Phase Two of the construction project for the new playground at Aquatic Park gets under way Wednesday morning, and organizers are reissuing their call for volunteers. 

By Sunday evening, if enough people show up to help, a new playground structure, based on the designs of Berkeley elementary school students, will be finished along the eastern side of the park. The wooden creation will emphasize the ecological emphasis of Aquatic Park and will include an ecology walk and animal designs. 

In fact, it’s the unique design of the playground that has necessitated an extended construction project. The local organizers are working in conjunction with Leathers and Associates, an Ithaca, N.Y.-based architectural group that designs community playgrounds around the world. A typical Leathers project lasts a week, but the architects felt more time was needed because of the detailed work for the Berkeley playground. 

The first week of activity ran from May 18-21, and this week’s efforts begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday and continue through the end of the day Sunday. 

The name of the playground – Dream Land for Kids – was chosen earlier this month by 9-year-old Joseph Newell. The work site is located just south of the foot of Bancroft Way. 

Three volunteer shifts are available each day: from 8 a.m. to noon, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Lunch and dinner are served to volunteers each day. 

Organizers are asking volunteers who have work tools to bring them to the site. All loaned tools will be engraved with the person’s name and returned in “as is” condition. Tools damaged at the site will be replaced. 

Work gloves, hammer, tape measures, drill, circular saws, index cards and pencils are particularly needed. 

Here are other, more specific tools that are being sought: a backhoe; 6 screw guns; 4 orbital jigsaws; 2 bolt cutters; 17 brooms; 13 paint brushes; 38 scrub brushes; 10 bar clamps 2’ and over; 35 drills 3/8”; 40 25’ extension cords; 2 fire extinguishers; work gloves, as many as possible; 25 hammers; 12 hardhats; 2 garden hoses; 20 levels, all sizes; 7 rakes, bow tine (metal); rope, 1/2” and 3/8” 200’ each; 10 belt sanders; 4 disk sanders; 20 Skil saws; 15 long handled shovels; 30 kitchen sponges; 50 nail aprons; 20 combination squares; 4 8-10’ stepladders; 5 wheelbarrows; open end wrench set; and 4 ratchet sets. 

For more information on any aspect of the playground project, call 510-649-9874.

Tuesday, May 30 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30-11:30 a.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited; the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call ahead for a reservation. 

510-644-6109 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

Computer literacy course 

6-8 p.m. 

James Kenney Recreation Center, 1720 Eighth St. 

This free course will cover topics such as running Windows, File Management, connecting to and surfing the web, using Email, creating Web pages, JavaScript and a simple overview of programming. The course is oriented for adults. 

510-644-8511 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

510-531-8664 

Wednesday, May 31 

Playground construction 

8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

East side of Aquatic Park 

Today is a “build day” for the new community playground at Aquatic Park. The Dream Land for Kids - its name was chosen by 9-year-old Joseph Newell - is designed by and for Berkeley’s schoolchildren and will be built entirely by the community. Build days continue through Sunday. Everyone is welcome to volunteer, regardless of age or skills. Older children can help, childcare is provided for younger, toilet-trained children. Bring work gloves and tools if you have them. Lunch is at noon, Dinner at 5 p.m. Bring a dish to share or a sack lunch if you can.  

510-649-9874; http://www.bpfp.org/AquaticPlayground 

Congresswoman speech 

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

Santa Fe Bar and Grill Restaurant, 1310 University Ave. 

The Zonta Club of Berkeley/North Bay’s spring luncheon will feature guest speaker Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Tickets are $40. All proceeds from the event will benefit programs sponsored by Zonta, a club focused on advancing the status of women worldwide. Lee will discuss issues affecting women’s legal rights and economic advancement, both from a local and national perspective. She will also speak about her views on the traditional “women’s issues” of education and healthcare. Reservations for this event are required. 

510-845-6221; 510-644-4480 

Public housing meeting 

6-8 p.m. 

West Berkeley Senior Center, 1900 Sixth St. 

This meeting is designed for people who live in public housing in Berkeley or who have a Section 8 voucher or certificate. The Affordable Housing Advocacy Project is sponsoring this meeting to discuss how the Berkeley Housing Authority works, how it can be improved and how residents can affect the planning process for the federally funded Public Housing Authority Plan. 

1-800-773-2110 

Thursday, June 1 

Playground construction 

8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

East side of Aquatic Park 

Today is a “build day” for the new community playground at Aquatic Park. The Dream Land for Kids - its name was chosen by 9-year-old Joseph Newell - is designed by and for Berkeley’s schoolchildren and will be built entirely by the community. Build days continue through Sunday. Everyone is welcome to volunteer, regardless of age or skills. Older children can help, childcare is provided for younger, toilet-trained children. Bring work gloves and tools if you have them. Lunch is at noon, Dinner at 5 p.m. Bring a dish to share or a sack lunch if you can.  

510-649-9874; http://www.bpfp.org/AquaticPlayground 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30-11:30 a.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited; the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call ahead for a reservation. 

510-644-6109 

“The Magnificent Monarch” 

3 p.m. 

Tilden Regional Park, Canon Drive off Grizzly Peak Boulevard 

Find out how you can help local populations of this “King of Butterflies.” 

510-525-2233 

Cal Performances 

8 p.m. 

Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley campus 

This is the world premiere of “When Sorrow Turns To Joy - Songlines: The Spiritual Tributary” by Jon Jang and James Newton. The work illuminates the common thread and the musical traditions binding the African-American and Chinese cultures. Tickets are $20 to $32. 

510-642-9988 

Friday, June 2 

Playground construction 

8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

East side of Aquatic Park 

Today is a “build day” for the new community playground at Aquatic Park. The Dream Land for Kids - its name was chosen by 9-year-old Joseph Newell - is designed by and for Berkeley’s schoolchildren and will be built entirely by the community. Build days continue through Sunday. Everyone is welcome to volunteer, regardless of age or skills. 

510-649-9874; http://www.bpfp.org/AquaticPlayground 

“Public School Reform” 

Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 

Susan W. O’Donell, an education activist, will speak during this week’s meeting of the City Commons Club. Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Luncheon is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Speaker starts promptly at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is $11 or $12.25; admission to the speech is $1, free for students. 

510-848-3533 

Cal Performances 

8 p.m. 

Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley campus 

This is the world premiere of “When Sorrow Turns To Joy - Songlines: The Spiritual Tributary” by Jon Jang and James Newton. The work illuminates the common thread and the musical traditions binding the African-American and Chinese cultures. Tickets are $20 to $32. A pre-performance talk with Jang and Newton will be held at 7 p.m. 

510-642-9988

Berkeley High track and field coach Darrell Hampton received some criticism for his “big meet” strategy in 2000 – taking it easy in league meets to conserve and strategize for the more prestigious weekend invitationals.  

But six weeks after dropping an embarrassing dual meet to East Bay Athletic League rival Foothill, the last laugh seems to have been reserved for the BHS girls. Though the Yellowjackets’ EBAL record may be blemished going into this weekend’s CIF state finals, Hampton’s squad has qualified more female athletes for the Southern California meet than the rest of the EBAL combined.  

“That’s the thing about having a program, sometimes you may have (to overlook) dual meets to see the bigger picture,” said Hampton, who will send four athletes covering nine events to this weekend’s championships in Cerritos. “I took a lot of flak for not running in dual meets. To make it a team thing, we’ve been putting the alternates in (for qualifying races).” 

While the BHS coach’s methods have come under fire, nobody can question his success with the girls’ sprint contingent, which has been recognized nationwide as one of the country’s fastest programs. Even at the relatively prestigious NCS Meet of Champions at Cal this past weekend, the vaunted Yellowjackets remained large fish in a small pond, qualifying at least one athlete in every sprint and hurdle event they entered.  

World-ranked sprinter Aisha Margain had the easiest time qualifying in perhaps the most competitive race, running the 100m in 11.63 to edge James Logan’s Adrena Williams. Margain also registered a convincing win in the girls’ 200m, outclassing Logan’s Cheri Craddock and BHS teammate Katrina Keith by nearly a second. Keith, who took third in the 200m with a time of 24.68, also qualified with a 12.03 in the 100m event. 

“I was just trying to qualify today. I came out and ran my hardest,” said Margain, who also participates on both Berkeley High relay teams. “I felt I could run 23 (seconds in the 200m) and I believe times will go down dramatically when we get to the state meet.” 

Despite a slower-than-usual 57.19 mark in the 400m, Berkeley’s T’carra Penick still managed to qualify second, behind Craddock of Logan. Penick also held down the third spot in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays – both won handily by Berkeley High. Raqueta Margain combined with her sister Aisha, Penick and Keith to run the long relay in 3:48.28, while Penick, Keith, Aisha Margain and hurdler Simone Brooks posted a 46.13 in the 4x100. Brooks also qualified for state in both the 100m and 300m hurdles, running the events in 14.65 and 45.22, respectively to take third in both. 

“I trained them to make sure how we chose the events,” Hampton said after Saturday’s Meet of Champions. “We’re looking real nice, and we can go faster.” 

As Berkeley High’s lone male representative at NCS, senior Daveed Diggs improved on his qualifying time of 14.74 in the 100m hurdles, winning the event in 14.32 over Liberty’s Carlos Johnson. Diggs also managed to qualify in his only other event – the 300m hurdles – garnering third place with a 39.20. High jumper Laura Winnacker, who visited the state meet last year after jumping 5-6 at NCS, just missed a qualifying mark on Saturday, topping out at 5-3 to place fifth. 

“It’s disappointing, since I did so well last year, and didn’t expect to,” said the senior, who hit a slump toward the end of the league season in which she repeatedly failed to match her personal best. “I thought I was on an upswing (coming in).” 

Berkeley High’s state qualifiers head to Cerritos this Friday afternoon, to kick off the preliminary day of CIF competition, before concluding with the Meet of Champions on Saturday. Though Hampton expects most of his qualifiers to survive the first day of events, he acknowledges the gaping jump in competition from sections to state.  

“The heat winner get the middle of the track (for the finals), that’s all we want to do,” the coach said about this weekend’s meet, which is expected to draw more than 10,000 fans. “I like the atmosphere in Cerritos, it’s much better than up here. It’s not (as big as) Penn (Relays), but there’ll be a nice crowd.”

Repairs to the warm pool, purchase of a portable firefighting system, upgrades to the branch libraries, beautification of the University Avenue median, improving parks maintenance and lighting the streets – all could be placed before Berkeley citizens in November. 

Councilmembers voted to have the city’s legal team write ballot language for all of these items. The council will vote again next month on the question of putting the measures on the ballot. The measures will each have to garner a two-thirds majority in November to pass. 

UPGRADES TO LIBRARY BRANCHES 

All the councilmembers present at the post-midnight discussion Wednesday morning – Councilmember Polly Armstrong had excused herself early in the evening – voted to have the attorney write a $5 million library bond measure for the November ballot. 

The main library retrofit and expansion is under way, thanks to the 1996 Measure S, but the city’s branch libraries still need to be upgraded and made earthquake safe. 

If taxpayers put $5 million into the mix, the state will kick in matching funds. The state funds are a result of Proposition 14, passed by California voters in March – 87 percent of Berkeley voters cast their ballots in favor of this proposition. 

Proposition 14 was originally supposed to match municipal funds three-to-one. The libraries had hoped to get a $15 million match for the city’s $5 million bond measure. 

But Audrey Powers, branch services manager for the Berkeley library system says there is only $350 million available statewide from Proposition 14 and an estimated more-than-$2 billion of need throughout the state. So the state match will be less than anticipated, Powers said. 

The cost of the $5 million measure to the homeowner whose property’s assessed value (not market value) is $150,000 would be $6 annually; the cost to a person whose home is assessed at $400,000 would be $15. 

The purpose of the bond measure is to upgrade three of the library’s four branches. The Claremont Avenue branch recently underwent substantial remodeling, and although it still needs additional seismic work and other upgrades, the other three branches will be first in the queue for the funds, Powers said. 

The bond measure would pay for the branches’ seismic and technological upgrades. In addition, the North Branch would get a public meeting room. 

“It’s the only branch without one,” Powers noted. 

The West Branch would get expanded space for its literacy program and the South Branch tool lending library would be enlarged. 

If the local bond measure passes, the state would decide which of the projects get funded, Powers said. The library staff would then hold community meetings to refine the projects. 

RENOVATIONS TO THE WARM POOL 

Renovating the Berkeley High warm water pool, used each month by some 300 disabled and elderly clients and anyone else who wants to exercise in the 90-plus degree water, is also a popular issue with the council. It unanimously approved a resolution calling for the legal team to write a $3 million bond measure to fund the upgrades. 

Costs to repair the pool and improve water circulation is set at $2 million, with another $1 million to make the adjoining restroom completely accessible and to upgrade the locker room and dry exercise space. 

The 20-year $3 million bond will cost $3 per year for the homeowner with property assessed at $150,000 and $9 for a homeowner with property assessed at $400,000. 

FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR EMERGENCIES 

An $8 million ballot measure to purchase emergency firefighting equipment was also sent by the unanimous council to the city attorney for ballot language. 

If approved, the parcel tax will cost homeowners $1.25 per square foot over 20 years. A person owning a 1,900-square-foot house will pay $24 annually. Low-income homeowners would be exempt. 

Citizens passed a public safety bond measure in 1992 – Measure G, which has been used to build the Public Safety Building and upgrade firehouses. If the city gets a judge’s OK, some Measure G funds will be spent on a new hills firehouse and for the purchase and retrofit of an old East Bay Municipal Utility District reservoir. 

The city had wanted to use Measure G money to purchase a firefighting system that would have pumped saltwater from the Bay underneath University Avenue or a nearby street, two miles up to Oxford Street. This plan was very unpopular with University Avenue merchants and nearby residents, it proved too costly, it was relatively untested, and a number of citizens said Measure G funds should not be spent on it because the project was not specifically named in the bond measure. 

So, after spending $2 million on planning for the project, the city set it aside. 

In place of the saltwater-firefighting project, the fire department wants the city to purchase a flexible hose/pump system for $8 million. 

Assistant Chief David Orth explains the need for the portable emergency water system. Using the city’s current firefighting capability, the city can access the necessary 10,000 gallons of water per minute to extinguish one warehouse fire, such as the five-alarm fire last week at Fourth Street and Bancroft Way. 

But in the case of an earthquake, where large fires might erupt in various parts of the city, or in a hills wildfire, the city needs to have access to more water. There is sufficient accessible water in the area, including the Bay, Lake Anza and reservoirs. To access this water, and to transport it everywhere in the city, the fire department wants to purchase pumps, eight miles of 12-inch flexible hose, and trucks to transport the equipment. 

Although this system is used infrequently in the United States, it has been used for several years in Europe and was used in Turkey with success during the major earthquake there, Orth said. 

He added that the hose and pump system would be critical after a disaster, when the East Bay Municipal Utility District water pipes could break. The department would run potable water through the hoses, he said. 

HIGHER PARKS AND LANDSCAPE TAXES 

An increase in the Parks and Landscape Taxes was more controversial with some members of the council. 

“Parks and landscape should 

After wrapping up the North Coast Section team titles at last weekend’s Bay Shore meet, the ultra-deep St. Mary’s boys and girls track teams already knew they had quantity entering this past weekend’s NCS Meet of Champions. And after winning seven events en route to qualifying 13 athletes for CIFs at Edwards Track Stadium on Saturday, it’s safe to say the Panthers also have plenty of quality.  

“We had a great meet. We not only got through, but ran well. Everybody competed great today,” said St. Mary’s head coach Jay Lawson, who felt the convenient location of the meet stood as an advantage for the two local prep teams. “I think some teams are surprised at how well we’ve done.” 

The Panther boys left few events for anyone else on Saturday, winning both relays in addition to six of the fifteen individual events. Besides anchoring the winning 4x400 relay team, senior sprinter Denye Versher garnered titles in both the 200m and 400m events, edging El Cerrito’s Joe-k Onyenegecha by a scant three-tenths of a second in the shorter race. Sophomore Chris Dunbar also qualified in both events, placing fourth and second in the 200 and 400, respectively. Junior Sean Geraghty rounded out the short-distance events for St. Mary’s, running a 1:56.55 to qualify third in the 800m. 

“We think we have a good chance to win state. We’re staying focused on our goals,” said Versher, who will be competing in his third straight CIF championship meet. “We’re still strong – not tired or burnt out.” 

The St. Mary’s contingent complemented a successful day on the track with a solid day in the field, winning two of three jumping events and taking second in the other. State championship contender Ebon Glenn leapt a personal-best 6-11 to win the Meet of Champions by four inches, while Solomon Welch added a victory in he triple jump. Welch would also finish as first runner-up in the long jump, being outdistanced by eight inches at the hands of Concord’s Trevor Chatterton. St. Mary’s hurdler Halihl Guy brought home the only other Panther event title, winning the 300m hurdles in 38.23. 

“With Ebon and Solomon, I think we have two guys that compete for the state championships,” Lawson said. “The competition is better at state, so the kids will run faster, rise to the occasion.” 

Though not nearly as dominant as their male counterparts, the St. Mary’s girls squad managed to qualify a handful of athletes for state, with Tiffany Johnson, Bridget Duffy, Danielle Stokes and Kamaiya Warren all placing in the top four in their events. After qualifying in Friday’s triple jump, Johnson edged local rival T’carra Penick of Berkeley High with a 25.16 to take the last qualifying spot in the 200m, while Duffy hung on to third in the 1600m to lock up her second straight CIF berth. In the 100m hurdles, Stokes surged past Berkeley’s Simone Brooks, but failed to beat El Cerrito phenom Ashlee Lodree’s 14.46, and ultimately qualified second.  

Warren became the Panthers’ only other female dual-event qualifier, besides Johnson, taking second place in both the shotput and discus events. 

“Kamaiya did great, that was the best shotput she ever threw,” Lawson said about his star thrower, who posted a distant 44-1 in the shot. “All the girls ran well, and got a good taste of the state meet.” 

Lawson hopes the stellar performance at NCS will carry over into this weekend’s state meet, but does not expect a cakewalk – even in Friday’s preliminary heats. According to the coach, the lack of respect and hype surrounding his athletes will serve as an advantage, since the Panthers will be forced to compete their hardest if they hope to have a chance at making the finals. 

“A lot of our guys have been down there before, so they won’t have those big eyes,” said the coach, who admitted his athletes have been overwhelmed by the size and competitiveness of the CIF meet in years past. “When we get down to state, we’ll run everything like it’s our last race. That’s what each kid has to do.” 

“At state, you can’t hold anything back, even at trials,” Versher added. “It’ll be another hard race. I’m just trying to win my heat (at CIF prelims).” 

Five police officers will receive letters of commendation from the Berkeley Police Department for their rescue effort in last week’s house fire on Josephine Street. 

The five honorees – Lionell Dozier, Craig Lindenau, Jeff Luna, Joseph Mercado and Brian Wilson – are all relative newcomers to the department. 

When the officers, who were nearby, arrived at the scene before the fire department, they found the family of four perched on the roof of the front porch, in an attempt to escape the flames closing in on them. 

The police officers held a neighbor’s ladder up because it was too short to reach the roof. Pam Ernst climbed down on it, but her partner Leah Kushner, who was on the other side of the roof, jumped, probably at the same time, said Ernst. 

“We couldn’t see each other, but I could hear her,” said Ernst. “She didn’t know I was on the roof with the baby. 

“I threw her down, it was a do-or-die situation. It was the only way to survive.” 

The tot, almost 4 years old, fell into the waiting arms of Officer Mercado. 

Kushner pushed her other daughter, a teen-ager, off the roof and the girl fell safely into bushes. 

While the other three residents who were aroused from their beds were unharmed, the children’s mother lost consciousness after her leap, said Police Capt. Bobby Miller. She suffered a compressed vertebra and severe bruising. 

She is recovering in Alta Bates Medical Center, “but it will be a long road,” said Ernst. 

Miller said the officers had to kick over a fence and move Kushner as carefully as they could to a safe location away from the heat, smoke and flames. Neighbors brought blankets. 

All of these actions, Miller said, took place in a few minutes before the paramedics arrived and took the two women and the children to the hospital.  

While the couple lost almost everything in the fire, they salvaged the records of their adoption facilitation business that were stored in file cabinets in an office room. 

On Friday Ernst said she was getting ready to think about replacing car keys, credit cards and insurance. 

Assistant Fire Chief David Orth said department investigators determined the fire started in the kitchen with oily rags on the floor. 

