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VOL. 19 NO. 10 ISSUE NO. 206 November 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
Changed Use Proposed for Claremont/Colby Building
A view of the existing building at
Colby & Claremont (inset below)
and a sketch of the recent redesign
proposal by K Square architects.
PHOTO CREDIT: ADRIENNE DEANGELO
Residents appeal proposed
retail development at
Colby and Claremont
by Adrienne DeAngelo
Coordinator, Claremont-Colby Coalition
On a dreary Saturday morning in Octo-
ber, the newly formed Claremont-Colby
Coalition met, determined to overturn what
it sees as capricious city zoning laws and to
fight for the best interests of their neigh-
borhood.
developers say they don’t know what kind
of tenants might be interested in moving
into the space, but they explained that the
design would divide the building into two
1,500 sq. ft. areas for retail or general food
use, with picture windows and lighted
signage on both the Colby and Claremont
street sides.
The coalition, comprised of residents
of the Claremont/Colby/Forest area of
Rockridge, was first alerted to the pos-
sibility of a new development project in
its neighborhood over Labor Day weekend.
That’s when San Francisco-based devel-
oper K Square, which designed Beckett’s
in Berkeley and Bacar in San Francisco,
outlined a proposed retail outlet at 5715
Claremont, a single-story building at the
Colby Street intersection.
Concerned about the impact of retail
in a residential zone, residents gathered at
a September Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council (RCPC) meeting to hear what
developers Russ Keil and Doris Krevsky
had in mind.
Last week, during a two-hour, hotly
debated Oakland Planning Commission
meeting, all but Michael Lighty voted
to approve the project with the following
conditions:
Until the new design is complete, the
CHANGED USE, PAGE 13
agenda: RCPC Town Hall Meeting – Children’s Books Forum
It’s 7 O’Clock —
Do You Know What
Your Child Is Reading?
Thursday, November 18, 7:00 pm.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room (Upstairs)
A children’s books forum:
by Jennifer Edmister
I
Patricia Lichter, Rockridge Branch
head librarian presents the Oakland
Public Library’s 2005 Master Plan.
t’s a cozy fall, and the holidays are fast
upon us. But with these cheery times,
parents also face the daunting prospect
of occupying their bustling youngsters
on long, rainy, television-susceptible
days. Many of us are also contemplating
holiday gifts that won’t stunt brainwaves
during those same indoor hours. On both
counts, may we
Children’s Librarian Gay Ducey:
adventures awaiting young readers in
the Rockridge Branch.
Local author Melissa Lion: her first
novel for young adults, Swollen, was
published this year.
Children’s literature specialists from
Diesel and Pendragon bookstores
share trends and offer suggestions.
BOOK FORUM, PAGE 6
Pirate and Pumpkin
Ken Finn and his daughter Freesia get
ready to join in the annual Rockridge
Hallowe’en Parade. Story page 4.
2.
November 6, 2004
In My Opinion
&## !
, %+
Should There be
Higher Density Housing Along College Avenue?
E
" ( (-'(&!( $ * "#) # % (' !
ditor’s Note: An opinion piece by Hiroko Kurihara in the October issue of The Rockridge
News urged an increase in housing density along College Avenue as a way to create a sustain-
able community and attract neighborhood-serving businesses (In My Opinion,“Building on the
Bungalow and the Rockridge Way of Life,” p.2). Below are two letters responding to the article,
one boldly rejecting the proposal and another expressing interest in constructing housing more
suitable for seniors. These responses may represent round one in a renewed debate on neighbor-
hood housing density.
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.
“No” to More Apartment Buildings in Rockridge!
by Gary Lippman
W
hen I moved into my house in the Rockridge neighborhood, area residents asked
me to sign a petition opposing the construction of apartment buildings along the
“Broadway Corridor” from College Avenue to the freeway, Highway 24. Having just
purchased a house one lot off of Broadway, I readily signed. I moved to this area to get
away from rampant development.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa ..........................Editor-in-Chief
Ortrun Niesar,
Claire Isaacs........................ Writers
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
Why on earth would anyone living in this neighborhood advocate for increased hous-
ing density along College Avenue? Surely, Rockridge residents who live near College
Avenue don’t want their privacy and quiet compromised even more!
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
With the new California “in-law addition” rules, the density of this neighborhood
will increase in a slow, sustainable way, house to house, over the years, as homeown-
ers add in-law units to their single family dwellings. Isn’t that going to be enough for
Rockridge?
RCPC Board of Directors, 2004-2005
Daniel Ferdelman ..............Co-Chair
Deborah Weinstein...........Co-Chair
Jessica Pitt ...........................Vice-Chair
Mike Taylor..........................Secretary
Ehab Bandar........................Treasurer
Residents of the new multiple unit apartments proposed by Kurihara will undoubtedly
have cars, pickups or sport utility vehicles, and will want to park them along the streets
crossing or terminating at College Avenue, thus adding to parking congestion.
Jennifer Edmister, Cy Gulassa
Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk, Mike McDonald,
If the College Avenue corridor is over-developed, then I fear that the developers and
their advocates will push to build multiple story housing along the Broadway corridor,
thereby compromising the valued privacy of nearby residents.
Theresa Nelson, John Potis, Camille Reed
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS
Of course, all of us living here would love to have a neighborhood pharmacy and a
neighborhood hardware store we can walk or ride our bicycles to. In fact, I have been
riding my bicycle to Elmwood Hardware for 30 years, Grand Lake Hardware for 30 years,
and to the late great G and G Hardware in the Temescal district for several decades. If
I merely need a screwdriver, I can purchase one at Long’s, a short walk from any house
in Rockridge, or at Albertson’s or Safeway. There are pharmacies near College and
Alcatraz and in Long’s. For Kaiser members, there are several pharmacies at Kaiser. I
suspect that many Rockridge residents order their prescriptions online.
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:
There is no rational reason to give up our “romantic notions” of living in bungalows
in Rockridge. Many people moved here specifically to live in Rockridge bungalows and
they should be able to do so without being compromised by big apartment buildings
and their residents.
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
Readers should contact RCPC’s Land Use and
HIGHER DENSITY?, PAGE 11
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PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 644-4228
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
December 4, 2004
December deadline is November 18.
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.
November 6, 2004
Otterbein
Manor on
Manila
Avenue just
off College,
houses some
40 seniors.
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.
Three friends at
Otterbein, from left:
Adele Miller, Fanya
Yeliseyeva and Alice
Correll.
327 63RD STREET
Proposal: To replace an existing detached
garage with a new and larger garage located
at the rear of an existing single-family dwelling
Applicant/Owner: Mary Joanne Irwin
Contact Person/Phone Number: Ivor Brown
510/652-2184
Planning Permits Required: Special Residential
Design Review to replace an existing non-conform-
ing garage, and Minor Variance to maintain a 6" side
yard setback where 5 feet minimum is required.
