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VOL. 19 NO. 11 ISSUE NO. 207 December 4, 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 Jane Brunner plants an Aristocrat pear
tree on Apgar Street, the first of 1,000 planned for Oakland.
Season’s Greetings!
1,000 Free Trees
For Oakland
See January 2005 meeting preview below.
NO December RCPC Meeting
Help Set RCPC’s 2005 Agenda
Only 999 to go
by Cy Gulasssa
When City Councilmember Jane Brun-
ner first moved into Rockridge, the
trees on her street were mere saplings
planted by neighborhood activists and the
area looked promising but bare. Three
decades later, those saplings have grown
into the wonders that give North Oakland
its distinctive quality
RCPC Board seeks community input for 2005 planning.
by Jessica Pitt, RCPC Vice-Chair
W
PHOTO: CY GULASSA
e need your input! In late January, the RCPC Board will
hold its annual strategic planning retreat. At this day-long
planning session, the
board will set program
priorities for the coming
year, review the budget,
and allocate funding for
the 2005 fiscal year. We
want to make sure that
Rockridge
residents
weigh in and help set the
direction for RCPC.
Share your ideas
about transportation,
traffic, crime, parking,
improvements under
BART, commercial
development, high
density housing,
sustainable community.
TREES, PAGE 11
Rockridge News Editor Wins
Bid to be Peralta Trustee
Rockridge News Editor Cy Gulassa won a decisive victory over
opponent Melanie Sweeny-Griffith for trustee of the Peralta
Community College District in Area 6, receiv-
ing over 72 percent of the 40,000 votes cast
November 2 in Montclair, Rockridge and
North Berkeley. He will be sworn in along
with three other trustees at a December 14 cer-
emony in the Peralta Colleges District Office,
333 East 8th Street, Oakland at 7 p.m.
Please join us at the
January 20 General
Meeting to share your
ideas about where RCPC should focus its attention and resources
in 2005. If you have ideas about what
RCPC should be doing to improve the
2005 AGENDA, PAGE 8
Gulassa says he won because voters are
disgusted with the long history of “question-
able decisions and deal-making” by the current
board. “The same board that voted itself trips
to China and Africa to recruit foreign students
and to outsource work to a company that had
ties with the previous chancellor, just voted in a
lame duck session in November to enter into a contract to sell off Laney
lands to a developer—two weeks before the four new board-member
majority is scheduled to be sworn in,” he said in an interview. “This
is exactly the kind of collusive behavior that has to end.”
Coming This Fall:
Rockridge Kitchen Tour
PHOTO: BRIAN GULASSA
New Peralta
Board Member
Cy Gulassa.
Calling all kitchens and friends of kitchens
by Jennifer Edmister
It’s that time again! The Rockridge
Community Planning Council seeks
renovated or classic kitchens to con-
sider for the 2005 Rockridge Kitchen Tour,
coming in October. Past tours have featured
a variety of exquisite Rockridge kitchens, from
bungalow style to country, from traditional to contemporary.
If you or someone you know is putting the finishing touches
on a kitchen remodel, or is already enjoying a fantastic new
kitchen, please let us know! Submissions and questions may
be directed to Jennifer Edmister at toejrb@earthlink.net or to
RCPC at 644-4228, attention Kitchen Tour.
Rockridge
Kitchens
Vowing to provide accountability to the people who pay the
$100 million in taxes annually to the District, Gulassa is calling for
a comprehensive audit, strategic planning, financial transparency,
and a new system of decision making that includes members of the
community, students, faculty and staff. “Unlike the boards of private
companies, community college trustees are accountable to the citizens
who actually own the colleges. I intend to fulfill my responsibility
to the community that so overwhelmingly supported me.”
2.
December 4, 2004
In My Opinion
Was It Worth It? A Summing Up by
Two Rockridge Volunteers for John Kerry
S
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USAN MONTAUK: Now that the pundits, analysts and policy wonks have had their
say about what went wrong for the Democrats, it’s time for us left-coast liberals to
put aside our disappointment and reflect upon the positive out-
comes. “Positive outcomes; can there be any?” you ask. Well
yes, actually.
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.
Speaking as a first-time national election volunteer, I can
honestly say that, regardless of the outcome, the experience of
actively supporting a candidate was an empowering and grati-
fying one. And for the volunteers I met along the way, it was
a unique energizing adventure. Friends, neighbors, strangers,
we were all united in our concerns and we put our words into
action. That solidarity of purpose made a lasting impression
on all our lives.
My story is like that of many others: over a period of many months, I invested my
hopes, money, time and energy to the campaign. In July I hosted a fund-raiser for my
candidate. Throughout the summer and early fall, I worked with a local grassroots group
to register new voters (350 of them at the UC Berkeley campus alone), phone-bank to
swing states, and canvass door-to-door in Reno, Nevada. And, the remarkable thing about
it was that there were millions of volunteers doing the same all over this nation.
Susan Montauk
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa ..........................Editor-in-Chief
Ortrun Niesar, Claire Isaacs
Jodi Schiller......................... Writers
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
Quite a few friends have very kindly thanked me for my efforts in this campaign. I
am somewhat embarrassed by their gestures — first, because my efforts paled in com-
parison to those of so many others; and second, because I derived such a rich sense of
fulfillment from the experience that I feel I should be the one to extend thanks.
RCPC Board of Directors, 2004-2005
Daniel Ferdelman ..............Co-Chair
Deborah Weinstein...........Co-Chair
Jessica Pitt ...........................Vice-Chair
Mike Taylor..........................Secretary
Ehab Bandar........................Treasurer
The spirit is still alive. One volunteer group that will be reorganizing to capture that
spirit can be accessed online at www.eastbay4kerry.com.
L
Jennifer Edmister, Cy Gulassa
Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk, Mike McDonald,
ISA GIBSON: During the summer, my husband Gary and I hosted two John Kerry
fundraisers that netted $6,000 and sponsored two Sunday after-
noon phone banks that placed over 2,500 calls to Ohio voters. We
thought only a few political junkie friends would join our first
debate party, but over 50 guests arrived, thanks to our notice on
the Kerry website. That night those strangers became part of a
growing community of friends united by a desire for change in
Washington; we co-hosted parties for the remaining debates and
felt like family.
