never great. Now it has plummeted. 

Julia Craig 

• 

SPARE THE GROVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Cutting down the grove of ancient oak trees by Memorial Stadium would be a tragedy—because it is entirely unnecessary. There are several other locations that would serve quite well for the new training center; two excellent sites are located close to Edwards Field. Build the gym for the athletes, absolutely, but build it in a location where it will not do permanent damage to our environment. It is a win-win solution that everyone can support. 

It’s time for UC officials to show responsible leadership and pursue such a compromise. It’s quite simple really: Build the gym and spare the grove. 

Doug Buckwald 

Director,  

Save the Oaks at the Stadium 

• 

PERALTA COVERAGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Though schools in the K-12 system and the more prestigious university institutions of higher learning command far more public attention, community colleges are vital institutions in California. Providing affordable transfer education, vocational education and remedial skills, the local Peralta colleges play a significant role in the personal and economic future of thousands of students each year. Thank goodness for J. Douglas Allen-Taylor’s consistent coverage of key issues in the system as they come before the board of directors. 

Margot Dashiell 

• 

HOUSING QUOTAS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I write to oppose the methodology used by ABAG to impose housing quotas on Berkeley. Berkeley’s population appears to have declined since the 1970s, and ABAG’s projected increase in population for the area is suspect at best. The citizens of Berkeley take their responsibility to build affordable housing and to provide decent public transportation very seriously. ABAG’s manipulation of these civic virtues to demand the degradation of our quality of life is reprehensible. It is simply inequitable to require the brunt of dense housing development to occur in regional sacrifice zones. 

The only good thing to come out of the truly outrageous quota proposed for Berkeley is that the shadowy role of ABAG is coming very much to light. More and more citizens are discovering the power of this non-elected organization precisely because its housing quota for Berkeley “boggles even the most ardent smart-growther’s mind” (Mark Rhoades). As more Berkeley residents learn of this unfair and top-down social engineering, ABAG will lose the little credibility or legitimacy it might have possessed in the public’s mind. Perhaps this will lead to a reformation of the deeply flawed process that has produced such questionable numbers. 

Patti Dacey 

• 

MILO FOUNDATION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Tom Swift has just expressed in these columns his great displeasure regarding the Milo situation. He casts “shame” on those who driving the dog and cat saviors out of Berkeley. Topping his shame list is the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB). I would guess that many others in town share this opinion. 

Maybe the following information can shed better light on the situation. 

Last summer, as neighbor protests erupted in public, the zoning staff contacted East Bay Community Mediation to see if mediation could resolve this situation. I talked to many parties, and discovered that Milo was already undertaking measures to try to reduce their impact on the neighbors. We decided to delay the mediation process until these measures were in effect and to see if Milo could lower the negative impact. In October we held two mediation sessions between Milo and 15 members of the newly-formed Solano Avenue Neighborhood Association. 

There had indeed been some progress in lowering impact. The mediations went well, as one by one agreements were reached on the agenda of needed further reductions. We agreed we needed at least one further mediation to try to complete the problem agenda. On Oct. 26 the ZAB had scheduled a hearing on the Milo permit. The zoning staff, which had all along encouraged our efforts to seek a workable solution within the zoning ordinance, had agreed to recommend to the ZAB that it postpone the hearing for two weeks to allow the mediation to finish its work. The ZAB seemed poised to grant this request when a letter was read from the city attorney that in her opinion Milo was acting as a “kennel” and that was expressly forbidden and thus any permit would be illegal. 

The hearing was then postponed “off calendar” for the express purpose of giving time for the Planning Commission to explore amending the city’s kennel restriction. It was during this hiatus that the Milo board decided to withdraw their permit proposal. 

At every stage in their five-month dealings with the mediation service the zoning department seemed to do their utmost to find a way for Milo to find a level of activity that calmed most neighbors which would make a permit easier to be obtained. 

Thus do I think if there is a list of “shameful” opponents of the Milo Foundation, the zoning board and the zoning staff should properly be taken off that list. 

Victor Herbert 

East Bay Community Mediation 

• 

ALAMEDA POINT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

There are many of us in Alameda who would love to host educational and research facilities on Alameda Point, instead of the high-density rack-and-stack-to-the-sky housing that some people propose. Maybe Alameda Point could be the new home to a UC Berkeley Student Athlete High Performance Center with regular shuttle busses between Alameda Point and the UC Campus. (or regular ferry service between Alameda Point and the Berkeley Marina). I think many people in Alameda would love to be involved in working to make this happen.  

David Howard 

Alameda  

• 

ALAMEDA JOURNAL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Regarding the Alameda Journal, Bob Gavrich hit the nail more squarely on the head than I have seen in a long time. 

I suggest that Alameda citizens make the Journal feel some pain with a circulation boycott. Follow these steps: 

1) Call circulation and ask them to stop delivery of the Journal to your front door. Log the date and time of call. 

2) Step 1 will actually have no effect. Call back and ask again, and escalate to the circulation manager, capture his name and mailing address. Log the date and time of call. 

3) Step 2 will actually have no effect. Write a letter to the circulation manager and demand they stop littering your front porch with their paper. Retain a copy of this letter. 

4) As the papers continue to come in, collect them in a pile. If possible capture the license plate number of the van that the distributor uses, as they drive by and throw the paper. 

5) Collect all of the papers, log records, and copies of your letter to the circulation manager, and take them down to the Alameda Police Department and file a complaint that the Contra Costa Times/Alameda Journal is littering your front yard with their newspapers, even though you have repeatedly asked them to stop. Insist that they take action. 

Bill Davidson 

• 

BLACK OAK BOOKS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

When Cody’s Books closed its doors, Editor O’Malley suggested in her editorial that the store may have survived had owner Andy Ross deigned to advertise in the Daily Planet. Now we see the demise of Black Oak Books looming, and I suppose the same response could be offered. Oh, but wait—Black Oak is a Daily Planet advertiser. Well, maybe if they had taken out a bigger ad....  

Berkeley retailers, take heed. 

Steve Reichner 

Oakland 

• 

MIDEAST COMMENTARY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Daily Planet’s enduring quest to de-legitimize the State of Israel took some bizarre turns in the Jan. 19 edition. In an article entitled, “Iran: Thinking the Unthinkable,” one would have thought that author, Conn Hallinan, was about to alert readers that Iran is thinking the unthinkable, namely, that for the holy purpose of bringing on their messiah, the 12th and hidden imam, they will rain nuclear-tipped missiles upon Israel, “wiping it off the map.” Alas, if you can believe it, Hallinan expresses the very opposite concern, namely, that Israel might preemptively attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. He even worries aloud that Israel will use low-yield nuclear weapons to bust Iran’s bunkered nuclear facilities. To Hallinan and the Daily Planet, Iran’s deeply bunkered nuclear weapons sites are more important than Israel’s whole population. Hallinan then goes on to propose a chain effect that this will, according to him, inevitably produce. To hear him tell the story, this chain reaction will start with a Shiite uprising in Iraq (what have we got now?) and end in nuclear war between Pakistan and India. Nowhere does Hallinan mention that failing to deal with Iran’s nuclear weapons will more likely set in motion an entirely different set of events such as nuclear war between Iran and Israel, triggering a worldwide nuclear winter; the very end of the concept of non-proliferation, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others rushing to join the nuclear arms race; and nuclear weapons inevitably ending up in the hands of terrorists who might explode them in the port of Oakland, obliterating Berkeley and the Daily Planet. So dark the con of Hallinan. 

Adding to the Daily Planet’s upside down view of the world is an op-ed in the same issue by long time pro-Palestinian activist, Henry Norr, decrying Amazon’s decision to post a lengthy and scathing review of Jimmy Carter’s anti-Israel book on its website, relegating more positive reviews to a secondary position. His complaint: a lack of even-handedness. The Daily Planet has got to be joking. In issue after issue of the Daily Planet we are treated to lengthy anti-Israel and even anti-Semitic “op-eds” and “commentaries,” while Israel’s defenders are generally relegated to the letters section, or, as in my case, suppressed altogether (even though I am widely acknowledged to be a responsible and articulate defender of Israel, many of my letters have gone unpublished). 

John Gertz 

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CARTER BOOK 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It looks like that Berkeley Daily Planet is taking sides with some folks like Dan Spitzer who flood this newspaper with their letters to the editor to childishly criticize Jimmy Carter’s book and anyone who welcomes this book. Mr. Carter has written a balanced book that brings to the fore crimes of the Zionists in Palestine for the past 30-60 years. Such a book had been overdue for a long time. When Mr. Carter pacified Egypt some 30 years ago by brokering peace between Egypt and Israel, he was considered a hero by Israelis. Now, after 30 years, when he has eventually awakened and sees the cancer of Israel is spreading all over the Middle East, Zionists call him “an enemy of Israel” and “anti-Semite,” etc. He, of course, still talks for the interests of the United States and Israel. He is simply saying that if the apartheid of Israel continues, soon people from Algeria to Indonesia are going to fight against the United States and Israel interests. He is saying that Israel has to make some concessions before it is to late. He is still the best friend of the Jewish State. Stop criticizing him and his book. 

Mina Davenport 

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A COMPELLING REVIEW 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Dan Spitzer’s characteristically venomous personal attack upon Jimmy Carter for writing Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid is all the recommendation I need to buy and read the book.  

Gray Brechin 

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SOUND ANALYSIS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Conn Hallinan’s reporting of recent events involving Iran, Israel and the United States is a rare and sound analysis of the risks of an impending attack on Iran. Still, two points are worthy of amplification. 

First, such an attack (which appears to require nuclear bombs for success) would likely lead to unconditional war with Iran, a nation of 70 million citizens that is four times the size of Iraq. Moreover, unlike Iraq, Iran has been purchasing advanced missile technology (including advanced anti-ship missiles) from China and Russia. Further, unlike Iraq, Iran can deliver devastating economic blows because it is ideally situated to shut down the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. The price of oil would no doubt spike to new records if Iran could shut down the Gulf. Also, Iran could launch massive attacks against out troops in Iraq. In short, all out war with Iran will be many times uglier, bloodier, and costly than the current debacle in Iraq. 

Second, the political process seems deaf to these risks. The people seem oblivious to the risks of war with Iran and the costs that this would entail. Both political parties right now want to take tough stances with respect to Iran, regardless of differences with respect to Iraq. The only way to change this fact is through a massive re-education campaign. Informed citizens must write to their representatives and to media outlets right now. Protests after an attack will be useless. 

I doubt the American people wish to expand the war in the Middle East by a factor of three or four, or to use nuclear weaponry on a nation that has not attacked us. But if such a reckless war is in the offing, our leaders should level with us on the consequences, and seek to conduct such insanity only pursuant to legitimate democratic deliberation. Let us not repeat the errors of the past and stumble into a major regional conflagration without at least the informed consent of the people.  

Steven Ramirez 

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CUT TO THE CHASE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

One of your Israel-bashing columnists recently consumed about 12 column inches expressing this thought: 

Zealots should organize economic boycotts against the publishers of any dogma-threatening truth (e.g., “Carter’s book has lies, distortions and major omissions.”). 

I know you allow free expression, but cutting to the chase would have saved trees, ink, and reader time. 

David Altschul 

• 

DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In case anyone thought that the current Iraqi government is an Iraqi government of, by and for the Iraqi people: there is a piece in Der Spiegel (Dec. 22) to the effect that that “democratic” Iraqi government is now considering a law to give significant control of Iraq’s oil reserves to the international oil companies through “production sharing agreements” that guarantee them vast profits and influence at no risk. As we all know this can’t be true because the President’s men (and women) insisted that the Iraq occupation was never about oil. But while we’re on oil, some have noticed that gas prices at the pump are soaring again. Now that the election is over—though the lower gas prices didn’t help Bush Jr. as much as his oil friends had hoped—we’re back to the gouging for record profits. Don’t pray for government intervention at Christmas time. It’ll turn you into an atheist.  

Marc Sapir

The sight of Nancy Pelosi calling the House of Representatives to order would make a shocking sight for someone paying no attention to politics for a year or two. Yet the San Francisco liberal, riding the crest of a wave of indignation that swept the Republicans out of power, is now the most powerful woman in the world and the major obstacle for George Bush’s war powers. 

The press rejected the conservative distortion of Pelosi presented during the fall elections, as a crazed San Francisco liberal bent on destroying traditional values. Despite the rightful snub of this portrayal, nothing substantive has come to take its place. Pelosi remains a woman without a clear identity and the question remains: what sort of a politician is Pelosi? 

As the war in Iraq wages on, the image of the leader of the de-escalation movement is being fought over with equal ferocity. Pelosi herself waged in: soon after taking her post, she appeared in Baltimore hoping to disassociate herself from San Francisco and appear as an old-school Democrat, representing a working-class population. 

Becky O’Malley, writing for the Planet last week, bought into this image of Pelosi. Because of her age, O’Malley wants us to believe, “she’s just about old enough to remember real Democrats” and presumably is one herself. Pelosi is a different kind of politician—a Trumanite who does not shrug her responsibility to take care of the poor. It brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it. 

Yet this tear is nothing in comparison to the tears that will flow once we are collectively disappointed by the promise of Pelosi. Why do I think this will happen? Precisely because Pelosi is not a different kind of politician at all—in fact, the only extraordinary thing is her outstanding ability to 

successfully use typical political tactics. 

Her rise through the Democratic Party has little to do with liberal activism and nearly everything to do with her ability to raise money. What she lacks in charisma she makes up in her penchant for fund raising—and there’s a lot of making up to do. Her election as minority leader was a collection of debts rather than heroic triumph. This, of course, simply means she is a typical politician. 

And like a typical politician, she manipulates people by engaging in “framing.” In the war of publicity she has already retreated to a safer battle ground, out of San Francisco and into Baltimore. There she represents working-class European immigrants fighting poverty—an image that has been accepted into the American mainstream. What she leaves behind are the issues of the day—gay rights, animal rights, environmentalism, black and Hispanic rights, affirmative action, and all the rest. Even Becky O’Malley’s claim that Pelosi will help the poor is complicated by the interrelationship between poverty and, to take one example, racism. 

In a political atmosphere where image is everything, Pelosi’s retreat from San Francisco is an acknowledgement of The City’s marginalization. The disassociation does nothing to help the marginalization groups of The City gain social respectability and, therefore, political power. Arguably, the opposite is accomplished. 

All this is not to say that Pelosi will not vote for progressive policies that will benefit her constituency. There is little doubt she will. What seems equally certain is that she will not be at the forefront of that fight—she will not sacrifice the political capital (emphasis on capital) of the Democratic party for the sake of championing an unpopular or controversial cause. She will continue to ride the crests and troughs of the political ocean, hopefully staying afloat. It’s probably true that she is the best representative liberals have; but I see no reason to settle for that. 

Gene Zubovich is a North Berkeley resident. 

I am not familiar with the curriculum of the “Peace and Conflict Studies” at UC Berkeley. But if Matthew Taylor’s latest article (“Jimmy Carter: The Courage to Tell the Truth”) reflects the standards of the P&CS, I can only despair of its future graduates. For it seems to me that the resolution of conflicts and the search for peace ought to be primarily based on factual truths. Only when these facts are sought, understood, analyzed and corroborated, can we address the source of the conflict and propose a peaceful solution. It is clear that Matthew Taylor has done none of that. He just plunged head on into a sycophantic praise of Jimmy Carter and his book, without the slightest effort at fact finding. 

Taylor’s comments are replete with the usual unsubstantiated accusations against Israel: it “violated international law”; it pursues “territorial expansion”; it “oppresses…dispossesses… the indigenous population”; its “colonizers…steal [Palestinians’] lands”; it is guilty of “ethnic cleansing and apartheid”, etc. All this and more is true according to Jimmy Carter, and Taylor insists that Carter “tells us the truth.” To support these accusations, Taylor refers to the authority of “historians”, Ilan Pappe being among the most notorious. Pappe is a man for whom truth has no intrinsic value. This is apparent in all his ideologically tainted books and he did not shrink from stating it openly: “We do [historiography] because of ideological reasons, not because we are truth seekers... ‘there is no such thing as truth, only a collection of narratives’…’Historical research need not be based on facts’.” Pappe’s candid admission should discredit him outright and give pause to all those who use his “findings” to prop their own misrepresentations. 

Taylor also holds Jeff Halper in high esteem, a dubious source who is financed by foreign groups hostile to Israel, who applauded the Durban Conference of September 2001, and who militates against the existence of a Jewish State, while never finding any Palestinian guilt or responsibility for their murderous activities. I do hope Halper receives the Nobel Peace Prize for which he has been nominated. He will be in the company of kindred spirits: terrorist Yasser Arafat, scandal ridden Kofi Annan and fact-distorter Jimmy Carter. 

On the only occurrence where Taylor refers indirectly to an historical document (the Mandate for Palestine), he manages to distort its purpose. He writes: “[Israel has taken] an enormous bite out of the 22 percent of British mandatory Palestine that the Palestine Liberation Organization has claimed as its state since 1988.” Had he read the document, Taylor would have realized that British mandatory Palestine, in its entirety, was exclusively allocated to the Jewish nation by international law and that “no Palestine territory shall be ceded or leased to, or in any way placed under the control of, the Government of any foreign Power” (Art. 5). It is a bit disconcerting that Taylor would consider a mere “claim” by the PLO raised 66 years later as legally valid. 

Taylor’s comments do not meet the lowest analytical standards. His merit, however, is to demonstrate that any attempt to rescue Jimmy Carter’s dismal account can only rely on fraudulent sources, on factual distortions and on avoiding any reference to historic documents. If I were Jimmy Carter, I would gently urge Taylor to withdraw his praising evaluation, lest the former President’s credibility is further tarnished. 

Rachel Neuwirth is a Los Angeles resident. 

We owe a debt of gratitude for Dan Spitzer’s contribution to the Carter book debate. But not in the way he supposes. He represents the typical conservative position. His letter is full of generalizations and non-specific attacks. Where is the evidence? Saying that Carter misrepresents Security Council resolutions is not evidence. How does he misrepresent? Merely saying so and faithfully quoting authority is not enough. His authorities represent the neo-con, pro-Israel Lobby line. Their Israel ally is the extreme reactionary wing of the Likud Party, led by Netanyahu. Mud slinging against our honorable former President is disgusting. 

I believe, as President Carter does, that the numerous U.N. resolutions since 1947 establishing a two-state (Israel and Palestine) solution must be implemented. My own views are as follows: 

I write as a Jew, a dedicated Zionist active in support of Israel from before its establishment by the U.N. in 1947. I believe in Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people. I also believe in Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people. 

In 1947 the U.N. partitioned Palestine into two parts, what was supposed to be a sovereign Palestinian part and a sovereign Israel part. A number of wars soon followed. The surrounding Arab states tried to destroy the nascent Jewish Israel in wars in 1947, 1956 and 1967. Israel won them all and occupied the entire area west of the Jordan, the Israeli part and the Palestinian part. To this day there is no Palestinian state. Until only a few years ago every prime minister opposed the two-state solution, which some but all Israelis grudgingly accept. And until very recently many permanent Jewish settlements were established in the U.N.-designated Palestinian territory, now called the West Bank. Extreme opinion in Israel led by religious orthodoxy claims all of Israel-Palestine as God-given to the Jewish people. 

