The small group of dedicated volunteers who make up the Berkeley Historical Plaque Project has passed two big milestones: They have placed 100 of their handsome green-and-cream plaques around the city, enriching experience in city with the added dimension of time. And they have launched a web site that invites your ideas on people, places, and events that deserve a “virtual” online plaque. Ideas so far range from Don Donohue, who launched the underground comics movement with publication of R. Crumb’s Zap #1 from the Dakin Warehouse on Adeline St., to the now-closed Buttercup Bakery on College, where finance guru Suze Ormann started her career — as a waitress. Take a look at send in your ideas!
May 12: Rock-rolling, weed-corralling party, Schoolhouse Creek Common
Schoolhouse Creek Common, the beautiful community-build park at Curtis and Virginia, urgently needs help weeding and spreading new gravel on the paths! Join them 9 AM – noon, Saturday, May 12.
Work for all, all ages welcome! Snacks and drinks provided. Bring your own work gloves if you have them.
For information contact Jamie Day, day7715@gmail.com.
Survey for Sudden Oak Death April 28-29
Sudden Oak Death is a fungus-like water mold that threatens our beautiful Coast Live Oaks. Besides their beauty, oaks are critical to the survival of many plants and animals, and the functioning of our watersheds. Dead or dying oaks greatly increase fire danger, and trees or limbs can fall suddenly, endangering people or property.
According to Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, head of the Forest Pathology Lab at UC Berkeley, writes: “2011 was a bad year for our oaks. Prolonged spring rains have resulted in a significant spread of Sudden Oak Death throughout the state,” including the East Bay.
Please mark your calendars for Saturday and Sunday, April 28-9. After an hour-long training by Dr. Garbelotto at 1 PM Saturday on the UC Berkeley campus, you’ll collect suspect bay leaves (the main carriers to oaks) on your own time, and where you choose, for lab testing. You return suspect samples to a drop-box on the UC Berkeley campus by Sunday evening.
We will gladly help you plan a route — just ask on the signup form. This year’s blitz will follow a new protocol that makes it possible to estimate the actual local SOD infection rate!
Sign up for the training at http://sodblitz2012.eventzilla.net.
Hulet Hornbeck — In memory and gratitude for protecting 76 square miles of East Bay parkland
Walkers 55 +: Birding loop around Aquatic Park Jan. 19
Walkers age 55+: Enjoy wintering waterbirds, WPA history, exciting new nonprofits, a native-plant garden, and a look at Berkeley’s coming palatial animal shelter on an easy, level loop walk around Berkeley’s Aquatic Park. Friends of Five Creeks and Albany Senior Center co-sonsor.
Meet at 9 AM at Waterside Workshops, Bolivar Drive between Addison and Bancroft (AC Transit 51B). Bring binoculars if you have them, but you can enjoy birds without them. Information: www.fivecreeks.org, f5creeks@aol.com, 510 848 9358.
The walk is free, but please register with Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave., 510 524 0122.