BERKELEY TIMES

05/17/2022

On the morning of Friday, May 20, BerkeleyX will be visiting Rob Allen of Blue Heron Bikes at one of the BIKE TO WHEREVER DAY Energizer Stations. Look for us at the intersection of Ohlone Greenway & Solano Ave. Here's the link (https://bikeeastbay.org/find-your-energizer-station-bike-wherever-day-2022). Join us!

06/02/2020

Here's the link to a recent post on YouTube about "changes afoot" at Berkeley Times.

https://youtu.be/Qk7wkG6k-5U

Dear readers,This video is a quick update from Todd Kerr, the editor and publisher of Berkeley Times (Berkeley, CA), highlighting some of the changes stemmin...

06/01/2020

These images are from a video Berkeley Times Update "Shelter in Place - May 2020," available soon on YouTube. Check it out and let me know what you think.

05/31/2019

04/19/2018

Ross Todd Kerr with Miguel Siegal of Power On: LIVE! live-streamed at the recent Momentum Expo (Ed Roberts Campus, Berkeley)

12/01/2017

RESILIENCY FAIR 15-minute Courses

But that’s not all. To encourage exploration of the community, there will be a morning and afternoon session of 15-minute courses, demarked with the sounding of a GONG. The course list keeps growing, but so far, here’s the preliminary list of courses that will be offered in the name of resiliency:

Pimp My Bug Out Bag
Intro to Tai Chi
Intro to Mindfulness Meditation
Intro to Cyber Security
Intro to IRA Accounts
Intro to Acupressure
Sound Healings of all sorts
Intro to Moving Qi
Intro to Feldenkrais
Intro to Exercising Your Memory
Intro to Portuguese
Electric Motorcycle demonstrations
Duct Tape First Aide

In addition, there will be "adults only" sessions in the Bouncy House, when the kids will have to defer to the silliness of their parents and guardians.

12/01/2017

More about the FAIR
This year’s FAIR combines a wide variety of activities provided by a wide variety of groups that were SMOKED OUT by the North Bay fires in October. The FAIR will open with a blessing offered by the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Powwow Committee. Later in the day, there will be a speech by Mayor Jesse Arreguín and poetry reading by City of Berkeley Poet Laureate Rafael Jesús González.

Partial list of activities:

FOOD CONTEST, hosted by the BYA Youth Gardeners
SEED SWAP, hosted by Transition Berkeley with support from Ecology Center
CROP SWAP, hosted by Transition Berkeley
DIY Garden Exhibition, hosted by Spiral Gardens
CHIA, hosted by David Drummond
Bilingual Health Fair (Spanish/English), hosted by Multicultural Institute; LifeLong Medical Care, & Berkeley Healthy Families
Emergency Evacuation Prep, hosted by BFD and Berkeley Disaster Prep Neighborhood Network
Family Preparedness, hosted by Octagon Consulting
Innovations in Expedition Gear, by SlingFin
“People Growing Food Growing People,” a free book of recipes will be distributed by the Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative (while supplies last)
KING MIDDLE SCHOOL Close-Up Trip fundraiser
KIDS FUN ZONE, hosted by the Rec Division
ADULT FUN ZONE, hosted by the event Committee
Berkeley Folk Dancers, hosted by Melvin Mann
Sound Healing Instrument Petting Zoo, hosted by Emile Janse & Jordan Blake
Breath Experience, hosted by Gretchen Vandersice & Marty Barclay
Cartoons for our Times, hosted by Damon Guthrie
FRESH TACOS by familia Chavez

12/01/2017

RESILIENCY FAIR – schedule of the day

Saturday, December 2, 2017, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Berkeley Adult School Multi-Purpose Room

8 a.m.: doors open, set up begins

9:30 a.m.: Food Contest entries welcome

10 a.m.: Ceremonial blessing offered by the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Powwow Committee
Welcoming Remarks by BAS Principal Tom Reid

Note: the first hour will be left unstructured time to accommodate longer activities, like the CROP SWAP, FOOD CONTEST, etc. Also, this would be a good time for FAIR visitors to canvas the room, and figure out what 15-courses they may want to attend. Fresh tacos will be served by the Chavez family throughout the FAIR.