But to the Palestinians fighting for their own homeland, and to all the Arabs, the Jewish settlements in the West Bank have become an abscess in the body politic, growing and poisoning the Middle Eastern atmosphere. It has only been very recently that the Israeli government seems ready to address this central problem. Leaving Gaza was a necessary first step but the West Bank is much larger than Gaza.  

Every Muslim militant in the world for the past 40 years has had the Israeli presence in the West Bank as ground for their stated wish to destroy Israel. But Israel has given them ample, and in my mind justified, reason to hate Israel.  

Israel has no legal or moral right to undermine the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. It has no right to occupy any of the West Bank. Israel must be made to see that it is nurturing this abscess in the body politic in the name of settlements. 

I believe a beginning of peace in the Middle East will happen with the exodus of all Jews from the West Bank into Israel and not before. The justification for Islamic hatred for Israel would disappear. The entire world would applaud and support such action. 

The United States has supported Israel with grants and loans of billions of dollars annually since its founding;. Through quiet but real diplomacy lsrael must be told that all West Bank settlements be closed and Jews removed to their homeland. The United States has the power to demand such a resolution of the problems in the region. Financial support should not be automatic. If the American government really means that a new approach is needed to get on the road to permanent peace, nothing would exemplify this new approach more than demanding that Israel must give up its immoral and illegal occupation of a foreign country. 

This will take courage and determination on the part of the United States as well as of Israel. It’s time for a change of direction. 

Joseph E Lifschutz is a retired UC Berkeley clinical professor of health and medical sciences and an El Sobrante resident.

On Tuesday night, Jan. 23, the City of Alameda held an open house for citizens to meet the developers vying for status with the city as official “replacement master developer” for Alameda Point, the former naval air station. 

The city has been soliciting proposals for a new master development since Alameda Point Community Partners, a consortium that included Shea Homes and Centex Homes, backed away from the project in September, citing the Navy’s $108 million price tag juxtaposed against a softening real estate market and the high cost of cleaning up the contamination from decades of Navy use. 

The City’s redevelopment effort for the former base suffered another blow last week when a fifth developer, Corky McMillin, of San Diego, widely considered a strong contender backed out of the competition, citing the financial and environmental challenges.  

The remaining four developers—Catellus, Lennar Urban, SunCal and United World Infrastructure—played to a packed house at the Mastick Senior Center on Santa Clara avenue in Alameda. Debbie Potter, of the City of Alameda Development Services department, opened the proceedings and then promptly turned it over to the developers, who each had ten minutes to present. 

The order of presenters was drawn by straws, and Catellus went first. All developers stressed their financial backing, experience with “brownfield” developments, and the importance of community input in the planning process. After the presentations, attendees were invited to visit tables and presentations staffed by the developers and ask questions and collect brochures.  

Both Catellus and Lenar Urban employ former City of Alameda employees, respectivelyBruce Knopf and Stephen Proud. Near the close of his presentation, Proud even joked that, as a former city staffer, he didn’t want to give Debbie Potter the satisfaction of cutting off his presentation for running out of time.  

Knopf is widely credited with securing the city’s approval of Catellus’ “Alameda Landing” mixed-use development, on the former U.S. Navy Fleet Industrial Supply Center in Alameda, which includes up to 300,000 square feet of new retail, 400,000 square feet of office space, and 300 single-family homes. Alameda City Council formally green-lighted the project at the Tuesday, Jan. 16 City Council meeting.  

SunCal, as a relative newcomer to the redevelopment, presented few specifics on their plans for Alameda Point but promised to learn with the community what would best suit the project site. Perhaps the most innovative and broad-ranging proposal was from Dubai-based United World International (UWI) whose proposal for an “Alameda Green Island Village” incorporates an ultra-light rail transit line from CyberTran International and for which the Coalition for a New California Infrastructure (CNCI) is a partner. CNCI counts UC Berkeley, UC Davis and UC Merced as partners. CNCI is led by Dr. George Cluff, Ph.D. of the Haas Graduate School of Business at UC Berkeley.  

The UWI proposal promises to work with UC to bring to Alameda Point a research institute devoted to the study of environmental improvement, sustainability and global warming issues. 

When asked if UC Berkeley might find a way out of the current controversy over the planned student athletic facility for Memorial Stadium by building at Alameda Point instead, and running shuttle buses or shuttle ferries to connect to the campus, Cluff responded: “That’s an A+ idea!”  

Cluff also responded favorably to the suggestion of approaching the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship of the Haas School of Business to see if the center would be interested in extending its Berkeley Entrepreneurship Laboratory to Alameda Point, possibly in conjunction with the College of Alameda and private enterprise, such as Bay Area venture capitalists, thereby creating a “Sand Hill Road North” with views of San Francisco. While Cluff responded positively to both suggestions, nobody on the UWI team admitted to having approached either Cal Athletics or the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship to date.  

The next step in the selection process is for the remaining developers to present to the Alameda City Council, sitting as the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, on Feb. 7, at City Hall in Alameda. 

David Howard is an Alameda resident and a member of Action Alameda.

It is not at all unusual for newspapers, television and radio news outlets, and the various journalists who work for them to come away with a different story on the same event. Put five people in a room to witness the same event and, almost invariably, they will write five separate accounts of what happened—most often not because they are lying or because they are trying to cover something up, but because of differences in what they think is important, what they actually saw or heard, and what type of background they brought to the event that enhanced—or colored—their interpretation. Add to that the built-in biases of every news organization—what audiences they are aiming for and what areas of concern they are promoting—and you can easily see why a variety of news sources is necessary for an informed citizenry and a healthy democracy. If your news is coming from only one source, you will be almost as misinformed as if you got no news at all. It is only through sifting through several information outlets—looking at issues and events from several accounts and angles—that we can begin to discover what is fact, and what is truth. 

That is one of the reasons I found myself a little disturbed by some of the allegations made in reaction to the events at the Paramount Theater inaugural earlier this month. What is being alleged is not that different reporters looked at the same event and honestly saw different things and interpreted them in different ways, but rather the implicit charge that there is a concerted attempt by some reporters and news outlets to cover up anti-Latino racism in Oakland’s black community. 

At issue is the charge that during the special, on-stage reorganization meeting of the Oakland City Council that occurred in the middle of the Paramount inaugural event, some members of the audience made anti-Mexican-American statements and slurs while Council was considering the re-election of Ignacio De La Fuente—a Mexican-American—as Council President. At least one prominent Bay Area media outlet has identified those slurs as coming from African-Americans. 

Accounts of the booing from the audience appeared in almost every media story of the inaugural, but while some news stories mentioned and highlighted what they called anti-Mexican slurs, other news stories left them out entirely. And the failure to mention those slurs has led to attacks on some reporters. 

Shortly after the Jan. 7 inaugural, Oakland progressive activist, former City Council aide and City Council candidate Pamela Drake filed a story with the on-line Grand Lake Guardian newspaper which reported on the booing, but left out the racial slurs. Drake wrote merely that, “during the shouting match that ensued in the audience over De La Fuente’s reelection to president, [Councilmember Pat] Kernighan tried to speak to the crowd to explain that she thought Ignacio would not stand in the way of change—she was drowned out.” 

That provoked a spirited online debate among Grand Lake Guardian readers, pretty much evenly divided over whether Drake’s account was accurate and fair or merely “offer[ed] excuses and glosse[d] over an embarrassing display of inexcusable behavior,” according to one reader. One reader, David Dickson, concluded that “the reporting by Pamela Drake on this event was among the most paternalistic rationalization of racist conduct that I’ve ever read. But it was progressive racism, so that makes it OK. Something we can ignore and take lightly (at our own peril).” Another reader, Jim Puskar, added, “I’ve read all the commentary about the inaugural, and none of it excuses the conduct of the people who jeered and booed Mr. de la Fuente with crude, racist remarks.” 

But were anti-Latino racist remarks made at the Paramount event? 

So far, I have heard of only one account of someone who says they heard such remarks themselves, and this person says there were both anti-black and anti-Latino remarks being made. One reader identified only as Michael wrote to the Grand Lake Guardian in response to the Pamela Drake article: “I don’t care what ‘side’ one is on in this town, the behavior on both sides at the swearing in was indefensible. I had a woman sitting in front of me who appeared to be with her granddaughter yelling, ‘Go home you damn Mexican’ and a man sitting next to me (who I later learned lived in Piedmont), who turned to me and said, ‘This is what happens when the blacks are in charge.’ I understand Pam’s argument that some steam was being let off, but the venomous racism on both sides cannot, and should not, be dismissed.” 

Meanwhile, why didn’t such accounts appear in Ms. Drake’s story? I have talked with her since she wrote that story, and she says she didn’t report it for the simple reason that she did not hear any. 

The account of the booing incident that I wrote for the Daily Planet was similar to that of Ms. Drake’s. I characterized the audience disruption of the Council President election only as “spirited boos and catcalls” and added that “De La Fuente’s election led to prolonged jeering from the crowd that disrupted the Council meeting and only could be halted when Dellums stood up” and stopped them. I did not mention any racist remarks for the simple reason that, like Ms. Drake, I did not hear any remarks that I would characterize as racist—either in general or anti-Latino in particular. 

But both Ms. Drake and I characterize ourselves as progressives, so is this simply a case of covering up “progressive racism,” as Mr. Dickson charges in his Grand Lake Guardian post? 

In an interview with a KTVU reporter shortly after the inagural events, East Bay Express reporter Will Harper, who was at the Paramount, described the disruption as “some people screaming out calling somebody a crook and a snake,” without any mention of racial epithets. 

And consider this from the East Bay Express blog last Jan. 12 by Harper’s fellow Express reporter Bob Gammon. In a post entitled “What Racism?” Gammon wrote, “If you only read today’s Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle version of Monday’s inauguration ceremony of Mayor Ron Dellums, you might think the event was awash in racial tension. It was not. I attended the event, as did my Express colleagues, Will Harper and Chris Thompson, and none of us heard a single racial slur.” 

A reader identified only as dto510 later called Mr. Gammon “a die-hard Perata conspiracist and author of slanted political articles,” but he is widely-considered one of the Bay Area’s most respected investigative journalists, with readers sometimes disagreeing with his conclusions, but rarely his research. In addition, readers familiar with Mr. Harper and Mr. Thompson’s work at the East Bay Express, whatever opinion one may or may not have of them, can hardly believe that they would lie about not hearing racist slurs at the inaugural or, if they had heard them, not have written about them prominently in their subsequent accounts. 

Other news outlets mentioned—and even highlighted—the booing in their accounts immediately following the inaugural, but had no mention of any anti-Latino racial slurs. That’s true for stories that were broadcast on KTVU, KRON, and KPIX. (The key term here is immediately following the inaugural, but that’s something we’ll have to get to at a later time.) 

While I do not know where Ms. Drake was sitting during the inauguration, the East Bay Express reporters were all located in roughly the location where I was, in or near Row E, which is close to the orchestra pit, on the right-hand side of the auditorium, facing the stage. So it is entirely probably that during the raucous booing which was centered in the middle of the auditorium far from us, we did not hear things which were said, but which others heard. 

But some sitting in other parts of the auditorium did not hearing any racist remarks, either. Oakland activist James Vann, an African-American who works with several multi-ethnic organizations and causes, wrote to the Grand Lake Guardian, “I was at the Paramount Inauguration event last Monday, and was one of the public speakers on the ‘Election of Council President.’ I certainly heard the booing and jeering, and while I would not be surprised if a few people, and it was probably very few, inappropriately expressed their frustration, however, I did not hear nor witnessed any racial epithets from the vicinity of my seat.” 

I talked about these issues with another Oakland leader this week who is African-American but who is not identified solely to African-American causes: former mayoral candidate Wilson Riles Jr., who once held the Council seat now held by Mr. De La Fuente. While Mr. Riles said he did not hear any anti-Latino slurs himself at the inauguration, he encouraged me to continue my investigation to find out exactly what happened. 

“African-Americans have long been on the other side of this issue, charging racism in a situation where others say it didn’t happen or doesn’t exist,” Mr. Riles told me. “It’s important for us to acknowledge that when other groups make the same charge.” 

So what actually happened at the Paramount, and how did the allegations of anti-Latino racism get blown up by some into the defining moment of that event? More to follow. 

A lobbying group of 100 grandmothers from 20 states descended on Washington D.C. on Jan. 18, visiting all 100 senators and some representatives to protest the war in Iraq and to demand that American troops come home quickly. Four Berkeley/Oakland grandmothers were part of the contingent—Helen Isaacson, Marge Lasky, Renate Sadrozinski and myself.  

The Granny Peace Brigade, including our local group, Grandmothers Against the War, timed the visit deliberately for the opening of the new Democratic-led Senate so as to set the tone that Something Must be Done Soon to change U.S. policy in Iraq. Citing the daily horror of casualties on both sides, a deep resistance in the U.S. and Iraq to the illegal war, and the squandering of this country’s wealth, the grannies pressed members of Congress to immediately stop the funding of the war as the most effective way to get the U.S. out of Iraq. 

Anti-war Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio hosted our press conference at 9 a.m. in a small room in the basement of the House of Representatives. Kucinich applauded the granny contingent as “conductors on the train of peace.” Rep. Barbara Lee, and newly elected Rep. Albert Wynn (MD) commended the efforts of the women, several of whom were New York veterans of the arrest in 2005 for allegedly blocking the entrance of the Times Square military recruitment office. 

South Carolina Gold Star Mother Elaine Johnson spoke of her son killed in Iraq and her dismay at the continuation of the war. As she campaigns around the country, she is challenging politicians for prolonging and escalating the war. In a public event she asked President Bush to explain why the U.S. was in Iraq. Subsequently he privately gave her a Presidential coin and then admonished her, saying “Now don’t go selling it on Ebay.”  

The news conference was covered by a few television reporters—Agence Presse France, NHK (Japan TV), a Russian TV station and Capitol News 9 from Albany, NY. One American photographer for a Tribune-owned Atlanta paper documented the event; stories and photos appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and on a New Jersey news website. No reports of the event turned up in The Washington Post or any other DC paper. 

By mid-morning, all the grandmothers were streaming through the halls of Congress carrying gifts of white roses and George McGovern and William R. Polk’s OUT OF IRAQ: A Practical Plan for Withdrawal Now for the senators.  

Along with visiting our California senators and a few Republicans, our Bay Area team talked with other progressive Democrats who agreed that we needed to leave Iraq sooner rather than later. But several were reluctant to sponsor legislation mandating that policy since the reality at this moment is that there are not enough votes to set a timetable for withdrawal.  

The palpable sense of flux on Iraq policy, evident everywhere in Washington except for the White House, has spawned multiple Congressional plans in the form of resolutions, both binding and non-binding. 

Republican Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina, who coined the term “freedom fries”, has changed his mind and is now against the war. Kucinich has proposed a plan for withdrawal based on a political process that would involve Congress. Senators Biden, Levin, and Hagel have introduced a non-binding resolution condemning the escalation. That resolution will be countered by a softer condemnation in a resolution proposed by Senators Warner, Collins, and Nelson. House Speaker Pelosi has called for an exit plan. Even Hilary Clinton has put a finger to the wind and shifted from her position of support. 

A major source of tension is between binding legislation and non-binding, i.e. symbolic, resolutions. Senator Ted Kennedy has introduced legislation that requires a congressional vote before the President can introduce more troops into Iraq and has enlisted Senators Boxer, Kerry, Leahy, Sanders, Harkin and Brown as co-sponsors. Despite this notable list of senators, Senate maneuverings make it doubtful that the full Senate will ever vote on the Kennedy bill.  

Progressive Caucus members Representatives Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, and Maxine Waters have introduced a comprehensive bill which goes beyond any measure introduced to date in requiring the return of all U.S. military personnel and military contractors within six months. In our meeting with Lee, she urged us to contact people throughout the country to pressure their Representatives into co-sponsoring the bill, “The Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act.” 

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s aide told our group that the senator does not support an escalation and wants the withdrawal of troops by the end of this year.  

At the entrance to Senator Barbara Boxer’s office visitors are greeted with large posters of the names of the 3000 plus troops who have died in the conflict. Boxer’s aide inferred that she and Senator Feingold (both of whom have long opposed the war) are likely to sponsor similar legislation.  

The Democrats count six to ten Republicans who are moving away from the Bush party line on Iraq, but still not enough to assure that the Senate could stop a filibuster on legislation that might be considered too progressive. Harnessing this Congressional shift in attitude is somewhat like turning a three-story leisure cruise boat around in choppy waters against a gale wind. 

Here’s the good news. Although it’s very difficult at this juncture to get to see the senator or representative directly, in every single office we walked into, with or without appointments, we were treated well and taken seriously. The senior policy aides we spoke with—again some with and some without appointments—were mostly young, knowledgeable, interested and gave us adequate time to discuss our positions. Two of them, a bit older, were men with military backgrounds. 

I suspect they were professionally polite and also possibly amused at the savvy and passion of this cadre of older women. (Of course, we are their constituents and we always vote.) They were good-humored, well informed, and generally closer to our position than the public statements of the legislators they worked for.  

And more evidence of positive change: The Berkeley grannies sat in on a three hour session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Senator Joseph Biden. Committee members listened intently to three experts on foreign policy—former Ambassadors Dennis Ross and Richard Haass and Dr. Vali Nasr (author of The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future). All emphasized the impossibility of a military ‘victory’ and that the only possible hope is a political settlement.  

With the lineup of Democrats on the committee, including Senators Boxer, Obama (five cameramen took pictures of him as he came into the session), Kerry, Webb, Casey, and Nelson, and a number of Republicans asking serious questions, some light was shed on the actual repercussions of the war and occupation. It was an intelligent, reasonable approach to the issue and, for me, the most hopeful experience of the visit as an illustration of rational governance.  

After several days of talking with lawmakers—and innumerable searches at every entryway to the capitol and the office buildings—we took off for the museums for something completely different. It was in these non-political places we had the most affirmation of the popularity of our mission. 

In the National Gallery Helen’s yellow, black and red Grandmothers Against the War bumper sticker on her handbag produced an interesting response from the woman in charge of security. As she read the sticker her face said “I may not let you in” but when she opened her mouth she said “I was a Marine in Iraq for a year—it’s enough now!” 

As I was wondering around the Sackler Museum I asked a guard where Gallery 5 was. He read my Grandmothers button and said “I like your button” and we launched into a 30-minute conversation about the war, about sparse press coverage on U.S. television (he had read an article about an anti-war protest in NY on January 2 in The Final Call, the Black Muslim paper), about Amy Goodman and the state of the world. Similar support for our position was evident in elevators in the House/Senate buildings as well as among people standing in lines with us. It seemed that in Washington, at least among everyday people—where residents still can’t vote—there was a clear consensus: it’s time to get out.  

From our unscientific impression of the mood in Washington one could say that the majority of the people we encountered feel as the grannies do, those who simply smiled at us are probably in sympathy, and most people with political titles are making excuses. 

Ten days after I began a campaign to protest Amazon’s hostile presentation of former President Jimmy Carter’s book on Palestine, and a day after the petition with more than 16,000 signatures was delivered to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the company responded by revamping the page in a way that puts the book in a completely different light. 

