Daily Archives: January 16, 2013
Juveniles in custody after fights outside Berkeley High
Scroll down for an update from Berkeley High’s principal at the foot of this story.
Four juveniles were taken into custody on suspicion of fighting outside Berkeley High School on Wednesday afternoon.
Large crowds of students and passers-by gathered near the intersection of Bancroft Way and Milvia Street shortly after students were leaving the campus at the end of the school day to watch the fights, according to officer Jennifer Coats at the Berkeley Police Department.
Many Berkeley police officers were dispatched to the area after receiving calls from the public, starting at 3:41 p.m, and they worked to disperse the large groups of onlookers. Officers were able to disperse the crowds, and they took four juveniles into custody in connection with the fighting, Coats said. … Continue reading »
The Berkeley Wire: 01.16.13
Iceland. Photo: Jeremy Brooks
Restaurant week hits Berkeley and Oakland (EBX)
Spare the Air day declared for Thursday Ja. 17 (Spare the Air)
Berkeley gets a ‘B’ for tobacco policies (Patch)
Prize highlights young economist’s bold trajectory (UCB)
Crime narratives from the Berkeley Police, Jan. 6-12
The following items represent just a sampling of calls, which were selected by the Berkeley Police Department. See past crime blotters here, including a more detailed list from last week’s calls for service.
See also Local Crime News’ regularly published list of arrests of Berkeley residents. Other sources of information on crime in Berkeley include the Police Department’s CrimeView Community and CrimeMapping.com.
From Jan. 6-12, there were 19 burglary reports, 25 auto break-in or theft reports, and five stolen vehicle reports to the Berkeley Police Department, according to CrimeMapping.com. Three robberies and 10 assaults were reported.
These numbers are subject to change. Click the previous links for the most current information. … Continue reading »
Man with gun robs Solano Avenue bank in Berkeley
A man with a handgun robbed a Solano Avenue bank Wednesday morning shortly after it opened, authorities said.
Police are investigating a robbery at Mechanics Bank, 1801 Solano Ave., said officer Jennifer Coats of the Berkeley Police Department, via email.
A bank staffer said the Mechanics Bank branch manager on Solano Avenue could not comment on the incident.
Coats said the robbery was reported just before 9:30 a.m. There were no reported injuries. … Continue reading »
Family rallies to save Berkeley restaurant Giovanni
By Ted Friedman
Giovanni Schipani, 81, has been fighting the past two years to save the restaurant he launched in 1962. Now, according to Anna Schipani, 63, the bookkeeper at Giovanni, “we could be boarded-up at the end of the month if we don’t pay back taxes to IRS.”
Giovanni, at 2420 Shattuck Ave., is “probably” the oldest restaurant on Shattuck, according to Steve Finacom, vice president of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Schipani, known as Johnny to friends, had been wildly successful in Berkeley’s flourishing south side restaurant scene, earning enough money from his first restaurant, Mr. Pizza, to buy a muffler shop and convert it to an upscale Italian family restaurant seating 200. … Continue reading »
Giovanni’s last stand: Family rallies to save restaurant
By Ted Friedman
Giovanni Schipani, 81, has been fighting the past two years to save the restaurant he launched in 1962. Now, according to Anna Schipani, 63, the bookkeeper at Giovanni, “we could be boarded-up at the end of the month if we don’t pay back taxes to IRS.”
Giovanni, at 2420 Shattuck Ave., is “probably” the oldest restaurant on Shattuck, according to Steve Finacom, vice president of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Schipani, known as Johnny to friends, had been wildly successful in Berkeley’s flourishing south side restaurant scene, earning enough money from his first restaurant, Mr. Pizza, to buy a muffler shop and convert it to an upscale Italian family restaurant seating 200. … Continue reading »
Sweet Bar Bakery opens with Thriller flash mob
It makes sense. Oakland’s Sweet Bar Bakery marked its grand opening on Jan. 13 with a flash mob dancing the Thriller zombie dance. Why? Because owner Mani Niall was, for a while in the ’80s, personal chef to the white-gloved man himself. The dancers do a pretty good job (see video above).
Michael Jackson references aside, the bakery is getting favorable reviews since it opened a few weeks ago in the old MacFarlanes Candy and Ice Cream space on Broadway. Along with the obligatory cupcakes, cookies and pies, they offer soups, salads and sandwiches, and there’s a liquor license so beer and wine are also on the menu. … Continue reading »
Berkeley teen set to appear in court after burglary arrest
A 19-year-old Berkeley man is set to appear in court Wednesday after police say he and another young man surprised a woman at home during a recent burglary attempt.
Officer Jennifer Coats, spokeswoman for the Berkeley Police Department, said the arrest stemmed from an incident Dec. 31 at about 12:30 p.m.
A woman was home in the 1800 block of Stuart Street, just west of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, when she was surprised by two males who entered. … Continue reading »
Contest: Name that nosh [01.16.13]
Think you know food in the East Bay? Prove it by naming the restaurant and dish in the comments section below to win our latest contest. Continue reading »
Where in Berkeley?
Know where this is? Take a guess and let us know in the Comments.
Update, 3:00 p.m: Tough call on who won this week! Technically the ‘prize’ must go to Keith Skinner for being first to identify the general location. Then subsequent guessers got closer until NAParish supplied an actual map link. Here’s what the photographer had to say: “This photograph is of a sign adorning the south end (just beyond the platform) of the Berkeley Amtrak station. The camera view is toward the east. Those buildings in the background are the Fourth and U apartment/condo complex.” Congratulations to all and thanks for playing!
Photo: Weldon Bradstreet.