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property (PDHP); Survey rating: D2+
Case Planner: Maurice Brenyah-Addow,
238-6342 or mbrenyah@oaklandnet.com.
PHOTO: LYDIA GANS
Living History:
Rockridge’s Otterbein Manor
by Lydia Gans, Staff Writer
R
ockridge is a great neighborhood to live in. There are all sorts of fine restaurants
and specialty stores, convenient public transportation, many lovely houses and lots
of greenery. Best of all, it is not exclusive; there are no fences or gates to keep people
out. So among the affluent young families who can buy expensive homes, there are
elderly folks, some with limited incomes, who are able to live in the neighborhood. All
of which makes for a diverse mix of people who can help each other, learn from each
other and generally create a more interesting community.
Otterbein Manor on Manila Avenue just off College, houses some 40 elderly people,
all subsisting on limited incomes. Some were born in foreign countries; others hail from
all over the United States.
Alice Correll has lived there eight years. I first met her many years ago when she
came to my door campaigning for a political candidate. She can’t get around much any
more, but she is still deeply interested in politics. She used to organize activities for the
building residents and, though she is more limited now in what she can do, she keeps
in touch and stays informed. Some of the residents in the building are very private
and keep to themselves, but others, like Alice, keep connected with each other and the
community.
There is the diminutive Chinese couple who speak little English and spend their
days across the street in the library, and a Russian couple who are also struggling with
English. (The wife’s first name is Ninel, Alice tells me, which is Lenin spelled back-
wards). A Latino man down the hall was a professional baseball player. Adele, also on
Alice’s floor, served in the WACs in World War II. Alice describes Beverly as the one
who “takes care of everybody.” She goes
around every night checking up to make
sure everyone is OK.
Chester Chan spends his time going on
board ships in the harbor helping foreign
crewmen, many Asians and Phillipinos, who
are often not allowed ashore, with their mail
and paperwork or whatever they need. He
regularly goes to DeLauer’s Newstand on
Broadway to get them newspapers from
their home towns.
A popular and well-known figure in the
building and the neigh-
FRIENDS, PAGE 14
4.
November 6, 2004
Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!
by Mike Taylor
O
Book of World Records set in Slovakia of
108 strollers pushed one mile, but while
the Rockridge route exceeded one mile, the
number of participants lagged. Undiscour-
aged, Heller says they’ll try to break the
record again in Spring.
n a picture-perfect Hallowe’en after-
noon, several hundred goblins, wizards,
princesses, and other costumed holiday
trick or treaters paraded along College
Avenue on October 31, enjoying goodies
from local merchants. The annual event,
co-sponsored by RCPC and the Rockridge
District Association (RDA), was organized
with the help of many by Doug Farrow of
Jucy’s. From Hudson Bay Caffe and Chic
at the south end of College up to Vero and
Agatha Rainford Boutique at the north end,
over fifty merchants participated.
On
Hallowe’en,
Hermione
Granger
was out
looking
for Harry
Potter.
Anybody
see him?
Theresa Nelson of the RCPC worked
closely with the RDA in organizing the Hal-
loween Parade. Watching from the corner
of College and Keith, Nelson observed,
“The wonderful thing about the parade
is the fabulous creativity of the children’s
costumes. It puts a smile on your face all
day long.”
PHOTO: CY
GULASSA
sponsored a Stoller Brigade. Oganized by
Jan Heller, the brigade carried signs related
to favorite ballot initiatives and candidates.
Heller had hoped to break the Guinness
Besides passing out treats, Redhound
had a Pet Costume Contest, Namaste held a
Circus Yoga, and Christensen Heller Gallery
To get involved in planning this annual
event, call the RCPC voicemail at 644-4288
and leave your contact information.
Plague of Burglaries Has Rockridge Hills Residents on Edge
by Susan Montauk, NCPC
Awindows. He steals electronic equipment
and jewelry and probably has a car parked
nearby to carry off the goods.
ment. As two examples, he cites a lack of
communication up and down the chain of
command and a shortage of personnel that
can be assigned to burglary investigations.
He urges concerned citizens to write letters
or send e-mails to their councilmember, the
mayor and OPD.
bout 60 nervous Upper Rockridge
residents attended the October 19
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
(NCPC) meeting at the Temescal Library to
voice their concerns about a series of bur-
glaries that has plagued their neighborhood
(police beat 13X, just west of Highway 13) in
the last two months. Frightened by accounts
of several face-to-face confrontations with
one of the perpetrators and frustrated by
the increase of these types of crimes, they
came seeking help from the Oakland Police
Department (OPD) and the greater Rock-
ridge NCPC steering committee.
Watson said the cat burglar is most likely
a professional criminal, possibly a parolee,
who gets a high from facing his victims.
But he has not been violent or aggressive.
One victim confronted the burglar as he
was entering her back door and chased him
away only to discover that he had already
stolen property on a prior trip. Another
found him in her house and screamed at
him to leave, pointing to the exit. He did
so immediately, climbing over a roof and
a fence to get away.
Update: Suspect Arrested
A parolee has been arrested on suspicion
of being the notorious Oakland hills cat
burglar. Police warn, however, that evidence
is still being gathered and that residents
should remain on high alert, especially since
other burglars may be involved in the rash
of break-ins. Police data also show that the
burglaries are not confined to hill homes.
As of October 28, 59 homes have been
burglarized in North Oakland, a majority
in upper and lower Rockridge.
OPD suspects at least two perpetrators
are involved: a daytime burglar who may
be a Hispanic male and a nighttime cat
burglar (one who steals when people are
at home). Strapped by staffing shortages,
OPD has assigned beat 12X Officer Johnna
Watson overtime hours to work with 13X
Beat Officer Felicia Aisthorpe on these
burglaries.
Tracking down and catching these crimi-
nals is no easy matter. Upper Rockridge
has not been a hotbead of crime unitl now,
experiencing primarily auto theft and auto
burglaries, so not many Home Alert groups
exist. Also, neighbors in this area tend not
to know each other well so strangers are
not easily identified. The cat burglar has
left no prints — he is reported to wear
white gloves.
U
SAFETY TIPS: If you come home and
find that your home has been burglarized,
exit the house immediately and find a safe
place to hide, such as your car, where you
can observe the house. Never explore the
house yourself: the burglar may still be on
the premises. Call 911 as soon as possible
to report the burglary. Tell OPD dispatch
you do not know whether the burglar is
still in the house. If you call from a cell
phone, dial 510/777-3211. (Program this
emergency number into your cell phone.
Do not use 911 – you will be connected
to the California Highway Patrol.) Lock
doors and windows and turn on your
alarm, even when you are at home.
