Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from September 2007

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from September 2007

Slapstick of 'Hysteria' has some real slap to it.(Theater review)
September 1, 2007... Byline: Pat Craig Sep. 1--At first, it rolls hilariously along like a Woody Allen-esque daydream -- fraught with Freud and brimming with sly, offhanded psychoanalytic allusions. But the dream quickly becomes a nightmare in Terry...

Police misconduct hearings to resume.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Doug Oakley Sep. 1--The Berkeley Police Review Commission hopes to soon resume questioning police officers in as many as 30 misconduct cases after a yearlong shutdown. "I'm hoping (closed) hearings will resume in October,"...

Community says goodbye to retiring mail carrier: PLEASANTON: 63-year-old, who served the country club route for 15 years, is greeted with balloons, gifts, giant card.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Kelly Gust Sep. 1--By Kelly Gust STAFF WRITER Friday was Irene Marquez's last day on the job. As she rounded the corner and rode into Castlewood Country Club for the final time, the postal carrier couldn't believe here...

Coffee revolutionary, Peet's founder dies at 87: Netherlands native brought specially roasted beans to Bay Area.(Obituary)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... Byline: Blanca Torres Sep. 1--There was a time when most people were content drinking mediocre coffee. Cup by cup, Alfred Peet helped change that. Peet, who founded Peet's Coffee and Tea Inc. and is considered a forefather of specialty...

District, city in snyc on superintendent hunt: BYRON: Both agree on qualities new schools leader should possess.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Paula King Sep. 1--BYRON -- The Byron school board and the community it serves share common goals in the selection of the next schools superintendent. When the school board and residents of the Byron Union School District were...

Area holds its breath as Bay Bridge closes: Caltrans begins countdown to reopen span by Tuesday.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Sep. 1--For the first time since being damaged by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, Bay Area motorists were prohibited Friday night from using the entire Bay Bridge for the next 31/2 days to allow Caltrans to...

Protest's tragic turn remembered: 20 years later, man hit by train at Concord weapons station is still speaking out against wars.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Ryan Huff Sep. 1--CLYDE -- S. Brian Willson's shin bone sits in a medicine bag hanging on his living room wall. It's next to the boots and St. Louis Cardinals cap he wore during a protest when a military train ran over his legs...

El Cerrito Democratic Club makes its influence felt.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Justin Hill Sep. 1--Two years ago, in the midst of a special statewide election, the El Cerrito Democratic Club delivered its ballot recommendations to residences in the city and Kensington. Among the club's endorsements was...

Houses of worship are answering the green call: Online store offers a variety of energy-efficient products that could result in big savings for churches.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Rosen Lum Sep. 1--Motivated by an EPA challenge to cut energy use by 10 percent, an interfaith organization has launched an online store to shop energy-efficient products to houses of worship. California Interfaith...

Oakland synagogue celebrates 100 years: Rabbi says unique programs, such as Rock 'N' Roll Shabbat, have encouraged many to join Temple Beth Abraham.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Angela Hill Sep. 1--OAKLAND -- At 100 years old, Temple Beth Abraham is a conservative synagogue of rich tradition and somber rites -- although sometimes the conservative and somber parts take a little vacation when the rabbi whips...

Bears need to play better on both sides of ball to beat Vols.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Sep. 1--BERKELEY -- One of football's golden rules is that victory starts at the line of scrimmage. So is that why Tennessee beat Cal so badly last season? It depends on whom you ask. Of course, the Vols say...

Accusations against coach rejected: LAFAYETTE: Parents say coach used abusive language.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Katherine Tam Sep. 1--Acalanes school officials have rejected two parents' claims against boys basketball coach Russ Scheibley, who they say uses demeaning language and threatened to throw a ball at a student. The school board...

UC's fence around trees is legal, judge decides.
September 1, 2007... Byline: William Brand Sep. 1--BERKELEY -- The 8-foot chain link fence surrounding a UC Berkeley grove of oak trees occupied by a band of protesters can stay in place, an Alameda County Superior Court judge has ruled. In a decision...