Theresa Nelson, John Potis, Camille Reed
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?
During the final four days of the election, Gary and I volunteered
with MoveOn.org to get out the vote in northeastern Pennsylvania
where I grew up. Though I had no political organizing experience, I was designated
precinct leader in the overwhelmingly Republican town of Clarks Summit. I was in
charge of coordinating volunteers, knocking
on doors, soliciting volunteers and making
Would you like to volunteer to be a Rockridge
Lisa Gibson
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,
MY OPINION: FUNDRAISERS, PAGE 10
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 644-4228
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Articles published in The Rockridge News may be
reprinted only with the permission of the Editor.
PS 0'' PSEFST PWFS
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NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING/DEADLINES
Publication date of the next issue is
(BSEFO $MFBOFST
$PMMFHF "WFOVF
0BLMBOE
January 8, 2005 (!)
January deadline is December 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.)
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3.
December 4, 2004
Neighbors Call for Improved
Safety at Dangerous
Broadway/Lawton Intersection
by Abby Pollak, Chair; Rockridge
Boulevard Neighborhood Association
T
Abby Pollak (below, left)
and Eileen Marrinan
worked until dark on
election day to collect over
350 signatures on a petition
calling for safety measures
at the Lawton/Broadway
pedestrian crossing.
See location detail at right.
he Rockridge Boulevard Neighborhood
Association (RBNA), representing 55
households on South and North Rockridge
Boulevard and Rockridge Place, has been
working vigorously to improve signage and
effective lighting at the Lawton/Broadway/
Rockridge Boulevard crosswalk. On elec-
tion day, the group set up a petition table
at the crosswalk and, by the time the polls
closed, more than 350 neighbors had signed
a petition calling for crosswalk safety
improvements.
warning to stop for pedestrians; wide new
reflective stripes in the existing crosswalk;
and small reflective lights sunk into the
roadway along the parallel crosswalk lines.
These low-cost lights, solar powered and
electronically activated, are similar to those
already installed at Broadway and 28th and
Claremont Avenue above College.
PHOTO: CY GULASSA
The almost-invisible crosswalk strikes
a certain amount of terror into pedestrians
who use it: parents with strollers and dogs,
children going to school, adults walking to
the BART station or to College Avenue for
shopping. Countless people have complained
that even when they’re in the crosswalk,
drivers don’t stop.
While acknowledging Oakland’s diffi-
cult financial situation, RBNA feels these
improvements are a relatively cheap solution
to a high-cost peril.
Representatives of the group hope to
meet with Jane Brunner to present support-
ing documentation and the petition with
350 signatures in the near future.
Drivers, too, find themselves in perilous
positions as they turn onto Broadway from
Rockridge Boulevard or Lawton Avenue.
There’s so much jockeying and angling for
who gets to turn first that drivers often
neglect to check the crosswalk for hapless
pedestrians.
RBNA thanks everyone who stopped
by and signed the petition, and every-
one who worked on the campaign and
will keep neighbors informed on this
safety initiative. For more information:
tabbies@earthlink.net.
night was hit by a car. The distraught driver
kept saying, “I didn’t see her! I didn’t even
see the crosswalk!”
Because of the dramatic increase in
traffic, the danger of a car crash or pedes-
trian injury has risen sharply. Despite a
posted speed limit of 35 mph, cars have
been clocked travelling at 40 to 55 mph.
There have been fender-benders, serious car
accidents, car-bicycle collisions, and a few
serious injuries, including one earlier this
year when a pregnant woman crossing at
Neighbors are grateful to the City for
recently changing the bulb in the street
light on the east side of the crosswalk,
but still feel far from safe. The RBNA
will be asking the City for: four “Slow
Crosswalk” and “Slow School” signs in
reflective chartreuse; a mid-crosswalk “State
Law” sign displaying the speed limit and a
Christmas Eve Service
7:30 p.m.
Casual & Kid Friendly
Candles & Carols
Rockridge United
Methodist Church
303 Hudson St.
(across from the library)
652-4155
4.
December 4, 2004
Oakland Fund for Children and Youth
Boosts Local After-School Programs
After-school activities
for Claremont’s 300 stu-
dents include a program
of tutoring and homework
assistance,
mentored
laboratories, drop-in rec-
reation and club activities,
and enrichment classes.
by Patrick Daughton, Chair; OFCY
Planning and Oversight Committee
Ltored laboratories, drop-in recreation and
club activities, and a variety of enrichment
classes focused on youth empowerment and
community service. Titled the Student
and Family Education and Enrichment
Collaborative, the partnership, which was
awarded $100,000, includes staff from the
popular Destiny Arts Center and the East
Bay Conservation Corps.
aunched in September, the $3.4 million
Afterschool Initiative of the Oakland
Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) is
providing Emerson Elementary School,
Claremont Middle School, and Carter
Middle School, among others, with an array
of innovative after-school programs.
At Carter Middle School, Opera Piccola,
in cooperation with AmeriCorps, will offer
drama, dance, music, art and photography
through its PRIDE collaborative. Resident
artists plan to use the $100,000 grant to
take 11-14-year-old students on four field
trips over the school year as well as offer
monthly family workshops and a Family
Art Night.
The Initiative grew out of community
concern for the scarcity of programs that
keep students on campus and off streets after
school hours. After months of discussions
and neighborhood meetings, a plan was
crafted, and late in 2003 the Planning and
Oversight Committee, a City of Oakland
commission charged with governance of
the fund, issued a call for proposals.
Learning Centers Program.
Funding for OFCY consists of 2.5%
of the unrestricted portion of the city
budget. As required by the Kids First!
Initiative, Measure K, passed in 1996,
expenditures are limited to direct services
to children.
