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One of many goal line stands for the Gauchos.

BY MATT DURNING //

The El Cerrito Gauchos fell just short of an improbable upset to clinch the conference title Friday night, losing a nail biter to perennial powerhouse Berkeley High, 21-16, in the final game of the regular season.

Both teams entered the contest undefeated in league play and tied atop the ACCAL conference standings. Berkeley was the undeniable favorite, however, having shut out their five other conference opponents by a combined scored of 220-0.

But the young Gaucho squad, led by first year head coach Kenny Kahn, was not intimidated by the larger, stronger, more experienced Berkeley players.

“We might have a small army but that’s who I’m going to war with each and every game,” said Kahn. “They left their hearts on the field tonight – I have nothing but respect for my players.”

El Cerrito’s defense kept things close in the first half, holding Berkeley to just one score and denying the vaunted Yellow Jacket running attack on three of four goal line stands. Their effort was all the more impressive considering the entire half was played inside Gaucho territory with Berkeley dominating time of possession by a 3-to-1 margin.

“Three stops on the goal line – what more can you say,” said Kahn at half time. “Our defensive line just came up and crushed them. They’re keeping us in it.”

With the half time score just 7-0, Coach Kahn praised his players and challenged them to dig deeper.

“Do you see the score?” he asked them. “We are not out of this by any means. Let’s get aggressive, let’s get greedy, let’s get angry. This is why we play this game.”

The Gauchos responded, led again by their defense.

On the second half’s opening drive, El Cerrito captain Malcolm Carson intercepted a pass from Berkeley quarterback Ian Anderson and took it back 29 yards for a score. His touchdown marked the first points scored against Berkeley by any conference opponent this season and, more importantly, provided the Gauchos with a much needed spark.

“That really got our momentum going for the rest of the game,” Carson said.

Less than a minute later, an errant snap on a Berkeley punt attempt allowed El Cerrito to regain possession inside the five-yard line. Three plays after, Gaucho quarterback Andre Williams ran a bootleg to the right and raced untouched into the end zone behind a key block from tight end Lyonel Louis.

Pandemonium ensued on the El Cerrito sideline as Williams’ score gave the Gauchos their first lead of the game, 13-7.

But the jubilation didn’t last long. A strong kickoff return and a series of powerful runs from Ricky Galvin quickly put the Yellow Jackets right back on the Gaucho doorstep.

For three plays, the El Cerrito defense fought to protect their lead. But on 4th-and-1, Galvin broke defiantly through the Gaucho line to tie the game. Berkeley’s kicker hit the extra point to regain the lead, 14-13.

Things started badly for El Cerrito on their next drive. A pair of runs went nowhere and their star quarterback, Williams, limped off the field with a leg injury. On third down and long, sophomore backup quarterback Byron Thomas stepped in and threw a forty-yard pass into double coverage. Wide receiver Demare McElmore made a spectacular, acrobatic catch to keep the Gauchos’ hopes alive.

When El Cerrito failed to gain any yards on their next three plays, Coach Kahn placed his team’s fate in their young kicker, Jose Fuentes, with a 47-yard field goal attempt. Fuentes, who had been inconsistent in warm-ups and missing from much shorter distances, struck the ball perfectly and sent it end over end through the uprights.

“I wasn’t thinking about the kicks I missed in practice,” said Fuentes.  “I was focused. All I wanted to do was kick it and make it good.”

As the referee raised his arms to signal the successful field goal, Fuentes jumped into the air and the Gaucho sideline erupted in cheers. El Cerrito had reclaimed the lead, 16-14.

Fuentes left the field to a hero’s welcome from fellow players and fans alike. The kick was his second longest make of the season and earned him conference “Player of The Week” honors following the game.

“I was happy for myself and happy that I made it for all the fans and all my teammates,” Fuentes said.

But just five minutes from realizing the unthinkable, El Cerrito ran out of gas. Berkeley’s relentless offense penetrated the cracks in the Gaucho armor and drove the ball steadily down the field to the El Cerrito 7-yard line.

“Berkeley did not give up on themselves,” said Coach Kahn after the game.  “They came back and they did what they needed to, so I have to give them credit.”

On 1st-and-goal, Berkeley quarterback Ian Anderson threw a perfect 13-yard fade route to receiver Morris Norrise in the back corner of the end zone, putting Berkeley ahead for good, 21-16, with 1:24 to play.

The Gauchos’ final possession ended in perfect anticlimax when a fumbled snap on 4th-and-4 sealed their fate.

As Berkeley fans rushed the field in celebration, Coach Kahn pulled his disbelieving team together on the field and told them to huddle in close.

“Do not look at this as failure,” he said. “I want you to hold your heads up high and know that you’ve accomplished something big tonight. This loss is only going to help us prepare for what comes next.”

What is next for the Gauchos is the playoffs, an accomplishment no one would have predicted at the start of the season.

