Crowds are scarier than creepy costumes: Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos adapt in a pandemic
Masks may be the only constant from past years for fall celebrations upended by COVID-19.
Kate Darby Rauch
Catherine "Kate" Rauch has been contributing to Berkeleyside for several years, and also happens to live in Berkeley, near downtown. Her work as a journalist has encompassed everything from 10 years as a daily news reporter for the East Bay Times, based in Richmond, to freelancing for a range of news sources including the Washington Post, Newsday, the Seattle Times, SF Chronicle and Oakland Magazine. Kate likes general assignment work and jumping into a variety of topics and stories, but has a background as a health writer, which includes writing for WebMD, Babycenter.com, Caring.com, UC San Francisco Medical Center, Kaiser and Sutter Health. Her awards include a first place in health and science writing from the Washington State Press Association, a first place in spot news from the Peninsula Press Club, and a second place in feature writing from the California Association of Newspaper Publishers. She's also worked as an anthropologist in rural Alaska. She has an MS degree from the Columbia School of Journalism and a BS from UC Berkeley in cultural geography.
Articles by Kate
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Construction of new 5G cell sites blocked by Berkeley protesters — for now
A group of activists believes that the proliferation of 4G and 5G sites will increase radiation output and increase cancer cases. Widely accepted science does not back them up.
Berkeley city workers become sleuths to track down COVID-19 cases
The public health division uses contact tracers to figure out who has become exposed to the novel coronavirus. Then those people are asked to self-isolate to stop further spread.
As building rules tighten in Berkeley, construction pushes back
Unions want to be able to continue building and argue their workers can follow social distancing rules.
COVID-19 pandemic prompts Berkeley neighbors to help one another
Individuals and groups have set up systems to connect volunteers with people who need help. So far there are more volunteers than people seeking assistance.
Berkeley businesses hit hard by the economics of social distancing
Theaters are selling fewer tickets, museums are seeing fewer visitors, and restaurants are seeing a significant drop in business.
Keeping parking meters clean takes on new urgency in light of coronavirus
Berkeley’s parking meters get cleaned once a week, including by Marlonn Wright who says his work is getting noticed more due to the heightened awareness about preventing the spread of COVID-19.
As COVID-19 comes to Berkeley, senior residences are taking extra precautions
Hand sanitizers now abound in senior residences. Friends and family members who are sick are being asked to stay away and to communicate through Skype or other electronic means.
Neighbors fight proposed Verizon cell site in North Berkeley — again
A group of local residents celebrated three years ago when plans for a Verizon cell site in their neighborhood were dropped. Now, many of them are back at it.
Can an unfinished but ‘usable’ basement space be taxed? Berkeley says ‘yes’ and the courts have agreed
A number of property owners are challenging how the city assesses special taxes. They believe they have been overcharged and are seeking redress.
Update: Air quality in Berkeley has improved; now listed as ‘moderate’
Air quality in the city has been improving steadily over the day Monday, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s monitor in West Berkeley. As of noon, the rating was listed as moderate.
One of Berkeley’s largest landlords sells 6 apartment complexes to Texas group
The sale transfers 314 units around downtown that mostly house students and could bring over $4 million in transfer taxes to the city.
The Berkeley Hills go dark and residents step up to help one another
After power was shut off to UC Berkeley and thousands of homes and businesses starting at 11 p.m. on Oct. 9, Berkeleyans found ways to cope.
West Berkeley neighbors rally to help brothers twice evicted from their family home
On a recent Saturday, neighbors heard a commotion. Police had arrived, there was shouting and two brothers who’d lived all their lives in a small stucco house on Evelyn Ave. were being forcibly evicted to the street.
Last vacant lot on landmarked Greenwood Common is for sale
The site, known for its mid-century homes, isn’t under protective status, but current residents hope the new owner will “be respectful and honor the Common.”
Berkeley residents don’t seem willing to give up their gym memberships at Equinox, SoulCycle to protest Trump
While many gym members don’t like the idea that a major investor in the fitness facilities threw a fundraiser for Trump, they said canceling their memberships might hurt those who work there.
