Editor's note, May 22, 2:45 p.m.: A technical glitch blocked the poll from being attached to this article when it was first published. It's now attached below. We apologize to our readers. Last week we asked our readers what they'd like to see at the empty Guitar Center building at 10300 San Pablo Ave., and we have received so many suggestions of such variety that we're not sure how to interpret them. Perhaps the most popular choice in comments on the article and on our Facebook page was a gym or fitness center of some type. A number of people liked the idea of a live-music venue, perhaps …
When asked about how to raise more money for public schools, most likely California voters support raising the income tax for state's wealthiest residents but not the sales tax, according to a survey by the Public Policy Institute of California. We'd like to know what El Cerrito Patch readers think in our poll below. The survey results, released Wednesday night, found 65 percent in favor of raising the top rate of income tax paid by the richest Californians, with 34 percent opposed. But raising the state sales tax was opposed by 52 percent, versus 46 percent in favor. Both taxes would be …
We know that enjoying a drink at a bar is not everyone's cup of tea, but it is a popular pastime for many folks. Bars can be places to relax and socialize – catch up with old friends, meet new ones. And with bars come bartenders. So Patch sites across the country this week are asking readers to share their favorite bartenders. We'd like to ask where yours are in El Cerrito and Kensington. The list below shows the local bars (and dining places with bars) in alphabetical order, and we ask that you cast your "vote" in the comments section below. You can also click on the links below and rate the…
We're already enjoying the overture of spring's wildlflower symphony in El Cerrito and Kensington, and are anticipating a lot more to come. We're inviting readers to share their favorite local hikes for seeing nature's annual display. The easy way is to vote in our poll below. And we'd certainly appreciate your comments in the comments section. On Friday, we'll tally up the results (with more weight given to recommendations in the comments) and let you know the result. If there's a hike you'd recommend that's not on our list, please let us know in the comments, and we'll add it. We offer …
We've heard that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, and with a name like Patrick, we supposed that he was Irish. But a few minutes with Google leads us to understand that, according to popular legend, he was born around 385 in Britain, the son of Roman colonists, and was kidnapped around age 14 and taken to Ireland, where he was enslaved as a shepherd until he escaped at age 20. He is believed to have later returned to Ireland and converted the Druids and other pagans to Christianity. He is also said to have used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, which explains why the shamrock …
Among the new apps showcased at Macworld in San Francisco this week was "TeenAgree," which permits parents to receive alerts when their teen driver goes too fast, texts while driving or ventures beyond a certain boundary. Please tell us what you think about it in our reader poll below. The app – which costs $4.99 to download and costs $4.99 per month – is offered as a "safe driving contract" which teens and parents each install on their smart phones. Asked if teens hate it, TeenAgree co-founder Nathan Ooley answered, "Yes they do," according to the San Francisco Chronicle. "You don't want it …
Note: This article was originally published Jan. 12 and has been republished on Jan. 15 to retain it longer on the homepage because of high reader interest. Why are we asking your view on unsigned comments? El Cerrito Patch has received several complaints about insulting comments posted by some readers on various articles, particularly those related to Windrush School. We are not alone. It's a major issue for many online news sites that has been exacerbated by allowing readers to post comments anonymously. Anonymous comment forums, wrote Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., "have become …
Okay, it may not be as serious as the European debt crisis or the battle over the Book Exchange at the El Cerrito Recycling Center, but the annual choice of what kind of Christmas tree to put up is one that confronts nearly every household. Some wrestle with environmental implications or commercialization overload, while others enjoy the simple pleasure of recreating a cherished family tradition. Whatever your feelings are about it, please take our poll on what kind of tree you're using, and we also invite you to share your reason in the comments section.
The "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations are spreading across the country, with several occurring this past week in the East Bay, including in Richmond and Berkeley, next door to El Cerrito and Kensington. More are planned in the coming days. We're conducting a poll (below) and would like to know what you think. You can mark your answer and add comments in the comments section.
A local real estate company, Red Oak Realty, created this 59-second video to give clients a feel for what it's like to live in El Cerrito. Tell us what you think. Please take our poll and feel welcome to add comments and explanations in the comments section below.
Do you use the food scrap pail provided by the city for transferring your food scraps to the green recycling bin? Let us know in the comments box below, or send an email to charles@patch.com. We're polling readers in the wake of the city's first Compost Giveaway held this past Sunday, which returned to residents a reincarnated form of the yard trimmings and food waste that are thrown together in our curbside green recycling bins. The city says a household that recycles its food scraps can cut its emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, by about 500 pounds a year, about the same …