Delta water supply slashed: Environmentalists still hoped for more as judge orders cutbacks to protect fish; rationing may be considered next year.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Mike Taugher Sep. 1--FRESNO -- California's water supply suffered a historic blow Friday when a federal judge ordered a series of cutbacks and other measures meant to protect a tiny Delta fish from going extinct. The order is...

Residents chime in with suggestions for parks' names: DUBLIN: After Community Services Department seeks public's help, 92 proposals roll in.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Sep. 1--"Green Acres" could be the place to be if the Dublin City Council so chooses. Or perhaps the council will go nuts over "Squirrel Park," or hit a pot of gold with "Leprechaun Isle." Those were three of the...

'Kentucky' a grand saga brought to life.(Theater review)
September 1, 2007... Byline: Pat Craig Sep. 1--There is less here than meets the eye -- but that's not necessarily a bad thing. "The Kentucky Cycle," based on its title alone, sounds like homework. But if Robert Schenkkan had called the epic,...

Kiffin in no rush to name QB: Coach could wait until the day before the opener to announce Culpepper or McCown as the starter.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Steve Corkran Sep. 1--Raiders coach Lane Kiffin is prepared to inform Daunte Culpepper and Josh McCown who the starting quarterback is going to be for the regular-season opener Sept. 9. Others are going to have to wait longer. ...

Clayton Valley stumbles in opener.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Ben Enos Sep. 1--When Luther Burbank-Sacramento High School kick returner Lucky Dozier fumbled away the opening kickoff of the second half Friday with his team leading 14-6, it appeared he had given host Clayton Valley the...

Fashion draped with hints of retro.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Dino-Ray Ramos Sep. 1--As we reflect on the fourth annual San Francisco Fashion Week, it is apparent that this year's designers teleported to various style eras for their inspiration. The eclectic aesthetic of the Bay Area was...

Oh how her garden grows.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Lucinda Ryan Sep. 1--You get the idea right away. Just outside the front door, a large built-in wooden planter box hosts a very supple crop of fat-petaled impatiens. They are so healthy they nearly spring out of the planter;...

Teen convicted in deaths of Tongan royals back in jail: Judge stays two-year sentence, increases bail for 19-year-old to $100,000.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Michael Manekin Sep. 1--REDWOOD CITY -- There was good and bad news Friday for Edith Delgado, the 19-year-old Redwood City woman convicted of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in connection with the deaths of a Tongan royal couple...

Chavez, two others done for the season: Third baseman is expected to have shoulder surgery in the coming days.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Joe Stiglich Sep. 1--OAKLAND -- The A's are trying to make sure the 2008 season unfolds in a healthier fashion than 2007. The team announced Friday that third baseman Eric Chavez and outfielders Travis Buck and Mark Kotsay, all...

School still short of federal standards: Concord's Ygnacio Valley Elementary faces possible sanctions, but it's on track to meet state achievement guidelines.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Shirley Dang Sep. 1--On Friday, his fifth day of fourth grade, Manuel Zaragoza ventured to Alaska to see the Iditarod dog race. Through a reading lesson at school, the 9-year-old traveled to the snowy tundra. Along with main...

Teachers OK deal to end strike threat: Two-year deal gives educators a 4 percent raise that is retroactive to 2006 and one-time 3.5 percent bonus.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Kimberly S. Wetzel Sep. 1--Teachers' ratification this week of a tentative salary agreement between their union and the West Contra Costa Unified School District eliminates the threat of a strike that loomed over summer break. ...

A's fall to Tigers.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Chace Bryson OAKLAND, Calif. _ When the Detroit Tigers leave town Sunday night, few people will be happier than Dan Haren. And as long as Justin Verlander is on the plane, the A's offense isn't likely to shed any tears either. ...

Cal gains a measure of revenge against Tennessee.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Okanes BERKELEY, Calif. _ Cal may not have delivered the same message it received from Tennessee last season, but it proved it has the playmakers to compete with the best teams in the nation. The Bears exacted revenge...

Cal's payback vs. Tennessee is a Golden Bear.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Okanes BERKELEY, Calif. _ Cal may not have delivered the same message it received from Tennessee last season, but it proved it has the playmakers to compete with the best teams in the nation. The Bears exacted revenge...

