Berkeley publisher Phil Wood of Ten Speed Press died late last year. Dayna Macy, author of the recently published “Ravenous: A Food Lover’s Journey from Obsession to Freedom”, was Wood’s publicist from 1987 to 1990, and she shares her memories of him here. At a memorial held on Sunday June 26, many friends gathered to tell stories about Wood and to remember him.
Update, 3:25pm: Deputy Fire Chief Gil Dong called Berkeleyside to say that the Shattuck Safeway remains closed after a leak in the store’s refrigiration system caused smoke-like vapor to escape and raised the alarm. The fire crew has called on environmental health staff to help them determine what type of refrigeration fluid is leaking. “No-one will be allowed back in the store for now because we want to make sure the fluid is not hazardous,” said Chief Dong. The store’s refrigeration system is an older model, Chief Dong said, and some of the fluids used in older models can be toxic.
By Dana Smith
While Berkeley High should tighten its perimeter, enlist its uniformed police officer to patrol its edges and nearby park, have its security officers wear identifiable uniforms, and teach students about the impact of guns, it should not require students to wear a visible identification badges and use them to get on and off campus – at least not yet.
Berkeleyans tend to be generous, civic-minded people, so the bright blue bins in supermarket parking lots marked “Donate Books” could inspire thoughts about clearing clutter from some shelves. Think again. The bins are run by for-profit Thrift Recycling Management, based in Lakewood, Washington. In Berkeley, the bins are now at Andronico’s and Safeway locations. Nationally only about 25% of the books are given to non-profits (locally, Safeway has a different arrangement with no books being sold).
By Andrew Gilbert
The Berkeley City Council last night approved the formation of the third property-based improvement district (PBID) in the city, increasing fourfold the funds available to the Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA) for environmental enhancement and economic development programs. A ballot count showed 71% of downtown property owners approved of the PBID.
As expected, the Berkeley City Council last night adopted the biennial budget for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. The budget, originally presented on May 3, closes a $12.2 million deficit in FY2012 and a $13.3 million deficit in FY2013 by eliminating 79 positions, cutting a number of services, and raising a number of fees (the full 384-page budget report can be accessed here).
Five cases of robbery — strong arm and armed — have been reported south of the university campus and near downtown since June 19, according to the Berkeley Police Department. According to Sgt. Mary Kusmiss of the BPD, the police are seeing a “predominance” of strong arm and grand theft robberies being committed for iPhones and other types of smartphones. “There has been an incredible focus on iPhones,” Kusmiss said.
Know where this is? Take a guess and let us know in the Comments.
Berkeley has seen some heavy precipitation today, and more could be on its way. The forecast is for a 50% chance of rain tonight, and 20% Wednesday. Thursday should see a return to more “traditional” summer weather.
By Karla Herndon
© Berkeleyside. All Rights Reserved.
