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VOL. 19 NO. 5 ISSUE NO. 201 May 8, 2004 CIRCULATION: 5,100 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES
Sponsored by The Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 644-4228
Councilmember Brunner Leads
Fight to Save Oakland Street Trees
Election Results
RCPC/FORL
Election Results
R
Counter-proposal to City ordinance planned
by Cy Gulassa
Aordinance would authorize
removal of trees that are
purportedly too close to tele-
phone poles, sewer lines, and
driveways; or that damage
walks and curbs; or block
street lights, traffic signs
and vision at corners.
According to Brunner, these
draconian criteria would
require removal of every
tree on her block. Since
that initial airing, Brunner’s
office has received nearly
proposal by Oakland’s
Public Works Depart-
ment to aggressively remove
trees that damage sidewalks
and utilities has generated
fervent
neighborhood
opposition. Hundreds of
tree lovers attended Coun-
cilmember Jane Bruner’s
April 5 meeting, and most of
the speakers denounced the
draft proposal. If approved
by the City Council, the new
ockridge residents voted April 15 &
17 for candidates to the Rockridge
Community Planning Council and to The
Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL).
Congratulations to:
RCPC:
Jane Brunner
1,500 cards and e-mails in
opposition.
Elected to two-year
terms to the RCPC
Board of Directors: Ehab Bandar, Camille
Reed, Mike McDonald, Mike Taylor,
and Deborah Weinstein. In addition, the
proposal to expand the RCPC Board of
Directors from 11 to 14 members was
approved.
FORL:
Brunner, who began her
political career as a save-
the-trees activist, met with
a group of 25 volunteers at
THREAT TO TREES, PAGE 10
NCPC Elections, Truancy Are
Top Town Hall Meeting Topics
Elected to two-year
terms to the Rock-
ridge Library Board: Marilyn Citron, David
Hatfield, Kevin Flynn, Jennifer Vetter, John
Gussman, Jim Good, Abby Pollack, Ashley
Hawn, Penelope Wong, Nancy Miller, and
Kristine Carraway.
by Susan Montauk
Hnew NCPC officers for the positions of
chair, vice chair and secretary. Nominations
will be taken from the floor. Please consider
running for an office or becoming part
of the NCPC Steering Committee, which
meets the third Tuesday of each month at
Station 8 Firehouse on 51st Street at Tele-
graph Avenue. No special background is
required, just a desire to help with safety
and crime issues in police beats 12Y and
13X, which cover much of Rockridge.
(See “NCPC Priorities,” page 12.)
ave you ever wondered why that young
teenager you saw in your neighbor-
hood shop or on the street one weekday
morning was not in school? According to
Oakland Unified School District atten-
dance records, on a given school day
almost 10% of Oakland youths are absent
from school and many of their parents may
not know it. Truancy is a major problem
in Alameda County schools and it is the
topic of the Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council Town Hall
meeting to be held Thursday, May 20,
6:45 pm in the Rockridge Library.
agenda:
RCPC General Meeting
Thursday, May 20, 6:45 p.m.
(note time change)
Rockridge Branch Library
Community Room
5366 College Avenue at Manila
The meeting will feature speakers
Alameda County District Attorney Teresa
Drenick, Woodrow Carter, Chief of Staff
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council Town Hall
Meeting ( See article this page.)
6:45 pm Light Refreshments
7:00 pm NCPC Report & Elections
7:10 pm Program: Truancy and
Attendees at the meeting will also elect
NCPC TOWN HALL, PAGE 12
Rockridge Web Site Redesigned
Check out our recently redesigned website at
www.rockridge.org. In addition to a great new look, it
has links to important RCPC information, local events,
and useful resources for the entire East Bay.
Its True Impact
8:00 pm Crime Trends: Police
Service Area 2 Lt. Green
and Police Service Officer
Helene Schmitt.
May 8, 2004
2.
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
In My Opinion
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.
Are Archways Over College Avenue
The Best Way to Identify Rockridge?
by Hiroko Kurihara
A
year ago, the Rockridge merchants group (RDA) suggested to Councilmember Jane
Brunner that visitors to College Avenue shops need a distinctive way to know when
they are in Rockridge. One proposal discussed, according to “Rockridge gateways open
for discussion,” in the Montclarion, April 27, was an archway. But Louise Rothman-
Riemer, RDA President, said that was definitely not RDA’s first choice.
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 idea was again discussed at the November RCPC General Meeting. Justin
Horner, of Councilmember Brunner’s staff, presented drawings of gateways designed
for other Oakland districts and proposed similar structures for College Avenue, one
spanning College near Alcatraz, the other at its intersection with Broadway. The over-
whelming majority of the more than 30 residents and business owners at the meeting
opposed archways, recommending that the $150,000 that the arches would cost be used
to improve sidewalks and traffic safety, among other things. Minutes of the meeting
were e-mailed to Brunner’s office.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulasssa ........................Editor-in-Chief
Ortrun Niesar, Claire Isaacs
Doug White ....................... Writers
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
Recently, the councilmember’s office pursued the archway concept with the City of
Berkeley, proposing an archway in Berkeley at College and Alcatraz to identify simul-
taneously the transition zone between Oakland’s Rockridge and Berkeley’s Elmwood
districts. At last word, Berkeley has demurred on the joint proposal, so the archway
would have to be relocated within Oakland’s borders. The College Avenue line between
the two cities runs between Safeway and La Farine Bakery, an awkward location for
an arch.
I
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2003-2004
Daniel Ferdelman ..............Chair
Deborah Weinstein...........Vice-Chair
Jessica Pitt, John Potis .......Secretaries
Greg Yoch............................Treasurer
n my opinion, an archway is a gaudy and artificial way to mark an entrance to a
unique neighborhood like Rockridge. We need to continue the dialogue and together
develop a project(s) that builds on and enhances the district’s existing character.
Dulcy Anderson, Jennifer Edmister,
Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk,
Theresa Nelson, Mike Taylor
“If there’s another idea that comes forward in the meantime, we’ll definitely look
into it,” said Councilmember Brunner in the Montclarion article. Let’s take her up on
that promise. Following are some suggestions to consider:
Install “Rockridge District” signs
on Interstate 24 at the Claremont
and Broadway exits;
Install artist-designed, seasonal
banners on street lamps along
College;
Install a “Welcome to Rock-
ridge” sign on the existing
BART archway spanning College
Avenue and coordinate with
the UnderBART improvements
group on other related projects;
Install large, colorful hand-
tiled flower pots along College
Avenue;
Enhance pedestrian safety at
critical crossings like College
Point and along Claremont
Avenue;
Improve safety on Claremont
Avenue and make it an attractive
gateway to Rockridge.
