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VOL. 20 NO. 2 ISSUE NO. 209 February 5, 2005 CIRCULATION: 5,100 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES
Sponsored by The Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 644-4228
Rockridge Kitchen Tour 2005: Make Your Kitchen a Star!
The Rockridge Kitchen Tour seeks kitchens in Rockridge
for its October tour. If your classic or renovated kitchen
is ready to show or if the remodel will be completed by
this spring, please let us know.
Don’t be shy! Submissions may be
directed to Jennifer Edmister at
toejrb@earthlink.net or phone RCPC at
644-4228, attention Kitchen Tour.
Rockridge
Kitchens
NCPC Meeting: Oakland Housing
Authority Problems in Rockridge
agenda:
RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, February 17, 7:30 pm.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room (Upstairs)
Meet Oakland’s
City Attorney
Wonder what Oakland’s first elected
City Attorney’s been up to? Join us
for the February RCPC Town Hall meet-
ing to hear our award-winning attorney
address issues such as:
• Significant lawsuits/settlements that
impact the City
• His arguments before the California
Supreme Court to uphold Oakland’s
landmark Anti-Predatory Lending
Ordinance
• The Office of the City Attorney’s
FY 2003-04 Community Report Card
which details how tax dollars are
spent in delivery of legal services
• The passage of Prop. 1A (protecting
local revenues) and Prop. 59 (Sun-
shine Amendment to the California
Constitution)
• Pending testimony to US Congress
on impact of the Patriot Act
John Russo graduated with honors in
Economics and Political Science from Yale
University and earned his law degree from
New York University School of Law. He
moved to Oakland in 1987 and was elected
to the Oakland City Council in 1994 where
he became the Council’s leading advocate
for fiscal accountability and government
reform. In March 2000, John won the
voters’ nod as Oakland’s first elected City
Attorney and was re-elected in March
2004. During his tenure, the City Attorney’s
office has been nationally and locally recog-
nized for work promoting public access to
government and going “beyond the norm to
assure government transparency.”
by Susan Montauk
Tswered and they fear retaliation. They have
asked the NCPC to intervene.
he Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council will hold a
Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, February
15, at 7:00 pm, in the Rockridge Library,
to discuss problems associated with Oak-
land Housing Authority (OHA) sites in
Rockridge.
The NCPC will moderate a panel of
OHA representatives, OPD Community
Policing Officers and others to address
neighborhood concerns and explore ways
to improve cooperation between OHA and
the community.
“Hello? FBI? Is
Anyone There?”
OHA operates 267 housing projects
(3,308 apartment units) for low-income
families, 64 of them in North Oakland;
Rockridge is home to five. Four of those
5 are located between Claremont, Telegraph,
Alcatraz and Colby.
Homeland Security on New Year’s
Day in the hills above Rockridge
OHA maintains a six-officer police
staff to deal with concerns from tenants
and neighbors but also depends upon OPD.
Neighbors of OHA properties often experi-
ence negative fallout from these projects and
are frustrated in their attempts to mediate
their complaints through OHA.
by Claire Wahrhaftig-Isaacs
Astrange thing happened in our
neighborhood on Saturday, New
Year’s Day, 2005. A big explosion went off
below our home in
the hills, and no one
in authority seemed
to know anything
about it. It was so
loud and sudden
that my heart beat
rapidly for at least
15 minutes. It was
so
jolting
that
one neighbor said,
“My cat jumped
five feet!”
The
recorded
message at
Oakland’s
FBI office
said that
its voice
mail was
FULL!
In 2002-03, OHA rebuilt the Canning
Street complex which had been destroyed
by fire. The Colby Neighbors Group worked
with OHA to design a replacement project
that would fit into the community; a live-
in manager was part of the agreement.
Their work paid off; there have been
few complaints from neighbors since its
reopening.
The same cannot be said for the other
three area projects. Vandalism, trespassing,
drug dealing, domestic disputes that spill
out into the street, loud music, loitering
and blight are frequent events. Residents’
complaints to OHA have largely gone unan-
To track the source of this enormous
sound, I started by phoning the Oakland
Police at 911,
which
was
FEELING SECURE?, PAGE 11
2.