The petition complained that Amazon had abandoned its usual evenhandedness by posting the full text of a lengthy attack on Carter’s Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid in its “Editorial Reviews” section—and by repeatedly refusing customer requests that it add a more positive review in the same location for balance. 

In signing the petition, customers pledged to stop shopping at Amazon if the retailer did not come up with a more balanced page by Jan. 22. A copy of the petition, some 16,200 signatures, and supporting materials were sent to Bezos and his staff on Friday. The following morning, the “Editorial Reviews” section of the page listing Carter’s book was overhauled: It now begins with a glowing tribute from Amazon to the former president’s achievements and an interview with him about the book, plus a photo of him and graphic links to some of his other books—all new material, and all of it posted ahead of the negative review. 

This is a huge victory. The whole tone of the page is different now. Instead of saying, in effect, “Stay away from this vile book,” what it now conveys is the truth: that this is an important and fair-minded, even if controversial, book by a distinguished American who has unique qualifications to address the issue of Palestine. 

Paul Larudee, an El Cerrito piano technician who helped me organize the protest campaign, said, “Of course Amazon deserves credit for responding after initially refusing to make a change. However, the real credit goes to the thousands of petition signers who exercised their power—in this case the nonviolent power to take their business elsewhere. It gives hope that boycotts and other nonviolent efforts can help to end the larger injustices that Carter addresses in his book.” 

I’m sorry Amazon continues to display the review by Jeffrey Goldberg because I think it’s horribly unfair and misleading, and I still wish they would add one of the other reviews we suggested. Some people who signed the petition have let me know that they still intend to close their accounts if Amazon doesn’t make more changes, and I understand their feelings. But what the petition was really demanding was fair and balanced treatment for the book, and on the whole I think we’ve come pretty close to that objective.

The Save the Memorial Oak Grove tree sit-in is about to complete its second month. Among the campaign’s environmental supporters, which include the Native Plant Society and the Oak Foundation, the Sierra Club is the most powerful if not the most active. 

Many Sierra Club members are probably unaware that their organization’s ties to the area around Memorial Stadium are deep and old—as old as the club itself. 

Within a football’s throw from the stadium, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several founders and early leaders of the Sierra Club built their homes. 

Of course, there was no stadium then. There was only the bucolic Strawberry Canyon with its waterfall, grasslands, and native oaks. 

Just around the corner from the stadium oak grove lived the eminent geologist Joseph Le Conte (1823–1901). His house, designed by the renowned Victorian architect Clinton Day, stood at 2739 Bancroft Way, current site of Boalt Hall School of Law. 

Professor Le Conte first visited Yosemite Valley in 1870 on a 5-week Sierra camping trip with ten of his students, members of the first class of the University of California. On that trip Le Conte met John Muir, then living in the Valley. 

Le Conte invited Muir to join the party. Muir later described their ten-day ramble as “a most glorious season of terrestrial grace.” Thus began a friendship that was to last until Le Conte’s death. Le Conte’s account of the 1870 trip, “Ramblings throughout the High Sierra” would serve as the inspiration for the Sierra Club’s High Trips. 

A charter member of the Sierra Club, Le Conte served on its board of directors from 1892 to 1898. He died in Yosemite Valley on the eve of the club’s first High Trip. As a tribute to his leadership, the Sierra Club built Le Conte Memorial Lodge (1904) in Yosemite Valley. Designed by Maybeck’s brother-in-law John White, the lodge is a National Historic Landmark. 

Professor Le Conte’s son, Joseph Nesbit Le Conte (1870–1950), known as “Little Joe,” was another Sierra Club charter member. A director from 1898 to 1940, he was the club’s second President, serving from 1915 to 1917—after John Muir and before William E. Colby. A professor of mechanical and hydraulic engineering, the younger Le Conte built in 1908 a brown-shingle house at 19 Hillside Court, designed by Julia Morgan. The house is now the Berkeley Bayit, a student center for cooperative Jewish living. 

The two Le Contes have been honored with various names in the Sierra Nevada. Mount Le Conte, over 13,900 feet in the Mount Whitney region, was named for the father in 1895. Le Conte Canyon south of Muir Pass and Le Conte Point above Hetch Hetchy are named after the son. 

A hop, skip, and jump from the Joseph N. Le Conte house is the William Colby house, another brown-shingle creation of Julia Morgan’s. Attorney William E. Colby (1875–1964) joined the Sierra Club in 1898 and served as its secretary from 1900 until 1946, taking two years off to assume the club’s presidency. In 1901, Colby initiated the club’s outings program and led the annual High Trips until 1929. 

In 1905, Colby built his house at 2901 Channing Way, on the corner of Warring Street. A City of Berkeley designated landmark, the house has recently fallen into the hands of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, which replaced the front garden with an elevated concrete “play yard” without permit review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

Just across the street from the Memorial Stadium site, at 9 Canyon Road, Julia Morgan built in 1908 a house for UC Economics professor Lincoln Hutchinson (1866–1940). Hutchinson’s attorney brother James (1867–1959) would settle at 14 Mosswood Road in 1935. Both brothers were Sierra Club stalwarts. James was a charter member, a director from 1903 to 1907, and twice editor of the Bulletin. He was elected honorary Vice President in 1958. 

In the early 1920s, the Hutchinson brothers gathered a group of friends for winter outings on skis or snowshoes, founding the Sierra Ski Club. Lincoln purchased property at Norden, near Donner Summit, where the club built a lodge. The architect was Walter H. Ratcliff, a member of the group. The lodge was constructed by the members themselves in the summers of 1924 and 1925. The Sierra Club named the lodge after the Hutchinsons. 

A little further up on Panoramic Hill, Sierra Club leaders Edward Taylor Parsons (1861–1914) and his wife Marion Randall Parsons (1878–1953) bought the country house of San Francisco physician Silas Mercer Mouser. Built in 1888, this gable-roofed, white clapboard farmhouse faced the bay and was surrounded by almond orchards. 

Parsons was one of the first salesmen for the Sherwin-Williams paint company. An avid mountaineer and photographer, he settled in San Francisco about 1900 and joined the Sierra Club the same year, assisting William Colby in establishing the club’s outings program. Parsons served as a director of the Sierra Club from 1904 until his death. In his eulogy of Parsons, John Muir recalled: 

In 1907 he married Marion Randall, as able and enthusiastic a mountaineer as himself, whom he first met on the Sierra Club Outing of 1903, and three years later, in 1910, established his first home high up on the Berkeley hills overlooking the Golden Gate… 

Parsons moved the Mouser house from 11 Mosswood Road to 21 Mosswood, overlooking Strawberry Canyon, and retained John Hudson Thomas to remodel it in the Arts and Crafts style. On the new site, the house was turned around so the previous façade now faced the rear. Thomas added interest to the new façade by placing a substantial bay window surmounted by a false pediment above the entrance door, which shelters beneath a copper-sheathed awning supported by heavy wooden brackets. The exterior was clad in redwood barn shakes. 

It was at the Parsons home that John Muir began transcribing his Alaska journals in November 1912. Marion assisted Muir with the manuscript of Travels in Alaska in his final months and edited it for publication after his death in 1914. 

Edward Parsons died the same year. Parsons Memorial Lodge in Tuolumne Meadows at Yosemite National Park was built in his memory, and Parsons Peak in the Cathedral Range was named after him. Marion Parsons became the first woman elected to the board of directors of the Sierra Club and served in that capacity for 22 years, having a hand in the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. She was also an amateur painter. 

Following Edward’s death, Marion Parsons went on living at 21 Mosswood Road for another seven years. Her home continued to be a salon for leading nature enthusiasts and artists, where the Muir family, William Keith, Stephen Mather, William Colby, Ansel Adams, and others gathered. 

In 1921, Marion decided to build a new house on an adjacent double lot east of 21 Mosswood Road. Was she preparing to flee the stadium about to be built directly below her home? 

Designed by neighbor Walter T. Steilberg, the new house—also clad in redwood shingles—was sited away from the street and set in a rustic garden amidst seven mature Coast Live Oaks and a Sequoia gigantea, the latter planted by the Parsons. In this house, Marion Parsons continued to receive social gatherings—Ansel Adams is said to have played the piano here. 

Daniella Thompson publishes berkeleyheritage.com for the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA). 

Photograph by Daniella Thompson. Walter T. Steilberg designed this house in 1921 for Sierra Club director and editor Marion Parsons.  

I am in love with old houses. When I get a chance to spend a few hours or a day in an older home that has been left unchanged over the decades, I’m really in something of a trance much of the time. 

There is something about the way things were done 80 years ago (the age of many of the houses I look at) that’s much more deliberate, thoughtful and honorable. The aesthetics were often quite humble and sometimes quite homely (no pun intended but the shoe does fit, don’t it). Nowhere is this more true and applicable than in the flooring used in these homes and particularly in the use of that most servile and courageous of floorings, linoleum. 

For the most part, people of today have no idea what linoleum is, although the word is used widely (and usually in misnomer to mean vinyl flooring). Vinyl sheet flooring has become so thoroughly the usurper and pretender to this throne that actual linoleum is nearly forgotten and what a tragedy this is. 

Linoleum is nearly 150 years old and was developed and patented near London by a Rubber manufacturer in 1860 named Frederick Walton. The process involved the use of linseed oil, pigments of various sorts, pine rosen and pine flour. 

The mixture is cooked into a mixture called linoleum cement, which is in turn mixed with more pulps and then spread on a canvas backing. One of the things that this process produces is a solid, homogenous material that will retain it’s appearance as it becomes worn through.  

One of the things that has always amazed me about linoleum is the fact that it will maintain its appearance for an incredibly long time if it receives even a smidge of care and a minimum of abuse. I’ve been in kitchens from 1925 that still had, what I am sure was, the original floor and these often still look pretty good. There is no way that we’re going to be able to say that about any vinyl flooring installed today, unless the house were sealed up and left unused. 

These old floors also commonly featured in-laid patterns, often of incredible complexity and detail. I’ve seen some where a field of circles were cut through and a contrasting color was spliced in and then another shape was cut through both (just to show off) and spiced again. Some pattern are quite deco and some are just simple and pretty. 

The most common in-lay is a border piece and, in the style of the time, they often mimic the living room oak floor by taking the border through a knot at the visible corners. Sometimes these end up being installed on funny angles as the knot works its way around a 45 degree corner. These little touches and hand-workmanship separate these floors from the ones of today by a huge margin in my opinion. They are truly works of fine craftsmanship, as valid as a piece of fine furniture or a well-knit scarf. 

Linoleum has a look and feel that, even from a distance, separates itself, head, shoulders and torso, from vinyl floors. They seems to me much more comparable to nice quality ceramic tile but have advantages over that material as well. Linoleum, due to it’s springy ductile nature, endures when houses shift, holds water when the sink overflows, resists cracking and also allows for high traffic by wearing through with little visible aberration. It’s also easier on the spine and the old aching feet. 

The installation of true linoleum requires the same sort of knowledge that is involved in vinyl and is best left to installers. That said, a hearty venturer who does not want to try to cove the material up to baseboard height can master this with some patience. The danger is that a couple of hundred dollars worth of the material may have to get thrown out if things don’t work out. 

Vinyl flooring on the other hand is made from a very thin layer of PVC, which is stretchy and easily torn or damaged, laid over either cellulose based backings or fiberglass reinforced backings. Vinyl has the potential to be printed in a wide range of interesting patterns but frankly, the industry has shown an amazing lack of imagination and an overall aesthetic torpor. 

What is it with the manufacturing industry in this country? It’s not so bad overseas but U.S. manufacturers must be afraid that someone’s going to call them sissy-boys if they put out something really good looking. Oh well. No matter. Vinyl is largely of such inferior quality to linoleum that it’s hardly worth the trip. It is somewhat less expensive at $1-$2 per square foot, (Linoleum is in the $4-$6 range), but installation makes up the larger portion of the cost on most jobs anyway and in the end, it’s unlikely to cost twice as much for the same kitchen floor to do Linoleum. 

I’ve seen so many torn vinyl floors over the years that I can no longer imagine bothering to recommend the stuff. Vinyl rigid flooring tiles are somewhat better but again, the styles of most leave me pretty bored so I question the value of bothering to install the stuff. 

Linoleum flooring, on the other hand is now beginning to appear in some other forms that make for interesting option when it comes to installation. Marmoleum, which is type of linoleum made by the Dutch company Forbo, is available on a solid backing that has a click together joint.  

This “floating floor” is easy to install and even easier on the back and feet than conventional installations. Marmoleum is a slightly non-traditional formulation and is attached to a jute backing. The Dutch are not, apparently, afraid of sissy-boys (and let them get married and everything) and produce great colors and patterns. Go Holland. 

By the way, many other types of floors including cork, bamboo and various hardwoods are becoming more and more commonly available with click-to-join planking that greatly speeds installation. The choices available to us are almost TOO much and you really have to start any project by getting very specific about what you want things to look and feel like. Think about how the space will be used and the needs of the occupants. As noted above, consider your back and your feet. Consider the effects of a dark floor on the luminosity of the space (will you be looking for sewing needles on a black floor?). This kind of thinking is how one arrives at a great design. 

I just have to share one last thing before I call it quits for this one, my friends because it gave me such a giggle. This quote from the Marmoleum Tile Installation instructions (it’s not tile!) on the Green Building Supply website; 

Take pride in your work and be Professional at all times. (I am NOT joking). 

Words to live by, eh? 

We gardeners learn (or try to) that our work is worth doing despite disheartening setbacks. It’s the sort of nasty life lesson that somehow doesn’t stop hurting just as badly the tenth or hundredth time as it did the first. Still, we go on.  

Some of us are looking sadly at our frostbitten tender plants this week. (Fellow mourners: Do not prune off the apparently dead bits! Wait until late spring, at least; green buds will appear where you least expect.)  

Sometimes we lose big: locusts and landslides are bad news, but the worst can come from our own species. Gardeners who work in public have told me scary stories of theft, vandalism, and plain ignorance that would break the flintiest heart. 

Most recent was an e-mail from Susan Schwartz to the other members of the Friends of Five Creeks. The Friends do the highest form of gardening: restoration of natural areas. They’re volunteers, too—now that’s serious halo material.  

Concerning a stretch of Cerrito Creek on the Richmond-Albany border, near its entry into the Bay, Susan wrote: 

This message is hard to write. On the north side of Cerrito Creek at Pacific East Mall, where hundreds of volunteers did thousands of hours of work restoring natives beginning in 2001, nearly all the native grasses and many, probably most low-growing plants on the bank below the path appear to have been killed by herbicide. Three oaks appear to be dying as well. 

My best guess is that this was a mistake by landscapers, who have long used herbicide to kill weeds on the path at the top of the bank. It follows a long series of insults to this restoration project, including repeated mowing that wiped out small native shrubs we had planted, and kept grass from setting seed. Despite repeated requests, the owners of Pacific East Mall have never agreed to create a written maintenance plan for this project, as required in their use permit.  

I apologize to all who spent so many hours, in all kinds of weather, transforming this creek bank from a fenced-off garbage-and-blackberry jungle to a burgeoning oak savanna, alive with wildflowers. 

Susan discovered the damage just before the holidays, and hypothesizes that the spraying, possibly of some pre-emergent weedkiller, happened in December. The damage has progressed since then. From what I saw, I wonder if some herbicide washed downhill toward the creek: a scary thought.  

“What’s saddest is that stretch had become pretty self-sustaining,” Susan said. “The one bright spot is that the Richmond city people have been very helpful, all along.” 

Despite the swath of death, we saw in a half-hour’s casual stroll a young red-shouldered hawk hunting lunch, a great egret, Anna’s hummingbirds, several black phoebes, and various warblers and sparrows; and monarch butterflies lured out by the warm day. Across the creek, young native plants still thrive.  

If you volunteered here, or just walked the trail, Susan asks that you email Joe Light in Richmond's Community Development department, and say what the place has meant to you:  

joe_light@ci.richmond.ca.us. Please also copy to f5creeks@aol.com. 

It Won’t Be So Bad 

Earthquakes are mostly just inconvenient, right? So let’s not worry too much. The really major ones happen elsewhere, except maybe for San Francisco in 1906. But that was a long time ago. 

I give talks to civic/business groups about earthquake preparedness, and I’ve actually had people comment that they did just fine in the Loma Prieta or Northridge quake, so they’re not really concerned. One man told me he figured there wasn’t much he could do anyway, so why bother. 

Really? Not much we can do? Remember that: 

• it is the retrofitted houses that have survived previous big quakes.  

• an automatic gas shut-off valve means your house is less likely to burn to the ground after a quake.  

• furniture and appliances that are secured won’t injure you or your family.  

• historically (think Katrina), we cannot count on having water, food, electricity, gas, or usable roads after a disaster like a big quake, so we should have our own emergency supplies.  

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.

On Jan. 16, PBS News Hour host Jim Lehrer interviewed President Bush. This encounter told us a lot about Bush’s brand of conservatism, in particular, his feelings about sacrifice. 

Toward the end of the interview, Lehrer asked Bush: 

“[If the struggle in Iraq] is as important as you’ve just said ... why have you not, as president of the United States, asked more Americans and more American interests to sacrifice something? The people who are now sacrificing are, you know, the volunteer military—the Army and the U.S. Marines and their families. They’re the only people who are actually sacrificing anything at this point.” 

The president said Americans had sacrificed “peace of mind,” then added: 

“Now, here in Washington when I say, ‘What do you mean by that?,’ they say, ‘Well, why don’t you raise their taxes; that’ll cause there to be a sacrifice.’ I strongly oppose that. If that’s the kind of sacrifice people are talking about, I’m not for it because raising taxes will hurt this growing economy. And one thing we want during this war on terror is for people to feel like their life’s moving on, that they’re able to make a living and send their kids to college and put more money on the table.” 

The Lehrer interview made clear that Bush’s notion of sacrifice is remarkably narrow: asking Americans to pay more taxes. His conservative ideology argues that we’re all materialists: all Americans care about is money. 

In his Sept. 20, 2001, speech to the nation the president reflected a similar view: 

“Americans are asking: What is expected of us? I ask you to live your lives, and hug your children ... I ask you to uphold the values of America ... I ask you to continue to support the victims of this tragedy with your contributions ... I ask for your patience... I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy.” 

At the onset of his “war on terror,” Bush didn’t ask Americans for broad sacrifice: didn’t ask them to conserve gasoline or to donate blood or do any of the things previous presidents have requested in time of war. He asked citizens to “keep on keeping on:” to be patient and support the economy, go shopping as usual. 

Why didn’t Bush ask Americans for a broad sacrifice for the good of the country? It’s not like this is an alien idea in western culture. The notion of personal sacrifice for the common good is a cornerstone of Christianity and has featured prominently in the rhetoric of previous US Presidents. But this brand of sacrifice is not supported by the president’s materialistic conservatism. 

For the past six years, Bush’s disdain for real sacrifice had a huge impact on the American psyche. It meant that the average citizen was keenly aware of Bush’s “war on terror” but had no role to play other than to struggle to respond when the “threat level” was elevated from yellow to orange or red. This situation—Americans being continuously informed that they are at risk from a terrorist attack, but given no concrete way to respond—produced widespread public anxiety. Among other consequences, this made voters more malleable and, no doubt, helped Republicans politically in the 2002 and 2004 elections, when they played “the fear card.” 

