One of Berkeley’s hottest music acts is a band of city librarians
Kids are flocking to parks and Freight & Salvage to hear librarian Michael Kwende read silly books with perfect rhythm, backed up by his bookish bandmates.
How to dispose of your Christmas tree
The holiday is over, and it’s time to start thinking about disposing of your tree. There are a couple of ways to do that in Berkeley.
parks of berkeley
City
Soaked Berkeley bracing for more rain and dangerous winds
The Berkeley Hills have seen 2.5 inches of rain since Sunday, but a stronger system could bring damaging wind and flooding later this week.
Berkeley Food Pantry set to close after merger with Berkeley Food Network collapses
After nearly six decades of feeding Bay Area residents facing food insecurity, the pantry will close its doors in January 2026.
Abogados de inmigración falsos estafan a familias del Área de la Bahía
Abogados reportan un aumento de estafadores que se hacen pasar por abogados de inmigración y que tienen como objetivo a solicitantes de asilo en el Área de la Bahía. Aprenda a protegerse.
Affordable housing groups face big fee hike from Berkeley ballot measure
Nonprofits managing affordable housing are on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in new city fees.
Crime & safety
Vacant Northwest Berkeley commercial building catches fire
There were no injuries reported, according to the Berkeley Fire Department. The fire was in the same block where two buildings at the old Pacific Steel site caught fire in September.
schools
BUSD teachers, district to meet with state mediators amid statewide contract disputes
The successful teacher’s strike in West Contra Costa Unified has emboldened teachers unions in Berkeley and 14 other California school districts currently at an impasse in their labor negotiations.
Housing & Development
North Berkeley BART housing won’t start to rise until at least early 2027
That’s a year later than BART projected in March.
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ARTS
Berkeley choir has welcomed all — even the tone-deaf — for 60 years
The Berkeley Community Choir and Orchestra, launched in 1966 by Oakland firefighter Eugene Jones, kicks off its 60th season Jan. 2 with three performances of Verdi’s Requiem.
Business
Berkeley Hat Company on Telegraph Avenue to close after 50 years
The shop sold Panama hats, pork pie hats, propeller caps, top hats, beanies, derbies, fedoras and everything in between. Along with hats, it was long a best bet for Burning Man tickets or Halloween costumes.
Community
Ukrainian soldiers are relaxing in saunas set up by a former Berkeley resident
Sauna Aid, a charity supported by many Bay Area saunas, has funded retreats for combat medics, led workshops for refugees and transported saunas to the frontlines in Kharkiv.
Nature
The $25M plan for a new Berkeley shoreline park
The East Bay Regional Park District has unveiled a new design for the North Basin Strip, south of the Gilman sports fields, with features for walkers and cyclists. No funds have yet been allocated to the project.
The Wire: Oxford Elementary developer wants to build 20 ‘Painted Ladies’-style Victorians; Cal student paralyzed after fall at frat sues
Also: A former Berkeley rabbi’s brother-in-law is among those who was shot during the antisemitic attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.
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Opinion
Opinion: Berkeley should rethink rule requiring 26-foot clearance for fire trucks on city streets
Selective enforcement of an optional state fire code rule has harmed street fairs and farmers markets. If applied uniformly, many streets would lose half their parking. A policy better tailored to Berkeley’s narrow roads is needed.
Opinion: Flock can’t be trusted not to share Berkeley’s surveillance camera data with Trump and ICE
Contracting with Flock is incredibly risky for the safety and security of Berkeley’s residents and completely goes against its commitments as a sanctuary city.
Opinion: Proposed parking fees at the Berkeley Marina won’t reduce deficit
People will go to nearby free lots, and enforcement will be expensive. The city should instead raise fees on big boats to shore up the Marina Fund.
Opinion: Berkeley should save the historic UA Theater
A developer plans to demolish almost the entire 93-year-old United Artists theater. Do we, as a community, want to let this happen?
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