Berkeley’s own Rita Moreno yesterday received the nation’s top cultural honor, the National Medal of Arts. President Obama presented the award to the star of stage and screen after spending the day in healthcare lock-down mode.

Moreno is the only Latina actress to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony for her dance and acting work. She was recently seen in a revival of “The Glass Menagerie” at the Berkeley Rep.

A total of  20 artists, performers and writers received the award, including Bob Dylan, Clint Eastwood and San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas.

Tracey Taylor is co-founder of Berkeleyside and co-founder and editorial director of Cityside, the nonprofit parent to Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Before launching Berkeleyside, Tracey wrote for...