OFCY funds include $50,000 for the
TryUMF program at Oakland Technical
High School; $75,00 for the ArtGate arts
and literacy program at Carter; and $45,000
for a comprehensive after-school program
for 50 children at the North Oakland Com-
munity School.
Funding for all programs under the
Afterschool Initiative is renewable through
June 2006. However, as Carter Middle
School has once again been placed on
an Oakland Unified School District list
of campuses slated for probable closure
in 2005, the future of this partnership is
uncertain.
Successful respondents then created
partnerships with local schools. A col-
laboration led by AmeriCorps’ Bay Area
Community Resources, including the
Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA) and
the arts education non-profit Opera Piccola
(Italian for “small works”), was awarded
$213,000 to serve students at Emerson and
Martin Luther King, Jr., Elementary School.
Teachers and partnership staffmembers will
provide after-school academic assistance,
enrichment programs and supervised rec-
reational opportunities.
Each year the Planning and Oversight
Committee solicits proposals for competi-
tive grants. Approximately $5.5 million will
be available for the 2005-06 funding cycle
to qualified, non-profit service providers or
public agencies serving Oakland children
or youth. RFP forms and granting criteria
may be downloaded at www.ofcy.org.
Information is also available at 238-6379.
Applications are due January 6, 2005.
These programs, as with 20 other pro-
grams funded throughout the City by the
Initiative, are free to enrollees and operate
every school day at the school site for a
minimum of three hours after the end of
classes. In each case, fund dollars have been
leveraged to great effect by local support
and the federal 21st Century Community
After-school activities for Claremont’s
300 students include a daily program of
tutoring and homework assistance, men-
Winter Sales Continue to Sizzle!
Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
6015 Colby Street.
5/2
$749,000
$749,000
11/01/04
5371 Broadway
2/1
$565,000
$630,000
11/02/04
6016 Harwood Ave.
3/3
$849,000
$880,000
11/05/04
5449 Shafter Ave.
4/1
$699,000
$810,000
11/09/04
5343 Broadway Terr.
1/1
$279,000
$279,000
11/10/04
379 60th Street
3/1
$849,500
$860,000
11/10/04
Please contact me if you are interested in buying or selling.
5.
December 4, 2004
FORL Grants Fund Rockridge Library
Grounds Improvement and Research Materials
by John Gussman,
Friends of the Rockridge Library
T
55,000 articles (spread across 60 volumes)
covering the lives of people who played
important parts in the history and culture
of the British Isles, the United States and
Canada. The new edition is the fruition
of 12 years of labor by Oxford University
Press. It has been hailed as “one of the great
publishing achievements of this century”
(Atlantic Monthly), a “roll call of the great
and the good, the eccentric and the bad”
(Reuters), and “a work which makes superla-
tives superfluous” (New York Times).
to appear in the library early in 2005. Also,
they will have access to the online edition
of the DNB from their home computers,
starting in mid-December. For more
information, call the Rockridge Library
at 597-5017.
he Friends of the Rockridge Library
(FORL) is ending 2004 with two sig-
nificant grants to the Rockridge Branch
Library. The first will provide for new
landscaping around the building except
for the front façade, where the wisteria
— loved by many — will remain. The north
side of the building will be enhanced by a
planting of non-invasive timber bamboo,
which will accentuate the soaring “cathe-
dral” windows.
FORL has donated other important
reference sets to the Rockridge Library
in recent years, including the 20-volume
Oxford English Dictionary (Second Edition)
and two sets of the popular NOLO Press
legal self-help books (including one set of
volumes available for check-out).
Pat Lichter, the Rockridge Library’s
Branch Manager, notes that biographical
research is a popular and constant pursuit
in the library. She expects that students
and researchers will make good use of this
resource for many years.
FORL gratefully accepts donations from
Rockridge neighbors and other interested
persons. Those wishing to donate should
send donation checks payable to “Friends of
the Rockridge Library” to: FORL, 5245 Col-
lege Avenue, #311, Oakland, CA 94618.
The second grant will allow the library
to acquire a major reference work, the
recently enlarged and updated Dictionary
of National Biography, or DNB. The new
DNB is, within its scope, the definitive
biographical encyclopedia, with nearly
Library users should look for the DNB
Hip Hop Thrives in Rockridge Dance Studio
by Jodi Schiller
C
Corey Action and Michelle Paris
at New Style Motherlode on
College Avenue.
orey Action, one of the hottest
hip-hop dancers and choreog-
raphers in the Bay Area, brings his
gifted teaching to New Style Moth-
erlode, 5451 College Avenue. Corey
and partner Teela Shine Ross opened
the New Style studio in 2000, after
teaching at the Alice Arts Center
for many years.
PHOTO JODI SCHILLER
Hop as a world-class dance form.
Producer Kim Cook praises Corey
as “a rare and authentic dancer who
incorporates original hip-hop with
dynamic explorations,” and he is
now in talks with Corey and Teela
about producing an “All New Style
Motherlode” performance.
New Style Motherlode offers 23
classes for aspiring dancers of all
ages and skills, including Hip Hop,
belly dancing, jazz, and praise dance
(a form of ecstatic worship dance
originating in African-American
churches). Carolee Kaplan, who
has been taking Hip Hop classes
for three years, says, “Not only is Corey
an amazing dancer, he also has a big spirit
that communicates to everyone in the class
and makes them feel high, welcomed and
included.” Janice Litva, whose son Lee also
attends, says, “Lee has become more self-
confident and independent since starting
New Style. Here everyone is a winner.”
In addition to New Style
Motherlode, Corey is director of
Diamond, a young person’s dance
troupe designed to give kids a hope-
ful way to explore their energies
and dreams. The program, which
includes dance etiquette, stage production
and make-up, gives participants the tools
and experience needed to pursue a career
in any artistic field. Students must main-
tain a grade point average of 3.0 and attend
three dance classes a week. The goals of the
New Style training program are threefold:
to instill self-determination, respect for the
talent of others, and an appreciation of Hip
Hop’s cultural roots.
