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Festival of Lights

Celebrate light in the darkness on Monday, Dec. 1, 3-6 p.m. at the Festival of Lights in Civic Center Park circling the fountain in Berkeley. Make a luminaria to light the walkways, build a gingerbread house, write a letter to Santa, draw your hopes for the future on Berkeley’s giant New Year’s Card, get your face painted, donate a warm coat or canned food. Enter a raffle for Twelve Nights Out in Berkeley – 12 free passes for two to a dinner out or performance from Buy Local Berkeley. There’s holiday music and entertainment, hot chocolate and cookies, and Santa and his elves arrive on a Fire Engine at 5 p.m. with treats for good little girls and boys. And when it gets really dark at 6 p.m., watch as the redwood tree behind City Hall glows in the night as Vice Mayor, Laurie Capitelli turns on the lights.

Sponsored by the City of Berkeley, Berkeley Business District Network, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Buy Local Berkeley. Produced by Another Bullwinkel Show. Visit www.buylocalberkeley.com for more info.

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Winter Solstice Gathering at Cesar Chavez Memorial Solar Calendar

Solar Calendar Winter Solstice
Sunday, Dec 21st
Begins @ 4:10 pm
Sunset @ 4:55 pm
Ends @ 5:10 pm
Led by Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science

  • Mini-work shop on the Reasons for the Seasons
  • Cesar Chavez & Tolerance
  • Two brief introductions to Winter Celebrations:
    • Kwanzaa – Michael Miller
    • Yalda – Mojgan Saberi

Dress Warmly – The weather is part of the experience

While the Interim Solar Calendar site is primarily set up for citizen self inquiry and informal learning, a series of four seasonal gatherings are held at the site each year on the solstices and equinoxes.

These gatherings, led by interpretive specialists, will provide an explanation of how the site operates along with the overall educational purposes of the project. Each gathering will also include some aspect of the homage to César Chávez.
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F5C volunteers at Schoolhouse Ck. mouth Dec. 6

From 10 am to 12:30 pm Sat., Dec. 6, join Friends of Five Creeks removing invasives and making an attractive park from former garbage dump at the mouth of Schoolhouse Creek. Eastshore State Park. Dress in layers with clothes that can get dirty. We supply gloves, tools, and snacks. From the small turnout from West Frontage Road between University and Gilman, go through the gate on the right (north) and then walk west (toward the Bay) until you see the group. Parking is limited; it’s best to park at the lot at Seabreeze Market & Deli, University Avenue just west of the freeway, and walk 5 minutes north on the Bay Trail. AC Transit 9, or a great walk or bike ride on the Bay Trail! Information at www.fivecreeks.org; f5creeks@aol.com.

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F5C Cerrito Creek work party

From 10 am to 12:30 pm Sat., Nov. 22, join Friends of Five Creeks planting natives on Cerrito Creek north of Albany Hill. Meet at El Cerrito’s Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara Ave., El Cerrito (Internet maps 3499 Santa Clara Ave.; AC Transit 72 or 52L). Dress in layers for all weather; wear closed-toed shoes with good traction. We supply tools, gloves, and snacks. Great for families! Information at www.fivecreeks.org or f5creeks@aol.com.

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F5C busy on Berkeley waterfront

Friends of Five Creeks had a busy Saturday, Nov. 8, volunteering in Eastshore State Park. In the morning, a dozen King Middle School 6th graders levered out broom bushes, pulled invasive ice plant, picked up trash, and planted native grasses, all in the course of an interpretive walk from Shorebird Park to the mouth of Strawberry Creek.

In the afternoon, more than 25 volunteers from UC Berkeley (Circle K and Roots and Shoots service clubs) and the community cleared a big broom thicket and masses of invasive weeds from the ecologically important Berkeley Meadow, north of University Avenue.

We’ll be planting natives at Cerrito Creek on November 22, and working on the waterfront again Dec. 6. See the calendar, or www.fivecreeks.org, and join us!