Category: Friends of Cesar Chavez

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Videos on threatened local wildlife feature BPFP projects

New short videos on local wildlife threatened by climate change feature two Berkeley Partners for Parks volunteer projects. The five “Edge of Extinction” documentaries were created for local online newspaper Berkeleyside by Max Brimelow, video journalist currently studying at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

Meet Marty Nicolaus of Chavez Park Conservancy in “Owl Good Things Must Come to An End” here. Martin’s longer, 24-minute documentary on the Cesar Chavez owls is here.

“Trout in Doubt,” on threats to Central Coast steelhead, features Susan Schwartz, longtime head of Friends of Five Creeks, talking about the group’s work before and after the April 3 fish kill that seems to have wiped out these fish in Codornices Creek, our area’s only trout stream. The other videos cover Western pond turtles, bees, and salt marsh harvest mice. All give tips on how you can help, too. Highly recommended!

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The Burrowing Owls are back at Cesar Chavez Park!

burrowing owl
A burrowing owl seen in Berkeley; photo by Larry Wight

Our burrowing owls usually occupy the northeast corner of Cesar Chavez Park (north of the Berkeley Marina) from October through March. There are new fences and artistic adobe walls to protect the owl habitat from humans and dogs. Come on down and look for owls.

Docents

Docents are available seven days a week at various times.

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Summer Solstice Gathering (12th Annual)

Interim Solar Calendar
César Chávez Park

Sunset gathering

Sunday, June 20th
7:45 to 8:45 pm
Sunset at 8:30 pm

Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
Celebrating the Chavez virtue:  “Determination”
Culture & Season

Note:
Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash.  The Memorial Solar Calendar site is located in the “on-leash” section of the park.  This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle.  It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance.  You are some of our biggest supporters.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions.  Tolerance is also one of those virtues.  And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.


View Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar in a larger map

Next Gatherings:

Autumnal Equinox Gathering:

Led by Rabbi David Cooper –
Wednesday, Sept. 22nd,  6:15-7:15
This will be particularly eventful because we will have a near simultaneous full moon rise and sun set.

Winter Solstice Gathering:

Led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science
Monday, Dec 20th, 4:15 to 5:15
Even more eventful: (a) near simultaneous full moon rise/sunset, and (b) a total lunar eclipse at 9:27 pm to 11:40 pm and beyond.

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Spring Equinox Gathering, Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar

Date and time

Saturday, March 20, 2010; 6:30 pm
Hope rock

Sunset is 7:15 pm, gathering is 45 minutes before sunset. The event ends about 15 minutes after sunset.

Event information

Led by David Glaser, Science Educator

  • A mini-workshop on the Seasons
  • Celebrating HOPE -  The Chavez virtue that is associated with the East
  • Norouz –  In the interest of sharing cultural celebrations associated with the Spring Equinox, Mojgan Saberi will give a brief overview of the Iranian Spring Festival called Norouz.

Notes

This years city-wide theme for the Cesar Chavez Commemoration (March 20th – April 23rd) is on “Teaching Tolerance.” www.ecologycenter.org/chavez

Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash. This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle. It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance. You are some of our biggest supporters.

Those of you who have been there in the past know that we regularly review four virtues of Cesar Chavez which are metaphorically associated with the four cardinal directions. Tolerance is also one of those virtues. And it is a good one to be reminded of as we learn to be with one another harmoniously in a special space and moment.

Links