He said the owners of the house had stained a table in the breakfast nook and worked late into the night. 

The kind of material they used to stain the table is susceptible to combustion under the right conditions. Some companies recommend soaking the rags in water and storing them in a metal container outside. 

Heat is generated by the chemicals in the stain to harden it, but if it is concentrated enough, Orth said, it can ignite and the fuel in the rag can burn through the floor. 

The investigation into last week’s other fire, the May 21 blaze on Fourth Street that started in Andros Inc., a company that manufactures gas-analyzing equipment, reveals that the fire apparently was accidental, said Orth. 

Its probable cause was a heater used in a room to test the gas-analyzing equipment. The room would be heated up to provide the right conditions to test the machines in a production area of the plant. 

“We don’t know any more abut the heaters in terms of malfunction. That will be done later with lab work. The insurance company will take the investigation from where it is now,” he said.

More than 2 million people are helping researchers at UC Berkeley in their search for intelligent signals from space. 

And the university’s one-year-old SETI@home project is one of five finalists in the science category of the 2000 Computerworld Smithsonian Awards. 

The awards are given each year to visionary projects and people in 10 separate categories, ranging from science and technology to arts and entertainment. The winner in each category will be announced June 5 at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

SETI@home was launched May 17, 1999. Within 48 hours, some 200,000 people had downloaded the software to participate in UC Berkeley’s search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). The software acts like a screen saver, launching when the computer is idle to analyze a chunk of data in search of intelligent radio signals from space. Once the analysis is complete, the computer connects to the internet, returns the analyzed data and retrieves a new chunk of data to chew on. 

In the past year, users of the SETI@home software have contributed more than 280,000 years of free computing time. A group at Sun Microsystems, dubbed SETI@sun, contributed more than 520 years. Sun has been one of SETI@home’s major sponsors, donating the server computers that send out work units to subscribers. The other major sponsors are the Planetary Society, which provided early seed money, and the University of California’s Digital Media Innovation Program. 

“We seem to have benefited from an obvious public fascination with everything related to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), UFOs and the X-Files,” project director David Anderson said in a news release. 

Project scientist Dan Werthimer and UC Berkeley colleagues operate several ongoing SETI projects, including the 21-year-old SERENDIP project (Search for Extraterrestrial Radio Emissions from Nearby Developed Intelligent Populations), whose newest instrument, SERENDIP IV, provides the data for SETI@home. The project was designed in part as an experiment in “distributed computing” – a way of breaking down a problem requiring lots of computation into small chunks that can be done by many small computers distributed anywhere in the world. The SETI@home project is the first distributed computing project to allow the general public the opportunity to participate in important research. 

To date, the peak signals plucked from the data have all been terrestrial radio pollution rather than extraterrestrial messages. As more data come in on more and more frequencies, distributed computing allows the team to keep pace. Computers will continue to get faster, users will upgrade, and SETI@home gets faster analysis without having to invest in a supercomputer. 

To improve the search, Werthimer also is exploring the option of collecting data from a radio telescope in the southern hemisphere. This would complement the northern sky data coming from the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, Anderson said the current phase of the project is scheduled to wind down in a year’s time, primarily because the Arecibo telescope will have scanned the same area of the sky three to four times, which is sufficient for now. 

SAN FRANCISCO – A funnyhouse at a carnival contains distorted mirrors where the viewer’s reflection is bent in unexpected and eerie ways. 

That’s the image that African American playwright Adrienne Kennedy uses to sum up her difficult and painful Obie Award-winning play “Funnyhouse of a Negro,” revived for a run at Intersection for the Arts in San Francisco. 

“Funnyhouse of a Negro” was written in 1961, before the civil rights movement and Black pride political activism of the Sixties reached its full momentum. 

First produced off-Broadway by playwright Edward Albee and his partners in 1964, “Funnyhouse of a Negro” is the painful story of a young woman who is filled with conflicting feelings of self-hatred over her mixed race identity. 

Director Margo Hall and her seven actors have created an effective stylized staging of this challenging and unusual non-realistic play. 

In “Funnyhouse,” a young college literature student in New York named Negro Sarah (Moya Furlow) is tormented by her racial identity, as the daughter of a father who is black and of a mother who could pass for white. 

Sarah has created for herself a nightmare and dream world in which real and imagined characters battle in her head over her racial identity. 

Two of the characters are Queen Victoria (Selana Allen) and the Duchess of Hapsburg (Comika Griffin), who represent to Sarah the white European aristocracy to which she aspires as a successful university student of European literature. 

Assassinated African leader Patrice Lumumba (Benton Greene), Sarah’s Jewish boyfriend Raymond (Joel Mullennix) and Jesus Christ (Marcus Conrad Poston) also wander through her imagination and fight for position. 

Finally, Sarah’s landlady and a mother figure (both played by the same actress, Sarah Kliban) ridicule Sarah’s suffering, and further lower her self-esteem. 

These characters in Sarah’s memory and imagination shift in their relationships with each other in odd and sudden ways, as characters and relationships in a dream do. 

Sarah, for example, has the assassination of Lumumba equated with her own father’s hanging death in a New York hotel room, which she at times claims to be responsible for. 

Another part of Sarah believes that her father’s unfulfilled destiny was to return to Africa, become Jesus, and heal his people. 

Paradoxically, Sarah has also come to think of her black father as someone who raped her white mother. 

Many of the unhappy characters in Sarah’s imagination appear to be pulling out patches of hair from their heads in misery. 

Running about an hour, with no intermission, “Funnyhouse” is a dream story about the pain of denying one’s identity. In director Margo Hall’s stylized staging, it appears as though Sarah is undergoing is a nervous breakdown. 

Playwright Kennedy, who is also a poet, has written much of the play’s dialogue as impressionistic, non-realistic solo monologues for Sarah. 

Kennedy was born in Pittsburgh in 1931 to middle class, well-educated parents – a social worker father, and a school teacher mother. Her maternal grandfather was a wealthy, white farmer. Kennedy’s mixed race heritage heavily influenced her writing. 

Director Hall’s staging of this difficult and challenging play is effective, and she gets a strong performance from lead Moya Furlow. 

Sarah’s wail of torture when she can’t stand her conflicted feelings any longer, puts the viewer right inside the mind of someone having a nervous breakdown. This is not a light evening in the theater. 

“Funnyhouse of a Negro” runs Thursday through Sunday, 8 p.m., through June 11 at Intersection for the Arts, 446 Valencia St. (at 16th Street), San Francisco – a block and a half walk from the 16th Street BART Station. 415-626-3311. 

Thursday performances are pay-what-you-can.

Housing shortages and the creation of a “virtual Berkeley” were two of the issues raised in a meeting Friday of East Bay business and civic leaders. 

A report on the East Bay economy by Tapan Munroe, prepared for the Oakland-based Economic Development Alliance for Business, presented statistics that compared the increase of population with the shrinking supply of housing. 

“Housing is not keeping up with population. It’s a fundamental issue we don’t always talk about,” said Munroe, a well-known economist who has advised California governors and federal and state legislators. 

“We need houses near jobs. It’s one of the key issues that affects the quality of life and potential viability.” 

In his report, “East Bay Indicators 2000, Focus on the New Economy,” Munroe said housing also is not keeping pace with job creation. In the East Bay, he said, there were more than five times the number of jobs created as there were homes built in 1999. The result is “dramatic increases in home prices and apartment rents.” 

He said the entire Bay Area suffers from inadequate housing supply and transportation, but parts of the region offer more affordable housing and less traffic congestion than San Jose or San Francisco. 

He said the traffic congestion from drivers commuting long distances because they can’t afford housing near their jobs, has outpaced the growth in population. 

The combination of those factors makes it more difficult for employers to recruit and retain employees, he said. 

The focus of his report is not only on economic issues but also on social equity, noted Bruce Kern, executive director of EDAB. The Alliance promotes business interests in the east bay and its membership include all 18 cities in the region, more than 200 corporations, UC Berkeley and CSU Hayward, and local school districts as well. 

Kern said the Alliance manages CalWorks, the welfare-to-work program that helps find jobs for potential employees, and it operates a “green business program.” 

In his report for EDAB, Munroe said about 46,000 additional housing units would have to be built in the East Bay to reach the same population-to-housing ratio that existed in 1990. 

He examined building permits and found that Oakland received near $2 million for permits, and he considers the city to be a leader in building activity. 

“When people say there’s nowhere to build,” he said he sees 60,000 to 70,000 acre campuses with two-story buildings. “Can software engineers not see a third floor?” he asked rhetorically. 

Another speaker on the panel - panelists also included KTVU Consumer Editor Tom Vacar and New United Motors Vice President Mark Matthews – was Arturo Perez-Reyes, a lecturer at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. 

Perez-Reyes advocated strengthening education. The way to bridge the so-called “digital divide,” he said, is to create better schools and more schooling. 

In Munroe’s opinion the “lowest productivity gain is in education.” 

“It’s an industry you ought to support,” he told EDAB members. 

The Haas School lecturer, introduced as an e-commerce guru, said one-half of the e-commerce world is in the Bay Area. “We sit here poised at the epicenter of e-commerce,” he said. 

The challenges facing Berkeley bookstores like Cody’s Books and other businesses on Telegraph Avenue and elsewhere in town from e-commerce giants provided a case in point for him. 

Cody’s and other bookstores have been blindsided by Amazon.com with its sales tax-free Nevada warehouse, he said. But closer to home, he said the university is planning to increase online business by not only having students register electronically but by ordering their class texts online simultaneously. 

The books won’t come from Cody’s but from Follett. Perez-Reyes said the university will try to bring in Cody’s on its own portal. 

“We want a thriving community around us,” said the Cal lecturer. Expanding the concept, he said, “If the students buy their food online, Andronico’s will go away.” 

After the meeting he suggested that local merchants may not realize how the “Wal-Martizing” of business through the Internet can kill them. 

“We would like to provide links to form a relationship with Telegraph Avenue (and other districts), a virtual Berkeley.” 

He said the university is creating an e-commerce portal, and one of the benefits is that the university will receive a small percentage of the purchase price from companies it patronizes online. Others can do the same. 

If the small merchants in town joined forces in a virtual community, a virtual mall, he said the university could point to them so customers could click there. The business districts need to be cohesive, not individualistic, he said. 

“United they survive, divided they die.” 

Sanchez-Reyes, Munroe and Vacar stressed the importance of place not just the online world. Multipurpose businesses where customers may go in the store for one thing but find themselves drinking coffee or meeting people or listening to a speaker. 

Gimme an ‘F!’ 

Half a million people stopped chatting amongst themselves and shouted out an ‘F.’ 

Joe McDonald had just made a big decision, and the sudden and unanticipated harnessing of 500,000 people’s undivided attention meant it was too late to go back. Standing alone onstage with a borrowed guitar strapped to his back while filling time in an impromptu set, McDonald fed the Woodstock crowd the next three letters (guess what they were?) of the “F cheer” and performed his now-famous “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag.” 

McDonald’s decision to play the three-minute ditty – which was captured on film and formed something of a centerpiece for the “Woodstock” movie – cemented the public’s perception of McDonald as, in his words, “Country Joe McDonald, the guy who got everybody to yell f--k and sing that song about the war in Vietnam.” 

McDonald’s cheer and song incurred the mighty and lasting wrath of the establishment. McDonald and his band, Country Joe and the Fish, were banned from virtually every concert venue in the United States, forcing Country Joe to play overseas until the mid ‘70s. The band had already been paid to stay off the Ed Sullivan Show and barred from the Schaeffer Beer Festival (“I never did like Schaeffer Beer anyway”). 

In an era when the Smothers Brothers were considered risqué, many radio disc jockeys – who could never have dreamed the “F-word” would be on an LP – were fired for playing the track. 

“It was incomprehensible that it would be on there, much less that 500,000 people would be yelling that word,” recalls McDonald, a Berkeley resident for the past 35 years. “You never heard (that word), you never heard your parents say it, it was never printed in the newspapers, never even hinted at. It was shocking, but also exhilarating. That was the end forever of limits of what kind of language could be used in music. We didn’t open the door, that audience and I battered it down, smashed it to pieces.” 

McDonald’s parents my never have used vocabulary at home like he did on stage, but they too incurred the wrath of the establishment. McDonald was born in Washington, D.C., in 1942, but his family soon moved west to avoid the pressures being left-wingers in the nation’s capital during the prelude to McCarthyism. The family settled in El Monte, not far from Los Angeles, but the West Coast was not immune to the nation’s prevailing paranoia. 

“My father was investigated for supposed un-American activities in 1954, and he lost his job at the telephone company which he’d had for 19 years,” recalls McDonald. “So we became pretty poor then. We sold our house and went from middle class to working class to almost impoverished.” 

McDonald had hoped to attend USC and matriculate to a trombone player’s chair on the L.A. Philharmonic. But as a 17-year-old high school grad he found himself wandering past a Navy recruitment center and, like so many older men looking back at questionable decisions of their youth, sums up his teen-aged thought process as “it seemed like a good idea at the time.” 

McDonald served primarily in Japan as an air-traffic controller before deciding to “take his chances and get out” in 1962 via an honorable discharge. He worked, participated in the Civil Rights Movement and attended several schools in the Los Angeles area until 1965, when he made the fateful decision to head north. 

“I just really fell in love with Berkeley,” says McDonald. “People in Berkeley were using a lot of the ‘secret language’ we used at home being left-wingers in a right-wing atmosphere. They were talking about integration, segregation and imperialism. This was interesting to me; I’d never grown up around anybody who had the same kind of political beliefs as me. I was very isolated in Southern California.” 

The Berkeley atmosphere at the closing stages of the Free Speech Movement and the dawn of hippie-dom was a breath of fresh air for McDonald, who had been stifled by the rigidity of a Southern California upbringing in the ‘50s and a military hitch. He began writing songs and putting out an underground magazine. When he realized that he had “neglected to prepare copy” for the magazine, McDonald and some pals cut a seven-inch record and sold it at Moe’s Books as a “talking magazine.” On that homemade EP was the first version of “Fixin’-To-Die Rag.” 

With the nucleus of bandleader McDonald and Barry “The Fish” Melton, Country Joe and The Fish (named after Stalin’s World War II nickname and the Chairman Mao quote “revolutionaries move through the people like fish through the sea”) started playing in local coffeehouses and eventually became one of the Bay Area’s most popular bands. 

Up until their 1971 breakup, Country Joe and the Fish played a number of major festivals including Monterey Pop and Woodstock and released seven albums, but “Fixin’ To Die,” a song penned by a 23-year-old McDonald in a half-hour burst of inspiration, remained their anthem. Similarly, McDonald’s performance of the Rag at Woodstock will remain his “defining moment” – but as defining moments go, this one ain’t too shabby.  

As blasphemous and unacceptable as the idea was in the ‘60s, the message behind “Fixin’-To-Die” – the assailing not of the individual soldiers in Vietnam but the societal powers-that-be who put them there – is hardly profane today. For McDonald was, is and always will be a veteran’s activist. 

“(By the early ’80s) I began to feel comfortable as a person who people thought about at the same time they were thinking of the Vietnam War. I began to think that perhaps this was a positive thing I could use to my advantage,” explains McDonald. “I was a hippie and also a veteran. I was accepted by both the counterculture, the anti-war community and the veteran community.” 

Working primarily with the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, McDonald lobbies for vets’ issues, locally helping establish the City of Berkeley’s interactive Vietnam memorial and the plaques and exhibits at the Veterans Memorial Building honoring the city’s 22 sons who fell in Vietnam. 

The Vietnam War and its aftermath serve as a constant source of contemplation for McDonald. Recently he was perusing a used bookstore on Solano Ave. when he found a paperback entitled “Grief Denied: A Vietnam Widow’s Story” by Pauline Laurent. Though the book was marked “review copy,” it was unread and relegated to the bargain bin. The experience got Country Joe a-thinkin’. 

“I want to use this opportunity to tell people that when you’re barbecuing or shopping for color-coordinated towels at the Macy’s White Sale, that there’s a significant part of the population that’s having bad memories on Memorial Day,” says McDonald. “People should use this opportunity to talk to a war veteran or someone who’s suffered from war. We in the Bay Area tend to give more respect and sympathy to victims of foreign wars than our own wars. But we forget that our communities are filled with victims of war. They’re our neighbors. Our relatives. Our friends. 

“All of us who are not widows of war should be thankful that we’re not,” continues Country Joe. “Because it’s just blind luck that makes you one or not one. It’s blind, dumb luck that made me Country Joe the rock singer and not Joe McDonald, the dead Navy veteran with a display case full of my stuff in El Monte, California.” 

Visit Country Joe’s incredibly comprehensive home page at www.countryjoe.com

Last week I heard about a unique opportunity to help create an amazing addition to Berkeley’s landscape. In Aquatic Park volunteers are building a 17,000 square foot wooden playground structure that is bound to become an instant hit with both the younger set and their parents. 

Little did I know what to expect when I went. Dozens of volunteers had been working from early in the morning to craft every piece of this custom-designed playground. I soon found myself building what looked like a small box. Later I took a turn applying sealant to the boards. 

The spirit of enthusiasm among the workers was palpable. Good cheer abounded. Experienced workers showed the rest of us simple techniques to do our jobs more effectively. 

By the end of my shift, I realized that the box I made had been mounted as a step on a staircase and the boards were now nailed in as safety railings. 

The level of satisfaction at doing something so practical – and so beautiful – is difficult to express. All I can say is that, I’ve juggled my schedule so I can go back on Wednesday, May 31,when we begin the final five days of construction. The kids voted to name it “Dream Land for Kids,” but for me it’s a dream come true for all of us. 

We need lots more people to help finish by Sunday night. Come even for a short time to lend your support. You won’t be sorry. 

Becky Johnson 

THEATER 

AURORA THEATRE 

“Split” by Mayo Simon, June 1 through July 2. A mordant clear-eyed view of an older couple's love affair. $25 to $28. Wednesday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. 

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE 

“Closer” by Patrick Marber, through July 9. A funny, touching and unflinchingly honest examination of love and relationships set in contemporary London. $38 to $48.50. Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; May 27, June 1, June 3, June 10, June 15, June 24, June 29 and July 8, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 845-4700 or (888) 4BRTTIX. 

CALIFORNIA 

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 

“Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare, June 3 through June 24. The classic romantic comedy of mismatched lovers forced into a union. $21 to $38 general; $19 to $38 seniors; $10 to $38 children. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.; June 13 and June 20, 7 p.m. June 24, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Bruns Memorial Amphitheatre, Shakespeare Festival Way/Gateway Exit on state Highway 24. (510) 548-9666 or www.calshakes.org 

IMPACT THEATRE 

“The Wake-Up Crew” by Zay Amsbury, May 5 through June 3. A comic book on stage that pits unemployed UC Santa Cruz grads against the forces of chaos and destruction. 

$10 general; $5 students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. (510) 464-4468. 

SHOTGUN PLAYERS 

“The Skriker” by Caryl Churchill, through June 4. In this ecological play, faeries are damaged due to polluted rivers and woods, and are forgotten. 

$15 general; $10 seniors and students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. The Warehouse Performance Space, 1850 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco. (510) 655-0813. 

MUSIC VENUES 

ASHKENAZ 

Surco Nuevo, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $11. 

Rhythm Doctors, May 28, 8 p.m. $8. 

Tamazgha, May 30, 9 p.m. $8. 

Crooked Jades, Bluegrass Intentions, May 31, 9 p.m. $8. 

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5099 or www.ashkenaz.com 

BLAKES 

Freeway Planet, Pot Luck, May 27. $5. 

Rat Band Reunion with Bonnie Hayes, May 28. $9. 

The Steve Gannon Band, May 29. $3. 

Solemite, Wild Type Hybrid, May 30. $3. 

Third World with UC Buu, DJ Add, Jah Bonz, Big Willie, May 31. $5. 

For age 18 and older. Music at 9:30 p.m. 2367 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. (510) 848-0886. 

FREIGHT AND SALVAGE 

San Francisco Klezmer Xperience, May 27. $15.50. 

John Stewart, May 28. $16.50. 

Norman Blake, June 1. $17.50. 

The Hanes Family, June 2. $14.50. 

Karen Casey with Niall Vallely, June 3. $16.50. 

Hurricane Sam, June 4. $14.50. 

Music at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761 or (510) 762-BASS. 

LA PEÑA CULTURAL CENTER 

Charanga Tumbao y Cuerdas, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $10. 

