Dear Friends of FOFW, In November 2016, Berkeley voters approved Measure T1, a $100 million bond measure to repair, renovate, replace or reconstruct elements of our city’s aging infrastructure. Phase 1, approved in 2017, has funded more than 45 projects through 2021, including renovation of the North Berkeley Senior Center and Live Oak Community Center, as well as various park upgrades,...
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Friends and neighbors: Or maybe Ruth Bader Grizzly? Over the weekend, someone adorned one of the Fountain at The Circle’s grizzly bear cub sculptures with a collar reminiscent of those famously worn by the late Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (see the attached photo). In general, we discourage anyone from going onto the fountain island for any reason, or...
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The landmark Fountain at The Circle has been dark and dry much of the past week. There’s nothing wrong with it: the pumping system is fine, the lights have not been dimmed by a power shutoff, and water, thankfully, remains plentiful for now. The fountain is off because, for the third time in less than a week, someone decided to...
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Friends and neighbors: Sometime in the past few days, someone posted a flyer around The Circle claiming that Friends of the Fountain and Walk had removed a banner that had been hung on a nearby fence. That is not true, and, as far as I can tell, whoever posted that information did not contact our organization to ask if it...
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Friends and neighbors: You may have noticed the past few days some young people out around the Fountain at The Circle carrying out a small protest action in solidarity with those going on around the country and the globe regarding racial justice. They are holding signs and encouraging passers-by to show support. As a rule, Friends of the Fountain and...
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Friends and neighbors: Just a quick note to explain why the Fountain at The Circle has been off or empty a few times recently, including this weekend. In late April, a problem developed with one of the pumps that powers the fountain and with a circuit breaker for the fountain lights. Our partners in the city’s maintenance crew investigated, and...
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Friends and neighbors: We hope everyone is doing all they can to be safe and sound during the continuing shelter in place situation. We at Friends of the Fountain and Walk encourage you to follow all the guidelines that have been put forward to help ensure your own health and the health of others. Just like the community effort it...
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Friends and neighbors: Just a note to say we hope you are doing well and staying safe and healthy during this ongoing health crisis. Our community has been through numerous challenges since the Fountain at The Circle was first installed in 1911: two world wars, a Great Depression and recession, a global flu pandemic, the upheaval of the 1960s to...
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Friends and neighbors: Just a note to say if you noticed the fountain not operating the last 24 hours or so, not to worry. It will be back up and running very soon. A small but important component of the fountain pumping system needed repair. That work is being done, and the pumps should be back on sometime today. Thanks...
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UPDATE: This forum on possible T1 bond projects in the Northbrae area and beyond has been canceled due to the shelter in place requirements we are all under. It will be rescheduled as soon as possible. Thank you. Friends and neighbors: You are invited to a community forum hosted by Friends of the Fountain and Walk where staff from the...
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