Watson reported that witness and victim
reports have developed this profile of the
suspected cat burglar: Male black, 40s,
well-dressed (as in a business suit), 6' tall,
athletic build, bald or shaven head, thin
goatee and sometimes wearing glasses. He
apparently fits into the neighborhood. The
officers believe he may spend morning hours
walking around to identify his targets, usu-
ally about two houses in the same evening,
choosing homes that have open doors and
pper Rockridge resident Stephen Fox
is leading the effort to organize local
residents; their first Home Alert meeting was
held October 25. E-mail networks and phone
trees are being set-up to speedily dissemi-
nate information and alerts of suspicious
behavior. His group is working hand-in-hand
with the assigned officers to solve these
crimes. However, Fox is concerned about
systemic problems in the police depart-
5.
November 6, 2004
Europe, mache is also known as field let-
tuce, or lamb’s lettuce. The narrow, dark
green leaves of mache are very tender and
have a tangy nutlike flavor. Mache does
not keep well and should be used within a
day or two of purchase. My new favorite
green is sorrel. Sorrel has a sour and acidy
taste. For salads, only young sorrel leaves
should be used as the more mature leaves
are very sour and best for soups.
Although somewhat expensive, gourmet
greens have so much flavor you need just
a few leaves, some herbs and a minimalist
dressing to create an exquisite, after-meal
composed salad. Gourmet salad greens
bruise easily and need to be handled with
care. Most are grown in sandy soil and tend
to be gritty and may need to be washed
several times. In contrast to head lettuces,
delicate baby greens should be soaked in
cold water, gently swirled, and pat-dried
with a kitchen towel instead of using a
salad spinner.
Rflavors of their own and require little dress-
ing. Instead of weighing them down with
dressing, young salad chefs simply coat them
with high-grade extra virgin oil, some lemon
juice and a few select herbs.
Rabbit Food
As a child of the 40s and 50s, a salad
in my home consisted of iceberg let-
tuce, tomato wedges and sliced cucumbers
served with what my mother called Russian
dressing — a mixture of mayonnaise and
ketchup. Much to my mother’s dismay, I
called the salad rabbit food. By the time I
was a young adult, I wanted nothing to do
with salads. Why would anyone go to an all-
you-can-eat salad bar? Soup and salad? Not
for me. Dressing on the side? Don’t bother,
just hold the lettuce. I’m no rabbit.
Once only available at high-end green
grocers, greens like arugula, radicchio,
frisee, chicory, purslane, and the new kid
on the block, mache, can be found in most
supermarkets. Both Market Hall Produce
and Yasai Market carry a wide selection of
seasonal greens. Because these greens have
very distinctive flavors, I would suggest
first tasting a bit of each leaf. For example,
arugula, also called rocket, is a bitterish,
aromatic salad green with a peppery mustard
flavor. It is extremely popular in Italy, but
Americans might find its flavor too asser-
tive. Radicchio, chicory, endive, frisee and
escarole tend to have a bittersweet taste and
are best used when young, as they increase
in bitterness with age. Small combinations
of these greens form the basis for a spe-
cial salad mix called mesclun. Mache is
the newest “in” gourmet green. Native to
ather than a formal recipe this month,
I would suggest a composed arugula,
basil, and fig salad. On a plate place a large
handful of arugula leaves; sprinkle over
them thinly sliced fresh basal and fresh
mint. Cut two firm-ripe figs into quarters
lengthwise; scatter figs over the greens.
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. This
will make one first-course serving. How
easy is this? No salt, pepper or vinegar.
Remember, for these types of salads, less
is more. Run, rabbit, run.
Rabbits beware. Over the past several
years there has been a revolution in avail-
ability of leafy greens that give a whole new
meaning to tossed and composed salads.
Traditional iceberg lettuce is somewhat
tasteless, so it is served with thick, flavor-
ful dressings such as blue cheese or ranch.
Remember those salad bars with crocks of
gooey dressing and long ladles to spoon
onto the salad? Today’s greens have distinct
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the Cali-
fornia Culinary Academy. His e-mail is
kaufman42@earthlink.net. Barry is available for
private cooking classes and fundraising events.
The Fall and Winter Market
Agents know that this season is a slower time
for real estate activity. Even in a hot seller’s market,
selling prices can be impacted. Buyers can be reluc-
tant to buy and move; sellers are concerned about a
winter sale; and now there is a general concern about
the economy, politics, and risky loan packages. For
Buyers, this can be a good time to persist and receive
some relief on pricing. For Sellers, home preparation
for sale and proper pricing is critical. Despite media
reports, more homes are sitting on the market longer
due to excessive pricing and poor presentation.
Contact me to discuss your next real estate decision:
1-800-805-8827 JeffAuen@Comcast.net
www.HomesEastBay.info
6.
November 6, 2004
Book Forum
In My View: Book Review
With God On Their Side
from page 1
“Bush is surrounded by advisors… who believe that his presidency was ordained by God”
suggest something that doesn’t beep, buzz or
shoot laser fire? We do guarantee that your
kids will light up. On Thursday, November
18 at 7p.m., RCPC invites you and your
family to join our children’s book forum.
Pby Jessica Pitt
P
ublished on the eve of the 2004 Presidential election, Esther Kaplan’s new book With
God On Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy, and
Democracy in George W. Bush’s White House (The New Press, 2004) is an investigation
of the influence of the Christian Right on the Bush administration. Kaplan, a journalist
and daughter of former RCPC board member Meredith Kaplan, discusses the myriad
ways she finds that Christian fundamentalism has seeped into American policy, from
abortion and sex education to gay rights, social services, court appointments, medical
research, and even international relations.
atricia Lichter, the head librarian at the
Rockridge Branch Library, will kickoff
our discussion by presenting the 2005 Master
Plan for the Oakland Public Libraries. Then,
children’s librarian Gay Ducey will bring
our focus to children’s literature. Gay will
entice us with the adventures that await
young readers in the Rockridge Branch,
from children’s programs offered this fall,
to hot titles that line the knee-high shelves.
Gay has a bird’s-eye view of what excites
young readers, and will also share a wise
perspective on what parents may want to be
cautious about. Come with your questions
about age-appropriate materials, and learn
what’s big in the backpack, from anime to
the classics we all remember.
Kaplan begins by providing a glimpse into the Bush administration. She writes,
“This is an administration where weekly Bible study at the White House is attended
by more than half the White House staff, and daily Bible study at the Department of
Justice is presided over by the Attorney General. It is an administration where the staff
of the General Services Administration hold revival meetings at lunch hour.” From his
trusted political strategist, Karl Rove, to his chief speechwriter, his Attorney General,
and many other high ranking administration officials, Bush is surrounded by advisors
who share his Christian faith and believe that his presidency was ordained by God, not
to mention the many evangelical Christian leaders with whom Bush and his administra-
tion interact regularly, and who have had unprecedented access to the President and a
profound influence on every aspect of government, Kaplan writes.
Kaplan systematically moves from one policy domain to another, exposing the degree
to which she finds Christian fundamentalism has shaped this administration’s policies.
Beginning with foreign relations and moving to social policy, science, abortion rights, gay
rights, HIV/AIDS, education, and the judiciary, Kaplan provides an in-depth account of
how Bush has ceded huge swaths of his domestic and international policy to the Christian
Right in order to shore up his base among Christian conservatives.