February 5, 2005
In My Opinion
&## !
, %+
Don’t Let PG&E Contractors Overcut
Your Trees: Know Your Rights
by Jonathan Gabel
T
" ( (-'(&!( $ * "#) # % (' !
he citizens of Rockridge and the City of Oakland have made it clear that they want
more trees, and they want existing trees protected. However, in the name of safety,
PG&E’s contractors are overcutting trees on private property in Oakland. Why? What
can we do to prevent this unnecessary damage?
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.
A 4-foot clearance between high voltage wires and trees is required under Public
Utilities Commission (PUC) General Order 95, Rule 35, Appendix E, section A, and
under part 11640 of the Oakland Uniform Fire Code, Appendix 2-A, Section 15.3. PG&E
is responsible for maintaining this clearance, and contracts with various companies to
perform the work. But neither PG&E nor its agents have informed homeowners of these
legal requirements; instead, trees are cut back ten feet or more from the wires. The result
can be unsightly and do damage to the tree. This happened to a redwood tree on my
property many years ago. Since then, I have insisted on only a 4-foot trim and PG&E
has obliged me.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa ..........................Editor-in-Chief
Ortrun Niesar,
Claire Isaacs........................ Writers
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
In my opinion, the reason for over trimming is that it generates greater profits for
PG&E. When PG&E goes to the PUC to set utility rates, it bases the cost of trimming
on the 4-foot model. The bigger the trim, the less often trimming is required, result-
ing in substantial savings. The contractors who actually do the trimming are perfectly
happy to do whatever PG&E wants because they also make money. So, what can be
done about this?
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2004-2005
Daniel Ferdelman ..............Co-Chair
Deborah Weinstein...........Co-Chair
Jessica Pitt ...........................Vice-Chair
Mike Taylor..........................Secretary
Ehab Bandar........................Treasurer
First, homeowners should know the law. When an agent of PG&E contacts you and
asks for permission to trim a tree, give permission for only a 4-foot trim. I insist on being
present when the trim is made and I bring a yardstick and some duct tape. I measure
four feet from the end of the contractor’s fiberglass pole that guides the cutting tool, and
mark it with duct tape. The worker who does the trim can then easily and safely judge
the proper distance to cut.
Jennifer Edmister, Cy Gulassa
Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk, Mike McDonald,
Theresa Nelson, John Potis, Camille Reed
Second, I think that RCPC and the City of Oakland should make an effort to educate
residents about their rights in this matter. Experience has shown me that the PUC acts
more in the interests of PG&E than ratepayers, and requests for relief in this matter
have not been effective. But we have some leverage over the tree-trimming companies
that contract with PG&E.
NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS
For annual subscriptions to The Rockridge
News, send your check for $18, payable to Rockridge
News Subscriptions to: Rockridge News Subscriptions
at the address below.
CONTACTING THE ROCKRIDGE NEWS
My third suggestion is that we individually and collectively (through our City repre-
sentatives) boycott companies hired by PG&E that overcut trees.
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
Do you have questions about newsletter
I am interested in hearing from readers about this. If you have seen any particular
company trimming more that four feet from a tree, please let me know the details.
Contact Jonathan Gabel, 5800 Ocean View Drive, Oakland, 94618; 653-8879; e-mail:
jongabel@rcn.com.
distribution?
Would you like to volunteer to be a Rockridge
News block captain?
Contact us at one of the following addresses or
telephone numbers:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
Opinions expressed in the “In My Opinion” column are those of the author or authors alone and are not
necessarily views of The Rockridge News or of the Board of Directors and/or other representatives of
The Rockridge Community Planning Council.
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www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
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
March 5, 2005
March deadline is February 17.
Advertising rates are $22/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rate available. For display ads, 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.
February 5, 2005
Residents Want Community
Center, Other Amenities
RCPC
January
Meeting:
by Cy Gulassa
Rfunded a summer student internship and
provided a grant for the library to buy the
prestigious Dictionary of National Biog-
raphy, which is now on the shelves and
will soon be available online. This year
it plans to fund the summer internship
ockridge residents at the January
Town Hall meeting identified issues
that RCPC should address for 2005. Chief
among them was a Rockridge community
center that would accommodate large meet-
ings and provide space for
exhibitions and musical and
theatrical events.
