Arts & Events

Over the weekend of February 23-26, American Bach Soloists performed Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion throughout the wider Bay Area (including Davis). I caught the Saturday performance at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. Bach composed his St. John Passion for Good Friday, 1724, and it was performed in the St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig during Bach’s first year as Kappelmeister in Leipzig. (Bach, by the way, was Leipzig’s third choice for this post. They offered it first to Georg Philipp Telemann, then to Christoph Graupner, who both turned it down. Only then did they turn to Bach.) -more-

On Sunday afternoon, February 25, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in collaboration with San Francisco Opera presented at Nourse Theatre a round-table discussion with four great opera singers: Marilyn Horne, Patricia Racette, Deborah Voigt, and Frederica von Stade. Serving as emcee was Stephen Rubin, a trustee of San Francisco Conservatory of Music and president of Henry Holt & Co., publisher of many prize-winning books. As one might expect, the divas traded compliments with one another and generally spoke of their good fortune and gratitude in having such successful careers. -more-

Busy week ahead for Berkeley City Meetings and Climate forums. Tuesday is City Council. Wednesday is the busiest night for activists.

• Urban Shield participation is on the agenda at the Disaster and Fire Safety Commission.
• Linda Maio is speaking at the Wednesday Safer Climate Forum.
• Police Review Commission is discussing subcommittee recommendations and taking action on MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Homeland Security/US ICE and Homeless Encampments.

Written comment is accepted until April 26, 2018 to Oppose the EPA Proposed Repeal of Clean Power Plan,. The San Francisco EPA “Listening” Session on Wed, Feb 28, can be live streamed. It is too late to register to attend. The 3 “listening” sessions start at 8:30 am and end at 7:30 pm.

https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/forms/san-francisco-listening-session-repealing-clean-power-plan



2018 is a critical election year and 3 groups/organizations are actively working now to oust Republicans from Congressional Districts. These groups are registering voters and canvasing on issues in Republican held districts.

• Indivisible Berkeley lhttps://www.indivisibleberkeley.org/actions
• Indivisible East Bay https://indivisibleeb.org/
• Wellstone Democratic Club http://wellstoneclub.org/

The meeting list is also posted on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website.

http://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html



Sunday, February 25, 2018

Adeline Corridor Development – Sun, Feb 25, 12:30 pm, 2108 Russell St @ Lorina, Church By the Side of the Road, Education Room, all welcome,

Indivisible East Bay All Member Meeting, Sun, Feb 25, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 2727 Milvia, Sports Basement,

https://indivisibleeb.org/upcoming-events/

Monday, February 26, 2018

City Council, Mon, Feb 26, 4:00 pm, 2180 Milvia, Cypress Room, Agenda: closed session – labor negotiators – Fire Fighters, Berkeley Police Association, IBEW, Local 1245, Service Workers

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2018/02_Feb/City_Council__02-26-2018_-_Special_Closed_Meeting_Agenda.aspx

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, Mon, Feb 26, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm, 2134 MLK Jr. Way, City Council Chambers

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Rent_Stabilization_Board/Home/Agenda__RSB_2018_Feb_26.aspx

Children, Youth and Recreation Commission, Mon, Feb 26, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 2800 Park St, Frances Albrier Community Center at San Pablo Park

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Children_Youth_and_Recreation_Commission/

Zero Waste Commission, Mon, Feb 26, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 1901 Hearst Ave, North Berkeley Senior Center

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Zero_Waste_Commission_Homepage.aspx

Tax the Rich rally – Mon, Feb 26, winter hours 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Rain Cancels, top of Solano in front of closed Oaks Theater,

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Berkeley City Council, Tues, Feb 27, 2134 MLK Jr Way, City Council Chambers

• 5:00 pm Closed Session, Agenda: Director of Planning and Development
• 6:00 pm Regular Session, Agenda: 17. ZAB Appeal – 739 Channing Way, 20. U1 – 15% anti-displacement, 85% to maintain and increase supply of permanently affordable housing, 21. 2018 Ballot measures, 22 a.&b.Wildland Urban Interface Fire Safety and Education, 23. Utility Undergrounding