Hip-Hop Dance Fest at the Palace of Fine
Arts in San Francisco. Choreographed by
Corey, the dance was a fantastic production
involving elaborate Indian themed costumes
and pageantry. Dancing to a song from
Corey’s just released album, “Time for Some
Action” (yes, he sings as well), the troupe
broke through the “cheerleading” look of
other Hip-Hop groups to dramatize a story
about India and Hip-Hop. New Style offers
something fresh in the Hip Hop world — a
blend of storytelling with a vision of Hip
New Style is not just a classroom. It also
hosts the hottest hip-hop dance troupe in
the Bay Area—New Style Motherlode. The
troupe recently performed at the annual
For schedules and more information, go
to www.NewStyleMotherlode.com.
6.
December 4, 2004
All Dressed Up
Lto make salad dressing. Red wine and bal-
samic vinegar are most common. Depending
on the main salad ingredient, I may use
rice wine, cider, white wine, champagne,
or raspberry vinegar. I usually don’t use
flavored vinegars such as herb and garlic
as their flavors tend to overpower the dress-
ing. Citric juices such as lemon, lime or
orange can be substituted for all or part of
the vinegar in salad dressing.
ast month I shared my new found love
for salads. I mentioned that the newer
gourmet greens used in au courant salads
need very little dressing because the greens
are themselves quite flavorful. That said,
there is nothing like a good dressing to
enhance the perfect salad.
Think of a dressing as a sauce for a salad.
Just as a sauce should complement rather
than mask the flavor of the principal food,
the dressing for a salad should complement
the main ingredient. The main salad ingre-
dient could be the greens, a fruit (apples
or figs), a cheese (goat or blue) or even a
fish (crab or smoked trout.). If you order
a smoked trout salad at a restaurant, you
want to taste the fish. Ingredients should be
lightly coated and never swim in dressing.
A good rule is that with salad dressing,
less is more.
Herbs, spices, shallots, Dijon mustard
and sugar are a few of the many flavoring
ingredients used to enhance a vinaigrette
dressing. Shallots, herbs and garlic should
be finely chopped before being added to the
dressing. Salt and pepper should always be
added to enhance the flavors.
When preparing a vinaigrette dressing,
first combine the vinegar, seasonings, and
other flavorings in bowl. Vigorously whisk
in the oil, pouring it in a slow steady stream.
As you toss the salad, add the dressing in
small amounts until the greens have a light
sheen.
Although a great many ingredients can
be used to make a salad dressing, most are
based on either a mixture of oil and vinegar,
called vinaigrette, or a mayonnaise or other
egg emulsification. The simple vinaigrette,
or French dressing, is an emulsion of oil
and vinegar seasoned with salt and pepper.
The standard ratio is three parts oil to one
part vinegar or other citrus juice such as
lemon.
For an all purpose vinaigrette dressing, I
recommend Jacques Pepin’s basic recipe.
Jacques’ Simple Vinaigrette
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 shallot, chopped
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1⁄2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1⁄4 cup balsamic or red wine vinegar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Many types of oil can be used to make
a salad dressing, like canola, walnut or saf-
flower. However, the best vinaigrette is made
with extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is the
only oil extracted from a fruit rather than a
seed, nut or grain. Like wine, olive oils vary
greatly in quality. The label designations
— virgin, extra virgin and pure — refer to
the acidity of the oil and the process used
to extract the oil. I tend to use high quality
extra virgin olive oil for salads and the less
expensive pure olive oil for cooking.
Put all the ingredients in a jar, screw
on the lid, and shake well. Taste and adjust
the seasoning, adding more oil or vin-
egar as needed. For a Caesar dressing, add
1 chopped anchovy and a raw egg.
Different types of vinegar can be used
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7.
December 4, 2004
Back-to-back:
panelists at a
recent forum
on back care
sponsored by the
Rockridge District
Association. From
left: Chiropractor
Fred Githler,
Physical Therapist
Steve Ryan,
Medical Doctor
Frances Dalton,
Yoga Instructor
Julie Rappaport.
Rockridge health care
lem, he says, is that often the inner layers
of abdominal muscles, which keep the spine
aligned and reduce wear, grow weak with
age and need to be toned. Weightlifter abs
and sit ups alone won’t fix the problem.
A good exercise for strengthening these
critical muscles is to repeatedly pull in
the belly button while other muscles are
relaxed. But in the end, Steve says, strength
and coordination mean nothing without a
conscious effort to move properly. His
strategy includes teaching patients how
to take care of themselves.
The causes of back pain can be very
complex and should be taken seriously,
according to Dr. Frances Dalton. Aside
from muscular origins and viral infections
and that stab of pain when you sneeze or
reach for a book, back pain may be caused
by skeletal problems like arthritis, osteopo-
rosis or even breast cancer, or a herniated
disc or pinched nerve. Symptoms of a
pinched nerve, as opposed to a muscle
spasm, include numbness and tingling
that radiates to extremities, she says. She
advises a thorough diagnosis and says
it’s a fallacy to think that medication is
bad because it merely “masks” the pain.
While not a cure, medication can prevent
the condition from becoming hard-wired
into the nervous system, which intensifies
the symptoms and complicates recovery. If
problems persist, X-ray may be necessary
and if extremities are involved, an MRI is
best. The last resort is invasive surgery.
The bottom line, she says, is “Always listen
to your body.”
specialists literally bent over
backwards to explain to an
attentive audience how to get their aching backs back in shape at a recent forum
sponsored by the Rockridge District Association (RDA) and moderated by Sara
Wilson, Market Hall manager. The advice ranged from highly technical discussions
of the origins and treatment of back pain to muscle balance and the basic principles of
yoga, all delivered to a rapt, lunch-hour group eager for information.
