Bay Area – Teen Observer Archive

August 2, 2018August 2, 2018

Using herbs to ease physical and mental pain

BERKELEY, Calif. — The Twisted Thistle Apothicaire sells everything from tarot cards to hangover cures. Herbs are collected from local vendors and Malaysian shops. Even the types of customers vary from college students to middle-aged moms.

Street view of the Twisted Thistle Apothicaire in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Miranda Aldridge)

Though the store thrives on its eclecticism, its values are concise. The Twisted Thistle cares for its clients, valuing their mental and physical health.

Ruthie Elizabeth, who’s worked at the store for a year, spent six years traveling around the world and studying plant medicine. During an herbalism internship after college, Elizabeth was certain she wanted to work closely with people and plants.

A 29-country study by The New England Journal of Medicine found that women, low-income citizens and younger Americans are less likely to trust their doctors. Still, the United States ranked lower in terms of trust in the profession among both men (21st) and people 65 years of age or older (22nd).

A big part of why Elizabeth enjoys working at the apothecary is the connections she is able to make with her customers, ones they may not be able to make with their physician. She said she cherishes the moments when customers tell her personal stories about their pain and the reasons they come seeking help.

Ruthie Elizabeth, an employee of the TTA, uses plant medicine almost daily. (Photo by Miranda Aldridge)

“Working at an apothecary is a great space to help introduce people to different plants that can be healing to them,” Elizabeth said, adding that some people say they do not feel heard in a doctor’s office.

Elizabeth not only sells the herbs in the apothecary, but she also uses many different ones in her daily life. Whether the issue is a stomach-ache or anxiety, she said there’s always an herb that will soothe her pain.

She said some of her favorites products are adaptogens, which work to help the nervous system adapt to stressful situations and improve as a whole.

“One of my favorite plants is Ashwagandha, it really helps with any floaty feeling or anxiety.” Elizabeth said, “When taken daily, it’s been really helpful to me in that my nervous system feels stronger and more supported.”

Many other herbs help ease her nausea and stomach-aches in daily life and when she goes on trips.

“Echinacea is my go-to when I’m starting to feel sick or if I’m traveling.” Elizabeth said, adding that more common products like chamomile and peppermint tea also help alleviate pain.

Elizabeth explained that over-the-counter medicines like aspirin are already derived from plants, so utilizing that plant directly has a positive effect on the body. She notices the effects plant medicine and teas have on her and her customers everyday.

“I encourage anyone with any kind of symptom that feels like it’s not healing, whether it’s physical or mental pain, to come on in and check this store out.” Elizabeth said. “It’s really empowering when you start incorporating herbs into your life.”

August 2, 2018August 2, 2018

International students attend Berkeley summer sessions

BERKELEY, Calif. — Every summer, UC Berkeley students leave campus to visit hometowns, travel and work summer jobs. As they leave, undergraduate and graduate students coming from all over the world take their places on campus to participate in summer study sessions administered by the university.

Berkeley Summer Sessions offer international students an opportunity to learn at a well-regarded educational institution — UC Berkeley was ranked the No. 1 public university in the country by US News in 2018 — alongside intelligent, like-minded people from every corner of the globe.

Morten Fels and Liu Peng are both participants in the political science session. Fels, a 25-year-old from Denmark working on his master’s at the University of Copenhagen, and Peng, a 23-year-old working on his master’s at Peking University in Beijing, have become good friends despite coming from completely different places.

“Even though you’re from China _ totally different political system than we have in Denmark — we still actually think very much the same way,” Fels said to Peng.

Hyeonjoo Seo is an international student from South Korea taking summer courses in psychology and statistics at Berkeley.

Berkeley summer sessions also allow students to pursue interests unrelated to their majors. Hyeonjoo Seo is a 19-year-old chemistry major studying at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea.