RCPC is also pleased to present local
author Melissa Lion, whose first novel for
young adults, Swollen, was published by
Random House this year. Hailing from St.
Mary’s College with a graduate degree in
creative writing, Melissa offers her young
readers an “edgy, literary experience,” not
limited to fantasy. Melissa’s second novel,
Upstream, will be published next spring.
The picture that emerges from With God On Their Side is indeed disturbing, and
should set off alarm bells for those, like myself, who believe in the separation of church
and state. In four short years, that separation has been deeply eroded. As Kaplan points
out, even with a change in administration, the muscle that Bush has put behind the
Christian right agenda will have a lasting impact.
With God on Their Side is a well-researched and readable account of possibly one
of the most profound policy shifts to occur in this country in decades. As Kaplan con-
vincingly argues, the Bush administration has offered this once marginal movement a
degree of influence over the federal government that far outstrips their sway over any
previous administration; and she argues there has been far too little public debate about
its corrosive effects on our basic values of pluralism and democracy.
Rounding out our discussion, children’s
literature specialists from Diesel and Pen-
dragon, our very own College Avenue
booksellers, will also be on hand to share
their experiences with recent trends and to
offer their suggestions.
For anyone who knows a child who
loves to read, or knows a reluctant reader
ready to discover the joy of books, this is
a night not to miss!
5295 College Avenue (nr Broadway)
Oakland • 510 601 8828
Sales are still hot & it's Fall!
Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
4975 Desmond St.
3/2
$549,000
$650,000
10/13/04
6080 Ocean View Dr.
3/1.5
$759,000
$760,000
10/15/04
452 Hudson St.
2/1
$680,000
$793,000
10/14/04
6151 Harwood Ave.
4/3.5
$929,000
$930,000
10/05/04
50 Elrod Ave.
4/3.5
$1,195,000
$1,275,000
10/19/04
6475 Florio St.
4/3
$1,150,000
$1,505,000
10/15/04
Please contact me if you are interested in buying or selling.
7.
November 6, 2004
Joining Barclay’s
Parliament Beer
Tasting Club
Tricia quaffs her lead-off beer selection
with Andy as she signs up for
the Parliament Beer Club
at Barclay's.
PHOTO: CY GULASSA
and am marking off my
first pint of beer, number
1,170 from the “beer
card” I’ve received. For
an initial fee of $10 you
can join the club. There
are over 1,700 different
beers to chose from, and
as a member you mark off
each different brew you consume
from your “beer card.” The bar will
keep your card on file at the pub. The more
beer you consume, the more stuff you get,
such as a T-shirt, dinner for two, or a com-
memorative pin. Plus, once you’ve reached
your 100th beer, pat yourself on the back
— that’s one hell of an accomplishment.
But then celebrate because your name will
be put on a plaque above the bar!
“Make it one for my Baby, and
1,169 for the road”
by Tricia Gragnano
I
’m riding my bicycle past the 76 Station
on my way home after a very boring
day at work. Heading south down College
Avenue, preparing for some cranky person
to cut me off during rush-hour, I’m ready to
hit the brakes at any given moment. When
I spot a vacant meter across from Barclay’s,
I impulsively pull my bike over to the curb.
“Ah,” I sigh. I’ve found my happy hour. The
sun is falling behind College Avenue just
as the twilight breeze arrives.
“Mmm… I can taste those qualities,” I said
to myself. Then I learned even more. Not
about the beer, but about Barclay’s and the
Parliament Beer Tasting Club.
Andy informed me that every second
Sunday of the month, beers are half off for
beer club members. And the first Tuesday
of the month, Barclay’s will introduce a
new beer for Parliament Club members to
sample and mark off on their beer cards.
Membership benefits include invitations
to meetings and other events, as well as
dinners with brewers.
I lock my bike to the meter, pull down
the right pant leg of my 501s, zip up my
sweater and jay-walk over to the pub. I walk
right up to the bar and sit down, my mouth
watering for some of that hoppin’ Indian
Pale Ale (IPA) on tap. Just as I sit on the
barstool, a guy says to me, “Hello there,
name’s Andy.” He has a warm smile on his
face, is tall, and is carrying some weight
around his belly. I smile briefly and say
hello back, even though I am thinking to
myself that the last thing I want to do is have
some lousy conversation with a stranger.
But I say hello back, and give Andy fair
warning that I’ll be going outside to read
my book.
After I learned about all of this, I had
to ask, “Andy, has anyone ever finished the
entire list?” He just smiled. He said not ever
to his knowledge, but plenty of Rockridge
patrons are in here daily eagerly marking
off their lists.
From here, Andy educated me about beer.
He explained, “When the foam of the beer
sits along the edge of a pint, that means
the beer has a high alcoholic content.” He
told me more about the consistencies of
the brews and the entire brewing process.
I grabbed for my pint and took a sip of the
IPA I’d been educated on, and looked for the
dark, rich, chocolate flavor he described.
I can see Andy’s face light up as he
speaks about the bar, the club, and the beer.
I never knew my happy hour was going to
be this informative, but at this point I tell
Andy, my new friend, “I’m going outside
to read my book.” I want to finish my pint
alone, and consider what my impulse had
gotten me into. Overall, I am pleased with
my decision. I now know how to skip rush
hour traffic, and just pedal down to this
Rockridge favorite, mark off a pint from
my card, and have a not so lousy conversa-
tion after all.
Thirty minutes later I have joined the
Barclay’s “Parliament Beer Tasting Club,”
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The sun is down and I still have to ride
my bike up the hill. I shake hands with
my friend and say that I’ll be seeing him
soon, especially now that we belong to the
same club.
I’ve got a long way to go with this list,
but I’ll tell you I’m sure it’ll be worth
every ounce! If you’re ever in the mood
for a refreshing beer on tap, or you feel
like joining a club in which everyone is
happy-go-lucky (perhaps tipsy), than I sug-
gest this local pub. It’s one of those places
where “everyone knows your name.”
'% + %*
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“That’s right, Trish,” Andy says.
8.
November 6, 2004
The Rockridge Muse by Ortrun Niesar
Guitarist Richard Flores
performed for a rapt audience
at the Roble Road home of
Claire and William Wahrhaftig
on Sunday, October 24. The
Music 4 Kerry event included
professional opera singers
Nanette McGuinness, Virginia
Chen, Jonathan Smucker,
Patrick Leveque and pianist
William G. Ludtke. Organized
and supported by many
volunteers, the fundraiser
included a gourmet buffet and
fine wines from Jewel Winery
and Taste Catering.
Giving Thanks
To Arts Participants
Art for Politics
Thank you to all the artists and their
sponsors who contributed their talent
to fundraising events during this year’s
hotly debated election campaign. In the
last weeks the invitations simply flowed,
and the money did too. The artists donated
their talents, the organizers their homes
and energy to make it all happen. We
celebrate the spirit and generosity of
the people who live here and contribute
so much to the common good. May you
have reached your financial goals. May the
candidate of your choice have won!
exhibition at the Rockridge library.
