Daily Archives: October 31, 2011
Drug arrest leads to tense moments at Berkeley High
Update, 11.01.11: The BPD has released a photograph of the replica gun officers recovered Monday in this case (left). It was a realistic looking Desert Eagle gun, the BPD reported. In an email release, the BDP writes: “The young man and woman are being booked at the BPD Juvenile booking facility, the 17 male who does not currently attend school for 148(PC) – Resisting or Obstructing an officer and the 15 year old (a 10th grade BHS student) for 11357(b) PC – Possession of less than 28.5 g of marijuana and an outstanding warrant.”
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Berkeley High officials briefly secured the school perimeter this afternoon after a 17-year old who had been stopped for selling drugs in MLK Park ran toward the area.
A Berkeley police officer witnessed a hand-to-hand drug transaction around 3:19 pm between the 17-year old and a 15-year old sophomore from Berkeley High, according to Sgt. Mary Kusmiss. The police officer rode his bike over to the teens and told them to sit down. He called for back up, but the 17-year old ran away and tossed a gun he was carrying under a car, said Sgt. Kusmiss. The officer caught up with the 17-year old and detained him. An investigation revealed the gun was a very-real looking fake Desert Eagle, said Sgt. Kusmiss.
As a safety precaution, Principal Pasquale Scuderi briefly closed the perimeter of the school, said Superintendent Bill Huyett. … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 10.31.11
Berkeley based Sylvia McLaughlin fights on the save the Bay [Chronicle]
Police looking for man who robbed Patelco Credit Union [Oakland Tribune]
Fireball meteor spotted over Berkeley [Lunar Meteorite Hunters]
Iteris to acquire Berkeley Transportation Systems [Market Watch]
Why is Occupy Berkeley so quiet? [New American Media]
Berkeleyans celebrate gay pride [Daily Cal]
Berkeley gets spooky for Dia de los Meurtos [Daily Clog]
Best trick or treating route in Berkeley [Patch]
Berkeley’s Fondue Fred a delicious, comfortable experience [The Inquirer]
Photo: Skeleton baker at Masse’s Pastries by heyk8/Berkeleyside Flickr pool.
Skeletons enjoy a last supper for Halloween on Spruce St.
By Colleen Neff
A last supper of electrified pirate skeletons seated at a table laden with riches, spiders, bats, rats, eerie music and a yard full of enormous pumpkins are all on display on Spruce Street just north of Vine in North Berkeley. Masterminds Michael Minasian and his 8-year-old son Aaron, spent weeks creating the entire scene that they installed last week.
The impressive set-up is an elaboration on the decorations they created two years ago. Once dusk arrives, the candles are lit, the crystal ball glows and the fog machine starts up, adding even more of a spooky atmosphere to the tableau.
Muralist seeks funds to install art installation
Huehuetlatolli, Wisdom of the Elders: one of the bas relief ceramic tiles by Juana Alicia for the mural intended for the Helios senior housing on Sacramento
In 2004 Berkeley muralist Juana Alicia embarked on a commission for the Helios Corner senior housing on Sacramento and University. She completed the work in 2008, but since then the ceramic panels have languished in boxes at the housing complex because of lack of budget to install the art.
“It’s just sitting there,” Juana Alicia said. “It seems such a pity.”
After years of frustration, Alicia turned to the web-based funding platform Kickstarter to raise the $5,000 needed to install the 10 monumental ceramic panels of her work. At time of writing, 17 backers had donated $521. If the $5,000 isn’t raised by November 20, the project will fail.
The work is entitled “Huehuetlatolli: Wisdom of the Elders”, after a series of poems by the Berkeley-based poet Rafael Jesús Gonzalez. According to Alicia, “The murals honor our nature and the natural world from which we come. They portray the five elements: air, water, fire, earth and the soul, with images of elder men and women speaking to young men and women.” … Continue reading »
Berkeley city: No truth to viral email predicting quake
UPDATE 4:07 pm: Genie Stowers, the professor who sent out the original email issued an apology this afternoon by email. Here it is:
Last week, I sent out an email to family and close friends and colleagues about recent earthquakes.
My intent was to pass on a message that they should take the occurrence of these recent earthquakes as an opportunity to make sure their earthquake kits and other emergency measures were up to date.
It is unfortunate that this email instead went viral and has caused great concern among many in the Berkeley area.
My message was not intended to be a commentary on earthquake science, on City of Berkeley preparedness, or on anything else except that folks should get ready. The message was intended to be, preparedness is good.
I apologize for what has happened and the concerns this caused. It was a mistake and I regret that it happened.
Genie Stowers
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An email that has gone viral that predicts an imminent quake on the Hayward fault is causing widespread concern in Berkeley, but city officials say its premise is false.
The email, which began spreading on Friday, says that geologists have told Berkeley officials that the recent spate of small earthquakes suggest that there will be a 6.0 quake or higher on the Hayward Fault within the next two to three weeks.
City officials have not been specially briefed by geologists, and there is no way of predicting earthquakes, numerous city officials told Berkeleyside.
“I have not received any briefings,” said City Councilmember Gordon Wozniak. “In addition, I do not believe that anyone knows how to predict the precise time an earthquake will happen on the Hayward fault. Thus, I would not give credence to such rumors.”
Here is the email that has gone viral:
“A student in my class tonight works in Berkeley City Hall and they have been getting briefings on the earthquakes recently in Berkeley on the Hayward Fault by geologists. … Continue reading »
Big Screen Berkeley: “Oranges and Sunshine”
During the hundred years between 1870 and 1970 the British government deported over 100,000 children to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Rhodesia. Driven by the misguided Victorian notion that the children of the poor and misbegotten were better off getting a fresh start in foreign climes, this cruel and often arbitrary policy was especially welcomed by the Australian government, eager in the post-World War II years to maintain that country’s white majority (until the mid 1970s it was virtually impossible for non-whites to emigrate to the land down under). Charities such as Dr. Barnardo’s were active and compliant co-conspirators, their grassroots contacts with the underclass offering a rich source of raw pioneer stock. … Continue reading »
Photo gallery: A week of high spirits at Berkeley High
Spirit Week at Berkeley High was, well, as spirited as one would expect. Students put their all into the daily costume themes, and the red and gold hued Friday finale of Spirit Rally included performances at the community theater and two special tributes to friends who passed away recently: Malik Grayson and Tim Moellering.
The week was topped off by the football team’s 41-7 thrashing of league rival Pinole Valley. Yellowjackets kicker Sam Boyden had two field goals, including a 51-yarder. The Yellowjackets are undefeated in league play with two games left in the regular season.
Update, 9:22am: The photos shown here are just a tiny selection taken by BUSD Public Information Officer Mark Coplan. To see the full collection (and try to spot you and your friends) visit these six galleries: Monday/Nerd Day, Tuesday/Tie-Dye Day, Wednesday/Toga Day, Thursday/Pajamas and 70s-80s Day, Friday/Senior Spell, Friday/Spirit Rally.
