In the Bay Area, many of us are transplants. That means going to a family gathering would require a plane trip and long lines.

While there are lots of public Christmas events and holiday celebrations, many of us are non-religious or non-Christian. So what do you do on Dec. 25 - Christmas Day - if you don't want church services or caroling? How about ethnic dining?

(Editor's note: This is the third in a series of short pieces about what Thanksgiving means to some Oakland personalities and leaders.)

Netta Brielle is a urban pop songstress, who is best known for her remix of Tha Jacka's "Glamorous Lifestyle." And fans should be happy to hear she is dropping her mixtape "Love, Pain and Music" this month.

by Zaineb Mohammed

As the recent CareNowUSA volunteer-run free health fair for the uninsured in Los Angeles demonstrated, many people are "hacking the system" by coming together to meet the needs of their communities with whatever resources they have available.

How such "community hacks" are working in the Bay Area is the focus of a free public discussion from 6 to 8 p.m. this Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the cafe Local 123, 2049 San Pablo Ave. (between University Avenue and Addison Street), Berkeley.