None of the other 24 lakes and reservoirs surveyed in California as part of the government study had grebes with a rate of mercury poisoning anywhere close to that level. The large percentage of Lake Berryessa grebes at high risk for harm is “cause for concern for that population,” said Josh Ackerman, a Dixon-based U.S. Geological Survey wildlife biologist and ecotoxicologist who is the lead author of the report, released last month. The USGS study, based on field work done in 2012-13, is the first to confirm that mercury contamination in California waterways and fish — documented by previous studies — has spread to other wildlife, Ackerman said.
The City of Saratoga: is collecting nonperishable food items as well as new unwrapped toys to be distributed girl's charm necklaces: fairy, mermaid, ballet, dinosaurs (children's collection) to needy families this holiday season as part of its annual Food and Toy Drive, Food and toys can be dropped off at the Joan Pisani Community center, 19655 Allendale Ave.; or the City Manager’s Office, 13777 Fruitvale Ave, Additional dropoff locations for food include the Saratoga Library, 13650 Saratoga Ave., and Saratoga Senior Center, 13650 Saratoga Library Ave, Toys will also be accepted at the Saratoga Historical Museum, 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, The Toy Drive ends Dec, 16, and the Food Drive will end Dec, 21, For information, call 408-868-1249 or go to www.saratoga.ca.us..
For the past six months, the Union City retiree has been preparing to open a large resale store that will send a portion of the proceeds to help veterans groups such as the Wounded Warrior Project. The large, empty north Antioch storefront not far from his brother’s church offered the perfect location. “As a humanitarian, my goal has been to save lives, relieve suffering and pain and help maintain human dignity,” Langston said. “To make a difference in the world they live in, to make someone’s life better than what it is and to ease the plight of people that have little hope.”.
Related ArticlesWeekend Top 10: Folk-rock icon Natalie Merchant back in Bay AreaWeekend concerts worth your time: Lionel Richie, Mariah Carey and more5 free things: Fun stuff to do in the Bay Area that won’t hurt your walletGo ‘Wandering’ with Amy Seiwert: Grab your passport and let Bay Area choreographer Amy Seiwert take you on a tour of a distant land – still unknown except in your vivid imagination, For “Wandering,” Seiwert found inspiration in the song cycle for voice and piano “Winterreise” (Winter Journey) by Schubert, The lyrics, 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller, form a path of dark moods, lost love and loneliness, Seiwert’s first evening-length narrative ballet, with visual design by Brian Jones and costumes from Susan Roemer, promises to be anything but dreary, “This ballet explores the theme of going on a journey, both internally and physically,” she says, “How do we relate to the world, the girl's charm necklaces: fairy, mermaid, ballet, dinosaurs (children's collection) world to us, how does the world around us change us, and how do we in return alter the world and our community?” Details: 8 p.m, July 21-22, 7 p.m, July 23; Cowell Theater at Fort Mason complex, San Francisco; $20-$50; https://fortmason.org.— Aimee Tsao, Correspondent..
The “South Pacific” producers had waited for 50 years to revive the great 1940s Broadway hit. “They wanted to be sure that all the roles were perfectly cast before its return to the stage. Since the role of Emile de Becque was written for an operatic voice (the great Ezio Pinza was the first to sing it on Broadway), they sought me out for the part. It was one of those magical things that sometimes happen in life!”. He proceeded with the hard work of singing eight shows a week for months. “It was very hard work,” he emphasized. “With opera, you rarely have to sing one performance after another like that.” Nevertheless, it was this “very hard work” that resulted in his winning a pack of awards, including the Outer Critics Circle, Theater World, Drama Desk and Tony awards in 2008. All this was followed by his critically acclaimed leading role in the Metropolitan Opera’s recent presentation of Shostakovich’s opera “The Nose,” with Valery Gergiev conducting. Following San Francisco Opera’s “Carmen,” Szot’s next operatic role will be in the Met’s upcoming new production of Massenet’s “Manon” opposite Anna Netrebko.