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.
CONTACTING THE ROCKRIDGE NEWS
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
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 644-4228
How do you think the $150,000 should be spent? Send your suggestions and ques-
tions to:
City Councilmember Jane Brunner: 238-7001; jbrunner@oaklandnet.com
Rockridge Community Planning Council: danielferdelman@yahoo.com
Rockridge District Association: 604-3125
Editor, The Rockridge News: editor@rockridge.org
Articles published in The Rockridge News may be
reprinted only with the permission of the Editor.
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING/DEADLINES
Publication date of the next issue is
June 5, 2004
June deadline is May 20
Advertising rates are $22/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rate available. To advertise, call Jo Ellis
at 653-3210, or e-mail joellis1@hotmail.com.
(RCPC reserves the right to refuse any display or
classified ad that it deems inappropriate.)
3.
May 8, 2004
Residential Design Review Guidelines
Opened to Public Comment
The Zoning Counter
The Zoning Counter provides Rockridge
residents with an opportunity to review
construction project proposals to be under-
taken in their neighborhoods. While it is a
compilation of recent applications filed with
the Oakland Planning Department, it is not
necessarily a complete or up-to-date listing.
Individuals may contact the Case Planner
or the Planning Department for additional
information.
by Ted Radosevich, RCPC Land Use Committee
A
t a meeting with Councilmember Jane Brunner on April 3, many community
members said that the 10-day City posting period for variances, additions or new
home construction is simply too short for true neighborhood and public input, and that
without plans or drawings that show both the proposed construction and its relationship
to neighboring homes, it is very difficult for the average person to evaluate potential
negative impacts. It was also suggested that “story poles” be placed on the outlines of
proposed home additions or new second stories to demonstrate the impact on views,
light, privacy and solar access on neighboring homes.
6443-6447 BENVENUE AVENUE
Proposal: To convert existing 3 units to con-
dominiums
Owner/Applicant: Carolyn M. Doelling
510/653-1573
Planning Permits Required: Tentative Parcel
Map to create three condominium units
Historic Status: Potential Historic Property
(PDHP); survey rating: C1+
Case Planner: Maurice Brenyah-Addow at
238-6342 or mbrenyah@oaklandnet.com
In response to these concerns, according to Brunner, the City is proposing to expand
the notice period to 15 days and is reviewing a notification process that would require
adjoining neighbors to be given plans to review prior to applications being processed by
the City. The City is also weighing the appropriateness of story poles and a refinement
of the “mediation” process whereby the City will provide a forum for neighbors to meet
and discuss areas of potential conflict before City staff processes applications.
The City has also proposed to expand the number of “exempt” projects for which
no public review is allowed, but several speakers complained that the current process
already “exempts” too many projects. One woman said that the view out her window
was completely blocked by a neighbor’s “exempt” addition.
Councilmember Brunner has been working with local neighbors, architects, builders
and City staff to try to develop processes that are fair and easy to understand, but areas
of dispute still remain. To obtain copies of the current draft residential design review
guidelines contact Oakland City Planner Chris Buckley at 238-6983. The proposed
regulations will start formally moving through the City planning process in May and
input from concerned neighbors is needed.
6398 TELEGRAPH AVENUE
Proposal: To establish a pet food store with
self service pet wash facilities and construct
new signs.
Applicant/Phone Number: Pet Food Express/
Jim Moore 510/655-6750
Owner: Givens & Zweben
Planning Permits Required: Minor CUP for
animal care activity
Regular Design Review for new business signs,
and Minor Variance to allow a freestanding
sign to be 10' tall where the maximum allowed
height is 6'.
Case Planner: Robert D. Merkamp at 238-6283
or rmerkamp@oaklandnet.com
Mon–Fri 9:30 - 6:00
Sat 9:30 - 5:00
CHIMES
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Celluar Phones and Accessories
5916 College Ave @ Chabot Ave
(510) 601-8282
Open 7 days a week
Authorized cell phone Dealer for:
AT & T, T-Mobile & Verizon
Free Workshop on Home and
Family Emergency Preparedness
Are you prepared to protect yourself, your family and your home in the
event of an earthquake, fire, flood, act of terrorism or other emergency
situation? Do you realize that you and your neighbors may be on your own
for 24 to 72 hours after an emergency? Are you ready to learn or enhance
your emergency preparedness skills to help yourself and your neighbors? A
FREE emergency preparedness training class is sponsored by the Oakland
Fire Department Office of Emergency Services CORE (Citizens of Oakland
Respond to Emergencies) Program for Oakland residents. For more informa-
tion contact Robert Wiles:wilesrc@sbcglobal.net or 925/768-2741.
May 8, 2004
4.
Allergies Are Nothing to Sneeze At!
by Frances Dalton, MD
Tone. Any of these can be made into a cus-
tomized “D” formula, such as Claritin-D,
by using OTC Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
as (or less than) directed. However, the “D”
can make a lot of people feel jittery, and
worsen high blood pressure.
orrential winter rains followed by
unseasonably hot days usually make
for a high pollen count, which translates to
a very strong upcoming allergy season. The
acacias are in bloom and there’s already an
itchy something in the air! So, if you suffer
from allergies, it’s best to be prepared and
know what treatment options are available
to you.
Wanted: Artist
And Designers
For FROG Park
Art Project
M
But insurance companies aren’t hip
enough to know that off-label uses for some
expensive medications that are covered work
great, too! Off-label means that the use is
not FDA approved, but doctors can still pre-
scribe them for other approved conditions.
The asthma pills Accolate and Singulair
are just a couple of examples that can be
miraculously effective for allergies.
A
The typical seasonal allergy symptoms
of sneezing, runny nose, congestion, watery
itchy eyes, post nasal drip and scratchy,
itchy throat can make you feel so miser-
able that it’s hard to tell whether you have
allergies or a severe cold. One of the ways
to tell the difference is that with allergies
there is the absence of the following: 1)
fever, 2) discolored mucous in shades of
anywhere from ecru to chartreuse and 3)
swollen lymph nodes.
oving ahead with the second
phase of FROG Park improve-
ments, the City of Oakland and Friends
of Oakland Parks and Recreation have
contracted with the design/build team of
MIG and to design, develop and oversee
the project. The Friends of Rockridge
Greenbelt (FROG) have agreed to assist
with developing art and interpretive signs
in the park.
selection of an oral pill can be coupled
with a nasal corticosteroid spray and
bring good relief. Very little steroid is
absorbed via the nasal route. There are
other prescription nasal spray options such
as antihistamines and “mast cell stablizers.”