“My university doesn’t give us too many different fields, so I wanted to take different classes at UC Berkeley,” Seo said. “I’m a major in chemistry but I wanted to study statistics, mathematics, and biology or psychology.”

A high percentage of international students are Chinese, and almost every country imaginable is represented at the summer sessions. Seo has met people from China, Japan, France, Korea, Italy and more.

Gene Guo, a 20-year-old from China studying electrical engineering, appreciates the wide-ranging backgrounds of Berkeley summer students.

“Here you can make friends with people from all over the world,” he said.

Fels also enjoys how diverse students studying in summer sessions at Berkeley are.

“You really get to meet a lot of people from throughout the world. That’s amazing, that’s very unique,” he said.

From bottom left to top right: Bill Yuan, Samuel Tseng, Gene Guo

Though roughly 3,000 international students study at Berkeley in the summer, being given the opportunity to do so is not easy. International applicants have to demonstrate a proficiency in English, and their grades and test scores often have to meet certain requirements. Guo, Samuel Tseng and Bill Yuan, all of whom are from China, had to be in the top 20 percent of their classes to apply to their sessions.

Once students arrive at Berkeley, they have to get to work. While classes do not typically exceed three hours in length, many students attend multiple sessions, and the homework load can be heavy.

“Six weeks is not a lot, so it’s quite intensive,” Fels said. “We have a lot of stuff to do.”

Being a student in a foreign country can be a useful, formative and eye-opening experience, but it does not come without challenges. The language barrier, in particular, can be difficult to navigate. Peng and Seo agree that speaking English has been the toughest obstacle they have faced at Berkeley.

Other troubles include having to use different types of toilets than those at home and not having much to do at night in dorms. On the whole, however, the experiences of international students attending Berkeley summer sessions are positive and constructive.

Even though they have had varying experiences while staying at Berkeley, Fels, Peng, Guo, Tseng, Yuan and Seo all agree that coming to Berkeley to study during the summer was a good decision.

“It was worth it,” Seo said.

July 30, 2018

Can farmers’ markets connect with low-income communities?

Organic vendor selling Early Girls tomatoes at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market on July 28, 2018. (Photo by Izzy Nesbett)

BERKELEY Calif.—The bustling farmers’ market on a Saturday morning has a sense of community and high spirits as people buy organic produce. As Arrous Lambert, a vendor for the Street Sheet newspaper said “Berkeley people have the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen,” and encourages more lower income people to enjoy it.

People browsing through the Berkeley Farmers Market on an early Saturday morning. (Photo by Julia Hovet)

However, because all produce is required to be organic, few items are less than $5. The gentrified area surrounding the market allows for these high prices, and has begun to discourage lower income families from entering the community. With this in mind, vendors are hopeful the versions of food stamps such as, electronic benefit cards, and vouchers will gain funding to bring in more low income families. This will create a symbiotic relationship, helping them connect more with the neighborhood.

However, as Abel Estrella of Smit Ranch expressed, current grants for lower income families are spent too quickly on small amounts of produce because of high prices. Some argue that it is fruitless for them to go to the farmers market for a shopping trip, and there are other places that offer more for less.

The Ecology Center offers programs specifically for these families, such as Market Match and First 5. Despite their goals, the produce is too costly for them to receive a healthy fulfilling meal. The usual Market Match voucher is only $10, while the cheapest fruits at the market are around $5.

Similarly, the First 5 wants to help newborns to five year olds eat healthy within these early years of development, but again prices are too high. As one employee from Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) stated, “once those twenty dollars are gone, they will not come on their own”.

This has not gone unnoticed by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), who aims to increase funding to these programs through the 2018 Senate Farm Bill. Several vendors at the market said, “Berkeley is more open to change” and people “need to dismiss the fact that the farmers market is for people with money.”

Flower vendor at the Berkeley Farmers Market delivering a positive message. (Photo by Izzy Nesbett)

Nonetheless, when observing the market there were no obvious differences or signs of hope with the introduction of the bill. Many fall into Estrella’s beliefs, who states that not much will change but does see many electronic benefit card holders for his lower priced perishable food.