“The library is already
so crowded and overbooked
that I’ve decided to cancel
this year’s annual photog-
raphy exhibit,” said Ortrun
Niesar, who writes “The
Muse” for The Rockridge
News. Indeed, earlier in
January nearly 250 people
crammed into the library’s
meeting room to select
Assembly District 14 con-
vention delegates, creating
a standing-room only crowd
that overflowed down the
stairs and violated safety
codes ( photo at right).
Residents of Assembly District 14 crowded into the
Rockridge Library meeting room on January 8 to select
convention delegates, dangerously exceeding room
capacity. At the January 20 RCPC Town Hall meeting to
discuss neighborhood priorities, Rockridge residents cited
the need for a community center that would accommodate
large crowds and serve as a location for exhibitions and
musical and theatrical events. PHOTO: CY GULASSA
program and provide new library land-
scaping.
Residents at the Town Hall meeting also
wanted less crime, more affordable housing,
greater diversity, and improvements in park-
ing and transportation. Of special concern
are the needs of seniors and the disabled.
Flights of stairs, restaurant tables that
sprawl onto sidewalks and dogs anchored
to parking meters with long leashes are
all treacherous obstacles for the aged and
vision-impaired. In addition to improving
street lighting on College Avenue and traffic
safety along Claremont and Broadway, some
wanted big city amenities like restaurants
remaining open for late night dining.
Friends of FROG secured $140,000 for
irrigation and native plantings from Measure
DD and raised over $26,000 for Phase 2 of
Frog Park. This year it plans to complete
phase 2 and design phase 3 and serve as
community liaison for construction.
The Schools Committee coordinated a
comprehensive fall school meeting, which
was featured in The Rockridge News; initi-
ated a writing program at Claremont Middle
School; and helped sponsor Peralta Elemen-
tary’s highly successful Spring Fair. This
year it plans to promote local schools, secure
grants and create a volunteer network.
RCPC’s committees provided a sum-
mary of accomplishments for 2004 and
goals for 2005. The Land Use Commit-
tee completed a land use inventory of
Rockridge, applied for a Caltrans grant
with BART and developed a relationship
with the Rockridge District Association of
local merchants and the Oakland Planning
Commission. The committee has plans to
update the 1994 Rockridge plan and com-
plete residential and commercial design
guidelines to improve sustainability.
The UnderBART Committee, which has
applied for a major grant, will work with
BART to make improvements in the area
under the Rockridge station and evaluate
newly installed Smart Parking. “SP” digi-
tally alerts drivers on Highway 24 about
available parking slots at the Rockridge sta-
tion that can be reserved via cell phone.
Friends of the Rockridge Library
RCPC Financial Statement: 2004
RCPC General Fund
Income
Interest Income
$33
Other Fundraising
$480
Locksley Garden Project
$409
Rockridge News
$36,690
Total Income
$37,612
Expenses
Insurance & Sales Tax
$1,102
Office Expenses
$328
Legal & Accounting
$1,190
Other Committee Activity
$1,231
Rockridge News
$32,903
Grants
$200
Web Site
$240
Total Expenses
$37,194
Friends of the
Rockridge Library (FORL)
Income
Books
$3,047
Donations
$4,430
Interest
$1,361
Total Income
$8,838
Expenses
Bank
$65
Books
$4,595
Events
$358
Landscape Design
$1,700
Library Book Bags
$1,534
Misc
$99
Subscriptions
$250
Teen Scholarship
$2,500
Teen Program
$700
Total Expenses
$11,800
Friends of the
Rockridge Greenbelt (FROG)
Income
Interest Income
$181
Fundraising / Donations
$16,732
Public Funds
$74,265
Total Income
$91,179
Expenses
Office Expenses
$1,417
Playground Build &
Maintenance
$2,205
Total Expenses
$3,622
Assets
Cash Accounts
RCPC
$22,377
FORL
$14,272
FROG
$51,735
Other Assets
RCPC CDs
$20,693
FORL CDs
$46,227
Total Assets
$155,304
Liabilities
$0
4.
