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VOL. 19      NO. 2    ISSUE NO. 198      February 6, 2004                          CIRCULATION: 5,100 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

Sponsored by The Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 644-4228

Forced Closures Poor Way
To Fix Oakland Schools
KIRIN in the Year of
The Monkey
School Board member Kerry Hamill says cuts should
not rile parents and impact student achievement
Restaurant approved despite
objections of residents
by Cy Gulassa
Dby Hiroko Kurihara,
RCPC Board Member
T
Kerry
Hamill,
District
One School
r. Randolph Ward’s plans
to close a series of 13,
then 11, then 5 of Oakland’s
schools to cut costs illustrates
a problem with state-appointed
administrators: They ride into
town with good fiscal intentions,
but often make unpopular deci-
sions because they fail to consult
with the community.
he Kirin is a Japanese
unicorn (from the Chinese
Ki-Lin, a mythical animal that
personifies all that is good,
pure, and peaceful). A Kirin
can punish the wicked with
its single horn. It protects the
just and grants them good luck.
Seeing a Kirin is considered an omen of extreme good luck —
 if one is a virtuous person.

Board
member.
FILE PHOTO
A classic image of the Kirin.
If you are pure of heart, good
luck is coming your way.

solidating or closing schools,
but doing so unilaterally is
not a productive way to fix
things,” District One school
board member Kerry Hamill
said in an interview with The
Rockridge News.
GRAPHIC: ASAHI/KO-
IMARI/HIMI/SARA
Ward is no exception. His
first proposal, made during the
holiday recess, was overkill and
he had to backtrack, but not
before angering parents and
students and demoralizing the
educational community.
Well, virtuous residents of Rockridge, you will now have the
opportunity to gain good luck because on January 21, the auspi-
cious eve before the Chinese New Year, the Oakland Planning
Commission approved the construction of the two-story Kirin
restaurant at 5362 College Avenue, next to the Rockridge Library,
where Crème de la Crème was located.
Hamill said a major problem
is that the state administrator
has exclusive authority and is
beholden only to Sacramento,
so there’s
 HAMILL, PAGE 13
“I’m not opposed to con-
The RCPC Board and Land Use Com-
 KIRIN, PAGE 12

Get Into the Action in Rockridge!

agenda:
RCPC General Meeting
Thursday, February 19, 7:30 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library
Community Room
5366 College Avenue at Manila
 Forum: Oakland City
Council At-large Candidates
 Overview of Propositions
on March 2 Ballot
R
CPC will hold a candidates
forum for the at-large seat on
the Oakland City Council. Henry
Chang, current Oakland City Coun-
cil Member At-large, and contender
Melanie Shelby will present their
qualifications and answer questions
from Rockridge residents on issues
ranging from Oakland in general to
 RCPC AGENDA, PAGE 12

RCPC seeks Board Candidates
by Deborah Weinstein,
RCPC Vice Chair
If you would like to become more
involved in your neighborhood,
serving on the Rockridge Commu-
nity Planning Council offers you the
perfect opportunity. RCPC will hold
its annual election in April for five
Board Directors, each of whom serves
a two year term. The Board consists of
ten elected and one appointed director.
Candidates must be 18 years of age,
live within RCPC boundaries and indi-
cate their intention to run for office
by March 18. (A map and description
of RCPC boundaries are available
online at
The RCPC Board of Directors
Front row, left to right: Jessica Pitt, co-Secretary;
Dulcy Anderson; Susan Montauk. Middle, l-r: Hiroko
Kurihara; Theresa Nelson; Jennifer Edmister; Deborah
Weinstein, Vice Chair. Rear, l-r: Gregory Yoch,
Treasurer; Mike Taylor; Dan Ferdleman, Chair; John
Potis, co-Secretary.
 RCPC BOARD, PAGE 10


February 7, 2004
2.


The Oakland School Board
Reduced to a Greek Chorus
A

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
Editorial

5366 College Avenue
597-5017
NEW HOURS:

Tuesday: 12:30 – 8 p.m.

Weds, Thurs, Sat: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday 12 – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Monday CLOSED
LIBRARY DETAILS: SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 15.
fter a two year absence, I’m glad to be back as editor of
The Rockridge News, recycled so to speak. Thanks to
outgoing editor Jackie Tasch for her outstanding work and for
making the transition so easy. Jackie as well as her predecessor
Claire Isaacs will continue to write for the newsletter as their
interests and time permit.

One of the first things I did as editor was to interview
Oakland school board member Kerry Hamill to learn how
Oakland’s schools were doing ( see story, page 1) now that
a state administrator is in charge. That’s when I learned the
full measure of the state’s wrath in school takeovers. When a
school district is in serious financial trouble and gets a loan
from the state, the board is automatically stripped of all legal
authority and reduced to advisory status, a powerless role.

 CY GULASSA




The Rockridge News, founded in 1986 by Don Kinkead,
is published monthly in Oakland and is sponsored by
the Rockridge Community Planning Council, a non-
profit public benefit organization founded to: preserve
and enhance the unique character of the Rockridge
neighborhood; promote the health, safety and quality
of life of its residents; furnish a forum for community
involvement, and provide leadership and representation
of neighborhood interests.

The board’s nemesis is the State Education Code, amended after the collapse of
the Richmond District a decade ago. It provides that upon granting the loan, the state
Superintendent assumes “all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board”
[Ed. Code: 41326 (b)], and appoints an administrator to act on his behalf. And get this:
While serving as mere advisors, “no member of the governing board shall be paid or
entitled to any stipend, benefits, or other compensation.” [41326 (b)]

Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulasssa ........................Editor-in-Chief
Ortrun Niesar, Claire Isaacs...Writers
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Lauri Scharber....................Advertising
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
Doug White....................... RCPC Liaison

It’s pure Greek tragedy. A twenty word incantation and an elected board quite magi-
cally is transformed from duly elected legal representatives to an unpaid Greek chorus
chanting laments off stage, and its former superintendent is expelled like Oedipus to
wander in the desert for being blind to the books.
T

he main reason for penalizing the board is the absurd assumption that they have
primary responsibility for the health of the district budget. After serving as the
head of a faculty collective bargaining unit for over 20 years, I can assure anyone will-
ing to listen that no lay board has the time or expertise to understand well the arcane,
convoluted and complex structure of school fund accounting, or effectively oversee the
players. Lay boards are beholden to the green-eye-shade guys who massage data and
print fat quarterly reports that are always part fact and part guess.