The Bush “no sacrifice” maxim produced a variety of atrocious administration policies, the most notable of which was the decision to invade and occupy Iraq and not raise taxes. As a consequence, America went deeply in debt, and jeopardized the long-term viability of our economy. Nonetheless, the federal government continues to spend more than it earns; an economic condition replicated in the lives of average Americans, who also spend more than they earn—typically financing their debt with home equity loans. 

George Bush’s unwillingness to call for real sacrifice produced a policy horizon that refused to deal with the long-term. As a result, the Bush administration has not prepared Americans for the coming decades of dramatic oil shortages and devastating weather produced by global warming. Experts leave no doubt that in order to prevent the worst consequences of both occurrences Americans must turn away from materialism and begin to conserve energy at an unprecedented pace. Nonetheless, conservation remains a dirty word with conservatives, because it implies personal sacrifice as well as an end to our unfettered exploitation of natural resources. 

President Bush and conservatives, in general, don’t like to talk about real sacrifice. They prefer to pretend that Americans can have it all: wage an expensive “war” on terror and continue to run a deficit economy fueled by tax cuts; enjoy artificially priced gasoline and ignore global climate change. They are materialists who prefer to focus on the present: argue that tomorrow is another day, and until then, personal sacrifice is unnecessary. 

Of course, the day of reckoning will eventually come. Who will be the first brave politician to fully embrace a new American politics of sacrifice? 

Bob Burnett is a Berkeley writer. He can be reached at bobburnett@comcast.net 

My mother and I went to see Dreamgirls on Dec. 25, the day it opened in theaters across the country. It was the first time Mom had gone to a movie on Christmas day, the first time she’d experienced a sold-out theater and had to wait two hours for the next showing, and the first time she’d thought about The Supremes since spring, 1968.  

That was the year I turned 16 and my parents took me to see the wildly popular all-girl group. Back then, The Supremes were appearing at the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a supposedly Mafia run joint located across the highway from the Garden State Racetrack. 

It wasn’t really a casino. Legal gambling wasn’t permitted, but the exterior and interior looked exactly like the clubs depicted in the movie: the Dreamgirls performing on a shimmering blood-red stage, in front of an all-white audience seated at small round tables, adults drinking highballs and smoking cigarettes, accompanied by teenage girls sipping Shirley Temples made to look like just like the real thing. 

My father, who had gone with us to see The Supremes, refused to join us for Dreamgirls. He had an important TV date with the Philadelphia Eagles that could not be broken. “Besides,” he said. “I’ve seen the Supremes.”  

“Thirty-eight years ago,” I reminded him.  

“Exactly,” said Dad. 

Mom and I, like everyone else in the crowded theater, loved the movie. “Fabulous,” she said when the lights came up and the room began to empty. “Was that Diana Ross playing herself?”  

We went home. The Eagles had won so Dad was in a celebratory mood. “Make us a cocktail,” demanded Mom. “We’ve just returned from a trip down memory lane.” 

“What do you remember about seeing The Supremes?” I asked Dad as he mixed our drinks.  

“The guy in the parking lot in charge of telling people where to park.”  

“The guy in the parking lot?” 

“Of course,” said Dad, as if recalling a car jockey from four decades ago was a normal recollection. “He was big and burley and his nose was punched in like a prize fighter, and he made me park way in the back, while other people in newer model Cadillacs got to park up front.” 

“I remember what you wore,” said Mom, looking at me over the top of her martini glass. “A skirt that was too short, hair teased too high, and black mascara that was applied far too thick. You looked like a floozie.” 

“Susan always looked like a floozie back then,” said Dad. “Thank God that stage has passed.” 

“What else do you remember,” I asked, ignoring the floozie comments. I’ve heard them before.  

“I tried to get tickets two weeks in advance,” said Mom. “But it was sold-out. I couldn’t believe it. At the time I’d never heard of The Supremes, had you, Dewey?” 

“No,” said Dad. “Never. So we called my Uncle Jack. You remember Uncle Jack, don’t you? He was a police chief and he had, how should I put this? Connections. I said, ‘Jack, can you get us into the Latin Casino to see The Supremes and he said no problem,’ but the next day he called back and said ‘Who the hell are the Supremes?” 

“He got the tickets,” said Mom. 

“He got the tickets,” agreed Dad, “and so we went, and it was a good time, and those girls could really sing.” He paused, took another sip of his drink, and added “But I hated that parking lot attendant.”  

“What else do you remember?” I asked. 

“The opening act,” said Dad. 

“The opening act?” asked Mom, “I don’t— 

“You don’t remember the opening act?” asked Dad. “The guy in the cowboy hat who— 

“The Supremes opened with a cowboy?” I asked. 

“A cowboy,” confirmed Dad. “Not like any cowboy I’d ever seen. He was dressed all in white, and wore a fur coat and — 

“You mean he was dressed like a pimp? I asked. 

“Well,” said Dad, frowning. “I was trying to be polite but — 

“Let’s have a toast,” said Mom, holding up her glass.  

“To The Dreamgirls and the Supremes,” I said. 

“To the Philadelphia Eagles,” said Dad. 

“To baby Jesus and Diana Ross,” said Mom. “Is she still alive?” 

If Chez Panisse were to serve up a menu to match its guardian bunya-bunya, it would include roast haunch of free-range sauropod and a salad of braised organic tree ferns. Maybe some wood-roasted hearts of sago palm and a gingko fruit crème brulee for dessert. If it ever gets around to producing its infamously huge cones—I’ve never seen the big ones here—the bunya-bunya’s seeds are edible, too. How about it, Alice? 

That oddly bifurcated individual of the species Araucaria bidwillii on Shattuck Avenue, with its scaly sharp leaves and rumpled trunk, is a member of one of the planet’s oldest tree families, the Araucariacieae. These trees were around to see the rise and fall of the great dinosaurs and their kin, when we mammals were barely skulking around on all fours. They can’t quite be said to be native to California or even North America because the continent, never mind the state, didn’t exist yet.  

We can find three species easily in the Bay Area: bunya-bunya; monkey-puzzle (A. araucana), and good old Norfolk Island pine (A. heterophylla), sold as Christmas trees and indoor plants. Bunya-bunya does OK indoors, too, and for all I know so does monkey-puzzle, but they’d need lots of elbow room with those sharp scales sticking out in seemingly random directions.  

Norfolk Island pine—named for the Norfolk Island in the south Pacific, not the Norfolk naval base in Virginia—prospers outdoors, as you can see by its representatives towering over other trees in the yards of old Victorian houses and down on Broadway in Mosswood park.  

Some araucarias were here, though, before there was a here here. The Petrified Forest in Arizona is bejeweled by the transformed corpses of monkey-puzzle trees. Those long-gone trees have suffered more than a sea change and into some thing rich and strange indeed, but maybe not more strange than they were in life.  

Fossils of various araucarias occur all over; they’re the sort of thing filmmakers like to have as backdrops for dinosaur epics. The PBS dinosaur series that ran a few years ago was filmed in New Caledonia. Of the world’s 19 araucaria species, 13 are found there. This little island way off Australia has about 3000 indigenous plant species—it’s like a mad god’s conservatory. It has, or had until humans arrived, lots of very odd reptile and bird species too. It shares araucarias with Australia, New Zealand and South America because they all used to be part of one big happy supercontinent, Gondwanaland. South America was on one shore, Australia (more or less) on the other.  

Some of these species are so old they rode the continents around like Huck Finn on his raft; others descended from those species in nature’s experimental labs, islands isolated from each other and from continents. New Caledonia is part of a huge land mass that ripped itself from Australia nearly 90 million years ago, and is now mostly underwater and on its way to a reunion with South America. Mother Nature, mad scientist that she is, raises her creatures from the available ancestral material. These odd trees were part of that. They prospered and diversified in a great geographic swath that now reaches across the Pacific.  

Naturalists used to wonder about how some marsupials—opossums, for example—and some “primitive” plants like araucarias conquered the vast oceanic barrier between Australia and South America. The answer, that the barrier hadn’t always been there and the lands had floated through it and recombined several times before and since, was more of a surprise than even fantasy writers had imagined. How very strange to think of such impermanence of solid land, and such persistence of fleeting life!  

Strange also to think of animals’ preceding plants in the chronology of ancient life. Maybe most of us are swayed by the early influence of reading or hearing the Book of Genesis, but the evident fact is that those dinosaurs and lots of other animals, including our mammalian ancestors, lived before flowering plants and long before grasses. What the dinosaurs roamed through and dined on were forests of araucarias, cycads (like sago “palms”), and ginkgoes, with understories of ferns, horsetails, and maybe a few remaining clubmosses. There were more species of each of these; the gingko we know, for example, is the lone survivor of a big family.  

It also seems that the birds that perch in the Chez Panisse tree are descendants of dinosaurs, and maybe the tree finds their presence familiar compared to that of the upstart bipeds below. Roast emu or ostrich might, in a pinch, be taxonomically basal enough to substitute for that sauropod dish. Certainly it would be easier for a forager to rustle up.  

Photograph: Ron Sullivan 

A mammal’s-eye view of the bunya-bunya at Chez Panisse.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “True West” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave., through Feb. 17. Tickets are $12. 649-5999.  

Altarena Playhouse Rogers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through Feb. 17. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553.  

Azeem’s “Rude Boy” at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way and runs Thurs.-Sat. through Jan. 27. Tickets are $15-$22. 800-838-3006. 

Berkeley Rep “The Pillowman” at 8 p.m. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through March 11. Tickets are $33-$61. 647-2949. 

Black Repertory Group “Wild Roots” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 3201 Adeline St., through Feb. 4. 652-2120. 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., at Moeser, El Cerrito., through March 3. Tickets are $15-$24. 524-9132.  

Masquers Playhouse “Arsenic and Old Lace” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., though Feb. 24, at 105 Park Playhouse, Point Richmond. Tickets are $15. 232-4031. 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The Tempest” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at The Metal Shop Theater, 2425 Stuart St., behind Willard Middle School. Runs through Feb. 17. Tickets are $15-$25. 800-838-3006.  

Rough and Tumble “43 Plays for 43 Presidents” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Eucid Ave. through Jan. 27. Tickets are $15-$20. 499-0356.  

Shotgun Players “The Forest War” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., extended through Jan 28. Sliding scale $15-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

ProArts Juried Annual, selections by Berin Golonu, opens at 550 Second St., Oakland. 763-9425. www.proartsgallery.org 

Tony Bellaver “Interventions” Performance art from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Donations accepted. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

“Health Through Art” opens at Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. 981-7533. 

FILM 

“Little Birds” A film by Takeharu Watai on the daily lives of Iraqi people following the launch of the US-led war, at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Presented by the Arab Film Festival. www.aff.org 

The Lubitsch Touch “The Wildcat” at 7 p.m. and “The Smiling Lieutenant” at 8:35 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Christopher Bollas, psychoanalyst and author at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Calvin Trillin reads from “About Alice” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Arts Festival Jerry Kuderna, piano with Nora Martin, soprano, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. Caost is $10. 665-9496. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

Country Joe McDonald in a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $30-$45. 843-0662. 

Trisha Brown Dance Company at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988.  

The Four Bags at 8 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. 845-1350. 

Dance Braided Lives A collaboration between artists, poets, dancers and musicians at 7 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Donation $10-$50. 843-2787. 

Terrain “WinterDances 2007” Sat. and Sun. at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 Eighth St. 848-4878. 

Indian Classical Music and Dance at 8 p.m. at Yoga Kula, 1700 Shattuck Ave. at Virginia. Cost is $10 at the door. 

Rumbaché, salsa, at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Bobbe Norris/Larry Dunlap Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Sambada, Antioquia, Afro-Brazilian-Funk at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Meli Rivera at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Stephen Bennett, guitar, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Dave Bernstein Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Noah Grant and Fred Odell at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

The Family Arsenal, Bye Bye Blackbirds, The Light Footwork at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

Gravy Train, Groovie Ghoulies, Ninja Academy at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

The P-PL at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Martin Luther, Anthony David at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$12. 548-1159.  

Socket at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

The Look, The May Fire, Excuses for Skipping, indie rock, at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

The Clash in Oaktown at 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. All ages. 763-1146.  

Kenny Garrett with Bobby Hutcherson though Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$66. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, JAN. 27 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Maria Fernanda Acuña & Melissa Rivera at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Diana Shmiana’s Puppets and Music at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 10th St., at Gilman. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

FILM 

The Lubitsch Touch “The Marriage Circle” at 6:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rhythm & Muse “Poetry Inside Out” with Yesenia Isabel Canada, Mehrnush Golriz, Alex Rowland, others at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., between Eunice & Rose. 644-6893.  

Vesta Kirby will discuss her works in “New Beginnings” at 2:30 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. Exhibition runs to Feb. 644-4930. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Concertante with Terrence Wilson, piano, at 7:30 p.m. at Regents Theater, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $35-$40. www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

Trisha Brown Dance Company at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Winds Across Russia” at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Richmond, 770 Sonoma St., at Solano Ave., Richmond. Tickets are $10. 243-0514. 

Donne di Mezzi “A Due Voci” 17th and early 18th century duets for matched voices at 8 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman St. Donation $5-$10. 

TomKat Roher, Mike Glendinning, The Trencherman at the Missouri Lounge, 2600 San Pablo Ave. Free. 548-2080. 

The Mixers at 9 p.m. at The Pub at Baltic Square, 135 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. Cost is $5. www.balticsquarepub.com  

Lo Cura! at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Lava Nights, AIDS Marathon Benefit at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Mo’ Rockin! at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Baba Ken & The Afro-Groove Connexion with KTO Project at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Evelie Posch and Eileen Hazel at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Lou & Peter Berryman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

“Shimshai” Kirtan Devotional Music Series at 8 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Tickets are $16-$18. 843-2787. 

Smith Dobson V Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Jeremy Steinkoler Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

George Cotsirilos Jazz Group at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

The Dirty Martinis at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Nate Cooper & Mario Desio, folk and rock, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

The Ravines at 8 p.m. at Sea Mi, 856 San Pablo Ave. Albany. 

Tempest, Caliban at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. All ages show. Cost is $12. 841-2082.  

Beep! Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

30 Foot Tall, Fleshies, Abi Yo Yo’s at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Kenny Garrett with Bobby Hutcherson though Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$66. 238-9200.  

SUNDAY, JAN. 28 

CHILDREN 

Family Explorations “Musical Masterpieces” A special Black History day with jazz musicians, and the opportunity to paint to live music. From 1 to 5 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“Winter Time at the Little Farm” A puppet show for the whole family at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Family Workshop and Concert with Odile Lavault of the Baguette Quartette, for ages 10 and up, at 2 p.m. at Black Pine Circle Theater, 2017 Seventh St. at University. Followed by a concert at 4 p.m. For information and tickets call 528-3723. 

THEATER 

The Chris Chandler & David Roe Show with singing CIA Agent George Shrub at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $18-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

365 Days/365 Plays Week 11 at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Rep School of Theater, Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addision St.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“A Rose Has No Teeth: Bruce Nauman in the 1960s” Guided tour at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

FILM 

African Film Festival “A Child’s Love Story” at 3:30 p.m. and “New Visions from Africa” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Kathryn Alice reads from “Love Will Find You: Magnets to Bring You and Your Soulmate Together” at 6 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Kurt Hackbarth will read from his poetry of Oaxaca, Mexico in “Man With Luggage” at 5 p.m. at Nomad Café, 6500 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. 595-5344. 

Sonia Gaemi discusses “Eating Wisely for Hormonal Balance” at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Poetry Flash with Paul Hover reading from “Edge and Fold” and Dawn Michelle Baude reading from “Egypt” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Symphonica Toscanini with Lorin Maazel conducting, at 3 p..m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$76. 642-9988. 

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra Winter Concert at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. Free, donations requested. www.prometheussymphony.org 

Live Oak Concert with Lawrence London, clarinet, Victor Romasevich, violin, Lena Lubotsky, piano, and the Jupiter String Quartet, performing works by Mozart, Brahms, Iosif Andriasov at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $10. 644-6893. berkeleyartcenter.org 

Country Joe McDonald in a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. at Café de la  

paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $30-$45. 843-0662. 

Bill Evans String Summit with Scott Nygaard, Tashina Clarridge, Tristan Clarridge, Michael Witcher and Cindy Browne at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Kitka & Trio Kavkasia “Songs from Beyond the Black Sea” at 5 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 685 14th St., Oakland. TIckets are $20-$25. 444-0323. www.kitka.org 

The Chris Chandler and David Roe Show with Singing CIA Agent George Shrub and satirist Dave Lippman at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568.  

Brazilian Soul at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

“ViolinJazz” Quartet at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Bandworks Recitals at 1 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Wee at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

MONDAY, JAN. 29 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Paintings of Abu Ghraib” by Columbian artist Fernando Botero opens with a conversation with the artist at 4 p.m. in the Chevron Auditorium, International House. Exhibition opens at 6 p.m. at 190 Doe Library, UC Campus, and runs through March 23. 643-5651. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

“Street Portraiture” Photographs by Tom Stone opens at The LightRoom Gallery, 2263 Fifth St. and runs through Feb. 28. 649-8111. 

THEATER 

Shakespeare Intensive “A Winter’s Tale” staged reading at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, Fireside Room, 1925 Cedar at Bonita. Other plays to be read each Mon. to Feb. 26. Cost is $5. 276-3871. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Page to Stage A conversation with Tony Amendola and Les Waters at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Free. 647-2949. 

Ann Sherman and Ryan Newton at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Kim Todd reads from “Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Stephen Hinshaw discusses “The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Poetry Express with Arthur Weil at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Yolanda Rhodes, soprano and Ric Louchard, piano, at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. 849-1100. 

Classical at the Freight with San Francisco Chamber Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Blue Monday Jam at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

Sony Holland at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200.  

TUESDAY, JAN. 30 

CHILDREN 

Children’s Illustrator Elaine Chu introduces her new book “The Year of the Pig” for ages 3 and up at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. Free. 524-3043. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Unveiling of a New Tapestry by Elisa Kelven at 3 p.m. in the Story Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Family concerts with Juan Sanchez at 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. 981-6224. 

“Looking for Hope: Paintings About Oakland by Daniel Camacho” Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, César Chávez Branch, 3301 East 12th St., Oakland. 535-5620. 

FILM 

Yoko Ono: Imagine Film “Bed-In” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Schwarzenberger reads from “In Faro’s Garden” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Neal Pollack describes his role as “Alternadad” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Itzhak Perlman, violin with Janet Guggenheim, piano at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$88. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Tom Rigney & Flambeau at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Teja Gerken and Vicki Genfan, acoustic guitar, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Ellen Hoffman Trio and Singers’ Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

Paula Morelenbaum at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Randy Craig Trio at 7:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jazzschool Tuesdays, a weekly showcase of up-and-coming ensembles from Berkeley Jazzschool 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31 

THEATER 

Word for Word “Strangers We Know” Wed.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $25-$33. 415-437-6775. www.zspace.org  

FILM 

History of Cinema: “Show People” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Maxine Hong Kingston in conversation with her husband, Earll Kingston, at 7 p.m. at College Prep School, Oakland. Tickets are $12.50-$15, students $5. www.college-prep.org/livetalk 

“Art and Violence” with Tim Clark, Tom Laqueur and Francine Masiello in conjunction with the exhibition “Paintings of Abu Ghraib” by Columbian artist Fernando Botero at 4 p.m. in the Morrison Library, Doe Library, UC Campus. 643-5651. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

Mary Anderson Parks reads from her novel “They Call Me Bunny” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Jay Griffiths decribes “Wild: An Elemental Journey” at 3 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with Jazz Trio at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Paco de Lucía, flamenco, jazz guitar, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $24-$48. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Sontraud Speidel, piano, at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. 845-1350. 

