🌱 Patch AM: Could your Albany apartment building qualify for big quake retrofit grants?

Coffee in hand, Albany? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Could your Albany apartment building qualify for big quake retrofit grants?
• How a Bay Area family band is reviving rock en español locally
• Why a nearby Berkeley camp sweep led to a fire call by Albany

Also on today's calendar: Five Little Monkeys Toy Warehouse Sale! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between black eyed peas and chick peas? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Brisk and cool, with a high of 68 and low of 59 degrees.
• Thursday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, temps: high: 71, low: 58.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 74 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Property Owners Eligible For CA Earthquake Retrofit Program Incentives (canyon-news.com) — If you own a 5- to 10-unit soft-story apartment building in Albany, you may qualify right now for substantial state earthquake retrofit grants covering most engineering, permit, and construction costs. A new California program is accepting registrations through September 30 for older buildings under local mandatory retrofit rules. This could significantly reduce what Albany landlords pay to strengthen vulnerable housing.
   

• These Mexican brothers want to bring rock en español to the Bay's forefront (48hills.org) — A Bay Area family band, The Cires, is helping keep Spanish-language rock visible locally, including recent performances at the Ivy Room in Albany. Their new album, Danza de Soles, leans heavily into Mexican rock influences and bilingual roots, and they'll celebrate its release with a headlining show in Berkeley. Local fans of rock en español may find a fresh, homegrown sound to support.
   

• Berkeley clears Harrison Street homeless camp, citing hazards (berkeleyscanner.com) — Berkeley has begun clearing its last large homeless encampment on Harrison Street, citing fire danger, rodent infestation, and leptospirosis risks, while promising to replace discarded tents and clothing. Over the same weekend, police and fire responded to multiple violent incidents and a debris fire near University Village in Albany. Residents nearby may notice increased cleanup activity, emergency responses, and ongoing legal disputes over how the city handles disabled campers.
   

📸 Around Albany

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Albany

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★ Featured events ★

Saturday September 19
• Five Little Monkeys Toy Warehouse Sale! →
  5327 Jacuzzi St, Richmond
  9:00 am
Saturday September 26
• Experience a simple meditation to help the world →
  2951 Derby St, Berkeley, CA, 94705 - Redwood Gardens Community Room,
  1:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 17
• Toddler Time →
  Albany Library, 1247 Marin Avenue, Albany
  10:30 am
Friday September 18
• Walk and Roll to School Event
  Oxford Elementary Berkeley, CA 94707
  7:00 am
• Playdate on the Yard
  Rosa Parks Environmental Science Berkeley, CA 94710
  3:30 pm
• Hear How 12-Step Recovery Works →
  St. Alban's Church, 1501 Washington Ave, Albany
  6:30 pm
Saturday September 19
• Coastal Cleanup Day at Albany Bulb →
  1 Buchanan Street, Albany
• Unleash the Power of Your Camera →
  Buchanan Street, Albany
• Albany Stand-Up →
  1122 Solano Avenue, Albany
Sunday September 27
• Five Little Monkeys 25th Anniversary Celebration! →
  1240 Solano Ave, Albany
  11:00 am
• If A Tree Falls →
  St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 1501 Washington Avenue, Albany, CA 94706
  4:00 pm
Thursday October 1
• New To You: a premiere gallery exhibition →
  Starfish Arts, 1227 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley
  9:00 am

📣 Albany Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Albany PatchAM possible:

• Looking Glass Photographic Outfitters — (510) 548-6888

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• There is a cop when you need one
  Sitting on my front porch about 4:30 p.m. Sunday. The stroll is winding down and people are getting in their cars and leaving. A small, black car… (Nextdoor East Washington)

• University of California posted a job opening for Senior Custodian, International House (5116C) #88669 in Berkeley. Apply here.
• T Mobile US posted a job opening for Mobile Associate - Retail Sales in El Cerrito. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Albany here.

🗞 Nearby News

Berkeley

• All the times Berkeley got there first — from inventions to transformations (berkeleyside.org)
• Amoeba Music inches toward 8-story building development after use permit approval (dailycal.org)

Alameda

• NorCal Teen Found Safe In Oakland After Being Kidnapped: Police (patch.com)

Ok Albany! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Black eyed peas can sing us a song but chick peas can only hummus one. (Thank you Bev H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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