RCPC Board of Directors, 2003-2004
Daniel Ferdelman ..............Chair
Deborah Weinstein...........Vice-Chair
Jessica Pitt, John Potis .......Secretaries
Greg Yoch............................Treasurer
Dulcy Anderson, Jennifer Edmister,
Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk,
Theresa Nelson, Mike Taylor

The irony is that while the lay board is defrocked, the state professionals hired to
oversee school finance escape accountability altogether. For example, an emergency
financial team (FCMAT) has been scouring Oakland’s books for years, yet sounded
only feeble alarms. Another example, the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE),
responsible for certifying the accuracy of all school budgets in the county, failed to
expose in a timely manner the explosive mix of declining revenues and rising expenses
that blew the multi-million dollar hole in the budget.
P

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS
Annual subscriptions to The Rockridge News
can be obtained by sending a check for $18, payable
to Rockridge News Subscriptions to: Rockridge News
Subscriptions at the address below.
Articles published in The Rockridge News may be
reprinted only with the permission of the Editor.
CONTACTING THE ROCKRIDGE NEWS

age after page of last year’s Alameda County Grand Jury final report lambastes
the county office of education for failing to aggressively monitor the finances
of a district that had “a history of serious financial trouble.” The report reveals that
a previous grand jury faulted Alameda County Superintendent of Education Sheila
Jordan for not having intervened sooner in the financial collapse of Emeryville a few
years ago. And it states that the county office is “considered to be in the bottom 25%
of aggressiveness of COEs in the state.” In other words, the Alameda County Office
of Education earns a D-.

 Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
 Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
 Would you like to volunteer to be a Rockridge
News block captain?
Contact us at one of the following addresses or
telephone numbers:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org

The Grand Jury report recognizes that a lay board’s ability to oversee budgets is only
marginal. It recommends that the board receive more training, demand better audits,
and consider hiring a permanent independent auditor to validate data and improve
accountability.

www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 644-4228
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING/DEADLINES

While the pros get a verbal no-no, the lay board is stripped of power, pay and pres-
tige and ordered to seek help. By extension, even those of us who voted for the board
are penalized: our democratically elected representatives are no longer empowered to
collaborate with us or make decisions on our behalf.

Publication date of the next issue is
 March 6, 2004
 March deadline is February 19
Advertising rates are $22/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rate available. To advertise, call Lauri
Scharber at 655-2196. (RCPC reserves the right
to refuse any display or classified ad that it deems
inappropriate.)

It seems we too are members of the Greek chorus, singing doleful laments off the
political stage.




3.
Southern California Strikers Picket Rockridge Safeway

February 7, 2004

“It’s all about bottom lines and
health benefits,” they say
by Cy Gulassa
If the big DON’T SHOP SAFEWAY
banner doesn’t stop you from trying to
shop at Safeway’s giant store on Pleasant
Valley Avenue, a knot of pickets will try
to convince you to turn around and go
elsewhere. But the store is not on strike.
What gives?
From left, Johann
Baqueiro, Christy
Bultsma, Nasrin
Rahgozaar,
Ed Anderson,
In Southern California, 70,000 Vons,
Ralph’s, and Albertson’s workers have been
on strike since October 11 over proposed
massive cuts to health care, a freeze on
wages, and a two-tier system that pays new
hires less and slashes their benefits.
Beverley
Hamilton.
All are strikers
from Southern
California.
Northern California workers, however,
have not only not walked out, their contract
doesn’t expire until September 11.
Hamilton, a third member of the quintet who
works in Riverside. She points her sign to a
scatter of empty parking spaces in the store
lot, which is usually jammed. “A lot of the
customers are workers just like us and stay
away when they hear what’s happening to
us down south.”
low over his ears. Johann says he’s been
working at Ralphs in Lakewood for eight
years and makes around $18,000. Urged by
the others, he tells a personal story: “My
wife is disabled and we just lost our house
last month. Couldn’t make payments while
we’re on strike.”
The five pickets, all carrying Don’t Shop
Safeway/Vons signs, are happy to explain.
“The strategy is way simple,” says pick-
eter Ed Anderson, who has over 30 years
of seniority at Albertson’s in La Mirada,
California, and seems to be the leader of
the group. “The union sends strikers like
me up north to picket giant stores, the ones
with weekly sales in the millions. The goal
is to spread the word about the strike down
south and support our brothers and their
families by hurting Safeway’s bottom
line. Profit is all the bosses understand.
Safeway’s Vons division already lost $500
million last quarter.”
While the four pickets take turns telling
employment stories, like managers shifting
all meat cutting to central distribution cen-
ters to eliminate in-store cutters, the fifth
picket, Nasrin Rahgozaar, stays on the job,
talking to customers and handing out copies
of a fiery letter from Congressman Tom
Lantos to Safeway CEO Steve Burd.
“Contrary to what they say, we don’t
make big bucks,” Anderson says, interrupt-
ing with the big voice and animation of a
sportscaster. “The average worker makes
about $20,000. That’s barely enough to get
by. You know, instead of raises for the last
couple years, we pumped money into health
care and now they want to cut that, too.”
The letter zeroes in on the benefits
controversy, accusing Mr. Burd of appar-
ently “lying to workers, consumers and
the public.” Lantos asserts that even with
the $5 and $15 weekly co-pays for work-
ers, in three years the current health care
program would be $679 million short and
would require either future cuts in care or
increases in co-pay. He tells Burd, “The
bottom line is that 70,000 jobs that now
come with affordable, family health cov-
erage will not come with that coverage in
the future.”
He introduces fellow striker Johann
Baqueiro, a burly young man wearing a
UFCW tee shirt and a black cap pulled
Christy Bultsma breaks in with details.
“Local 324 of United Food and Commer-
cial Workers Union pays us $300 per week
plus benefits. They put us up in a local
hotel and we work eight to ten hour shifts
seven days a week talking to customers.”
Christy, a single mom with two teen-age
boys, works part-time for Ralph’s in Buena
Park for $7.40 an hour. She’s as lean as an
aerobics instructor and her voice is hoarse
from talking. “It’s all about affordable health
care. Safeway argues it’s upping health care
costs only $5 a week for singles and $15 for
families. If that were true, we wouldn’t be
on strike. It’s the caps [limits] they want to
put on health benefits. Hey, my kid broke
his arm and had to have surgery last year.
If the caps had been in place, I’d be out of
pocket eleven thousand.”
Local Contract
Expires in September
Federal mediator John Arnold is
working to resolve the dispute
that began with a strike against Vons
(Safeway) last October 11 in San Diego.
Two other supermarket chains in the
UFCW bargaining unit, Ralphs (Kroger)
and Albertson’s, immediately locked
out their employees, involving a total
of 70,000 clerks and cashiers. The
United Food and Commercial Workers
contract governing our local Safeway
workers expires in September.
Inside the store, Safeway manager David
Green emerges from a tiny office to emphati-
cally refuse comment on the impact of the
pickets on sales. “Contact Safeway’s public
affairs director,” he says, not bothering to
hide his annoyance. Unfortunately, the
answering machine says the director is
out of town.
“We’re having an effect,” says Beverley


February 7, 2004
4.




