News Pix: Berkeley's Indigenous People's Day, Beautiful Alameda Sunset, Protests

The 21st annual celebration of Indigenous People's Day took place last Saturday in Berkeley. There was exhibition dancing, a powwow, gourd dancing and an Indian market with Native American foods and arts and crafts. The event was held in Civic Center Park and the backdrop was the city’s Saturday Farmers Market. (Ted Friedman / Berkeleyside)

Thanks to Caria Tomczykowska for sharing this stunning image of the sun setting behind the USS Hornet in Alameda. (Courtesy Caria Tomczykowska)

Jose Rodriguez prepares to be kicked out of the abandoned plot he occupies in the Iron Triangle. Rodriguez is occupying one of Richmond's many foreclosed sites.  The bank never took ownership of the property after foreclosing on the owner. This practice allows banks to avoid liability, but it also increases blight and makes it difficult for the city to manage abandoned properties. (Joaquin Palomino / Richmond Confidential)

This week, homeless families marched 30 miles, from San Jose to Mountain View, to shine light on the widening income inequality gap in Silicon Valley. They ended the “Heal the Valley” march at the Google headquarters in Mountain View on Oct. 10, where Google employees watched the "other Valley" march through their usually serene campus. (Charisse Domingo / San Jose Beez)

California's San Joaquin Valley is the country's most productive farm belt: its fertile orchards and fields generate most of the nation's fresh produce and nuts. Yet for the people who work and live near these farms, access to healthy and fresh food can be a daily struggle. The Ortiz family lives in Raisin City, a speck on the map about 25 miles southeast of Fresno. Their job prospects might be better in a bigger city. But here the only work is in the fields, and it’s seasonal and often part time. Oscar Ortiz makes an average of $170 per week. Not enough, says Jessica Ortiz (above), to cover the basics. (Scott Anger / KQED)

More than 100 people took to the streets Thursday, Oct. 3, in an effort to build community and take a stand against violence in West Berkeley. Attendees at Ceasefire Walk Against Violence included community organizers, members of congregations from around the city and beyond, and local residents and officials. Several family members and friends of Berkeley’s most recent homicide victim, Anthony Medearis Jr., led part of the procession for much of the night. (Emilie Raguso / Berkeleyside)

Nineteen college teams from around the world shipped in to Irvine and assembled models of the high-tech houses they designed. They are competing this month in a federal competition known as the “Solar Decathlon.” This is the first year the contest has been held outside of Washington, D.C. (Susan Valot / The California Report)