Protesters gather to remember 20 years ago at Concord Naval Weapons Station.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Ryan Huff Sep. 1--CLYDE -- Their hair was a little grayer and they had no trains to block this time, but that didn't stop dozens of protesters from gathering Saturday near the Concord Naval Weapons Station to commemorate a turning...

BRIEF: Fire guts tire store in Benicia.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Nargis Norristani Sep. 1--An internal fire gutted a retail tire store in Benicia early Saturday morning. Big O Tires in the 400 block of Military East was reported engulfed in flames at 6:01 a.m., said Gene Gantt, deputy fire...

BRIEF: Motorcyclist dies in Pleasant Hill.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Nargis Nooristani Sep. 1--Pleasant Hill police say alcohol may have been involved in a fatal motorcycle collision near the city's downtown early Saturday morning. The solo crash occurred sometime between 1 and 2 a.m. in the...

Housing industry reacts to Bush plan.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Barbara E. Hernandez Sep. 1--While President Bush outlined ways the federal government can help troubled borrowers keep their homes Friday, many expressed doubt at what they felt was a token effort to address rising foreclosures...

East County schools make testing gains.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Laurie Phillips Sep. 1--East County school districts saw major gains, some dips and several standout results, according to the newest federal and state testing report cards. Statewide, nearly two-thirds of California schools...

Overall, schools in Tri-Valley pass federal muster.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Eric Louie Sep. 1--Overall, Tri-Valley school standardized test scores from 2006-07 remained high, though there were significant ups and downs at specific schools, according to state Academic Performance Index rankings released...

West County schools hit targets.
September 1, 2007... Byline: Kimberly S. Wetzel Sep. 1--It was back-to-school business Friday for students at Point Richmond's Washington Elementary. Few, if any, likely sensed the undercurrent of excitement felt by teachers and administrators, who found...

Exhibit marks art college's centennial.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Robert Taylor Sep. 2--When the California College of Arts and Crafts dropped its mellifluous-sounding name in 2003 and became California College of the Arts, it seemed that the school had lost a piece of its heritage. Now the...

Care for a slice of 'Sweeney' pie, anyone?
September 2, 2007... Byline: Pat Craig Sep. 2--The first of fall's changing colors will be red, as in blood, when American Conservatory Theater opens its season with John Doyle's chillingly re-imagined version of "Sweeney Todd," the musical tale of a...

These clever travelers are quite the hunters.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Anne Chalfant Sep. 2--All we can say is-- WOW! An astounding 301 teams played the Times' Great Road Trip Scavenger Hunt this summer. We've received thousands of photos from contestants who sought the 20 oddball items on our...

Plans for new school still alive: Liberty Union officials proceed, even though bond measure failed.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Rowena Coetsee Sep. 2--BRENTWOOD -- With all three of its comprehensive high schools expected to exceed capacity in four years, Liberty Union High School District is pushing ahead with plans to build a fourth, even though it...

Students see red over dress code: Teens protest high school's ban on gang-associated colors, intend to take fight to trustees.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Todd R. Brown Sep. 2--NEWARK -- Yury Serrano wore her red tracksuit jacket Friday to Newark Memorial High School. The 12th-grader has sported the garment for years but said she got an unusual reaction to it earlier this week. ...

Healing 'Reigning Woman' icon coming to San Francisco: The Russian Orthodox relic is named because it pictures the mother of Jesus, holding a scepter.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Rebecca Rosen Lum Sep. 2--A Russian Orthodox icon unearthed from a sooty hiding place in 1917 and said to possess miraculous healing powers comes to San Francisco this month with revived Sretensky Monastery Choir. The "goodwill...

Atheist pursues political mission: Angry at what he sees as government support of religion, businessman holds protest rallies.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Julia Scott Sep. 2--PACIFICA -- Jim Heldberg became an atheist sitting in church. Raised by religious Methodist parents in Kansas, Heldberg spent every weekend in church as a child. He grew into a teenager with an interest in...

Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif., Gary Bogue column: A donation to Lindsay is a gift to the animals.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Gary Bogue Sep. 2--It's OK to care. That's what life is all about. Dear Gary: I know that your readers believe that wildlife needs protecting; each year thousands of local residents go out of their way to bring injured or...

Warriors, Nelson yet to agree on contract: With training camp a month away, talks remain stalled between the coach and the team.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Geoff Lepper Sep. 2--OAKLAND -- Barely a month remains until the Warriors' 2007-08 training camp is scheduled to begin, and negotiations between the team and coach Don Nelson remain as they have for weeks: stalled out. The two...

Four-star hotels not always all they're cracked up to be.
September 2, 2007... Byline: S. Michele Fry Sep. 2--Wrap me in luxury. It sounds fantastic, an added bonus to a travel experience. So when I find a deal on a four-star hotel, I snap it up. Four stars are obviously better than the two stars in my price range....

SCOTS HAVE DAY IN THE SUN: PLEASANTON: Plenty of dancing and caber tossing -- and, of course, no shortage of kilts.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Lea Blevins Sep. 2--Everyone may be honorarily Irish on St. Patrick's Day, but everyone at the Alameda County Fairgrounds this weekend was an honorary Scot. The Caledonian Club of San Francisco presented its 142nd annual...

Protesters remember maiming: Dozens gather on 20th anniversary of day peace activist run over by train.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Ryan Huff Sep. 2--CLYDE -- Their hair was a little grayer, and they had no trains to block this time, but that didn't stop dozens of protesters from gathering Saturday near the Concord Naval Weapons Station to commemorate a turning...

Crockett doesn't make cut: Darius, Boothe and Moses are among the players released by Oakland.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Steve Corkran Sep. 2--New coach Lane Kiffin tweaked, massaged and manipulated his roster all day Friday and the first half of Saturday until he arrived at the 53-player combination he thinks gives the Raiders their best shot at...

Bay Bridge project right on schedule Drivers heed warnings, find other ways to get around.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Sep. 2--Considering the blockage in the Bay Area's main artery, the prognosis Saturday was not bad. The first full closure of the Bay Bridge since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake may have been the cause of some...

Soccer games unite area Afghans.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Tanya Rose Sep. 2--LIVERMORE -- Ebad Mobaligh of Union City remembers playing soccer as a kid in the dusty streets of Afghanistan with a ball made of plastic and cloth. Soccer, he said, was the one joy, the one hobby, that the...

Cal avenges loss to Tennessee with impressive showing.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Sep. 2--BERKELEY -- Cal may not have delivered the same message it received from Tennessee last season, but it proved it has the playmakers to compete with the best teams in the nation. The 12th-ranked Bears...

Haren has rough outing: A's ace gives up a season-high 11 hits during a 6-1 loss to Detroit.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Chace Bryson Sep. 2--OAKLAND -- When the Detroit Tigers leave town tonight, few people will be happier than Dan Haren. And as long as Justin Verlander is on the plane, the A's offense isn't likely to shed any tears either. ...

Hospital charity gets a checkupCan hospitals justify big tax breaks?
September 2, 2007... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Sep. 2--The East Bay's nonprofit hospitals receive millions of dollars more in tax breaks each year than they dole out in charity care to the poor and uninsured. The hospitals benefited from at least $81 million...

Just what doc ordered: the Pharmacists.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Tony Hicks Sep. 2--The first night of my first trip to the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2002 was pretty fortuitous. And I really had no idea what I was doing. Looking at a schedule of about 1,000...

Targets of recall call it a vendetta: PINOLE: One councilman resigns, two others vow to keep seats.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Tom Lochner Sep. 2--The resignation of one City Council member and the filing of petitions against two others opens a new chapter in Pinole's recall follies, but the targets who remain standing are staying steadfastly on message....

How Times analyzed charity-care data.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Sep. 2--The charity care series was reported by Sandy Kleffman and edited by assistant metro editor Andrew McGall, under the direction of Carolyn McMillan, assistant managing editor for news. Joni Sare prepared...

BRIEF: Two hurt in Antioch parking lot shooting.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Scott Marshall Sep. 2--Two people were shot in a convenience store parking lot early Saturday, according to Antioch police. The 1:49 a.m. shootings occurred during a fight at a 7-Eleven store at 2301 Buchanan Road, according to...