Real Estate
In Rockridge

RCPC Land Use Committee Seeks
Guidelines for Rockridge Signs

Another year, another
ten percent — almost

Garish sign proposal for gas station prompts resident’s concerns
S

purred by concerns of residents about recent commercial signs and design propos-
als, the RCPC Land Use Committee has begun to develop guidelines and will
work jointly with the local merchant’s Rockridge
District Association and residents.

by Ortrun Niesar
As we wrap up our reports for the year
2003, we are once again astounded
by the enormous popularity of real estate
in Rockridge. Compared with 2002, our
homes, already listed at prices reflecting a
surging market, still sold substantially over
asking price. In fact, 2003 was our best year
ever! The 121 single-family homes sold in
Rockridge (include Claremont Pines in this
calculation) exceeded 2002 only slightly,
but the overall increase in sales prices was
9.99% over last year. Let’s say 10%.
Changing Demographics
The committee
and association want
The need for regulations was prompted by a
Shell Oil proposal to install new signs and lights
at its College and Claremont station that seem
more appropriate for a freeway off-ramp than a
quiet residential district. Members of the Land
Use Committee have already met with Shell
representatives and are making some progress
appealing for modifications that soften the impact.
Both the committee and association want signage
and related commercial structures to be tasteful
and consistent with the neighborhood character.
Big signs, bright lights and brash designs are not
in keeping with local standards.
signage and related
commercial struc-
tures to be tasteful
and consistent with
the neighborhood
character….
The purpose of
signs… is to identify a
The shocker is that single-family homes
priced at $500,000 and under have finally
become a thing of the past, following the
trend in comparable neighborhoods in
Berkeley. In 2003 six homes were in that
category, two of them one-bedroom cottages,
versus 17 homes in 2002. In fact, in 2003
the median price of a typical two-bedroom
bungalow was $580,000. This, no doubt, is
prompting a change in demographics that
warrants awareness. The overall average
sold price was $847,637, with a median of
$750,000. Compare this to $770,604 and
$691,500 respectively in 2002. Further,
75% of homes that sold at $650,000 or less
exceeded the asking price. By the same
token, of the 26 homes sold at $1,000,000
or more, 75% sold at a price somewhat
lower than asking, suggesting there’s a limit
after all. Even so, this is another record for
Rockridge and Claremont Pines.
How Did We Do It
business and attract

To study the issues in greater detail and
develop in six months a long-term comprehensive
plan, RCPC is creating a special task force and
urges everyone interested to join. The mission
is to set reasonable guidelines governing small
College Avenue projects as well as to establish a
process for fair and timely review. The purpose
of signs, banners, monuments and the like is to identify a business and attract custom-
ers without converting College Avenue into a strip mall. The task force will attempt to
reconcile competing interests.

customers without
converting College
Avenue into a
strip mall

If you have opinions about signs and aesthetic standards, this Commercial Design
Task Force is for you. The goal is to complete work within six months. Please contact
Land Use Committee Co-Chair Hiroko Kurihara who is organizing the task force:
h2oakland@sbcglobal.net or 384-0557.

These record sales can be attributed to
the continuing demand for single-family
homes in Rockridge coupled with the avail-
ability of favorable financing terms and low
mortgage rates. Other factors include the
short inventory, excellent maintenance, taste-
ful renovation and meticulous preparation
of homes for market.
Outlook for 2004
As we launch into 2004, buyer demand
has not abated. Just last week we saw 32
inquiries for a property on Keith. Every
desirable residence brings out hordes of
 REAL ESTATE: ROCKRIDGE, PAGE 6

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5.

February 7, 2004

where 5' is required.
Case Planner: Ann Clevenger at 238-6980 or
aclevenger@oaklandnet.com
ZONING COUNTER
6444 BENVENUE AVENUE
Proposal: To add a 1,465 square foot two story
addition to the existing single-family residence
for a total of 3,819 square feet.
Applicant: Bethany Opalach/ Jarvis Architects
Contact Person/Phone Number: Bethany
Opalach/ Jarvis Architects 654-6755
Owner: Anne Schreiner & Steve Etter
Planning Permits Required: Regular Design
Review for Dwelling
exceeding 3,500 square feet.
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property (PDHP);
Survey rating D1+
Case Planner: Pete Vollman at 238-6167 or
pvollman@oaklandnet.com
5321 MANILA AVENUE
Proposal: To constuct an approximately 1,200
square-foot upper floor addition to an existing
single family dwelling.
Owner/Applicant: Michael Kremer 420-7022
Planning Permits Required: Mediated Design
Review for a 1,200 square-foot upper floor
addition
Case Planner: Maurice Brenyah-Addow at 238-
6342 or mbrenyah@oaklandnet.com
Owner: Shell Oil Products
Planning Permits Required: Regular Design
Review for exterior modification in the S-4
Zone
Case Planner: Leigh McCullen at 238-4977 or
lmccullen@oaklandnet.com
GOLDEN GATE AVENUE
(APN 048A-7200-006-00; vacant lot located
approximately 200' south of the intersection
of Broadway)
Proposal: To construct a new 2,461 sq. ft.
single-family dwelling.
Applicant/Phone Number: Robert Nebolon
510/525-2725
Owner: Marcie Bodeaux & Dodie Shoemaker
Planning Permits Required: Regular Design
Review to construct a new residential facility;
Minor Variance to allow a building length of
37.5' where 35' is the maximum allowed; Minor
Variance to allow a 17' rear yard setback where
20' is the minimum required.
Case Planner: Darin Ranelletti at 238-3663 or
dranelletti@oaklandnet.com
5489 TAFT AVENUE
Proposal: To construct a new 269 square foot
upper level addition to the rear of an existing
single family dwelling
Owner/Applicant: Whitney Collins 510/595-
4094
Planning Permits Required: Minor Variance to
allow a 4-foot side yard setback where 5 feet
minimum is required and Regular Residential
Design Review for residential alterations
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property (PDHP);
Survey rating C2+
Case Planner: Maurice Brenyah-Addow at 238-
6342 or mbrenyah@oaklandnet.com
6451 BENVENUE AVENUE
Proposal: To convert an existing four resi-
dential apartment units into four residential
condominium units. (The previous planning
approval TPM 7428 has expired)
Applicant: Anthony G. Wilson
Contact Person/Phone Number: Anthony G.
Wilson 654-9311
Planning Permits Required: Tentative Parcel
Map to convert an existing four residential
apartment units into four condominium units.
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property (PDHP);
Survey rating C1+
Case Planner: Jason Madani at 238-4790 or
jsmadani@oaklandnet.com
Case Planner: Darin Ranelletti at 238-3663 or
dranelletti@oaklandnet.com
5133 CORONADO AVE
Proposal: To construct a second-story addition
at an existing single family dwelling.
Applicant: Andus Brandt
Contact Person/Phone Number: Andus Brandt
510/601-1150
Owner: Roberta and William Birdsong
Planning Permits Required: Design Review for
a residential addition,
Minor Variance to allow a 4' building setback
5755 BROADWAY
Proposal: To make design modifications to an
existing service station including a reface of an
existing free-standing sign.
Applicant: Ron Dultamel, Arc Inc
Contact Person/Phone Number: Ron Dultamel
707/745-0502
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February 7, 2004
6.