“We want a championship,” said Carson, the team captain. “That’s all I can say.”

Because Berkeley and El Cerrito are in different divisions, there is no chance for them to meet again this season. Still, Kahn is already looked forward to next year.

“We showed Berkeley that we are a force to be reckoned with,” Kahn said. “People now know El Cerrito can play with Berkeley. I’m proud of my boys, I’m proud of my coaches. The Gauchos might have lost tonight but we are still on the attack.”

Playoff seeds and first round matchups for both teams will be announced on Sunday.

Fire as seen from Albany Bulb

BY DANIEL MCGLYNN //

A small blaze, producing a big plume of smoke and flames visible from Interstate 80, broke out Friday afternoon on the west side of Albany Hill. Fortunately, due to a quick response, crews were able to prevent any serious damage.

Initially, the fire came close to threatening the high-rise Gate View apartment building at 555 Pierce Street in Albany, that is nestled between I-80 and the hill.

Albany police officer Steve Foss said, that at its climax the fire stretched from north to south about the width of the apartment complex and seemed to be moving down the hill.  ”It was going pretty good, but it’s well under control now,” he said.

Since most of the hill is a park, there were no other structures immediately in danger, according to Foss.

The Albany Fire Department, with assistance from El Cerrito and Richmond, were able to use fire roads in the heavily forested park to access the blaze and get control quickly.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Albany Hill, with an elevation of 338 feet above sea level, is a local landmark for both Albany and El Cerrito.

The upper portion of the hill, Albany Hill Park, is a Eucalyptus clad public open space.

BY MATT DURNING //

Residents of El Cerrito voted to support the current direction of their local city government Tuesday, electing council-endorsed newcomers Ann Cheng and Greg Lyman while also reelecting incumbent Mayor Bill Jones.

Cheng, the only woman running and the youngest candidate at 30 years old, won the election with 4,852 votes, or 25.8 percent. Jones received 4,553 votes, or 24.2 percent, and Lyman had 4,364 votes, or 23.2 percent.

In winning, Cheng becomes the first Asian American councilmember in the 90-year history of El Cerrito.

“Those who have the ability and resources to widen the boundaries of inclusion should be encouraged to step up,” said Cheng, reflecting on her victory. “I am very proud to fill this role and definitely hope to cultivate an interest in local government by all ages.”

The two newcomers bring years of professional experience in city planning and infrastructure projects. Both advocate a vision of mixed-use, transit-oriented, sustainable community development in El Cerrito.

Cheng, an urban planner, said her top priority would be making sure there is sufficient community input and involvement in developing the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan.

Lyman, a civil and environmental engineer and the former chair of El Cerrito’s Park & Recreation Committee, said one of his first orders of business would be to get more trees planted in Canyon Trail Park and around the city.

Both agreed the controversy surrounding the closing of Portola Middle School is a primary concern that requires serious attention.

“The City Council really needs to be active in healing the city’s divide on this issue,” Lyman said. “We need to make sure the [WCCUSD] school board reaches a decision that is in the best interest of our residents.”

Mayor Jones said he was very happy with the election outcome and pleased that all of the candidates ran positive campaigns.

“I think anytime a person gets reelected for a second term it makes them feel good,” he said.  “It’s a confirmation that people think you’re doing a good job, or at least can be trusted moving forward.”

Jones said he expected the next four years to be more difficult than the previous four, citing the desperate financial climate facing California and the country as a whole.

The Mayor said he intends to complete those ongoing projects already with dedicated funding – such as the second phase of redevelopment on San Pablo Avenue and improvements to the recycling center – before taking on anything new.

All three candidates expressed excitement over the outcome of the US presidential election and said they look forward to working in an environment of new ideas and new energy at the federal level.

“Government that is good for Main Street,” said Jones. “Governing rather than ruling.”

The two other candidates in the race, Andrew Ting and David Boisvert, finished well behind the winners with 2,514 votes and 2,477 votes respectively. This was the second unsuccessful city council campaign for both men, who also ran in 2004.

Boisvert congratulated the winners on running a well-orchestrated campaign and said he thought the endorsements they received from the current city council had a major impact.

“I think the voters of El Cerrito perceive that the way the city is being run is good and there is no real need for change,” he said.

Cheng and Lyman will replace sitting councilwomen Jan Bridges and Leticia Moore, both of whom chose not to run for reelection.

Mayor Jones praised Bridges and Moore and said they would be missed.

“Jan and Leticia were always well prepared,” he said. “They put in the extra work to understand the issues and brought some levelheadedness to the process. Although I’m sorry to see them go, I think Ann and Greg will be great additions.”

The new city council will be sworn in during a special council meeting on December 2, the deadline by which Contra Costa Registrar Stephen Weir must certify the election results.  The public is invited to attend.

BY SWETA VOHRA//

Voters got out early. Campaigns continued for one last day. Signs filled the streets, walls and lawns.