Delivery man killed in Pittsburg robbery.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Sep. 2--Pittsburg police are looking for two men who robbed a beauty supply store and killed a 65-year-old delivery man Saturday. Pittsburg police were dispatched to L&L Beauty Supply in the 200 block of...

BRIEF: Power outage in Oakley Sunday.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Sep. 2--An Oakley neighborhood that has been without power since 5:25 a.m. Sunday can expect it to return by around 7 p.m., a PG&E spokeswoman said. About 272 customers have been without power, one of several...

BRIEF: Man dies in Antioch car accident.
September 2, 2007... Byline: Scott Marshall Sep. 2--A man died Saturday night after the vehicle he was driving struck a wall in Antioch, police said. The accident occurred on Putnam Street near Monterey Drive about 6:39 p.m., according to Antioch police...

Katey Sagal makes a full circle back to music.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Pat Craig Sep. 3--As a young girl, Katey Sagal dreamed of being a singer/songwriter along the lines of Laura Nyro. And she did it -- Tuesday, in fact, she begins a five-day run at the Empire Plush Room in San Francisco, singing...

Young Chinese language learners sprouting up: OAKLAND: Culture camp is taking on a newer approach to teaching the Pinyin form of Mandarin.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Katy Murphy Sep. 3--OAKLAND -- As two women roll balls of dough into round, flat circles, Shudan Wang, the head teacher, takes one in the palm of her hand and holds it up. Then she spoons a dollup of stuffing in the center and...

Colleges upgrade emergency-response plan: For first time, district assigns one of its police officers to full-time disaster preparedness.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Matt Krupnick Sep. 3--With everything from disease to terrorism threatening large institutions, Contra Costa Community College District leaders have decided to prepare for the worst. The three-school district for the first time...

Bay Bridge work right on schedule.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Sep. 3--The constant knocking of pneumatic hammers filled the cool evening air on Yerba Buena Island on Sunday night as they broke apart the last few big chunks of concrete from the severed end of the eastern span of...

Opening of new water attraction in Pleasant Hill delayed: PLEASANT HILL: 'Sprayground' was to be completed earlier this summer, but equipment was not available.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Sep. 3--Pleasant Hill Park's newest summer attraction has yet to be unveiled even as the hot season begins to wind down. The "Sprayground" -- a 50-by-50-foot aquatic area featuring ground sprays, a water...

$9,000 hospital bill weighs on couple: Debt shows up on their credit report and collection agencies call.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Sep. 3--VALLEJO -- As a precaution, Judith Williams mentioned to her doctor during a routine checkup that she was having difficulty going up and down stairs. Little did she realize where that simple statement...

City envisions traditional downtown: DUBLIN: Officials hope to make commercial area more accessible and pedestrian-friendly.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Sep. 3--To fashion a downtown from its collection of successful but nondescript strip malls, Dublin is looking at a policy of collaboration rather than eradication. The city would like to turn its asphalt-heavy...

Antioch woman an unlikely activist.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Simon Read Sep. 3--ANTIOCH -- Standing on the driveway of her Tabora Drive home, Michele Kuslits can see the Delta shimmering on the horizon. She and her family have spent many afternoons zipping around the water on their boat,...

Council to decide how to fill vacancy: PINOLE: City leaders will hold a special meeting in hopes of choosing how to fill Cole's seat.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Tom Lochner Sep. 3--The Pinole City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss how to replace Councilman David Cole, who resigned last week. The council has two choices under the California Government Code: appoint...

A's enjoy playing spoiler: Hannahan wins it in the 10th after Suzuki ties it with a homer in the ninth.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Glenn Reeves Sep. 3--OAKLAND -- The A's might be out of the pennant race, but they made sure Sunday's series finale against the Detroit Tigers would be a game to remember. Down 7-0, the A's came back to win 8-7 in 10 innings...

Small school, big heart: West Pittsburg community rallied around Pacifica.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Ricardo Sanchez Jr. Sep. 3--Sifting through memories of Pacifica High School's past, Gerald Ponce remembered one from 1968, his senior year. Athletic director Sal Siino walked into the locker room as the varsity wrestling team...