January Crime Report: Rockridge

Bring Your
Valentine to the
Temescal Creek
Clean-up
For the period January 4 – 10, 2004
Prepared by Jessica Edmister, RCPC Board Member
P

arts of Rockridge are located in police beats 12Y and 13X. A link to the Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) on the RCPC web site (www.rockridge.org) has
a map showing the areas covered by those beats. The City of Oakland web site offers
extensive current and historic crime data. Visit http://www.oaklandnet.com.

Saturday, February 14, 9 ’till noon
Beat 12Y
Date
Crime
Time of Day
Address/Area
01/04/04
Auto Burglary
Evening
5366 College Ave.
01/05/04
Auto Burglary
Day
Redondo Ave./Cavour .
01/06/04
Auto Theft
Early A.M.
5825 Colby St.
01/06/04
Petty Theft
Day
5727 College Ave.
01/06/04
Attempted Robbery
Evening
400 Avon St.
01/08/04
Auto Burglary
400 block Clifton St.
01/08/04
Residential Burglary
377 60th St.
01/08/04
Residential Burglary
Day
5334 Miles Ave.
01/10/04
Grand Theft
Afternoon
5103 Broadway
Join with neighbors in a volunteer effort to
clean up litter and weeds along Temescal
Creek from Redondo to Clifton.
Beat 13X
Date
Crime
Time of Day
Address/Area
We meet at 9 a.m. next to Temescal Creek
in the DMV parking lot (at Claremont and
Cavour) and work until noon. Coffee and
morning snacks will be provided by the
DMV Neighbors Association.
01/05/04
Auto Burglary
Day
5405 Carlton St.
01/06/04
Auto Theft
Early A.M.
59 Bowling Dr.
01/09/04
Commercial Burglary
Early A.M.
5300 Broadway
01/09/04
Petty Theft
5883 Buena Vista Ave.
City of Oakland Public Works Environ-
mental Services Division will loan us tools
for the clean-up. In addition to gloves and
garbage bags, it will supply loppers, rakes,
hoes, brooms, and litter pickup sticks. Or
bring your own favorite tools, well-marked
with your name. We can always use wheel-
barrows. The Temescal Tool Lending
Library has a great weed puller for really
big weeds. We’ll check out several and give
demonstrations. By Valentine’s Day there
should be lots of big green weeds to pull.
We need to get rid of them before they get
out of control.
Real Estate:
Rockridge
from page 4
potential buyers. The fact is that, as long
as our slow- to-grow economy demands it,
financing policies will favor the real estate
market. Expectations are that the Fed will
stay the course until at least May or June.
Inventory right now is at a record low,
just at a time when the market is poised
to become very active. Most sales occur in
the spring months. Summer markets tradi-
tionally produce strong sales statistics for
the month of September. Rockridge home-
owners who want to sell will do very well
indeed, although the surge in value may
be less dramatic.
Wear boots or shoes that you don’t mind
getting wet since it’s very likely that the
creek will be running and the area muddy.
Rain cancels the event but not heavy fog.
Some of our best winter clean-ups have
been on gray days.
Sponsored by the DMV Neighbors
Association and the City of Oakland
Environmental Services Division.
Ortrun Niesar writes The Rockridge Muse and is
a Realtor with Prudential California, Claremont
office. Statistics supplied by EBRD 2004 are
deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
For more information, please call Mar-
garet Pinter, 655-1767.




7.

February 7, 2004

Automobile Break-Ins Dominate Chatter on
NCPC Yahoo Group; Backyard Thefts Also Noted

by Susan Montauk, NCPC member
S
Rockridge group is a crime watch group which takes its cues from
the very successful OPD Yahoo group created and monitored
by North Oakland Police Lieutenant Lawrence Green. Although
there is no data to suggest that the network has aided in the sup-
pression of crime, it has helped neighbors know just what to look
out for, and often provides support and sound advice from other
Rockridge residents.
ome residential areas of Rockridge were hit by a spate of
car break-ins and auto-thefts in the last few months of 2003,
according to reports on the Rockridge Neighborhood Crime
Network Yahoo Group. These incidents occurred primarily (but
not exclusively) in a group of blocks around Ross, Rockwell, and
Chabot. In early January, just north of Claremont Avenue, between
Colby and Claremont, backyard thefts and attempted break-ins
were reported.
The website group had a membership of 82 in early January
and new members join each month. It is open to anyone within
the greater Rockridge area. To join, follow this procedure: Go to
www.yahoogroups.com. In the box labeled Join a Group, type in
Rockridge Neighborhood Watch Network.
The Rockridge Neighborhood Watch Network was created
as a Yahoo group in July, 2003. It is a project of the Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, one of many Oakland
crime prevention groups which work directly with the Oakland
Police Department. Yahoo groups have popped up all over Oak-
land in the last year and are being used for various purposes. The
After joining the network, new members will be able to read
all of the over 300 messages that have been posted since the
group began.
The 1,2,3s of Crime Prevention*
5. Hide your vehicle registra-
tion in your car. If you are out
shopping and a thief steals your car and
finds the registration with your address
on it, he can drive to your house, open
the garage with the remote and spend
the next few minutes taking your
belongings.
AVOIDING RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES
plate number if you can.
DEALING WITH AGGRESSIVE
PANHANDLERS
PREVENTING AUTO BURGLARIES
1. Leave your glove box open and empty
1. Take a photograph of him if you can.
at night. Potential theives will see that it
is empty and hopefully not break in;
2. Remove your glove box light bulb (to
Yes, this is legal.
2. A digital photo is easiest to post on
Internet.
3. Alert your neighbors.
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
prevent your battery from running down
while the glove box is open);
3. Do not leave your garage door remote
1. If you own a gun, lock it up in a good
in your vehicle. A thief can break into
the car and use the remote to get into
your house (most people don’t have a
dead bolt on the entry door from the
garage to inside the home.)
4. Install a dead bolt on the entry door in
1. Buy a locking mailbox! Identity theft
gun safe. Also, record make, model and
serial number.
2. When you are gone for the day, leave
will ruin your year!
2. Make sure that your house numbers
are visible from the street.
a radio or TV on in the house.
3. Report any suspicious vehicles or people
*Courtesy of OPD Yahoo Groups
in your neighborhood. Get a license
the garage!
Mon–Fri 9:30 - 6:00
Sat 9:30 - 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
Recent Closings and Market Statistics
3210 College
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652-1990
Recent Closings:
Address
Bd/Ba
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Selling Pr
COE
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5343 Broadway Tr.
1/1
$249,000
$322,000
12/30/03
129%
5303 Lawton
4+/2
$819,000
$925,000
1/07/04
113%
5533 Broadway
2/1
$550,000
$625,000
1/21/04
114%
S and J PCS Center
serving the Rockridge Community
There was a 5% increase in the average home sales price in Rockridge
Average Sales Price:  $645,000 in 2003 vs $603,700 in 2002
Average Price per Square Foot:  $367/SF in 2003 vs $358/SF in 2002
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February 7, 2004
8.