A simple way to prevent a common
cause of back pain, according to the experts,
is to remember the basic advice freely
bestowed by parents and drill sergeants:
sit up straight, stand tall and do a lot of
walking. Slouching in chairs, standing with
curved back or belly out, leaning forward
as you walk as if you were still on your
touring bike or lugging a backpack or baby
sling, and doing repetitive work or exercise
involving only certain groups of muscles
are sure ways to earn chronic pain and a
trip to a therapist.
first job is to learn the causes, then relieve
the pain and effect a permanent cure,” he
says. That can be as simple as an exercise
routine, a different mattress, a change of
diet, a yoga class or a consultation with a
doctor or other health specialist.
A visit to the office of physical therapist
Steve Ryan, who teaches clinical anatomy
at UCSF and dance kineseology at Mills
College, also begins with a patient’s his-
tory and includes a “neuromusculoskeletal”
examination that covers a physical, hands-on
examination of nerves, muscle balance and
joint mobility. His multifaceted approach to
treating low back pain calls for improving
the patient’s muscle flexibility, strength,
coordination and posture. A major prob-
The first order of business with a new
patient, says Chiropractor Fred Githler, is
to watch him or her move around the office
and elicit a family history and life style. “My
There are a lot of different types of yoga
but for back pain, therapeutic yoga is best,
says Julie Rappaport, who teaches yoga
at Namaste on College Avenue. The core
secret is to learn to breathe properly (raise
arms and inhale through the mouth, then
lower arms and exhale through the nose,
and focus eyes inward to become aware
of the inner body and spinal movement).
But remember, she warns, that hormonal
and emotional changes affect mobility.
“The best approach to yoga is to shop for
a class that’s perfect for you and inform
the instructor of any problems.”
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In addition to yoga, Julie believes that the
two best exercises for keeping healthy forever
are walking and swimming. Julie recently
published a book entitled 365 Yoga.
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8.
December 4, 2004
The Rockridge Muse by Ortrun Niesar
RCPC Agenda 2005
from page 1
Make a
Joyful Noise
Wof Lourdes Church, 2808 Lakeshore
Avenue, Oakland. Tickets $20/$10, at
the door or call 653-6783.
College Avenue business district, develop
the UnderBART area, improve traffic and
pedestrian safety, beautify the neighbor-
hood, and support our local schools, parks
and library, this is your opportunity to share
them with the Board.
Oakland Interfaith
Gospel Choir (Dec. 4)
hat would the month of December
be without music and celebration to
brighten our spirits in this darkest month
of the year? For many weeks, many of
your neighbors have been busy practicing
to bring you outstanding concerts and
dance performances. Here are some
events you will not want to miss.
You can bring the spirit of Christmas,
of hope and joy, into your heart with
the award-winning Oakland Interfaith
Gospel Choir. They are giving their annual
Christmas Concert at the Paramount
Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Musical
director is Terrence Kelly.
This year, the board will focus particular
attention on how RCPC can shape future
development along College Avenue. We
will be discussing next steps in the land
use planning process launched in 2004 and
the types of development that RCPC would
like to promote in our neighborhood. These
are important discussions, and we need to
hear from you.
A Ceremony of Carols
Christmas Eve
(Dec 4, 5 and 19)
This wonderful work by Benjamin
Britten will be performed by the Berkeley
Community Chorus at St. Joseph the
Worker Church, 1640 Addison Street,
Berkeley. The program will also feature
Vivaldi’s Gloria, Alleluia by Randall Thompson
and the Agnus Dei by Samual Barber. Call
510/964-0665.
Celebrations
It’s not a time to be sitting home alone.
Celebrations are planned all over— quiet,
intimate, stately or grand. You might call
St. Augustine’s on Alcatraz or the College
Avenue Presbyterian Church. In Berkeley,
First Congregational Church on Durant
traditionally presents a midnight worship
service with a diverse program of music and
liturgical dance. Or visit Grace Cathedral, St.
Ignatius or Glide Memorial in San Francisco.
Expect crowds, so be sure to go early to
find parking and a good seat.
If you are unable to attend the January
20 meeting, but have ideas and opinions
that you would like to share with the Board,
please contact Vice-Chair Jessica Pitt at
655-1210.
Rachmaninoff All-Night
Vigil (Sun, Dec 12, 4 p.m.)
Often hailed as Rachmaninoff’s greatest
work, this beautiful a cappella setting of
the Russian Orthodox Vespers and Matins
services was written by the composer in
1915 as a plea for peace in response to
World War One. It will be performed by
the renowned Bella Musica Chorus at St
Mary Magdalen Catholic Church at 2005
Berryman Street, Berkeley.
Other Favorites
The San Francisco Symphony features
Peter and the Wolf (Dec. 11) and a wonderful
Choral Christmas Spectacular (Dec 17-19)
at Davies Hall. Call 415/864-6000.
! "
!
We wish every one a very wonderful
holiday season!
Berkeley Ballet Theater
Nutcracker (Dec.10-19)
Ortrun Niesar can be reached at 510/652-6664
or via oniesar@aol.com.
k g k g k g
Come one and all to see this wonderful,
fresh production of the Nutcracker playing
at the Julia Morgan Theater. The ballet
is directed by Sally Streets, winner of
the 2003 Isadora Lifetime achievement
award and Robert Nichols. It features
members of the Berkeley Ballet Theater
Youth Company and some wonderful guest
artists. This is fun for all, young and old.
Call 845-8542.
A Time to Reflect —
The Holiday Season is a time for family, friends and
sensitivity to the change of seasons. It is common to
take time out and reflect upon the year past. Mate-
rial concerns (real estate being one major issue!)
can sometimes overwhelm our perspective on what
is essential in life. This special time of the year can
assist us in rediscovering peace of mind and heart,
expand our generosity, and deepen our appreciation
for what we have. May we all take time this season
to relax and find joy in the company of family, friends,
and our greater community. — Jeff Auen
African-American
Spirituals and Christmas
Music (Sun, Dec. 12, 4 p.m.)
Join the Oakland Bay Area Community
Chorus, under the direction of William
“Bill” Bell (aka The Jazz Professor), for an
afternoon of traditional Spirituals, gospel,
hymns and Christmas music, including
Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” Our Lady
1-800-805-8827 JeffAuen@Comcast.net
www.HomesEastBay.info
9.
