• Charles BurressPatch Staff Verified Patch Staff Badge

  • Berkeley, CA

Email: (See my email address at the bottom of the Albany Patch or Berkeley Patch homepage.)

Phone: 510-435-4127

Now in my fourth year with Patch.com, I'm the editor of and Albany Patch and Berkeley Patch.

I worked many years as a staff writer and editor at the San Francisco Chronicle until April of 2009, when I switched to freelancing. I then wrote for the Los Angeles Times and other publications, and I also took on editing assignments for UC Berkeley and the United Nations.

Being an East Bay reporter for Patch brings my career full circle in the East Bay. My first bylines appeared in the East Bay Review of the Performing Arts. I next worked as a reporter and editor at the Daily Californian while studying at UC Berkeley, where I obtained a master's in journalism. I was a reporter at the Contra Costa Independent, Berkeley Gazette and San Francisco Examiner before moving to the Chronicle, where I worked several years in the Berkeley bureau and in the main East Bay bureau in Oakland.

Posting Activity

Albany, CA|News|

Artist of Multiple Callings: Michael Horse

Michael Horse, whose Native American paintings and jewelry are prominently featured at the Gathering Tribes gallery in Albany, sees himself primarily as an artist, though it's not unusual for strangers to recognize him for his TV and movie roles.

Artist of Multiple Callings: Michael Horse
Rockridge, CA|News|

Rockridge Author's Surprising Polar Bear Encounters

Zac Unger of Rockridge moved his wife and small kids to northern Canada to write a book that he thought would help save the disappearing polar bears. He appears at Diesel tonight with an account very different from what he expected.

El Cerrito, CA|News|

El Cerrito Kids Put Whale Together Again

Students at Fairmont Elementary School in El Cerrito got a leviathan anatomy lesson Monday when they worked on reassembling a 35-foot skeleton of a whale. The skeleton will be on display at a school community night open to the public Tuesday.

El Cerrito Kids Put Whale Together Again
El Cerrito, CA|News|

Albany Waterfront Sculpture by El Cerrito Artist Restored

A herons sculpture created by Mark Canepa of El Cerrito in 1999 was rusting and covered with graffiti at its home at the Albany waterfront until this past fall. Now, thanks to restoration by two Berkeley firms, the herons look like new again.

Albany Waterfront Sculpture by El Cerrito Artist Restored
Berkeley|News|

Berkeley Firms Rescue Albany Heron Sculpture

The once rusting, graffiti-sprayed sculpture of three tall herons that stand at the entrance to the Albany Bulb and beach look like new again, thanks to two Berkeley firms and a restoration effort funded by the City of Albany.

Berkeley Firms Rescue Albany Heron Sculpture
El Cerrito, CA|News|

Council Asked to Consider Dropping Pledge of Allegiance

On Tuesday's El Cerrito City Council agenda is a resolution from newly seated Councilman Mark Friedman to eliminate the Pledge of Allegiance at council meetings. He says he wants to discuss whether the custom should stop or be revised.

Council Asked to Consider Dropping Pledge of Allegiance
Albany, CA|News|

Popular Albany Cafe Gets Roomier

Albany's compact Cafeina cafe on Solano Avenue, where the few tables were often taken, has expanded into the space next door, adding more seating and, to the relief of many customers, a restroom.

Popular Albany Cafe Gets Roomier
Berkeley|News|

Call for Public Input on Future of Berkeley Post Office

The Berkeley City Council subcommittee charged with addressing the proposed sale and reuse of the iconic main Post Office office building in the heart of the city is asking for citizen input in advance of its Feb. 12 meeting.

Call for Public Input on Future of Berkeley Post Office
Berkeley|News|

Party for Berkeley's New Animal Shelter Saturday

It's been open since November, but the "grand opening" celebration of Berkeley's new animal shelter – which also serves Albany, Emeryville and Piedmont – takes place Saturday with special events, refreshments and officials.

Party for Berkeley's New Animal Shelter Saturday
Albany, CA|News|

Appeal Filed of AT&T Antennas Approval

An Albany resident has filed an appeal of the city Planning & Zoning Commission's Jan 17 approval of AT&T cell phone antennas on a San Pablo Avenue office building. The appeal says the antennas project would violate several regulations.

Appeal Filed of AT&T Antennas Approval
Piedmont, CA|News|

Police Chief Outlines Responses to Crime

In report to the City Council, Piedmont's new police chief, Rikki Goede, describes several measures to beef up police staffing and take other steps to improve safety in the wake of recent home-invasion robberies and other crimes.

Police Chief Outlines Responses to Crime
El Cerrito, CA|News|

Portola Stages Lockdown Drill in Wake of Recent Shootings

A lockdown drill was held at Portola Middle School in El Cerrito Wednesday morning to help the school be better prepared in case of a campus shooting incident. The drill follows several recent mass shootings, including the one at a school in Newton, Con