Events Listings

THURSDAY, JAN. 8 

Berkeley Oil Independence Report and Public Hearing at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. The report is available at www.relocalize.net/groups/oilindependentberkeley 

College Admissions Panel with college admissions officers on the college admission process and the abilities and strengths colleges are looking for in applicants at 7 p.m. at Redwood Day School, 3245 Sheffield Ave., Oakland. RSVP to 534-0804 ext. 225. JLewis@rdschool.org 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Kaiser Center Lobby, 300 Lakeside Dr., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

Pacific Boychoir Academy Open House to learn about the academic and music program from 6 to 8 p.m. at 410 Alcatraz Ave. Please RSVP to 652-4722. www.pacificboychoiracademy.org 

Baby & Toddler Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

East Bay Mac Users Group “MacWorld Roundup!” We’ll tell you what we saw at 7 p.m. at Expression College for Digital Arts, 6601 Shellmound St., Emeryville. http://ebmug.org 

Free Meditation Class at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarians, 2nd flr., 1606 Bonita Ave. 931-7742. 

FRIDAY, JAN. 9 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Frederick Shaw on “An Innovative Primary Health Care Model for Developing Countries.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 524-7468. www.citycommonsclub.org 

“Evening with an Earthwalker” Slideshow and talk with Paul Coleman who has circled the earth and inspired the planting of millions of trees, at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220.  

Master Class “The Spirit of Percussion” with Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira at 3 p.m. at Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, 1616 Franklin St., Oakland. Cost is $20-$35. $7 for ages 7-12, and free for 12 and under. For reservations call 836-4649 ext.112.  

Womansong Circle Participatory singing for women at 7:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, small assembly room, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. Donation $15-$20. 525-7082. 

Berkeley Women in Black weekly vigil from noon to 1 p.m. at Bancroft and Telegraph. Our focus is human rights in Palestine. 548-6310. 

SATURDAY, JAN. 10 

Celebrating Fr. Bill O’Donnell (1930-2003) Salvadoran buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m., program at 6:45 p.m. at Marian Hall, St. Joseph the Worker School, 2125 Jefferson St. Donation $10-$20. 922-8797. 

“Climate Catastrophe and Social Change, an Eco-Socialist Perspective” A conference on the roots of the climate crisis from a socialist perspective. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m., Sun. from 9 a.m. to noon at Laney College Forum Lecture Hall, 900 Fallon St. at 9th, Oakland. Cost is $10 -$30 sliding scale. 415-863-6637. www.ncalcofc.org 

“Coming Clean: Breaking America’s Addiction to Oil and Coal” with author Michael Brune at 7 p.m. at Alameda Free Library, Conference Rooms A & B, 1550 Oak St. at Lincoln, Alameda. Suggested donation $5, no one is turned away. www.alamedaforum.org 

Close the Little Farm Help us close the Little Farm and tuck in the animals for the night, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Tilden Little Farm, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Arrowhead Marsh Bike Trip with the Golden Gate Audubon Society from 9:50 a.m. to the afternoon. For details email Kathy_jarrett@yahoo.com 

Rose Pruning Class at 10:30 a.m. at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery, 1310 McGee Ave. Free. 526-4704. www.berkeleyhort.com 

The East Bay Chapter of The Great War Society meets to discuss “My Boy Jack” by S. Compagno at 10:30 a.m. in the Albany Veterans Building, 1325 Portland Ave., Albany. 526-4423. 

Berkeley Property Owners Association Meeting with a workshop on Rent Control with Michael St. John at 10 a.m. at St. Johns Presbyterian Church, Fireside Room, 2727 College Ave. bpoa@bpoa.org 

Sistaz N Motion Networking Mixer to help women entrepreneurs advance their businesses, from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Crescent Park Multicultural Resource Center, 5004 Hartnett Ave., Richmond. For more information call 253-5469. www.sistaznmotion.com 

Winter Story Time for preschool children and their families at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720 ext. 16. 

“I’ve Been Framed” workshop for families. Bring in a favorite piece of art and learn how to frame it, Sat. and Sun. from 1 to 4 p.m. at Museum of Children’s Art, 538 Ninth St., Suite 210, Oakland. Cost is $7. 456-8770. www.mocha.org 

San Francisco Girls Chorus Auditions for girls ages 7 to 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mormon Temple, 4780 Lincoln Ave., Oakland. For audition time please call 415-863-1752, ext. 333. sfgirlschorus.org  

Luna Kids Dance Winter Open House with creative dance and improvisation from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Grace North Church 2138 Cedar St. 644-3629. 

“Reuse your Body” A voice and body workshop on vocal and somatic improvisation, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 25th St., Oakland. Suggested donation $20. 663-6920. 

