El Cerrito Historical Society Meeting 2 PM Sunday, October 29th at the El Cerrito Senior Center

The fall meeting of the El Cerrito Historical Society will be held at 2 PM Sunday, October 29th at the El Cerrito Senior Center. The Senior Center is located behind the El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Avenue in El Cerrito. The subject of the meeting is Historic Preservation. This is a follow-up to the portfolio of pictures displayed and the short discussion held at the July meeting.

There are currently two historically significant sites in our area that are slated for redevelopment. One is the old Rodini house and property on Elm Street; the other is the Oishi and Sakai property in Richmond. Although the Oishi/Sakai property is in Richmond, it is important to us in El Cerrito because it is near by and because it is representative of similar properties that once existed in El Cerrito. Not only is the Oishi/Sakai property the last surviving Japanese nursery in the northwest El Cerrito/southeast Richmond area, it also includes what are the oldest known greenhouse buildings of this type.

After this discussion, there will be a short film (about 15 minutes) that was made by Berkeley-born filmmaker Ken Kokka. Ken's film is not actually “about” El Cerrito, but much of it was filmed at the Oishi/Sakai property mentioned above. The film depicts the “changing of the guard” in a Japanese nursery and could have taken place anywhere. It's hard to believe that nurseries were once as common in El Cerrito and Richmond as fast-food restaurants are today.

Anyone is welcome to attend the meeting and refreshments will be served. Contact Tom Panas at (510) 526-7507 with any questions.