December 4, 2004
Don’t Choose the Blues: Dial 1-800/309-2131
Crisis support line helps callers
deal with emotional crisis
During the “Holly Jolly Christmas” season, loneliness,
depression and despair can surface. ACCSS provides
a psychological gift.
by Claire Wahrhaftig-Isaacs
It starts with silence. Next, a sense that
someone is there, struggling to speak.
Finally, softly blurred, “May I speak to
someone? I think I have a problem. I think
I want to kill myself.”
So might a call begin. It’s a regular
occurrence at the Alameda County Crisis
Support Services hot line. The agency’s main
mission is the caller who is contemplating
taking his life, or may already have acted
and seeks emergency help. However, the 80
to 90 staff and volunteers who answer such
calls 24/7 are trained to listen, to respond,
to support, to calm, to locate resources,
and, when appropriate, to make direct
suggestions to anyone in the population
who is in crisis.
Crissy Brewer, left,
Clinical Director, and
Nancy Salamy,
Director of
Community
Programs,
Alameda Crisis
Support Center.
PHOTO: CLAIRE
WAHRHAFTIG-ISAACS
uh, could I talk to you? I’m really down, and
I don’t have anyone to call. Is that okay? I
won’t talk long.”
asks everyone to pay attention if you note
behavior or conditions like: prior or recent
suicide attempts; suicide in the family, which
may be genetic or a learned behavior; poor
physical health with depression; giving away
personal possessions and “cleaning up” one’s
life; a burst of energy and light-heartedness
after a long period of depression; or stock-
ing up on pills.
“Am I really going to hell?,” these voices
ask. “I’m damned. Please help me!”
Once known as Suicide Prevention of
Alameda County, ACCSS now responds to
a very broad range of crises. Some men-
tally ill patients ask for assurance that their
hallucinations are not real; others beg for
ways to overcome clinical depression.
Some seek housing, counseling, shelter
from abuse, respite from loneliness, or
just a warm, reassuring voice. Recover-
ing substance abusers check in to stay “on
program.” Family and friends of troubled
persons call for advice.
At this time of year, aggravated by the
“Holly Jolly Christmas” atmosphere in
stores and malls, deep-seated feelings of
despair, depression, isolation, frustration,
loss and grief can surface more strongly.
When a friend says she is “in the dumps”
and doesn’t know who to talk to, or a rela-
tive can’t reach his counselor, or grief is
tearing you apart, call the Hot Line. It may
be just the way to get past a bad moment,
or through a really hard day.
Most of all, do not ever take a person’s
discussion of suicide lightly, even if the
conversational tone is joking. Drawing the
person out is definitely better than pretend-
ing, thinking it will go away. And get help.
If you don’t know where to get it, call the
ACCSS Hot Line.
“I’m waiting for a ride to my 12-step
program, and I’m really anxious.” “My
shrink is out of town and I’ve run out of
my meds.” “My old man’s been beatin’ up
on me a lot lately; I can put up with it,
but I’ve got three kids here.” “I suspect
someone is cheating my elderly neighbor
out of her home.”
“Hi. Umm, I’m not suicidal, umm, but,
ACCSS will also take your call if you are
just feeling blue, down, or unable to cope for
whatever reason. They are there to listen.
Next Month: Other ACCSS services: counseling
mentally disabled seniors and grieving people;
teens education outreach, volunteers.
The phone counselor is that one person
who can listen without judging. He or she
can often suggest resources unknown to the
caller: shelters for the domestically abused
and homeless; investigation of child or elder
abuse reports; sliding-scale-fee counseling
services for the psychologically distressed;
patient stabilization for those in need of
immediate psychological and medical
attention.
Crisis Hotline:
1-800/309-2131
Grief and Senior
Counselling Programs:
1-800/269-0094
Business Office:
510/420-2460
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Because suicide is the 11th leading
cause of death in the U.S. (homicide is
the 14th), Clinical Director Crissy Brewer
10.
December 4, 2004
My Opinon: Fundraisers
from page 2
calls with the goal of identifying Kerry supporters and turning
out the vote on Election Day.
By mid-day on the Big Day, I was leading a team of 10 people
from New York and Maryland, and my cell phone kept ringing
with more MoveOn.org volunteers asking, “What can I do to
help?” I was moved to tears by the powerful sense of community
and willingness of people to drive hundreds of miles to do their
part. I got very little sleep, but was energized by the sense that
I was a part of something much bigger than just a presidential
election. This was a historic grassroots effort in what could be
the most important election of our lifetime.
EnJOYing the
True Spirit of the Season
by Courtenay Redis
Believe it or not, you can experience the JOY of the Holiday
Season, in marked contrast to the stress, stretched pockets
and anxiety that often accompany this time of year.
Being precinct leader was a monumental task, but it was a
great success – even considering the disappointing outcome of
the election. We turned out over 130 of our targeted Kerry sup-
porters. I was elated that Pennsylvania ended up going for Kerry,
but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to give Kerry the 270 electoral
votes he needed.
Free and enjoyable food and company can be found right here
in Rockridge throughout the month of December, at Elizabeth
House, a transitional program for low-income women and kids
at 6423 Colby Street at Alcatraz.
I found myself crying a lot on the Wednesday after election
day, watching Kerry’s gracious concession speech followed by
Bush’s smug victory lap. I was overcome by a feeling of deep
despair, but it was surprisingly short-lived. By Wednesday eve-
ning I was again filled with a great sense of accomplishment and
connection to a whole new community of kindred spirits that I
met through MoveOn.org.
Start the month off right by making your way to the annual
Elizabeth House Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 5,
from 2-7 pm. Stop in for some warm cider, spiced egg-nog, treats
from local bakeries and savory entrées from local restaurants.
Enjoy the holiday decorations, including the giant Christmas
tree donated annually by the North Oakland/Emeryville Rotary
Club. Bring your friends and family, or come alone and make
new friends.