Measure Q Funding for Oakland
Libraries on the March Ballot

portionately
higher fees.
To assure
p r o p e r
accounting of
Meaasure Q
proceeds, The
City Council
would appoint
an oversight
committee to
monitor and
make recom-
mendations on
expenditures,
and the City Auditor would perform an
annual audit.
The budget crisis in California affects
our libraries. The City of Oakland
anticipates a $1.1M shortfall in the library
budget during fiscal year 2004-05 when
Measure O, the Library Services Retention
and Enhancement Act of 1994 expires.
A coalition of neighborhood and library
groups as well as City Councilmembers
Jane Brunner and Nancy Nadel have
drafted Measure Q, which for a 15 year
period (until 2024) would extend the life
of the original Measure O and increase
funding for library services.
What would Measure Q fund?
 Staff to operate the African Ameri-
can Museum and Library
 Literacy staff for the Second Start
program (adult literacy)
 A full-time liaison with Oakland
public schools
 Support for the PASS program
(after school homework tutoring
program)
 Support for the Teen Services Pro-
gram
 An upgrade of computers in all
libraries
For additional information: Get Mea-
sure Q fact sheets from the Rockridge
Branch Library.
 Funding for the 81st Avenue branch
 Staff to keep the Main Library open
library
Measure Q funding would also increase
from 5 to 6 the number of days per week
the Rockridge Branch is open.
7 days per week
 Staff to keep neighborhood branches
Check details at saveoaklandlibrary.org
or fopl.org (Friends of the Oakland Public
Library).
(including our Rockridge Branch)
open 6 days per week
 A Children’s Librarian in every
The cost per single family residential
property in Oakland would be $6.25 per
month or $75 per year. Multiple dwellings
and commercial properties would pay pro-
Contact
Sue
Piper,
cam-
paign coordinator, at 228-6079 or
sgpiper@sbcglobal.net.
branch
 More books and materials in every
branch
663-6674

















 

 



	
	   	 	 
	
   
 
  
  


 
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9.

February 7, 2004

City Offers
‘Clean City’
Academy
In Memoriam
Jeanette Sherwin
John Donne told his parishioners in 1623, “Any man’s death diminishes
me because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to
know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” Indeed, the death of
Oakland journalist Jeannette Sherwin on January 18 does diminish us
all. She was a vital and intelligent woman with a great abundance of
energy, humor, compassion and unbridled affection for politics, the
City of Oakland, its people, gardens, nine cats, and most anybody who
needed help.
Navigating the City’s bureaucracy
when you have a problem
by Jessica Pitt, RCPC Board Member
Have you ever tried to address a problem
in the neighborhood and gotten frus-
trated trying to navigate through the City’s
bureaucracy? The City of Oakland recently
introduced a new program, called the Clean
City Academy, to orient Oakland residents
to how City departments are organized and
to advise them on the best way to deal with
a range of neighborhood nuisances. At the
January RCPC General Meeting, Jocelyn
Combs from the City’s Building Services
Division presented the Clean City Academy
for Rockridge residents.
But she had dragon-fire wrath for all the corruption and stupidity
that she saw in Washington and Sacramento, and especially in Oakland’s
City Hall and vast and bumbling bureaucracy. Although not everyone
agreed with her opinions and style, she ceaselessly excoriated political
scoundrels, spurred on by a passion for truth and a chorus of admiring
supporters.
Fired by The Montclarion for being too outspoken, she started
OaklandNews.com in 1998, a perfect launch pad for her barbed rev-
elations and witty views. Like other writers, The Rockridge News editors
found Sherwin to be an excellent source of information and a fearless
ally at public meetings.
The Clean City Academy grew out
of a recognition on the part of City
administrators that many neighborhood
problems—such as abandoned cars, litter,
noise nuisance—can cross departmental
jurisdictions, yet little coordination existed
among departments. As a result, Oakland
residents were often shuffled back and forth
between departments before they could get
their complaints addressed. One way that
the City has tried to address this problem
is by providing better information about
where to go when specific issues arise.
Sherwin, along with Montclair resident Daphne Markham and Rockridge
News founder Don Kinkead, organized The Neighborhood Newsletter
Task Force, a city-wide forum for newsletter editors. It was there that
she brought together the best and taught them by example. We will
miss Jeannette, her work, her integrity, her friendship.
A memorial will be held Sunday, February 8, 2-3:30p.m.
at the Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club,
1650 Mountain Boulevard.
Combs shared two particularly valuable
resources with the group. If you have a
problem or complaint, you can call the Oak-
landers’ Assistance Center at 444-CITY
(444-2489) or visit their office which is
located in Room 123 on the first floor of
City Hall. An information specialist will
fill out a complaint form for you and route
it to the appropriate departments.
at http://www.oaklandnet.com/oakshines
to submit an electronic complaint form.
The Oakland Shines web site also has an
extensive list of helpful phone numbers
and provides information on where to
direct calls about specific issues such as
automobiles and vehicles, noise complaints,
police and crime, streets and sewers, and
trash and blight.

Residents can also go the Oakland
Shines web page on the City’s web site





 











	




	
! 

!"
$
	


 
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$

#

At the meeting, Rockridge residents had
an opportunity to raise specific concerns
and problems. These included abandoned
cars, dangerous sidewalks, tree removal,
and vacant lots.
Combs described the City ordinances
which address each of these issues, and
provided advice to residents on which
departments they should contact to get
them addressed.


February 7, 2004
10.