August 1, 2017

Berkeley Playhouse merges professionalism and community

The Berkeley Playhouse’s production of “Tarzan,” the musical with words and lyrics by Phil Collins runs through Aug 13. Photo by Keon Morley.

BERKELEY, Calif. —The Berkeley Playhouse, founded by Elizabeth McKoy 10 years ago, uses art to bring a sense of community, producing shows for all ages.

The wood-paneled walls and red doors of the historic Julia Morgan Theater make the exterior appear barn-like and give the impression of a community theater. But the Playhouse is home to professional productions. The advertisements, equipment and costumes for the current production of the musical “Tarzan” further exemplify the theater’s professionalism.

“I have a spotlight here. I have a crew here. They got a brand new light board… We have LEDs, we have M-Faders… A little bit of everything,” Jeff Bristow, three-time stage manager at the theater, said. The theater boasts youth conservatory and after-school classes in addition to a full slate of productions.

Catherine Manning, the mother of one of the actors, says her daughter, Jaina, found the summer theater experience enticing.

“It was much more intense…An amazing experience for her to be side by side with professional adults,” Manning said. “…within the six-week rehearsal period I heard her voice change.”

After a recent matinee, actors and crew alike commented on how McKoy strives to bring a sense of family to all of her cast and crew members while maintaining a professional environment.

Actor Tiana Paulding said,“Elizabeth…exudes family. She will take everyone under her wing.”

She added that “everyone here is just so supportive and very uplifting…It’s just a very good sense of camaraderie here.”

Bristow said his favorite part of being with the theater is “just working with the people. I’ve met a lot of new people, I’ve met a lot of great people, and I know a lot of them will remain my friends after this is over.”

Actors Aurelia Jordan, left, Adam Niemann, and Tiana Paulding greet the audience after the show. Photo by Rachel Winterhalter

Adam Niemann, another actor, said, “The people here [keep me coming back].”

““The theme of the show ‘Tarzan’ is family,” Nieman said of the show based on the Disney film, with music from pop legend Phil Collins.

“And I think it is quite appropriate that that’d be produced by Berkeley Playhouse because I definitely think that’s … a mission of Berkeley Playhouse.”

July 31, 2017July 31, 2017

Community forms bonds within farmers’ market

Street Spirit Newspaper.
Photo by Jolie Ebadi

BERKELEY Calif. — The downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market is an ongoing tradition within the small community. All around the neighborhood, people look forward to coming to see the vibrant colors, diverse group of people, different produce, street performers and most important, the relationships and friends they have made over the years.

Anthony King, a spirited man selling Street Spirit newspapers, had much to say about what he thought about the market and community at Berkeley. “Here you meet a lot of different people, from a lot of different places.”

Etanna Sack, who works at Octoberfeast Bakery, had been an artist and writer before picking up a weekend job at the market for about the last seven years.

Sack described the bakery as a mother-daughter duo and a “women-run bakery,” making authentic, organic German bread and pastries. “It feels like family working for them. I look forward coming to work every day,” Sack said.

Sacks’ daughters also have gained much from the family-oriented business. “My daughter had become a foodie herself growing up around the bakery,” she said, and baked for the family this summer.

She said the community at the farmers’ market was her home and her family, not only the venders that come every weekend, but also the customers as well.

“I feel like community has become lost in American culture. Coming here, I work for people, not a corporation. I know my customers on a first-name bases and treat them like human beings rather than a number,” she said.

Sack said she never had such a market in her hometown.

“It makes me tear up a bit,” she said, adding that “everyone here is family. Some jobs I dreaded coming to, but this one, if I won the lottery, I would still come to this job. This is my home.”

