BY SHALEECE HAAS // Twelve young people will perform at the Allegro Ballroom this weekend as part of the studio’s annual holiday party. The team has been practicing for several months under the direction of choreographer and dance teacher Heintje Soriano. All members of the youth dance team received scholarships for advanced dance lessons at Allegro, a nonprofit dance studio that offers free classes for youth and their parents every Saturday. Read the full story
BY KATE KILPATRICK // Drivers discuss the impending U.S. auto industry bailout as they fill up their tanks. Read the full story
BY SHALEECE HAAS AND SHIKIRI HIGHTOWER// Forged checks and credit cards, counterfeit money and identity theft are common crimes in Emeryville. Police and retailers are joining forces to address these paper crimes, which many believe will increase as the economy worsens. Read the full story
BY ALBA MORA // On Friday, Nov. 28, participants of the Sacred Sites/Shellmound Peace Walk finished their two-week, 250-mile walk around the San Francisco Bay. Their last stop was Bay Street mall, where they honored their ancestors and prayed at the destruction of an old burial site.
BY AMANDA MARTINEZ // At the Emeryville Amtrak Station travelers say nothing will keep them from going home for the holidays.
BY KATE KILPATRICK // Circuit City in Emeryville opened at 5 a.m. on Black Friday as shoppers lined up for big savings on laptops, cameras and flat-screen TVs. Are buyers feeling the economic crunch, or are they spending freely this holiday season, spurred on by good deals? Read the full story
BY SHALEECE HAAS // The mayor of Emeryville, who describes himself as “tired of being broke,” is under investigation by the city attorney for accepting a consulting contract with a company recently hired to provide Internet service to five municipal buildings.
BY KATE KILPATRICK // Local entrepreneurs say they want Emeryville’s north side to be a destination for small, independently owned businesses. But with tough economic times ahead, it’s hard to stay optimistic. Read the full story
BY ALBA MORA // Are you going away and cannot take your dog with you? Don’t put them in a kennel. I offer loving care in my home. Give your dog(s) the vacation they deserve while you are away on yours.
The Internet is flooded with ads like this, where pet-sitters and dog walkers offer their services to pet owners. When Thanksgiving approaches, pet-sitters get busy. But not this year.
“I had several cancellations,” said Christine Moore, 38. “There’re not so many people going on holidays.”
The economic meltdown, high travel expenses and consumer unease have impacted Thanksgiving holiday weekend for Californians. According to the most recent AAA Northern California travel survey there’s a 2.3 percent decrease in holiday travel from last year. And when people travel less, that means their pets need fewer services from people like Moore. Read the full story
BY SHIKIRI HIGHTOWER AND ALBA MORA // LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., a local company known for their technology-based toys, has fallen victim to a harsh economy like many other businesses.
On Friday, the Emeryville based manufacturer, announced it was slashing 10 percent of their global workforce.
“We had to reduce operating expenses” said Mischa Dunton, the LeapFrog spokesperson. “We are proud of LeapFrog’s people and so this action is one we would prefer not to have undertaken.” Read the full story
