One of seven Irish students who survived a balcony collapse in Berkeley talked on Friday about the physical progress he has made and called the fall a "life-changing" experience.

Niall Murray, 21, has been receiving treatment at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose from injuries he suffered when a fourth-floor balcony collapsed at the Library Gardens apartment complex at 2020 Kittredge St. in Berkeley during a party during the early morning of June 16. -more-

Five years have passed since a Chilean man who lived in Berkeley was murdered as he walked on a Berkeley street.

On the anniversary of Adolfo Celedon's death, investigators are still looking for suspects and a $20,000 reward for information leading to the suspects' arrest remains in place, according to police. -more-

Pope Francis, Angela Merkel, and the Austrian government have shown real leadership in extending a warm welcome to refugees escaping conflict zones. Many ordinary Germans and Austrian Good Samaritan families have demonstrated enormous compassion for those seeking refuge. Thus far, the US. has admitted only 1,500 Syrian refugees. There is a real danger that economic refugees seeking a better life might join the exodos creating a stampede that is likely to overwhelm Western Nations generating compassion fatigue or outright hostility. What has largely been ignored is Saudi Arab’s deafening silence. They have a common religion, and enormous wealth which would allow easy access to absorb a million refugees. -more-

The actions of Donald Trump become curiousor and curiouser much like Alice in Wonderland. In an act of desperation to shore up his lack of foreign policy experience Trump invited a motley crew of human rights violators to Trump Tower for a photo-op.

He held a press conference and waxed lyrical about his important guests unaware of their sordid pasts. His star guests were Indonesian government officials headed by Deputy Speaker of the House Fadli Zon. Zon was the right-hand man of the U.S.-trained Prabowo Subianto. Gen. Prabowo has been under investigation for extensive human rights abuses that took place in the 1990s when he was head of the country’s Special Forces. He was fired from the army in 1998 following revelations that he was responsible for the abduction and torture of activists which eventually led to the dismissal of US backed dictator, Suharto. Suharto was responsible for the death of as many as a million civilians. Prabowo was the son-in-law of Suharto. -more-

We have lost it again. Politics is a dirty game played by politicians before every election. Party politics and media turn the voter's mind away from real issues that impact real people. -more-

Berkeley Forum talk by Secretary of Homeland Security disrupted by protesters

Landlord orders Hollywood tower tenants to vacate

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Ms. Fitzpatrick,

Thank you for calling this to our attention. The webpage has been updated to reflect the September 30 special meeting.

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/zoningadjustmentsboard/

Sincerely,

Shannon Allen -more-

Between now and next April, four members of the European Union (EU) will hold national elections that will go a long ways toward determining whether the 28-member organization will continue to follow an economic model that has generated vast wealth for a few, widespread misery for many, and growing income inequality. The choice is between an almost religious focus on the “sin” of debt and the “redemption” of austerity, as opposed to a re-calibration toward economic stimulus and social welfare. -more-

It is a part of human nature that people require sources of fulfillment. Most people in the U.S. are taught that we need to go to school, get a good career, own a house, marry a sweetheart and produce offspring…(modern day addendum; and then get divorced, then remarried.) -more-

Golden Thread Productions, founded in 1996 by Torange Yeghiazarian of Oakland, has staged and produced many new and newly-landed plays from and about the Middle East--and what it means to be Middle Eastern or just to consider that crucial region. -more-

"Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! ... " When Michael Needham, playing King Lear in the Inferno Theatre/Actors Ensemble co-production in the old amphitheater Berkeley Shakes used perform in, up in Hinkel Park, blew onstage with his Fool (Jody Christian in an active, playful role, also cast as a forthright Cordelia) for the fabled Storm Scene, his imprecation could've been taken for a marker of the end of summer, another prediction of El Niño wetness this winter, in the last free performance on Labor Day of Shakespeare's stupendous tragedy ... -more-

In Verdi’s time-line, Luisa Miller, which premiered at San Carlo in Naples in December 1849, is a fairly early opera, appearing in Verdi’s so-called “middle period.” MacBeth opened two years earlier; and La Battaglia di Lengnano, I Masnadieri, and Il Corsaro all opened prior to Luisa Miller. Yet much of Luisa Miller’s music foreshadows the great Verdi operas to come later. Even in its plot, Luisa Miller foreshadows Verdi’s lifelong interest in issues of paternal relations between a father and his offspring. Here, in Luisa Miller, the relationship of Luisa to Miller, her father, and his relationship to her, occupy the moral center of the opera. -more-

Marion Fay's unusual, participatory Theater Explorations & Music Appreciation adult education classes are beginning for the Fall next week, featuring trips to local performances, post-performance discussions--and professionals visiting classes (at the Northbrae Community Church in Berkeley) to discuss--and sometimes perform--their art. -more-

Seeking Candidates for Education & Health Legislative Assistant

Summary: This position is responsible for education and health programs and projects, organizing special events and assisting with other initiatives and duties. This position also advises the Mayor and staff on health and education issues, collaborates with partner organizations and institutions on education and health initiatives and writes reports and other materials. This position reports to the Chief of Staff and Mayor. -more-

Wednesday, September 16, 23 and 30 starting at 12 noon
Sunday, September 27, starting at 11 am

Save Shattuck Cinemas takes you on a walking tour of the Shattuck Cinema Theaters and the proposed Harold Way project site. Starting in the Shattuck Cinemas lobby, it includes the individual theaters and a walk to the area where 2211 Harold Way will be built.

Please arrive a little early. Viewing the theaters, their artwork, and murals must be completed before the theaters open for movie goers at 12:30.

The tour lasts one hour, and includes stairs, inclines and walking at a moderate pace. Anyone needing special accommodation for accessibility and/or moderation of pace, should contact Save Shattuck Cinemas by email savingshattuck@gmail.com or call 510 325-1218 and a special tour will be arranged that covers the same area at a slower walking pace and/or includes elevators instead of stairs.

The Tour includes: -more-