July 31, 2017July 31, 2017

Barresi soars to new levels in kite flying

Barresi featured his red and white quad-line kite at the Berkeley kite festival on July 30. This type of kite is anchored by four lines allowing the pilot to take control of forward/reverse motions, speed, hover and rotation motions.

BERKELEY, Calif. — The audience was in awe as the thin red-and- white kite transformed into a human-like creature, taking on actions like walking and waving. The triangular shaped kite was a stand-out crowd pleaser of the annual Berkeley Kite Festival on Sunday and standing behind the magic was 42-year-old professional kite flyer John Barresi.

Barresi has been hooked on flying kites ever since he first placed his hands on one in 1990. What started off as a small hobby has turned into Barresi’s full-time job, permitting him to fly kites in more than a dozen different countries. Barresi acknowledged that kite-flying is his true passion and he enjoys both the entertainment and competitive aspects of his occupation.

“I like to be funny with the folks,” Barresi said as he touched on his actions of comedically maneuvering his kite right into the faces of amazed Berkeley kite festival attendees.

Although, Barresi sets these lighthearted tricks aside when he takes on a much more serious persona as a competitor in kite flying tournaments.

A fairly new aspect to many, kite competitions consist of multiple different divisions most broadly separated by individual categories and team categories. Individually, Barresi participates in the “square” category, which is an evaluation of how a pilot displays straight lines and sharp turns precisely.

Barresi shares his experiences as a kite flyer with Berkeley Kite Festival attendees.

Additionally, Barresi competes in the “ballet” division, which consists of making a unique kite routine to a song of the pilot’s choice. Ballet competitions are judged on the choreography and variety of their performance. A performance to an iconic AC DC song was pointed out by Barresi as his favorite ballet production. Barresi said that the performance “took me on a journey.”

Aside from his talent individually, Barresi also leads teams of three or more in kite competitions. Within the team division groups of pilots intricately weave their lines together, creating unique visuals and stunts to later be judged on. Barresi and a teammate founded iQuad in 2006, which promotes team flying across the kite community.

Despite his talent competitively, Barresi never ceases to remember the original reason he fell in love with kites in the first place.

He has been attending the Berkeley festival for 27 years and said this one was his favorite.

“There’s just such a wide diversity of everyone,” Barresi said. He also said he enjoyed that both professionals and amateurs shared the hillsides of Cesar Chavez Park near the Berkeley Marina.

“Anybody can fly kites whether their 90 or 5,” Barresi said.

When reflecting on what advice he would give potential kite flyers, Barresi acknowledged that his talent comes from many years of practice but ultimately kite flying centers around one simple principle.

“It all comes down to relaxing,” Barresi said. And after taking one long deep breath, he explained how the peaceful aspect of kite flying should never go unnoticed.

Barresi will continue to use his passion as a passport to many unique experiences in his lifetime. He has been a flyer for 26 years, 11 months, 1 week, 3 days, 17 hours, 43 minutes, and 15 seconds, according to his website,

Barresi only hopes to spread his love for kites to more people around the world.

July 31, 2017

Why Berkeley?

Sproul Hall, home to many protests at the University of California Berkeley. Is now the undergraduate administration office. Photo by Jolie Ebadi

BERKELEY, Calif. — When visiting the campus of the University of California, Berkeley one sees and hears a diverse and passionate culture.

The famous green-arch entrance at Sather Gate stands for new beginnings. Some are drawn here for academics or the eclectic laid-back city, but what else causes people to stay?

Viry Cabral, a 19-year-old local, said “Berkeley is a cool place to work in because it is interesting and diverse.” She attends community college in nearby San Pablo.

In informal interviews across campus, some students said that although the university is more affordable than a private college, there are underlying issues socially.

One described a racial dispute in the library; others were concerned about the recent housing crisis and lack of affordable space for students.

