December 6, 2025 | A Wish for the Holidays

Friends and neighbors:

Time for a math pop quiz. This equation, we hope, is one that everyone will memorize and keep in mind:

2 + 2 = -5,000

That may seem like a crazy formula, but that is the unfortunate arithmetic that applies any time the Fountain at The Circle is vandalized by the seemingly “harmless” prank of soaping the water, as happened this weekend. The explanation:

Two minutes of thoughtless action leads to maybe two hours of the fountain looking like a snow globe, but then that leads to the loss of the 5,000 gallons of water that can no longer be recirculated but must be drained out of the fountain.

Some more math: Add to that the several hours that Friends of the Fountain and Walk  volunteers need to spend cleaning the basins and pumping system and refilling and restarting the fountain. And add to that the day (or two or three) that the fountain may be off and can’t be enjoyed by all of us, especially during this time when it is specially decorated and lighted for the holidays.

So here is our wish for the holidays and the year round: Please don’t soap the fountain, require the wasting of precious water and ruin the enjoyment of this Berkeley landmark for everyone else.

By the time you read this, we hope the fountain will be flowing again, and the grizzly bear cubs won’t be left high and dry. If you have ever vandalized the fountain, we invite you to come help with the cleanup, or join us in other upkeep of the fountain and Fountain Walk area. And if you happen to be a young person, you can apply to our new FOFW Youth Corps, where you can earn credit toward your school’s community service obligation.

In other words: In the spirit of giving this holiday season, why not give us all a break? Thanks, and happy holidays!

— Board of Directors, Friends of the Fountain and Walk