The LeRoy Steps Safety Project received $7,160 to improve pedestrian lighting on historic LeRoy Steps, a heavily used shortcut north of the UC Berkeley campus. With an additional recent $1500 grant from PG&E for the project, the neighborhood group will be able to make this busy shortcut north of the UC Berkeley campus more attractive and safer.

The Greening Berkeley Coalition received $5000 to continue their partnership with UC Berkeley’s CalCorps. The partnership brings student volunteers into the community to work hands-on on outdoor “greening” projects, while helping to pay for materials. The Coalition in 2010 includes Aquatic Park EGRET, Berkeley Path Wanderers, CHIA, East Bay GPA, Friends of Five Creeks, Friends of Grotto Rock Park, Presentation Park Partners, and Schoolhouse Creek Common.

Date: Sunday, July 25th

Time: 12:00-3:00

Location: King Park tot area (Hopkins Street at Colusa in North Berkeley)

Please join the Friends of King Park for a community picnic Sunday, July 25th. Sponsored by the Berkeley Covenant Church, this family-friendly event will include food, a bouncy house, face painting, a “Create with Nature Zone” led by Environmental Artist Zach Pine, planting activities and old-fashioned games. Visit the information table to get a sneak peak at the collaborative mural project and find out more about proposed park improvements.

The picnic will be held at King Park, located on Hopkins Street at Colusa, between the tennis courts, King Swim Center, and the track.

To find out how you can help support our neighborhood park, contact jeanine_strickland@yahoo.com

See you there!

Join Friends of Five Creeks volunteers at a “walking work party” 10 AM – 12:30 PM Sat., July 10. Learn about history and restoration plans while you help make Berkeley’s waterfront into the park it should be!

Meet at the beach at the mouth of Strawberry Creek, behind Sea Breeze Deli 598 University. This is just west of I-880/580. AC Transit 51B stops across the street, or walk or bike on the Bay Trail or via the pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the freeway.

All welcome! Water, tools, gloves, and snacks provided. Dress for sun, wind, or fog. More information at www.fivecreeks.org or f5creeks@aol.com.

On June 20th, the East Bay Labyrinth Project will be celebrating the Summer Solstice, Father’s Day, and progress made toward building an 11-Circuit Labyrinth at the Berkeley Marina. There will be the building of a temporary labyrinth prior to the event, a creative introduction at 3 p.m. with musical invocation by world musician Alan Tower, facilitation by integrative counselor (and singer/songwriter) Margie Adam, a song led by folksinger Nancy Schimmel, a casual joining together of folks, and the walk itself. Please arrive promptly by 3 p.m. if you want to hear the program before the walk!

We’ve been engaged in hosting public labyrinth walks for several years (check out www.eastbaylabyrinthproject.org), typically attracting a crowd of fifty or more. We are planning additional events for the summer (a labyrinth constructed on a beach in August, a poetry labyrinth walk), and community group use of the temporary labyrinth at the Berkeley Marina after the Summer Solstice through mid-July.

Ideas for community-led group labyrinth walks include parents interested in sharing something unique with their kids, creativity sessions where walking the labyrinth gives focus, a special nighttime gathering for singles, youth interested in a leadership event space, spiritual groups, people interested in a day of healing, dialogue-sharing for groups working out their differences on issues, etc. If you know of interested groups, we can jointly develop a program with them. For a taste of what we’ve done in the past, check out our videos on vimeo (http://vimeo.com/videos/search:berkeley%20labyrinth). You can also contact us at eastbaylabyrinthproject@gmail.com.

If you are on Facebook, join the EBLP Facebook group to keep updated on news and events: www.facebook.com/eastbaylabyrinthproject

View East Bay Labyrinth Project in a larger map

Interim Solar Calendar
César Chávez Park

Sunday, June 20th
7:45 to 8:45 pm
Sunset at 8:30 pm

Mini-workshop on Astronomy & Season
Celebrating the Chavez virtue:  “Determination”
Culture & Season

Note:
Thank you to all the dog walkers who have been helping by keeping their dogs on a leash.  The Memorial Solar Calendar site is located in the “on-leash” section of the park.  This is particularly important when there are a lot of people, dogs and excitement in the center circle.  It makes for a more orderly and enjoyable experience for all in attendance.  You are some of our biggest supporters.

Ron will lead you through a neighborhood of former (and present) grand estates, and historic homes of famous and infamous East Bay residents. No dogs please. Leader: Ron Sipherd.  Meeting Place: Corner of Claremont and The Uplands. Transit: AC #7 bus (get off at Woolsey stop and walk NE on Claremont to the Uplands). Contact: Colleen Neff, (510-882-4295), www.berkeleypaths.org