For 25 years he made bread for the community. Now he’s undergoing chemotherapy
John Simmet was the co-founder, with Bill Briscoe, of The Bread Workshop. He has temporarily closed his current business, Plaza Tennis, to focus on treating his lymphoma.
Janis Mara
Janis Mara covers East Bay real estate as a freelancer for Berkeleyside. She has worked at the Oakland Tribune, the Marin Independent Journal, the Contra Costa Times, Adweek and Inman News, an Emeryville-based national real estate trade publication, winning California Newspaper Publishers Association and Digital First Media awards for investigative work, business coverage and education writing. Email her or follow her on Twitter.
Articles by Janis Mara
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After months of eating at home, East Bay diners flock to restaurants as outdoor dining opens
Contra Costa County restaurants are already seating diners outside; Alameda County eateries will start serving al fresco this Friday.
Barbecue, burritos and burgers, but not steak — chefs share best to-go foods and takeout tips
We surveyed several local chefs and restaurateurs about what foods travel best.
West Berkeley homes approved in 8 months after neighbors reached out
The project sailed through the oft-arduous city approval process because the owners, who intend to live on the property, worked with neighbors and made changes in response to their concerns.
The Urban Adamah Fellowship integrates Jewish tradition with sustainable urban farming
At its current home in West Berkeley, the faith-based community farm hosts a three-month residential leadership program where fellows get agricultural training through progressive Jewish spiritual practice.
Despite relaxed laws, building an accessory dwelling unit in Berkeley can still prove challenging
State and city laws have made it easier, in theory, to build backyard cottages in Berkeley. In practice planners sometimes seem to need to catch up with the new regulations.
Despite sale of building, 48-year-old Berkeley Natural Grocery will stay open
Before putting the building up for sale, the seller signed a five-year lease with a five-year option to protect the business.
North Berkeley BART development gains impetus with new state law
BART must determine the zoning for stations by 2020 and Berkeley must update its zoning to reflect that by 2022. One-third of the housing must be affordable and there are height limits.
Lola’s African Apparel: ‘I wanted to share Africa with people through clothes’
Every colorful garment stocked at Ifafunke Lola Oladigbolu’s store has been made by an independent Nigerian seamstress or tailor and, in this way, benefits entire communities.
Application filed for 12-story, 156-unit building in downtown Berkeley
The developers are targeting people who live and work in Berkeley, families and people who want to downsize, and professionals who want to be able to take public transit.
Rising rents, home prices in Berkeley and the Bay Area displacing thousands
Scarcity of housing locally has driven up prices and prompted high rates of evictions and displacement with African Americans being affected disproportionately.
Gilman Brewing Company in Berkeley is a brewery for pet lovers
Founders Sean Wells and Tim Sellmeyer are full-time veterinary surgeons by day, but their love of beer led them to start a pet project — a brewery and taproom in Berkeley.
Richmond residents share their thoughts on gentrification, displacement
Richmond is changing. Berkeleyside spoke to a few of its residents to see how they feel about it.
Fooding, hiking, drinking and renting with the dog: Some East Bay options
Oakland is the East Bay’s top dog haven, according to experts, but the whole area has lots to offer for our canine friends.
Faced with steep prices, buyers look to emerging East Bay neighborhoods
New housing and the appeal of public transit is putting areas like West Oakland, Fruitvale and Millsmont into more buyers’ home searches.
Popular Gourmet Ghetto restaurant Poulet gets new owners, but will stick to tradition
The two brothers who now own the 39-year-old Berkeley institution plan to keep Poulet’s healthful focus, uniquely Berkeley spirit and, of course, its chicken recipes.