Roberto Borrell, May 31, 8 p.m. $15. 

Maria F. Marquez, June 2, 9 p.m. $15. 

Union, June 3, 8 p.m. Featuring Group Uv Nuts, Sayyadina, Born Kings, J.C., Mic-T, Qraun, and more. $8. 

3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

924 GILMAN ST. 

Hoods, Indecision, Kill Your Idols, Adamantium, In Control, May 27. 

Capitalist Casualties, Despite, Plutocracy, Maneurysm, The Neighbors, Ruido, May 28. 

Subincision, Venus Bleeding, Intrepid A.A.F., Homeless Wonders, June 2. 

Dystopia, Scum Brigade, Benumb, Contravene, Tartantula Hawk, June 3. 

$5. Music at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. (510) 525-9926. 

THE STARRY PLOUGH PUB 

Moore Brothers, Yuji Oniki, May 27. $5. 

The Keeners, Go Kart Go, June 1. $4. 

Chuck Prophet and The Mission Express, Dickel Brothers, June 2. $7. 

Los Mex Pistols Del Norte, June 3. $6. 

For age 21 and over. Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:45 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-2082. 

GALLERIES  

BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, SOUTH BRANCH 

“You’re Blase: The Art of Nick Mastick,” May 15 through June 15. An exhibit of collages. Free. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1901 Russell St., Berkeley. (510) 644-6860. 

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION 

“On Common Ground.” through June 23. This exhibit is a portrait of faith-based communities in Los Angeles. 

“Finding the Sacred Mountain,” through June 20. An exhibit of sumi-e and watercolors by Robert Kostka. 

Free. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley. (510) 649-2541. 

NEW PIECES GALLERY 

“Rock, Stone, Masonry and Mosaics,” through June 1. An exhibit of quilts by Charlotte Patera. 

“The Rhapsody of Dolls,” through June 1. An exhibit of dolls by Patti Medaris Culea. 

Free. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1597 Solano Ave., Berkeley. (510) 527-6779. 

Free. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1597 Solano Ave., Berkeley. (510) 527-6779. 

A PIECE OF ART 

Jane Fox, Mixed Media Works, April 27 through June 10, with an artist reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. Ongoing new works by Gallery Artists in ceramic, metal, glass, wood and works on canvas and paper. 

Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 

701 University Ave., in the parking lot across from Spenger’s. (510) 204-9653. 

TRAYWICK GALLERY 

“nudge,” May 17 through June 18. An exhibit of new work by Terry Hoff. Reception, May 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Artist Talk, June 9, 10:30 a.m. 

Free. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1316 10th St., Berkeley. (510) 527-1214. 

To publicize an upcoming event, please submit information to the Daily Planet via fax (841-5695), e-mail (calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.com, or berkeleydailyplanet@yahoo.com) or traditional mail (2076 University Avenue, 94704). Calendar items should be submitted at least one week before the opening of a new exhibit or performance. Please include a daytime telephone number in case we need to clarify any information.

The preliminary day of North Coast Section Meet of Champions competition is intended to act as a sort of centrifuge. With so many competitors in so many heats, the hectic pace at the section finals can leave less serious athletes spinning – but the best will always rise to the top. 

Friday’s prelims, hosted at Cal’s Edwards Track Stadium, were appropriately, but not unexpectedly dominated by the two Berkeley prep teams – St. Mary’s and Berkeley High. Coming off NCS team championships at last weekend’s Bay Shore and Tri-Valley meets, respectively, the ’Jackets and Panthers focused their efforts on individual performances, and managed to qualify virtually every eligible athlete for today’s event finals. 

Just a few blocks from their home track, the Berkeley High girls relay teams took care of business, running the fastest qualifying time of the day in the 4x100, while taking second by less than three-tenths of a second to Maria Carillo High in the 4x400. Though the previously unchallenged 4x400 team was disappointed at being passed – especially T’carra Penick, who felt she offered the slack her opponents needed – Hampton believes his entire sprint core will be at top form when it counts, this afternoon. 

“T’carra didn’t have a good meet today. She was smoked in the 200, and caught from behind in the 4x400,” BHS coach Darrell Hampton said about his top individual 400 runner, who qualified in that event, as well as the 200 and short relay. “She’ll bounce back. She has to, time’s running out.” 

Penick combined with teammates Veronica Lewis, Raqueta Margain and Katrina Keith to finish the long relay in 3:58.27 – a slow mark for the ’Jackets that still ranked as the second best in the section. BHS replaced Penick with Traci Estell and Lewis with Aisha Margain in the 4x100, and dominated its heat by nearly two seconds over St. Mary’s, its closest competitor. The sprint contingent also made its mark on the individual events, with Aisha Margain registered top qualifying times in the 100 and 200, and Keith qualifying comfortably in the same events. 

“Aisha and Katrina looked nice. They went out, and shut ’em down,” Hampton said. “Everybody made it to tomorrow, that’s the important thing.”  

Berkeley’s trio of non-sprint entrants – hurdlers Daveed Diggs and Simone Brooks, and jumper Laura Winnacker – also remain alive in the hunt for CIF state meet berths. Diggs ran a meet-best 14.94 to destroy his heat in the 100m hurdles. The senior also won his heat in the 300m event, before being temporarily disqualified due to an error by a field judge who believed Diggs had stepped out of his lane. Upon appeal from Hampton, who considered the disqualification “the most interesting part of the meet,” Diggs’ 39.59 mark would stand as official, and carry him into today’s finals. 

Brooks had similar success in the girls’ hurdles, qualifying with a 14.94 in the 100m event and a 45.67 in the longer race. Raqueta Margain also participated in the 300m hurdles, but failed to advance after running fifth in her heat. Since high jump competition commences today, Winnacker did not compete on Friday. 

“It was great to see how much the kids have dropped (their times) from last year,” the BHS coach said. 

The deep and versatile St. Mary’s squad matched Berkeley’s success at the conveniently located meet, advancing nearly every competitor to today’s final rounds. The Panthers also qualified athletes to state in the only two events completed on Friday – the triple jump and the discus. Solomon Welch and Asokah Muhammad took first and second, respectively, in the triple jump, while Kamaiya Warren posted a 136-05 to advance in the discus. Warren’s throw ranked second only to long-time rival Michelle Daggs, a Bishop O’Dowd thrower who won the NCS meet with a mighty toss of 145-08. Welch and Muhammad both qualified for their second-consecutive state meet, while sophomore Warren will be making her first trip to CIFs. 

“The track was nice and bouncy, there’s good weather. It’s a great place to jump,” Muhammad said. “I’m going to go into state, try to mix it up, and hopefully get first, second or third.” 

In addition to Welch’s win, the Panthers produced heat winners in six other events, with the 4x100 relay team of Muhammad, Denye Versher, Chris Dunbar and Conner Banks leading the way with a top finish at 42.39. Versher and Dunbar would also win their heats individually in the 200, with Versher also winning the individual 400. Sean Geraghty and Danielle Stokes picked up first in their boys’ 800 and girls 100m hurdles heats, respectively, to round out the Panther heat-toppers.  

“I thought everyone was focused today, we were running easy and fast,” said St. Mary’s coach Jay Lawson, whose goal of qualifying 14-18 athletes for state remains intact after the first day of competition. “I think our kids really like the atmosphere (at Cal), as opposed to running somewhere like Chabot (College in Hayward).” 

The ’Jackets and Panthers look to finish what they started today, competing in the championship heats of the Meet of Champions. The top four finishers in each event today will move on to CIFs. Field events begin at 11 a.m. at Edwards Stadium, with track events starting at 1 p.m.

Saturday, May 27 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

“Micropower Broadcasting Council of War” 

10 a.m.-6 p.m. 

Unitarian Fellowship, Cedar and Bonita streets 

A national gathering of micropower broadcasters, media activists, and supporters will convene to plan and create a national campaign for the liberation of the broadcast airwaves from the “corporate media stranglehold on the free flow of news, information, artistic expression, and cultural diversity.” The goal is to increase efforts in AM and TV broadcasting, in addition to FM broadcasting. 

510-549-0732 

“School House Rock Live! Jr.” 

1 p.m. 

John Muir Elementary School Auditorium, 2955 Claremont Ave. 

This musical features an all-kids cast. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for children age 12 and under. 

510-762-2279 

“Pippi Longstocking” 

7 p.m. 

Live Oak Theatre and Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

The Kairos Youth Choir will offer its final performance of the world premiere of “Pippi Longstocking,” a musical comedy. The group is raising funds for its concert tour of Scandinavia this August. Tickets are $8. 

510-559-6910 

Sunday, May 28 

Poetry Flash 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

The featured poets this session will be Denise Newman and Lisa Samuels. 

510-845-7852; 510-525-5476 

Captain Richard Thomas Centennial Walk 

10 a.m.-noon 

Meet at the bottom of Rose Walk on Euclid Avenue. A wheelchair-accessible meeting point is at LeRoy Avenue and Rose Street. 

Captain Richard Parks Thomas and his wife were the American pioneers on Nut Hill, now also Maybeck country. He was the owner of the Standard Soap Company and built a fort on the site of the present Hume Cloister. On this tour the Historical Society is celebrating the centennial of his death on May 28, 1900. Carl Wilson, the tour guide, is the current curator and past president of the Historical Society. The walk is part of the Berkeley Historical Society’s Spring 200 Walking Tours. The price is $5 per person per tour. 

510-848-0181 

Monday, May 29 

Memorial Day Holiday 

Schools, city offices and most businesses will be closed for the holiday. 

Tuesday, May 30 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30-11:30 a.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited; the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call ahead for a reservation. 

510-644-6109 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

Computer literacy course 

6-8 p.m. 

James Kenney Recreation Center, 1720 Eighth St. 

This free course will cover topics such as running Windows, File Management, connecting to and surfing the web, using Email, creating Web pages, JavaScript and a simple overview of programming. The course is oriented for adults. 

510-644-8511 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

510-531-8664 

Wednesday, May 31 

Playground construction 

8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

East side of Aquatic Park 

Today is a “build day” for the new community playground at Aquatic Park. The Dream Land for Kids - its name was chosen by 9-year-old Joseph Newell - is designed by and for Berkeley’s schoolchildren and will be built entirely by the community. Build days continue through Sunday, and a second series of days will be held May 31 through June 4. Everyone is welcome to volunteer, regardless of age or skills. Older children can help, childcare is provided for younger, toilet-trained children. Bring work gloves and tools if you have them. Lunch is at noon, Dinner at 5 p.m. Bring a dish to share or a sack lunch if you can.  

510-649-9874; http://www.bpfp.org/AquaticPlayground 

Congresswoman speech 

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 

Santa Fe Bar and Grill Restaurant, 1310 University Ave. 

The Zonta Club of Berkeley/North Bay’s spring luncheon will feature guest speaker Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Tickets are $40. All proceeds from the event will benefit programs sponsored by Zonta, a club focused on advancing the status of women worldwide. Lee will discuss issues affecting women’s legal rights and economic advancement, both from a local and national perspective. She will also speak about her views on the traditional “women’s issues” of education and healthcare. Reservations for this event are required. 

510-845-6221; 510-644-4480

They’re the Davids fighting for a voice in the Goliath world of mass corporate communications. 

They are the outlaw voices of microbroadcasters, whose low-watt stations sometimes can be heard within a housing project or within a neighborhood.  

DJ Captain Fred is among these broadcasters. He can be heard on Berkeley’s Liberation Radio at 104.1-FM from Berkeley to Richmond. 

Stephen Dunifer is another of those local microbroadcast advocates, who broadcast on Free Radio Berkeley before it went off the air and was replaced by Liberation Radio. He has traveled around the country and to various corners of the globe, planting transmitters to promote the spread of people-to-people communication. 

Dunifer, who lives in Berkeley, says microbroadcasters are under siege. They do not have license to broadcast from the Federal Communications Commission. They operate illegally, sometimes threatened by the FCC, as Berkeley’s Liberation Radio was in September, or actually shut down as some stations have been. 

To make their point, microbroadcasters are gearing up for a fight against the Goliath in broadcasting – the National Association of Broadcasters. They are targeting the 75-year-old organization, meeting in San Francisco in September, because of its opposition to the liberalizing of FCC rules for low-powered radio. 

People from across the country are meeting today at 10 a.m. the Unitarian Fellowship at Cedar and Bonita for what Dunifer describes as a “war council.” 

“The NAB is not welcome. This whole corporate takeover of everything, including the airwaves, is not acceptable,” he said. The corporate broadcasters present one view and narrow the spectrum and diversity of ideas on the airwaves. 

Those meeting today will plan demonstrations at various NAB events. And when the NAB holds its award ceremony, the microbroadcasters will honor one of their own. Dunifer pointed to conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh as a one-time recipient of the NAB’s Guglielmo Marconi award. 

The NAB was among those lobbying the Federal Communications Commission against expanding micropower broadcasting. 

The FCC recently decided to open up some frequencies to micropower broadcasters. Dunifer called the FCC move a “step in the right direction.” 

Still, there are few frequencies available in urban areas, he said. “It’s just a few crumbs off the table.” 

And the FCC is insisting on a broad separation of frequencies. 

“It’s too conservative,” he said, arguing that, with new technology, stations can broadcast in close frequencies without interfering with one another. 

In addition to their focus on preparing for the NAB meeting, the microbroadcasters will be talking about how to get more new stations on the air, Dunifer said. They want to put stations on the AM band and on TV as well, he said. 

There is no way to know how many microbroadcasters are operating around the country, he said. “I know there are at least four or five in San Jose.” 

Liberation Radio in Berkeley broadcasts at 40 watts, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The programming goes from political analysis to issue of race, to music and bicycle liberation. 

DJ Captain Fred says he’ll be among those at the NAB demonstrations. “We want to give them the welcome that they so richly deserve,” he said. 

Liberation Radio includes programming by the Bicycle Civil Liberties Union, shows that analyze politics, discuss race and play music. 

“The programming is diverse. It’s free speech,” he said, arguing that the NAB is standing in the way of free speech. “We want to have access to the airwaves too.” 

The Daily Planet was unable to reach the National Association of Broadcasters for comment. Comments on micropower broadcasting on NAB’s web site are restricted to its members. 

On its web site, www.NAB.org, the corporation defines itself in the following way: 

“For 75 years, the National Association of Broadcasters has represented the radio and television industries in Washington - before Congress, the FCC and federal agencies, the courts, and on the expanding international front. NAB provides leadership and its vast resources to our supporting members, to broadcasters at-large, and through ongoing public service campaigns to the American people. 

“Our priority is simple: to maintain a favorable governmental, legal and technological climate for the constantly evolving and dynamic business of free over-the-air broadcasting.” 

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 hit the Bay Area at 8 a.m. Thursday, as the Hayward Fault gave way north of San Leandro and the area suffered one of its largest disasters in decades. 

Or so the drill went. 

Thursday morning, areas of the UC Berkeley campus were swarmed with people taking part in Quake 2000, a disaster field training exercise. Starting at 9 a.m., over 400 campus employees took part in the event, simulating the procedures that would occur should a real earthquake of this magnitude hit Berkeley. 

People participating in the event included UC police officers, first aid volunteers, health and safety hazardous material response personnel, building assessment teams, and building coordinators. 

The drill was limited to the UC campus, but observers from outside organizations, such as the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services and the City of Berkeley, were present. “Every building coordinator on campus got in advance an envelope with a scenario,” campus spokesperson Marie Felde said. 

The 165 building coordinators then called emergency management areas to report the scenario of each building. Emergency management areas then called the emergency operations center. 

“At that point, the field drill began, and that’s where all of the rescues went on,” Felde said. 

UC police officer Sherief Ibrahim was one of the people stationed at an emergency area outside of Evans Baseball Field running incident command. He received calls from buildings around campus and sent search and rescue teams out to give aid to people or mannequins that were lost or trapped inside. 

“It is obvious that everybody is prepared to handle this kind of situation, and the purpose for the training is to discover what the flaws might be,” Ibrahim said. “I think we did a fine job evaluating the scenario and determining what works and what doesn’t work so we can improve on it for the next time.” 

Over the course of the morning, Ibrahim sent 18 groups out to do search and rescue procedures. At Quake 2000, there was one other emergency area, while in a real disaster there would be up to 15 emergency areas around campus. 

One of the search and rescue teams, made up of volunteer campus employees with some search and rescue training, was sent out to the Center for EUV Astrophysics on Kittredge Street. 

Upon arrival, the three engineers in the group assessed the building, making sure it was safe to enter. Once the building was cleared, the four others went into the building, in search of one person with a major injury and four others with minor injuries. 

Mike Wisherop, an employee for Environment Health and Safety, got through four scenarios with his health and safety hazardous material response group. They included calls about leaking oxygen bottles in one building and strong odors in other buildings. 

“They went a lot faster than they would have in a real situation,” Wisherop said. “But it was pretty realistic. There were several situations that I think really would actually occur in an earthquake.” 

This was the first time UC Berkeley had done an emergency drill to this extent, and most of those involved agreed it things went smoothly. In fact, it was the largest drill ever done at a university in the state of California. 

“We have done smaller drills of the emergency operation center (in the past) but we had not done a field drill before,” Felde said. 

“I think that they followed command protocol correctly and things are progressing as they would probably in a real life sit

Friday, May 26 

“Judicial Independence: Why is it so Important Anyway?” 

Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 

The Hon. Ming W. Chin, California Supreme Court justice, will speak during this week’s meeting of the City Commons Club. Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Luncheon is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Speaker starts promptly at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is $11 or $12.25; admission to the speech is $1, free for students. 

510-848-3533 

The History of New York Yiddish Theater Music 

1:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

510-644-6107 

Berkeley High School Concert Orchestra spring concert 

7:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Community Theater, Allston Way between Milvia Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way 

The concert will feature a mix of old and new music, including works by Dvorak, Mozart, Saint-Saens, and Stravinsky. Because the orchestra has grown from approximately 15 students to over 60 in the last six years, the Little Theater stage can no longer comfortably accommodate the concert. Instead, the orchestra will perform at the 3,000-seat Community Theater for only the second time in decades. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for students age 13-18, and children under 12 are admitted free. 

Pre-Carnaval 2000 Dance Party 

9 p.m. 

Café Capoeira, 2026 Addison St. 

Jane Santos and the Carnaval Band with, guitarist Roberto Mendoça, will perform. Tickets $10 in advance and $12 at the door. 

510-428-0698; 510-528-1958 

Saturday, May 27 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

“School House Rock Live! Jr.” 

1 p.m. 

John Muir Elementary School Auditorium, 2955 Claremont Ave. 

This musical features an all-kids cast. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for children age 12 and under. 

510-762-2279 

“Pippi Longstocking” 

7 p.m. 

Live Oak Theatre and Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

The Kairos Youth Choir will offer its final performance of the world premiere of “Pippi Longstocking,” a musical comedy. The group is raising funds for its concert tour of Scandinavia this August. Tickets are $8. 

510-559-6910 

Sunday, May 28 

Poetry Flash 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

The featured poets this session will be Denise Newman and Lisa Samuels. 

510-845-7852; 510-525-5476 

Captain Richard Thomas Centennial Walk 

10 a.m.-noon 

Meet at the bottom of Rose Walk on Euclid Avenue. A wheelchair-accessible meeting point is at LeRoy Avenue and Rose Street. 

Captain Richard Parks Thomas and his wife were the American pioneers on Nut Hill, now also Maybeck country. He was the owner of the Standard Soap Company and built a fort on the site of the present Hume Cloister. On this tour the Historical Society is celebrating the centennial of his death on May 28, 1900. Carl Wilson, the tour guide, is the current curator and past president of the Historical Society. The walk is part of the Berkeley Historical Society’s Spring 200 Walking Tours. The price is $5 per person per tour. 

510-848-0181 

Monday, May 29 

Memorial Day Holiday 

Schools, city offices and most businesses will be closed for the holiday. 

Tuesday, May 30 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30-11:30 a.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited; the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call ahead for a reservation. 

510-644-6109 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

2-7 p.m. 

Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

Computer literacy course 

6-8 p.m. 

James Kenney Recreation Center, 1720 Eighth St. 

This free course will cover topics such as running Windows, File Management, connecting to and surfing the web, using Email, creating Web pages, JavaScript and a simple overview of programming. The course is oriented for adults. 

510-644-8511 To publicize an upcoming event, please submit information to the Daily Planet via fax (841-5695), e-mail (calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.com) or traditional mail (2076 University Avenue, 94704). Calendar items should be submitted at least four days in advance. Please include a daytime telephone number in case we need to clarify any information. 