Wild Wind at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Bandworks Recitals at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

“Body Tales” Improv movement performance at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 8th St. Donatoin $5-$20. 532-1020. 

Savant Guard at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Paul Manousos at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Bill Kirchen, dieselbilly and truck-stop rock, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Paula Morelenbaum at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, FEB. 1 

EXHIBITIONS 

Michael Howerton “Portraits” opens at Chachie’s Coffee Shop, 1768 Broadway at 19th St., Oakland. Though Feb. 28. www. 

howertonphoto.blogspot.com 

“Used and Re-Used: decorative objects made from utilitarian materials” opens at the The Ames Gallery, 2661 Cedar St. through March 31. 845-4949. www.amesgallery.com 

“The Children of Chaguitillo” Photographs by Harold Adler opens at Au Coquelet Cafe, 2000 University Ave. and runs through March 31. 

“Fire in the Heart” Paintings by Foad Satterfield influenced by African art opens at the Community Gallery, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2450 Ashby Ave., through March 2. 204-1667. 

“Environmental Surrealism” works by Guy Colwell and Michelle Waters at Esteban Sabar Gallery, 480 23rd St., Oakland, through Feb. 23. 444-7411. www.estebansabar.com 

“100 Families in Oakland: Art & Social Change” at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts.. Oakland, through April 22. 238-2200. 

Paintings by Allan Reynolds at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter, 3rd flr., 101 Eighth St., Oakland. Exhibition runs through March. 817-5773. 

“Transforming Vision: The Wood Sculpture of William Hunter, 1970-2005” at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts.. Oakland, through March 18. 238-2200. 

“Berkeley: 75 Years Ago” at the Berkeley History Center, Veterans Memorial Building, 1931 Center St. Hours are Thurs.-Sat., 1 to 4 p.m. Exhibit runs through March. 848-0181.  

“Art of Living Black” at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond, and runs through March 16. 620-6772. www.richmondartcenter.org 

Oakland Art Association Juried Show at the MTC Offices, Bort MetroCenter, 3rd floor, 101 Eighth St., Oakland. Exhibition runs to March 30. 817-5773. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lunch Poems with Dunya Mikhail at 12:10 p.m. in the Morrison Library, in the Doe Library, UC Campus. http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu 

Robert Pinsky talks about the “Favorite Poem Project” at 7:30 p.m. at Wheeler Hall, UC Campus. Free tickets issued at 6 p.m. 

Jack Marshall, poet, at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Stephen Klaidman decribes “Coronary: A True Story of Medicine Gone Awry” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Adina Sara reads from “100 Words Per Minute: Tales From Behind Law Office Doors” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Paco de Lucía, flamenco, jazz guitar, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $24-$48. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Leslie Helpert “28 Teenage Angst” at 8 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Donation $10, or a damn good joke/story. 544-2204. 

Shinehead with Reggae Angels and Razorblade, reggae, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13-$15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands with Tom Rozum, Todd Phillips, Craig Smith and Scott Huffman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Randy Moore Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Laura Klein & Ted Wolff, piano and vibraphone, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

The Sweet Nothings, Jack Killed Jill, Vicious Denial at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Joe Cardillo at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Tourettes without Regrets at 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. All ages. Cost is $8. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Pieces of a Dream at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $22-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com

IRAQI LIFE IN A TIME OF WAR 

The Arab Film Festival will present a screening of Little Birds, a film by director Takeharu Watai about the daily lives of Iraqi people following the launch of the war in 2003, at 7 p.m. Friday at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. For more information, see www.aff.org. 

‘THE LUBITSCH TOUCH’ AT PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE 

Pacific Film Archive continues its Ernst Lubitsch retrospective with Saturday screenings of two of his best. The 1924 silent film The Marriage Circle, at 6:30 p.m., will feature piano accompaniment by Judith Rosenberg. And Greta Garbo stars in the 1939 Cold War classic Ninotchka at 8:30 p.m. $4 for PFA members and UC students; $8 for non-members. 2575 Bancroft Way. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. 

OPENING RECEPTION AND EXHIBIT 

“Paintings of Abu Ghraib,” an exhibit by Columbian artist Fernando Botero, opens with a conversation with the artist at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29 in the Chevron Auditorium at International House on the UC campus. The exhibit will run through March 23 at UC Berkeley’s Doe Library beginning at 6 p.m. Monday. 643-5651. www.clas.berkeley.edu. 

HITCHCOCK CLASSICS IN EL CERRITO 

The Cerrito Theater continues its series of Alfred Hitchcock classics with Psycho (1960), starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The film shows at 9:45 p.m. Friday night and will continue next week with more late-night screenings. For more information, see www.picturepubpizza.com.

An anxious detainee faces two cops in traditional configuration, tough and charming, for questioning in a bureaucratically, old-fashioned high-ceiling office—where? Everything seems timeless, and foreboding. But of what? The police seem sure, as usual; the suspect puzzled. 

That’s about when the fix—or un-fix—of Pillowman, Martin McDonagh’s acclaimed play now at the Berkeley Rep, sets in. Something like an irridescent fabulousness glows, if sometimes luridly, from the told and retold modules of the questions, hesitant responses, stories and situations that follow, rendering the often intense black humor of its London-raised (and streetwise) Irish writer paradoxically light as a feather—though telling, in the sense of what’s underscored. 

Later, after final curtain, when asked on the street what was playing at the Rep, and telling the questioner it was a comedy about fairytale-like stories that lead to the horrible deaths of children brought a slow, puzzled look. A glib synopsis, but true—and the audience laughed, and stood up at the end.  

Koturian K. Koturian is, in fact, not just a suspect, but a storyteller, a writer since childhood—though only one story has been published (“The Town on the Other Side of the River,” which Koturian reads aloud to the detective), in a magazine titled Libertat, that for a fleeting moment (there are many fleeting moments in Pillowman, but all will return to be rehearsed) seems to be the problem: political? Code? It seems to reference “The Pied Piper.” 

Koturian remarks, “It’s the children the Pied Piper was after; in my opinion, he brought the rats. He knew the townspeople wouldn’t pay him.” But no, it’s something else. (So much for lit. crit.) Koturian hears his brother scream from another room, his “spastic brother,” as the tough cop put it. Why is either of them involved? Children have disappeared. Koturian’s Kafkaesque tales have, as repetitive incident, the detective repeats, the brutal fate of children (which the audience might associate with Grimms’ Fairy Tales). Children in the town have disappeared, some later found, killed monstrously. Is Koturian responsible—or has someone re-enacted his stories in the most horrible details, of which the officers offer awful evidence? 

MacDonagh’s super-lucid, deliciously tangled tale is shaggier-than-thou, yet gets woolier, to explosions of laughter, especially at the strangest, hoariest points. There are double reverses that switch back a hundred-and-eighty degrees again. Every bit of territory is gone over at least twice, often in arch pantomimes of comportment, similar to the time-killing games in Beckett’s plays and novels. (Another McDonagh play carries, as title, the obsessive line from Lucky’s Waiting for Godot speech: The Skull in Connemara, but whatever borrowing there may be--and both tell of the appalling urge to tell tales—each detail is recast in a different tone, a very genial and hair-raising raconteur’s voice.) 

Koturian’s stories are enacted on a stage on stage, behind a scrim, one (just as wild as the others) apparently autobiographical, concerning his happy childhood, and the torture of his brother by his parents. Another is of a young girl who imitates Christ, down to wearing sandals and a beard—and her evil foster parents who put her through her icon’s passion. Even the cops begin to tell Koturian stories, whether of their own life or imaginative, but to give a world view (”I think the world is shit. That wouldn’t be a world view, though, would it?”) Contradictions, threats, confessions, the reassurances and seeming betrayals of his “special” brother--the intermittent awareness that none of what’s avowed might be true ... 

The strange, half-lulling, half-jolting tone is original to McDonagh’s piece, bringing a few vague hints of, yes, Kafka, or of the bittersweet plays and narratives of Beckett’s friend, Robert Pinget. Yet the only other full-length play of relatively recent date that’s been as original in memory (after six years of reviewing) is the Iranian Death of Yazgird that Darvag played at the Shotgun Lab a couple years back. And Pillowman, if anything, creates its own dramaturgy as it goes along, relentlessly justifying itself as its constituent parts are retold and changed. Antonin Artaud, the poet of modern theater, discussed the origin of Western drama: “In Aeschylus, Man is very evil [”mal” in French—which also means sick], but like a little god on stage ... then comes Euripides, and the juices flow; the floodgates are open—and we just can’t say, don’t exactly know where we are.” This was not a play done to spec in workshops; it follows in the tradition of those who have made an impulse of moment histrionic, and shown it with due immediacy to the community, to others at large. 

This is a breezy parable with a powerful undertow, about a “mere” storyteller and what it takes to insure the survival of his stories—and what is lost instead along the way. All involved deserve praise, from Les Waters’ firm but flexible direction, to the principals: Erik Lochtefeld (both Everyman and banally personable) as Koturian, Matthew Maher (offbeat and hypnotic) as his brother Michal, Tony Amendola (alternating sharp and almost wistful ) and a terrier-like Andy Murray as the cops—and the players in the story tableaux, victims or survivors: Nancy Carlin and Howard Swain, and young Brigette Lundy-Paine, Madeline Silverman, Brendan Reilly and Gabriel Vergez. 

Antje Ellerman’s set, Russell H. Champa’s lights, Anna R. Oliver’s costumes and Obadiah Eaves’ sound and music were all commendable, each adding to the total effect of Pillowman, something you can’t—or don’t want to—put your finger on. 

Pillowman 

The Berkeley Rep 

through Feb. 25, 8 p.m. 

Tickets $33-$61 

647-2949, www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contributed photo  

Tony Amendola, Andy Murray and Erik Lochtefeld perform in The Pillowman.

Pulitzer and MacArthur prizewinner Suzan-Lori Parks’ ongoing national dramatic marathon, 365 Days/365 Plays, for which Parks wrote a play a day for a year, is in its 11th week in the Bay Area theater round-robin, to be staged Sunday by 23 acting students of the Berkeley Rep’s theater school. 

Mary Beth Cavanaugh of the Rep’s school spoke with enthusiasm about the rapid process whereby seven directing students each received the script for one of the week’s plays with two weeks to consider the mostly one-page texts and develop ideas for staging, then had one three-hour rehearsal with a technical rehearsal slated the morning of performance. 

“And that’s all they get, unless they want to rehearse on their own time,” she said. “I helped in casting, mostly advanced acting students, non-Equity, but with experience. It’s a low, low-tech performance, with some sound cues and basic lighting, a few different looks. Some of the plays are five minutes, some 20; there were no time limits in developing the scripts. Half of the directing students are, or were, performers. Most are traditional theater directors, but one—who took a one-page script and with pages and pages of notes is staging it over 20 minutes—is a film director; another has a background in movement theater, choreography and performance art, and performed at New York’s La Mama lab theater.” 

The film director Mike Rose is filming his first feature this summer. He’s also acting in it, having studied and performed in the Bay Area. Of his piece, #2 “The Wagon,” Rose said, “The script’s just dialogue. Everything else is left open, giving the director an infinite number of ways to proceed, a tremendous amount of creative freedom. I drew on my background as a writer--short stories and poetry, besides film scripts—and used my imagination to create my own story around the dialogue, developing the characters, situations ... The two main actors were fellow students in acting classes. I guess we could’ve used another day, but we’ll have time for a brush-up after tech. The proof’s in the pudding: if the play goes well, then I can say the rehearsals were good! I was unfamiliar with Parks; I think this’s been an excellent choice by the school. The plays are very short but complete in themselves.” 

Neither Cavanaugh nor Rose saw a thread running through the plays, but Erica Blue, directing “apocalyptic” #7, “The Arrival of the End,” with her background in movement and in dealing with one-page plays before, noted that some of the plays “aren’t about relationships, or humanity, but more metaphysical. The characters are delving into something deeper, unspoken, to get to something they can’t explain. Something metaphysical.” But she agreed with Rose in that the plays have “a huge range, with a lot of room for the director to interpret.” Blue also was unfamiliar with Parks’ work. 

Blue said her approach is “minimal, slow moving—all there’s time for! It’s interesting to learn at a professional theater, where there’s such fast turnover and short rehearsal time, though not usually like this! There’re only six lines to the script. [Student and Bay Area performer] Dan Carbone’s in the show, who usually does 40 straight minutes of text. I have singer Aurora Josephson and bassist Damon Smith participating, too. I have no idea what the other directors are doing--though Mike may know what I’m doing, after the sound being so loud in the lobby! I lent him the wagon for his play, the one my kid rides in. It’s been a great experience. I can’t wait to see what everybody else comes up with—and what mine looks like, too!” 

Week 11 of 365 Days/365 Plays will be performed at the Berkeley Repertory’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., 3 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 28). Admission is pay-what-you-will. For information, call 647-2972 or visit www.berkeleyrep.org.

Every few weeks a group of about 60 film lovers gather at 9:30 on a Sunday morning in the lobby of the Albany Twin on Solano Avenue, to sip hot beverages while waiting in anticipation for the day’s mystery movie. It’s a small room and it fills up quickly with people and chatter and the aromas of coffee and tea and bagels. Enthusiastic as the crowd may be, they’re in no hurry to enter the theater; it’s a Sunday morning, after all, and much too early to move at anything but a leisurely pace. So by the time 10 a.m. rolls around they almost have to be cajoled and herded into the theater.  

The group is called Talk Cinema, a movie club with screenings and discussions led by UC Berkeley film lecturer Marilyn Fabe. The series takes place roughly once a month, with Fabe hosting a preview of an as-yet-unreleased film. Once Fabe manages to persuade the gathered throng that it’s time to get started, and after they have scattered throughout the auditorium to their preferred seats, she lets them in on the secret, finally revealing the name of the film they are about to see along with some background information on the production.  

After the closing credits roll and the lights come up, everyone takes a quick break and then gathers toward the front of the theater for a recap of the previous meeting’s film in the form of a reading of selected audience comment cards. Then they’ll delve headlong into what often becomes a wide-ranging discussion on the vices and virtues of the current film. 

Arriving for the Nov. 12 screening of The Painted Veil, it seemed as though I may have arrived a couple of weeks too late. The previous screening, on Oct. 29, had been Borat, the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy that would soon generate rave reviews along with a great deal of controversy. The film had sparked a particularly lively discussion with the Talk Cinema group. The Painted Veil, by contrast, didn’t seem to hold as much promise; a period piece about love and marriage in the time of cholera, on the surface, just didn’t seem capable of sparking as much debate as a guerilla comedy about a bigoted journalist from Kazakhstan traversing the United States in search of Pamela Anderson.  

But once the group settled back into their seats an enlightening discussion ensued.  

Reaction to the film was mixed. Some loved it and some hated it, with the rest of us landing at various points between. The result was a discussion that brought both the film’s virtues and failures to light, granting a better appreciation and understanding if not a better liking for the picture.  

Talk Cinema members bring a wide range of knowledge and interest to these discussions. One man was very knowledgeable on Chinese history and provided a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the cholera epidemic that provides the movie’s backdrop; several other participants shared their intimate knowledge of the works of W. Somerset Maugham, from whose novel the film is adapted; another member shared insights from his background in anthropology, casting doubt on the Chinese burial practices depicted in the film; and another woman offered a thoughtful comparison between the new film and the 1934 version starring Greta Garbo.  

“That’s what I’m trading on,” says Fabe, “all the wonderful, knowledgeable people of Berkeley with their diverse areas of expertise. It’s wonderful to do this sort of thing in a place like this.” 

Which is not to say this is a stuffy intellectual group; far from it. These are movie lovers first and foremost. Participants readily admitted their biases, some confessing to an intense dislike for Maugham, others a strong affection. Some were quite taken with the romance of the film, others not so much. Some found the transformation of Naomi Watts’ character compelling while others found it unconvincing. And while some found the background tale of politics and imperialism to be a complex and fascinating milieu, others thought the use of geopolitical struggles as a metaphor for a couple’s evolving relationship a trite device at best. 

Yet all opinions were respected and taken seriously. This is not an academic environment; it is more like a book club.  

“People are hungry for this kind of interaction,” says Fabe. “So many people come up to me and say ‘You know, I’ll go out to see a movie with my friends and afterwards they won’t have a thing to say about it. We just go out to dinner and talk about other things as though the movie never happened.’ ” 

Talk Cinema was founded by film critic Harlan Jacobson 15 years ago as an attempt to replicate the experience of attending a film festival. Jacobson himself attends festivals around the country and hand-picks films for the series. A few years ago Talk Cinema started a chapter at the Aquarius Theater in Palo Alto and hired Fabe as host and moderator. A couple of years later she persuaded the company to start a Berkeley chapter, allowing Fabe to avoid the commute to the peninsula and simply “roll out of bed and onto Solano Avenue to the Twin” on Sunday mornings.  

While the audience doesn’t know what they’re going to see, Fabe really does her homework, viewing the films in advance whenever possible and doing copious research into each film’s history, reading reviews, interviews and production notes so that she can start off each discussion on solid footing.  

“If you told them what the film was going to be, they might not come, and they’d miss out on a wonderful experience,” Fabe says, citing the example of The Woodsman from a previous season. “They’d say, ‘I don’t want to see a movie about a child molester!’ and they wouldn’t show up and they’d miss out. People always say to me, ‘If I had known what it was I wouldn’t have come, but I’m glad I did.’ ”  

The Berkeley chapter apparently differs from other chapters in its preferences. The Painted Veil, for instance, did very well with other chapters, but Fabe’s group didn’t take to it quite as readily.  

“They don’t like all that Masterpiece Theater kind of stuff,” she says. “They want something a little edgier.”  

According to the Talk Cinema blog, 40 percent of Berkeley members rated The Painted Veil as “excellent” on comment cards submitted after the show, and another 40 percent described it as “good” for an overall positive rating of 80 percent. This compares with Boston and Dallas with positive ratings of 96 and 97 percent. When asked if they would recommend the film, only 65 percent of the Berkeley crowd said yes, compared with other cities in the series that recommended the film at rates of anywhere between 80 percent and 98 percent. 

Comment card remarks ranged from grouchy to enthusiastic to silly. “Watching depressed people for two hours is unpleasant no matter how beautiful the scenery,” remarked one. “Illuminated what mature love consists of and how it comes to fruition,” wrote a second. “A celibate Edward Norton, what a waste!” bemoaned a third. A Dallas participant, quoted on the company’s blog, used a pun to register her displeasure: “A regular Maugham & Pop tragedy.” 

