Audible walk signal sounds can help orient disabled pedestrians in a variety of ways. Photo: morethanreal In response to an earlier Ask Berkeleyside post about walk signals in Berkeley aimed to help the disabled, one reader asked a follow-up question about signal sounds, or the lack thereof: “I’m curious about the sound supplements to the buttons. Most […]
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 inCommunity
Express thanks online, get happier with new Cal study
The staff of the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center, from left to right: Dacher Keltner, Vicki Zakrzewski, Christine Carter; Ann Shulman, Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Jason Marsh, Jeremy Adam Smith and Jesse Antin, and Elna Brunckhorst. Photo: Elyna Anderson With gratitude on everyone’s mind this week, a recently launched online study at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good […]
Posted inSchools
Alcohol, marijuana use decline in Berkeley schools
Berkeley students continue to report higher rates of marijuana use than the most recent statewide average that’s available, according to the 2012 California Healthy Kids Survey. District staff said that overall, however, substance use in Berkeley appears to be on a downward trend. See the full survey here. Source: Berkeley Unified School District Students in […]
Posted inBusiness, Housing & Development, Schools, Video
Officials push UC Berkeley mixed-use project forward
A drawing from an October 2011 UC Berkeley presentation on the mixed-use project designed for University Village; Monroe Street splits the project in two. The site is bordered by San Pablo Avenue to the east, which runs along the top of this image. See the full presentation. (Some details, such as the presence of Whole […]
Posted inSchools
Fight re-launched to save school nutrition programs
Parents and kids filled Berkeley’s council chambers to speak out to the School Board about the importance of the district’s gardening and cooking programs, Nov. 13, 2012. Photo: Emilie Raguso Parents and kids filled Berkeley’s council chambers to speak out to the School Board about the importance of the district’s gardening and cooking programs, Nov. […]
Posted inSchools
Cal razes latest Occupy the Farm greens at Gill Tract
Urban farming activists have continued to plant at Albany’s Gill Tract, a University of California-owned research field, since trying to take over the land earlier this year to turn it into an urban farm. (This photograph was taken in the spring.) Photo: Tracey Taylor Urban farming activists have continued to plant at Albany’s Gill Tract, […]
Posted inBusiness
Safeway on College needs all-new design after mediation
A mediation sketch of plans for a Safeway reconstruction on College Avenue on the Berkeley-Oakland border, November 2012. This is a view of the rooftop parking set-up; College Avenue is along the bottom of the sketch, and Claremont Avenue is the longest side of the triangle. Cars would enter the parking area via a ramp […]
Posted inBusiness
Breaking: Neighbors, Safeway agree on College Ave. store
This story was updated at 4:35 p.m. A mediation effort between Safeway and three community groups opposing aspects of the grocer’s College Avenue store has resulted in a resolution and new agreement, according to statements released this week. As a result, final action on an appeal before the Oakland City Council set for Tuesday, Nov. 13, has been […]
Posted inCity
Big changes needed to meet 2020 emissions goals
More than 800 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems (yellow dots) have been installed in Berkeley since 2000. The number of solar hot water systems (red dots) have also increased significantly. See the full map here. Source: City of Berkeley Berkeley is making progress but still has a long way to go to meet its goals for […]
Posted inFire
Berkeley Fire douses 2-alarm blaze at Potter Street lab
The roof of a lab space leased by Berkeley Lab caught fire Monday afternoon. Image: Google Maps UPDATE, Nov. 13: According to the Berkeley Fire Department, the fire is estimated to have caused $50,000 in property loss, and $10,000 in content loss. The damage was primarily confined to the roof, though a third-floor utility room sustained […]
Posted inCity
AT&T antennas likely to go on Oaks Theatre despite glitch
The proposed AT&T wireless installation on top of the Oaks Theatre. Project reps said antennas won’t be visible from the street. Photo: AT&T Update, Dec. 26: The decision has been appealed and appears to be scheduled for the March 5, 2013, meeting of the City Council. Original story, posted Nov. 9: AT&T wireless customers near […]
Posted inSchools
UC Berkeley names Columbia dean as new chancellor
Nicholas B. Dirks says of his appointment: “This is an opportunity I embrace with both excitement and humility.” Photo: Eileen Barroso | Columbia University Nicholas B. Dirks, Columbia University’s executive vice president and dean of the faculty of Arts and Sciences, will succeed Robert J. Birgeneau as UC Berkeley’s 10th chancellor, the university announced Thursday. Dirks […]