Berkeley Camera Club 

7:30 p.m. 

Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda 

Share your slides and prints with other photographers. Critiques by qualified judges. Monthly field trips. 

510-531-8664

In a May 16 Perspective, Robert Cabrera of the Berkeley Property Owners Association (BPOA) wrote that vacancy-decontrolled rents in Berkeley are some $100 higher than they would otherwise bee. He sympathized with the plight of “the poor, the elderly and students for whom $100 is a significant portion of their income,” and cited anecdotal evidence that some tenants may be “hoarding” apartments to avoid forfeiting rent control. 

As a tenant, I am delighted by this acknowledgement that vacancy decontrol has raised average rents – and has distorted the housing market by creating new incentives for tenants to hold onto rent-controlled units. Perhaps the enlightened BPOA will now help win state passage of AB 2756, which would restore local home rule over rent stabilization. This would allow cities like Berkeley to undo the mistake of state-imposed vacancy decontrol.  

Michael Katz 

Berkeley 

Over a period of several years, four acquaintances – two male and two female – become involved in a round robin of sexual and romantic relationships, and learn to communicate about sex, in Patrick Marber’s 1998 London Critics’ Circle award-winning Best Play “Closer,” which opened in a strong production Wednesday at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. 

Set in 1990s London, the action in “Closer” is set off by a young woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who works as a stripper in an upscale club. 

Her highly sexual up-front behavior sets off a chain reaction in the sexual thinking of the 20-something and 30-something acquaintances she interacts with, and causes them to re-think their attitudes and beliefs about sex. 

Her relationships with journalist Dan (Andrew Borba), photographer Anna (Natacha Roi) and dermatologist Larry (Thomas Schall) then begin a series of on-going transformations as the four acquaintances try to grapple meaningfully with the mysteries of sexual attraction and romantic fulfillment. 

As they alternately cocoon and philander their ways through individual relationships looking for love, everyone tries, at times at least, to be honest about sexual needs, unearthing painful issues that people often don’t talk about very well, and trying to play them out in an intelligent way. 

“Closer” deals with the 180-degree about-face contradictions of love and sex -how the grass can often seem to be greener somewhere else. It deals with truth-telling and lying, and what each might mean in various situations. 

It deals with broken hearts and recovery, and people coming back to old relationships with new perspectives. 

“Closer” is a well-written and interesting story. It unfolds bit by bit, in small pieces, without letting everything out of the bag right away, making for a story with many surprises. 

There are many funny moments. In one unspoken scene, the two men chat in an internet sex room, one pretending to be a woman, as the hilarious dialogue scrolls on a wall. 

“Closer” contains explicit expressions of, and discussions about sex. This play is not for prudes. 

In one paradoxical and raunchy scene, stripper Alice bumps and grinds in a sex club booth while she and club customer Larry discuss their suffering over failed relationships. 

Although for the most part, “Closer” is thoughtful on the issues of sex, romance and relationships, the play sputters on a couple of occasions and threatens to run out of gas. 

Once or twice near the end it feels like a mere soap opera hand-wringing, romantic drama. There is one relationship switch towards the play’s conclusion that seems facile. 

English playwright Marber has said that his source for “Closer” was a visit he made one night to a strip club in Atlanta. 

The club’s underground transactions of power, money and sex, Marber said, related for him in some way to the things that happen to people “overground” in their daily lives. “Closer” is his attempt to understand some of those relationships. 

Berkeley Rep’s nearly seamless staging is very well directed by Wilson Milam and very well performed by his four actors. 

Sound designer Matthew Spiro’s pulsing club music between scene changes reflects both the beat and the burnout of the sexual energy. 

This intelligently conceived sexual hall of mirrors addresses questions that everyone has thought about, and attempts a thoughtful perspective on them, though it provides no answers. 

“Closer” plays Tuesday through Sunday, through July 9, at the Berkeley Rep, 2025 Addison St.

Having been snubbed by the North Coast Section for a playoff spot, the senior-filled Berkeley High boys volleyball team’s 2000 season is already a distant memory for players and coaches still involved in postseason play.  

But according to BHS coach Justin Caraway, who believes the squad’s improvement over the last two years has set a strong precedent for the future of the program, it’s the lasting contributions that are most important. 

“The problem at Berkeley High was that they had four coaches in four years – now they’re paying the price for having such a high turnover,” said Caraway, who coached the ’Jackets to an improved 12-9 overall record in 2000. “This year’s freshmen will talk to other kids who weren’t playing. If I can get them in the gym, I can get them playing.” 

Made up almost entirely of players with two or fewer years of volleyball experience, the BHS squad built itself a reasonably strong case for the NCS selection committee this season. Besides managing a winning record in the notoriously tough East Bay Athletic League, Berkeley picked up split series with James Logan and Amador Valley – two playoff-caliber teams which at-large NCS berth also eluded. Though Caraway believed his team closed out the season playing good enough volleyball to compete with other NCS selections, he was not particularly surprised at the outcome, considering the large number of talented programs operating in the Bay Area. 

“Those are the breaks – there were some very good teams that did not get in,” the BHS coach said. “I am a little disappointed, because I think we were playing better, we’d improved so much.  

“We let opportunities slip away during the course of the season. There were a few matches that could have changed things – a win against Foothill or San Ramon (for example).” 

Despite the playoff snub, Berkeley was able to garner some recognition out of the 2000 season, when seniors D.Q. Li and Mason Chin made the first-team and honorable mention all-EBAL teams, respectively. Li, the Yellowjackets’ statistical leader this season, was one of just five players to appear on the ballot of every coach in the league. According to Caraway, the two standouts achieved more in two years than many athletes do in four or more seasons of experience. 

“Experience-wise, we’re a JV team, but talent-wise, we’re varsity,” the coach said about the least-seasoned team in the EBAL. “These guys really played hard all year, and continued to improve.” 

Caraway has no illusions about the challenge that awaits the squad, which graduates virtually every starting player, including key contributors Li, Chin and setter Luis Ramirez. According to the coach, it will take at least a year for the current underclassmen to blossom into an NCS-quality team, even with promising freshmen Robin Roach and Oliver Monday returning for their second seasons. Roach, a prodigious middle blocker who got the starting job right away for the Yellowjackets, is expected by Caraway to be the physical leader next year, while setter Monday and other returners absorb the responsibility as vocal leaders. 

“I think Robin Roach will be the anchor of this team,” Caraway said. “It’s very rare for a freshman to start at his position. He got invaluable experience this year, playing in the EBAL). 

“Robin’s sort of the quiet type, so I don’t know if he’ll lead vocally. He’ll probably end up leading by example.” 

Besides a reasonably solid freshman base, the ’Jackets should benefit from a league change in 2001. The exodus from the EBAL was a practical decision, given the geographical lopsidedness of the current setup, but could also turn out to be a blessing for BHS. The new league is a redistribution of teams in the old Alameda-Contra Costa Athletic League “super-powerhouse,” and features such East Bay squads as El Cerrito and Albany. 

Though Caraway considers the new league’s top-tier to rank among the section’s best, he does not expect it to rival the competitiveness of the EBAL. 

“Top to bottom, (the new league) isn’t going to be as strong,” the coach said. “The EBAL will be brutal next year. To me, it’s a little bit of a relief. From a league standpoint, it’s a great move for us. 

“It will certainly be a rebuilding year, since I’m replacing 90 percent of my offense. But I think I have some younger kids who played this year who improved their skills, that’ll be able to step in.”

The Berkeley Federation of Teachers and the Berkeley Unified School District reached a tentative contract agreement early Thursday morning, but the details of the deal won’t be released until early next week. 

“I feel happy. I think that all of this work paid off, and I think we have a good agreement for everybody,” said BUSD School Board President Joaquin Rivera, one of the district’s negotiators. 

The agreement came at the end of more than 21 hours of negotiations that began at 9 a.m. Wednesday and wrapped up around 6:15 a.m. Thursday. It’s the second straight week for such a marathon session; the two sides met for about 15 hours during their May 17 session. 

But the community will have to wait until after the Memorial Day weekend to learn the results of the negotiation process. A statement released by the dis- 

trict Thursday afternoon said “specific information will be forthcoming early next week.” 

It’s not clear if that decision was made by the state mediator who has been working with the two sides since March. Mediator Ron McGee declared a press and information blackout earlier this month, and extended his decision after last week’s negotiation session. Calls to McGee on Thursday were not returned. 

Other factors may have contributed to the delayed release of contract details. Certainly all the participants in the negotiations are exhausted after this week’s session. And with today the de facto start of the holiday weekend, many people are hitting the roads and the skies – meaning fewer people might see such information if it were widely distributed today. 

BFT President Barry Fike declined to comment Thursday on the agreement, saying he wanted to make sure it was permissible to issue public comments at this stage. 

Extended process 

The contract negotiation process began in March 1999 as part of a regular “reopener” between the union and the district. Each year, the district and each union has the opportunity to reopen elements of the contract. The BFT was the only union that had not yet reached an agreement with the district on the reopened items. 

At the heart of the dispute has been the disparity between salaries for Berkeley teachers and those of their peers in surrounding school districts. And the irony was that everyone agreed that it was a problem. Every school board meeting, Fike would use the five minutes allocated to the union during the comment period to remind the board of the inequity in salaries. And most meetings, board members would reply that they did value teachers and they did want to find a way to raise salaries. 

As the months of negotiations dragged along, the union’s tenor began to increase, and so did the tension. The “s” word – strike – began to be heard more and more in conversations around the district and around town. It’s a word that hasn’t been heard very often with the BFT. In the last 25 years, the union has held only two strikes: a one-day walkout in 1987, and a nearly six-week strike in 1975. 

Then in March, the union and district declared an impasse in their negotiations, and the mediator was brought into the process. 

Budget constraints 

The key problem in the eyes of the school district was the budget. The BUSD is facing budget shortfalls of around $3 million between the current and upcoming fiscal years. Technically, the district is not in the red, although expenses are outpacing revenues this year, and the trend is expected to continue next year under the district’s original budget. But the BUSD is legally required to maintain a 3 percent reserve fund. So, while the district is projected to end the current fiscal year with a positive fund balance of about $1.7 million, that’s $829,000 short of the mandated reserve level. 

The district estimates that it will gain $3.2 million in additional revenue next year from the state, if the governor’s proposed budget is adopted. But the BUSD is still making cuts in order to maintain its reserve funds. Last week, Superintendent Jack McLaughlin presented a proposal to the school board to cut $1.1 million from the budget. 

Whether more cuts will be proposed as part of the agreement remains to be seen. During a budget workshop earlier this month, a document distributed by the district reported that the “cost of the current salary offer to BFT for 1999-2000” was $665,000. That would have represented about a 3 percent increase over the budgeted teacher salaries for the current fiscal year. The document also states that the district is setting aside $1.9 million in the 2000-2001 fiscal year for salary increases, presumably for all unions, not just BFT. 

The BFT was pushing for a multiyear contract agreement, saying an extended deal would give the district flexibility in solving the salary disparity. According to information provided by the union in March, which came from state reports for the 1998-99 school year, only one Alameda County district with more than 500 students has a lower salary range for new teachers. And every district in the county beats the BUSD for the most experienced teachers on the upper end of the salary range. 

Not yet official 

Thursday’s agreement is still a few steps away from becoming a done deal. The BFT Executive Board was scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon to consider sending the document to its full membership for approval. The school board would only take action on the agreement after it has been approved by the union. 

The two bodies may take their respective votes during the first week of June; the school board has a regularly scheduled meeting on June 7. If the BFT votes after that date, it’s likely that the board would hold a special meeting to vote on the plan. 

No student strike 

Even though the contact has yet to be ratified by either the union or the school board, Thursday’s agreement has brought about the cancellation of the planned “student strike” next Wednesday. That effort had been led by the newly formed group Parents For Increased Salaries for our Teachers, which was closely aligned with the union. 

“I don’t know the details of the agreement, but my understanding is that the district agreed in writing to raise salaries to levels that are competitive with other Alameda County teachers, and that was our goal,” said Jon Marley, a PFIST coordinator. 

Marley said the fate of his organization has yet to be determined. The original idea was to disband after an agreement was reached, but that may change. 

“A number of parents say we’ve done a lot of good work, and that there’s a need for this kind of progressive, activist parent organization separate from the PTA,” he said. “We’ll just have to see if there’s enough interest in continuing in some form.”

THEATER 

AURORA THEATRE 

“Split” by Mayo Simon, June 1 through July 2. A mordant clear-eyed view of an older couple's love affair. $25 to $28. Wednesday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. 

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE 

“Closer” by Patrick Marber, through July 9. A funny, touching and unflinchingly honest examination of love and relationships set in contemporary London. $38 to $48.50. Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; May 27, June 1, June 3, June 10, June 15, June 24, June 29 and July 8, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 845-4700 or (888) 4BRTTIX. 

CALIFORNIA 

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 

“Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare, June 3 through June 24. The classic romantic comedy of mismatched lovers forced into a union. $21 to $38 general; $19 to $38 seniors; $10 to $38 children. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.; June 13 and June 20, 7 p.m. June 24, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Bruns Memorial Amphitheatre, Shakespeare Festival Way/Gateway Exit on state Highway 24. (510) 548-9666 or www.calshakes.org 

IMPACT THEATRE 

“The Wake-Up Crew” by Zay Amsbury, May 5 through June 3. A comic book on stage that pits unemployed UC Santa Cruz grads against the forces of chaos and destruction. 

$10 general; $5 students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. (510) 464-4468. 

SHOTGUN PLAYERS 

“The Skriker” by Caryl Churchill, through June 4. In this ecological play, faeries are damaged due to polluted rivers and woods, and are forgotten. 

$15 general; $10 seniors and students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. 

The Warehouse Performance Space, 1850 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco. 

(510) 655-0813. 

MUSIC VENUES 

ASHKENAZ 

Amandla Poets, May 26, 9:30 p.m. $11 general; $8 students. 

Surco Nuevo, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $11. 

Rhythm Doctors, May 28, 8 p.m. $8. 

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5099 or www.ashkenaz.com 

BLAKES 

D'Amphibians, Pucker Up, May 26. $5. 

Freeway Planet, Pot Luck, May 27. $5. 

Rat Band Reunion with Bonnie Hayes, May 28. $9. 

For age 18 and older. Music at 9:30 p.m. 2367 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. (510) 848-0886. 

FREIGHT AND SALVAGE 

Radney Foster, May 26. $15.50. 

San Francisco Klezmer Xperience, May 27. $15.50. 

John Stewart, May 28. $16.50. 

Music at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761 or (510) 762-BASS. 

LA PEÑA CULTURAL CENTER 

Columna B., May 26, 8:30 p.m. $12. 

Charanga Tumbao y Cuerdas, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $10. 

3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

924 GILMAN ST. 

Hoods, Indecision, Kill Your Idols, Adamantium, In Control, May 27. 

Capitalist Casualties, Despite, Plutocracy, Maneurysm, The Neighbors, Ruido, May 28. 

$5. Music at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. (510) 525-9926. 

THE STARRY PLOUGH PUB 

Spikedrivers, May 26. $6. 

Moore Brothers, Yuji Oniki, May 27. $5. 

For age 21 and over. Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:45 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-2082. 

MUSEUMS 

UC BERKELEY ART 

MUSEUM 

“Master of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition,” May 20 through July 2. The 13th annual exhibit of work by candidates for the Master of Fine Arts degree. Artist Talk, May 21, 3 p.m. At Gallery 2. 

“Anne Chu/MATRIX 184 Untitled,” April 16 through June 18. The exhibition features a selection of Chu's T'ang dynasty funerary figures sculpted following her travels to Xian and Guangdong. The wooden figures range in height from 28 inches to over six feet.  

“China: Fifty Years Inside the People's Republic,” through June 18. The work of 25 Chinese and Western photographers explores half a century of social and political upheaval in this unusual exhibit. The 200 photographs, both black-and-white and color, cover the many regions, cultures and people that make up China as well as the mix of traditional life and the modern one. 

“Autour de Rodin: Auguste Rodin and His Contemporaries,” through August. An exhibit of 11 bronze maquettes on loan from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation in Los Angeles. The bronzes range in style from the artist's classically inspired “Torso of a Woman” to the anguish of “The Martyr.” Some of the maquettes were cast during Rodin’s lifetime, others have been cast fairly recently under the aegis of the Musee Rodin which alone is authorized to cast his sculptures posthumously. 

$6 general; $4 seniors and students ages 12 to 18; free children age 12 and under; free Thursday, 1 1 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. (510) 642-0808. 

HALL OF HEALTH  

2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level), Berkeley 

A hands-on community health education museum and science center sponsored by Children's Hospital Oakland and Alta Bates Medical Center. 

“This is Your Heart!” ongoing. An in teractive exhibit on heart health. 

“Good Nutrition,” ongoing. This exhibit includes models for making balanced meals and an exercycle for calculating how calories are burned. 

“Draw Your Own Insides,” ongoing. Human-shaped chalkboards and models with removable organs allow visitors to explore the inside of their bodies. 

“Your Cellular Self and Cancer Prevention,” ongoing. An exhibit on understanding how cells become cancerous and how to detect and prevent cancer. 

Free. For children ages 3 to 12 and their parents. 

(510) 549-1564 

LAWRENCE HALL 

OF SCIENCE 

“Dinosaurs 2000,” through June 4. An exhibit featuring 16 lifelike robotic creatures, fossils, activities to compare yourself to a dinosaur, and daily live demonstrations. 

“The News About Dinosaurs,” through June 4. Learn more about the “Dinosaurs 2000” exhibit with live demonstrations exploring recent paleontological discoveries and how scientists know what they do about prehistoric creatures. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. 

$6 general; $4 seniors, students and children ages 7 to 18; $2 children ages 3 to 6; free children under age 3. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, University of California, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu PHOEBE HEARST MUSEUM 

Kroeber Hall, UC Berkeley 

“Modern Treasures from Ancient Iran,” through Oct. 29. This exhibit explores nomadic and town life in ancient and modern Iran as illustrated in bronze and pottery vessels, and textiles. 

“Pana O’ahu: Sacred Stones – Sacred Places,” through July 16. An exhibit of photographs by Jan Becket and Joseph Singer. 

“Phoebe Hearst Museum-Approaching a Century of Anthropology,” a sampling of the vast collections of the museum, its mission, history, and current research, with selections from ancient Egypt, ancient Peru, California Indians, Asia (India), and Africa. 

“Ishi and the Invention of Yahi Culture,” Ishi, the last Yahi Indian of California, spent the final years of his life, 1911 to 1916, living at the museum, working with anthropologists to record his culture, demonstrating technological skills, and retelling Yahi myths, tales, and songs. 

Wednesday through Sunday 10 am -4:30 pm; Thursday until 9 pm (Sept-May) 

(510) 643-7648 

HABITOT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 

Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 

A museum especially for children age 7 and younger. Highlights include “WaterWorks,” an area with some unusual water toys, an Infant Tree for babies, a garden especially for toddlers, a child-scale grocery store and cafe, and a costume shop and stage for junior thespians. The museum also features a toy lending library. 

Exhibit: “Back to the Farm,” open-ended. This interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels like an earthworm, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and much more.  

Admission is $4 for adults; $6 child age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child.  

Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

(510) 647-1111 

JUDAH L. MAGNES 

MUSEUM 

2911 Russell St., Berkeley 

“Telling Time: To Everything There Is A Season,” through May 2002.  

An exhibit structured around the seasons of the year and the seasons of life with objects ranging from the sacred and the secular, to the provocative and the whimsical. 

Highlights include treasures from Jewish ceremonial and folk art, rare books and manuscripts, contemporary and traditional fine art, video, photography and cultural kitsch. 

Through Nov. 4: “Spring and Summer.” 

Free. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

(510) 549-6950. 

GALLERIES  

A.C.C.I. GALLERY 

“The Garden Show,” through May 20. A group exhibit of landscape paintings, ceramics and garden sculpture. Free. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 

1652 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-2527. 

BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, SOUTH BRANCH 

“You’re Blase: The Art of Nick Mastick,” May 15 through June 15. An exhibit of collages. Free. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1901 Russell St., Berkeley. (510) 644-6860. 

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION 

“On Common Ground.” through June 23. This exhibit is a portrait of faith-based communities in Los Angeles. 

