Daily Archives: October 12, 2012
The Berkeley Wire: 10.12.12
Willets in the brickyard. Photo: TJ Gehling
School board candidates sound off on superintendent search (Tribune)
Berkeley audience hears author Alexie’s witty, wise tales (Mercury News)
A look back: Razing downtown’s railway station (Tribune)
A glimpse of Berkeley (The American Spectator)
Belli softly opens this weekend in downtown Berkeley (Grub St SF)
Annie Barrows “Ivy and Bean” books lauded (Chronicle)
Mariinsky, ballet mothership, brings us Swan Lake
It takes a certain kind of performance to cause a near sell-out audience at Cal Performances Zellerbach Hall to rise to a standing ovation and shout for multiple curtain calls. Wednesday night’s opening of the Mariinsky Ballet’s soulful, meticulously executed “Swan Lake” did just that.
The St. Petersburg ballet company could be considered the mother of classical dance, for having given birth to legendary dancers like Anna Pavlova, Vaslav Nijinsky, Natalia Makarova, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Add to that impressive roster a technique (Vaganova) embracing Russian, Italian and French styles that remains a harbinger of exquisite articulation and lush, sensual port de bras (movement of the arms), tip the scales with its great ballet makers (Marius Petipa and George Balanchine, to name only two), and arrive at a delicious dish of dance.
Served to an eager crowd, the opening performance (the ballet runs through Sunday Oct. 14) offered not decadence, but depth, determination and, at moments, divine inspiration. … Continue reading »
The It List: Five things to do in Berkeley this weekend
GRACEFUL SKYLINE The architect Julia Morgan made a lasting impact on the skyline of Berkeley. Her graceful buildings include the landmarked City Club on Durant Avenue, St. John’s Presbyterian Church, an addition to the Town and Gown Club, and many more. Morgan’s work also deeply influenced other parts of California: among the 700 buildings she worked on was the renovation of the Fairmont Hotel after the 1906 earthquake and fire and the design of Hearst Castle. Oct. 1 marked the launch of a six-week celebration of California’s first licensed female architect put on by Landmarks California, a coalition of preservationist groups. The kickoff will be a gala, auction, and fundraiser Friday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 pm at the City Club. Other events include tours, talks, and an exhibit of her work at UC Berkeley.
FOOD AS ARTISTIC INSPIRATION UC Berkeley’s Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies’ 2012/2013 season opens Friday with “From the Field to the Table,” a new work that deals with issues of food justice. It was created through a collaborative process where 45 people worked together over five weeks to craft stories, music, and dances that explore rising food prices and diminished natural resources. The performances run Oct. 12-14 at Zellerbach Playhouse. … Continue reading »
Police Blotter: Recent crime in Berkeley
The numbers reflected in the report are only a snapshot of what occurs in the City of Berkeley. The numbers are considered for informational purposes only and should not be used for data analysis or comparison to other agencies. Cases may be reclassified after further review of the incident, by supervisors, investigating detectives or the District Attorney as appropriate.
See also the San Francisco Chronicle’s regularly published list of arrests in Berkeley. For other sources of information on crime in Berkeley see BPD’s CrimeView Community and Crimemapping.com.
September 30:
Trespassing, 2100 Block of West Street
On Sunday, September 30 at approximately 6:50 p.m., a property owner called from the 2100 block of West Street reporting an ongoing problem with a trespasser. They reported the subject sets up camp in the parking area of the property. The subject was contacted by an officer, who asked the subject to leave per the property owner’s request. … Continue reading »
Berkeley schools show gains on standard tests
The California Department of Education yesterday released its 2012 Accountability Progress Report, which show significant gains for Berkeley schools on both the state Annual Performance Index (API) and the federal Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). (Details of both district and individual school results for API and AYP can be seen on the state’s Accountability Progress Reporting site.)
Berkeley Unified School District had an overall growth of 19 points for a district-wide API of 810. Each of Berkeley’s elementary and middle schools exceeded the statewide API target of 800 or above. Berkeley High School, which went years without having enough students take the test to get an API, had a 19-point growth for a school API of 734, which was above the school’s target growth for the year. Only 30% of high schools in California exceeded an API of 800.
“I think these results are evidence that Berkeley is on the right track, that we’re making a difference for our kids,” said Co-Superintendent Neil Smith. “I think particularly looking at achievement all across elementary reading was a real strength for the district. Where we still have a lot of work to do is the high school.” … Continue reading »
Charlie Bowen honored for work on Berkeley’s paths
Charlie Bowen of the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association was yesterday named the 2012 Cox Conservation Hero for Northern California for her decade-long effort to restore the unimproved public paths in the Berkeley hills.
BPWA will put the $10,000 that comes with the award towards continuing the work it has been doing for the past 15 years. Bowen has volunteered for BPWA for over ten years with a mission to complete the historic Berkeley path network. Her official title is BPWA Path-Building Lead. She has also helped organizations in other communities begin path programs of their own.
“Charlie has been one of my personal heros for a long time. She has not only built a legacy of rustic paths here in Berkeley, she has inspired and guided similar efforts in surround communities such as Oakland, El Cerrito, Marin and Kensington. It’s also a wonderful affirmation of BPWA’s mission and the work we’ve done for the past 15 years,” said BPWA President Keith Skinner. … Continue reading »