Disappointed but not disheartened, in November we hosted yet
another political party, which we called a “Post-Election Coming
Together.” We hope to galvanize our collective strengths to move
on and inspire our friends to build a deeper and more lasting
foundation for the future. We must stay involved, forge alliances,
and create a sustainable strategy for positive change.
Neighbors have also begun adopting some of the Elizabeth
House families for gift-giving, and others, like school families
at St. Theresa and Head Royce, are signing up to wrap gifts at
Elizabeth House later in December. Donations of “gently used”
items are accepted throughout the year and can be left in the
donation bins by front door. If you complete a donation form, they
will send you a receipt for your fully tax-deductible donation.
Why wait for the new year to start
a new you?
For more information about Elizabeth House, their Holiday
Open House, adopting families for the holiday giving program
or to volunteer as a gift-wrapper, call 658-1380 or e-mail
holidays@oakehouse.org.
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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11.
December 4, 2004
Who Planted All the
Street Trees in
North Rockridge?
Trees
from page 1
and make Rockridge an attractive place
to live.
Determined to replicate the tree phenom-
enon started by community activists like
Walter Miles in 1971 (see adjacent article),
on November 9 Brunner launched a tree
planting ceremony on Apgar Street in West
Oakland, the first of 16 sites planned for
that neighborhood and the beginning of a
grand total of 1,000 trees she wants to plant
over the coming year.
by Cy Gulassa
Legend says that Johnny Appleseed planted all the wild
apple trees that bloom throughout the Midwest. But
have you ever wondered who had the foresight to plant
all of those lovely street trees in North Rockridge, the
ones realtors say add thousands of dollars to the value
of a home? According to Walter Miles, who lives at 445
61st Street, it all began in 1971 with the Telegraph Avenue
Neighborhood Group (TANG). “We knew back then that
trees not only add beauty, they help define a neighborhood
and give it cohesion,” Miles said.
Community activist
Walter Miles
“Trees are good for the city in so many
ways besides just their beauty,” she says.
“Trees save energy. Trees are good for our
health. Trees conserve water and reduce
soil erosion. Trees increase property values.
Trees slow traffic. Trees promote wildlife.
And trees have social and educational value.”
She hopes her project will spur the City
into establishing an ongoing program of
planting 2,000 trees per year.
PHOTO: CY GULASSA
The group decided that every home in the association’s area — bounded by Highway
24 north to the Berkeley line and Telegraph Avenue east to College Avenue — should
have at least one street tree. The project was organized by city block, each headed by
a captain. A UC Berkeley arborist recommended a common tree for each block, and
volunteers cut holes in the pavement; City crews then planted the trees. In all, 385 trees
were planted, among them Chinese elm, ash and liquidambar. If they could afford it,
homeowners paid for the trees; otherwise the association donated them. Homeowners
were then responsible for keeping the trees watered during the early stages of growth.
Brunner says a free tree is available by
simply calling 238-7001. Identify a location,
promise to water the tree for a year, and
City staff will cut a hole in the concrete
and plant the tree.
This year, at the November 9 launching of Councilmember Jane Brunner’s project to
plant 1,000 trees in Oakland over the coming year, Miles said the new trees will transform
Oakland neighborhoods, including West Oakland, which until recently has been home
to Oakland’s most notorious liquor store, a hotspot for trouble makers. “Trees help you
think differently about where you live,” he said. “Instead of just houses, you suddenly
see connections and a whole neighborhood.”
Drive under the overarching trees in Miles’ neighborhood and see for yourself the
enduring gift the association gave Rockridge nearly 35 years ago.
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12.
December 4, 2004
Your December Matching Gift
Helps Complete Frog Park!
by Theresa Nelson, RCPC Board
Member and Parks Committee Liaison
Tplanting can be completed and approved
in time for construction. Raising at least
$2,500 from the community will bring
an additional $2,500 in matching funds,
which will help us reach the goal.
he Rockridge Community Planning
Council recently announced a special,
end-of-year $2,500 matching grant for Phase
Two of Frog Park. All gifts made before
December 31, 2004, will be matched, dollar-
for-dollar, up to $2,500.
Free Recycled
Medical Equipment
A special donor recognition and
community information kiosk has been
designed and will be built as part of
Phase Two. All new gifts of $250
or more will be acknowledged on
the main park plaque, along with
all gifts of $250 or more from Phase One.
You may choose to fund a specific item
on the list, or contribute toward a larger
item.
Need a wheelchair? Hospital Bed?
Crutches? Breathing apparatus?
More than $15,000 has been raised so
far toward the goal of $25,000 for Phase
Two. These funds will support native plant-
ings along the Clifton-Cavour pathway, the
expanded Plaza at Hardy, and additional play
equipment at Hardy, among other items.
Home C.A.R.E.S. provides free
recycled medical equipment to anyone
who needs such equipment regardless
of income. Home C.A.R.E.S. is located
in the First Presbyterian Church park-
ing lot, 2619 Broadway, Oakland.
Your support is more important than
ever. Recently, Frog Park learned that the
old irrigation system we hoped to use along
Clifton-Cavour will have to be completely
replaced, rather than repaired. This costs
a lot more than the amount of the repair
which was in the budget, and it means that
the native plantings and some items would
have to be cut from Phase Two.
Open Thursday afternoons, 1-4 pm.
Please consider a special, year-end
gift to Frog Park. All gifts are fully-tax-
deductible. This is your chance to be a
part of neighborhood history by making a
financial contribution to Frog Park. Just use
the special flyer enclosed in this issue of
The Rockridge News. Select an opportunity
which fits your interests, and enclose your
check or credit card information with the
form today, or contribute via the website
at www.frogpark.org. You can help make
the match and reach the goal. Frog Park
will be completed soon!
Call 510/251-2273 for
more information.
!
!
!
If we can reach — or even exceed — our
fundraising goal of $25,000, we can sup-
port the native planting and help ensure
completion of the park. Groundbreaking
for Phase Two takes place after the first of
the year. We need to reach our goal by the
end of December so that the plans for the
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13.