Morning session
11 a.m.: (gong will sound) first 15-minute course session
11:15 a.m.: horn will sound ending first session

11:20 a.m.: (gong) 15-minute course II
11:35 a.m.: (horn) end

11:40 a.m.: (gong) 15-minute course III
11:55 a.m. (horn) end

Noon: Comments by Mayor Jesse Arreguín
Presentation by City of Berkeley Poet Laureate Rafael Jesus Gonzalez
Announcement of Food Contest winners

Afternoon session
12:45 p.m.: (gong) 15-minute course IV
1 p.m.: (horn) end

1:05 p.m.: (gong) 15-minute course V
1:20 p.m.: (horn) end

1:25 p.m.: (gong) 15-minute course VI
1:40 p.m.: (horn) end

1:55 p.m.: Closing Remarks and Gratitudes

2 p.m.: FAIR ends

11/21/2017

10/30/2017

INSIDE this week's edition

cover: last call for Mythos Firehouse North (featuring the paintings of Jerome Carlin, and "Joy in Pool" (1982), a painting inspired by Joy Carlin (think Aurora Theatre) / Q & A with Sue Steel

pg02: Berkeley Community Fund to honor Dr. Vicki Alexander with the Wheeler Medal on Saturday, Oct. 28

pg03: City Council update / Berkeley Adult School announces Resiliency Fair - December 2 / Linda Maio update on oil trains

pg04: Tipitaka Chanting Ceremony (photo essay by Ella Newtown) / Combatants for Peace - Tuesday, Nov. 7

pg05: Berkeley Blue

pg06: Community Calendar

pg07: Stroller Brigade to save Alta Bates - Nov. 5 / Solano Ave. Parklet ribbon-cutting ceremony - Friday, Oct. 27

pg08: BUSD enrollment + TABLE (BUSD enrollment, 2008-2017)

pg09: Jefferson Elementary send fire relief / Panther News

pg10/pg11: Berkeley Video & Film Festival 2017 program + previews by Alex Senauke

pg12: Features: "From the Garden" by Toni Martin / UC astronomers discover gold

pg13: Telegraffiti

pg14: A & E: Harris Guitar Foundation house concert / BVFF to premiere QUEST - Nov. 5

pg15: Thread Heads at Berkeley Art Center, photo essay + mini-review

pg16: Last call for Mythos: "Sightings on Land," image essay

pg17: Arts Calendar

pg18: Real Estate: Regulation 1017

pg19: more Real Estate + jump

pg20: Poem by Phyllis Henry-Jordan / Dedication

10/27/2017

10/17/2017

09/15/2017

PRIMER TACO GRATIS (first taco free) - Friday, Sep. 15, 5-7 p.m.

This evening, Friday, Sep. 15 from 5-7 p.m., the Mendez family is hosting a celebration (ribbon cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.) to mark completion of an extensive renovation project at their West Berkeley grocery, Mi Tierra Foods.

PRIMER TACO GRATIS! (the first taco is free!!)

Mi Tierra Foods is located at 2082 San Pablo Ave. (at Addison St.) in West Berkeley. See you there!!

12/10/2016

REMINDER: Later today, Saturday, Dec. 10 from 2-4 p.m., I am co-hosting a benefit performance for Cuauhtli Mitotiani Mexica, an Aztec Dance Troupe of Berkeley YOUTH, who traveled to Standing Rock in early October, who were guests at Red Warrior Camp, and who performed during "morning prayers" on Indigenous Peoples Day (the first day after Obama's ban on construction was lifted). For those of you who know the prophecy of Eagle and Condor nations coming together, the Berkeley kids went to Standing Rock representing the spirit of Condor. Among other lessons, the kids learned first hand that northerners are not accustomed to southern drums. They have an amazing story to tell.
As part of their program this afternoon, the kids will perform in full Aztec regalia, show slides of their days at Standing Rock, and host a panel discussion about their experiences performing for the water protectors. Their parents will be present too (to answer questions about how they managed their fears...of police dogs, incessant drones, and the militarization of local police).
This is a benefit performance, meaning it's a fundraiser. Admission is free, but the group is asking for financial contributions, donations of any kind, or just your blessings. At the conclusion of the program, there will be a ceremony welcoming whatever you might offer. Contributions in any amount are welcome, because the group's transportation funds are now depleted and their tents were smashed to bits by the high-winds of the Dakotas.
This will be a very family friendly event and very entertaining. Children of all ages are welcome to attend. There will be light refreshments, but no alcohol. Just the same, I promise you will be completely uplifted by this experience.
All this will happen at the East Bay Media Center, located at 1939 Addison St. in downtown Berkeley (one block down from Berkeley Rep). Doors open at 2 p.m, and the program will begin at 2:20 p.m. sharp.
Want to make a contribution but can't be there? Go to RISEyouth.org, then click the "Donate" button in the upper right corner of the home page for instructions. [put "Cuauhtli event" in the memo line]. RISE is a non-profit, so all contributions are tax deductible.
Questions? Don't hesitate to call me: 510 332 7572. And feel free to bring a friend.

