This past Monday, I moved out of my home of four years, 2330 Blake St. (aka "LPG"). There is no way any reflection of mine can encompass all of my experiences there.

So instead, let me share with you a letter that one of our neighbors actually distributed throughout the neighborhood a few years ago, regarding our Sunday nite rooftop concert series.

Although he is speaking about music, I believe this letter can be further generalized to be an accurate expression of this chapter of my life.

September 24, 2007

Dear Neighbor,

I own 2324 Blake Street just up the street from you. My wife and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and speak with you regarding the young people singing in the neighborhood.

I have been a resident of Berkeley, on and off, for more than 50 years. And, among other things, I have been an instructor at UC Berkeley.

We think adults have both an ethical and moral responsibility to support and encourage younger people, particularly, in our neighborhoods, who make the effort to engage in song and the creation of music that, in a neighborhood context, is not excessive in volume.

Though it might be considered a little noisy at times, it is a happy noise. They are not drunk or disorderly. They are expressing joy and love of life, something we tend to forget as we get older. As mature thinking adults, we appreciate and value them for reminding us of this. They are never singing or playing music on the streets for very long, and we have never heard them on the streets at an unreasonable hour.

We trust to your intelligence and maturity to agree with us that culture - in this case, musical expression - is a key to the health of society and community. Cultural expression enriches and gives vitality to a neighborhood.

The young people who have been singing and making music up the street from you and next door to us have brought people out into the street, gathering, meeting each other, discoursing, and enjoying being "serenaded". Let us join together, when and where we can, to give praise and encouragement to these young people who have the courage to get out in the street and create music and vitalize our street. We have even noticed that their singing and musicianship is improving.

Cordially,

Joushua Reichek

Elizabeth Baker