Thank you to Ted Williams for that great
collectable poster. Events like this take
many hours of hard work and personal
commitment to make them happen. We
hope you enjoyed the show. If you are
interested in working with us on the
next one, call Ortrun at 652-6664 for
more information.
PHOTO: CY GULASSA
18. Thank you to Ken Rice who produced
the beautiful poster, and to the many
Rockridge artists who contributed works
of art. We hope that you will want to
come and bid on some of the ingenious
creations, like Kate Runyan’s “Three
Strikes” or Linda Lemon’s weightless
paper construction.
Rockridge Photography
Exhibition
Thank you to all who participated
in the October Rockridge Photography
Pro Arts BoxArt 2004
Thank you to the many artists and
supporters who help make the annual
Pro Arts BoxArt fundraiser a real
financial success each year. Pro Arts
is our community arts organization. It
supports over 1,000 artist members from
our neighborhoods. This year’s challenge
was to take a piece of drywall from the
former gallery on Ninth Street and turn
it into a work of art for display at the
new gallery on Clay and Second Streets
at Jack London Square. One-hundred-fifty
artists contributed some incredible works
that will be sponsored and auctioned off
at the closing reception on November
For gallery hours, information and
how you can sponsor an artist, call
510/763-4361.
December Rockridge
Arts Scene
Holiday Open Studios in Rockridge
will take place December 4-5. We thank
these wonderful participating artists for
being a part of our community and for
contributing their artworks so often to
local charities such as Ehouse for their
fundraisers. See the notice below for details
on this year’s participating artists. Go
visit them; take a friend with you.
ARTIST
ADDRESS
MEDIA
DATES
Carol Aust
655 63rd St
Painting
December 4, 5
Chris Barrett
6525 Chabot Rd
Ceramics
December 4, 5
Belinda Briones
5130 Desmond St
Painting
December 4, 11
Ann Daniels
5599 Lawton
Unique jewelry
Dec. 4, 5, 12
Karen LeGault
5233 Locksley
East/West fusion
December 4, 5
watercolors
Linda Lemon
5524 Vicente
Handmade paper
December 4, 5
and mixed media
Liz Maxwell
5808 Chabot Rd
Painting, prints
December 4, 5
Gayle Roberts
6525 Chabot Rd
Functional pottery
December 4, 5
Joan Tanzer
6525 Chabot Rd
Polaroid manipulated
December 4, 5
prints and raku
Janet Welch
6525 Chabot Rd
Ceramics
December 4, 5
Tudi Wehrman
6525 Chabot Rd
Glass jewelry, ceramics
December 4, 5
Nagisa Yamamoto
5533 Taft Ave
Art to wear: Adults, kids
December 4, 5
Joanne Yeaton
2733 Alcatraz
Painting, mixed media
December 11, 12
Wendy Yoshimura
474 43rd Street
Watercolors, prints
December 11, 12
Rockridge and
Adjacent Area Artists
Invite you to their
HOLIDAY
OPEN STUDIOS
Saturdays,
Sundays
Time: 12 to 5
Dates as shown
at right
9.
November 6, 2004
Sefina Studio’s
Affordable Luxury
A
PHOTO: DON KINKEAD
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MERCHANT
BY THERESA NELSON
t last Rockridge has a store where you
can buy fine lingerie in luscious colors
and fabrics as well as fashionable daywear
and copies of celebrity eveningwear. Sefina
Studio opened in April 2004, and has been
making its mark as a fashion destination on
lower College Avenue ever since.
Sefina Studio
Women’s clothing, accessories and lingerie
Owners: Lily and Jeffrey Campbell
5326 College Avenue, Oakland 547-4779
Hours Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sunday — 12 noon – 4 p.m., and by appointment.
www.sefinastudio.com sefinastudio@yahoo.com
Lingerie in a rainbow of colors hanging
along the top of the wall caught my eye the
moment I walked into the store. Sefina has
almost everything you could ever want in
lingerie, available in silks, cottons and other
fabrics. The Cosabella line from Italy fea-
tures gorgeous colors in many styles: sheer
lace, push-up, stretch, cami, soft and molded
cups, and tanks with built-in bras. There’s
also a line of bras and panties from Mary
Green of San Francisco that were featured
in the film “13 Going on 30”. Sefina also
carries panties in many styles: thongs, boy
leg shorts, bikinis, and hot pants (higher
cut than boy legs). Special options include
the Infinity thong, a super-seamless panty
to wear under tight-cut pants, and the Soiré
thong, voted “most comfortable” in Glamour
magazine. Also available is the Featherlite
Nu Bra, a set of form-fitting bra shapes
perfect for coverage needed under revealing
clothing, using a medical adhesive that can
be used up to 120 times.
flatter every figure, accompanied by the
crisp white cotton shirt with bodice detail
by Laundry. For fall, Sefina has Chanel-
inspired suits from ABS in teal and pink,
and stretch pants in black or white. From
Max Studio comes a cami and skirt set in
cocoa and rose petal, and from Kenneth
Cole, soft supima cotton and silk skirts
and off-the-shoulder sweaters. Cute mesh
sportswear from H Starlet features ribbon
trim on jogging suits.
A
Lily has “a passion not only for clothes
but for solutions, helping people find the
right outfit for an event or travel.” She offers
personal attention, advice and assistance,
and carries lines which respond to her cus-
tomer’s needs. For example, many women
often find regular jeans tend to gap in the
back, so Sefina carries the Joe’s Denim
design called “the Honey,” cited by several
fashion magazines as the best solution to
a neater waistline for curvy women. One
customer who modeled the jeans during
my visit proved the solution works.
Lgreat feature of Sefina Studio is the
collection for evening, proms and
special occasions. Owner Lily Campbell
has selected a wide range of dresses, many
inspired by some of the most popular gowns
worn by celebrities. From ABS come the
“Beyonce” pink corset dress (inspired by
Dior); the pink empire waist chiffon dress
with black sash like the one worn by Renèe
Zellweger in the film “Down With Love”, the
famous “Marilyn” dress in pleated chiffon;
Angelina Jolie’s Narciso Rodriguez-inspired
sheath with satin insets; and Diane Keaton’s
off-the-shoulder matte jersey cocktail dress
from “Something’s Gotta Give.” A platinum
Grecian-style sheath with side button detail
is classic, and there’s a black stain charmeuse
sheath with a vertical “entrance and exit”
ruffle that is stunning. It’s the closest most
of us will ever come to the red carpet, and
these dresses will carry you through almost
any special occasion.
ike many of her colleagues who have
opened unique stores on College
Avenue, Lily has an unusual background.
