Featured events- 08/28/2013 - Free Outdoor Screening in the BAM/PFA Sculpture Garden
- 08/27/2013 - MARK EPSTEIN / The Trauma of Everyday Life
- 08/24/2013 - The goat Rodeo Sessions
- 08/20/2013 - Yang Fudong and Philippe Pirotte in Conversation
- 08/03/2013 - Book Signing and Discussion with Dave Kehr, followed by The Lawless Breed
Category Archives: Community
Years of leaky pipes at Emerson School could see fix soon
Citing a failure to address significant plumbing problems at Emerson Elementary that date back years, community members pleaded with the Berkeley Unified School Board last Wednesday to ask the district to change its approach to communication as well as maintenance issues.
According to a June 4 letter from the Emerson PTA, two pipes broke last year, in a hallway and a teachers’ bathroom. Then, a few days into the 2012-13 school year, a broken faucet flooded, which led to the relocation of four classrooms of young students.
In May, a leak and water damage closed two bathrooms, one boys’ and one girls’, for more than two weeks. Concern heightened when the possibility of mold contamination arose, which “could pose potential health risks to children and staff with asthma, lung disease, or allergies,” said the PTA. … Continue reading »
Shop Talk: The ins and outs of Berkeley businesses
OUT: BRASA / IN: BRAZIL CAFÉ Brasa, the Peruvian restaurant at 1960 University Ave., next to Slow, is closing in late July. Brasa, which specializes in rotisserie chicken, opened in early 2012 after owners Christopher and Veronique Laramie closed their original restaurant in the same location, eVe, and re-opened as Brasa. A staffer at the restaurant said the owners have no immediate plans to open another restaurant, but that the concept is not dead, just “on hiatus.” The space has been snapped up by Brazil Café which will open a new brick-and-mortar spot there on Aug. 1. Brazil Café runs the popular food shack near the top of University. The vibe is relaxed and island-themed, decorated with hanging lanterns and a menu painted onto an old standing surfboard. It also plans to serve up the same much-loved sandwiches and salads — and of course its famous mango smoothies — as at its parent shack. … Continue reading »
Berkeley Bowl regular remembered for his kindness
A makeshift memorial was erected on the sidewalk near the Berkeley Bowl on Oregon Street last week to mark the passing of Peter, also known as “Pee Wee,” a 78-year-old man who locals remember as being a fixture in that spot — a “sweet” man who invariably could be found sitting on a milk-crate with his nose in a mystery novel.
Berkeleyside reader Peter Moore, who shared the photo above, said Peter was always reading books, although ready to engage in conversation. “I’ll miss him,” … Continue reading »
Tagged Berkeley Bowl, In memoriam
Janet Huseby, Berkeley High’s top cheerleader, steps down
For more than a decade, Janet Huseby has been Berkeley High School’s “point person,” according to Principal Pasquale Scuderi.
After contributing her hard work to BHS for 23 years, and serving as outreach and volunteer coordinator for the past nine years, Huseby is preparing to pass on the torch. She will stay on as a college essay reader, continuing the work she started when she first came to Berkeley High.
“I sort of feel like it’s time to shake things up a little bit,” she said in an interview with Berkeleyside on Thursday.
Huseby began lending a hand at BHS when her oldest child entered high school in 1990. She became particularly involved in College and Career Center (CCC), and used her professional writing skills to help students endure the grueling process of writing college application essays. … Continue reading »
Tagged Berkeley High School, Janet Huseby
Berkeley officials get closer to public ‘parklet’ policy
The Berkeley City Council could consider approving a three-year pilot program later this summer to allow businesses to set up parklets in still-to-be-determined locations around town.
So-called parklets — small pockets of open space that are sprouting up in cities around the globe — are a big trend in urban design, with San Francisco’s Pavement to Parks leading the way locally, and Oakland later following suit. Berkeley has, in recent years, been considering its own ideas to beautify public areas where community members can congregate.
The city began looking at parklets in 2011, and initially had planned to begin building them in early 2012. The process has been sluggish, at least in part, because the city does not have a permitting process in place, and several city agencies — including public works, engineering and transportation — have needed to weigh in. … Continue reading »
Tagged Berkeley City Council, parklets
‘Got Sweaty Balls?’ sign at Lululemon provokes questions
The Lululemon Athletica store on the corner of Ashby and College avenues has installed a window display that is prompting a lot of discussion.
A sign reading “Got sweaty balls?” covers a large section of the main window. It sits in front of five mannequins wearing colorful male underwear. A smaller sign reads “Best. Boxer Briefs. Ever.”
“It’s certainly unusual,” said Joshua, a store manager who didn’t give his last name. “It’s not going to be up for very long.” … Continue reading »
Tagged College Avenue, lululemon, The Elmwood
Thief steals 2 school chickens from Rosa Parks campus
The Rosa Parks Elementary School community is asking for the safe return of two of its five chickens, which were stolen over the weekend just days after they were moved from a science classroom into an outdoor coop that’s visible from Eighth Street.
Garden teacher Tanya Stiller, known around campus as “Farmer Tanya,” said she discovered the theft Monday when she was heading outside to the chicken coop during a school solar fair.
