Daily Archives: May 8, 2012
Cal weighs legal action to evict Occupy the Farm activists
UC Berkeley officials responded this afternoon to Monday’s letter from Occupy the Farm activists with “disappointment and dismay” and said the group’s demands and statements displayed a “stunning degree of arrogance and entitlement.”
They said a “win-win-win” result would be achieved only if the activists, who took over UC-owned agricultural land on April 22, dismantle the camp and cede control of the land back to the university. The statement, signed by Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost George Breslauer and Vice Chancellor, Administration and Finance John Wilton, concluded that, while it still hoped “cooler heads” would prevail, the university would have no choice but to take the steps necessary to enforce its legal rights if the movement did not agree to its proposal.
The Gill Tract Farming Collective is holding an Open Forum tonight, Tuesday, on campus, 6:30-8:00 pm in 114 Morgan Hall. … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 05.08.12
Cal teams up with Twitter to offer course on Big Data [ZDNet]
Woman dies after road accident in Albany [Albany Patch]
Center for Indy Living celebrates store opening [Daily Cal]
UC Berkeley commencement takes place Saturday [UCB]
City to act on West Berkeley public nuisance complaints [Daily Cal]
Photo: UC Botanical Garden, by Avi.
Can area plan retain eclectic mix of West Berkeley?
Diego Carreterero-Frades and his wife Irenka Dominguez-Pareto moved into their West Berkeley home 18 months ago. They were looking for an affordable space with a yard and a place to have a child.
Their son Max was born nine months ago and on Tuesday Carreterero-Frades was pushing his stroller throughout the neighborhood. As he walked, he passed 100-year old Victorian houses, newly renovated duplexes clad in corrugated steel siding, automobile shops, and industrial plants making a variety of goods.
“We like the mix,” said Carreterero-Frades, who is a software engineer at EFI in Silicon Valley. His wife is a PhD candidate in the UC Berkeley School of Education. “It’s an industrial area, but it’s transforming. There are small businesses, small lofts. We like this style. It’s affordable to us and it’s a nice neighborhood.” … Continue reading »
Berkeley’s rich melting pot informs musician Adam Stern
Musician Adam Stern grew up near Indian Rock in North Berkeley and his local roots weave through his eclectic music style which runs the gamut from folk, rock and blues to world rhythms. His songs convey messages of hope, peace, and coexistence in a time, he says, when we need it the most. Now pursuing his music career in Los Angeles (watch his Valentine’s video shot there, below), Stern recently released his latest album, “Cosmicology”. Berkeleyside had a chance to quiz Stern about his music and his outlook — and, of course, we asked him to spill the beans about Berkeley.
How would you describe your music?
I make Organic Pop.
How long have you been a musician?
Music has been the guiding force in my life as far back as I can remember. I joined my first band when I was 12. I’d say I became a musician not too long after. I used to go out as a street performer with my acoustic guitar in front of Peet’s Coffee shops around the Bay and at various BART stations singing Grateful Dead, James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Bob Marley covers, mixing in an original or two. … Continue reading »
Man in police shootout charged with Berkeley murder
Update, 4:40 p.m.: Calvester Houston Stewart, 19, has been charged with the attempted murder of five police officers, the Berkeley Police Department said in a statement released at 4:28 p.m. today. Stewart has also been charged with the March 29 murder of Devin Lee Whitmire, 24 (see below). He was wounded by Berkeley police during a shootout on Delaware Street on April 13 when he shot at officers.
Original story: Calvester Stewart, 19, who was wounded by Berkeley police during a shootout on Delaware Street on April 13, has been … Continue reading »
Christopher Jay Hunt: loving father, musician, caring soul
On April 26, 2012, Christopher Jay Hunt, who lived in Berkeley for 40 years, died peacefully, holding hands with his daughter Cara, at UCSF Medical Center. He was 62 years old.
Chris was born on January 3, 1950 in Highland Park, Michigan to David and Jean Hunt, the first of three children. He attended Detroit Country Day School, supported by his father who worked at a tool and die shop and his mother who worked as a beautician and elementary school secretary. During this time Chris began to develop his passion for music, and also won the Detroit Area spelling bee, which earned him a spot in the national championships in Washington DC.
In 1968 he moved to Cambridge, MA to attend Harvard University. While there, he forged life-long relationships, played in a country rock band called Granfalloon, participated in the student movement, and in his spare time managed to graduate with a degree in English literature. … Continue reading »
Farm activists: We will leave if Cal meets our concerns
The Occupy the Farm group that is currently occupying the UC Berkeley-owned Gill Tract in Albany with a view to persuading the university to give it over to urban farming, issued the following statement Monday evening on its website (use of bold is as in original) :
The Gill Tract Farmers Collective would like to issue the following statements to the press and the public:
1) Regarding media reports about dialogue between the Gill Tract Farmers Collective and the University of California:
We dispute the veracity of media reports that we failed to respond to the UC’s request for dialogue on Saturday. Dan Siegel, legal counsel for Occupy the Farm, says, “The University’s statement that we failed to contact them on Saturday is incorrect.” … Continue reading »