The Berkeley series has steadily added patrons, but it’s a for-profit business and will likely need to find a consistent audience of more than 100 if it is to survive beyond this season. If the season is a success, Talk Cinema will return to Berkeley for another season in September. The largest chapter, in Philadelphia, regularly seats 400.  

Patrons pay $149 for the 10-film season, but the cost is pro-rated for subscriptions taken out after the season has begun. Day of show admissions are also available for $20 per person. 

TALK CINEMA 

10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28 at the Albany Twin, 1115 Solano Ave., Albany. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Later screenings in the series take place Feb. 11, Feb. 25, March 11, April 22 and May 6. 

To register, send check or money order to Talk Cinema PO Box 686 Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 or call (800) 551-9221 to subscribe by phone. For more information, see www.talkcinema.com.

The Save the Memorial Oak Grove tree sit-in is about to complete its second month. Among the campaign’s environmental supporters, which include the Native Plant Society and the Oak Foundation, the Sierra Club is the most powerful if not the most active. 

Many Sierra Club members are probably unaware that their organization’s ties to the area around Memorial Stadium are deep and old—as old as the club itself. 

Within a football’s throw from the stadium, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several founders and early leaders of the Sierra Club built their homes. 

Of course, there was no stadium then. There was only the bucolic Strawberry Canyon with its waterfall, grasslands, and native oaks. 

Just around the corner from the stadium oak grove lived the eminent geologist Joseph Le Conte (1823–1901). His house, designed by the renowned Victorian architect Clinton Day, stood at 2739 Bancroft Way, current site of Boalt Hall School of Law. 

Professor Le Conte first visited Yosemite Valley in 1870 on a 5-week Sierra camping trip with ten of his students, members of the first class of the University of California. On that trip Le Conte met John Muir, then living in the Valley. 

Le Conte invited Muir to join the party. Muir later described their ten-day ramble as “a most glorious season of terrestrial grace.” Thus began a friendship that was to last until Le Conte’s death. Le Conte’s account of the 1870 trip, “Ramblings throughout the High Sierra” would serve as the inspiration for the Sierra Club’s High Trips. 

A charter member of the Sierra Club, Le Conte served on its board of directors from 1892 to 1898. He died in Yosemite Valley on the eve of the club’s first High Trip. As a tribute to his leadership, the Sierra Club built Le Conte Memorial Lodge (1904) in Yosemite Valley. Designed by Maybeck’s brother-in-law John White, the lodge is a National Historic Landmark. 

Professor Le Conte’s son, Joseph Nesbit Le Conte (1870–1950), known as “Little Joe,” was another Sierra Club charter member. A director from 1898 to 1940, he was the club’s second President, serving from 1915 to 1917—after John Muir and before William E. Colby. A professor of mechanical and hydraulic engineering, the younger Le Conte built in 1908 a brown-shingle house at 19 Hillside Court, designed by Julia Morgan. The house is now the Berkeley Bayit, a student center for cooperative Jewish living. 

The two Le Contes have been honored with various names in the Sierra Nevada. Mount Le Conte, over 13,900 feet in the Mount Whitney region, was named for the father in 1895. Le Conte Canyon south of Muir Pass and Le Conte Point above Hetch Hetchy are named after the son. 

A hop, skip, and jump from the Joseph N. Le Conte house is the William Colby house, another brown-shingle creation of Julia Morgan’s. Attorney William E. Colby (1875–1964) joined the Sierra Club in 1898 and served as its secretary from 1900 until 1946, taking two years off to assume the club’s presidency. In 1901, Colby initiated the club’s outings program and led the annual High Trips until 1929. 

In 1905, Colby built his house at 2901 Channing Way, on the corner of Warring Street. A City of Berkeley designated landmark, the house has recently fallen into the hands of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, which replaced the front garden with an elevated concrete “play yard” without permit review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

Just across the street from the Memorial Stadium site, at 9 Canyon Road, Julia Morgan built in 1908 a house for UC Economics professor Lincoln Hutchinson (1866–1940). Hutchinson’s attorney brother James (1867–1959) would settle at 14 Mosswood Road in 1935. Both brothers were Sierra Club stalwarts. James was a charter member, a director from 1903 to 1907, and twice editor of the Bulletin. He was elected honorary Vice President in 1958. 

In the early 1920s, the Hutchinson brothers gathered a group of friends for winter outings on skis or snowshoes, founding the Sierra Ski Club. Lincoln purchased property at Norden, near Donner Summit, where the club built a lodge. The architect was Walter H. Ratcliff, a member of the group. The lodge was constructed by the members themselves in the summers of 1924 and 1925. The Sierra Club named the lodge after the Hutchinsons. 

A little further up on Panoramic Hill, Sierra Club leaders Edward Taylor Parsons (1861–1914) and his wife Marion Randall Parsons (1878–1953) bought the country house of San Francisco physician Silas Mercer Mouser. Built in 1888, this gable-roofed, white clapboard farmhouse faced the bay and was surrounded by almond orchards. 

Parsons was one of the first salesmen for the Sherwin-Williams paint company. An avid mountaineer and photographer, he settled in San Francisco about 1900 and joined the Sierra Club the same year, assisting William Colby in establishing the club’s outings program. Parsons served as a director of the Sierra Club from 1904 until his death. In his eulogy of Parsons, John Muir recalled: 

In 1907 he married Marion Randall, as able and enthusiastic a mountaineer as himself, whom he first met on the Sierra Club Outing of 1903, and three years later, in 1910, established his first home high up on the Berkeley hills overlooking the Golden Gate… 

Parsons moved the Mouser house from 11 Mosswood Road to 21 Mosswood, overlooking Strawberry Canyon, and retained John Hudson Thomas to remodel it in the Arts and Crafts style. On the new site, the house was turned around so the previous façade now faced the rear. Thomas added interest to the new façade by placing a substantial bay window surmounted by a false pediment above the entrance door, which shelters beneath a copper-sheathed awning supported by heavy wooden brackets. The exterior was clad in redwood barn shakes. 

It was at the Parsons home that John Muir began transcribing his Alaska journals in November 1912. Marion assisted Muir with the manuscript of Travels in Alaska in his final months and edited it for publication after his death in 1914. 

Edward Parsons died the same year. Parsons Memorial Lodge in Tuolumne Meadows at Yosemite National Park was built in his memory, and Parsons Peak in the Cathedral Range was named after him. Marion Parsons became the first woman elected to the board of directors of the Sierra Club and served in that capacity for 22 years, having a hand in the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916. She was also an amateur painter. 

Following Edward’s death, Marion Parsons went on living at 21 Mosswood Road for another seven years. Her home continued to be a salon for leading nature enthusiasts and artists, where the Muir family, William Keith, Stephen Mather, William Colby, Ansel Adams, and others gathered. 

In 1921, Marion decided to build a new house on an adjacent double lot east of 21 Mosswood Road. Was she preparing to flee the stadium about to be built directly below her home? 

Designed by neighbor Walter T. Steilberg, the new house—also clad in redwood shingles—was sited away from the street and set in a rustic garden amidst seven mature Coast Live Oaks and a Sequoia gigantea, the latter planted by the Parsons. In this house, Marion Parsons continued to receive social gatherings—Ansel Adams is said to have played the piano here. 

Daniella Thompson publishes berkeleyheritage.com for the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA). 

Photograph by Daniella Thompson. Walter T. Steilberg designed this house in 1921 for Sierra Club director and editor Marion Parsons.  

I am in love with old houses. When I get a chance to spend a few hours or a day in an older home that has been left unchanged over the decades, I’m really in something of a trance much of the time. 

There is something about the way things were done 80 years ago (the age of many of the houses I look at) that’s much more deliberate, thoughtful and honorable. The aesthetics were often quite humble and sometimes quite homely (no pun intended but the shoe does fit, don’t it). Nowhere is this more true and applicable than in the flooring used in these homes and particularly in the use of that most servile and courageous of floorings, linoleum. 

For the most part, people of today have no idea what linoleum is, although the word is used widely (and usually in misnomer to mean vinyl flooring). Vinyl sheet flooring has become so thoroughly the usurper and pretender to this throne that actual linoleum is nearly forgotten and what a tragedy this is. 

Linoleum is nearly 150 years old and was developed and patented near London by a Rubber manufacturer in 1860 named Frederick Walton. The process involved the use of linseed oil, pigments of various sorts, pine rosen and pine flour. 

The mixture is cooked into a mixture called linoleum cement, which is in turn mixed with more pulps and then spread on a canvas backing. One of the things that this process produces is a solid, homogenous material that will retain it’s appearance as it becomes worn through.  

One of the things that has always amazed me about linoleum is the fact that it will maintain its appearance for an incredibly long time if it receives even a smidge of care and a minimum of abuse. I’ve been in kitchens from 1925 that still had, what I am sure was, the original floor and these often still look pretty good. There is no way that we’re going to be able to say that about any vinyl flooring installed today, unless the house were sealed up and left unused. 

These old floors also commonly featured in-laid patterns, often of incredible complexity and detail. I’ve seen some where a field of circles were cut through and a contrasting color was spliced in and then another shape was cut through both (just to show off) and spiced again. Some pattern are quite deco and some are just simple and pretty. 

The most common in-lay is a border piece and, in the style of the time, they often mimic the living room oak floor by taking the border through a knot at the visible corners. Sometimes these end up being installed on funny angles as the knot works its way around a 45 degree corner. These little touches and hand-workmanship separate these floors from the ones of today by a huge margin in my opinion. They are truly works of fine craftsmanship, as valid as a piece of fine furniture or a well-knit scarf. 

Linoleum has a look and feel that, even from a distance, separates itself, head, shoulders and torso, from vinyl floors. They seems to me much more comparable to nice quality ceramic tile but have advantages over that material as well. Linoleum, due to it’s springy ductile nature, endures when houses shift, holds water when the sink overflows, resists cracking and also allows for high traffic by wearing through with little visible aberration. It’s also easier on the spine and the old aching feet. 

The installation of true linoleum requires the same sort of knowledge that is involved in vinyl and is best left to installers. That said, a hearty venturer who does not want to try to cove the material up to baseboard height can master this with some patience. The danger is that a couple of hundred dollars worth of the material may have to get thrown out if things don’t work out. 

Vinyl flooring on the other hand is made from a very thin layer of PVC, which is stretchy and easily torn or damaged, laid over either cellulose based backings or fiberglass reinforced backings. Vinyl has the potential to be printed in a wide range of interesting patterns but frankly, the industry has shown an amazing lack of imagination and an overall aesthetic torpor. 

What is it with the manufacturing industry in this country? It’s not so bad overseas but U.S. manufacturers must be afraid that someone’s going to call them sissy-boys if they put out something really good looking. Oh well. No matter. Vinyl is largely of such inferior quality to linoleum that it’s hardly worth the trip. It is somewhat less expensive at $1-$2 per square foot, (Linoleum is in the $4-$6 range), but installation makes up the larger portion of the cost on most jobs anyway and in the end, it’s unlikely to cost twice as much for the same kitchen floor to do Linoleum. 

I’ve seen so many torn vinyl floors over the years that I can no longer imagine bothering to recommend the stuff. Vinyl rigid flooring tiles are somewhat better but again, the styles of most leave me pretty bored so I question the value of bothering to install the stuff. 

Linoleum flooring, on the other hand is now beginning to appear in some other forms that make for interesting option when it comes to installation. Marmoleum, which is type of linoleum made by the Dutch company Forbo, is available on a solid backing that has a click together joint.  

This “floating floor” is easy to install and even easier on the back and feet than conventional installations. Marmoleum is a slightly non-traditional formulation and is attached to a jute backing. The Dutch are not, apparently, afraid of sissy-boys (and let them get married and everything) and produce great colors and patterns. Go Holland. 

By the way, many other types of floors including cork, bamboo and various hardwoods are becoming more and more commonly available with click-to-join planking that greatly speeds installation. The choices available to us are almost TOO much and you really have to start any project by getting very specific about what you want things to look and feel like. Think about how the space will be used and the needs of the occupants. As noted above, consider your back and your feet. Consider the effects of a dark floor on the luminosity of the space (will you be looking for sewing needles on a black floor?). This kind of thinking is how one arrives at a great design. 

I just have to share one last thing before I call it quits for this one, my friends because it gave me such a giggle. This quote from the Marmoleum Tile Installation instructions (it’s not tile!) on the Green Building Supply website; 

Take pride in your work and be Professional at all times. (I am NOT joking). 

Words to live by, eh? 

We gardeners learn (or try to) that our work is worth doing despite disheartening setbacks. It’s the sort of nasty life lesson that somehow doesn’t stop hurting just as badly the tenth or hundredth time as it did the first. Still, we go on.  

Some of us are looking sadly at our frostbitten tender plants this week. (Fellow mourners: Do not prune off the apparently dead bits! Wait until late spring, at least; green buds will appear where you least expect.)  

Sometimes we lose big: locusts and landslides are bad news, but the worst can come from our own species. Gardeners who work in public have told me scary stories of theft, vandalism, and plain ignorance that would break the flintiest heart. 

Most recent was an e-mail from Susan Schwartz to the other members of the Friends of Five Creeks. The Friends do the highest form of gardening: restoration of natural areas. They’re volunteers, too—now that’s serious halo material.  

Concerning a stretch of Cerrito Creek on the Richmond-Albany border, near its entry into the Bay, Susan wrote: 

This message is hard to write. On the north side of Cerrito Creek at Pacific East Mall, where hundreds of volunteers did thousands of hours of work restoring natives beginning in 2001, nearly all the native grasses and many, probably most low-growing plants on the bank below the path appear to have been killed by herbicide. Three oaks appear to be dying as well. 

My best guess is that this was a mistake by landscapers, who have long used herbicide to kill weeds on the path at the top of the bank. It follows a long series of insults to this restoration project, including repeated mowing that wiped out small native shrubs we had planted, and kept grass from setting seed. Despite repeated requests, the owners of Pacific East Mall have never agreed to create a written maintenance plan for this project, as required in their use permit.  

I apologize to all who spent so many hours, in all kinds of weather, transforming this creek bank from a fenced-off garbage-and-blackberry jungle to a burgeoning oak savanna, alive with wildflowers. 

Susan discovered the damage just before the holidays, and hypothesizes that the spraying, possibly of some pre-emergent weedkiller, happened in December. The damage has progressed since then. From what I saw, I wonder if some herbicide washed downhill toward the creek: a scary thought.  

“What’s saddest is that stretch had become pretty self-sustaining,” Susan said. “The one bright spot is that the Richmond city people have been very helpful, all along.” 

Despite the swath of death, we saw in a half-hour’s casual stroll a young red-shouldered hawk hunting lunch, a great egret, Anna’s hummingbirds, several black phoebes, and various warblers and sparrows; and monarch butterflies lured out by the warm day. Across the creek, young native plants still thrive.  

If you volunteered here, or just walked the trail, Susan asks that you email Joe Light in Richmond's Community Development department, and say what the place has meant to you:  

joe_light@ci.richmond.ca.us. Please also copy to f5creeks@aol.com. 

It Won’t Be So Bad 

Earthquakes are mostly just inconvenient, right? So let’s not worry too much. The really major ones happen elsewhere, except maybe for San Francisco in 1906. But that was a long time ago. 

I give talks to civic/business groups about earthquake preparedness, and I’ve actually had people comment that they did just fine in the Loma Prieta or Northridge quake, so they’re not really concerned. One man told me he figured there wasn’t much he could do anyway, so why bother. 

Really? Not much we can do? Remember that: 

• it is the retrofitted houses that have survived previous big quakes.  

• an automatic gas shut-off valve means your house is less likely to burn to the ground after a quake.  

• furniture and appliances that are secured won’t injure you or your family.  

• historically (think Katrina), we cannot count on having water, food, electricity, gas, or usable roads after a disaster like a big quake, so we should have our own emergency supplies.  

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.

FRIDAY, JAN. 26 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

“Prospects for Peace: The Role of the American Jewish Community” with Marcia Freedman at 8 p.m. at Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave. at Fairview, Piedmont. 547-2424 ext. 100.  

“Little Birds” A film by Takeharu Watai on the daily lives of Iraqi people following the launch of the US-led war, at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Presented by the Arab Film Festival. www.aff.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com (code UCB) 

“An Inconvenient Truth” Al Gore’s documentary at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation of $5 acccepted. www.HumanistHall.net 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Milton Gordon on “Weapon Control and the Second Amendment” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 526-2925.  

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Potluck supper at 7 p.m. 528-4253.  

“Reading Repetition in Biblical Narrative” with Robert Alter at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. 848-3988. 

Kol Hadash Family Pot Luck Shabbat at 6 p.m. at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., followed by Installation Celebration for Rabbi Miriam Jerris. 428-1492. 

SATURDAY, JAN. 27 

Worm Composting Learn how to enrich your garden soil while reducing kitchen waste, from 10:30 to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Help Friends of Five Creeks Volunteers needed to remove invasives and plant natives on Cerrito Creek at the foot of Albany Hill. Meet at 10 a.m. at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara St., El Cerrito, just north of Albany Hill. Wear clothes that can get dirty and shoes with good traction. Heavy rain cancels. 848 9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

“Blooming Perennials and Shrubs for the Winter Season” at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave., off 7th St. 644-2351. 

“The Ins & Outs of Cacti and Succulents” from 10 a.m. to noon at the UC Botnaical Garden. Cost is $20-$25. Registration required. 643-7265. 

Latino Education Summit with a conference from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and resource fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m at CSU East Bay, Hayward Campus. Free, but registration encouraged. 536-4477. 

Freedom of Speech Dance Party in support of National Radio Project and journalists Sarah Olson and Dahr Jamail at 7:30 p.m. at Uptown Body and Fender Community Space, 401 26th St., Oakland. Cost is $10. 251-1332, ext. 102. 

Marketing for Artists Boot Camp from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St., Alameda. Cost is $75-$80. 523-6957. 

Copwatch Stretegy and Structure Meeting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. and Sun. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Computer & Electronics Recycling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200.  

East Bay Atheists meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr., 2090 Kittredge St. Emma Krasov will speak on “Religious Consciousness in the Authoritarian Society of the Former Soviet Union and Thereafter.” 222-7580. 

“Make Marriage Work“ A conversation with Dr. John Gottman, sponsored by the Psychotherapy Institute, from 9 a.m. to noon at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. For tickets call 548-2250. 

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

Petite Pooches Playgroup for small dogs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., one block north of Solano on Ensenada at Talbot. 524-2459. 

“The Challenge of Translating the Bible” with Robert Alter at 10:30 am. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. 848-3988. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 28 

Help Plan People’s Park’s 38th Anniversary Meet at 4 p.m. at Cafe Med on Telegraph. Your input and help is needed. 658-9178. 

“Winter Time at Little Farm” A puppet show for the whole family at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Open Garden” Join the Little Farm gardener for composting, planting, watering and reaping the rewards of our work, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cancelled only by heavy rain. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Winter Wildlife Hike Join naturalist Tara Reinertson to look for winter birds and explore the pebble beaches and salt marshes of Pt. Pinole, from 2 to 4 p.m. For information and meeting place call 525-2233. 