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx

Community Environmental Advisory Commission - Subcommittee - Citywide Green Development, Tues, Feb 27, 7:00 pm, 2000 University, Au Coquelet Restaurant

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Community_Environmental_Advisory_Commission/

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Civic Arts Commission, Wed, Feb 28, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, 1901 Hearst Ave, North Berkeley Senior Center

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/CivicArtsCommissionHomepage/

Commission on the Status of Women, Wed, Feb 28, 6:45 pm – 9:00 pm, 1901 Hearst Ave, North Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: speaker BPD Chief Greenwood, Santa Rita Jail referral https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Commission_on_the_Status_of_Women_Homepage.aspx

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission, Wed, Feb 28, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 997 Cedar St, Fire Department Training Center, Agenda: 6. Recommendation Urban Shield participation

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/uploadedFiles/Fire/Commissions/Commission_for_Disaster_and_Fire_Safety/REVISED%20DFSC%20Agenda%2017-02-28.pdf

Energy Commission, Wed, Feb 28, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, 1901 Hearst Ave, North Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: 5. EB Community Energy, 7. Deep Green Building, 8. EV Charging, 9. Model Solar Ordinance

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Energy_Commission_Homepage.aspx

Police Review Commission, Wed, Feb 28, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, 2939 Ellis St, South Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: subcommittee reports discussion & action – Homeless encampment, MOU with Dept Homeland Security/US ICE

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Police_Review_Commission_Homepage.aspx

Maximizing Influence for Safer Climate, Wed, Feb 28, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline, citizen action, strategies on major polluters, climate solutions

https://350bayarea.org/event/eyes-ca-maximizing-influence-safer-climate

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Housing Advisory Commission, Thur, March 1, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, 2939 Ellis St, South Berkeley Senior Center,

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Housing_Advisory_Commission/

Landmarks Preservation Commission, Thur, March 1, 7:00 pm – 11:30 pm, 1901 Hearst Ave, North Berkeley Senior Center,

Berkeley Lawn Site to be continued

• 2901 Benvenue Ave – Thomas & Louise Hicks House – Landmark or Structure of Merit
• Certified Local Grant Application
• 2580 Bancroft – Fred Turner Building – proposed alteration
• 1110 University – Demolition referral
• 2301 Bancroft - Campanile Way – special meeting, date not yet determined

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/landmarkspreservationcommission/

Medical Cannabis Commission, Thur, March 1, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm, 2180 Milvia St, 6^th Floor,

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/MedicalCannabis/

Friday, March 2, 2018

No city meetings or demonstrations found

Saturday, March 3, 2018

No city meetings or demonstrations found

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Legislative Action Training, Sun, March 4, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm, 2530 San Pablo Ave, #1, Sierra Club Chapter Office, Berkeley, RSVP

https://350bayarea.org/event/legislative-action-training -more-

Feb 21 Deadline to register for the Feb 28 EPA hearing to repeal the clean power plan, There are three hearings on Feb 28 morning, afternoon and early evening. https://350bayarea.org/event/oppose-clean-power-plan-repeal -more-

Performing with London’s Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on Valentine’s Day at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre, Scottish-born violinist Nicola Benedetti gave a thrilling rendition of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61. Presented under the auspices of Cal Performances, this concert also included Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B-flat Major, Op. 60. These two works were written by the composer about the same time in 1806 that he was working on preliminary sketches for his Fifth Symphony. Interestingly, both the Fourth Symphony and the Violin Concerto offer unusual opportunities for the timpani. -more-

This weekend, February 15-17, Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Symphony Herbert Blomstedt wound up a two-week visit during which he conducted two great works by Beethoven, a great symphony by Mozart, and a rarely heard symphony by Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar. Now age ninety, Herbert Blomstedt never ceases to amaze us. Eons ago, Blomstedt led the San Francisco Symphony from 1985 to 1995, and during his decade-long tenure here he raised the orchestra’s standing and led the Symphony on prestigious international tours. Known for his modesty and good-natured humility, Blonstedt had a way of getting what he wanted from an orchestra while never hectoring them as some conductors do, but also, and more surprisingly, by making his orchestra members respect , revere and even love him. -more-