The Second Annual Matthew Sperry Memorial Concert has been scheduled. Here are some details….

8 pm – Monday, July 12
2nd Annual Matthew Sperry Memorial Concert
@ 21Grand – 449 23rd Street – Oakland
Tickets: $12 – $50 sliding scale
All proceeds (including CD sales at the concert) benefit Matthew’s family.

For more information, please contact:
Phillip Greenlief
c/o Evander Music
PO Box 22158
Oakland, CA 94623-9991
(510) 652-7914
pgsaxo@pacbell.net
www.evandermusic.com

Click link below for list of scheduled performances.

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Update: The East Bay Bicycle Coalition is currently featuring links to this entry on their homepage.

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In light of the recent unconscionable ruling of Judge John True (which released the woman who killed Matthew with less than a slap on the wrist), a letter-writing campaign has been started to call for True’s resignation. The name of the driver is witheld in the following letter for reasons of legal prudence. John Shiurba writes :

Hello,

Yes, it’s time to get the letter writing campaign under way. I have written a letter, which anyone is free to use as model, but I think if we all write in our own words, the impact will be stronger.

Here is a copy of my letter, with the defendants name and my address deleted. Feel free to circulate this in any way you see fit. I would urge anyone writing letters to be careful not to engage in libel. The following letter represents the opinion of its author and nothing more.

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In Pittsburgh, a city particularly inhospitable to bicycle commuters, cyclists are marking the spots where other bikers have been hit or killed by cars. Old bicycles are painted white and locked to chain link fences or sign posts, then draped with a placard “Cyclist struck here – ghostbike.org.” The images are chilling.

GBP is a group of concerned bicycle commuters who have seen lives destroyed by the lack of concern by city government and automobile drivers in general. They see Pittsburgh as a city with an uninviting transportation infrastructure, a government reluctant to accommodate their needs, and a set of laws that leans toward the rights of motorists and ignores unprotected bicyclists. … Bicycling remains a viable form of transportation that can reduce roadway congestion, air pollution, noise, parking needs, energy use, and above all, to provide more daily physical exercise for everyone.

Even though Pittsburgh’s Dept. of Public Works has been removing ghost bikes from the sites where they hang, GBP encourages people in other cities to mobilize similar actions.

Meridian Music Series: Composers in Performance
presents Musical Meditations for Matthew Sperry.

Myles Boisen, Philip Gelb, Bill Hsu, Gino Robair and John Shiurba , 5 of Matthew’s closest friends and musical associates will present 5 solo pieces, composed in honor of Matthew. This concert is sponsored by Meet the Composer.

Friday, July 2
8 pm
San Francisco
Meridian Gallery
545 Sutter between Mason and Powell
2nd floor
$10
$5 for students, seniors

At birdhouse.org, Scot Hacker describes yesterday’s ceremony memorializing the one-year anniversary of Matthew’s death:

Yesterday was the first anniversary of the death of our friend, musician Matthew Sperry. Matthew was run over by a pickup while on a bicycle on his way to work, leaving behind his wife and two-year-old daughter. His premature death sent waves of shock and sadness through our circle of friends, which resonate with us still. His daughter Lila is three now, and is beginning to better understand and articulate her daddy’s absence in sweet but chilling ways. His wife Stacia is coping as best as could be hoped, but is still suffering from his loss.

A large circle of Matthew’s friends gathered yesterday in the beautiful columbarium where his ashes lie. The bow from his bass was passed around as a “talking stick,” and people took turns memorializing him in words — so many different angles on his passing. It was truly touching. Matthew’s musician friends performed mournful pieces in the resonant, sun-filled chambers of the Chapel of the Chimes. Afterwards we gathered at Stacia and Lila’s house to eat, talk, and remember.

We love you, Matthew. You are missed. So missed. Blessings.