December 4, 2004
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5295 College Avenue (nr Broadway)
Oakland • 510 601 8828
General Dentistry
At the
November
RCPC
Meeting
Thanks to Rockridge Children’s
Librarian Gay Ducey, Pegasus &
Pendragon Books Store manager Joy
Hucklesby, and author Melissa Lion (in
order from top, below), the audience at
RCPC’s November 18 Town Hall meet-
ing learned a lot about what children
and teens are reading and what books
to buy for holiday gifts. The children’s
books forum was organized by Jennifer
Edmister, RCPC Boardmember.
14.
December 4, 2004
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. January deadline is December 20.
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®, Gyroki-
nesis®, and/or Yamuna® Body Rolling. (*For
new clients). Mind-Body Connection, 5255
College Ave, 420-0444 (www.mindbodycon
nection.net)
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.
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.
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.
House To Share
Large, lovely room available to considerate and
independent person. House is on a busy North
Oakland street. Share with two others. Available
February 2005. $500. 510/595-4654
Floral Designs by Olga A. Bolotina
Call me when you need creative & unique floral
arrangements for any occasion: weddings, anni-
versaries, holidays, or simply to decorate your
office. 510/910-4733
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.
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15.
December 4, 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
noon for $2. For details about upcoming field
trips and special programs, call Kathy at 531-
6724.
• North Oakland Multi-Purpose Senior Center;
For Adults:
• Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month: 12/7, 1/4, 6 to 8pm.
Advance sign-up 5pm.
SPECIAL MEETING: Jane Brunner will moderate a
Teach-In on “Election 2004: What happened and
what should we do next?” Monday, December 6,
7pm to 9pm, City Council Chambers at Oakland
City Hall, 14th and Broadway. For more informa-
tion: 238-7001, or www.oaklandnet.com (the
site for all City related information).
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Center Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm.
DECEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS: Stagebridge, Oakland’s
premier Senior Theater Group, presents Grandfa-
ther’s Journey on Friday, Dec. 10, 1pm to 2:30pm.
Free for members; $3 for others.
FREE FOOT CLINIC: Monday, Dec. 27, 1pm to 4pm.
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.
Elder Care Support Group
Library Hours:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed: Sundays. Also closed 12/25 and 1/1.
Amnesty International
Monthly Meeting
The Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council
Diesel Bookstore, 5433 College Avenue. Sunday,
December 12, 10am to 4pm. All welcome: chance
to join if not yet a member. For more info.:
653-9965 or www.dieselbookstore.com.
Photos With Santa
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
Santa’s Workshop, 5467 College Avenue, 12 noon to
4pm, every Saturday in December. Also: Ride the free
College Avenue Trolley on Saturdays until Christmas.
Sponsored by the Rockridge District Association.
Oakland Tech High School Events
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
For Children:
• Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturday,10:
Alta Bates Medical Center, Herrick Campus, 2001
Dwight Way, Berkeley. Free for family/friends caring
for older adults. 3rd Wednesday of each month,
4-5:30pm. For information on all support/
education groups offered by Alta Bates/Sutter
Health: call Monica at 869-4569, or e-mail
Monicalcsw@alum.calberkeley.org.
Volunteers Needed
• Alameda County Community Food Bank. All wel-
30am: 12/11, 1/8
• Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednes-
4351 Broadway
• Information Night for prospective students: Thurs-
day,10:30 & 11am: 12/15, 1/5.
• Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesday,
day, 12/9, 6:30 to 8:30pm.
• Winter Concert: Friday, 12/10, 7pm in audito-
7pm: 12/14, 12/28 (Winter Holiday Special
Story Time.)
• Special Events:
* Paper Craft Workshops with Won-Ju: Making
Origami Tree Ornaments. Cranes, butterflies and
more. Bring a small photo to make a photo-frame
ornament. Wednesdays, 12/8 and 12/15, 3pm
to4pm. Sign up at Children’s Reference Desk or
call597-5017.
* Drop in to make window snowflakes. Kids
of all ages welcome. Get details at Children’s
Reference Desk.
rium.
• Cash for College: Presentation on grants, schol-
arships and loans. Open to all Oakland seniors
and families. Tuesday, 12/14, 6:30 to 8:30pm in
auditorium.
Get more information at 879-3050.
Oakland Girls Softball League
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-
All Oakland girls ages 6 to 14, sign up now for the
2005 season. Sign up on Saturdays, 12/11,1/8 and
1/15 at Redwood Heights Rec Center, 3883 Aliso St,
(Redwood Road at Highway 13). Opening Day March
5; season runs through early June. Begin practice
mid-February: no experience necessary; pre-season
clinic for all skill levels. Also needed: Coaches,
managers, sponsors and volunteers. Learn more at
www.ogsl.org or at ogsl hotline, 339-7268.
Activities and Events for Seniors
• College Avenue Adult Center; College Ave. Presby-
ing Oakland Children’s Hospital, 5290 College
Ave. Volunteers needed Tuesdays through Sat-
urdays. 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.
terian Church, 5955 College Ave. Every Wednesday,
from 9:30am to 1:30pm. Light exercise, socializing,
travel programs and music. Hot lunch available at
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December 4, 2004
“YOUR 24/7
REALTOR”
gifts,
L A W T O N
Happy
Holidays
clothing,
and bliss
Peace
• •
at namaste
A S S O C I A T E S
R E A L E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
510 547-YOGA
5416 College Avenue
(near the library)
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@jps.net
“I Know Rockridge”
www.namasterockridge.com
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Terry Kulka
Proven Results in Selling Rockridge Homes.
Providing top quality service to buyers and sellers
of fine homes for 18 years.
A proud supporter of Chabot Elementary School.
Jan Fougner
OWNER – BROKER
BUYING OR SELLING IN
ROCKRIDGE? IF YOU
NEED THE SERVICES
OF A REALTOR, CALL
ME. I HAVE 27 YEARS
OF ROCKRIDGE SALES
EXPERIENCE AND THE
EXPERTISE YOU NEED.
6 5 5 - 2 3 3 0
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