February 5, 2005
Crisis Center Offers Community
Services to Wide Age Range
als and groups at the Center. Another is
a dual outreach program: regular phone
calls to disabled and depressed seniors
along with home visits. Many of these
tasks are performed by graduate student
interns under the supervision of the CSS
counseling staff.
Teens in crisis, seniors in grief find support in times of need
by Claire Wahrhaftig-Isaacs
my nieces told me about a friend who was
mutilating herself, dressing strangely, getting
failing grades and saying she had nothing
to live for. Her friend’s parents are very
strict and had been treating their daughter
with ever-stricter solutions. One day “a
terrific person talked at our school about
depression.” (It was Mercedes Coleman,
Coordinator of the Youth Program.) “But
my friend cut school and didn’t hear her.”
My niece was so worried and upset that I
had to counsel her on how to handle her
own feelings as well as on what she could
and could not be expected to do.
According to clinical Director Crissy
Brewer, teenagers and older people are the
two groups with the highest rates of sui-
cide in the United States. For this reason,
the CSS has targeted these two groups for
special outreach programs.
YOUR BEST FRIEND in high school has just told
you she wishes she were dead. You feel she
really means it. What should you do?
Ateenager may confide his troubles to
a close friend, yet ask him not to tell
anyone else. It’s a frightening dilemma for
a young person, a conflict between loyalty
and responsibility. Too often adults will
laugh off a teen’s moodiness as hormonal
fluctuation, the usual teenage dramatics, or
an excuse to avoid homework. By missing
the signs of depression and suicidality, par-
ents, teachers and counselors may bear regret
for life if the teen commits suicide.
In addition, CSS operates the suicide
phone hot line 24/7 for people in all kinds
of crises: depression, chronic mental ill-
ness, homelessness, domestic abuse, and
suicide. It also offers information and refer-
rals, direct phone counseling and links to
other agencies.
The Crisis Center gladly welcomes
volunteers willing to make a four-hour
weekly commitment to answer phones and
assist with outreach programs. For further
information call one of the numbers in the
box below:
YOUR FATHER IS STILL GRIEVING over the loss
of your mother and says he has nothing to
live for. He lives alone and seems extremely
depressed. How can you help him?
A
To deal with this difficult scenario, Crisis
Support Services or Alameda County (for-
merly, Alameda County Suicide Prevention)
(CSS) started Teens for Life about 16 years
ago. Its goal: educate youth about teenage
depression and suicidal impulses. Each year
counselors from CSS visit students in as
many as 50 schools, reaching about 16,000
in 2003-2004. Nancy Salamy, Director of
Educational Outreach, says that nearly every
day her staff meets with an Alameda County
class of 20 to 40 students. Generally, they
are 9th graders, enrolled in anything from
hygiene to science. According to Salamy,
younger children may not be quite ready
for this information, but by middle school,
the message will sink in and provide a solid
understanding.
t the other end of the age spectrum,
senior citizens are extremely prone
to depression and suicide. Grief for lost
loved ones and dear friends may deprive
them of a sense of purpose in life. Some
are isolated because of disability or mental
illness. Others have lost communication
with family members, especially their
very busy midlife children. The multiple
losses of later life — job, identity, friends,
home, health and physical and intellectual
abilities — are often overwhelming. CSS
has several ongoing programs for this age
group. One is grief counseling for individu-
BUSINESS LINE —
for education
outreach for teens,
general inquiries,
donations, and
volunteering:
510/420-2460;
GRIEF AND SENIOR COUNSELING —
1-800-260-0096;
HOT LINE — phone crisis
counseling and suicide prevention:
1-800-309-2131.
At these classes, Salamy or her staff
presents basic information about depression.