12/10/2016

This afternoon, Saturday, Dec. 10 from 2 - 4 p.m., at a benefit performance of Cuauhtli Mitotiani Mexica, an Aztec Dance Troupe of Berkeley Youth, guests will meet among others: Adriana Betti, Executive Director of R.I.S.E.; Isaac Tapia Jr., a Mexica dancer and the eldest of three sons who Berkeley Times met two years ago when he quarterbacked the Berkeley High School varsity football team; the entire Tapia family, all of who were involved in the group's recent excursion to Standing Rock, ND.
The performance will take place at East Bay Media Center, 1939 Addison St. in the Arts District of Berkeley. The Performance Space is indoors, so there's no need to fret about the rain.

09/17/2016

Berkeley Times is looking forward to the upcoming and 2nd annual "Celebrando Comunidad en la Placita," a celebration of local Latinx culture organized by the CCDHCC and welcoming UC and BCC Latinx students to the Berkeley community.

Sunday, October 9 from noon to 4 p.m.
Civic Center Park (fountain area)
downtown Berkeley

11/15/2015

11/09/2015

On Sunday, November 15, from 2 - 5 p.m., the community is welcome to attend the 5th anniversary celebration of Berkeley Times -- at Ed Roberts Campus (3075 Adeline St. at Ashby BART). Admission is FREE, program starts at 3 p.m.

For more info, call (510) 332-7572

10/28/2015

An Evening with artist Guy Colwell, Thursday, Oct. 29

All are welcome to join us on Thursday, October 29 for "An Evening with artist Guy Colwell," a Berkeley-native (and regular contributor to Berkeley Times) whose current exhibit of controversial paintings and drawings (close to 70 works in all) is on display at East Bay Media Center, 1939 Addison Street in the Arts District of Berkeley (just a block down from Berkeley Rep).

For the evening event, my daughter Annabelle and I will be interviewing Colwell. Particularly, we will be discussing 5 or 6 of Colwell's most intriguing artworks, and also asking the artist how life events (Berkeley schools, Vietnam War, time at Atelier, Paris) have influenced his perspective, body of work. This will be a fun multi-generational event...and certainly entertaining.

Pizza and beer will be served at 6:30 p.m. A reception hosted by EBMC and Jan McCutcheon will begin at 7 p.m. The program begins at 7:30 p.m.

For more info, call the East Bay Media Center (EBMC) (510) 843-3699 or call Todd Kerr, editor of Berkeley Times, 510 332 7572.

10/28/2015

The current exhibition of controversial paintings and drawings by B-X artist Guy Colwell, now at the East Bay Media Center in the Arts District of Berkeley.

11/03/2012

Here's the cover of the current edition (Vol. 3, No. 1), a commissioned artwork by Oree Originol in memory of Milanca Lopez and Xavier Chevez, who passed away in a car accident earlier this year.

12/20/2011

For the better part of ten years, Santiago Casal of Berkeley has been developing a plot of land that looks out towards the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a sun dial that he calls the Solar Calendar Project at Cesar Chavez Park. In essence, it's Berkeley's equivalent of Stonehenge.

Rain or shine, folks are welcome to attend a gathering and celebration of the Winter Solstice at the Solar Calendar Project at César Chávez Park on Wednesday, December 21 beginning at 4:15 p.m. The brief ceremony will be led by Lawrence Hall of Science Planetarium Director Alan Gould and coincide with the sunset, anticipated at 4:50 p.m. (the actual solstice will be around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday). The program will be family-friendly and offering information about the seasons, the rhythms of the planet, as well as a few facts about the life of César Chávez.

For more info about the Winter Solstice celebration at César Chávez Park, contact Santiago Casal at [email protected] or by calling (510) 845-0657.

Also, the photo is by Cris Benton, who is Professor of Architecture at Cal and a fan of the Solar Calendar Project at César Chávez Park. This image was captured from his camera flown high above the site on a camera.