Occasionally, a patient will benefit from a
long-acting steroid injection that covers a
broad variety of allergies and this is okay,
too, if used on an occasional basis. Classic
“allergy shots” require multiple visits to
the doctor’s office as your immune system
develops tolerance to the inciting irritants,
but each specific allergy requires multiple
injections.
There are a host of herbal treatments
which are touted to be beneficial for allergies
and I would defer to your favorite pharmacist
or herbalist for the latest recommendations.
Over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription
medications can be used alone or in com-
bination to effectively relieve symptoms.
Treating allergies is not masking any seri-
ous underlying problem. Medications keep
in check an immune system gone haywire
— that is, one that is overreacting to harm-
less stimuli.
FROG is looking for artists or design
teams to complete designs for park ele-
ments, including sculpture, kiosks,
interpretive markers, and gateways to
the greenbelt. We want our park to be
unique, easy-to-find, and well-integrated
into the neighborhood.
FROG is issuing a request for
qualifications to artists, to be due on
May 16. Local artists and designers are
encouraged to participate. Please see
the FROG website for more information
(www.frogpark.org) or contact Jennifer
Cooper, FROG Phase II Representative,
653-6581.
These are just some ideas to help you
“spring” into action when seeking medical
attention for allergies.
Many insurance companies aren’t cover-
ing some of the old favorites like Allegra,
Clarinex, and Zyrtec now that Claritin (also
packaged as Alavert and generic loratadine)
has gone OTC. A Prior Authorization is
usually needed nowadays to get your favorite
Frances Dalton, MD., Rockridge Family Practice,
can be reached at FdaltonMD@earthlink.net
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5.
May 8, 2004
Spring In Rockridge
Earth Day Cleanup of
Temescal Creek/Redondo Park
Panelists Reveal Gardening
Secrets at RCPC Meeting
O
Rn Saturday, April 24, approximately 50 Temescal Creek
Earth Day volunteers cleaned Temescal Creek between
Clifton and Clarke Streets, an annual event sponsored by the
DMV Neighbors Association and the City of Oakland. At noon,
all volunteers were rewarded with a potluck and pasta feed
held at Mike Bogart’s home across from the DMV.
Many thanks to all who contributed and especially to
Margaret Pinter, who organized the event, the hard workers,
and the Colombo Club, which donated more pasta than 50
people could ever eat. Above, from left, volunteers Joanmarie
Wood, Randy Molina, Josh Wojtkiewicz, Troye Mowrer, Paul
Leimone and Adele Mendelson.
CPC thanks panelists for advising a full house of residents
at the General Meeting April 15 on ideal ways to create
a lovely Rockridge garden. Describing the steps to a pleasing
outcome, the panelists pointed out that it takes a lot more
than a shovel, a flat of flowers and determination to transform
an old yard into a lovely garden. However, the outcome can be
worth it. Among other suggestions, the panel advised: Don’t
let sentiment inhibit creativity; amend the soil thoroughly
rather than rely on chemicals and fertilizers; and strive for
serenity. Panelists pictured above, left to right, front, are:
Anette Floystrup, Mimi Wiesenfeld, Nancy Sales.
At rear: Andrew Nash, Sam Bryant. PHOTO: ROCKRIDGE NEWS
Angry Oaklanders Discover Two April Tax Deadlines
by Susan Montauk
T
2000. It turns out that a City ordinance
requires all freelancers to register their
“businesses.” Along with the usual suspects,
the ordinance states that “self-employed
persons, independent contractors and busi-
nesses conducted within one’s home, and
non-profit organizations” are required to
file as businesses. The tax is based on
gross receipts and applies even to income
made outside the city.
If you would like to join this group,
contact lydiagans@juno.com. City Coun-
cilmember Danny Wan will hold a meeting
of the Finance Committee on May 11, and
this item should be on the agenda. The
committee meets from 2 to 4 p.m. in the
first floor hearing room in City Hall. An
e-mail to Councilmembers Jane Brunner
(jbrunner@oaklandnet.com) and Danny
Wan (dwan@oaklandnet.com) will help
put this issue on a front burner.
here are a lot of angry freelancers
in Oakland. As April 15 came and
went, 11,000 home-based entrepreneurs
faced another tax deadline on April 21,
a surprise demand for payment of back
taxes together with penalties to the year
“This is the first year the City of
Oakland has the ability to identify home
businesses from filings of State income
taxes,” said a staffer at the Finance and
Management Agency.
Many freelancers have refused to pay
either the tax and/or the penalties. A
Rockridge group has formed to lobby the
City Council to forgive the penalties and
perhaps even rescind the back taxes.
May 8, 2004
6.
Rockridge Home...
PHOTO: DON KINKEAD
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MERCHANT
Sweet Home
W
BY THERESA NELSON
ith large glass windows and a front
door open to a College Avenue lined
with blossoming trees, Rockridge Home is
warm, welcoming and filled with beautiful
and affordable home décor. At the door,
you’ll probably meet Vermont, a sweet
cheerful dog that owner Jennifer Kaplan
calls the “official greeter.”
Rockridge Home proprietors Jennifer
Kaplan, Vermont, and Edward Wong.
PHOTO : LYDIA GANS
Gund and light-hearted books such as
How to Make a Pregnant Woman Happy.
Outside the store is a garden area, tiled
in classic hopscotch design, that displays
a variety of garden sculptures and copper
watering cans.
J
In March, Rockridge owners Jennifer
and her partner Edward Wong were in
the midst of remodeling and changing
the name of the store. What opened as
Red Feather Mercantile last fall is now
Rockridge Home, a name more oriented
to the neighborhood. The store, located in
the former Boero clothing factory, not far
from the Rockridge Library, still has the
original brick walls, concrete floor and
structural wood.
ennifer and Edward started searching for
a store location last summer and leased
this site before the conversion from factory
was completed. Jennifer belongs to a fourth-
generation furniture business family. After
a career as a dot-com MBA, she wanted
to open this store as a way to explore her
creative passions. “We love this location,”
she said. “This part of College Avenue is
very lively and the neighboring stores are
great. We support each other and think of
ourselves as a community.” Indeed, while a
stream of customers inquired about special
orders or picked up a gift on the way to
a birthday dinner, the owner of a nearby
store popped in to say good night. Stop by
Rockridge Home (they’re open until 8 pm)
for a gift, an idea, or even a whole new look
for your home.
as “How Beaver Stole Fire.”
