Monthly Archives: January 2012
The Berkeley Wire: 01.31.12
Cal’s writing requirement? Bold vision, endless revision [UCB]
Berkeley artist Deborah Oropallo digitally reinterprets [Daily Cal]
How Berkeley students made Lower Sproul happen [UCB]
Cal scientists decode brain waves to eavesdrop what we hear [UCB]
Photo: Rain!, by A Ess Bee/Berkeleyside Flickr pool.
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
NEW JEWELS Brothers John and Moshe Quillinan, just 22 and 24-years-old respectively, have opened Q & Q Estate Jewelry at 1751 Solano Avenue. The brothers, who have been in the estate jewelry and antiques business for over 15 years combined, specialize in fine jewelry, objets d’art, antiques, silverware, precious metals, precious gemstones, pearls, coral, jade, ivory carvings, and fine art. The store is open 12:00-6:00 pm, Tuesday to Saturday, or by appointment by calling 510-846 1521. Q & Q Jewelry will be holding a Grand Opening event, with refreshments and 15% off selected items, on Saturday, February 4th, 6:00-10:00 pm. [Hat-tip: Nancy Rubin]
BIGGER SHOES Shoes on Solano, at 1774 Solano Avenue, will be expanding into 1770, the space being vacated by Ideologie, a reincarnation of the former Ideas for Elements, which was on Solano for 22 years. The shoe store will add children’s shoes and more stock overall. (Hat-tip: TONA.) … Continue reading »
$17,000 reward for information about Warren murder
The City of Berkeley is offering a $15,000 reward, and Bay Area Crime Stoppers (BACS) is offering an additional $2,000 reward, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible the murder on January 26 of Kenneth Warren.
Warren, 35, of Hercules was gunned down in a barrage of bullets on Emerson Street at Shattuck at around 6:50 p.m. on Thursday last week, after leaving his job at Don’s Headquarters barbershop. He was knocking on the door of friends who lived close by when suspects opened fire.
Warren’s family and friends, as well as neighbors, reacted with shock to the killing. “He was a great kid,” said his uncle, Don Warren, who has operated Don’s Headquarters for 41 years. “He was hardworking. He had two jobs. He tried to do the right thing.” Warren had cut hair at the barbershop for seven years. … Continue reading »
Berkeley files suit against owner of blighted Telegraph lot
The city of Berkeley has filed a lawsuit against Ken Sarachan, telling him they intend to seize his lot at the intersection of Telegraph and Haste to pay off the $640,000 he owes in liens and interest.
Berkeley filed the suit against the businessman in Alameda County Superior Court on January 28th and served Sarachan’s place of business, Rasputin Records, on Monday, according to Zach Cowan, the city attorney.
“The city is alleging that Mr. Sarachan has not lived up to his agreement to pursue development of the site in a diligent and timely manner,” said Cowan. “As a result, we want to recover the liens we offered to waive if he did so.”
Mr. Sarachan could not be reached for comment. The suit also names Laurie Brown, his wife, as a co-defendant since California is a community property state. … Continue reading »
Teenage skateboarder seriously injured by car
Update, 10:30 am: Berkeley police report that the injured skateboarder is an 18-year old man who is in “grave condition.” Since he is an adult, he is not required to wear a helmet while skateboarding. Berkeley police are still investigating to determine who is at fault in the accident, the driver or the skateboarder, according to Sgt. Mary Kusmiss. The victim’s name will not be released for privacy reasons.
Update, 5:01 pm The driver of the car was a … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 01.30.12
Feb. 25 memorial for Terry Doran, educator [Caring Bridge]
UC campuses shifting to be smoke-free [Daily Cal]
Campus announces new student conduct policy [UC Berkeley NewsCenter]
Cal students cling to mystical murals [SF Chronicle]
Designer Erica Tanov gets inspired by Bay Area [SF Chronicle]
Berkeley Art Museum displays Abstract Expressionists [Daily Cal]
Recycled car parts used to build unique home [KSDK]
Heinz building reminder of Berkeley’s industrial history [Patch]
Photo: Peering at the rest of the pier, by beckcowles/Berkeleyside Flickr pool.
City council to consider switch from Wells Fargo
Update, 01.31.12: Wells Fargo spokesperson Ruben Pulido sent us the following statement at 4:30 pm today:
“Wells Fargo is committed to the city of Berkeley. We are working with local leaders to support the community and help people who are facing financial challenges. Over the past three years, Wells Fargo has donated more than $3 million to 89 nonprofits in Berkeley. Wells Fargo works diligently with customers to find solutions that prevent foreclosures. Over the past year, less than 2% of homeowner-occupied loans in our servicing portfolio have proceeded to foreclosure sale. Wells Fargo currently owns less than 10 properties in the Berkeley market.”
Original story: The City of Berkeley might switch its banking from Wells Fargo, seen as one of the major banks at the heart of the financial crisis and mortgage meltdown.
At tomorrow night’s City Council meeting, a proposal by Jesse Arreguín and Darryl Moore asks staff to evaluate shifting the city’s banking relationship from Wells Fargo when the current contract expires at the end of 2012.
“We have a responsibility to show we are investing the taxpayers’ money not only in a fiscally responsible way, but in a socially responsible way,” said Arreguín. “We want to do business with someone who invests in our community.” … Continue reading »
$250,000 for Berkeley schools thanks to Lonely Island
The largest-ever single donation to Berkeley Unified School District will be made thanks to a Super Bowl contest for Doritos. Doritos, part of the Frito-Lay division of Pepsico, is working with The Lonely Island on its Crash the Super Bowl competition. The three members of comedy music and video group The Lonely Island, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, have been friends since Willard Middle School.
For Crash the Super Bowl, Doritos invites consumer-made ads, one of which airs in a 30-second spot during the Super Bowl. The Lonely Island were originally going to create their own Doritos ad, but decided instead to give their air time to a second consumer-created ad. By doing so, they gave up the chance for a $1 million prize to charity if their Doritos ad took the number one spot on the USA Today Ad Meter. In return, Doritos has announced it will give $250,000 to The Lonely Island’s choice of charity — Berkeley Unified. … Continue reading »
Love books? Help give away 1 million of them
Book lovers around the world are planning to give away millions of books on April 23 – and they are looking for Berkeley readers to help them.
The event is called World Book Night and its inaugural event in Great Britain in March of 2011 was phenomenally successful. Tens of thousands of people handed out a million free books to those who might not necessarily have ready access to them. The idea was for people to share their love of reading and ignite a similar passion in others.
Now World Book Night has expanded around the world to Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and the United States. The goal is for one million books to be distributed in each country. … Continue reading »
Codornices Creek: Happy ducks in place of concrete
Update, 01.31.12: Susan Schwartz, President, Friends of Five Creeks, provides an informative clarification on the history of this section of Codornices Creek. (This is why we love the Berkeleyside community so much — our expert readers always bring the latest intelligence to the table!):
We’re always delighted to see articles about nature, but the Codornices Creek reach between 6th and 8th referred to was not in a pipe, nor were the reaches downstream.
Since 2000, three projects have carved new channels … Continue reading »
