Some members of Councilman Kriss Worthington's internship program participated in a mock City Council event Wednesday. From left: Chandrabh Akireddy, Savana Manglona, Ella Bastone, Aldrin Carreon and Evan Costner. Photo: Emilie Raguso
Some members of Councilman Kriss Worthington’s internship program participated in a mock City Council event Wednesday. From left: Chandrabh Akireddy, Savana Manglona, Ella Bastone, Aldrin Carreon and Evan Costner. Photo: Emilie Raguso
Some members of Councilman Kriss Worthington’s internship program participated in a mock City Council event Wednesday. From left: Chandrabh Akireddy, Savana Manglona, Ella Bastone, Aldrin Carreon and Evan Costner. Photo: Emilie Raguso

Certainly the most serious news this week was the drive-by shooting death of a 24-year old man on the 1800 block of San Pablo Avenue near Delaware. The 9:18 p.m. killing on Aug. 1 was the second in two weeks. On July 17, Jermaine Davis was shot and killed in the 1800 block of Derby Street. Thursday’s shooting also occurred almost at the same spot where Zontee Jones was gunned down on Feb.4. Two men have been charged with murder in connection with that shooting, Maurice Thomas Jr. and Jevon Calland.

Lots of civic news, too: The Alameda is going on a “road diet,” protestors are camping out at the main post office to protest its pending closure, a women is subsisting on only 300 calories a day to bring attention to those held in Guantánamo Bay, and Kriss Worthington’s hard-working group of interns held a mock City Council meeting, only this one didn’t go to midnight.

There was upbeat news this week as well: Mr. Mopp’s, the venerable toy store, is opening a book annex; fashion designer Stella Carakasi opened a new studio on Ninth Street; and Glynis Fairley and Karen Rosen are going to open a new neighborhood cafe, Take Five, on Sacramento Street.

Interested in delving into the major issues of the day? Looking for an immersive intellectual experience? Do you long for thought-provoking discussions? Then sign up for Uncharted: The Berkeley Festival of Ideas.  Berkeleyside’s two day festival will be held on Oct. 25 and 26. Look at the line-up of speakers here.

Frances Dinkelspiel, Berkeleyside and CItyside co-founder, is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November...