Auset (Yemaya) Lunar Cycle Workshop meditation class at noon, registration at 11:30 a.m. at ASA Academy, 2811 Adeline St., Oakland. Cost is $10. For additional classes during the day call 536-5934. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

SUNDAY, JAN. 11 

Slimy Slugs and Migrating Newts Rain brings out the limiest winter creatures. Join us at 10:30 a.m. as we look for them at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Strollers not advised. 525-2233. 

Little Farm Open House Come grind some corn to feed the chickens, pet a bunny or groom a goat, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Little Farm at Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Ballet Theater Summer Workshop Auditions from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Ballet Theater, in the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Cost is $15. For details call 843-4687, ext. 112. www.berkeleyballet.org 

Berkeley Rep Family Series “Action for the Stage” from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Nevo Education Center, 2071 Addison St. Free, but bring a book to donate to a school library. 647-2973. 

Prepeare Habitat for the California Least Terns from 9 a.m. to noon at the Alameda Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the main refuge gate at the northwest corner of the old Alamda Naval Air Station. jrobinson@goldengateaudubon.org 

“Green Sunday” The Obama Organizing Model: Lessons for Third Parties at 5 p.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library 6501 Telegraph Ave. at 65th, North Oakland. Sponsored by the Green Party of Alameda County. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to repair a flat, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. Bring your bike and tools. 527-4140. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Elizabeth Cook on “The Symbolic Language of Tibetan Art” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

“How World Religions Can Help Us with Illness, Loss Aging” with Ana Matt at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

“The Minsk Ghetto 1941-1943: Jewish Resistance and Soviet Internationalism” with Barbara Epstein at 10:15 a.m. at Temple Beth Hillel, 801 Park Central, Richmond. 233-2560. 

Jewish Bedtime Rituals for the Very Young at 10:30 a.m. at JGate, 409 Liberty St., El Cerrito. 559-8140. 

MONDAY, JAN. 12 

Birding at Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline, Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland with Bob Lewis from 10 a.m. to noon to see Clapper Rails. Meet at the last parking lot at 9:30 a.m. Sponsored by Golden Gate Audubon Society. For information contact bob@wingsbeats.org  

“Surfing for Life” A documentary about seniors from the ages of 60+ to their 90s, who are still surfing, at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. 524-3043. 

Performing Arts Classes for Adults 50+ begin at Stagebridge Theatre Company, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Cost is $75 for 11 weeks. For information call 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

East Bay Track Club for girls and boys ages 3-15 meets Mon. at 6 p.m. at Berkeley High School track field. Free. 776-7451. 

Small-Business Counseling Free one-hour one-on-one couseling to help you start and run your small business with a volunteer from the Service Core of Retired Executives, Mon. evenings by appointment at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. For appointment time call 981-6134. www.eastbayscore.org 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group, for people 60 years and over, meets at 9:45 a.m. at Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave, Albany. Cost is $3.  

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, JAN. 13 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll explore the world of water, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will learn about the weather from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

Golden Gate Audubon Society End of Year Celebration with slide shows, stories and awards, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 843-2222. 

“Snowshoeing Basics” at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Open House from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St. RSVP to 642-9934. olli.berkeley.edu 

“Staged Reading” Class with Joy Carlin, of Aurora Theatre Company and A.C.T. on Tues. from 1 to 3 p.m. at Stagebridge Theatre Company, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Class runs for 11 weeks. Cost is $75. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Registration required. 594-5165. 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

Boffers and Board Games from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Codornices Park, 1201 Euclid Ave. across from the Rose Garden, or 33 Revolutions Record Shop & Cafe, 10086 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito when bad weather. Free, but parental supervision required. 526-5985. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda.548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

Sing-A-Long Group from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave., Albany. 524-9122. 

Ceramics Class Learn hand building techniques to make decorative and functional items, Tues. at 9:30 a.m. at St. John's Senior Center, 2727 College Ave. Free, materials and firing charges only. 525-5497. 

Yarn Wranglers Come knit and crochet at 6:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14 

23rd Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from noon to 1:30 p.m. at 300 Lakeside Drive, 2nd flr auditorium. 454-7110. 

Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action “Unity for the Sake of Change” Inauguration Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at St. Paul AME Church, 2024 Ashby Ave. 665-5821. 