“I ran into a science teacher who asked me, ‘What happened to the other two chickens, did you give them to somebody?’ I said, ‘What, they’re not there?’ I was pretty shocked, as were other people,” she said Wednesday evening. … Continue reading »
Portraits: Berkeley schools’ cooking, gardening experts
Some weeks ago, Pete Rosos, a contributing photographer to Berkeleyside, decided to embark on a portrait project: he set out to photograph as many people as he could who work for Berkeley Unified School District’s gardening and cooking program. The program, as we have reported, is losing its federal funding next year and is facing severe cutbacks, despite district support and fundraising efforts. A campaign to raise money from within the community has been launched. As part of the effort, Berkeley Dine Out is happening tomorrow, Thursday May 30. Many Berkeley restaurants are participating and will donate a portion of their sales to the gardening and cooking program.
Above, we present Pete Rosos’ portraits (he managed to photograph 17 staff members of a total of 30). Click on individual images to make them larger and to read details of who is portrayed. (You can also click the crossed arrows in the upper right of the portrait to see it full scale.)
Below, Rosos reflects on what spurred him to create on the project, and offers his comments on the threats to the program: … Continue reading »
Workshop urges action on gun violence around Berkeley
Following the recent shootings of former Berkeley students in Oakland, a coalition of groups held a workshop on Friday, May 24, to try to figure out ways to reduce the vulnerability of young people in the city. The meeting was spurred by the murder of 17-year old Olajuwon Clayborn, another incident in which a Berkeley student was left in a coma, as well as other shootings with Berkeley student connections.
Berkeley Alliance, which coordinates the city’s 2020 Vision program, brought together representatives from Berkeley Unified School District, Berkeley police, City of Berkeley staff, and community organizations to work on violence prevention ideas that have emerged from 2020 Vision workgroups, including greater mental health suport, case workers for at-risk students, case managers for high school students, adopting training program, and community engagement in a citywide anti-violence campaign. … Continue reading »
Berkeley Spark plans to bring the Playa to downtown
A free, one-day festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, hopes to bring some of the spirit of the Burning Man Playa to downtown Berkeley. Berkeley Spark plans to bring art, music, performance, dance and workshops led by so-called Burners — Burning Man participants — and East Bay artists to Civic Center Park.
“We want to tap into all the creative energy of Burners in Berkeley and the East Bay,” said John Caner, executive director of the Downtown Berkeley Association, which is sponsoring the event in partnership with Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development, Berkeley Partners for Parks, Livable Berkeley, Ecology Center, Streets Alive and Berkeleyside. “We want to get some of that Burner energy downtown.” … Continue reading »
Wooing larger stores may be key to Telegraph’s success
Telegraph Avenue could use more large clothing retailers and a grocery store, along with more options for nightlife and buying household goods, if it hopes to grow financially moving forward, city staff said Tuesday as part of a special work session on the avenue.
Some officials said the city needs to take a proactive approach to marketing properties that become available, and perhaps adjust the city’s permitting process to make it easier to attract larger businesses. Others said landlords might take it upon themselves to lower rents for new businesses, so the burden isn’t only on the city.
“I think we have to go out on dates,” said Councilwoman Linda Maio. “I think we have to identify retailers that we want, that we have a space for. I think we have to introduce them to the mayor. I think we have to wine and dine them and bring them into town. I think we have to show them the campus and the enormous potential here. I don’t think it’s going to serve us well to sit back and wait for somebody to come our way.” … Continue reading »
Barbara Oliver, iconic Bay Area theatre figure
Barbara Oliver, the founding Artistic Director of Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre and an instrumental figure in Bay Area theatre for more than 40 years, passed away peacefully from complications of a stroke on Monday at her Berkeley home. Her family was with her, as they have been throughout the duration of her recent illness. She was 85.
A veteran actress and director, Oliver co-founded Aurora Theatre Company in 1992 and was its Artistic Director until stepping down in 2004.
“Like many people in the Bay Area, my life has been irrevocably changed for the better by having met Barbara Oliver,” said Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross. “Little did I know that our initial meeting, a job interview 22 years ago, would take me, and hundreds of Aurora Theatre artists, staff, Board members, and patrons, on such a long and significant journey, one that will no doubt continue for many years to come. Trying to distill the legacy that Barbara left as founding Artistic Director is difficult, as she created such a vast foundation, but ultimately, I think that she instilled the belief that we should move forward and grow steadily with absolute integrity, and to show unequivocal fairness to all. Barbara not only preached these messages but personified them. It goes without saying that she was a talented actor, director, and teacher as well. Her passion was endless and she could inspire nearly anyone.” … Continue reading »
Tagged Aurora Theatre Company, Barbara Oliver, Obituary
Community farm buys 2+ acres in West Berkeley
Urban Adamah, the community farm that has been operating out of rented quarters on Parker Street for two and a half years, is in contract to purchase a 2.2-acre lot next to a restored section of Codornices Creek in West Berkeley.
The organization, which integrates Jewish traditions, environmental education, mindfulness and social action, purchased the land at Sixth and Harrison streets from the U.S. Post Office for $2.1 million and has until Aug. 4 to come up with the funds, according to Adam Berman, the founder of Urban Adamah. The land, at 1151 Sixth, is undeveloped and sits next door to the post office’s main processing facility. … Continue reading »
