Berkeley on a hazy night. Photo: Joe Parks City staff were “overly optimistic” in budget projections for the fiscal year that ended in June, but Berkeley’s General Fund still ended up several hundred thousand dollars in the black for 2011-12, the city manager told council members Tuesday night. City Manager Christine Daniel told the Berkeley […]
Emilie Raguso
Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist of the Year by SPJ NorCal. In 2021, she won SPJ NorCal's longform journalism award (print, small division) for her investigation into the death of Gulf War veteran Michael Hermon after he was attacked at Santa Rita Jail. Her reporting on homelessness has also been recognized by SPJ NorCal, and she has been part of Berkeleyside teams to win Community Journalism awards from SPJ NorCal three times. Emilie previously launched and ran beloved community news site Albany Patch.
Posted inEvents
‘3 Michaels’ talk writing, inspiration and Berkeley quirks
Michael Lewis, Michael Pollan, Michael Chabon, and moderator Sedge Thomson on stage at Berkeleyside’s “The Three Michaels: A Berkeley Conversation,” at Berkeley Rep, Monday Dec. 10, 2012. Photo: Pete Rosos In an evening designed to focus on the “Berkeleyishness” of Berkeley, and raise money for a great cause, three of the city’s most renowned Michaels […]
Posted inArts, Community
End of an era for Berkeley Rustic Birdhouses, Birdland jazz
Michael Parayno, seen here with some of his rustic birdhouses, is relocating to Manila. Most of his birdhouses are on sale. Photo: Emilie Raguso The story of a controversial community artist and jazz event organizer will come to an end later this month, at least locally, with the relocation of Birdman Mike from Berkeley to Manila, […]
Posted inSchools
Berkeley’s Education Foundation announces latest grants
BPEF awarded a $7,000 grant last year to buy 20 high-quality microscopes for King Middle School. Photo: Berkeley Public Education Foundation More than 400 Berkeley public school teachers have received nearly $200,000 in grants from the Berkeley Public Education Foundation for 2012-13, the organization announced on Thursday Dec 6. The foundation will celebrate teachers Friday […]
Posted inNosh
Nosh on the Town: Hopscotch in Uptown Oakland
Nosh explores East Bay restaurants in photos. This week: Hopscotch in Uptown Oakland, a spot that’s getting lots of buzz, not least for its signature first base burger.
Posted inCommunity, Nature
First Chinook salmon reported in Codornices Creek
This fish, identified by a fisheries biologist as a Chinook salmon, was seen earlier this week in Codornices Creek. Fishing is not allowed in the creek. Photo: Drew Goetting The discovery of a 24-inch fish, believed to be a Chinook salmon, in a creek along Berkeley’s northern border with Albany, has inspired a ripple of excitement in […]
Posted inNosh
Contest: Name that nosh [12.05.12]
Think you know food in the East Bay? Prove it by naming the restaurant and dish in the photo shown here!
Posted inSchools
Why most Berkeley 9th-graders aren’t actually failing PE
District officials say after-school sports can count toward PE credits, but also make it hard to administer state fitness exams to all the requisite students, especially at the ninth-grade level. Photo: Berkeley Unified School District A recent state report that includes fitness test results for Berkeley students in three grades shows the district’s ninth-graders falling […]
Posted inCommunity
Nearly $30k in fines waived in library fee amnesty
The Berkeley Public Library at 2090 Kittredge St. Photo: Anne Holmes A recent effort by the Berkeley Public Library to encourage patrons to return, and get back misplaced items, was, according to library staff, a success. “We’re really pleased with how the Fines Amnesty went. More users came back to the Library, we recovered lost materials, and […]
Posted inCity
Stormy weather in Berkeley: As you saw it
Friday, as November drew to a close, the wet weather was on many people’s minds. They shared on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram and more. Scroll down to see what inspired them. Want to share with Berkeleyside? There are lots of ways. On Twitter, use @Berkeleyside to tag us. On Instagram, use #Berkeleyside to alert us. […]
Posted inCommunity
New waste bin pick-up plans: Impossible in Berkeley?
Berkeley has begun to use automated single-operator garbage trucks that have a side-arm to pick up waste bins. Photo: City of Berkeley A recent city announcement about a new approach to waste pick-up in Berkeley has left some readers perplexed and concerned. The city has begun using automated one-person trucks to collect waste bins using […]
Posted inCrime, Crime & Safety
Berkeley police investigate gunshot at Ed Roberts Campus
Gunshot at Ed Roberts Campus, Nov. 29, 2012. Photo: Emilie Raguso The Ed Roberts Campus near the Ashby BART station has been locked and closed for the day following a report of a gunshot inside one of the building’s public restrooms. A sign on the doors as of about 3:15 p.m. informed people that the […]