from page 1
Revelers Clash Swords on Harwood

RCPC Board
by Cy Gulassa
I
Country dance experts
David & Sharon
Green remodeled their
t’s one thing to have a great passion,
quite another to share it with Rockridge
neighbors. That’s what Harwood Avenue
residents David and Sharon Green did on
a misty night last January. Summoned by
the Green’s flyers tucked under doormats,
neighbors collected on walks at the inter-
section of Harwood and Auburn to watch
under amber street lights a group of revel-
ers called the Ring of Cold Steel dance a
traditional English longsword dance.
www.rockridge.org.)
Since 1986, RCPC, a 501(c)3 corpora-
tion, has been representing Rockridge to
the City of Oakland on issues that affect
the Rockridge Community. RCPC acts
as a community steward on a variety of
issues. RCPC’s work in the community
includes: monitoring and participating
in commercial design review for major
projects in the neighborhood; serving as
a liaison between the community and the
Oakland Planning Commission; developing
strategies to address issues of public and
pedestrian safety, crime and traffic; working
to strengthen our schools and educational
resources; and serving as the primary vehicle
for neighborhood communication with the
publication of The Rockridge News.
home to
include
 a room
 for dance
 rehearsals.
at the last horrific moment to note that the
weapons were wooden.
According to the Greens, who are experts
on country dance and have remodeled their
home at 6130 Harwood to include a great
room for dance rehearsals, the Harwood
event commemorates Plough Monday, the
Monday after Twelfth Night and the day
before peasants resumed work in the fields.
It was the last day of roistering, wassail-
ing and dancing in the traditional English
holiday season. One “trick-or-treat” version
of festivities involved villagers in disguise,
including blackface and cross-dressing,
going from house to house dragging a plow
Dressed in green tunics and black stomp-
ing boots, and accompanied by accordian,
flute and drum, the dancers waved, crossed,
and shouldered their longswords with dis-
regard for their sharpness, and in a grand
finale, interwove them into the shape of a
star. In olden times, a village villain was
forced to thrust his head into the center of
the star as the slicing swords converged on
his neck. For some dark reason, this writer
was chosen villain, but was greatly relieved
Candidates for the RCPC Board are
invited to submit a photo and a statement
of about 125 words describing their interest
in running for the Board. Statements must
be received by March 18 for publication
in the April issue of The Rockridge News.
Please include your address and phone
number in your mailing. Mail hard-copy
statements with photos to RCPC, 5245 Col-
lege Ave, PMB 311, Oakland, CA, 94618.
Electronic copies, statements and photos can
be sent via e-mail to deborahlweinstein@
yahoo.com.
and dancing for handouts,
with a threat of plowing up
the yard if treats weren’t
good enough. Contribu-
tions to the Ring dancers
that night must have been
generous because there
were no reports of
upturned lawns on either
Harwood or Auburn.
Candidates will speak, and voting will
take place at the April 15 RCPC General
Meeting at the Rockridge Library, 7:30 PM.
For further information, call the RCPC
voicemail at 644-4228.
Ring of Cold Steel
dancers.
Back row, L to R: Anne
Miller, Joshua Lee, Kelly
Kingdon, Robert Riley,
Marion Severy.
Front Row, L to R: Anise
Feldman, Johnny Seal,
Jocelyn Cozzo
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11.

February 7, 2004

February Musical Notes
richness and drama of the original. And
you thought it couldn’t be done. March
6, 10, 12 and 14. Call 925/798-1300 for
tickets or go to www.juliamorgan.org.
for information.
This month’s Muse brings information
about several of the many musical offerings
in and around our neighborhood. If you
would like to let readers know about
your favorite event, please tell me about
it. Here is this month’s selection, ranging
from intimate to grand.
Verdi’s Requiem
This one is Big! It will be sung by
several hundred members of the Berkeley
Community Chorus and accompanied by
a 48-piece orchestra. At one point you
will certainly be blasted out of your seat
by the sound of the trumpets, as fire
and the wrath of God descend upon
you. Rehearsals have already started but
you can still join in if you enjoy making
music. The performance is scheduled
for May in St John the Worker Church
in Berkeley. Call 964-0665 for more
information.
Margret Elson’s Soiree
A flute concert featuring Susan
Waller and Joellen Piskitel, two artists
well known to Bay Area music lovers, will
take place on Saturday, February 7, at
the home of Margret Elson and Michael
Schwab. Call 601-7044 or e-mail Margret
at margret13E@cs.com if you would like
to attend. Space is limited. You will be
asked to bring something for the desert
reception that follows.
by Ortrun Niesar
Valentine’s Day Cabaret
February 14, of course, from 7p.m. to
11p.m. It’s a delightful benefit for the Julia
Morgan Center for the Arts, and it’s all
about love, love, love: true love, erotic
love, love gone bad, love just gone and
more of the same. Lovers and friends of
all kinds, and singles, too, are invited to
join in on an evening of wonderful cabaret,
presented by the Shotgun players, with
chocolate and champagne to celebrate
that certain feeling. Dancing until 11 after
the performance. Ah, the romance of it
all. Tickets at the door or through CBON
Ticket line 925/798-1300.
Pacific Sangerbund
N
Florio Street Concerts
Another great neighborhood treat:
KATastroPHE presents On Wings of Song,
a romantic afternoon in a 19th century
salon with Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Schubert
and others, Sunday, February 22. Contact
Katherine Westine at 601-9631. There is
a charge but so well worth it. Tea and
pastry reception follows.
ot quite as lofty but pretty loud.
If you like to sing and you know
a little German you can join in the fun
of learning and performing popular
choral music primarily in German and
English. The Pacific Singing Societies have
been holding forth for 99 years now in
the Bay Area and beyond, performing
frequently in some very interesting places.
Members hail from all over and age is
of no consequence as long as you can
carry a tune. The Oakland Turnverein
Mixed Chorus meets Wednesday evenings
for rehearsal. Call 652-6664 for more
information.
The Legend of the Ring
The Berkeley Opera will present
the American premiere of The Legend
of the Ring, a condensed version of
Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle, in
ONE evening at the Julia Morgan Theater.
We are promised that this performance,
orchestrated by David Seaman and staged
by Mark Streshinsky, is compelling
musical theater that captures all of the
Ortrun Niesar can be reached at
oniear@aol.com. or 986-9560.
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February 7, 2004
12.




A
Kirin
rchitect’s
drawing of
proposed Kirin
restaurant. With a
design size of 2,950
square feet, the
developer avoids
having to provide
10 parking spaces.
The City Planning
Commission
limited seating to
100 patrons.
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF
from page 1
mittee presented our opposition to the
project because we heard your concerns,
read your comments sent by e-mail or left
at the library, and received a petition from
residents on Manila Avenue. People felt that
we didn’t need another restaurant that seated
130-150 people, which would exacerbate
parking and traffic problems, especially at
this location. Another critical issue raised
was how the new restaurant would affect
the usability of our library. Other concerns
included design, noise levels, odors, and
commercial delivery.
PROJECT ARCHITECTS.
sion limited seating to 100 and requested
a commitment from Deputy Director
of Planning Gary Patton to work with
residents and business owners on parking.
Commissioners Lighty and Franklin were
also interested in our concern about too
many restaurants in Rockridge. Since it is
a problem that affects all of Oakland, the
planning commission is the appropriate
body to decide what constitutes a proper
mix of businesses.
Let’s hope that the Chu Family will merit
the good luck that their restaurant’s name-
sake offers. The Year of the irrepressible
Monkey is a year for movement, discussion
and the exchange of ideas. A parking and
traffic task force will form to make sure
the issues are resolved.
But the most pertinent issue in the fore-
seeable future is parking. In this case, the
restaurant will be 2,950 sq. ft., 50 sq. ft.
short of 3,000 which would have required
the developer to provide 10 parking spaces.
Unfortunately, neither the developer nor the
City made a good faith effort to address the
parking and traffic issues, nor did they seek
any alternative solutions.
Anyone interested in these issues
or participating in the task force,
please contact Hiroko Kurihara at
h2oakland@sbcglobal.net or 384-0557.
To end on a positive note: The commis-
RCPC Agenda
from page 1
Rockridge in particular. Either submit ques-
tions in advance to Dulcy Anderson at
dulcya@yahoo.com or bring them with
you to the forum.
The League of Women Voters will also
present an overview of the propositions
that will be on the ballot for March 2.
Please join us! We look forward to lively
discussion of the issues that are important
to our community.
Henry C. Levy & Co.
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Oakland, California 94618
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FAX 510.654-2363




13.