Tour of the Berkeley City Club, the landmark designed by Julia Morgan, at 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15 p.m. at 2315 Durant Ave. Free, donations welcome. For information or group reservations call 848-7800. 

United Nations Association East Bay Chapter Annual Meeting at 2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1924 Cedar St. Keynote speaker will be David Seaborg on “The Global Environmental Crisis and the Role of the U.N.” 

“Bloodlines: Recovering Hitler’s Nuremberg Laws From Patton’s Trophy to Public Memorial” with Anthony M. Platt at 10:15 a.m. at Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. Cost is $5. 223-2560.  

Tibetan Buddhism with Bob Byrne on “Longchenpa: Writings on the Magic of Being” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JAN. 29 

Parent Education Workshop Learn how to keep your children safe with self protection, self esteem and bullying prevention skills at 7 p.m. at Jingle Jamboree Music, 1607 Solano Ave., Albany. Cost is $30. 1-800-467-6997. 

TUESDAY, JAN. 30 

Tuesday is for the Birds An early morning walk for birders through Bay Area parklands. Bring water, sunscreen, binoculars and a snack. This week we will visit Kennedy Grove. For meeting location or to borrow binoculars, call 525-2233.  

Return of the Over-the-Hills Gang Hikers 55 years and older who are interested in nature study, history, fitness, and fun are invited to join us on a series of monthly excursions exploring our Regional Parks. This month we’ll visit Sobrante Ridge Regional Park. From 10 a.m. to noon. To register call 525-2233.  

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping the public schools, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

WriterCoach Connection seeks volunteers to help students improve their writing and thinking skills. Training from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For information call 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org 

“Extraordinary Rendition and International Law” with the screening of a short documentary at 6:30 p.m. at the Free Speech Movement Cafe at Moffitt Library, UC Campus.  

Exploring the Amazon in Southeastern Peru A slide presentation with Pepe Rojas-Moscoso at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Let It Snow Day at Habitot Children’s Museum Make snow and conduct fun ice experiments from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2065 Kittredge St. 647-1111. 

Building Success from the Inside Out with Nina Ham, career coach, at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito. 526-7512.  

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. In case of questionable weather, call around 8 a.m. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your digital images, slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Donna Covey from Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education will talk to us about osteoporosis risks and prevention at 11 a.m. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31  

Report from Chiapas with music, video and speakers at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Donations of $5-$10 benefit Zapatista health care. 654-9587. 

“Environmental Policy and Planning: From Academia to Action” with Tim Duane at 1 p.m. at Wurster Hall, 315A, UC Campus. http://laep.ced.berkeley.edu/events/colloquium 

Bay Area Seed Interchange Library Information Meeting Learn how to promote local seed sharing at 6:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220. 

New to DVD “Scoop” at 7 p.m. at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Know Your Rights Training at 7 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Sponsored by Copwatch. 548-0425. 

Bayswater Book Club discusses “Fast Food Nation” by Eric Schlosser at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, El Cerrito. 433-2911. 

Pacific Boychoir Academy Winter Auditions for boys ages 5-9 at 4 p.m. at 410 Alcatraz, Oakland. 652-4722.  

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. 548-9840. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

THURSDAY, FEB. 1 

Palestinian-Americans Mona & David Halaby will share stories and photos, as well as updates about facts on the ground from their recent trip to Jerusalem and the West Bank at 7 p.m. at La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Donation $10-$20 benefits the Middle East Children’s Alliance. 548-0542. www.mecaforpeace.org 

Tim Wise: Anti-Racism Activist and Author will speak at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Tickets are $5-$10 available from 1-800-838-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/9397 

“I Cried, You DIdn’t Listen” Readings and discussion of Dwight Abbott’s life in the California Youth Authority system at 7 p.m. at AK Press, 674-A 23rd St., Oakland. 208-1700. www.akpress.org 

“Adventures in Wild California” a program for older adults at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Class for Family Members of mentally-Ill Relatives begins at 6:45 p.m. in Albany, and runs Thurs. nights for 12 weeks. For information or to register, please call NAMI-East Bay at 524-1250.  

WriterCoach Connection seeks volunteers to help students improve their writing and thinking skills. Commit to 1-2 hours per week during the school day and work one-on-one with students in their English classes. Training from noon to 3 p.m. 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org 

Family Story Time for children ages 3-7 at the Berkeley Public Library, North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, at Hopkins. 981-6107. 

Storytime for Babies and Toddlers at 10:30 a.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. namaste@avatar.freetoasthost.info  

ONGOING 

Berkeley Winter Campaign for Cats We are providing free trapping assistance and spay/neuter to feral and homeless cats in Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville and Piedmont, through March 2007. The cats will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, treated for fleas and returned safely back to their neighborhoods. To report a neighborhood in need or to volunteer, please contact Caitlin at 908-0709. 

Volunteer at Emerson Elementary School by committing to at least 1 hour per week to work one-on-one with a Kindergarten-5th child or help in a classroom. 883-5247.  

CITY MEETINGS 

Zero Waste Commission Mon., Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., at 1201 Second St. 981-6368.  

City Council meets Tues., Jan. 30, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Commission meets Wed., Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7487. 

Energy Commission meets Wed., Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5434.  

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Wed. Jan. 31, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5426.  

TUESDAY, JAN. 23 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Art of Living Black” Exhibition opens at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond, and runs through March 16. 620-6772. www.richmondartcenter.org 

FILM 

Yoko Ono: Imagine Film “Rape” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Kala Fellowship Artist Talk with Karen McCoy and Daniel Ross at 7 p.m. at Kala Gallery, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977.  

Tell on on Tuesdays Storytelling with Brian M. Rosen, Allison Landa, Erica Lann-Clark, and Marijo, at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Cost is $8-$12 sliding scale. www.juiamorgan.org 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Dorothy Fall reads from “Bernard Fall: Memories of a Soldier-Scholar” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Robert Stone describes “Prime Green: Remebering the Sixties” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tri Tip Trio at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

The Lovell Sisters at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

The Jazz Fourtet at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Broken Teeth with Jason McMaster at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland.  

God Forbid, Goat Whore, MNEMIC, The Human Abstract at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $15-$18. All ages. 763-1146.  

Avance at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 

FILM 

History of Cinema “From the Cinema of Attractions to Narrative Illusionism” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Carmen Yuen discusses “The Cosmos in a Carrot: A Zen Guide to Eating Well” Buddhist wisdom, nutritional information, and health advice at 5:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200.  

Colson Whtehead reads from “Apex Hides the Dirt” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

“Songs to My Beloved” with poet Charles Burack at 7:30 p.m. at JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $10-$20, benefits Aquarian Minyan. 465-3935. 

Berkeley Poetry Slam at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082. 

MUSIC AND DANCE. 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with Karen Shinozaki Sor, violin and Miles Graber, piano at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Bobby McFerrin with Voicetra at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$62. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Cyril Guiraud Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Borinquen at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Matt Heulitt Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

No Strangers at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Paul Manousos at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

The Ale Moller Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Brian Auger at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$20. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, JAN. 25 

EXHIBITIONS 

“A Rose Has No Teeth: Bruce Nauman in the 1960s” Guided tour at 12:15 and 5:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

“Pyramids and Smoke Signals—A Global Warning” Paintings by Herk Schusteff at Berkeley YWCA, Bancroft at Bowditch, through Jan. 223-8707. 

FILM 

“The Mind is a Liar and a Whore” A new film by Antero Alli at 8 p.m. at 21 Grand, 416 25th St., Oakland. Cost is $10. 464-4640. 

Film Series with David Thomson “Vertigo”at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Vladimir Guerrero, author of “The Anza Trail and the Settling of California” will speak at the Alameda County Historical Society Annual Dinner at 6 p.m. at Spenger’s Restaurant, 1919 4th St. Cost is $35. For information and reservations call 339-2818. www.alamedacountyhistory.org  

“Reading Chinese Buddhist Monastic Hagiographies: A New Approach” with Jinhua Chen at at 5 p.m. at the IEAS Conference Room, 2223 Fulton St. 643-6536. 

“Conversations on Museums” with Anthony Platt at 6:30 p.m. at the Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $6-$8. 549-6950. 

Bocalicious Spoken Word Swap Meet at 7 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

New Century Chamber Orchestra performs Telemann, Britten, and Schubert at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $28-$42. 415-357-1111. www.ncco.org 

Eliza Gilkyson at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Peter Anastos & Iternity at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Barry Syska, acoustic rock, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Rivkah Amado and Joel Siegal perform Jewish music from Medieval Spain at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

La Peña Latin Jazz Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Kenny Garrett with Bobby Hutcherson though Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$66. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

The Prids, Veil Veil Vanish, Red Voice Choir at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $6. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

FRIDAY, JAN. 26 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “True West” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave., through Feb. 17. Tickets are $12. 649-5999.  

Altarena Playhouse Rogers and Hammerstein’s “A Grand Night for Singing” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through Feb. 17. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553.  

Azeem’s “Rude Boy” at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way and runs Thurs.-Sat. through Jan. 27. Tickets are $15-$22. 800-838-3006. 

Berkeley Rep “The Pillowman” at 8 p.m. at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St., through Feb. 25. Tickets are $33-$61. 647-2949. 

Black Repertory Group “Wild Roots” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 3201 Adeline St., through Feb. 4. 652-2120. 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at 951 Pomona Ave., at Moeser, El Cerrito., through March 3. Tickets are $15-$24. 524-9132.  

Masquers Playhouse “Arsenic and Old Lace” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., though Feb. 24, at 105 Park Playhouse, Point Richmond. Tickets are $15. 232-4031. 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The Tempest” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at The Metal Shop Theater, 2425 Stuart St., behind Willard Middle School. Runs through Feb. 17. Tickets are $15-$25. 800-838-3006.  

Rough and Tumble “43 Plays for 43 Presidents” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Eucid Ave. through Jan. 27. Tickets are $15-$20. 499-0356.  

Shotgun Players “The Forest War” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., extended through Jan 28. Sliding scale $15-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

ProArts Juried Annual, selections by Berin Golonu, opens at 550 Second St., Oakland. 763-9425. www.proartsgallery.org 

FILM 

The Lubitsch Touch “The Wildcat” at 7 p.m. and “The Smiling Lieutenant” at 8:35 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Christopher Bollas, psychoanalyst and author at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Calvin Trillin reads from “About Alice” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Arts Festival Jerry Kuderna, piano with Nora Martin, soprano, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool, 2087 Addison St. Caost is $10. 665-9496. www.berkeleyartsfestival.com 

Country Joe McDonald in a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. at Café de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $30-$45. 843-0662. 

Trisha Brown Dance Company at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

The Four Bags at 8 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. 845-1350. 

Dance Braided Lives A collaboration between artists, poets, dancers and musicians at 7 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Donation $10-$50. 843-2787. 

Terrain “WinterDances 2007” Sat. and Sun. at 8 p.m. at Western Sky Studio, 2525 Eighth St. 848-4878. 

Indian Classical Music and Dance at 8 p.m. at Yoga Kula, 1700 Shattuck Ave. at Virginia. Cost is $10 at the door. 

Rumbaché, salsa, at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Bobbe Norris/Larry Dunlap Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Sambada, Antioquia, Afro-Brazilian-Funk at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Meli Rivera at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Stephen Bennett, guitar, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Dave Bernstein Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Noah Grant and Fred Odell at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

The Family Arsenal, Bye Bye Blackbirds, The Light Footwork at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Gravy Train, Groovie Ghoulies, Ninja Academy at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

The P-PL at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Martin Luther, Anthony David at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$12. 548-1159.  

Socket at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

The Look, The May Fire, Excuses for Skipping, indie rock, at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

The Clash in Oaktown at 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. All ages. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Kenny Garrett with Bobby Hutcherson though Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$66. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, JAN. 27 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Maria Fernanda Acuña & Melissa Rivera at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Diana Shmiana’s Puppets and Music at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 10th St., at Gilman. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

FILM 

The Lubitsch Touch “The Marriage Circle” at 6:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rhythm & Muse “Poetry Inside Out” with Yesenia Isabel Canada, Mehrnush Golriz, Alex Rowland, others at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St., between Eunice & Rose. 644-6893.  

Vesta Kirby will discuss her works in “New Beginnings” at 2:30 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. Exhibition runs to Feb. 644-4930. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Concertante with Terrence Wilson, piano, at 7:30 p.m. at Regents Theater, Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Tickets are $35-$40. www.fourseasonsconcerts.com 

Trisha Brown Dance Company at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Winds Across Russia” at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Richmond, 770 Sonoma St., at Solano Ave., Richmond. Tickets are $10. 243-0514. 

Donne di Mezzi “A Due Voci” 17th and early 18th century duets for matched voices at 8 p.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman St. Donation $5-$10. 

TomKat Roher, Mike Glendinning, The Trencherman at the Missouri Lounge, 2600 San Pablo Ave. Free. 548-2080. 

The Mixers at 9 p.m. at The Pub at Baltic Square, 135 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. Cost is $5. www.balticsquarepub.com  

Lo Cura! at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Lava Nights, AIDS Marathon Benefit at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $8. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Mo’ Rockin! at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Baba Ken & The Afro-Groove Connexion with KTO Project at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Evelie Posch and Eileen Hazel at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Lou & Peter Berryman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

“Shimshai” Kirtan Devotional Music Series at 8 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Tickets are $16-$18. 843-2787. 

Smith Dobson V Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Jeremy Steinkoler Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

George Cotsirilos Jazz Group at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

The Dirty Martinis at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Nate Cooper & Mario Desio, folk and rock, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Tempest, Caliban at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. All ages show. Cost is $12. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Beep! Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

30 Foot Tall, Fleshies, Abi Yo Yo’s at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Kenny Garrett with Bobby Hutcherson though Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$66. 238-9200.  

SUNDAY, JAN. 28 

CHILDREN 

Family Explorations “Musical Masterpieces” A special Black History day with jazz musicians, and the opportunity to paint to live music. From 1 to 5 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“Winter Time at the Little Farm” A puppet show for the whole family at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Family Workshop and Concert with Odile Lavault of the Baguette Quartette, for ages 10 and up, at 2 p.m. at Black Pine Circle Theater, 2017 Seventh St. at University. Followed by a concert at 4 p.m. For information and tickets call 528-3723. 

THEATER 

The Chris Chandler & David Roe Show with singing CIA Agent George Shrub at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $18-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

365 Days/365 Plays Week 11 at 3 p.m. at Berkeley Rep School of Theater, Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addision St.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“A Rose Has No Teeth: Bruce Nauman in the 1960s” Guided tour at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. 

FILM 

African Film Festival “A Child’s Love Story” at 3:30 p.m. and “New Visions from Africa” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Kathryn Alice reads from “Love Will Find You: Magnets to Bring You and Your Soulmate Together” at 6 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Sonia Gaemi discusses “Eating Wisely for Hormonal Balance” at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Poetry Flash with Paul Hover reading from “Edge and Fold” and Dawn Michelle Baude reading from “Egypt” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Symphonica Toscanini with Lorin Maazel conducting, at 3 p..m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$76. 642-9988. 

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra Winter Concert at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. Free, donations requested. www.prometheussymphony.org 

Live Oak Concert with Lawrence London, clarinet, Victor Romasevich, violin, Lena Lubotsky, piano, and the Jupiter String Quartet, performing works by Mozart, Brahms, Iosif Andriasov at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. Cost is $10. 644-6893. berkeleyartcenter.org 

Country Joe McDonald in a Tribute to Woody Guthrie at 7:30 p.m. at Café de la paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Tickets are $30-$45. 843-0662. 

Bill Evans String Summit with Scott Nygaard, Tashina Clarridge, Tristan Clarridge, Michael Witcher and Cindy Browne at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Live Oak Concert with performances of Mozart, Andiasov and Brahms at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. Cost is $8-$10, choldren under 12 free. www.berkeleydartcenter.org 

Kitka & Trio Kavkasia “Songs from Beyond the Black Sea” at 5 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 685 14th St., Oakland. TIckets are $20-$25. 444-0323. www.kitka.org 

The Chris Chandler and David Roe Show with Singing CIA Agent George Shrub and satirist Dave Lippman at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Brazilian Soul at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

“ViolinJazz” Quartet at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Bandworks Recitals at 1 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Wee at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

MONDAY, JAN. 29 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Paintings of Abu Ghraib” by Columbian artist Fernando Botero opens at 6 p.m. at 190 Doe Library, UC Campus, and runs through March 23. 643-5651. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

THEATER 

Shakespeare Intensive “A Winter’s Tale” staged reading at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Unitarian Fellowship, Fireside Room, 1925 Cedar at Bonita. Other plays to be read each Mon. to Feb. 26. Cost is $5. 276-3871. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Page to Stage A conversation with Tony Amendola and Les Waters at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. Free. 647-2949. 

Ann Sherman at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Kim Todd reads from “Tinkering with Eden: A Natural History of Exotics in America” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Stephen Hinshaw discusses “The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Poetry Express with Arthur Weil at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Classical at the Freight with San Francisco Chamber Orchestra at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Blue Monday Jam at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Sony Holland at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Kent Nagano, after a meeting with the musicians of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra to discuss his plans, announced Friday that he will step down as music director of the symphony at the end of the 2008-09 season. 

He will continue to work with the orchestra as conductor laureate and as founding music director for Berkeley Academy Ensemble, a small orchestra created to explore new musicological approaches to a repertoire drawn from 18th and early 19th century composers, debuting this coming season with two performances.  

“This is consistent with my 30-year relationship with Berkeley Symphony,” Nagano said. “It was my first orchestra, and I still maintain that relationship with it.” 

Nagano cited difficulties in scheduling and in finding the time to dedicate to community involvement over the past few years. Last year, he became music director of both the Montreal Symphony and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.  

Nagano, 55, who attended UC Santa Cruz and San Francisco State University, was appointed as musical director to Berkeley Symphony in 1978. He was born at Alta Bates when his parents were graduate students at UC Berkeley. 

“It was funny to them that my first important position brought me back here. I’ve always considered the Bay Area my home,” said Nagano, who lives in San Francisco with his wife, Mari Kodama, and their daughter. After assisting Sarah Caldwell at the Opera Company of Boston, Nagano came back to Berkeley with his appointment to the symphony, when it was still officially known as the Berkeley Promenade Orchestra. 

Nine years later, Nagano took the reins of the Opera National de Lyon, and rumors began to fly in earnest that he would leave Berkeley. But, though leadership positions later came with Manchester’s Halle’ Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera and the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester in Berlin, Nagano continued to guide the Berkeley Symphony, premiering many new works, including those by Olivier Messiaen and Elliott Carter, and collecting three Grammy awards, as well as steadily increasing international recognition. 

A search committee, drawn from the symphony board, staff, musicians and the community, is being formed to find a successor for Nagano. Candidates for the musical directorship will be selected to lead subscription programs over the next two years, with Nagano conducting the remaining programs, as well as directing the Academy Ensemble.  

Of the new project orchestra, Nagano said he was excited “to explore a specific repetoire” drawn “from Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert ...” 

“It’s a rare chance to hear what isn’t heard so often with full orchestras,” said the symphony’s Kevin Shuck. “There are few mid-size ensembles like the Academy Ensemble will be.” 

With musicians mainly drawn from the Symphony, the Academy Ensemble will debut with two concerts in April and May, both shows already “essentially sold out,” though each is accruing a waiting list for tickets that become available.  