With a B.S. in microbiology and immu-
nology, she spent 13 years working in the
biopharmaceutical industry before returning
to the Bay Area to look for new opportuni-
ties, and ultimately opened Sefina Studio.
She and her husband, Jeffrey, who manages
some aspects of the business, live in Oak-
land. They are delighted to be able to offer
higher-end clothing here in Rockridge so
that local shoppers can keep their patron-
age and tax dollars in Oakland. They have
been very pleased with the reception they’ve
received in Rockridge. As Lily noted, “the
customers here really know their lines and
cuts and what they want. It’s such a pleasure
to work with this community.”
Sefina Studio offers many interesting
and fun choices. The line of Hollywood
Fashion tops modeled after the famous
Jennifer Lopez green Versace dress offers
a low-cut version which fits a wider variety
of women’s shapes. The 3 Dots t-shirts are
very popular — they were voted best overall
t-shirt in Real Simple magazine — and come
in very soft cotton and clear colors. The ABS
black skirt with contoured seaming would
With the holidays coming up, Sefina
Studio is an important stop for party
dresses, daywear and gifts of lingerie
and other finery.
! ! ! "
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$" %% "! "$#"$& "!
+ &)#$#$& "! + %&&# !! !
+ &)# !! !
+ '% !%%( '& "!
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Complete architectural
services since 1970
5278 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-6755 fax 654-3424
10.
November 6, 2004
Rockridge News Welcomes New Marshals
T
Letters to The Editor
he Rockridge News welcomes our newest distribution Marshals,
the Greenfield/Rogers family, who have volunteered to take
over for Sarah Lamb. Beth, Arti and Sylvie will deliver bundles of
newsletters to Block Captains above Broadway. Other Rockridge
News distribution opportunities are available: see the vacancy list
below to find a fit. Please mention the route number when you call
or e-mail Susan Montauk: 547-3855 or smontauk@juno.com.
The Rockridge News
5245 College Ave., PMB 311
Oakland, CA 94618
or e-mail: editor@rockridge.org
#16D Both sides 5200 Claremont, including apartment at 5248
#11F
From 5418 College, even numbers along College up Manila
including the apartment building to 5474 Manila, then across
the street to the corner of Bryant and Manila down the
odd numbers of 5400 Manila to College.
#14B Both sides of Desmond between Coronado and 51st, and
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Please limit to 200
words and include name, address and a phone number for verification. Only
your name will appear with your letter. Letters may be edited for clarity
and brevity.
51st from Broadway to Coronado
District Captain
#14
Three drops on Glendale, Desmond and Coronado
#06J
Margarido, 6000 Block
SMOKE GETS... EVERYWHERE
Editor:
As a Rockridge resident who walks her dog in the evenings, I
have opportunity to experience regularly and at first hand wood
smoke pollution from fireplaces. On some evenings in winter, I
have returned home with my clothes, my hair, and my dog’s hair
permeated with the smell of smoke.
Wood smoke is responsible for 30% of particulate matter, a
particularly dangerous form of pollution because the particle size
is so tiny that it easily passes into the lungs, where it remains.
This poses a risk to all, especially the elderly, those with reduced
lung function, and children. The smoke from one fireplace travels
almost a block in whichever direction the air currents drift.
As we approach winter, I would like to ask Rockridge residents
who regularly use their fireplaces to limit this discretionary activ-
ity for the sake of the general health of all. In our mild Bay Area
winters, people are outdoors a lot, day and evening. Having to
breathe fireplace smoke while working outdoors on a cool day or
having smoke come in through a window open for ventilation is
really a violation of our right to clean air. We in Rockridge already
have plenty of pollution from automobiles and trucks, could we
not try to reduce, or better still, stop, this admittedly pleasurable
activity for all our sakes?
Why wait for the new year to start
a new you?
For
more
information
on
this
subject,
see
www.burningissues.org.
Mary Jane Makar
ROCKRIDGE HISTORY IN FOUND RING?
Editor:
I live on Rockridge Boulevard. My husband and I were recently
adding sprinkler lines to our front yard when I discovered what
appears to be a ruby ring. There are initials inside the ring: F. (or
T) C. W. to L. E. B. 7-14-04. The jewel stamp is WWH & Co.,
and the band is gold. I wanted to know if anyone could tell me a
little more about the history. I would like to find out if there were
any jewelers in our area with that stamp. If anyone could offer
more of a research lead, I would appreciate it.
Kimberly Morelli
kimberly@mimanet.com
Make an early resolution to join Curves. It’s easy, fun and
fast and just 30 minutes three times a week gets real results.
www.curvesinternational.com
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(510) 655-8808
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11.
November 6, 2004
Higher Density?
and bath and add more closets, we realized
that one of our children would be coming
home to live, so we decided to finish the
basement and attic as well.
didn’t tax our knees or get us breathless. (It
gets harder every year to lug the vacuum
cleaner and laundry up and down the stairs.)
I don’t expect to be able to find a one-story,
2,500 square foot house on these tiny lots,
but I don’t see any options for those of us
who need a reasonable amount of space
with no steps.
from page 2
Pedestrian and Traffic Safety committees
in writing to urge them to fight strongly
against increases in housing density, and
to push for bicycle racks near area busi-
nesses and residences, not more apartment
buildings.
Rockridge Needs
Senior-Friendly Housing
by Eileen Levin
M
Herein lies the problem. As we get
older, (my husband is 61 and I am 57), we
find that our knees do not like the eight
steep concrete steps up to our house, and
the steps up and down to our respective
office spaces and laundry. In fact, the stairs
may be the single reason that we may leave
Rockridge.
As I read your opinion piece in the Octo-
ber Rockridge News, I caught the sentence
about higher density housing and wondered
what you had in mind. Since we would like
to stay in this neighborhood until we are
carried out, I would like to have some input
in how decisions are made about housing,
transportation and traffic. Please consider
me an interested party in helping to keep
Rockridge a sustainable, “walkable” neigh-
borhood.
We have spent many Sundays looking at
houses in the Rockridge area, for ones with
no stairs that are at least 1600 square feet, or
for condos that have at least two bedrooms
and a den in a building with storage, park-
ing and an elevator. So far, we have had no
luck. I’m beginning to think such housing
doesn’t exist in Rockridge.
y husband and I have been in Rock-
ridge only two years, but we would
like to stay here permanently. My husband
is legally (not totally) blind, and can not
drive, so being near BART and having the
grocery and dry cleaner within walking
distance has given him a sense of mobil-
ity that he lost 21 years ago. Wanting to
“downsize” when our children grew up
and moved on, we bought a two-bedroom
bungalow on Chabot Road. After doing a
fair bit of remodeling to update the kitchen
Walking around College Avenue, I see
many folks in my age bracket; no doubt,
many of them are homeowners in the neigh-
borhood. I wonder how many of us would
love to stay in this neighborhood — if only
we could find reasonably sized housing that
New Stores
Mr. Sandman
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Men and Women
5292 College Avenue 428-1302
Tuesday – Saturday 12 – 8 p.m.