Maritza Geronimo, a UCLA student, was visiting the campus for a symposium directed at research and scholarships. She said she didn’t think the campus was “welcoming for people of color,” but knows this is something students are working on. ( To read more about Racial issues at Berkeley, go to http://www.dailycal.org/2016/10/23/student-groups-block-sather-gate-latest-protest-relocation/ ) Her colleague, Christian Vasquez, also from UCLA, said he’s enjoying “a different culture than I am used to back home in Westwood. There are more food options for expressing ethnic communities in Berkeley, and more opportunity for all social classes financially and politically.”

Several students said they saw a renewed political activism and welcoming spirit and a general encouragement for artistic expression. One student’s favorite artistic piece was a car covered in chains that she saw around town often.

Nicole Blake, associate director of the undergraduate admissions office, said the school has “an eye for diversity, not just how people look, but where they come from, making it very inviting for students and staff,” which is why she has stayed for 12 years.

“I would want other people to know that I know how young people feel,” she said. “I think they believe it’s about the GPA and the rigor, but I would say to them: Berkeley is for you.”

August 5, 2016

Berkeley bookstores surviving in the technology age

Teen Observer staffers interviewed several local bookstore employees about their experiences competing against the biggest giant in the e-book and physical book market, Amazon.

BERKELEY, Calif. — There are over one dozen independent bookstores within a one-mile radius of the University of California, Berkeley campus. In a world where practically any book is one click away from conveniently arriving at your doorstep, what makes a bookstore special?

Many bookstores worldwide have closed as a result of Amazon’s ability to outcompete the traditional “brick and mortar” libraries, including two shops in the Berkeley area within the past year.

“Berkeley has become more of a tech town,” Half Price Books employee Jim Hotti said. “There’s more drive for technology and less drive for actual physical books,” he added.

Hotti attributes the downfall of bookstores to Amazon’s generally lower prices and convenience.

“Most people aren’t willing to pay $25 to $30 for a brand-new bestseller hardcover. They’ll download it on a Kindle or a tablet device that they have.”

Half Price Books uses Amazon as a resource for pricing, but Hotti says that it is “nearly impossible” to compete with the online retail giant.

Stanley Sobolewski, the store manager of Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue, echoes the sentiment of using Amazon as a guide for pricing. Moe’s Bookstore sells used books online through Amazon as well, which they say has helped business.

Moe's Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue. Photo by Danny Emerman — Moe’s Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue started in 1959. Photo by Danny Emerman

“We’ve adopted to it. If [Amazon] didn’t exist, I don’t know if our business would be stronger or weaker, but the Internet in general has added a lot of benefit,” Sobolewski said.

Berkeley native Lucas Buckman, who has worked for Pegasus Bookstore for nine years, says that the privately owned shop is in a relatively safe place financially as consumers have become smarter.

“The Internet was scary, but now it has sort of plateaued back,” Buckman said of the store that started another name in 1969 and the re-located and became Pegasus in 1983.

“I think now there’s a lot more education about online shopping versus supporting local businesses. That has evolved more than anything,” Buckman said. “There was an idea that books were going to be outdated, but they aren’t. They’re actually stronger,” he added, citing an upward trend in sales.

The dominance of the Internet has led to changes in book publishing and bookstores, but some avid readers take advantage of all the options.

Veri Lobos, a customer at Half Price Books, reads both e-books and paperbacks. She prefers hard copies because she said a hard copy presents fewer distractions than an electronic version.

“I love the smell of it, I love to use it, and maybe it is for myself. And I have proper time with my books. You can be more focused on the paper books, more than on an e-book,” Lobos said.

“I don’t think paper books are going to disappear,” Lobos said. “E-books are very useful, but I don’t think they are going to replace the paper books,” she added.

Neither Half Price Books, Moe’s Bookstore nor Pegasus Books sells e-books. “There will always be people who will buy paper books and like the physicalness of it,” Hotti said.

