For a brief moment in time, it seemed that almost every vacant space in the Colusa Circle area was occupied. After several years of vacant storefronts, a new art studio (4Cats) opened, and then a fitness center (The Fuse Fitness) moved in next door, leaving only the former Brazilian restaurant next to Circus Pub, as a vacant space. But in late May, Post Meridian, Kensington’s own French restaurant, served its last dinner, with owner Robin Valerie giving in to the poor economy. The economy, as well as health, has also taken its toll on the two major developments proposed for the Circle area (…
I learned recently, via the New York Times, that business cards are now going the way of the buggy whip and the printed daily newspaper. We live in a digital world, and that’s the way we consume information, news and advertising. Well, I hate the break the news to the digital generation, but there are some ways that have not gone out of fashion here in Kensington. The town bulletin board is alive and well. At the corner on The Arlington and Amherst Avenue, just outside the Arlington Pharmacy, you can get a pretty good look at what’s going on in town. Organized by the Kensington Improvement …
The Carmelite Monastery has been part of the Kensington community since 1950. It is one of 64 monasteries throughout the United States. Their focus is an inner world of peace, quiet and solitude. For a more detailed look at life behind the walls at the end of Rincon Road take a look at this article from The Catholic Voice. Located next to Blake Garden, the monastery helps to form a sort of spiritual center for the town. The grounds, of course, are private property, but until a few years ago anyone could enter the driveway and enjoy the quiet beauty. From time to time there were even public …
Kensington residents will be talking trash June 9 when the Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District (KPPCSD) holds a hearing on whether to grant a 6-percent rate increase to the town’s refuse contractor. Technically the board is holding a "Proposition 218 Hearing" on Bay View Refuse and Recycling’s request for a rate increase. According to KPPCSD head Charles Toombs, it’s not just a hearing — it’s a board meeting. After residents have had a chance to offer opinions, the board may take a vote. They could approve the rate increase request, or deny it, or make suggestions for…
I was surprised last week when an absentee ballot showed up in the mail. I always vote by mail since I never seem to be around on Election Day, and it just makes the whole process more convenient. I say that, knowing the voting booth where I cast my ballot is usually about 200 yards from my front door. But there are times when I’m out of town, and if you do not send back the absentee ballot, you have to request one again, for the next election. Like I said, it’s just easier. I was even more surprised when I opened the envelope and discovered there was only one question to be decided: …
We live in a fast-paced society. Walking slows us down. ~Robert Sweetgall In Kensington it seems that everyone walks. Some folks drive up to Tilden Park and pick a trail, others just head out the front door and see where the road takes them. After all, walking is the perfect antidote for what some authors call the "disconnectedness" of modern American life. If you read Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, or more recently Peter Lovenheim’s In The Neighborhood, you know what I’m talking about. Many walk for exercise, which is one of the driving forces for my meanderings, but I also walk for …
Anne Larson has been taking care of Kensington’s mail for 17 years. But she doesn’t work for the U.S. Postal Service. Still, for anyone in town who has to mail a package and wants to know whether it should go "Priority" or just "First Class," she’s the person with all the answers. Larson has been the smiling face of the post office in the Arlington Pharmacy since she left her job as a librarian for a CPA firm in San Francisco. “I didn’t set out to work for the post office," she says. "I used to come to the pharmacy with my mother, and one day I found out they were looking for a clerk in the …
While I don't think this winter's weather has been bad enough to give anyone in Kensington Seasonal Affective Disorder, we've certainly had enough late rain to cause rosarians some serious worry.I count myself among that group, so I was happy that our Easter rain storm gave way to bright sun. Any local gardener can tell you that Kensington's weather is unique. Half a mile away in Berkeley, Albany or Richmond, the sun can be shining, but here, the clouds roll in and never leave. The climate can even be different between The Circle and The Arlington — the difference is just elevation.But this …
Business is booming at the Kensington Farmers' Market, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. The market on Oak View Avenue at the Colusa Circle has been the newest of the local markets, although that title moves to Albany with the opening of its market this week. By the way, it will soon be possible to cut your carbon footprint and still get local produce almost every day of the week. The Kensington market is on Sunday; Monday is still vacant (in the immediate area), but Tuesday you can stop at the farmers' market in El Cerrito Plaza. Wednesday will be Albany's turn when its…
Welcome to the inaugural edition of El Cerrito Patch's "Eye on Kensington" — a look at the issues that affect Kensington as well as observations on the local scene. My goal is not to cover every issue in the community — we have reporters for that — but rather to offer commentary, opinion and the occasional bon mot. Before I start I think you should know a few things about me. I have lived in Kensington about 10 years, which makes me a newcomer, but my wife has been here for almost 25, so she has a bit more "street cred" and will keep me in line. She is, by the way, a clinical psychologist, …