A look at El Cerrito throughout the day.

BY N’JERI EATON //

While African Americans are turning out to the polls in record numbers in support of Sen. Barack Obama, several first-time voters’ inexperience is causing them anxiety.

In Richmond, the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church offers its multi-purpose room as a polling place. The room is long, narrow and dimly lit. Framed posters of W.E.B. DuBois, Sojourner Truth and Martin Luther King Jr. line the walls in cheap plastic frames. Unlike the polling places of El Cerrito with their predominately white and Asian residents, almost all of the voters at Bethlehem Missionary were African American.

There is another marked difference between the polling places of Richmond and El Cerrito. At St. John’s Community Center in El Cerrito, voters walked in and out with determined steps, proud do their part in the democratic process. The voters at the 596 Richmond precinct weren’t as jubilant. Several voters struggled with walkers and pronounced limps as they entered the church. Others seemed unsure, even hesitant as they approached the voting booth. Their faces were grim and serious as they entered the polling place, with the exception of their children who cheerfully chatted about “President Obama.”

Woodrow Russel Jr., a full-time glamor photographer by day and campaign volunteer by night, was running around the room, consulting with voters. He noticed that many people seemed confused by the voting process.

When Russell finished his ballot, a woman next to him asked for his help. He recognized her from his neighborhood. He described her as someone who was “down on her luck.” According to Russell, she had a problem with drugs and is currently in a treatment program. “It was amazing to see her come down to the polls, in her condition, and still manage to get to herself down here to vote,” said Russell. This was the first time the woman had ever voted and she had problems with the ballot. “She didn’t even know how to fill out the ovals,” Russell said. The woman was determined to vote for Obama, but didn’t know anything about the other elections or initiatives on the ballot. She told Russell to help her fill out the whole ballot; she wanted to vote the same way he had.

Before he was able to finish helping the woman, another voter approached Russell. The man blamed his uncertainty on the glasses he left at home, but it was clear to Russell that he was similarly uninformed. “He was kind of embarrassed,” said Russell. Besides his choice for president, the man had no interest in filling out the rest of his ballot. “I told him, actually everything on here matters,” Russell said. They spent the next few minutes going through each proposition and measure, with Russell explaining the potential impact of each one.

Russell fears that first time African-American voters across the country are facing comparable issues, being intimidated by their ballots. He suggests each county encourage poll workers to be more accessible to voters who are having issues with their ballots. “I was glad to help,” said Russell. “But what they really need is someone who is educated and will float around the room to each voter.”

BY MATT DURNING //

John Hogan’s garage at 2645 Cariquinez Avenue has served as one of El Cerrito’s polling places for the past eight years. Hogan, 81, considers it an honor to be able to use his home to help facilitate democracy.

“I feel this is so important to our community.  What little I can do, I’ll do it,” Hogan said.

Hogan’s garage serves a precinct of roughly 500 registered voters in the northern hills of El Cerrito. Turnout today has been heavy. As of 11:30 a.m, 171 people had already voted.

“We’ve had elections where we don’t even get 170 voters all day long,” Hogan said. “This one’s big.”

El Cerrito Focus will post local election results as soon as they’re available tonight – hopefully by 9 p.m. Check back throughout the day for continuously updated election coverage from around the community.

Hogan's Garage

El Cerrito Focus has obtained the latest campaign finance disclosure documents for each of the five candidates running for city council.

Each election cycle candidates for state and local office are required by law to submit pre-election campaign disclosure statements. The statements – officially known as California Form 460 – detail campaign contributions received, expenditures made, cash balances, and outstanding debts for the period in question.

Campaign finance and disclosure is monitored state-wide by the California Fair Political Practices Commission whose mission is “to promote the integrity of representative state and local government in California through fair, impartial interpretation and enforcement of political campaign, lobbying, and conflict of interest laws.”

The local filing officer for El Cerrito is the city clerk, Cheryl Morse. All filings are submitted to Morse where they become public records, open for public review at city hall.

The most recent pre-election filing deadline was Oct. 23, 2008. Statements submitted by this date cover year-to-date campaign finances through Oct. 18.

El Cerrito Focus reporter Matt Durning has reviewed the El Cerrito City Council candidate disclosure statements and prepared the following data visualizations comparing the candidates’ campaign finances.

The first graph displays totals for each of the major Form 460 categories: (1) monetary contributions received, (2) expenditures made, (3) personal loans to campaign, (4) available cash balance, and (5) outstanding debt.

The second graph breaks down each candidate’s monetary contributions by type: (1) individual donations over $100, (2) individual donations under $100, and (3) donations from associations and/or unions.

Candidates are listed along the horizontal axis in alphabetical order.

*All values listed in $US dollars.

The map below explains where to go in El Cerrito to register to vote.  Follow the links for more voter registration information, voting help, and for information on this year’s ballots.