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Health & Fitness

Stash's Palaver

This is the Patch edition of a monthly column known as Past Prez Palaver, which appears in the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce Byline.

Why do I love El Cerrito? That’s the question President Pope asks in her Byline column this month. I’ve an easy answer: it’s close to San Francisco! Let’s face it, people come from all over the world to visit The City and we’re just minutes from it. It is sometimes an easy drive; or there’s BART from two stations in our town. Shopping, entertainment, sightseeing and fine dining. Plus, the greatest location in the world for sailing!

My home away from home (when not at ) used to be Original Joe’s. A fire put the well known restaurant out of business four years ago. But now it’s back, this time in North Beach. As soon as this Byline goes to bed, I’m heading across the bay for a Joe’s Special and a classic Manhattan. Welcome back Original Joe’s. Cheers!

EC “bidness.” After two years the former Coldwell Banker office is again occupied at 11155 San Pablo Avenue. The tenant is Restaurant Design Advance. As the name implies this is a full service restaurant design firm. The Glenn Custom Framing and Gallery of Art should be open at its new 7002 Stockton Avenue home by February 3rd. Look for a grand opening celebration in March. Dr. Lee Prutton is remodeling the at 11070 San Pablo Avenue. In response to my query, the hospital is expanding into part of the area now occupied by the Feline B&B.

Mixers to resume. Per articles in Chamber Byline, they’re returning. That’s good news as the chief mission of the Chamber of Commerce is business promotion. They should be monthly events. Host one.

Stuffed with crab. El Cerrito Police Employees held their annual fundraiser on January 20 at the and the hall was packed. Profits from this popular event go toward ’s advanced training. The array of raffle prizes included a Glock pistol courtesy of the .

Just one week later the Albany-El Cerrito Exchange Club held their crab feed to benefit the El Cerrito High soccer teams. Yet another local feed was held February 4th at .

Suzanne Iarla, Community Outreach Specialist, reminds us that City Council meetings will switch from Monday to Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. This change will be effective February 21st.

Earthquake strengthening at the El Cerrito Plaza BART station will continue until September. Passenger access inside and around the station will be changed during the project. Wear your hard hats and safety vest (just kidding) and allow some extra time to navigate to and from the platforms. Eventually the dust will settle and the station will be safer.

Former Chamber manager, , celebrated his 85th birthday on January 28th aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train. Since retiring three years ago Sewall doesn’t visit El Cerrito much anymore. Still, he is one of the best known and most recognized faces in our city.

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This column appears in the February 2012 issue of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce newsletter, Byline.

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