Berkeley Kids Room
Children’s furniture, equipment
General Dentistry
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6022 College Avenue 841-5068
Owners Loretta and Patricia Davis
Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.,
Sunday 12 – 5 p.m.
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12.
November 6, 2004
Yes, I Want to
Help Complete the
Rockridge–Temescal
Greenbelt!
W
FROGPark Donation Form
I’ll sponsor/contribute toward the following piece of park equipment (from
the list at left): ________________________ for $_____________.
Here’s my general donation to the new Greenbelt Park for $__________.
e need to raise up to $25,000
from the community to complete
Phase Two of the entire Greenbelt. City
and State bond funds will pay for most
of this phase, but without community
support, we will have to scale back and
even eliminate some park elements!
Payment Choice
My check is enclosed.
Charge my credit card (circle one) VISA Mastercard
I’ve made a donation with PayPal on the website, www.frogpark.org
Name on card: _________________________________________________
Card Number: ____________________________ Exp. Date: _____________
So far we have raised more than
$13,000, more than halfway to our goal.
You can make it happen with a general
donation or one dedicated to a specific
item like a swing. For gifts of $250 or
more, your company or family name will
appear on the main park plaque.
Name: ________________________________ Email: __________________
Company or Family Name (for acknowledgment): ________________________
StreetAddress:________________________________________________
City / St / Zip code: _________________________ Phone: _____________
Send this form with your check or credit card information payable to: RCPC/
FROGPark, 5245 College Ave PMB #311, Oakland, CA 94618. All donations are tax-
deductible. Federal tax ID#94-3011284. For more information, call: 644-4228.
FROG Park Donation Choices
General Donation Opportunities
Butterfly Garden ........................ $5,000
Adopt-a-foot ($/ft) ........................ $50
Hardy Park and Pathway
Donation Opportunities
Asphalt Play Court ..................... $3,000
Swings (2 still available) ........... $2,500
Drinking Fountain ....................... $2,500
Entry Markers ............................. $1,500
Basketball Hoops ......................... $1,200
Picnic Tables (4 available).......... $1,000
Boulders ............................................. $100
Opportunities for Sustaining
Existing Playground Features
Curly Slide (Hardy)..................... $3,500
Play Tower Upgrade (Hardy) ... $2,500
Wheelchair Ramping, Redondo $2,000
Trading Post or Ohlone House.. $1,500
Vertical Tire Tunnel (Hardy) .... $1,250
Tot Slide (Hardy)......................... $1,200
Spider Web (Hardy).................... $1,000
Fire Pole (Hardy)............................. $700
Chain Bridge (Redondo) ................ $650
Climbing Net .................................... $500
Entry Climbing Net (Hardy) ......... $500
!
!
!
$$
$
#"
!
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
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13.
November 6, 2004
Changed Use
intersection. Developers are not required
by the City to improve traffic patterns or
increase parking. Unfortunately, the inter-
section is a bad one, with everything from
fender benders to more serious accidents
occurring frequently. This intersection has
had more accidents over the past year than
any other in Rockridge, including the busy
one at Claremont and College.
PROJECT UPDATE
Afrom page 1
s of October 28, it appears that
the developers may be backing out
of the project. Regardless of their deci-
sion, the Claremont-Colby Coalition will
continue to explore amending Oakland’s
General Plan to allow for professional use
at the site. Because there will certainly
be other prospective buyers, there will
be opportunity for further input from the
community. Any information about this
space or about the specifics of amending
the General Plan will be helpful.
Retail sales would be allowed until
9 p.m. daily,
The space could be used by a res-
taurant with up to 49 seats,
A restaurant could be open from
7 a.m. until 10 p.m. daily,
Also, for residents of Colby and Forest
Streets, where many homes don’t have drive-
ways, parking is already a challenge. Other
residents are concerned about congestion,
trash, pedestrian safety and noise.
Trucks would make deliveries on
Claremont Avenue,
Trash would be picked up on Clare-
mont Avenue.
Members of the Claremont-Colby Coali-
tion feel these conditions are inappropriate.
They are planning to appeal the Board’s
decision.
Thus, residents strongly favor a pro-
fessional office moving into the vacant
building rather than retailers. In fact, pro-
fessional office space is in short supply in
Rockridge.
responsibly develop this vital corner in our
neighborhood.”
One of the coalition’s primary concerns,
which was not addressed by the commis-
sion, is traffic at the Colby/Claremont
Unfortunately, professional office space
is not specifically included in the City’s
General Plan for this zoning designation. To
pursue this alternative, the coalition needs
to learn more information about previous
uses of the building. Beyond that, it will
be necessary to amend the city’s guidelines
for the General Plan, a long and difficult
process but an important one for the Rock-
ridge community.
To forward their appeal to the Plan-
ning Commission and possibly the City
Council, the Claremont-Colby Coalition
is looking for additional information from
Rockridge residents. If you are aware of
previous uses of the site, or would like to
receive more information, email Adrienne
at adfoodie@yahoo.com, call the coalition
at 658-1353. The more known about the
site, the stronger a case can be made for
professional use.
"SHOULD YOU
SAVE FOR YOUR
KID'S COLLEGE
OR FOR YOUR
RETIREMENT?
OR BOTH?"
“This property provides great possi-
bilities,” according to Ron Kriss, owner of
Lawton Associates Real Estate. “It would
be a shame to squander an opportunity to
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14.
November 6, 2004
Friends
had fled the Chernobyl disaster.
Economic and mobility problems make
it hard for many of the residents to get out
much, but they are still people who care
about the world and have interesting life
stories and insights to share. Satellite
Housing, the nonprofit agency that operates
Otterbein Manor, provides only a part time
“advocate/service coordinator.” It would be
nice if an organization or individuals in
the community made a connection with
the residents and offered to help organize
some projects or activities that would be
of mutual enjoyment and benefit. (Contact
Lydia at lydiagans@juno.com)
from page 3
borhood is Fanya Yeliseyevna. Dressed in
bright-colored clothes with a hat perched
on her red hair, she strolls up and down the
Avenue with a smile for everybody. Even
with her limited English, she communicates,
and she usually comes home with a flower
that someone has given her. She too has an
interesting history. Born in Belarus, she
enlisted in the Red Army in World War II
and sustained severe injuries which she still
suffers from. She and her husband lived in
many different parts of the world before
coming here to join family members who
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. December deadline is November 18.
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.
Pilates or Gyrotonic®
Free 30-minute private session*.First class FREE*
in Pilates, Yogilates, NIA®, Gyrokinesis®, and/
or Yamuna® Body Rolling. (*For new clients).
Mind-Body Connection, 5255 College Ave,
420-0444 (www.mindbodyconnection.net)
Personalized Weight Loss
Healthy Living Solutions. FREE body analysis
and personalized consultation. “…Good Health
& Wellness through Good Nutrition…” Gary
Sinick 510/597-1129 www.for-a1health.com.