Tabletop accessories include lots of
small spheres made of unusual materials
like wooden tubes and tinted botanicals, as
well as apples and pears crafted of leaves.
The new Lolita crystal is simply stunning:
hand-painted martini glasses decorated with
olives, holly, palm trees, stars, and many
other designs. One-of-a-kind pillows fea-
ture embroidered maps highlighting popular
California destinations. The small glass
hearts (clear or in colors) by local artist
Marty Appel are popular gift items and go
perfectly with a handmade card by daughter
Jennifer Appel.
Sitting on a comfortable taupe sofa and
surrounded by silk throw pillows in tan and
dusty rose, Jennifer said she and Edward
decided to focus on stylish but reason-
ably priced furnishings, accessories, and
gifts for home and garden. They combine
upholstered furniture and wooden items like
chests, tables, and bookcases with attractive
accessories in a home-like setting. “We want
shoppers to see a home vignette, get ideas
and buy anything from a single accessory
to a complete room,” she said.
Rockridge Home
Jennifer Kaplan and Edward Wong, Owners
Further back in the store, a kitchen
area features bar and café accessories,
wine buckets, serving pieces and an array
of clear and colored glasses. The nearby
children’s area has stuffed animals from
While stocking many popular items,
they can order hundreds of options in
various woods and fabrics from more than
75 vendors. Featured are items from the
local furniture maker Sitcom, including the
mahogany Edo chair, inspired by Japanese
period design, which fits with many styles
of décor.
R
5418 College Avenue 420-1928
solutions@rockridgehome.com
Open 11 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Monday– Sunday
ockridge Home offers a lovely selec-
tion of rugs. A series of US-made
tone-on-tone area rugs with a subtle leaf
design may be ordered in different colors.
Wall art includes many works by neighbor-
hood artists, such as pastels of Yosemite
and gardens by Bunny Mager. Lamps and
shades are manufactured by local and West
Coast companies like Eternity Iron works in
Oregon. The latter’s handsome metal bases
go well with hand-beaded shades in many
colors. The copper and quartz “Guernica”
lamp was inspired by the dramatic Picasso
painting. Stacked in an armoire are Legend
blankets, beautiful wool throws with designs
based on native American Legends, such
April Sales Are Hot In Rockridge!
Address
List Pr
Selling Pr
Close date
506 Forest
$646,000
$740,000
4/2/04
5739 Ross
$739,000
$828,000
4/2/04
5216 Miles
$650,000
$625,000
4/3/04
5407 Bryant
$510,000
$560,000
4/14/04
5405 Belgrave
$985,000
$1,175,000
4/16/04
6315 Chabot
$869,000
$1,210,000
4/16/04
5785 Country Club
$975,000
$1,175,000
4/21/04
5455 Boyd
$759,000
$870,000
4/26/04
6031 Acacia
$1,449,000
$1,500,000
4/28/04
5830 Clover
$650,000
$810,000
4/29/04
457 Hudson
$595,000
$750,000
4/30/04
Average overbid was over
17% higher than the asking
price. In April, almost all
the properties listed in
Rockridge sold above the
asking price.
7.
May 8, 2004
Letters to
The Editor
The Rockridge News
5245 College Ave., PMB 311
Oakland, CA 94618
Peralta Elementary Spring
Community Festival May 15
by Susan Killebrew
T
he Peralta Elementary School Parent/Teacher Group and the Lower Rockridge
Parents Group invite you to join us this spring in celebrating our wonderful school
and neighborhood community! The Annual Peralta Spring Community Festival will be
held Saturday May 15, 2004, 12-4 p.m. at Peralta Elementary School, 460-63rd Street.
or e-mail:
editor@rockridge.org
THE TREES OF ROCKRIDGE
MUST BE SAVED!
Dear Editor,
I read Perry Riani’s article in The Rock-
ridge News (“Residents Stumped by City’s
Tree-Removal Plans,” April 3), and I am
flabbergasted and broken-hearted about
the city’s plans to remove even one single
tree from our incredible neighborhood.
One thing your article did not mention
is *who* is making the plans to remove
the trees, *when* they are planning to do
it, and *how* can we organize to stop it.
Recently I had to move and my partner
and I drove all over Oakland and Berkeley
looking at rentals. No place had the peace-
ful leafy cover of the Rockridge (except the
walker-unfriendly hills). Most were barren
and glaring in the sunlight. (Fortunately we
found another rental in the neighborhood.)
We really must organize to stop any plan
before it starts.
Andy Couturier
63rd Street, Upper
The Spring Community Festival will include something for everybody: Folks looking
for good food can choose from mouth-
watering barbecue, homemade baked
goods, ice cream, and, of course, popcorn
and cotton candy. For those who enjoy live
entertainment, there will be a great R& B
band, a dazzling magician, and inspiring
performances by Peralta students. Families
wanting a day of fun activities for kids will
like the carnival games, free arts and crafts
projects, the Oakland Zoo-mobile, a visit
from an OFD fire truck, and much more.
Folks looking for good
food can choose from
mouth-watering barbe-
cue, homemade baked
goods, ice cream, and,
of course, popcorn and
cotton candy.
In addition, the festival is an opportunity
for the community to enjoy Peralta’s unique school site, with its many vibrant murals
and delightful gardens. The day’s schedule includes a groundbreaking ceremony for the
school’s large new Alcatraz Street garden and a dedication of the its newest mural cre-
ated by Peralta students and artist-in-residence Jamie Morgan.
F
or this year’s event, the school community is developing a printed program showcasing
student writing and artwork reflecting the theme of community. Local businesses and
organizations that are helping to sponsor the event will be prominently featured in this
program. To find out more about making a tax-deductible donation, call Peralta parent
Marguerite Young at 654-1446. Individuals who can volunteer to help serve food, blow
up balloons, or hand out prizes for an hour or two during the festival should contact
Susan Killebrew at 655-2737.
(ED. NOTE: See Brunner article, front
page, this issue.)
All proceeds from the Spring Community Festival will go directly to the Peralta
Parent/Teacher Group, which finances art, gardening, music and physical education, and
the school librarian, among other projects. Mark your calendars and join us for this celebra-
tion of one of Oakland’s most successful, diverse and thriving public elementary schools.
Peralta Elementary is part of what makes Rockridge such a special place to live.
WHITHER OAKLAND’S TREES?