She explains how it develops, leads to suicide
attempts and affects the teen age group. She
also advises students on how to help their
friends and recognize and deal with their
own private feelings. Rather than ask the
students if they are depressed, she asks,
“Do you know anyone who is depressed
or thinks of suicide?” In every class some
will raise hands. Students are reminded that
they may have to choose between “telling”
on a friend or saving a life. They are urged
to talk with a trusted adult like a parent,
teacher, school counselor, principal, min-
ister, or neighbor.
Prices Soar in the New Year!
Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
6160 Acacia Ave.
5/5
$2,850,000
$2,700,000
1/5/2005
6104 Contra Costa
2/1
$649,000
$649,000
1/6/2005
30 Starview Drive
3/2
$885,000
$885,000
1/11/2005
5340 Broadway Terr.
2/2
$479,000
$473,000
1/15/2005
Please contact me if you are interested in buying or selling.
A personal example of how this works
surprised me on Christmas Eve. One of
5.
February 5, 2005
Top Sellers
At Pendragon
And Diesel
Bookstores
Introducing Teen Librarian Ms. Susy Moorhead
Rockridge Branch Library Appoints
New Teen Specialist Librarian
The Oakland Public Library is pleased to
announce the recent appointment of Ms.
Susy Moorhead as the Rockridge Branch’s
new Teen Specialist Librarian. Ms. Moor-
such as teen volunteer opportunities, and
reach out to local community organizations
serving Rockridge’s young people.
by Tricia Gragnano
D
Please feel free to welcome her to the
neighborhood by calling the Rockridge
Branch at 597-5017, or visit her there in
person!
uring the past few weeks when the
weather outside has been “frightful,”
and the mood inside has been anything but
“delightful,” I’ve found that if there isn’t some
place to go, let yourself read, read, read!
Diesel Fiction:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: A
Novel by Susanna Clarke tells the story
of two magicians who use their powers
to help the British win the war against
Napoleon.
head attended
East Carolina
University in
Greenville,
North Caro-
lina, where she
studied English
Literature. She
received
an
Associate of
Arts degree in
Library Tech-
nology from
City College of
San Francisco,
and recently
received her
Master of Library and Information
Science degree from San Jose State
University. While an intern at San Jose
State, Ms. Moorhead served at the Mission
Library of San Francisco Public Library
and conducted community outreach for
young adults. She currently resides in
the “West Bay.”
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 application(s) 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.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. When
a dog dies, a 15-year old autistic boy who
does not understand human emotion must
demonstrate his innocence.
Diesel Nonfiction:
Confession of an Economic Hit Man by
John Perkins explains how he convinced
developing countries to take on multibillion
dollar loans that ended up at Haliburton,
Bechtel, Brown and other US engineering
and construction companies.
Susy Moorhead, Teen
Specialist Librarian
PHOTO: SUSY MOORHEAD
5477 KALES AVENUE
Proposal: To construct small addition to
the rear portion of existing dwelling within
required side yard setback
Applicant: Sogno Design Group
Contact Person/Phone Number: Kathryn
A. Rogers 510/526-2720
Owner: Lawrence Dolton, Ellen Gobler
Planning Permits Required: Special Resi-
dential Design Review to construct one story
addition to the rear portion of existing single
family dwelling; A Minor Variance to allow 3'-4"
side yard where 5' minimum is required
Historic Status: Potential Designated His-
toric Property (PDHP);
Survey rating: D2+
Case Planner: Jason Madani at 238-4790 or
jsmadani@oaklandnet.com
The Bookseller of Kabul by Seierestad
Asne is a portrait of a family living in
Afghanistan after the collapse of the Tal-
iban. When Taliban soldiers burn hundreds
of books in the street, Sultan Khan’s love
for books brings the community together.
Diesel Young Adult Literature
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a tale
of an ostracized 9th grader who becomes
speechless after a frightful experience.
As the branch’s Teen Specialist Librar-
ian, Ms. Moorhead will be working directly
with the neighborhood’s youth and teenag-
ers to improve library service for them. She
will host visiting classes of students and
their teachers, scan the exploding world of
teen literature in books, magazines, movies
and music to order for the Library’s col-
lection, host youth involvement programs
PENDRAGON’S & DIESEL’S LISTS, PAGE 13
! ! ! "
! "
!