February 7, 2004

Hamill
Enrollment
 API Scores
Aca-
Admin
1998
Current
2004
2000
2003
Gain
Cost
from page 1
Emerson
416
288
270
484
620
28%
$238,213
little incentive to work with local leaders
to identify and fix problems. She says school
board members like her, who represent the
public and have an obligation to guide the
superintendent, are made powerless by
law. “We are automatically stripped of
authority, our stipends are cancelled, we
lose secretarial help, and even our school
phones are disconnected,” she said. If she
makes a call with her own quarter, the
state administrator is not obligated to call
back. With the Board neutralized, parents,
teachers and community are effectively dis-
enfranchised. Anyone can speak at public
meetings, but the state administrator doesn’t
have to listen.
Foster
399
268
246
NA
515
$304,370
Golden Gate
360
217
217
445
613
38%
$257,080
Longfellow
407
182
180
487
589
21%
$251,311
Santa Fe
374
300
271
595
649
9%
$213,477
Washington
331
185
160
512
657
28%
$260,322
Carter
426
362
340
456
526
15%
$552,357
Totals
2713
1802
1684
2979
3654
23%
$2,077,130
where hundreds of teachers and thousands
of students and parents have been working
together over the last three years to boost
academics and inspire confidence in the
educational process.
face closure.
Hamill says what’s most impressive
is the average 23% gain in test scores for
the seven schools. Former Superintendent
Dennis Chaconas was so intent on class-
room improvements that he neglected to
oversee the books and was fired, Hamill
said. “But to his credit, he knew how to
take a demoralized, academically inferior
district and turn it around, making morale
soar and creating real excitement and hope
The district can’t afford to forfeit this
legacy. Through dialogue and thoughtful
compromise, we can balance the budget
and still nurture academic success. Work-
ing together is key.”
She argues that Ward should consult with
the community before closing schools and
pay as much attention to morale and academ-
ics as he does to dollars. When the trend is
toward smaller neighborhood schools with
strong parent involvement and emphasis on
academic success, Dr. Ward may be moving
in the wrong direction, she said. Further,
budget woes and draconian remedies make
headlines that upstage the district’s remark-
able turnaround in student achievement. Bad
press drives families away, worsening an
already dangerous enrollment decline and
diminishing the expected financial savings,
she wrote in a memo to parents.
Hamill said an autocratic style doesn’t
work well in school systems like OUSD,
"SHOULD YOU
SAVE FOR YOUR
KID'S COLLEGE
Dr. Ward recently said that he dropped
six schools slated for closure because
they have shown significant academic
progress.
OR FOR YOUR
RETIREMENT?
Hamill prepared a statistical snapshot of
seven of the North/West Oakland schools
originally facing consolidation or closure to
demonstrate enrollment drops, administra-
tive overhead and a “significant increase
in test scores.” Longfellow and Foster still
The district has lost over 7,000 students
to charter schools, a declining birth rate,
and families leaving because of the high
cost of housing. OUSD owes the state $65M
of a $100M like of credit and expects a
shortfall this year of $9M.
OR BOTH?"
  		

  
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville...............The T
The T
The T
The T
The Team Y
eam Y
eam Y
eam Y
eam You Can T
ou Can T
ou Can T
ou Can T
ou Can Trust
rust
rust
rust
rust
 	  
   
 
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You Come First
You Come First
You Come First
You Come First
  

 	
  
  
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www
www.MaryJaneMcConville.com
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Jan Carlisle
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Jan Carlisle
Administrative Assistant
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Escrow Coordinator


February 7, 2004
14.




Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message: $18 (phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Classifieds,
5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA
94618. March deadline is February 19.
Pilates or Gyrotonic®
Try a FREE 30 minute BUZZ Session. CLASSES:
First Class Free in Pilates MAT, NIA®, Yoga,
Yogilates and/or Yamuna® Body Rolling.
Workshops & Teacher Training Certifications.
Mind-Body Connection, 5255 College Ave.,
420-0444. (www.mindbodyconnection.net)


	
 



	

	






	



Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other odd
jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/464-5934
Jazz and Classical Piano Lessons
Rockridge jazz pianist with UC Berkeley
music B.A. offers lessons in jazz, blues, clas-
sical, music theory, ear-training, technique.
Experienced, patient teacher, all ages/levels.
Janet 653-6783.
Work From Home
Earn $500 to $5000 P/T to F/T. Full Training
Provided. Local Interview. Bilingual positions
available. For free information: 618-7670.
Chi Kung for Health
Chinese self-healing exercises made simple,
gentle and easy to learn. Practice encour-
ages health, relieves stress, quiets the mind
and promotes healing. Especially good for
chronic illness, cancer, stress-related prob-
lems and RSI. WWW.healingchikung.com
and ellencr@sbcglobal.net. 597-1160.
Love Your Walls!
A little color can go a long way to making your
home warmer this winter. Call Stonehouse
Design Company for professional faux finishes,
stendiling, and murals. Free estimates. Julie
510/466-5531.
France, 16th Century Stone
Millhouse
For rent fully furnished. On 3 parklike acres
with running stream. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, fire-
place. 62 miles from Paris. $650 per week. Call
925/939-9343 for photos and more info.
Jazzercise
Fast, effective, fun, dance/fitness class taught
by orthopedic nurse practitioner. Piedmont
Avenue Elementary School. Tuesday thru
Friday, 6:15 pm. 654-7078. NEW STUDENT
SPECIAL: @$29/month (first three months).
No membership fee.

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15.

February 7, 2004



COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Compiled by Jo Ellis
Check Your…

E-mail Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1@hotmail.com, phone 653-3210, or mail to: Rockridge News
Community Calendar, 5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618. Deadline is the next to the last Tuesday of the month.