Editor:
What Disney World are Jane Brunner and
other critics of Oakland’s tree-cutting plan
living in? It would be different if we indeed
had “leafy canopies lining streets” as stated
in the Chronicle. The city planted hackberry
trees here some 20 years ago. They have
NEVER trimmed them, the roots have torn
up the sidewalks in front of near-million-
dollar homes, AND soon they will once
again be infested with hackberry woolly
aphids, which secrete a black substance
that has ruined many a car’s finish. And
all this is going to INCREASE property
values? I’m fortunate not to have a tree
in front of my house. Frankly, I’d rather
have a poem!
Pat Parker
Lawton Avenue
4HE
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May 8, 2004
8.
Barry
Kaufman celebrates
his third anniversary
as The Rockridge News food
writer. Drop him an e-mail
and let him know what kinds
of food, recipes and culinary
adventures you’d like
to see in his column.
Food Words
Wkaufman42@
earthlink.net
ith this issue of The Rockridge News,
I am happy to be celebrating my third
anniversary of writing the Rockridge Cor-
nucopia column. When I tell people I write
the column, the usual response is: “It must be
so great to be a restaurant critic.” I respond,
“No, I’m a food writer, not a restaurant
critic.” In the tradition of Calvin Trillin
of the New Yorker, A.W. Apple of the New
York Times and, of course, the grand dame
of culinary letters, MFK Fisher, I try in my
own way to create a sense of time, place
and memory in the culinary world.
and Cook’s Tour, describes a tiny hole-in-the
wall street food restaurant in the Vietnamese
city of Hué with such detail and passion that
when I finally found the place, it was exactly
as I imagined. His ability to describe the
two-table restaurant and the three genera-
tions of women lovingly making only two
dishes was perfect. My reality matched
Bourdain’s printed word.
O
Dara Moskowitz, and Mimi Sheridan.
It has been a privilege to write the
Rockridge Cornucopia. However over the
past three years, I have received only one
e-mail. Like any writer, I need to know
my audience. Please let me know what you
would like to see in the column.
ver the past three years I have writ-
ten columns about the unique culinary
wonders of College Avenue, the perfect
“gourmet” kitchen, our collective sadness
of 9/11 and the need for comfort food,
my personal culinary adventures in Paris
and Vietnam, and the joys of becoming a
grandparent. Although I have been cooking
forever and graduated from the California
Culinary Academy, I don’t really consider
myself a chef. My true love is the experience
of the lust of good food, be it the perfect
burger, hot dog, cup of coffee, or BLT. I
can dine at the most high-end restaurant
enjoying the most perfect meal, but if the
end-of-the-meal coffee does not taste as
good as Max’s Blend from Royal Coffee or
even Peet’s, the meal ends on a sour note.
This month’s recipe is from my oldest
food memory. My dad, a New York short-
order cook, taught me at five years old how
to make perfect poached eggs.
What is food writing? How does it
differ from food critics? Food writers or
essayists tend to write about what they are
interested in. For example, while visiting
his daughter and new grandchild in San
Francisco, Calvin Trillin wrote a simple but
defining essay on the difference between
“carry out” in New York and “take out”
in San Francisco. In San Francisco, for
take out you call a restaurant, place an
order and drive to the restaurant to pick it
up. In New York, you call the restaurant,
place an order and it is delivered to your
apartment. A simple, but elegant study in
culinary cultural relativism.
Grandpa Joe’s Poached Eggs
2 extra large eggs
warmed to room temperature
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Bring 1 quart of water and vinegar to
a simmer in an 8-inch saucepan 3 inches
deep. Have a slotted spoon on hand. Hold
the egg as close to the surface as possible
and crack into the water. Rapidly crack the
2nd egg. Maintain the water at a simmer and
poach for exactly 3 minutes. Cover the pan,
poach an additional 1 minute. With the slotted
spoon, remove each of the eggs. The white
will be softly set and the yolk liquid. Serve
on a slice of buttered sour bread toast or a
grilled tomato.
Forget the “in” cookbooks or TV
food celebrities. So many readers of the
Wednesday Chronicle food section or
popular cooking magazines skip the feature
articles and just jump to the recipes. Look
for names like Coleman Andrews, Jason
Epstein, Ed Levine, Peggy Knickerbocker,
A food critic anonymously dines at
restaurants over several days and writes a
critical review of the restaurant based on the
reviewer’s subjective taste and sensibilities.
Food writers on the other hand, write essays
where the goal is to capture a moment in
time, a sense of place or an inner experi-
ence. As an assignment in a food writing
class, our instructor had us identify an herb
and write a short first-person essay as if we
were the herb. How would parsley, sage or
rosemary speak? If they could speak, what
would these herbs want to say to us?
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California Culi-
nary Academy. Barry is available for private cooking
classes. His e-mail is kaufman42@earthlink.net.
$ #
$ ! " $
!
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!
As with armchair travel books, food
writing is about creating for the reader a
sense of the culinary experience. Anthony
Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential
9.
May 8, 2004
Free Recycled Medical Equipment: Need a Wheelchair?
Hospital Bed? Crutches? Contact Home C.A.R.E.S.
by Claire Wahrhaftig-Isaacs
Ior died, stuff gathering dust
in closets, or being thrown
away during a house move.
Many grateful recipients
write checks.
n a dimly lit subterranean passageway,
canes, crutches and commodes dangle
from the low ceiling while wheelchairs clut-
ter a cave-like closet. Lourdes in Oakland?
Not exactly, but almost.
Home C.A.R.E.S. is an
outgrowth of C.A.R.E.S., the
Collection and Distribution
of Equipment and Supplies,
started 12 years ago by Liisa
Nenonen, an operating room
nurse at Alta Bates. Unable
to bear seeing perfectly
good, unused surgical
materials and tools thrown
out, she and her volunteers
today collect and recycle
carloads of equipment to
Central South America, Africa and Asia.
The domestic Home C.A.R.E.S. program
began when a man whose friend had died
of AIDS asked Liisa how to donate leftover
equipment locally. In response, she applied
for a small startup grant from Alameda
County’s recycling program to address
the local need.
In this day of diminishing medical assis-
tance, a small miracle takes place weekly
in an undergound parking lot next door to
the Presbyterian Church on 27th just west
of Broadway. A little-known program called
Home C.A.R.E.S. provides free durable
medical equipment (known as DME) to
anyone, regardless of income. With soaring
prices for medical care, this program is a
boon to anyone who needs such equipment,
either temporarily or permanently.
Steve Allen unloads donated medical supplies which
will be distributed free at the Home C.A.R.E.S.
distribution center in Oakland.
