Thin willows on Berkeley’s only trout stream Sun., Jan. 9

Join Friends of Five Creeks on Berkeley and Albany’s only trout stream to thin exuberant willows along a reach restored seven years ago. We’ll harvest some of the prunings for planting on nearby Village Creek, get a look at older and new restored areas, and talk about what remains to be done!

Meet at 10 AM at the north end of Fifth Street (one block north of Harrison, two blocks north of Gilman; AC Transit 25 or 72). Wear closed-toed shoes with good traction and clothes that can get dirty. Dress in layers for all weather. All ages welcome. Snacks, water, tools, and gloves provided.

Pre-Applications for UC Chancellor’s Grants due Feb. 9

Early Deadline: Community groups hoping for 2011 funding from UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Community Partnership grants must email a short pre-application describing their project by 5 PM February 9. Because so many groups seek funding, and the $225,000 available for the year’s grants be distributed among only about 12-15 projects, UC hopes to save everyone time by asking only some groups to fill out complete applications. The form, grant guidelines, brief descriptions of past awards, and background information are available at UC Berkeley’s Government and Community Relations web site. A workshop is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 PM Wed., Jan. 12, at North Berkeley Senior Center, Hearst and MLK.

What are UC Chancellor’s Grants? The 15-year program was established in 2006, settling a lawsuit by the City of Berkeley. It awards $225,000 yearly in grants of $5000 or more to nonprofit organizations that join with a UC-related partner to carry out projects in Berkeley in the areas of arts and culture, community safety, economic development, education, or environmental stewardship.

Contact BPFP about fiscal sponsorship: Berkeley Partners for Parks partner groups have received significant numbers of these grants for a wide range of projects. Grants must go to legal nonprofit organizations, so groups needing a nonprofit fiscal sponsor for a project aligned with BPFP’s mission are urged to contact us. If your project requires volunteer labor and less than the $5000 minimum grant, it may fit into our “Greening Berkeley” partnership, in which several groups seek funds for small projects to be carried out with the help of UC student volunteers. Please get in touch if you think we can help you!

BPFP Partners add new steps in Grotto Rock Park

Over Thanksgiving holidays, Grotto Rock Park got new steps on the steepest, slickest part of its circular trail, thanks to Troop 237 Eagle Scout candidate Tyler Young and his co-workers. The project is part of safety improvements being carried out by BPFP partner groups Friends of Grotto Rock Park and Friends of Five Creeks, with funding from a UC Chancellor’s Community Service Grant. Volunteers also have been removing ivy and blackberry, planting natives, putting it more steps, and preparing the wide, level trail fronting the rock for a new decomposed-granite surface — the biggest part of the project. Grotto Rock Park, on Santa Barbara just north of Indian Rock Boulevard, has spectacular and romantic Bay views, but wet, slippery trails were hazardous in past winters.

Make Mark Liolios of Aquatic Park EGRET your Conservation Hero (and help BPFP win $5000)

For more than a decade, Mark Liolios has worked to transform Aquatic Park into great habitat for herons, egrets, shorebirds, native plants — and people! On September 13, the Trust for Public Land, with Cox Enterprises, has named him one of five “Cox Conserves Heroes” for the Bay Area for 2010! See the Sept. 14 story on www.Berkeleyside.com!
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Mark and four other finalists receive $1,250 for the nonprofit of their choice — and Mark has chosen Berkeley Partners for Parks! If Mark gets the most online votes, BPFP will get a total of $5,000!

Watch videos of the five winners and vote online for your favorite at
www.coxconservesheroes.com/san-francisco-bay-area-ca/2010-finalists.aspx.

Mark Liolios weeding with volunteers at Aquatic Park
Mark Liolios weeds with volunteers at Aquatic Park