Shuck also commented that the subscription shows at Zellerbach, including the premiere of Berkeley composer Olly Wilson’s Hold On symphony two weekends ago, had been running “up to 95 percent sold out, with the balcony opened up for seating.” 

Nagano returned to Montreal after the meeting and announcement, where last week he was made an honorary citizen by the mayor.

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” A series of blackout tableaux like snapshots: Prospero and Caliban; “Melted into air, thin air;” then Prospero alone, touching the rude crown, cloak and staff that accoutered Caliban; then crowning himself, taking up the feathered magic staff: “Our revels now are ended ...” 

Hooded spirits watch Miranda read to Caliban, a mask atop his head leering when he crouches: “The cloud hath powers ...” Then a storm of human and spirit bodies as Prospero shouts, presiding from above as they are cast about, tossing on the weblike rigging that drapes the set, almost dancing as they flounder ... 

So begins Ragged Wing Ensemble’s spellbinding show of The Tempest, that last great play of The Bard wherein it’s thought he takes his bow as Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, as he leaves the exile of his desert isle, renouncing both magic and earthly powers. 

The levels of the Metal Shop Theatre (behind Willard School on Telegraph) are hung with rigging and a stylized sail (set by Sarah Samonsky) that doubles as a screen for the exceptional video scenography by Aiden Fraser (himself doubling nicely in baggy pants, floppy hat and suspenders as Trinculo, the drunken jester). But the mainstay of the action is literally that: Ragged Wing, since their inception two years and two shows ago, has been an exciting collective of practitioners of physical theater moving together. 

In this production, directed with clarity and imagination by Keith Cory Davis, Ragged Wing shows what it can do with a redoubtable monument of dramaturgy—and they outdo themselves. Their previous outings were an exciting staging of a somewhat faded ’60s experimental pastiche, The Serpent, and an original, a kind of psychodramatic fantasy that riffed off of “The Snow Queen,” Splinters ... and Other F-Words, by company member Andrea Hart. 

Those pieces suited their purposes well, but the real possibilities and power of their approach has become apparent now, harnessed to the dramatic engine of Shakespeare’s parable of exile, magic and redemption. 

There are fine performances, especially pert Amy Sass (also choreographer) as a wound-up, spring-tight Ariel, almost maliciously proud of magical prowess, yet abashed at servitude to Prospero. A procession of almost unreadable emotions cross that silvered face, or it’s deadpan as the spirit hangs like a spider from the rigging, watching, waiting for the moment to insinuate its sorcery. Jeffrey Hoffman plays a wronged Prospero who can vent his rage and then back off, in light of his larger, gentler ambitions. 

Many of the performances are enhanced in ensemble: Maya Gurantz (founder of Ten Red Hen) as acerbic King Alonso, with Mark Jordan’s gimped-up but genial optimist, Gonzalo; Christine Odera’s snaky Caliban glows with humor when teaming up with the baggy-pants comedian-tipplers Stephano (a splendid Phil Wharton) and above-mentioned Trinculo, exchanging spirits from a bottle for betrayal of Prospero: “first possess his books!” 

There are some unusual cuts—the songs are deep-sixed—but the dialogue is crystal-clear and the play’s intention unwavering, with fine detail down to the costuming and the red-glove-to-mouth chorus of spirits drawn from high school students. More refreshing than many a Shakespeare festival, and a fascinating panoply of riotous movement and quiet moments of romance and reflection, Ragged Wing’s The Tempest opens up a new era for a still very young—and very talented—local troupe. 

Photograph: Andrea Hart 

Phil Wharton as Stephano and Christine Odera as  

Caliban in Ragged Wing Ensemble’s The Tempest. 

THE TEMPEST 

Presented by Ragged Wing Ensemble at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Feb. 17. $15-25. Metal Shop Theatre,  

2425 Stuart St. 

(800) 838-3006. or www.raggedwing.org  

By KEN BULLOCK 

Special to the Planet 

Zemaryalai Tarzi, internationally recognized as the senior Afghan archaeologist, will speak and answer questions on recent finds at Bamiyan and the crisis of looting and vandalism for archaeology in Afghanistan in “A Stop on the Silk Route,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 101 (Archaeological Research Faculty), 2251 College Ave. (behind Boalt Hall). 

The event is cosponsored by the Near Eastern Studies Department, the American Institute of Archaeology and the Association for the Protection of Afghan Archaeology (APAA), Tarzi’s own organization. Admission is free. A reception will follow the talk. 

Tarzi went to France on a scholarship at age 20 to study at Strasbourg, where he now teaches, dividing his time between the university and fieldwork in Bamiyan during the summer. He was an associate of Daniel Schlumberger, the director of the French delegation of archaeology to Afghanistan, at a time when France had an exclusive contract with the (then) Kingdom of Afghanistan for excavation and research. 

Tarzi directed the Archaeological Institute in Kabul and edited the national journal for archaeology, and specialized in the conservation of historical monuments, particularly mosques and Buddhist temples. He established the outdoor museum at Hadda, site of one of the largest Buddhist temples in Central Asia, and wrote his thesis on the art and architecture of the famous caves at Bamiyan. Afghani archaeology was coming into its own, scientifically, carrying on its own research and partnering with international teams. 

Then came the Soviet invasion of 1979. 

“My father was forced to flee to Pakistan, hidden in a double-decker trunk, with my step-brother disguised as a girl,” said Nadia Tarzi, cofounder with her father of the APAA.  

Tarzi (who will translate for her father, lecturing in French) described the genesis of their project to protect and promote Afghan archaeology: “I grew up in Strasbourg, where my father came, after his escape. I knew he was an archaeologist, in the way another kid might know her father’s a dentist or accountant. I didn’t really understand what he did.” 

“One day in 1994,” she continued, “He received an express packet from a colleague still in Afghanistan. His whole demeanor changed; he opened the envelope and became sad. When I asked why, he finally picked up a book, showed me a picture in it of a beautiful niche with reliefs of waves in an aquatic scene with statues standing around, Buddha fighting demons from the Gandhara period—then said, ‘Here’s what it looks like today,’ showing me the photos he’d received, which looked to me like piles of mud. I started crying. I understood my father’s passion.” 

After the Taliban blew up the giant statues of Buddha in the Bamiyan Valley in 2001 (“and it took them four days to destroy them because of the steel reinforcements my father helped put in”), Tarzi suggested to her father that they co-found an organization to educate the general public, both Afghani and Western, about the “5,000-year-old cultural heritage—even before Buddhism, before Islam—of Afghanistan, the diversity of cultures that have flourished there,” to support further efforts in research and recovery of antiquities “and to give some sense of national awareness and pride to the Afghan people, who have such a task in rebuilding their country.” 

Father and daughter founded the APAA in 2002. Tarzi returned to his native country after the defeat of the Taliban to teach and do fieldwork, dividing his time with teaching in Strasbourg. With the support of President Karzai and of the first female governor of Bamiyan, work goes on, on several different levels. 

“There’s been 20 years of rampant, relentless looting,” Tarzi said. “It’s important to get archaeologists to the sites before the looters and the dealers to at least document what’s there. Bamiyan is secure, and the population supportive, but elsewhere the Taliban is again on the rise, and there’s a debate whether or not to even continue excavations.” 

Educational work has been carried on in Afghanistan and in the Bay Area. 

“The first schools I visited were in the Berkeley-Oakland area,” said Tarzi, who lives in Marin. “One class even put on a play about what they learned. In Bamiyan, we hope to teach the children to make pottery, then show them museum pieces in the same style. My own daughter taught me that. I call it art with a heart.” 

For more information: www.apaa.info. 

If Chez Panisse were to serve up a menu to match its guardian bunya-bunya, it would include roast haunch of free-range sauropod and a salad of braised organic tree ferns. Maybe some wood-roasted hearts of sago palm and a gingko fruit crème brulee for dessert. If it ever gets around to producing its infamously huge cones—I’ve never seen the big ones here—the bunya-bunya’s seeds are edible, too. How about it, Alice? 

That oddly bifurcated individual of the species Araucaria bidwillii on Shattuck Avenue, with its scaly sharp leaves and rumpled trunk, is a member of one of the planet’s oldest tree families, the Araucariacieae. These trees were around to see the rise and fall of the great dinosaurs and their kin, when we mammals were barely skulking around on all fours. They can’t quite be said to be native to California or even North America because the continent, never mind the state, didn’t exist yet.  

We can find three species easily in the Bay Area: bunya-bunya; monkey-puzzle (A. araucana), and good old Norfolk Island pine (A. heterophylla), sold as Christmas trees and indoor plants. Bunya-bunya does OK indoors, too, and for all I know so does monkey-puzzle, but they’d need lots of elbow room with those sharp scales sticking out in seemingly random directions.  

Norfolk Island pine—named for the Norfolk Island in the south Pacific, not the Norfolk naval base in Virginia—prospers outdoors, as you can see by its representatives towering over other trees in the yards of old Victorian houses and down on Broadway in Mosswood park.  

Some araucarias were here, though, before there was a here here. The Petrified Forest in Arizona is bejeweled by the transformed corpses of monkey-puzzle trees. Those long-gone trees have suffered more than a sea change and into some thing rich and strange indeed, but maybe not more strange than they were in life.  

Fossils of various araucarias occur all over; they’re the sort of thing filmmakers like to have as backdrops for dinosaur epics. The PBS dinosaur series that ran a few years ago was filmed in New Caledonia. Of the world’s 19 araucaria species, 13 are found there. This little island way off Australia has about 3000 indigenous plant species—it’s like a mad god’s conservatory. It has, or had until humans arrived, lots of very odd reptile and bird species too. It shares araucarias with Australia, New Zealand and South America because they all used to be part of one big happy supercontinent, Gondwanaland. South America was on one shore, Australia (more or less) on the other.  

Some of these species are so old they rode the continents around like Huck Finn on his raft; others descended from those species in nature’s experimental labs, islands isolated from each other and from continents. New Caledonia is part of a huge land mass that ripped itself from Australia nearly 90 million years ago, and is now mostly underwater and on its way to a reunion with South America. Mother Nature, mad scientist that she is, raises her creatures from the available ancestral material. These odd trees were part of that. They prospered and diversified in a great geographic swath that now reaches across the Pacific.  

Naturalists used to wonder about how some marsupials—opossums, for example—and some “primitive” plants like araucarias conquered the vast oceanic barrier between Australia and South America. The answer, that the barrier hadn’t always been there and the lands had floated through it and recombined several times before and since, was more of a surprise than even fantasy writers had imagined. How very strange to think of such impermanence of solid land, and such persistence of fleeting life!  

Strange also to think of animals’ preceding plants in the chronology of ancient life. Maybe most of us are swayed by the early influence of reading or hearing the Book of Genesis, but the evident fact is that those dinosaurs and lots of other animals, including our mammalian ancestors, lived before flowering plants and long before grasses. What the dinosaurs roamed through and dined on were forests of araucarias, cycads (like sago “palms”), and ginkgoes, with understories of ferns, horsetails, and maybe a few remaining clubmosses. There were more species of each of these; the gingko we know, for example, is the lone survivor of a big family.  

It also seems that the birds that perch in the Chez Panisse tree are descendants of dinosaurs, and maybe the tree finds their presence familiar compared to that of the upstart bipeds below. Roast emu or ostrich might, in a pinch, be taxonomically basal enough to substitute for that sauropod dish. Certainly it would be easier for a forager to rustle up.  

Photograph: Ron Sullivan 

A mammal’s-eye view of the bunya-bunya at Chez Panisse.

TUESDAY, JAN. 23 

Tuesday is for the Birds An early morning walk for birders through Bay Area parklands. Bring water, sunscreen, binoculars and a snack. This week we will visit the Albany Bulb. For meeting location or to borrow binoculars, call 525-2233.  

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds, who may be accompanied by an adult, at 3:15 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. We will learn about bird migration. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Berkeley High School Governance Council meets at 4:15 p.m. in the Community Theater Lobby. 644-4803. 

El Cerrito Democratic Club meets at 7:30 p.m. at Makemie Hall, Northminster Presbyterian Church, 545 Ashbury, El Cerrito. 526-4874. 

Berkeley PC Users Group meets at 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St., near corner of Eunice. MelDancing@aol.com 

Pirate School Interactive Program for ages 3 and up at 6:30 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. Free. 524-3043. 

MySpace Safety Program A discussion for parents at 7 p.m. at the Oakland Public Library, Dimond Branch, 3565 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland. 482-7844. 

Learn How to Tune and Wax Your Skis/Snowboard at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Copwatch Report Mailing Party Help mail out the Winter 06-07 Copwatch Report at 6 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds, who may be accompanied by an adult, at 3:15 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. We will learn about bird migration. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Bobby Seale, a founder of the Black Panthers will speak at the Gray Panthers meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. All welcome. 548-9696. 

The Stewardship Council Public Meeting to discuss the Land Conservation Plan and the Youth Investment Program from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Preservation Park, 1233 Preservation Park Way, Oakland. 650-286-5150. www.stewardshipcouncil.org 

“Nanotechnology – The Power of Small” a production of Fred Friendly Seminars, will be taped at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Rep, Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St., for broadcast on PBS. Audience members should plan to be seated by 6:45 pm. Free but registration required www.smartscience.org/berkeley ffs registration.htm  

New to DVD “Eternity and a Day” at 7 p.m. at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

THURSDAY, JAN. 25 

“Berkeley’s Economic Future” with Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, at 1 p.m. at Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St. Light lunch served at noon. RSVP to 981-7100. 

Tom Hayden, former California Legislator and peace activist will speak on “The Politics of Iraq in the Democratic Party” at the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club meeting at 7 p.m. at the Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. www.wellstoneclub.org 

YMCA Martin Luther King Community Banquet at 7 p.m. at 300 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oaklnad, to raise funds for YMCA programs. Tickets are $150. 451-8039, ext. 457. 

Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans A review of proposals for Alameda County at 5:30 p.m. at ACTIA, 426 17th St., Suite 100, Oakland. www.actia2022.com 

Easy Does It Emergency Services Board of Directors’ Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 1636 University Ave. 845-5513. 

WriterCoach Connection seeks volunteers to help students improve their writing and thinking skills. Commit to 1-2 hours per week during the school day and work one-on-one with students in their English classes. Training from noon to 3 p.m. 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org 

Home Remodeling Seminar: How to Make it a Success, at 6:30 p.m. at Truitt & White Conference Room, 1817 Second St. Free, registration required. 653-7288. 

“Redefining Our Relationships” with Wendy O. Matick at 7 p.m. at AK Press, 674A 23rd. St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$15, sliding scale, no one turned away. 208-1700. 

Storytime for Babies & Toddlers at 10:30 a.m. Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

FRIDAY, JAN. 26 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

“Prospects for Peace: The Role of the American Jewish Community” with Marcia Freedman at 8 p.m. at Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave. at Fairview, Piedmont. 547-2424 ext. 100.  

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com (code UCB) 

“An Inconvenient Truth” Al Gore’s documentary at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation of $5 acccepted. www.HumanistHall.net 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Milton Gordon on “Weapon Control and the Second Amendment” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Potluck supper at 7 p.m. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

“Reading Repetition in Biblical Narrative” with Robert Alter at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. 848-3988. 

Kol Hadash Family Pot Luck Shabbat at 6 p.m. at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., followed by Installation Celebration for Rabbi Miriam Jerris. 428-1492. 

SATURDAY, JAN. 27 

Worm Composting Learn how to enrich your garden soil while reducing kitchen waste, from 10:30 to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Help Friends of Five Creeks Volunteers needed to remove invasives and plant natives on Cerrito Creek at the foot of Albany Hill. Meet at 10 a.m. at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara St., El Cerrito, just north of Albany Hill. Wear clothes that can get dirty and shoes with good traction. Heavy rain cancels. 848 9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

“Blooming Perennials and Shrubs for the Winter Season” at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave., off 7th St. 644-2351. 

“The Ins & Outs of Cacti and Succulents” from 10 a.m. to noon at the UC Botnaical Garden. Cost is $20-$25. Registration required. 643-7265. 

Latino Education Summit with a conference from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and resource fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m at CSU East Bay, Hayward Campus. Free, but registration encouraged. 536-4477. 

Freedom of Speech Dance Party in support of National Radio Project and journalists Sarah Olson and Dahr Jamail at 7:30 p.m. at Uptown Body and Fender Community Space, 401 26th St., Oakland. Cost is $10. 251-1332, ext. 102. 

Marketing for Artists Boot Camp from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St., Alameda. Cost is $75-$80. 523-6957. 

Copwatch Stretegy and Structure Meeting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sat. and Sun. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Computer & Electronics Recycling from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200.  

East Bay Atheists meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr., 2090 Kittredge St. Emma Krasov will speak on “Religious Consciousness in the Authoritarian Society of the Former Soviet Union and Thereafter.” 222-7580. 

“Make Marriage Work“ A conversation with Dr. John Gottman, sponsored by the Psychotherapy Institute, from 9 a.m. to noon at Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. For tickets call 548-2250. 

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

Petite Pooches Playgroup for small dogs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., one block north of Solano on Ensenada at Talbot. 524-2459. 

“The Challenge of Translating the Bible” with Robert Alter at 10:30 am. at Congregation Beth El, 1301 Oxford St. 848-3988. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 28 

“Winter Time at Little Farm” A puppet show for the whole family at 11 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Open Garden” Join the Little Farm gardener for composting, planting, watering and reaping the rewards of our work, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cancelled only by heavy rain. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Winter Wildlife Hike Join naturalist Tara Reinertson to look for winter birds and explore the pebble beaches and salt marshes of Pt. Pinole, from 2 to 4 p.m. For information and meeting place call 525-2233. 

Tour of the Berkeley City Club, the landmark designed by Julia Morgan, at 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15 p.m. at 2315 Durant Ave. Free, donations welcome. For information or group reservations call 848-7800. 

United Nations Association East Bay Chapter Annual Meeting at 2 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1924 Cedar St. Keynote speaker will be David Seaborg on “The Global Environmental Crisis and the Role of the U.N.” 

“Bloodlines: Recovering Hitler’s Nuremberg Laws From Patton’s Trophy to Public Memorial” with Anthony M. Platt at 10:15 a.m. at Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. Cost is $5. 223-2560.  

Tibetan Buddhism with Bob Byrne on “Longchenpa: Writings on the Magic of Being” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JAN. 29 

Parent Education Workshop Learn how to keep your children safe with self protection, self esteem and bullying prevention skills at 7 p.m. at Jingle Jamboree Music; 1607 Solano Ave., Albany. Cost is $30. 1-800-467-6997. 

ONGOING 

Berkeley Winter Campaign for Cats We are providing free trapping assistance and spay/neuter to feral and homeless cats in Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville and Piedmont, through March 2007. The cats will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, treated for fleas and returned safely back to their neighborhoods. To report a neighborhood in need or to volunteer, please contact Caitlin at 908-0709. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., Jan. 24, at 7 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. Gil Dong, 981-5502.  

Energy Commission meets Wed., Jan. 24, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Neal De Snoo, 981-5434. 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

Mental Health Commission meets Wed., Thurs. Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5213.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Jan. 25, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410.