PHOTO: CLAIRE WARHAFTIG-ISAACS
Home C.A.R.E.S. sets up Thursday after-
noons from 1 to 4 p.m. Just drive down the
ramp and park. The office consists of a car
tailgate and a couple of chairs. Storage is a
former janitor’s basement closet. From this
unlikely space pour crutches, wheelchairs,
hospital beds, and breathing apparatus, as
well as continence and diabetic supplies,
and more.
for Elders Independence, stops by twice
a month to supply his 130 low-income
participants with equipment.
Visitors to C.A.R.E.S. are greeted joy-
ously by staffer Steve Allen, a bouncy elf
of a man who hugs each client when he
finds the appropriate DME. If one isn’t
available, he’ll take an “order” and scout
for it around the Bay Area. He’ll even
cobble something together out of broken
equipment. His heart and soul are in each
DME exchange.
Typical of the 30 or 40 visitors each
week, Gwendolyn Bowling of Oakland
came for a wheelchair for her stroke-
impaired mother, as referred by Social
Services. Regular donor and muscular
dystrophy patient Mark Hendrix arrived
in a wheelchair with stuff he’d cleaned out
of a friend’s apartment. Three Vietnamese
family members with limited English-lan-
guage skills drove up from San Jose to get
a wheelchair for a beloved uncle. Trudy
Jackson picked up oxygen supplies for a
friend with diabetes.
Home C.A.R.E.S. manages this miracle
with one part-time staffer, lots of volunteers,
dedication, resourcefulness, and a budget
of about $60,000 annually for rent, salary,
transportation, and liability. Clients are often
people covered either inadequately or not
at all by health insurance. Donors bring in
equipment used by people who’ve recovered
The real mystery behind this miracle
program is that it is not better known. But
that may change now. On March 18, Steve
accepted the Community Service Organi-
zation Award for Home C.A.R.E.S. at the
first annual Alameda County Community
Heroes Breakfast sponsored by the Red
Cross at the Airport Hilton. It was a red-
letter day for Steve and company, unsung
underground heroes in midtown Oakland.
Phone 521-2273 for further information, or
stop by to see this miracle in motion.
Many professionals visit on behalf of
clients in senior centers, rehab units, and
group homes. Ken Schwartz, an accredited
therapist with the non-profit HMO Center
T
Alert: All Lovers of
Children and Pets
his is the season of the FOXTAIL, a weed
dangerous to pets and children because
when mature, its barbed hairs readily enter nos-
trils, mouth and ears and travel in one direction:
inward. By pulling up foxtails while out on a
walk, we can get ahead of them. They come out
easily now, but will soon dry and spread.
— Sari Kulberg
!
!" $
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The foxtail: danger in the field.
May 8, 2004
10.
Threat to Trees
and using flexible rubberized materials instead of cement
in critical areas.
Surprised by the public outrage over its proposed draft,
Public Works has declared it will delay implementation to
allow for feedback, and has provided the contact information
shown at right, above. But opponents are taking no chances.
In addition to the revised draft, they are considering launch-
ing a Greening of Oakland campaign in 2005 to fund their
Los Angeles-inspired counter-proposal.
from page 1
a follow-up meeting in City Hall April 22 to consider the best way to
respond to the draft ordinance.
The first order of business with the group was to challenge the
primary reason for the Public Works proposal, which is to reduce
the cost of claims for trip-and-fall accidents. Last year the claims cost
the City over $619,000, a sum the agency projects to increase to $2.5M
by 2007 if the sidewalk repair program is not in place. A review of
To offer suggestions or volunteer: jbrunner@oaklandnet.com,
or phone 238-7001.
historical fact by Brunner’s
office, however, reveals that
the city averages a steady 10
to 12 suits per year, and that
the cost for last fiscal year
was actually $554,000, which
included an aberrant $194,000
settlement. Most settlements
range between $25-50,000.
Rather than hack
tree roots out to level
ruptured walks, the
[proposed] revised
ordinance
would
require ramping over
or meandering around
them, and using flexible
rubberized materials
instead of cement in
critical areas.
Public Works Seeks Input on
Controversial Tree Ordinance
The Public Works Agency understands the concerns
and comments expressed by Councilmember Brun-
ner and other members of the Oakland City Council
that there needs to be a balance between preserving
street trees and keeping sidewalks free from tripping
hazards and other obstructions which can be caused
by street trees.
Not only do the claims not
warrant a drastic overhaul of
Oakland’s existing tree policy,
said Brunner, it is unlikely that
the new regulations would
contain costs or significantly
reduce the number of suits,
especially considering that
at current funding levels, it
would take 50 years to repair existing sidewalk damage. Ironically,
the City has no record of the trees it owns and only now is advancing
a proposal to inventory walks and damage.
Our draft proposal is online at www.oaklandpw.com.
Take a minute and review the proposal and attachments
by clicking on the link that says “Draft Proposal Regard-
ing Sidewalk Repair and Street Trees.”
We are planning public forums, but nonetheless
would like to hear your thoughts. The address is
treesandsidewalks@oaklandnet.com.
Raul Godinez II, PE,
Director of Oakland Public Works Agency
Acknowledging that the best defense is an offense, the Brunner
volunteers unanimously voted to draft a new tree ordinance that
would incorporate many of the tree-friendly provisions of a model
program in Los Angeles, touted as one of the most enlightened in the
state. The new counter-proposal would require a cost/benefit analysis
including environmental, aesthetic and market values; as well as early
notification, due consideration of alternatives, appeal rights, limiting
annual removal of trees to 10 percent in a given area, and planting
available tree sites in the neighborhood with suitable large-size trees.
Rather than hack tree roots out to level ruptured walks, the revised
ordinance would require ramping over or meandering around them,
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11.
May 8, 2004
Anderson Valley Barn.
Oil
— Peter Heelan
pheel55@yahoo.com
by Ortrun Niesar
Fabulous Pro Arts
June 3, from 7 to 9 p.m., or stop by in
the morning of the designated days and
then head out for studios, which are
open from 11a.m.-6 p.m. Pro Arts is now
open Wednesday through Sunday. This
year you can also sign up for a special
Art Bus Tour to select studios on Friday
evening, June 4. Call 510/763-4361 for
more details.
to get hooked. Lunch somewhere on the
Square or find complimentary food and
drink offered at every studio.
Open Studios
The East Bay is rich with talented
artists working in all kinds of media,
price range and scale, so there should
be something for everyone to fall in
love with and consider a reasonable
purchase.