elevator B). Free for family/friends caring for
older adults. 3rd Wednesday of each month, 4-5:
30pm. For information on all support/education
groups offered by Alta Bates/Sutter Health: call
Monica at 802-1725 or e-mail Monicalcsw@alu
m.calberkeley.org.
3rd Annual Valentine’s Day Cabaret
Writers Club, Berkeley branch (www.berkeleywrit
ersclub.org/). For more information: 482-0265 or
Writefox@aol.com
Comedy Showcase and Open Mic
Councilmember Jane Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
First Saturday every other month, 10am to noon.
Peralta Elementary School: 460 63rd St. (parking
on Alcatraz Ave., just east of Telegraph). No
March meeting. More information at 238-7001 or
www.oaklandnet.com
Oakland City Council Meeting
Start your career in comedy at A’Cuppa Tea, 3200
College Ave, (corner of Alcatraz). Every Tuesday,
7:30 to 9pm. Be there by 7pm to sign up. Also: Call
420-0196 to find out about free acoustic music
performances from 7 to 9pm.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
Benefit for the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts,
2640 College Avenue, Berkeley, 845-8542.
February 14, 7 to 11pm. Dancing, champagne,
chocolates, and Cabaret singers and guest art-
ists from the Shotgun Players. A silent auction
includes romantic hotel getaways, fine restau-
rants, jewelry, art, and spa and wine gift baskets.
Tickets: $30 in advance / $35 at the door. CBON
Ticket Line: 925/798-1300. Proceeds benefit ser-
vices, programs and maintenance of the beautiful
building designed by Julia Morgan.
Volunteers Needed
Every Tuesday, 7pm, City Hall.
Oakland Planning Commission
5433 College Ave. All Events are free and open to
the public.
   Sunday, 2/8, 2pm, poetry of Kathleen Fraser:
Discreet Categories Forced into Coupling, and
Claudia Keelan: readings from several of her books
of poetry.
   Monday, 2/9, 7:30pm, Amnesty International
monthly meeting. All welcome.
   Wednesday, 2/11, 7:30pm, Editor Leslie Miller &
Contributors: Women Who Eat: A New Generation on
the Glory of Food.
   Sunday, 2/22, 3pm, Alice Jones and Denise
Newman, poetry readings.
   Thursday, 2/26, 7:30pm, Joe Coulson: Vanishing
Moon
   Sunday, 3/7, 2pm: International Women’s Day
celebration.
1st and 3rd Wednesday, each month, 6:30pm, City
Hall. Agendas and details: www.oaklandnet.com.
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Steering Committee meets 3rd Tuesday each
month, 7 to 8:30pm. Fire Station #8 community
room, 463 51st Street. Residents and business
members of NCPC’s 12Y and 13X areas are
invited to voice their concerns about crime and
public safety.
Rockridge Branch Library
   Alameda County Community Food Bank:
All welcome, including groups and kids age 10
or older. Assist in the warehouse or office; staff
the Hunger Hotline, the Food Bank’s toll-free
food referral service. Hotline shifts Mon-Fri,
9am-12pm and 1-4pm. Call Volunteer Mgr. Mary
Schoen: 834-FOOD(3663) or www.accfb.org.
   Oakland Elizabeth House: A Transitional
Residence for Women and Children in Rockridge,
6423 Colby St., Oakland. Residential and support
services to homeless and low-income women
and children. Orientation and training for new
volunteers. Help with childcare, homework, men-
toring, field trips and house chores; 658-1380,
ext.4, or volunteer@oakehouse.org.
   Oakland Parents Literacy Project: Com-
munity Activists for Reading Excellence (CARE)
program. Volunteer one day or evening per
month, at a School Clean Up or a Family Reading
Night. OPLP hosts Family Reading Nights at 37
Oakland Schools, including two events each at
Emerson, Santa Fe, and Golden Gate Elementary
Schools. Care members are eligible for various
benefits and prizes. George Willcoxon, Program
Director: 889-5903 or www.oplp.org.
   Bambino Thrift Shop: All-volunteer shop
benefiting Oakland Children’s Hospital, 5290 Col-
lege Ave. Volunteers needed Tuesdays through
Saturdays. We will train you. Call manager, Carol
Maes: 654-9709.
   North Oakland community Charter School
(NOCCS): tutors to work with 1st to 4th graders,
one-on-one or in small groups, on math skills,
beginning reading and writing skills. Weekly
commitment of at least one hour. Located at Col-
lege Ave. Presb. Church. Contact Jennifer Bloom,
Director: 655-0540 or teachers@noccs.org.
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
Toddler Story Time: Saturday, 10:30am: 2/7,
2/14, 3/6.
Pre-School Story Hour: Wednesday, 10:30
& 11am: 2/4, 2/18, 3/3.
Pajama Story Time: Tuesday, 7pm: 2/24,
3/9.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
More inf. about readings, discussion groups and
classes: 653-9965 or www.dieselbookstore.com.
College Avenue Adult Center
College Ave. Presbyterian Church, 5955 College Ave.
Every Wednesday, from 9:30am to 1:30pm.
   Celebrate our 33rd anniversary on Feb. 11 at
11am. Special program followed by lunch and des-
sert. All welcome. Light exercise, socializing, travel
programs and music. Hot lunch available at noon for
$2. Details about upcoming field trips and special
programs: call Kathy at 531-6724.
North Oakland Multi-Purpose
Senior Center
Craft session for all ages. Create your own
pop-up or flat Valentines. No pre sign-up; all
materials provided. Saturday, 2/7, 2 to 3:30pm.
Black History Month Celebration. Spec-
tacular and funny show by Derique. All ages
welcome. Tuesday, 2/10, 7pm.
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s 100th birthday. A
chance to appreciate how weird our world can
be. Read aloud with your kids. Cake and other
surprises. Tuesday, 3/2, 7pm.
FOR ADULTS:
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Center Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm. Computer
classes, workshops, educational/social events,
walking groups and field trips.
 Free Tax preparation help staring Feb. 6 until tax
day. Call 597-5085 for appt. (between 11am and
3pm).
 Discounted tickets to Disney on Ice: limited
availability.
 “Best of Big Apple” trip to New York, April 25
– 30. Deadline for tickets: Feb. 10.
 Massage services, Monday (by appointment).
The newsletter, “North Oakland Senior Times”
provides a schedule of classes and a monthly lunch
menu: (suggested donation: seniors age 60+ $2;
$4 for those under age 60). Call 597- 5085 for mem-
bership details, newsletter, class or appointment
times, and opportunities to become a volunteer.
Elder Care Support Group
NOTE: Lawyers in the Library: Cancelled for
March; library is a polling place on March 2.
NEW LIBRARY HOURS
Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed: Sunday and Monday.
NOTE: All Oakland Libraries closed 2/16
for Presidents’ Day.
Rockridge Toastmasters
Tuesdays, 7pm. Veterans Building, 200 Grand
Ave., Oakland. Improve public speaking skills
in a friendly and supportive environment.
For information: Mary, 531-8790 or e-mail
info@rockridgetoastmasters.org
Writer’s Support/Critique Group
Mardi Gras Masked/Costume Party
Benefit for St. Augustine School, 410 Alcatraz
Ave (Colby St. entrance). Saturday, February 21,
6-10p.m. New Orleans style fun, food and danc-
ing, gift bags, raffle prizes and cooking contest.
Tickets ($25 or $230 for table of 10) available
at school office. Call 832-5232 or e-mail
staugmardigras@hotmail.com.
Rockridge Branch Library, Saturday, 2/21
from 1 to 5pm. ALL writers welcome. Bring
6 copies of 5 pages of your prose for on-site
reading/discussion. Sponsored by the California
Alta Bates Medical Center, Herrick Campus, 2001
Dwight Way, Berkeley, 3rd floor, room 3369B (take


February 7, 2004
16.




Don Coelho
	
 

  	


    

		    

339-4721
 
 
28th year
serving Rockridge!

	

  
		
Buying or selling real estate in 2004?
Call me… the proven professional
Flush with
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510-547-5970 Ext. 55
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µI know Rockridgeµ
 	  
   

  
  
  
  
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 years.
A proud supporter of
                      Chabot Elementary School.

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BUYING OR SELLING IN
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