Easing the pain of all those aches: Experimentation, diagnosis can pinpoint the problems.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Ann Tatko-Peterson Sep. 3--The flashes of pain sound strikingly similar. Allie Steele's knees hurt when she gets out of bed. Steven Nicks' throb when he stocks shelves at a grocery store and rides his bike competitively. Peter...

Charity without the clarity: Nonprofit hospitals' aid difficult to diagnose.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Sep. 3--The line of patients starts forming each night well before the clinic opens at 6 p.m. Many are young families. Others are single adults in their 20s and 30s. Nearly all are uninsured. They pay little...

Shoulder surgery set, back procedure possible for Chavez.
September 3, 2007... Byline: Joe Stiglich ANAHEIM, Calif. _ Eric Chavez held court with reporters inside the visitors' clubhouse at Angel Stadium on Monday. The topic of discussion, as it has been all too often with the A's third baseman recently, was...

BRIEF: Bay Bridge may reopen tonight at 6.
September 3, 2007... Sep. 3--The Bay Bridge may open as early as 6 p.m. Monday, 11 hours ahead of schedule, officials said Sunday afternoon at a press conference to discuss the progress of a huge demolition and retrofit project this past Labor Day weekend. The...

Conserving energy, one towel at a time.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Janis Mara WALNUT CREEK, Calif. _ Red, purple and blue towels flap in the breeze as Ellen Ferlazzo of Pleasanton, Calif., pins them on her clothesline _ one of many low-cost, low-tech-to- no-tech strategies she uses to save money...

Accept his child or end it now.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: I am madly in love with a man I met three months ago. The problem is he has a daughter from a previous relationship. Thankfully, the mom has full custody. We're already talking marriage, and...

Many confused by Blu-ray, HD-DVD.
September 4, 2007... Byline: David Morrill Sep. 4--Blu-ray or HD-DVD? The head-to-head battle that brings back memories of VHS vs. Betamax has played out for a year come November, so one would think the king of the next generation disc format might soon be...

Yes, drivers, Bay Bridge is now 'open, open, open': Contractor completes eastern span replacement project 11 hours early.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Erik N. Nelson Sep. 4--In a spectacular display of public works theater, Caltrans and contractor C.C. Myers succeeded in replacing the first piece of the new Bay Bridge eastern span in just under three days, surprising...

Engineers, UC speak the same language: BERKELEY: Extension division adds courses in Mandarin to appeal to students in Silicon Valley.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Matt Krupnick Sep. 4--UC Berkeley Extension will make its first foray into bilingual courses in January with a slate of classes aimed at Chinese engineers. The dozen or so online courses will be in English and Mandarin and...

Crockett fair revives feeling of Old West.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Chris Treadway Sep. 4--Crockett will turn back the clock Saturday with a celebration that offers an Old West theme and a noted recording artist as its main attraction. Blues/Americana musician Jackie Greene is the headline...

Workers, unions honored at event.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Angela Woodall Sep. 4--OAKLAND -- Unions were part of Howard Egerman's life from day one. His grandfather, an immigrant from Russia, taught Egerman the days of the month with labor union buttons, the American Federation of...

Medical bills make healing difficult.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Sandy Kleffman Sep. 4--VALLEJO -- The numbers are staggering by almost anyone's standards. When Vallejo resident Betty Simmons suffered a massive heart attack May 25, 2004, emergency crews rushed her first to Sutter Solano...

New phase of renovations at shopping facility begins: PLEASANT HILL: Despite legal squabble with neighboring firm, developer moves forward at Crossroads Center.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Sep. 4--The sights and sounds of construction are once again taking over another portion of Pleasant Hill's Crossroads Shopping Center as developers turn their attention to the center's midsection. Work has begun...

Alameda gas station sells $93 million lottery ticket.
September 4, 2007... Byline: Karen Holzmeister Sep. 4--A $93 million SuperLotto Plus winning ticket was purchased at an Alameda gas station, but another address may be equally important. The jackpot can be redeemed at the California State Lottery's East...