T
June 5-6 and 12-13
Each spring, artists all over the East
Bay organize to bring you Pro Arts
East Bay Open Studios. The format is a
well-organized self-guided tour that offers
a unique opportunity to visit artists in
their work spaces and purchase their
work.
This year’s program features 500 East
Bay artists. There are many more, but not
all open their studios every year. Many
of the works on the gallery walls are
for sale, but the fun begins when you
explore further. Mark the map with notes
on favorite artists before visiting their
studios. If you try it once, you’re bound
wenty neighborhood artists are
listed in the map which we hope
you will use for reference. Old favorites
are showing plus newcomers who add
new dimensions to the local scene.
Muralist Alan Leon will be displaying
large panoramic watercolor scenes
Begin the tour at the beginning. Start
at the fabulous, brand-new gallery and
home of Pro Arts at 250 Second Street
in Jack London Square. Do this either
at the artist reception held on Thursday,
of Oakland at the Temescal
Café. Peter Heelan is showing
his wonderful landscapes in
his home. Lorna Moglia is
exhibiting hand-flamed glass
jewelry. And Margo Rivera-
Weiss and Rae Louise Hayward
(award-winning co-founder of
The Art of Living Black) are
celebrating the beauty and
vitality of African, Latino
and Hebrew culture in works
shown at the Art Gallery at
the Women’s Cancer Resource
Center at Telegraph and 57th
Streets (www.wcrc.org). Look
for more art at local maps
and directories in cafes and
store windows. The East Bay
Express will carry the entire
map as an insert during the
two-week
open
studios
period. Many artists will also
have their work on line for
preview at www.mesart.com
and www.proartsgallery.org.
Ortrun Niesar can be
reached at oniesar@aol.com or
510/652-6664.
May 8, 2004
12.
NCPC Town Hall
from page 1
to State Administrator Randy Ward, and
David Chambliss, Claremont Middle School
Principal.
Ms. Drenick heads up the Truancy
Unit for the Alameda County D.A.
and chairs the Oakland Unified School
District Truancy Task Force. She works
with elementary and middle school truants
and their parents to correct the truancy
problem before there are legal and social
consequences. Her office arranges media-
tion sessions and works intensively with
teens who don’t respond to the first levels of
support from the school district in order to
avoid filing against them in juvenile court.
She also prosecutes parents of elementary
age students who refuse to comply with
the school’s orders to bring their kids in
daily and on time.
Woodrow Carter will speak about the
District’s strategies of early intervention
with families of truants and its programs of
support. David Chambliss will speak to the
problems created by truancy at Claremont
Middle School.
The meeting will conclude with a report
from Police Service Area 2 Lt. Lawrence
Green and Police Service Officer Helene
Schmitt on recent trends in crime in our
community. Audience questions will
follow.
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
Beat 12Y Priorities for May 2004
The Greater Rockridge Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council Steering
Committee meets monthly to set priorities for the Oakland Police Depart-
ment in beats 12Y and 13X. Citizens with particular concerns are invited to
attend these meetings held on the 3rd Tuesday of most months at the Station 8
Firehouse, on 51st Street near Telegraph Avenue. Go to www.rockridge.org for
further NCPC information.
The following priorities are set for May.
(Note: 13X was not represented at the April meeting.)
Telegraph Avenue and 59th Street
Problem: Possible drug activity: Williams Liquor Store, Washhouse Laun-
dromat, the Mattress Store, next to OHA units on the 500 block of 59th St.,
59th and Canning and McAuley.
Action requested: work with businesses to have them employ security
guards for the late night hours when the store and laundromat are open.
62nd between Colby and Hillegass
Problem: Loitering and gaming at public housing.
Action requested: Ask OPD for extra patrols.
Manor Crest
Problem: Series of incidents in area over the past two weeks, including auto
break-ins. Similar pattern to on-going incidents in the surrounding neighbor-
hood, including Ross Street and Rockwell. In some cases a young man comes
into private yards carrying a small yellow bucket and offers to wash your car.
He has been known to walk into homes. Residents have reported money, cell
phones, etc., missing from their home after he departs.
Action requested: To be discussed.
663-6674
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May 8, 2004
"SHOULD YOU
SAVE FOR YOUR
KID'S COLLEGE
OR FOR YOUR
RETIREMENT?
OR BOTH?"
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Changes on College
New Name
Rockridge Home
Furniture, Accessories & Gifts
New Store
Swallowtail Interiors
Urban Chic Antiques and Accessories
formerly Red Feather Mercantile
5418 College Avenue 420-1928
5332 College Avenue 595-1240
Closing and Opening
swallowtailhome.com
Open 12 — 6 Wednesday — Sunday,
Christensen Heller Gallery
5831 College Avenue, closes the end of May.
and by appointment on Monday
New Restaurant
Silverman Ludlow Gallery
5831 College Avenue 655-5952
Bistro Viola
French Cuisine
5299 College Avenue 655-2869
The Silverman Ludlow gallery, with new owners
Eileen Ludlow and Barry Silverman, opens in
the Christensen Heller location, June 1.
5pm — 10pm Monday — Saturday
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May 8, 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. June deadline is May 20.
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Ave., Oakland
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
601-1188
Mon-Fri 7-7 • Sat 8-6
(Across from Albertson’s & Zachary’s Pizza)
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
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rust
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).
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.
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.
Work From Home
Earn $500 - $5000 – P/T to F/T. Full Training
Provided. Local Interview. Bilingual positions
available. For free info: Gary Sinick 510/597-
1129 www.growmynestegg.com
Housecleaning
Reasonable rates. $52 for 4 hours. Expert
& reliable services from local employment
cooperative. Call 534-6766 and we’ll send
someone to spiff up your home. Ask us for
our references from Rockridge clients.
Antique Refinishing & Repair
Expert antique and fine furniture restoration
services. New finishes, stripping, repairs,
glass/lock repairs. We specialize in in-home
professional waxing and minor repairs. Pick-
up/delivery available. Free estimates. Bruce
510/534-0603.
Psychotherapy Can Help
Want more from life? Psychotherapy can help
you discover priorities, remove roadblocks,
find new solutions. Fast and focused, or gentle
and exploratory—you choose the pace. Jan
Graham, MFT. (MFC #35757). 510/207-5402;
time4therapy.com
Tahoe Condo For Rent
Our lovely 3br/2+ba condo in Incline Village is
available for rent! Sleeps eight, is fully equipped!
Close to everything! Call 652-6664 for more
information.