Your local Herbalife Independent Distributor
Housecleaning
Reasonable rates. Expert & reliable services
from local employment cooperative. Call
534-6766 and we’ll send someone to spiff
up your home. Ask for our references from
Rockridge clients.
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
English Tutor
Rockridge resident tutors students in reading,
writing, grammar, college application essays. 20
years of experience as a professional writer, editor
and journalist; experience tutoring English, math,
ESL. Harvard M.A. Susan 510/466-5502
Temporary Room Rental
Having out of town guests and nowhere to put
them? Large, sunny room available in Crafts-
man home in Rockridge/Elmwood area. See
website for photos and info. http://geocities.com/
cayenne2810 or call 547-8788.
Crossroads Art Center
Art Classes and more for 3-14 year olds.
Cartooning-animation, video production,
paint-draw, ceramics-sculpture, Steel drums,
drama, basketball clinic. On-going registration:
Hillside School, 1581 Leroy St., Berkeley, near
UC campus at Euclid/Hearst. 528-5006.
Antique Repair and Refinishing
Experienced and Knowledgeable. All types of
furniture. New finishes, repairs, waxing, p/u
& delivery available. Family-run since 1990.
E-mail pictures for estimates and questions.
Bruce@BayAreaAntiques.com 534-0603.
$ #
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15.
November 6, 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 Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
• Sunday, 11/21, 2pm. Diesel’s Cookbook Club
North Oakland Multi-Purpose Senior Center
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Center Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:45am to
4:45pm.
• Wednesday, 11/1, 1pm to 4pm: Free Foot and
presents Harold McGee discussing techniques
and history of food preparation.
• Wednesday, 12/1, 7:30pm. Julie Carr and
Saturday, December 4, 10am to noon: Peralta
Elementary School: 460 63rd St. (parking on
Alcatraz Ave., just east of Telegraph). TOPIC:
Sustainability and the environment. For more
information: 238-7001, or www.oaklandnet.com
(the site for all City related information).
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Jennifer Dick: Poetry reading.
For more information about readings, book/
discussion groups and classes: 653-9965 or
www.dieselbookstore.com.
Book Reading at The Pasta Shop
Health Clinic.
• Saturday, 11/20, 4pm to 8pm: Harvest Dance
Party, fundraiser for NOSC.
The Newsletter, “North Oakland Senior Times”
provides a full schedule of classes as well as a
monthly menu for lunch: (suggested donation:
seniors age 60 + $2.25 and $4 for those under age
60). Call 597- 5085 to get details about member-
ship, newsletter, classes/events and opportunities
to become a volunteer.
Volunteers Needed
5565 College Avenue. Saturday, 11/13, 3-5pm.
Patricia Wells, International Herald Tribune food
critic discussing The Provençe Cookbook. Includes
food and cheese tasting from the south of France.
More information at 655-7790.
NOCCS Annual Yard & Bake Sale
Steering Committee meets 3rd Tuesday each month,
7 to 8:30pm., Temescal Library, 5205 Telegraph Ave.
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
North Oakland Community Charter School (NOCCS),
410 Alcatraz Avenue (St. Augustine Schoolyard), Sat-
urday, November 13, 9am to 2pm. Clothes for all ages,
toys, household items and more. Parking available.
No early-birds. Sponsored by the After-School Com-
mittee to benefit its scholarship program.
Peralta School
Annual Holiday Bazaar & Auction
• ALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK. All wel-
come, 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.
• BAMBINO THRIFT SHOP: All volunteer shop benefit-
ing Oakland Children’s Hospital, 5290 College Ave.
Volunteers needed Tuesdays through Saturdays.
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 Ave. Presbyterian Church, (next to Dryers
ice cream). Contact Jennifer Bloom, Director,
655-0540 or teachers@noccs.org.
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
For Children:
• Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturday,
10:30am: 11/6, 11/613, 12/4.
• Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesday,
10:30 & 11am: 11/17, 12/1.
• Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 7pm:
11/9, 11/23.
Special Event
Word-for-Word live theater presents “The
Master-Maid.” Best for ages 4 to 14. Tuesday,
11/16, 7pm.
For Adults:
• Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Peralta Elementary School, 460 63rd Street. Sat-
urday, December 4, 1pm to 5pm. Free admission
and childcare. Silent and live auction, food drink,
raffle. Proceeds to pay for librarian, art, music,
sports and other programs. For more info: Josie
Sommer, 601-0574.
Peralta School
Kindergarten Information Events
Tuesday of each month: 12/7, 6 to 8pm. Advance
sign-up 5pm.
Special Event: Robert Schoen, author, musician
and optometrist, will discuss his book, What I
Wish My Christian Friends Knew About Judaism.
Tuesday,11/9, 7pm to 8pm.
460 63rd Street. Consider Peralta as an option for
Kindergarten, Fall 2005. We have dedicated teach-
ers, an active parent community, strong academic
instruction, and vibrant programs in art, music &
gardening. Parent Forum Wednesday, November
10, 6:45 p.m. Meet current Peralta parents and dis-
cuss their experiences in the Peralta community.
Kindergarten Open House Wednesday, January 12,
6:45 p.m. Meet our principal & kindergarten teach-
ers and find out more about Peralta’s instructional
programs.
School Tours are available on Wednesdays and
Thursdays beginning in November. Call the school
to schedule a tour date. To RSVP for childcare for both
events or for more information call 655-2737 Peralta’s
website: www.geocities.com/peraltaschool/
Claremont Middle School Tours
Library Hours:
New Hours: See box, page 2. Closed 11/11 for Vet-
erans’ Day and 11/25 and 11/26 for Thanksgiving.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
5433 College Avenue. All events are FREE and
open to the public.
• Monday, 11/8, 7:30pm. Amnesty International
monthly meeting. All welcome.
• Tuesday, 11/9, 7:30pm. Starhawk: The Earth
Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of
Nature.
• Wednesday, 11/10, 7:30pm. William Vollmann:
Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on
Violence, Freedom, and Urgent Means.
• Thursday, 11/11, 7:30pm. Geneen Roth and Matt
School tours for families of prospective students
will be offered from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on the following
Fridays: Nov. 19, and Dec. 3, 10, and 17. Two 45-
minute tours will be offered each morning. Please call
the school office at 879-2010 to schedule a time.
Activities and Events for Seniors
Weinstein: The Craggy Hole in My Heart, and
Dogs Don’t Bite When A Growl Will Do.
• Sunday, 11/114, 2pm. USF MFA Readings:
Student poetry. Refreshments served.
• Tuesday, 11/16, 7/30pm. Joel Drucker: Jimmy
College Avenue Adult Center
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.
Connors Saved My Life.
• Wednesday, 11/17, 12:30pm (special lunchtime
event). Ian Baker: The Heart of the World.
• Thursday, 11/18, 7:30pm. Valerie Miner: Abun-
dant Light.
16.
November 6, 2004
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