“Finding the Sacred Mountain,” through June 20. An exhibit of sumi-e and watercolors by Robert Kostka. 

Free. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley. (510) 649-2541. 

KALA ART INSTITUTE 

“High Touch/High Tech: Crossing The Divide,” through May 26. An exhibit of juried and invited artists. Free. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Workshop Media Center Gallery, 1060 Heinz Ave., Berkeley. (510) 549-2977. 

NEW PIECES GALLERY 

“Rock, Stone, Masonry and Mosaics,” through June 1. An exhibit of quilts by Charlotte Patera. 

“The Rhapsody of Dolls,” through June 1. An exhibit of dolls by Patti Medaris Culea. 

Free. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1597 Solano Ave., Berkeley. (510) 527-6779. 

A PIECE OF ART 

Jane Fox, Mixed Media Works, April 27 through June 10, with an artist reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. Ongoing new works by Gallery Artists in ceramic, metal, glass, wood and works on canvas and paper. 

Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 

701 University Ave., in the parking lot across from Spenger’s. (510) 204-9653. 

TRAYWICK GALLERY 

“nudge,” May 17 through June 18. An exhibit of new work by Terry Hoff. Reception, May 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Artist Talk, June 9, 10:30 a.m. 

Free. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1316 10th St., Berkeley. (510) 527-1214. 

To publicize an upcoming event, please submit information to the Daily Planet via fax (841-5695), e-mail (calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.com) or traditional mail (2076 University Avenue, 94704). 

Calendar items should be submitted at least one week before the opening of a new exhibit or performance. 

Please include a daytime telephone number in case we need to clarify any information.

Brilliant white egrets pose motionless along the lagoon’s edge, peering intently into the waters. Shoreline reeds yield to grassy upland meadows. Nestled amidst the high, leafy branches, magnificent wooden towers have suddenly arisen. 

Designed from the imaginations of Berkeley’s schoolchildren, the soaring decks were built in only four days by hundreds of greathearted volunteers. 

“Dream Land for Kids” – the Aquatic Park Children’s Playground Project – is a stunningly beautiful work of art whose highest terraces overlook SF Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. It is sponsored by Berkeley Partners for Parks. 

The final 5 days of construction begin Wednesday, May 31 at 8 am. Now we need your help, too. 

The work is fun and tremendously gratifying; the sense of community spirit is real. With your participation, we will complete the final turrets in time for the ribbon cutting Sunday evening. 

Please make time to join this unprecedented undertaking in our community. 

Even a half hour of assistance brings us closer to completion. We need volunteers especially on Wednesday and Thursday during the day. Or come down to Aquatic Park right after work – we’ll be there until late. “Dream Land” is just south of the foot of Bancroft. 

Bring your children and friends, too – there are tasks suitable for all. Lunch and dinner are served. No special skills are needed – just bring a willing spirit. 

For photos and details, visit www.bpfp.org or call Project Manager Zasa Swanson at 649-9874. Come create the memories of a lifetime. 

Mark Liolios 

Berkeley 

Construction of a regulation-size baseball field at the East Campus site is looking more and more like a dead deal. 

Tuesday night, the City Council rejected a proposal from the Berkeley Unified School Board to expand the environmental review process on the playing fields project at the property, which stretches along Derby Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street. The proposal would have amended the environmental impact report (EIR) to include an option for constructing the baseball field while keeping the Berkeley Farmers’ Market at the site. 

The draft EIR released last year examined two options for the property: a “Derby closed” choice and a “Derby open” plan. Closing the street would allow for the construction of the baseball field but would increase traffic and parking volume on neighboring streets. The original option also recommended that the Farmers’ Market be relocated to another site in town. 

Keeping the street open would allowing the market to remain at its current location and would retain the curbside parking, but it would limit the playing field options for the property. It also would mean that the Berkeley High baseball team would be forced to continue using the field at San Pablo Park, which the district and team supporters say is highly inadequate. 

The council was asked Tuesday to approve evaluation of a third option: closing Derby without relocating the Farmers’ Market. The proposal called for the city to accept $65,000 from the school district to pay for the environmental review of that option. 

The district would have paid for the review because the city is serving as the lead agency on the project. Lew Jones, the BUSD’s facilities planning manager, said the city currently owes the district about $120,000 for its share of repairs to the warm water pool at Berkeley High. Instead of the district’s cutting a check, it simply would have reduced the amount of the city’s “bill” by $65,000. 

A number of community members and school representatives attended Tuesday’s meeting to make their respective cases to the City Council. Most neighbors appear to oppose closing Derby because of the impact on their streets. Others in the community say the East Campus site is one of the last possible places where a regulation baseball field can be built in Berkeley. 

The Ecology Center, which operates the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, took a stand against any option that closes Derby. In a letter to the council, Ecology Center Board of Directors President Leona Benten said her group would be willing to endorse the “less intrusive project” that doesn’t include a baseball field. 

Benten said the “third option” could compromise the ecoliteracy program being developed at the Berkeley Alternative High School (the new name for the East Campus school), and would threaten the viability of the Farmers’ Market, even if the market were able to stay on site during the construction project. 

Penny Leff, co-manager of the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, told the Daily Planet that she appreciated the work that the baseball field supporters put into finding a compromise. She said that by not building that field, the district would be able to devote more space to community and school garden efforts at the site. 

The council decided to reject further study on the “third option” by a 5-2-1 vote. Mayor Shirley Dean and Councilmember Betty Olds supported the expanded study, while Councilmember Kriss Worthington abstained, and Councilmember Polly Armstrong was absent. 

The council instead approved allocating $7,000 to complete the existing review process, by a 6-2 vote. Dean and Olds opposed the motion. 

It will be six to eight weeks before city staff completes its work, said project manager Ed Murphy. Under the environmental review process, a written response must be offered for each of the 200-plus comments submitted by the public last year. 

Once the responses are complete, the final EIR will be sent to the City Council and at least one city commission, Parks and Recreation. Because the city is the lead agency, the council will then decide whether or not to certify the report. Even if the report is not certified by the council, it will be sent to the school board, which will decide how to proceed. If the board decided it wanted to pursue the “Derby closed” option, that plan would still have to go back to the City Council, which appears unwilling to support closing the street. 

In any case, Murphy said, such discussion may not take place until September or October because of the environmental review steps that must be completed. 

In the article “BFT, BUSD closer to deal” (Daily Planet, May 18), your editor reported: “Wednesday night, no one showed up to speak up about the contract issue ...” It’s true, no one spoke about a contract, but I certainly did speak about the ISSUE. 

I said the teachers were wrong to speak of “wages” (paid to federal employees), or “salary” (paid to a federal officer), pursuant to the Public Salary Tax Act of 1939 (And the I.R. Code). 

I presented copies of my letter to the board, captioned: “Re IRS W-4 Withholding Exemption Certificate; NO “Tax” on Labor.” Do Know: Only certain U.S. Government officials (since 1939), and certain government privileges (franchises) are lawfully “taxed.” 

Also, I said it’s wrong to request a teacher to sign an IRS “Form W-4/Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate;” it is designed for federal employees or officers. (26 CFR, Part 31.) 

(Teachers receive compensation, which is NOT “taxed.” By their signatures, they allow “withholding” of taxes, which are accepted by the Infernal Re-Venue “Service.” Though naturally “exempt,” the “teachers” sadly lack knowledge – of why and how.) 

I have developed an Affidavit for “exempt” status; such a statement is required by the Code of Federal Regulations. It requires a Court Order for employers to show “W-4” information to the IRS. 

Result: A “raise” for BUSD teachers, etc. Legally stop “withholding” from your paycheck, keep all you earn, and owe NO “taxes,” later. No cost to BUSD. Everyone wins! 

Arthur Stopes, III 

Berkeley

Older, disabled and long-term tenants may get a tool to help prevent property owners from moving into their units. 

A unanimous City Council voted early Wednesday morning to ask the city attorney to prepare language for a measure that could be placed on the November ballot. 

The measure, patterned after one voters adopted in San Francisco, would prohibit landlords from moving into apartments they own, when they are rented by either a person over the age of 60 or by a disabled person. 

It would also prohibit landlords with large holdings – those with 10 percent or more ownership in five or more buildings – from moving into apartments where a tenant has lived for more than five years. 

Moreover, the initiative would charge the Rent Board with overseeing the residence of a landlord who has evicted tenants and moved into their unit. Currently, a landlord may evict a tenant if the landlord intends to occupy an apartment for at least 36 months. 

The board would check the occupancy status twice a year for three years of units in which the landlord has occupied the unit after evicting a tenant. 

Tenant activists say that “move-in” evictions have gone up since Jan. 1, 1999, when the Costa-Hawkins bill, which initiated statewide vacancy decontrol, went into effect. This law permits landlords to raise rents as much as the market will bear when a unit is voluntarily vacated. 

Housing activists say vacancy decontrol gives landlords the incentive to push tenants out of their units, so that the rents can be raised. Illegal “owner move-ins” is one way of accomplishing this. Unscrupulous owners use the move-in option to circumvent rent control, by getting rid of a tenant and raising the rent, they say. 

“We’re seeing abuses of owner move-in evictions in Berkeley,” argued Rent Board Member Mark Janowitz, urging council support for the initiative. “We must protect the most vulnerable.” 

Rent board president Randy Silverman added his concerns. 

“These days, when tenants are displaced from their homes, that means exile from Berkeley,” he said. 

Although the vote was unanimous – with Councilmember Polly Armstrong absent – Mayor Shirley Dean and Councilmember Betty Olds made it clear that their approval was simply to get the ballot language before the council. In June, the council will take up the ballot measure as prepared by the city attorney, and decide whether to place it before the voters. 

“I’m not sure I’m going to support this,” Dean said, around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, near the end of the council’s six-hour meeting. “I want to make it very clear.” 

The Berkeley Property Owners Association says the best way to assure a fair deal to tenants is to build more housing, not write new laws that punish landlords who want to earn a fair profit on their property. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington asked the city attorney to include attorneys’ fees in the measure. Worthington said he knows of people who have declined to fight owner move-in evictions because they cannot afford to hire lawyers.

A caller to the Daily Planet on Thursday said she had just sighted the man and his two pit bulls responsible for attacking Oakland resident Jamonie Robinson earlier this month. 

The man the tipster saw on the high school campus wore his hair in dreadlocks and he held two of the dogs on a leash. 

She flagged down a patrol car and said the police picked up the dog owner a few blocks away at a video store. Employees there recalled seeing a tall man wearing a Rastafarian cap, which would fit Robinson’s description of his assailant. 

However, according to Lt. Russell Lopes, this man with two pit bulls already had been interviewed and investigated by homicide detectives and eliminated positively as a suspect. 

Thursday’s tip adds to more than 40 tips to the received by the Berkeley Police homicide detail in the last two weeks, said detective Joseph Sanchez. 

“This case has generated a lot of community interest,” he said. The patrol division and the animal shelter and the detective division all have been responding to the calls. 

Sanchez said police are looking for the suspect and have identified almost every sighting that people report. He said the calls are coming in from all over the Bay Area. 

Police have talked to many African-Americans with dreadlocks, he said, and quite a few of them own pit bulls. 

He described the search as sensitive and said police are proceeding with caution because they don’t want to harm an innocent dog owner. He said police would show photos of the individuals they interview to the victim. 

The community has stepped in to aid in a quick resolution of the case and the department requests people who may have information to call the general telephone number of the department. 

Sanchez added that many of the pit bulls are not vicious or dangerous but their reputation is nevertheless in question. 

“You can’t fault the dogs for what humans teach them to do,” he said.

City officials who want to alleviate parking shortages in downtown Berkeley are examining several strategies, including computer-assisted parking. 

Robotic Parking Inc. of Leetonia, Ohio, the manufacturers of “Robotic Parking,” offers one solution: the company’s patented Modular Automated Parking System. 

According to the Robotic Parking web site (www.robopark.com), the system uses lifts, pallets and carriers to move cars through the garage. No attendants are required. 

Cars travel on the pallets through the garage using flexible transfer. Parking customers leaves their cars in a pallet in a secure entrance area and the system moves the car to an open space. Customers would retrieve their cars by reinserting a ticket and waiting for their cars to appear in a forward-facing position in the exit bay. 

According to Robotic Parking, the technology is the same as what is used to transport cars on assembly lines everywhere. 

The beauty of its promise is that Robotic Parking, which has a project under construction in Hoboken, N. J., uses half the space required by a typical parking lot outfitted with ramps, the company says. 

For a structure like the city’s Center Street Garage that could mean its 420 spaces could be doubled if the building had computerized-automated parking, or those spaces could be retained in half the space required now. 

A similar system already exists in Patrick Kennedy’s building on Oxford Street, The Berkeleyan, a mixed-use residential structure. Other buildings owned by his Panoramic Interests company have them, too. 

The Berkeleyan uses a hydraulic mechanized system manufactured by Klaus Parking, a German company. There are 38 parking lifts in its large first-floor garage where cars are stacked in tiers of three up to the ceiling. 

Residents turn a key to bring the upper tiers down to street level, and in about 45 seconds, their cars arrive ready to drive out the door or the reverse. 

“They are working without incident and to the universal relief of all,” said Kennedy. He said he is unfamiliar with Robotic Parking but advocates the concept for built-out cities like Berkeley. 

The Center Street Garage is due for seismic retrofitting or it will be demolished and replaced. A third possibility is building up to three more floors above the five already existing floors. 

George Paskowitz, manager of Off Street Parking, estimates that 80-plus cars are held on each floor of the Center Street Garage, which is the only city-owned garage downtown. 

Mayor Shirley Dean has proposed the city investigate the feasibility of robotic parking for the Center Street Garage, but the item was postponed at Tuesday’s City Council at the request of Councilmember Kriss Worthington. It will be discussed at a later meeting. 

Dean suggested the parking alternative would be financed with a self-supporting bond and with funding from people who would benefit from more parking spaces. 

Robotic parking could be one part of the solution to the parking crunch downtown, she said. A Transit Pass Task Force has been formed to develop a proposal for an annual citywide pass for unlimited rides on AC Transit; more housing downtown, bicycling and walking campaigns are other avenues, suggested by the mayor. 

Deborah Badhia, executive director of the Downtown Berkeley Association, would back robotic parking if it were proved to be a feasible option to provide additional parking. 

She said due to construction, the downtown already has lost on-street parking spaces. 

“The most important thing for our membership,” she said, “is a net increase in parking in the downtown.” 

Some losses are temporary but others are permanent, she said. 

“Metered spaces are the most valued thing downtown to shoppers,” Badhia said “Meters in front of stores mean cash sales at registers.” 

Planners are looking down the road to the time when all the new construction is completed and more potential parkers are distributed in the downtown. 

But there are mitigating factors, said Badhia. For instance, future arts district customers will arrive more in the evenings after the daytime population goes home. 

Councilmember Dona Spring, whose district includes downtown, said she is open to the possibility of robotic parking if it is feasible. 

She said she has seen pictures of Kennedy’s hydraulic lifts, but said that use is different because it is for residential buildings. 

“It’s quite a bit more costly to move around a lot of cars,” she said. 

“I think increasing the parking at Center Street could be the lease objectionable alternative, rather than taking space that could be used for housing.” 

Worthington disagreed with the focus on one particular location. 

“I think we need to have a balanced approach addressing neighborhood and business issues throughout all the business districts in the city,” he said. 

He cited a Transportation Demand Management Study that the city already has begun in the Planning Department, in cooperation with the university. 

He said he agreed with a letter to councilmembers from the Chamber of Commerce that the proposal for studying robotic parking should be coordinated with the transportation study. 

Thursday, May 25 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30-11:30 a.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited; the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call ahead for a reservation. 

510-644-6109 

Movie: “Analyze This” 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

510-644-6107 

Zoning Adjustments Board 

7 p.m. 

Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 

Among the items on the agenda is 801 Grayson, where Bayer Corp. intends to construct a 210,000 square foot warehouse/packaging facility and demolish vacant buildings. 

Friday, May 26 

“Judicial Independence: Why is it so Important Anyway?” 

Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 

The Hon. Ming W. Chin, California Supreme Court justice, will speak during this week’s meeting of the City Commons Club. Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Luncheon is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Speaker starts promptly at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is $11 or $12.25; admission to the speech is $1, free for students. 

510-848-3533 

The History of New York Yiddish Theater Music 

1:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

510-644-6107 

Pre-Carnaval 2000 Dance Party 

9 p.m. 

Café Capoeira, 2026 Addison St. 

Jane Santos and the Carnaval Band with, guitarist Roberto Mendoça, will perform. Tickets $10 in advance and $12 at the door. 

510-428-0698; 510-528-1958 

Saturday, May 27 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

“School House Rock Live! Jr.” 

1 p.m. 

John Muir Elementary School Auditorium, 2955 Claremont Ave. 

This musical features an all-kids cast. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for children age 12 and under. 

510-762-2279 

“Pippi Longstocking” 

7 p.m. 

Live Oak Theatre and Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

The Kairos Youth Choir will offer its final performance of the world premiere of “Pippi Longstocking,” a musical comedy. The group is raising funds for its concert tour of Scandinavia this August. Tickets are $8. 

510-559-6910 

Sunday, May 28 

Poetry Flash 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

The featured poets this session will be Denise Newman and Lisa Samuels. 

510-845-7852; 510-525-5476 

Captain Richard Thomas Centennial Walk 

10 a.m.-noon 

Meet at the bottom of Rose Walk on Euclid Avenue. A wheelchair-accessible meeting point is at LeRoy Avenue and Rose Street. 

Captain Richard Parks Thomas and his wife were the American pioneers on Nut Hill, now also Maybeck country. He was the owner of the Standard Soap Company and built a fort on the site of the present Hume Cloister. On this tour the Historical Society is celebrating the centennial of his death on May 28, 1900. Carl Wilson, the tour guide, is the current curator and past president of the Historical Society. The walk is part of the Berkeley Historical Society’s Spring 200 Walking Tours. The price is $5 per person per tour. 

510-848-0181 

Monday, May 29 

Memorial Day Holiday 

Schools, city offices and most businesses will be closed for the holiday.

SAN FRANCISCO – A hypothetical 1962 television series about a nun who rides a motorcycle and brings “cheer to the less fortunate” is the basis of F. Allen Sawyer’s new comedy “Whatever Happened to Sister George?” which opened Saturday at Theater Rhinoceros in San Francisco. 

“Sister George” is a campy celebration of lesbian themes that appeared in the shadows of certain American movies and television shows at a time when the Hollywood production code forbade explicit references to lesbianism. 

Performed by a cast of five women, most of whom double in multiple roles, and told in an extravagant lesbian drag style, the Theater Rhinoceros production is a bawdy one, filled with double entendres and dirty jokes. 

On the set of the television series being shot in 1962, “Sister George’s” plot turns on the conflict over whether the show should do an up-front segment about its characters’ lesbian identities. 

The show is entirely produced, acted and crewed by lesbians, but none of that is ever acknowledged explicitly in the public forum. 

So the big question for the women working in the show is whether to come out or not. 

The basic structure of “Whatever Happened to Sister George?” has many parallels to the Bette Davis/Anne Baxter movie “All about Eve.” 

In Sawyer’s play, as in the movie, a famous actress – in this case, the one playing the nun in the television series – is approached by a breathless, simpering starstruck fan who will do anything to be part of her hero’s life. 

The upstart fan (Ginger Eckert) then connives her way into the star’s (Stephanie Taylor) life, and turns it on its ear. 

This is a show business world filled with behind-the-scenes backbiting, and the star’s career is changed forever. A nun (Elizabeth Marie) who can really fly upstages her and threatens her career. 

The big difference between “Sister George” and “All about Eve,” of course, is the in-your-face erotic spin. In this bawdy show, all of the women are motivated explicitly by sex in the moment-to-moment decisions of their lives. 

“Whatever Happened to Sister George?” also makes direct references to many other past movies and television shows, other than “Eve.” 

The play borrows from, or contains explicit references to, “The Children’s Hour,” “Walk on the Wild Side,” The Killing of Sister George,” “The Hunger,” “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,” “I Love Lucy,” “Rebecca,” “Personal Best,” “Ironsides,” “The Flying Nun,” and “Ellen.” 

But that, in fact, becomes the main problem with “Whatever Happened to Sister George?” In the final analysis, the play is more of a slapstick puzzle built around a bunch of in-jokes about old shows, than it is a play. 

Once you get the joke – that it’s structured around references to old movies and television – everything that happens in the story seems predictable. 