You Come First
You Come First
You Come First
You Come First
You Come First
Providing Exemplary Service
In Rockridge since 1980
Shannon Klatt
Shannon Klatt
Shannon Klatt
Shannon Klatt
Shannon Klatt
Buyer Specialist Realtor
(510) 339-4281 direct line
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Mary Jane McConville
Senior Realtor
(510) 339-4280 direct line
Call
Call
Call
Call
Call Mary Jane
Mary Jane
Mary Jane
Mary Jane
Mary Jane today
today
today
today
today for all your Real Estate needs
for all your Real Estate needs
for all your Real Estate needs
for all your Real Estate needs
for all your Real Estate needs
(510) 339-8400
(510) 339-8400
(510) 339-8400
(510) 339-8400
(510) 339-8400 office
office
office
office
office ♦www
www
www
www
www.MaryJaneMcConville.com
.MaryJaneMcConville.com
.MaryJaneMcConville.com
.MaryJaneMcConville.com
.MaryJaneMcConville.com
Jan Carlisle
Jan Carlisle
Jan Carlisle
Jan Carlisle
Jan Carlisle
Administrative Assistant
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Linda Fino
Escrow Coordinator
15.
May 8, 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.
Councilmember Jane Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
College Avenue Adult Center
• “Nigeria and the Politics of Unreason.” Panel discus-
sion with Victor Dike and Michael Watts will focus
on President Obasanjo’s regime and the practice
of “predatory democracy” in Nigeria. Presented
by The World Affairs Council, Alameda Chapter.
Monday, May 10, 6 to 7pm. Sign in for seating at
5:30pm. Call 597-5017 to register.
College Ave. Presbyterian Church, 5955 College Ave.
Every Wednesday, from 9:30am to 1:30pm.
Light exercise, socializing, travel programs and
music. Hot lunch available at noon for $2. For details
about upcoming field trips and special programs,
call Kathy at 531-6724.
North Oakland Senior Center
First Saturday every other month, 10am to noon. No
meeting May and June. For information about June
picnic call 238-7001 or www.oaklandnet.com.
Oakland City Council Meeting
Every Tues, 7pm, City Hall.
Oakland Planning Commission
Library Hours See box, top of page 2.
Peralta Annual Spring Community Festival
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Center Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm. Variety of
computer classes, workshops, educational/social
events, walking groups and field trips.
• Sign up for October trip to New York to see
1st and 3rd Weds each month, 6:30 pm, City Hall.
Agendas and details at www.oaklandnet.com.
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Saturday, May 15, 12 to 4pm, Peralta Elementary
School, 460 63rd Street. Proceeds to benefit Peralta
Parent/Teacher group. Call Susan Killebrew at 655-
2737 for more information, or to volunteer.
Writer’s Support/Critique Group
The Lion King.
The Newsletter, “North Oakland Senior Times”
provides a schedule of classes and a lunch menu
(suggested donation: seniors age 60 + $2; $4 for
under age 60). Call 597-5085 for details about
membership, newsletter, class or appointment
times, and volunteeer opportunities.
Elder Care Support Group
Steering Committee meets 3rd Tues 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, Saturday, May 15,
1:30 to 5pm. ALL writers welcome. Bring 8 copies of up
to 5 pages of your prose for on-site reading/discussion.
Sponsored by the California Writers Club, Berkeley
branch (www.berkeleywritersclub.org/). For more
information: 482-0265 or Writefox@aol.com.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
Home/Family Preparedness Classes
Free training classes sponsored by Oakland’s Office
of Emergency Services to learn how to respond to
emergency situations or major disasters. CORE
(Citizens of Oakland Response to Emergencies)
programs are conducted at neighborhood sites and
require 10-20 participants. For more Information,
contact Robert Wiles, wilesrc@sbglobal.net or
925-768-2741, to set up classes on your block.
Rockridge Branch Library
Alta Bates Medical Center, Herrick Campus, 2001
Dwight Way, Berkeley. Free for family/friends caring
for older adults. 3rd Wednesday, 4-5:30pm. For
information on groups offered by Alta Bates/
Sutter Health: call Monica, 869-4569 or e-mail
Monicalcsw@alum.calberkeley.org.
5433 College Ave. All events are FREE and open to
the public.
• Monday, 5/10, 7:30pm. Amnesty International
Monthly meeting.
• Wednesday, 5/12, 11am. Lois Lowry: Messenger.
• Thursday, 5/13, 7:30pm. Tony Hunt and Gary Snyder:
Benefit: Oakland’s Elizabeth House
Genesis, Structure and Meaning in Gary Snyder’s
Mountains and Rivers without End.
• Sunday, 5/16, 2pm. James Kelman: You Have to be
“Sweet Inspirations,” Art Auction and Dessert
Reception. Saturday, May 15, 7pm. Holy Redeemer
Center, 8945 Golf Links Rd. Tickets, $25. Elizabeth
house provides residential and support services for
homeless and low-income women and children at
6423 Colby Street in Rockridge. Call 601-1213 for
more information, or to donate art.
Volunteers Needed
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
• Toddler Story Time: Sat, 10:30am: 5/8,6/5.
• Pre-School Story Hour: Weds, 10:30 & 11am:
Careful in the Land of the Free.
• Thursday, 5/20, 7:30pm. Barry Gifford: Do the Blind
Dream?.
• Sunday, 5/23, 2pm. Carol Snow: The Seventy
5/5,5/19,6/2.
• Pajama Story Time: Tues, 7pm:5/11,5/25,6/8.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
• Claudine Naganuma Dance Troupe: Sat, May 8,
Preposition (poetry).
• Wednesday. 5/26, 7:30pm. Jonathan Raymond:
The Half Life.
• Thursday, 5/27, 7:30pm. Students from Renee
• Alameda County Community Food Bank. All
2pm. Theater/dance performance in celebration
of Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. All
ages welcome.
FOR ADULTS:
• Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
welcome, including groups and kids 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.
• Bambino Thrift Shop: All Volunteer Shop benefit-
Swindle’s writing class at U.C. Berkeley Exten-
sion, Developing the Novel ll, will read from their
novels-in-progress.
For more inf. about readings, book/discussion groups and
classes: 653-9965 or www.dieselbookstore.com.
Tuesday of each month, 6 to 8pm,(6/1) Advance
sign-up 5pm.
ing Oakland Children’s Hospital. 5290 College
Ave. Volunteers needed Tues through Sat. We
will train you to help with pricing, selling and
merchandise display. 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 time
commitment of at least one hour. Located at Col-
lege Avenue Presbyterian Church, (next to Dryers
ice cream). Contact Jennifer Bloom, Director:
655-0540 or teachers@noccs.org.
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