Zaki Seasoned Rice (photo from eastbayexpress.com)

The Zaki Kabob house in Albany will be having a Community Appreciation Event in this Saturday March 3rd 2012 from 12-3pm in the parking lot of the restaurant.

Zaki’s is across from the entrance to Albany Village at 1101 San Pablo Ave.

Zaki will have an outdoor grill set up selling special items not on the menu and will have kids activities like miniature pony rides and a bouncy play stucture.

10% of all proceeds for this event will go to the Albany Education Fund.

http://www.zakikabobhouse.com/

My favorites at Zaki Kabob House?  Rotisserie chicken, seasoned jasmine rice, and the walnut baklava.  Oh yah!  You gotta try this!

Hey Monteros: update your website…menu still shows it as Timbao!

This morning I spotted a group of turkeys crossing Key Route and venturing from yard to yard.  Did you know a group of turkeys is called a “rafter” or a “gang?”  I didn’t.  Until today.

I went to register my daughter for kindergarten and while looking through the AUSD website I saw that the Albany Swim Center is finished, staffed, and ready for happy swimmers!  February 15th will be the swim center’s grand opening, with the Albany High Swim Team and Aquatic Center staff geared up for the first dip.  After that it will be open for the general public.

The new swim center includes an indoor and outdoor pool and will offer group and private swim lessons, open swim, lap swim, exercise classes.

Click here to scroll through the photo gallery from the Albany Patch: http://albany.patch.com/articles/photo-gallery-albany-pool-construction-updates#photo-8979463

Regardless of who was at fault, this intersection is a dangerous one.  I should know, it is in my neighborhood and I cross at this crosswalk almost daily.  In the past six months I alone have caused 2 minor fender benders, all because someone stopped, but the car behind them did not stop in time.  This intersection is located on two blind curves, and at night it is nearly impossible to see who is crossing the street.

Tonight a vigil was held.  For a few hours, the southeast corner of this intersection was lit with candles, flashlights, and tears.  There had to be close to 75 people there by 8:30, most of them friends.  Despite the lights and the large number of people, many cars did not slow down or stop for pedestrians crossing the street.  I don’t think this was intentional, I just don’t think they were visible to the drivers.

Some have mentioned the need for more police handing out traffic tickets.  Others have mentioned it is a non-issue since it is not listed as one of Berkeley’s dangerous intersection and there are others that are worse.  Are you kidding?  A kid was killed and something needs to happen!  More lighting, flashing pedestrian lights…something!  My husband and I spoke to the Berkeley Police about this intersection last September and they said “Bring it up with the City Council.”  Seriously?

Do you know the dark spots in your neighborhood?  Do you know alternate routes to use when driving?  When crossing the street?  Do you use a flashlight or clothing with reflectors at night?  A life was taken much to early this week and I can guarantee that in my family, helmets will always be worn and flashlights will be used at night.  Life is much to precious not to.

The Albany market is getting hotter now that the New Year is underway.  Based on current levels of supply and demand I don’t see the trend in price increasing much, if at all.  I can’t believe that last month the Average Sales Price for Albany was in the mid-$350k range.  But with a large amount of condo sales in the sub $350k range, and a sale above $1.1mil, Albany’s numbers are quite skewed.