Update 1-2-2008
Jan. 5 Waterfront Walk:
F5C Board Meets Jan. 7:
Berkeley Bay Shore Work Party Jan. 12:
Pt. Isabel Broom Pull Jan. 19:
Plant Natives on Hill Paths Jan. 26:
Saving Endangered Species:
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area Big Year, aimed at engaging people in saving those species, has its kickoff 1 pm Sun., Jan. 6, at the Bernard Osher Hall at the entrance to the San Francisco Zoo (no, not near the tigers). After free refreshments and information on endangered species, you'll cross the street to see western snowy plovers at Ocean Beach.
The "big year" idea is competitive -- see as many as possible of the 33 species in the GGNRA, and do 33 specific stewardship actions. But you can have fun, help endangered species, and learn about the magnificent GGNRA without the competition. Information at www.ggnrabigyear.org.
Talks, Meetings, Courses:
Jan. 26 conference on children's play: One of the biggest joys from Friends of Five Creeks' work is seeing children splashing in the creeks we revitalize. Those interested in unstructured play for children and their access to natural areas may be interested in Play Around the Bay, a symposium 9 am - 1 pm at the Doubletree Hotel, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley, followed by optional field trips. Registration required; information at http://foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/trio/symposium.012608.pdf/
Jan. 28 Seniors' course in History of Greening of Bay Area: Richard Walker, UC Berkeley professor of geography and author of The Country in the City, will offer a six week course on what made the Bay Area a global city of environmentalism, from John Muir through recent efforts against toxics and for environmental justice. Classes will meet 10 am - noon Mondays beginning January 28 at University Hall, 2199 Addison Street. The course is part of the winter offerings of the Osher Lifelong Learning Center, a UC Berkeley institute offering courses for older adults. Information and registration at www. http://www.olli.berkeley.edu. At the site, you also can register for the open house for the winter session, 10 am - noon Tues., Jan. 22, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison.
Feb. 6-8 Habitat Restoration Workshops in South Bay: The South Bay restoration organization Acterra is sponsoring three days of free habitat-restoration workshops that may be attended separately or together. Wed., Feb. 6, a Weed ID workshop 10 am - noon is followed by "Nuts and Bolts of Restoration," 1 pm - 5 pm at the Arastradero Preserve's Gateway meeting room in the Palo Alto foothills. Thursday, Feb. 7, the topic is Education and Outreach in Restoration, 1 - 5 pm at the Redwood City Library. Friday, Feb. 8, the topic is Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity in California: Implications for Habitat Restoration, 10 am - 3 pm again at Arastradero. For information and registration contact Heather Mackay, 650 962 9876 x 315 or heatherm@acterra.org.
Happy New Year! A Sat., Jan. 5 New Years walk on the Berkeley waterfront kicks off a new partnership among environmental groups working to increase stewardship on the East Bay shore - see the events below for more. I (Susan Schwartz) will lead this Berkeley Path Wanderers/F5C walk. We'll talk about the waterfront's past, how it's being revitalized, the recent oil spill, and new opportunities for citizen involvement. The two-hour walk is mostly level but not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. Meet at 10 am at Shorebird Nature Center, 160 University Avenue (buff-colored building with a roofed terrace, in the park on the south side University). Park across the street, or AC Transit 9 stops nearby.
All are welcome at the Friends of Five Creeks board meeting, 7 pm Monday, Jan. 7, at Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin. Topics will include the proposed Whole Foods parking garage on San Pablo Avenue next to Codornices Creek, in University Village.
On Sat., Jan 12, F5C will partner with Building with Books in a 10 am to 2 pm work party on the Berkeley Bay shore, including a short interpretive walk. Come and leave when you want, and/or bring a picnic or grab a bite at the deli. We'll meet at 10 am at Sea Breeze Delicatessen, south side of University Avenue just west of I-880/580, Berkeley (AC Transit 9 stops across the street, and it's a great bike ride on the Bay Trail). We'll work for a time along the shoreline just west of the Deli, near the mouth of Strawberry Creek. Then we'll walk five minutes north to pull broom near the mouth of Schoolhouse Creek -- look for us in the big broom thicket west of the huge dirt pile next to the west frontage road. If you can't find us, call 510 599 4709.
At 10 am Sat., Jan. 19, join Greens at Work pulling broom along the Bay Trail on Pt. Isabel, between Central Avenue and the Pt. Isabel dog park. Like the Jan. 12 work party, this is a step toward re-introducing native buckeyes and toyon to these weed-filled parks. From Central Avenue west of the I-580 Freeway, turn right on Rydin Road. Look for a green-waste container and the folks with the big orange levers. Those weed wrenches are really fun! Information at (510) 704-8628 or kyotousa@sbcglobal.net
At 10 am Jan. 26, join F5C and Berkeley Path Wanderers Assn. planting natives on Covert Path in Berkeley's upper Codornices watershed. This is the last of three work parties aimed at establishing natives on these beautiful and historic paths, eventually creating a special route with interpretive materials. Meet at the top of the path, Keeler Avenue between Shasta and Twain (closer to Twain). If you get lost (easy in the hills) call 510 599 4709.
Our family spent a wonderful Christmas at the youth hostel at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, enjoying wonderful sunset, moonlight, and morning walks in this spectacularly beautiful area, saved from development by the local environmental heroes you can learn about in the Richard Walker course described below. But stopping development isn't enough. The GGNRA also has 33 endangered species -- more than any other national park in the 48 continguous states.
Jan. 7 talk on coyotes: The Close to Home series of talks features Jessica Sheppard of East Bay Regional Park District speaking on "Coyotes and Foxes: Wild Canines in the East Bay," 7:30 pm Monday, Jan. 7 at Montclair Presbyterian Church, 5701 Thornhill Rd., in the Montclair area of Oakland. Information at
(510) 655-6658 or www.close-to-home.org