In trying so carefully to reference his play to its movie and television forebears, playwright Sawyer even loses track of his story about the conflict around coming out. 

Instead, the play shifts at the end, almost incidentally, the crazy world of several doddering “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane” has-beens. The story doesn’t meaningfully play out the consequences of the issues it set up earlier. 

Under Sawyer’s direction, the performances are broad and campy. Sandy Schlechter’s scowling dresser Birdie Coonan is a strong presence reacting silently and disapprovingly to the world around her. 

Costume designer Jeff Simpson has found some nifty Fifties dresses, and a couple of hilarious hats for television series producer Alison Dewitt (Connie L. Noble). 

This is a titillating show. There are lots of locked romantic eyes and heavy breathing. The breathless women run their hands over their own bodies dramatically while they flirt with each other. But it’s all foreplay, and ultimately doesn’t follow through on its own promise. 

“Whatever Happened to Sister George?” runs Wednesday through Sunday, through June 17, at Theater Rhinoceros, 2926 16th St. (at South Van Ness), San Francisco. For reservations, call

With both local high school track teams, Berkeley High and St. Mary’s, ranking among the state’s best, it’s entirely appropriate that this year’s North Coast Section Meet of Champions will be held a javelin-throw away from both campuses – at Cal’s newly renovated Edwards Track Stadium.  

After holding the meet at nearby Chabot College for the past two years while Edwards was being revamped, the NCS moved this weekend’s final sectional meet back to the Berkeley campus, a site that athletes and coaches on both teams look forward to visiting. 

“It’s right in our own backyard, we love it,” St. Mary’s head coach Jay Lawson said about the upcoming meet, at which he hopes to qualify at least a dozen athletes for next week’s state meet. “It’s definitely an advantage, because we can get more people out. It’s easier to travel to, so they’ll have some friends and classmates (in the stands).” 

Lawson’s Panthers enter Friday’s first day of competition fresh off a brilliant performance at last weekend’s NCS Bay Shore meet, at which both the boys’ and girls’ squads won section championships. Multi-event winner Solomon Welch led the boys’ contingent to a comfortable 136-86 win over Mission San Jose, while the St. Mary’s girls rode their depth to a 96-80 victory over Logan. Besides netting the Panthers dual team titles, the dominating effort established an aura of confidence going into this weekend’s individual meet, at which each potential state qualifier hopes to peak. 

“I think we’re running well. Everyone’s feeling good,” Lawson said. “Our speed training has kicked in, the legs are starting to feel fast. The outlook for this weekend is (positive). We feel like we can qualify between 14 and 18 athletes for state.” 

Besides Welch – a potential Meet of Champions winner in the triple jump and long jump – the Panther boys will be looking for big performances by sprinters Denye Versher and Chris Dunbar, 300m hurdles specialist Halihl Guy and high jumper Ebon Glenn, who has the title virtually wrapped up with a PR of 6-foot-10. On the girls side, St. Mary’s hopes to overachieve yet again, with sprinter Tiffany Johnson, distance runners Bridget Duffy and Parras Vega, hurdler Danielle Stokes and thrower Kamaiya Warren all seeking state berths. 

“In some events, we feel like we have athletes that are going to qualify,” the St. Mary’s coach said. “(We also) have a number of athletes kind of on the bubble, hoping to run well enough to qualify.” 

For Berkeley High, which qualified just one male athlete along with its slew of female entrants, the Meet of Champions is a gateway to the “big meet” mentality which its girls must conjure up in time for next week’s state meet. The much-talked-about 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, consisting of Aisha Margain, Raqueta Margain, Katrina Keith, T’carra Penick and Simone Brooks, are expected to do considerable damage at the CIF finals, barring any difficulties with handoffs. Since being haunted by baton transitions at last month’s Penn Relays in Philadelphia, the ’Jackets have steadily improved in that area, and expect to repeat last weekend’s NCS success at the Meet of Champions. 

The individual members of the relay teams also seek qualifying times in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, as well as the hurdle events, in which Brooks specializes. 

“We ran a good relay with Deer Valley (at the NCS Tri-Valley meet), all very safe handoffs,” said Berkeley High head coach Darrell Hampton, whose 4x400 team won the qualifying meet by more than 15 seconds. “We were looking good, the closest to us (in either NCS section meet) was DeAnza at 4:05, and that’s pretty sizable. Both relays have to be solid (this weekend).” 

Outside of the vaunted sprint contingent, Berkeley High also enters two other potential state qualifiers – hurdler Daveed Diggs and high jumper Laura Winnacker. Diggs set a meet record on the way to the 110m hurdle championship at last weekend’s NCS qualifiers, finishing the event in an impressive 14.39.  

Winnacker recorded a 5-foot-2 jump to advance in her event. The senior, who qualified for state last season, took third at the NCS meet – an accomplishment that Hampton believes can be improved upon. 

“(That mark) was good for her, but she still has to step up,” the coach said. “She was a state finalist last year. We don’t want her to end the season at this juncture.” 

The NCS Meet of Champions kicks off on Friday, with field events beginning at 11 a.m. and track events commencing an hour later. The two-day meet continues Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

After a year of commission discussions and staff research, Berkeley has taken a step toward adopting the highest “living wage” standard in the country. 

A resolution passed by the City Council Tuesday night outlined policies that are to be included in a Living Wage Ordinance, which will return for a council vote on June 20. 

The living wage concept applies strictly to workers whose employers have significant business ties to the city, including contracting for a significant dollar amount with the city, gaining a substantial benefit through loans or subsidies from the city, or leasing property from the city. Berkeley’s proposal would exclude very small employers with five or fewer workers. 

Determining the precise standard for the living wage, was the most debated question of the proposed policy. In the end, the council directed the city attorney to write an ordinance in which workers covered by the living wage would be paid at least $9.75 an hour and receive $1.62 an hour towards health care coverage, if they are not already would equal $11.37 per hour. 

Councilmember Betty Olds abstained in the 7-0-1 vote and Councilmember Polly Armstrong left the meeting before the vote was taken, heading to a long-scheduled family vacation. 

Some councilmembers argued that the $9.75 wage standard is too low, while others said it is too high. 

The salary of the workers in question would be raised to $1,645 a month.  

No councilmember argued that this is a good wage standard for a person with dependents. 

“One thing that troubles me about this, is that we’re claiming this a ‘living wage,’” Councilmember Diane Woolley said. “It’s not a living wage – a fairer wage, perhaps.” 

Woolley said she was concerned that employers will look at this standard and adopt a lower pay scale for their employees they might have otherwise chosen. 

“Some entity that might be paying more, might say, ‘Heck, this ($9.75) is a living wage,’” she said. 

Still, some workers will clearly benefit from the ordinance. Councilmember Linda Maio pointed out that attendants working in city-owned garages currently earn $7 per hour. 

Early in the discussion, Mayor Shirley Dean tried to get council approval for an $8.65 per hour wage, plus $1.62 per hour for health benefits. Oakland workers covered under that city’s ordinance now receive $8.65 plus $1.25 per hour for health care. 

Dean apparently saw that she would be outvoted by the liberal/progressive council faction, all solidly behind the higher pay scale. Although she voted with the majority, she stated that she did not want the public to construe her vote as supporting the $11.37 per hour wage package. Her vote was to move the council item to the ordinance stage, when she would decide whether to vote it up or down. 

Dean pointed to the argument against the higher standard, spelled out in the staff report: “It is possible to set the rate of the basic living wage so high that the people currently working at sub-living wage jobs in an attempt to support their families could be replaced by higher skilled, more experienced workers or by students thus negating the intended benefit of the ordinance.” 

“This is what persuaded me that going (with the lower wage standard) was the better way to go,” Dean said. “I think we have to think very carefully about what that means, what the impact will be.” 

Questioned by the council, however, Finance Director Fran David, who authored the staff report, conceded that the cautionary statement in the report was simply an educated guess. 

“There is no statistical evidence to that effect,” she said. “There is nothing we can point to saying it happened in such or such jurisdiction or in this particular industry.” 

The Chamber of Commerce also threw its support behind the lower standard, believing that paying workers more would force Berkeley businesses who do work for the city to charge more for their services, making the businesses lose out to competition which pays their workers less. 

The council resolution to support a higher living wage also called on the city attorney to make some other changes in the policies proposed by city staff: 

• The staff report suggests that the living wage should cover employees who work full-time for nonprofit businesses which contract with the city for $25,000 in a given year, but the council resolution asked for consideration of nonprofits contracting with the city for $25,000 to $100,000, with employees who work more than quarter time included. 

• The staff report says that “economic aide recipients” who receive more than $100,000 in loans or other economic assistance, whose employees work at least 25 percent on the premises would fall under the ordinance. Council asked for more specifics about what kind of city subsidies would cause the ordinance to kick in. 

• They also asked to reverse the proposed clauses of the ordinance which excluded people from the living wage standard who earn “stand-by” pay, seasonal employees or employees working less than half time. 

The resolution also asked the city attorney to report, within four months, on creating a “living wage zone.” That’s a concept that would apply to hospitality workers at the Marina. Advocates of the living wage asked the city to consider this because even if the living wage includes employees of businesses that lease land from the city, the leases at the Marina are not up for re-negotiation for 10 to 15 years. 

City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque agreed to look into the zone concept. 

“We have to determine what can be done legally,” she said.

The Judah L. Magnes Museum, located at 2911 Russell St., recently acquired a significant collection of original Spanish Inquisition documents. 

The documents, which are over 1,000 manuscript pages, date from 1672 to 1739.  

Some of the glimpses of lives affected by history in the documents include Three Jews captured on a Moorish corsair are investigated as conversos, A 15-year-old girl is convicted of “Judaizing,” April 24, 1678, and A teenage “relapsed” converso is “relaxed” to civil authorities for punishment. 

The Magnes acquired this collection with the help of Thomas F. Schwartz and through the support of the Walter and Elise Haas Foundation and of Magnes trustees Dr. Marvin Weinreb and Harry Blumenthal and Magnes Director Emeritus Seymour Fromer. 

Once the 16 packets of archival manuscript records are fully catalogued, they will be housed in the Magnes Museum’s Harry and Dorothy Blumenthal Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

The Berkeley High School Athletic Department is sponsoring the first-ever Berkeley High School Golf Tournament on June 12 at the Tilden Park Golf Course. Check-in time is 11:30 a.m., with the shotgun start at 1 p.m. 

The fee of $125 includes a cart, dinner, and prizes, and benefits the high school athletic program. Companies may also sponsor a hole for $500. 

To reserve a place, contact BHS Athletic Director Karen Smith by May 29. Call 644-8723 or fax 548-1221.

Negotiators from the Berkeley Federation of Teachers and the Berkeley Unified School District worked another marathon day Wednesday, but a contract agreement had yet to be announced as of midnight. 

Wednesday was a crucial day in the ongoing negotiation between the union and the district. Last week, state mediator Ron McGee said the two sides had moved “significantly closer to agreement,” and he was “cautiously optimistic” that this week’s session could yield a deal. 

Today, the BFT Executive Board is scheduled to meet, and its members are supposed to discuss one of two options: scheduling a general membership meeting to present a tentative contract agreement, or developing further tactics, including initiating the process of strike sanctions. A strike can only occur if the mediation fails to bring about an agreement, and if a subsequent fact-finding stage also is unsuccessful. 

Based on the length of Wednesday’s session, settlement seems more likely than disintegration. But neither side is talking because of the mediator-imposed “blackout” on all information related to the negotiations.

THEATER 

AURORA THEATRE 

“Split” by Mayo Simon, June 1 through July 2. A mordant clear-eyed view of an older couple's love affair. $25 to $28. Wednesday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. 

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE 

“Closer” by Patrick Marber, through July 9. A funny, touching and unflinchingly honest examination of love and relationships set in contemporary London. $38 to $48.50. Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; May 27, June 1, June 3, June 10, June 15, June 24, June 29 and July 8, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 845-4700 or (888) 4BRTTIX. 

CALIFORNIA 

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 

“Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare, June 3 through June 24. The classic romantic comedy of mismatched lovers forced into a union. $21 to $38 general; $19 to $38 seniors; $10 to $38 children. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.; June 13 and June 20, 7 p.m. June 24, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Bruns Memorial Amphitheatre, Shakespeare Festival Way/Gateway Exit on state Highway 24. (510) 548-9666 or www.calshakes.org 

IMPACT THEATRE 

“The Wake-Up Crew” by Zay Amsbury, May 5 through June 3. A comic book on stage that pits unemployed UC Santa Cruz grads against the forces of chaos and destruction. 

$10 general; $5 students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. (510) 464-4468. 

SHOTGUN PLAYERS 

“The Skriker” by Caryl Churchill, through June 4. In this ecological play, faeries are damaged due to polluted rivers and woods, and are forgotten. 

$15 general; $10 seniors and students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. The Warehouse Performance Space, 1850 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco. (510) 655-0813. 

MUSIC VENUES 

ASHKENAZ 

“Bay Area Arts Collective Benefit,” May 25, 9 p.m. $8. Featuring Nameless and Faceless, Dr. Streinj and Psyreal, Beatbox Quintet, DJ Battle, Breakdance Battle, and Female MC Competition. 

Amandla Poets, May 26, 9:30 p.m. $11 general; $8 students. 

Surco Nuevo, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $11. 

Rhythm Doctors, May 28, 8 p.m. $8. 

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5099 or www.ashkenaz.com 

BLAKES 

Ripe, Warsaw, May 25. $4. 

D'Amphibians, Pucker Up, May 26. $5. 

Freeway Planet, Pot Luck, May 27. $5. 

Rat Band Reunion with Bonnie Hayes, May 28. $9. 

For age 18 and older. Music at 9:30 p.m. 2367 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. (510) 848-0886. 

FREIGHT AND SALVAGE 

Men of Worth, May 25. $15.50. 

Radney Foster, May 26. $15.50. 

San Francisco Klezmer Xperience, May 27. $15.50. 

John Stewart, May 28. $16.50. 

Music at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761 or (510) 762-BASS. 

LA PEÑA CULTURAL CENTER 

Mahal, Kozmik, Ethnik Muzik, Sa Ina/To Mother, May 25, 7:30 p.m. $12 general; $6 seniors and children. 

Columna B., May 26, 8:30 p.m. $12. 

Charanga Tumbao y Cuerdas, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $10. 

3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

924 GILMAN ST. 

Hoods, Indecision, Kill Your Idols, Adamantium, In Control, May 27. 

Capitalist Casualties, Despite, Plutocracy, Maneurysm, The Neighbors, Ruido, May 28. 

$5. Music at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. (510) 525-9926. 

THE STARRY PLOUGH PUB 

Beth Custer, “Dona Luz 30 Besos,” Will Bernard 4tet, May 25. $6. 

Spikedrivers, May 26. $6. 

Moore Brothers, Yuji Oniki, May 27. $5. 

For age 21 and over. Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:45 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-2082. 

MUSEUMS 

UC BERKELEY ART 

MUSEUM 

“Master of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition,” May 20 through July 2. 

“Anne Chu/MATRIX 184 Untitled,” April 16 through June 18. 

“China: Fifty Years Inside the People's Republic,” through June 18. 

“Autour de Rodin: Auguste Rodin and His Contemporaries,” through August. 

$6 general; $4 seniors and students ages 12 to 18; free children age 12 and under; free Thursday, 1 1 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. (510) 642-0808. 

HALL OF HEALTH  

2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level), Berkeley 

A hands-on community health education museum and science center sponsored by Children's Hospital Oakland and Alta Bates Medical Center. Free. For children ages 3 to 12 and their parents. (510) 549-1564 

LAWRENCE HALL 

OF SCIENCE 

“Dinosaurs 2000,” through June 4. An exhibit featuring 16 lifelike robotic creatures, fossils, activities to compare yourself to a dinosaur, and daily live demonstrations. 

“The News About Dinosaurs,” through June 4. Learn more about the “Dinosaurs 2000” exhibit with live demonstrations exploring recent paleontological discoveries and how scientists know what they do about prehistoric creatures. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. 

$6 general; $4 seniors, students and children ages 7 to 18; $2 children ages 3 to 6; free children under age 3. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, University of California, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu 

HABITOT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 

Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 

A museum especially for children age 7 and younger. Admission is $4 for adults; $6 child age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child.  

Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (510) 647-1111 

JUDAH L. MAGNES 

MUSEUM 

2911 Russell St., Berkeley 

“Telling Time: To Everything There Is A Season,” through May 2002. Through Nov. 4: “Spring and Summer.” Free. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

(510) 549-6950. 

GALLERIES  

A.C.C.I. GALLERY 

“The Garden Show,” through May 20. A group exhibit of landscape paintings, ceramics and garden sculpture. Free. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1652 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-2527. 

BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, SOUTH BRANCH 

“You’re Blase: The Art of Nick Mastick,” May 15 through June 15. An exhibit of collages. Free. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1901 Russell St., Berkeley. (510) 644-6860. 

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION 

“On Common Ground.” through June 23. This exhibit is a portrait of faith-based communities in Los Angeles. 

“Finding the Sacred Mountain,” through June 20. An exhibit of sumi-e and watercolors by Robert Kostka. 

Free. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley. (510) 649-2541. 

KALA ART INSTITUTE 

“High Touch/High Tech: Crossing The Divide,” through May 26. An exhibit of juried and invited artists. Free. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Workshop Media Center Gallery, 1060 Heinz Ave., Berkeley. (510) 549-2977. 

NEW PIECES GALLERY 

“Rock, Stone, Masonry and Mosaics,” through June 1. An exhibit of quilts by Charlotte Patera. 

“The Rhapsody of Dolls,” through June 1. An exhibit of dolls by Patti Medaris Culea. 

Free. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1597 Solano Ave., Berkeley. (510) 527-6779. 

A PIECE OF ART 

Jane Fox, Mixed Media Works, April 27 through June 10, with an artist reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. Ongoing new works by Gallery Artists in ceramic, metal, glass, wood and works on canvas and paper. 

Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 

701 University Ave., in the parking lot across from Spenger’s. (510) 204-9653. 

TRAYWICK GALLERY 

“nudge,” May 17 through June 18. An exhibit of new work by Terry Hoff. Reception, May 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Artist Talk, June 9, 10:30 a.m. Free. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1316 10th St., Berkeley. (510) 527-1214. 

To publicize an upcoming event, please submit information to the Daily Planet via fax (841-5695), e-mail (calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.com) or traditional mail (2076 University Avenue, 94704). Calendar items should be submitted at least one week before the opening of a new exhibit or performance. Please include a daytime telephone number in case we need to clarify any information.

The Lutheran Brotherhood Foundation recently awarded $10,000 to New Ethiopian Ministry in Berkeley. The funds are part of a Church Extension grant of $558,800 given to the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) to serve Lutheran congregations. The grant will be used to provide resources for special evangelism programs and to develop mission congregations. 

“Through Church Extension grants, Lutheran Brotherhood is able to demonstrate its commitment to supporting and expanding Lutheran outreach,” Louise Thoreson, president and executive director of the Lutheran Brotherhood Foundation said in a press release. 

Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefit society composed of 1.2 million members, allocated $76.6 million in 1999 to aid its members, and will award $1.79 million to eight Lutheran church bodies in 2000.

The “microdollar” was the currency of choice Tuesday morning at the City of Franklin Microsociety Magnet School, where students held their first-ever Market Day. 

The event culminated five months of work by students in government agencies and economic ventures. Students produced all of the wares and services bought and sold at the market. They wrote business plans and purchased business licenses. They used business math to calculate unit costs, determine their capital, raw materials and human resources, and identify profit or loss. In determining the success or failure of their businesses, they considered product price, quality, promotion, target audience and location at the marketplace. 

Ventures included jewelry, postcards, T-shirts, an interactive Rainforest Museum, masks, potted plants, refrigerator magnets, food concessions, coloring books and “recycled” art. 

The adults who visited the market had to overcome a steep exchange rate to acquire microdollars to make purchases, but the students were flush with cash, which they had earned through hard work at their City of Franklin jobs. 

Microsociety is an innovative school design where children create a microcosm of the real world inside the schoolhouse. 

In addition to establishing a host of local businesses, City of Franklin citizens have established their own government including a city council, central bank, publishing center, post office, recycling center, health and safety department, peacekeeping agency and warehouse. 

School officials said that the success of this first market day was made possible not only by the hard work and dedication of students and their teachers, but by all the parents and community volunteers who supported this society’s first year.