LiveTalk@CPS with Chris Hoofnagle on “Our Precarious Privacy” at 7 p.m. at College Prepatory School, Buttner Auditorium, 6100 Broadway. Tickets are $5-$15 at the door. www.college-prep.org/livetalk 

“Planet Earth” the documentary by David Attenborough, episodes I and II, “Ice Worlds” and “Shallow Seas” at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

“Avalanche Awareness” with Aaron Johnson of Mountain Adventure Seminars at 6:30 p.m. at Marmot Mountain Works, 3049 Adeline St. Cost is $20. 849-0735. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oakland State Bldg., Rooms 2,3,4, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

Family Sing-Along at 4:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720 ext. 16. 

Poetry Workshop with Alison Seevak from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720, ext. 16. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. 548-9840. 

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at the Berkeley BART Station followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www. 

geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

Berkeley CopWatch Drop-in office hours from 6 to 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, JAN. 15 

Dream Opening Ceremony Celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr, with entertainment and presentations, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Frank Ogawa Plaza, in front of Oakland’s City Hall. www.oakland.net. 

com/celebrations 

Birding at the Berkeley Fishing Pier from 8 to 10 a.m. Meet at the end of University Ave for a leisurely walk to see Surf Scoters, scaup, greebes and gulls. Bring a scope if you have one. Rain cancels. 540-8749. 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll explore the world of water, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

“How America Got a Great National Park: The GGNRA” with Amy Meyer at 12:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts., Oakland. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Golden Gate Audubon Society “Iceland: Birds, People and Conservation in a Land of Glaciers, Geysers, Volcanoes and Splendid Isolation” with Bill Lidicker at 7 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 843-2222. 

Free Meditation Class at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarians, 2nd flr., 1606 Bonita Ave. 931-7742. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza , 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. namaste@ 

avatar.freetoasthost.info  

Baby & Toddler Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Circle of Concern Vigil meets on West Lawn of UC campus across from Addison and Oxford, Thurs. at noon and Sun. at 1 p.m. to oppose UC weapons labs contracts. 848-8055. 

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

FRIDAY, JAN. 16 

Pre-Inaugural Ball celebrating the United States First Black Chief Commander President Elect Barack Obama at 7 p.m. at the West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St. Tickets are $25. 238-7016. 

Iraq Moratorium Day and Vigil to Protest the War from 2 to 4 p.m. at the corners of University & Acton. Sponsored by Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenant’s Assoc & Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Watergate Towers, suite 120, 2200 Powell St., Emeryville. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com  

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Jinky Gardner on “Insights from Underwater Archeology” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 524-7468. www.citycommonsclub.org 

Project Censored 2009 with Dr. Peter Phillips, Director of Sonoma State Univ.'s Project Censored, and PC Assistant Director Mickey Huff, on last year's most important and unreported news stories and social issues at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists1924 Cedar St. Suggested donation $10-$20. 527-7543. 

SATURDAY, JAN. 17 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations meets at 10 a.m. at First Pres. Church Berkeley, 2407 Channing Way, Church Lounge. mariebowman@pacbell.net 

Animals Catching Zzzzs Discover the surprising habits of animals that hibernate over the winter from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Call for meeting place. 525-2233. 

Free Smoking Cessation Class meets Sat. from 10 a.m. to noon at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2932 Ellis St., through Feb. 17. Acupuncture option available. To register call 981-5330. QuitNow@ci.berkeley.ca.us 

“Creating a More Energy Efficient Home” from 9 to 11 a.m. at Truitt & White Conference room, 1817 Second St. Free, but registration required. 649-2674. 

California Writers Club “Hold on to Your Vision” with Amanita Rosenbush at 10 a.m. at Barnes & Noble, Jack London Square, 98 Broadway, Oakland. 272-0120. 

Winter Story Time for preschool children and their families at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720 ext. 16. 

Auset (Yemaya) Healing Meditation at noon, registration at 11:30 a.m. at ASA Academy, 2811 Adeline St., Oakland. Cost is $15. For additional classes during the day call 536-5934. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 18 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Day with performances, music and activities from noon to 4 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak sts., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

Hike to the Peak Join a leisurely hike to Wildcat Peak to see the sights of winter, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Bring lunch. Heavy rain cancels. Call for meeting place 525-2233. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Donna Morton on “Meditations to Transform Pain” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

“How World Religions Can Help Us with Illness, Loss Aging” with Ana Matt at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

“The Minsk Ghetto 1941-1943: Jewish Resistance and Soviet Internationalism” with Barbara Epstein at 10 a.m. at JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St.. 848-0237. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs. Jan. 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5428.  

Community Health Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.  

City Council meets Tues., Jan. 13, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5426.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484. 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. 981-6740.  

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7415.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 15, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7010.  

ONGOING 

Help Low-wage Families with Their Taxes United Way’s Earn it! Keep It! Save It! needs Bay Area volunteers for its 7th annual free tax program. No previous experience necessary. Sign up at www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org