Pegasus Bookstore on Shattuck Avenue. Photo by Danny Emerman — Pegasus Bookstore on Shattuck Avenue is a local landmark near the Berkeley campus and now has three locations. Photo by Danny Emerman

August 2, 2016August 2, 2016

Immigration, equality top political issues at Pier 39

SAN FRANCISCO — The Teen Observer asked people at Pier 39 in San Francisco on Monday to write down the most important issue to them in the 2016 Presidential Election. Answers ranged from education to immigration and the war on drugs.

Bay area resident Chris Whitlock prioritizes the environment. He said, “some people are saying that it’s too late, but if our lives are in jeopardy, it’s the most important thing.” Photo by Victoria Shirley

equal rights — Dani Whitlock spoke to how equality is important for all, mentioning the LGBT community, women and minorities. She said, “We should be leveling the playing field, not sweeping this under the rug.” Photo by Victoria Shirley

Alper Sengul, a Turkish airline pilot, is not an American citizen but he keeps track of the election by "following the stupid things 'The Donald' is doing." He is passionate about foreign relations and education. Photo by Victoria Shirley — Alper Sengul, a Turkish airline pilot, is not an American citizen but he keeps track of the election by “following the stupid things ‘The Donald’ is doing.” He is passionate about foreign relations and education. Photo by Victoria Shirley

Pheobe Marsh, 18, feels strongly about the war on drugs and is a proponent of legalizing recreational drugs. She said, "I believe it should be legal...What they're doing is ridiculous." Photo by Victoria Shirley — Pheobe Marsh, 18, feels strongly about the war on drugs and is a proponent of legalizing recreational drugs. She said, “I believe it should be legal…What they’re doing is ridiculous.” Photo by Victoria Shirley

Danica Sheets says that immigration rights is the most important issue to her. She said, "Immigration into society is important. It shouldn't be a 'you're in the shadows' kind of thing." Photo by Victoria Shirley — Danica Sheets says that immigration rights are the most important issue to her. She said, “Integration into society is important. It shouldn’t be a ‘you’re in the shadows’ kind of thing.” Photo by Victoria Shirley

August 8, 2015

Your dogs have their shots, but do your kids?

Illustration by Sarah Kaiser. Uploaded November 12, 2014 by Juhan Sonin

This opinion piece does not express the opinions of the Teen Observer as a whole, only those of the authors.

BERKELEY, Calif. — August 2015, and kids are grudgingly readying themselves for the return of the school year. For most it means school supplies and last-minute, summer-homework cram sessions. For others, it’s accepting the anxiety of “will this be year?” The year for vaccinations.

An outbreak of measles in Disneyland brought state vaccination laws to the forefront of social and political dialogue. Nineteen were infected on what were intended to be fun trips to the amusement park. Outbreaks like these occur when “herd immunity” is lacking, meaning that enough people refused vaccinations to allow a disease to spread.

Yet, the Bay Area sees intense anti-vaccination action. In the 2013-2014 school year alone, 17,000 children went to school unvaccinated for philosophical exemption, while only 1,000 were exempted for medical reasons.

To prevent a local epidemic, a new law passed in California requires all students from pre-school to kindergarten to receive vaccinations with the exception of the medically compromised. These children rely on herd immunity to stay healthy, so a parent’s religion or beliefs are no longer grounds for exemption.

This law was not passed without opposition. Many parents have opted to homeschool children in order to avoid vaccines. These drastic measures were spurned by a now retracted investigation published by the British Medical Journal in 1998. The study by Andrew Wakefield has since been disproved in the face of opposition by the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Any reasoning parents could use against vaccines is invalid in the eyes of not the only U.S. government but also the United Nations.

But for some parents, it seems the protection of their children and others still comes second to a personal philosophy rooted in ignorance and false information. Like drunk drivers, the perpetrators put themselves and those around them at risk. Refusing to vaccinate not only endangers that child but those around him or her who rely on herd immunity to stay safe.

Feature image: Amanda Mills, USCDCP, Public Domain 2015.