University of California police used a non-traditional method to identify people who threw rocks and bottles at them after the big game at Stanford last November. They posted photos of the suspects on the department’s web site. 

Lt. Adan Tejada, who heads the department’s community outreach said, Cal police announced a crime alert and asked respondents to provide names to match the photos. 

Five of the eight people pictured on the department’s web site (police.berkeley.edu) were identified by web site visitors, and two of the identified rock throwers turned themselves in because they wanted their pictures removed from the site. 

Tejada said the five-year-old web site is one of the key tools in community policing and the web site could be used again along with a crime alert to say to visitors, “help us out.” 

A box on the site tells visitors how they can turn in crime tips anonymously. The more the community is involved in helping the department protect the campus, the more effective it will be, Tejada believes. 

The public version of the daily police bulletin filed under daily activities is an update for those residents, merchants, students or parents who want to be on top of campus security information. 

Tejada said community policing is essential for alerting the young campus population that turns over every four years. Undergrads can be naïve about life in an urban area. Tejada noted that the neighborhoods around the campus are among the most densely populated in Northern California. 

The department has spent time, effort and money to make the site user friendly and up-to-date. Links break, new information must be added. It’s an evolving process. 

Tejada said the web site originated in 1995 after the department realized it needed electronic visibility. He was a sergeant then and one of his jobs was to put the pieces together. 

He was “relatively computer literate” at the time and did the writing, but he downplays his graphic sensibility. 

He said the web site received finishing touches from Tiye Scott, now with Netnoir.com in San Francisco. She took the project from its rudimentary stages to a more sophisticated presentation. 

UCPD Chief Victoria Harrison liked the project from the beginning, he said. She decided to put the web site address on the patrol cars, a new wave that displeased both traditionalists and technophobes. 

At first the web site had about five large rectangles representing different areas of service for police and parking and campus safety that took visitors into text dense pages, a somewhat primitive design. 

Little things like the badge or star were big, and smaller screens necessitated scrolling up to get to links. Now the police section of the site has more than 500 different files and the transit web page has more than 100 files. “You can get all kinds of stuff on it,” he said. 

Priscilla Kalugdan is webmaster, and also manager of Marketing, Publications and Safety. Tejada said she’s currently looking to hire a full-time webmaster. 

The site not only provides police data like its annual report of crime statistics that can be downloaded, but also access to parking and transportation information. 

Applications for parking permits can be downloaded. 

Users can sign themselves on for list serve e-mail and automatically receive crime alert bulletins. Tejada said the department sends and receives e-mail from all over the world. 

Another interesting item is its Daily Bulletin. In just a couple of clicks, visitors can view the public version of the log of officer’s stops that is, of course, updated daily.

An orientation for Berkeley Alternative High School programs will be held tonight at the school’s multipurpose room, located at 2701 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, at the corner of Derby Street. 

BAHS is recruiting students for its fall semester programs. 

New programs include Career Pathways curriculum in the following areas: Health Career Path, Information Technology Path and Future Teachers Path. 

For more information on the campus, visit the BAHS web page (www.berkeley.k12.ca.us/Schools/bahs.htm).

An early morning fire gutted a house Tuesday in the 1600 block of Josephine Street, injuring two children, two women, two police officers and two firefighters. All were treated for smoke inhalation. 

Police officers arrived at the fire scene and found people on the porch roof, and they assisted them off the roof. 

On of the two women who lived in the house jumped 12 feet from the roof to escape the fire, was being evaluated Tuesday at Alta Bates Medical Center to determine the extent of injuries to her back. 

The two children, ages 14 and 4, were treated for smoke inhalation and they were expected to be released today from Children’s Hospital Oakland. The family dog died in the fire. 

One police officer also suffered muscle strain and one firefighter was treated for second-degree burns on his arm and another firefighter sustained a badly sprained ankle from a fall, said Assistant Fire Chief David Orth. 

A total of 31 people responded to the two-alarm fire that was reported ad 4:39 a.m. and extinguished about one hour later, at 5:30 a.m. Orth said six engines, both of Berkeley’s ladder trucks and 31 people including those from other jurisdictions helped put out the fire. 

Orth said the building did have asbestos shingles that will be investigated for toxicity. While its presence is not common to the area, “it doesn’t present any real hazard,” he said. 

The department estimates damage to the burned out home as $400,000. The flames reached the house to the north burning and blackening the walls causing an estimated $20,000 of damage. 

Fire investigators already were at work Tuesday morning seeking the cause of the house fire. 

They also continued to investigate the cause of Sunday’s five-alarm fire on Fourth Street. Damage estimates from that blaze have climbed to about $3 million. 

Wednesday, May 24 

Funding for public schools 

7:30 a.m. 

B-TV, Cable Channel 25 

“You get what you pay for . . . “ , “Dare to Be Average” and other pertinent euphemisms about the funding crisis in California schools, were rampant at the May 8 school funding rally in Sacramento. Before the rally, the League of Women Voters had an opportunity to interview local parent activists in an attempt to unravel the complexity and urgency of school funding - particularly how it effects BUSD. This week’s edition of “City Conversations,” the League’s local cable TV program, includes the interviews with Nancy Riddle, Harry Weiner and Trina Ostrander, a five-minute video of the May 8 rally, as well as addresses and phone numbers of our state representatives. 

Low-vision assistance 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

Allan Burn will discuss reading devices in the Berkeley public library branches and on the market. 

510-644-6107 

Energy Commission 

5:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

Among the items on the agenda, the commission will hear a report on renewable energy and another on residential energy consumption. 

Public housing meeting 

6-8 p.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This meeting is designed for people who live in public housing in Berkeley or who have a Section 8 voucher or certificate. The Affordable Housing Advocacy Project is sponsoring this meeting to discuss how the Berkeley Housing Authority works, how it can be improved and how residents can affect the planning process for the federally funded Public Housing Authority Plan. 

1-800-773-2110 

Baby Bounce and Toddler Tales 

7 p.m. 

West Branch Berkeley Public Library, 1125 University Ave. 

This storytime program is designed for families with children up to 3 years old. The free, participatory program features a half hour of multicultural songs, rhymes, lap jogs and stories to give very young children a lively introduction to the magic of books. Parents also will enjoy the new stories, rediscover old favorites and learn new songs and games to share. 

510-644-6870 

Disaster Council 

7 p.m. 

Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. 

The council will discuss the safety element of the General Plan and the schools disaster planning, as discussed by the “2 X 2” committee. 

Planning Commission 

7 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

Among the items on the commission agenda are amendments to the subdivision ordinance, to permit the establishment of condominiums in newly constructed buildings where units have never been rented. 

Police Review Commission 

7:30 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

Among the items to be discussed are updates on the transgender task force and the drug task force, and the officer-involved shooting. 

Improvisational theater 

7:30-9:30 p.m. 

The “Improvsters” is a group of intermediate-level improvisational players who meet weekly. The group is looking for additional members; there is no charge to join them. Call the group for specific location. 

510-848-4357 

Claremont-Elmwood Neighborhood Association’s annual meeting 

7:30 p.m. 

Palache Hall of St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Claremont Boulevard at Russell 

Deputy City Manager Phil Kamlarz will make a presentation on how bond measure funds and tax assessments are currently spent, and what new bonds, fees, assessments and taxes the city is contemplating putting on the November ballot. Fire Chief Reginald Garcia will present the situation and answer questions about the neighborhood’s protection against fire and emergencies. 

Poetry Flash 

7:30 p.m. 

Cody’s Books, 2454 Telegraph Ave. 

The featured poets this session will be Fanny Howe, Mark Levine and Carol Snow. 

510-845-7852; 510-525-5476 

The French Revolution, Napoleon and the Jewish People 

7:30-9 p.m. 

Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 

This two-session course will be led by Lee Marsh, chair of the Jewish Learning Center. Cost is $12 for BRJCC members, $15 for the public. This is the second session. 

510-848-0237, ext. 236 

Thursday, May 25 

Free computer class for seniors 

9:30-11:30 a.m. 

South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 

This free course offers basic instruction in keyboarding, Microsoft Word, Windows 95, Excel and Internet access. Space is limited; the class is offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Call ahead for a reservation. 

510-644-6109 

Movie: “Analyze This” 

1 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

510-644-6107 

Zoning Adjustments Board 

7 p.m. 

Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 

Among the items on the agenda is 801 Grayson, where Bayer Corp. intends to construct a 210,000 square foot warehouse/packaging facility and demolish vacant buildings. 

Friday, May 26 

“Judicial Independence: Why is it so Important Anyway?” 

Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 

The Hon. Ming W. Chin, California Supreme Court justice, will speak during this week’s meeting of the City Commons Club. Social hour begins at 11:15 a.m. Luncheon is served from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Speaker starts promptly at 12:30 p.m. Lunch is $11 or $12.25; admission to the speech is $1, free for students. 

510-848-3533 

The History of New York Yiddish Theater Music 

1:15 p.m. 

North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

510-644-6107 

Pre-Carnaval 2000 Dance Party 

9 p.m. 

Café Capoeira, 2026 Addison St. 

Jane Santos and the Carnaval Band with, guitarist Roberto Mendoça, will perform. Tickets $10 in advance and $12 at the door. 

510-428-0698; 510-528-1958 

Saturday, May 27 

Berkeley Farmers’ Market 

10 a.m.-3 p.m. 

Center Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street 

510-548-3333 

“School House Rock Live! Jr.” 

1 p.m. 

John Muir Elementary School Auditorium, 2955 Claremont Ave. 

This musical features an all-kids cast. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for children age 12 and under. 

510-762-2279

THEATER 

AURORA THEATRE 

“Split” by Mayo Simon, June 1 through July 2. A mordant clear-eyed view of an older couple's love affair. $25 to $28. Wednesday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-4822. 

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE 

“Closer” by Patrick Marber, through July 9. A funny, touching and unflinchingly honest examination of love and relationships set in contemporary London. $38 to $48.50. Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; May 27, June 1, June 3, June 10, June 15, June 24, June 29 and July 8, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. 2025 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 845-4700 or (888) 4BRTTIX. 

CALIFORNIA 

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 

“Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare, June 3 through June 24. The classic romantic comedy of mismatched lovers forced into a union. $21 to $38 general; $19 to $38 seniors; $10 to $38 children. Wednesday and Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m.; June 13 and June 20, 7 p.m. June 24, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Bruns Memorial Amphitheatre, Shakespeare Festival Way/Gateway Exit on state Highway 24. (510) 548-9666 or www.calshakes.org 

IMPACT THEATRE 

“The Wake-Up Crew” by Zay Amsbury, May 5 through June 3. A comic book on stage that pits unemployed UC Santa Cruz grads against the forces of chaos and destruction. 

$10 general; $5 students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid Ave., Berkeley. (510) 464-4468. 

SHOTGUN PLAYERS 

“The Skriker” by Caryl Churchill, through June 4. In this ecological play, faeries are damaged due to polluted rivers and woods, and are forgotten. 

$15 general; $10 seniors and students. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 7 p.m. The Warehouse Performance Space, 1850 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco. (510) 655-0813. 

MUSIC VENUES 

ASHKENAZ 

Stumptail Dog, May 24, 9 p.m. $8. 

“Bay Area Arts Collective Benefit,” May 25, 9 p.m. $8. Featuring Nameless and Faceless, Dr. Streinj and Psyreal, Beatbox Quintet, DJ Battle, Breakdance Battle, and Female MC Competition. 

Amandla Poets, May 26, 9:30 p.m. $11 general; $8 students. 

Surco Nuevo, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $11. 

Rhythm Doctors, May 28, 8 p.m. $8. 

1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. (510) 525-5099 or www.ashkenaz.com 

BLAKES 

Third World with UC Buu, DJ Add, Jah Bonz, Big Willie, May 24. $5. 

Ripe, Warsaw, May 25. $4. 

D'Amphibians, Pucker Up, May 26. $5. 

Freeway Planet, Pot Luck, May 27. $5. 

Rat Band Reunion with Bonnie Hayes, May 28. $9. 

For age 18 and older. Music at 9:30 p.m. 2367 Telegraph Ave., Berkeley. (510) 848-0886. 

FREIGHT AND SALVAGE 

Dilemma Solstice Treasure, May 24. $14.50. 

Men of Worth, May 25. $15.50. 

Radney Foster, May 26. $15.50. 

San Francisco Klezmer Xperience, May 27. $15.50. 

John Stewart, May 28. $16.50. 

Music at 8 p.m. 1111 Addison St., Berkeley. (510) 548-1761 or (510) 762-BASS. 

LA PEÑA CULTURAL CENTER 

Revival with Built, May 24, 8 p.m. $10. 

Mahal, Kozmik, Ethnik Muzik, Sa Ina/To Mother, May 25, 7:30 p.m. $12 general; $6 seniors and children. 

Columna B., May 26, 8:30 p.m. $12. 

Charanga Tumbao y Cuerdas, May 27, 9:30 p.m. $10. 

3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 849-2568 or www.lapena.org 

924 GILMAN ST. 

Hoods, Indecision, Kill Your Idols, Adamantium, In Control, May 27. 

Capitalist Casualties, Despite, Plutocracy, Maneurysm, The Neighbors, Ruido, May 28. 

$5. Music at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 924 Gilman St., Berkeley. (510) 525-9926. 

THE STARRY PLOUGH PUB 

Band Workshop Recital Concert, May 24. $3. 

Beth Custer, “Dona Luz 30 Besos,” Will Bernard 4tet, May 25. $6. 

Spikedrivers, May 26. $6. 

Moore Brothers, Yuji Oniki, May 27. $5. 

For age 21 and over. Wednesday, 8 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:45 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 3101 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 841-2082. 

MUSEUMS 

UC BERKELEY ART 

MUSEUM 

“Master of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition,” May 20 through July 2. The 13th annual exhibit of work by candidates for the Master of Fine Arts degree. Artist Talk, May 21, 3 p.m. At Gallery 2. 

“Anne Chu/MATRIX 184 Untitled,” April 16 through June 18. The exhibition features a selection of Chu's T'ang dynasty funerary figures sculpted following her travels to Xian and Guangdong. 

“China: Fifty Years Inside the People's Republic,” through June 18. The work of 25 Chinese and Western photographers explores half a century of social and political upheaval in this unusual exhibit. 

“Autour de Rodin: Auguste Rodin and His Contemporaries,” through August. An exhibit of 11 bronze maquettes on loan from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation in Los Angeles. 

$6 general; $4 seniors and students ages 12 to 18; free children age 12 and under; free Thursday, 1 1 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2626 Bancroft Way, Berkeley. (510) 642-0808. 

HALL OF HEALTH  

2230 Shattuck Ave. (lower level), Berkeley 

A hands-on community health education museum and science center sponsored by Children's Hospital Oakland and Alta Bates Medical Center. 

“Your Cellular Self and Cancer Prevention,” ongoing. An exhibit on understanding how cells become cancerous and how to detect and prevent cancer. 

Free. For children ages 3 to 12 and their parents. 

(510) 549-1564 

LAWRENCE HALL 

OF SCIENCE 

“Dinosaurs 2000,” through June 4. An exhibit featuring 16 lifelike robotic creatures, fossils, activities to compare yourself to a dinosaur, and daily live demonstrations. 

$6 general; $4 seniors, students and children ages 7 to 18; $2 children ages 3 to 6; free children under age 3. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Centennial Drive, University of California, Berkeley. (510) 642-5132 or www.lhs.berkeley.edu 

PHOEBE HEARST MUSEUM 

Kroeber Hall, UC Berkeley 

“Modern Treasures from Ancient Iran,” through Oct. 29. This exhibit explores nomadic and town life in ancient and modern Iran as illustrated in bronze and pottery vessels, and textiles. 

“Pana O’ahu: Sacred Stones – Sacred Places,” through July 16. An exhibit of photographs by Jan Becket and Joseph Singer. 

Wednesday through Sunday 10 am -4:30 pm; Thursday until 9 pm (Sept-May) 

(510) 643-7648 

HABITOT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 

Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 

A museum especially for children age 7 and younger. Highlights include “WaterWorks,” an area with some unusual water toys, an Infant Tree for babies, a garden especially for toddlers, a child-scale grocery store and cafe, and a costume shop and stage for junior thespians. The museum also features a toy lending library. 

Admission is $4 for adults; $6 child age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child.  

Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

(510) 647-1111 

JUDAH L. MAGNES 

MUSEUM 

2911 Russell St., Berkeley 

“Telling Time: To Everything There Is A Season,” through May 2002.  

An exhibit structured around the seasons of the year and the seasons of life with objects ranging from the sacred and the secular, to the provocative and the whimsical. Highlights include treasures from Jewish ceremonial and folk art, rare books and manuscripts, contemporary and traditional fine art, video, photography and cultural kitsch. Through Nov. 4: “Spring and Summer.” 

Free. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

(510) 549-6950. 

GALLERIES  

A.C.C.I. GALLERY 

“The Garden Show,” through May 20. A group exhibit of landscape paintings, ceramics and garden sculpture. Free. Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1652 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. (510) 843-2527. 

BERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, SOUTH BRANCH 

“You’re Blase: The Art of Nick Mastick,” May 15 through June 15. An exhibit of collages. Free. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 1901 Russell St., Berkeley. (510) 644-6860. 

GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION 

“On Common Ground.” through June 23. This exhibit is a portrait of faith-based communities in Los Angeles. 

“Finding the Sacred Mountain,” through June 20. An exhibit of sumi-e and watercolors by Robert Kostka. 

Free. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley. (510) 649-2541. 

KALA ART INSTITUTE 

“High Touch/High Tech: Crossing The Divide,” through May 26. An exhibit of juried and invited artists. Free. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Workshop Media Center Gallery, 1060 Heinz Ave., Berkeley. (510) 549-2977. 

NEW PIECES GALLERY 

“Rock, Stone, Masonry and Mosaics,” through June 1. An exhibit of quilts by Charlotte Patera. 

“The Rhapsody of Dolls,” through June 1. An exhibit of dolls by Patti Medaris Culea. 

Free. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1597 Solano Ave., Berkeley. (510) 527-6779. 

A PIECE OF ART 

Jane Fox, Mixed Media Works, April 27 through June 10, with an artist reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 1. Ongoing new works by Gallery Artists in ceramic, metal, glass, wood and works on canvas and paper. 

Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 

701 University Ave., in the parking lot across from Spenger’s. (510) 204-9653. 

TRAYWICK GALLERY 

“nudge,” May 17 through June 18. An exhibit of new work by Terry Hoff. Reception, May 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Artist Talk, June 9, 10:30 a.m. 

Free. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. 1316 10th St., Berkeley. (510) 527-1214. 

To publicize an upcoming event, please submit information to the Daily Planet via fax (841-5695), e-mail (calendar@berkeleydailyplanet.com) or traditional mail (2076 University Avenue, 94704). 

Calendar items should be submitted at least one week before the opening of a new exhibit or performance. 

Please include a daytime telephone number in case we need to clarify any information.

The situation was less than ideal for the St. Mary’s High baseball team going into Tuesday’s first-round North Coast Section playoff game. Seeded No. 8, the Panthers were paired with none other than Alameda-Contra Costa Athletic League champion Encinal – a team that had already defeated the Panthers in two previous meetings, including one just days earlier in the ACCAL tournament.  

Though St. Mary’s put up its best fight of the season against the top-seeded Jets, it could not quite overcome an early deficit, and fell to its league rival for the third time in 2000, 6-5, at the College of Alameda. 

“Our approach was we had nothing to lose – they beat us twice this year,” said Panthers coach Andy Shimabukuro, whose squad fell to Encinal, 13-3, just last week in the ACCAL finals. “If we can take consolation in a loss, we played real well, didn’t go out and embarrass ourselves.” 

Anticipating a tough second-round matchup, the Jets withheld league co-Most Valuable Player Dontrelle Willis from the starting assignment, allowing Jason Rivera instead to take the mound. Though Rivera kept St. Mary’s off the scoreboard long enough to build a 5-0 fourth-inning lead, the Panther bats heated up in the later innings, bringing them within one run. Shaken by the unexpected challenge, Encinal looked to Willis to close out the final two innings, thus compromising the original plan to rest the ace for Thursday’s second round. 

“They played well. I guess you could say they took a gamble (initially), playing without Dontrelle. So I guess we gave them a little scare,” said Shimabukuro, who hopes the Jets will go on to represent the ACCAL as NCS champions. “If they can get by (potential second-round opponent) Dublin or Acalanes, they have a good shot to win. They’re in the ACCAL, and our league doesn’t get much respect.” 

Anthony Miyawaki pitched a complete game for St. Mary’s in the losing effort, holding the Jets to their lowest run total in three matchups this season. The pitcher also helped his own cause, ripping one of three Panther RBI doubles, while Chris Alfert and Joe Starkey pitched in with a two-bagger apiece. The dangerous Encinal offense did most of its damage in the second and third innings, tallying five runs in that stretch. Willis rounded out the Jets scoring with a fifth-inning home-run blast that would stand as the winning run. 

“I’m happy with the way we finished out the season,” the St. Mary’s coach said. “They held their heads up, and had a shot to take that game in the sixth. We took our best shot.” 

The narrow loss ended the 2000 series for St. Mary’s, which loses just four seniors and figures to be even more successful in a different league next year. Pitcher Jeremiah Fielder and outfielder Justin Kelley garnered first-team All-League honors for their contributions, while Miyawaki and outfielder Omar Young picked up honorable mentions.

The 170-foot antenna tower that sprung up last month beside the new Public Safety Building has been a communications disaster between its McKinley Avenue-Addison Street neighbors and city staff. 

So when City Manager Jim Keene remarked, toward the end of a lively City Council discussion about the tower Tuesday night, that he believed in the end the tower would come down, the tower’s neighbors in the audience cheered. 

But the process of finding alternatives to the tower is likely to be complex. The council voted 8-0, with Councilmember Polly Armstrong absent, to have Keene write a report outlining the process for selecting a consultant on the project. He did not say when he would bring that report back to council for its approval. 

Councilmembers agreed they wanted to hire the consultant for $50,000. The consultant would evaluate alternatives to the tower, such as antennas dispersed throughout various parts of the city. The consultant would also look at possible adverse health effects from radiation emitted by the antennas. 

The debate, however, was over how the consultant was to be chosen. 

Councilmember Dona Spring said she wanted the neighborhood, which falls in her district, to have the last word on naming the consultant. 

But the city manager argued that the formal decision must rest with the City Council. 

“You can’t abdicate that, that’s your responsibility,” he said. 

He outlined a process whereby city staff and neighborhood representatives would develop the job description for the consultant, then the staff and neighbors would choose the candidate with the best qualifications. Keene agreed that the neighborhood and staff should reach a joint decision. 

Not everyone thought the neighborhood should have veto power over the consultant, but Spring insisted that due to the mistrust between the neighbors and the staff, it was necessary. 

In a public hearing last week – and in weeks of letters and calls to councilmembers – the neighborhood expressed its distrust of staff. Although proactive in choosing the design, color and landscape of the Public Safety Building, staff blindsided the neighborhood when it chose the 170-foot tower, neighbors said. 

Spring insisted that as part of the process, the city had to agree not to put the tower into use, until after the consultant’s report had been made. Communications antennas are now atop the old public safety structure, which is to be demolished once the new building is operating. 

Keen agreed that the tower would not be put to use until the council gave its go-ahead. He warned, however, that another neighborhood might get the tower in the end. 

Two weeks after the Cal men’s basketball program decided to issue walk-on forward Ryan Forehan-Kelly a scholarship, the women’s squad rewarded one of its own, granting sophomore guard Janet Franey a full scholarship for the 2000-2001 season on Tuesday. 

Though Franey, a Southern California native, has seen limited playing time in two years at Cal, head coach Caren Horstmeyer felt her enthusiasm on the court and prowess in the classroom should be officially recognized by the program. 

“We are fortunate to be able to reward Janet for being one of the hardest working players on the team,” the coach said about the scholarship, which stands as the Bears’ 15th out of 16 possible for the upcoming season. “This honor is a reflection of her work ethic and dedication to the Cal women’s basketball program.” 

Franey competed in just four games in 1999-2000 after appearing in nine contests her freshman year. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged an eye-popping 29.8 points per game as a senior in high school, at San Diego County’s Helix High. In the classroom, Franey has maintained better than a 3.9 grade-point average, and was this year’s recipient of the team’s Golden Bear Award for academics.  

“I am excited to be recognized for my contributions to the team,” Franey said about the honor. “Being on scholarship, I believe I can better contribute to Cal’s success, since more of my time and energy can be devoted to the team, and not working to help support my way through school.”

A hot dog stand on Milvia Street between Addison and Center streets was robbed Monday afternoon by a man who threatened its longtime owner. 

The owner of Basketvilles hot dog stand said her son left the stand to park a vehicle, and the suspect walked up to the side door and stood there staring inside, according to Capt. Bobby Miller of the Berkeley Police Department. 

The owner asked if she could help him, and he commanded her with threats to “fill one of those brown paper bags with cash.” 

She complied with the suspect’s threats because he was blocking the only door to the stand. She filled the bag with more than $100 and gave it to him. 

He taunted her asking, “I’m going to the bank; do you need any quarters,” and he laughed and walked south on Milvia Street. 

The suspect is described as an African-American male, about 25 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 150 pounds. He was wearing a blue and white cap with a wide brim and a flowered print shirt and light-colored, 3/4 length pants.

Three veteran members of the Berkeley Police Department, who collectively have worked for the department for nearly 100 years, are retiring from the force. 

Lt. Bob Maloney, Sgt. Frank Reynolds and Capt. Patrick Phelps began their careers when police officers banged out reports on typewriters backed by carbon paper. They have witnessed and adapted to the technological revolution in police work. 

Maloney said working in the police department is an exciting, stressful life, and he didn’t have to retire. But, he said, “There are other things in life I want to do.” 

The father of two daughters and a son, and grandfather of four, he’s looking forward to family time, he said, scuba diving and golf. 

When Maloney joined the Berkeley police in June 1969, as a graduate of the University of San Francisco, the department operated its own police training academy. 

He said his training was interrupted by demonstrations on Telegraph Avenue. 

“In the middle of recruit school, we got taken out and given helmets and batons to staff the riot lines,” Maloney said. 

When Maloney retired April 28, he was supervising detectives working on the Lakireddy Bali Reddy case in which the millionaire landlord is accused of transporting immigrants illegally to Berkeley and female immigrants for sexual purposes. 

Reynolds, hired a year earlier after graduating from Fresno State College, was assigned to patrol but quickly switched to undercover duty, gathering intelligence during 1968 riots on Telegraph Avenue. 

Reynolds has worked in the sex crimes division, he was in charge of traffic detail, and he was the first detective sergeant in charge of the juvenile division. He served two terns as President of the Alameda County Juvenile Officers Coordinating Council. 

Phelps, a graduate of San Francisco State University, served with the U.S. Navy before joining the Berkeley police in 1969. 

He has been a sergeant and inspector, and his final responsibility has been overseeing the administrative division He said the four years he spent in the early 1980s in charge of the homicide detail was the most interesting and rewarding time in his career. 

He recalled the 1984 Bibi Lee case, in which a woman murdered by her boyfriend was reported missing for a month and allegedly kidnapped. Her body was found in Redwood Regional Park. 

Another high profile case the homicide detail closed, Phelps said, was the attempted murder of attorney Fay Stender by members of a prison gang in 1982. Other cases he said were not as public, but just as intense. 

“You run with it until there is nothing more that can be done in that point in time,” Phelps said. 

Maloney, Reynolds and Phelps all were assigned to different units in the department throughout their careers, strengthening their skills and the department as a whole. 

Reynolds, whose final assignment was as a field training sergeant, explained that when officers are promoted to sergeant they spend time in the new detail, but then they are rotated back to the patrol division. 

Patrol work takes place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Reynolds said. The rotation of officers keeps the vitality intact. 

“It brings back experience to the street where it’s needed,” he said. 

While electronic communication systems require an additional mastery of skills that the veteran officers did not have when they began their careers, some things stay the same. 

“I think the core kinds of things that you want from people who do this kind of work really haven’t changed,” said Maloney. 

“You still want people who can deal with the stress of this job successfully, who are passionate about trying to help people, who are willing to make their own personal sacrifices to gain that goal that is set by themselves or by the organization.” 

The three veterans join Inspector Dan Wolke, who retired from the force last month. Each of the four men served in the Berkeley Police Department for at least 30 years. 

The members of an ad hoc budget advisory committee believe the Berkeley Unified School District should establish a standing group to provide community input on financial issues facing the district. 

“The goal is to go outside to draw on expertise that isn’t existing in the district,” Mary Friedman, a member of the ad hoc group and executive director of the Berkeley Public Education Foundation, said during last week’s meeting of the advisory committee. 

The school board formed the ad hoc Blue Ribbon Resources Advisory Committee earlier this year, with the mandate of offering recommendations on new revenue sources or budget restructuring options for the financially strapped district. 

The group, however, was unable to offer any recommendations primarily because of time constraints; the group’s first meeting was held in late February, and the board was to receive a report from the committee in early May. Committee members said they could not make well-advised recommendations based on the tight schedule and on budget information that often was difficult to interpret. 

But they felt a standing committee could develop the expertise and familiarity with the budget necessary to make such recommendations. 

The exact wording of the mandate for the new committee is still in the works, but the group’s focus would be on offering input, ideas and feedback on the district’s budget. 

The proposal placed before the advisory committee last week also advocated that the new committee be responsible for conducting the annual budget workshops for the community, in cooperation with district staff. 

The structure of the new committee was debated for some time, until committee member Nancy Riddle noted that the school board already has a policy in place for Board Advisory Committees. That policy is designed to ensure, among other things, broad community representation and accountability to the school board. 

“It would be unique to refer back to work already done,” Friedman quipped. 

A subcommittee is refining the mandate for the new group, and it will be presented by the committee to the school board in the coming weeks.

Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl announced two appointments Tuesday to senior leadership positions at UC Berkeley. 

UC Berkeley Professor Mary Beth Burnside, 57, former dean of the biological sciences at UC Berkeley and a former Chancellor’s Professor, will become vice chancellor for research in January 2001. Mary Ann Mason, 56, professor of social welfare, becomes the new dean of the Graduate Division on Aug. 1. 

This week’s appointments are the first of five positions in the campus’s senior management that are expected to be filled before the fall semester begins. The openings are a result of a restructuring of the senior administration that Berdahl said is aimed at seizing opportunities in teaching, technology and research as the Berkeley campus heads into the new century.  

Burnside will replace Joseph Cerny, a nuclear chemist, who has had held the dual position of vice chancellor for research and dean of the Graduate Division since 1994. He plans to return to research. As vice chancellor, Burnside will administer more than $400 million in state, federal and private research grants awarded annually to UC Berkeley faculty and researchers. 

Burnside, a cell biologist, was dean of the biological sciences from 1983 to 1990 and oversaw its restructuring. The 10-year effort involved 10,700 students, 200 faculty scientists and 11 academic departments and, at the time, was the largest reorganization of research and teaching ever undertaken at a university.  

Burnside, who teaches biology 1A and an upper division cell biology course to undergraduates, currently runs a research laboratory studying mechanisms of movement in light sensitive photoreceptors of the retina, movements that are critical to photoreceptor survival and vision. Her studies seek to identify cell components whose function goes awry to produce retinal degeneration in humans. She said she plans to continue her research as vice chancellor.  

A native of Texas, Burnside received her B.S., M.A. and Ph.D. in zoology and developmental biology at the University of Texas at Austin. She joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 1975 as an assistant professor in anatomy. She became a full professor in 1982 and was honored as a Chancellor’s Professor in 1996.  

As the new dean of the Graduate Division, Mason will lead one of the nation’s largest graduate programs with more than 8,000 students and 100 programs.  

Mason said she will work to keep UC Berkeley competitive with private colleges in recruiting top students by building a large endowment for graduate students. She also faces the challenge of maintaining diversity among graduate students. Two years ago, as acting associate dean for UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division, she established a parental leave policy for graduate students.  

A professor in the School of Social Welfare for 11 years since her arrival at UC Berkeley in 1989, Mason has gained a national reputation as an expert on family and child law. She completed her undergraduate studies at Vassar College, earned a Ph.D. in history in 1971 from the University of Rochester and received her law degree from the University of San Francisco in 1976.  

Mason said she plans to continue teaching her course on children and the law and pursuing her research on child and family policy while fulfilling the dean’s role.

A man walking on Sixth Street near Cedar Street at 4:20 a.m. Monday was accosted and robbed by a man on a bike whose name, the victim says, is Leo. 

The suspect – an African-American male in his 50s, 5 feet, 6 inches tall, 145 pounds – got off his bicycle and rushed at the victim. The suspect accused him of owing money. The suspect pushed the pedestrian to the ground and yanked the watch off his left wrist, Berkeley Police Capt. Bobby Miller said. 

The victim said he was either punched or kicked in the head during an ordeal while the suspect continuously cursed him, and then rode away on his bicycle. A passer-by called the police for the victim, who said he knows the suspect.

Stage Door Conservatory, a musical theater day camp with three unique programs for kids and teens, will run June 19-August 11 at the Epworth United Methodist Church. 

Campers will learn all aspects for theater from acting, singing, and dancing to creating their own sets and props. 

The camp’s three components are Kids OnStage, for students entering third to fifth grade, On Broadway, for students entering fifth to ninth grade, and Backstage, for teens entering 10-12th grade. Campers are not required to have previous theater experience. 

For a brochure and application, call 527-5939 or email SDCcamp@aol.com.

DEA searches home 

Berkeley police assisted federal Drug Enforcement Agency officers Wednesday morning with the issuance of a search warrant at a home in the 2800 block of Mathews Street. 

Lt. Walt Randall, who heads Berkeley’s Drug Enforcement Unit, said the search turned up one ounce of methamphetamine but no other drugs. No arrests were made, he said. 

Bicyclist robs pedestrian 

A man who rode up behind a woman walking alone at 5 a.m. Monday on Telegraph Avenue near Prince Street threatened and then robbed her. 

He approached her on his bicycle, and threatened to kill her if she didn’t hand over her money. The victim gave him $20 and he rode west on Prince Street. The suspect is described as an African-American male in his 50s, 6 feet tall, 170 pounds, black hair and mustache, wearing a dark brown leather jacket, black pants and brown boots. 

Woman attempts robbery 

A woman in a checkout line Tuesday in Blockbuster Video at 2352 Shattuck Ave. handed the clerk a note demanding money at the same time she lifted her shirt to reveal the butt of a handgun tucked in her waistband. 

The clerk refused to comply, so the would-be-robber began to leave the store, and on her way out she grabbed a video. She left the store without removing the gun from her waistband. 

Berkeley Police Capt. Bobby Miller said she is described as an African-American about 30 years old, 5 feet, 9 inches tall and about 180 pounds. She was wearing a blue bandana over her hair, which was pulled back, a blue or purple plaid jacket and blue jeans. 

Manager keeps cool 

An attempted robbery occurred at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when a man walked into the Walgreens drug store at 1050 Gilman St. and asked to see the manager. He started a conversation with the manager talking about getting a job in the drug store and then he handed the manager a note that said, “I have a deadly weapon take me to the safe.” 

The manager replied, “Do you think I’m scared?” according to Lt. Russell Lopes of the Berkeley Police Department. Then the manager handed the note back to the suspect who turned and walked out of the store. 

The manager followed him for a short time but lost sight of the suspect. 

He said the suspect is an African-American male in his mid-20s, 5 feet, 8 inches tall weighing about 225 pounds. He was wearing a tan fleece long sleeve shirt, blue jeans and a black watch cap. 

He never showed a weapon. 

Men demand money 

A 15-year-old boy was walking on the south side of Addison Street near Milvia Street Wednesday, when three young men about his age or slightly older came up to him and stood around him in a menacing manner. They demanded money and the victim was frightened, said Police Lt. Russell Lopes. He took his wallet out of his pocket and gave it to one of the suspects who took $6 and returned the wallet to the victim. 

Woman attacked in park 

A young woman was accosted by a man at 11 p.m. Wednesday in Willard Park. The suspect was hiding in the bushes in the park when she passed and he confronted her, pointing a gun at her, and taking her wallet. 

She described him as an Asian male about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a black mustache, wearing a dark baseball cap. 

– Daily Planet Staff

Youth musical staged 

Kairos Youth Choir’s last performance of “Pippi Longstocking” will be Saturday at 7 p.m. at Live Oak Theatre & Park, 1301 Shattuck Ave. 

The choir will present the world premiere of “Pippi Longstocking,” a musical comedy. It is raising funds for its upcoming concert tour of Scandinavia this August. 

Tickets are $8. For more information, call 559-6910. 

Poetry slam to be held 

The Berkeley Poetry Slam will be May 31 at 8:30 p.m. at Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave., near Ashby. Sign-ups to compete for a slot on the San Francisco/Berkeley Team to compete at the Bay Area Finals begin at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $5 and prizes will be given for the top three scores. 

Local artists awarded 

The California Arts Council recently recognized and honored 38 exemplary Californians as recipients of the 1999-2000 Artist Fellowship Award for the Performing Arts. Two Berkeley residents were recipients and will receive $5,000 grants. 

Paul Dresher, an internationally active composer, was one recipient. Dresher pursues many forms of musical expression, including experimental opera and music theater, chamber and orchestral composition, live instrumental electro-acoustic chamber music performances and scored for theater, dance, and film. He recently completed two years as a Fellow in the Asia Pacific Performance Exchange at UCLA. 

David A Jaffe, Berkeley’s other recipient, holds a doctorate in musical arts from Stanford University and was the MacGeorge Fellow at Melbourne University. He has been a visiting composer at the Banff Centre for the Arts, Chanticleer, Rockefeller Visiting Composer in Buenos Aires, and the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East. 

Established by the California Arts Council in 1987, the Artists Fellowship Program supports significant contributions made by California’s artists. Last year the Fellowship was awarded to 25 recipients, while it increased to 38 this year. The 11-member Council gives final approval for the applications received. The Arts Council promotes artistic awareness, participation, and expression in California. Its mission is to make available and accessible quality art reflecting all of California’s diverse cultures. 

– Daily Planet Staff

UC Berkeley prof honored 

Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, was chosen as one of four recipients of the John Marks Templeton Positive Psychology Prize, one of the largest monetary prizes ever awarded in this field. 

Keltner was awarded for his research on the role that the display of such emotions as embarrassment and shame play in the appeasement and reconciliation process which help individuals and groups form and maintain important social relationships. 

Keltner found that low-status people tease high-status people in different ways than high-status people tease low-status people, and respond in different ways as well. He discovered that these differences enhance the cohesiveness of the group. 

Keltner’s third place award totals $30,000. The award includes a prize of $10,000 and a grant of $20,000, to be used any way the recipient chooses. 

Aurora’s season nears its end 

Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre Company will close its 1999-2000 season with the world premiere of “SPLIT,” a witty, romantic comedy by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and playwright Mayo Simon.  

The play is about a man, Arthur, who has divided his life and emotions between his wife, who lives on one coast, and his lover, Clare, who lives on the other. Arthur’s life changes when Clare, who is tired of waiting for Arthur to leave his wife, announces her engagement to another man.  

Arthur catches a plain to Los Angeles to re-claim Clare, where he has to decide what he wants. He convinces Clare that they will be “just friends” from now on, but secretly makes plans to get her back. 

Arthur, a man in his mid-60s, is played by Owen Murphy, and Clare, in her 50s, is played by Elizabeth Benedict. Loy Arcenas, a nationally acclaimed set director, makes his directing debut. 

“SPLIT” will preview May 26, 27, 28, and 31, opens June 1, and runs trough July 2 at the Berkeley City Club, located at 2315 Durant Ave. Tickets are regularly $28, with previews and Sunday evening shows $25. For tickets and information, call (510) 843-4822. 

Final show for Berkeley Rep 

Berkeley Repertory Theater will conclude its 32nd season with the West Coast premiere of Patrick Marber’s “Closer,” directed by Wilson Milam. The play runs from May 24 to July 9. 

“Closer,” which premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London in 1997, is a touching and unflinchingly honest examination of love and relationships, set in contemporary London. It was the recipient of the 1998 Oliver and London Critics’ Circle awards for Best Play and was the 1997 Evening Standard Award for Best comedy. 

The play is about a woman named Alice who takes her clothes off for a living. She is one of four people who move in sub-concentric circles, dating, mating, leaving, and grieving. “Closer” displays sexual impulse and the yearning for human intimacy. 

Tickets are priced between $19 and $48.50 and are available through the Berkeley Rep Box Office at (510) 845-4700 or toll free at 1-888-4BRTTix. 

– Daily Planet Staff