6.
February 5, 2005
Rain, rain go away or I will make a
stew today. I cannot think of a better way
of spending a cold, rainy Sunday.
Basic Beef Stew in Red Wine
(serves 6)
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 lbs of beef chuck, cut into 2-inch
cubes
2 onions, slice thin
3 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups of red wine
2 cups of stock (beef or chicken – canned
Stews: Savory and Simple
Rain, rain go away, come again another
day. The only redeeming feature of the
Bay Area rainy season is that it gives me
lots of time to make slow-cooked, savory
stews. The other day I made a Mexican pot
roast that cooked for 4 hours. What a great
way to spend a rainy Sunday. From the rich
French daube de boeuf (beef stew in red
wine), to the spicy tagines of Morocco, every
culture has it own version of a rich, brothy,
slow-cooked mélange of ingredients.
its deep rich flavor. To increase the flavor
even more, I like to prepare a stew on one
day and serve it the next. The flavors meld
and intensify and I have a chance to skim
off any excess fat.
is fine)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
Several sprigs of fresh thyme or
1 teaspoon dried
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Following the searing of the meat,
add any combination of coarsely chopped
aromatic vegetables such as onions, garlic,
carrots, or celery. Finally the cornerstone to
a stew is the cooking liquid, which can be
as simple as water (which is all that is used
in a Moroccan tagine), or a rich combina-
tion of a beef or chicken stock and red or
white wine. Fresh herbs and spices can be
added any time. Bring the stew to a boil,
then simmer gently until tender. Depending
on the size and cut of the meat, the cook-
ing time could range from one to several
hours. Regardless of the culinary origin,
a stew is an amalgam of tenderized meat,
aromatics, and a rich liquid created by the
braising and slow cooking.
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large
Dutch oven heat olive oil over medium high
heat. Toss beef cubes with salt and pepper.
Add beef to oil in two batches. Sear all
sides for about 3-4 minutes. Remove beef
and reserve. Add onions, and carrots to oil
in pan and sauté for 10 minutes. Add garlic
and sauté for another minute.
Italians stew lamb shanks in a tomato-
wine stock, while observant Jews make a
beef and bean stew called cholent, which
simmers for nearly 24 hours and is served
on the Sabbath. Regardless of the culture,
the technique is always the same. It’s brais-
ing: a dry-heat sear, followed by a very
slow, moist-heat cooking that tenderizes
and marries the flavors.
Add wine, stock and tomato paste. Bring
to a simmer. Add beef, thyme, bay leaf and
a good sprinkle of salt and pepper. Bring to
gentle boil, cover, and put in the oven for
at least 2-hours. When done, remove from
oven and taste for additional salt and pepper.
Serve over buttered egg noodles and wide
slices of French bread.
Although often used interchangeably,
technically there is a difference between
stewing and braising. In braising, the
meat is first browned and then cooked in
a small amount of liquid at low heat for a
long period of time. Braising can be done
on the stovetop or in the oven. In stewing,
the meat is not browned but rather covered
with a liquid and simmered slowly on the
top of the range. Both techniques require
a tight-fitting lid to prevent the liquid
from evaporating. The long, slow cooking
develops flavor and tenderizes the foods by
gently breaking down their fibers. It is best
to make a stew in a cast iron Dutch oven
or a Spanish earthenware cazuelita. Cast
iron and earthenware retain heat and evenly
cook food at very low temperatures.
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.
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The other great benefit of a stew is that
the meats are tougher and therefore cheaper.
High priced top end cuts like tenderloins are
wasted on stews. Besides being expensive,
they are lean with very little connective
tissue. Slow cooking, which breaks down
the tough connective tissue, gives the stew
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7.
February 5, 2005
Ex uno plura
A Sampling of Earl Grey
by John Gussman
(This is part 2 of a look at Earl Grey tea. Part 1, “Earl Grey in
the Ascendant,” appeared in the January issue of The Rockridge News.)
W
well-balanced Earl Grey from the Harrods
emporium in London.
hile Earl Grey tea retains a major
footing in Britain, it has a new
and separate hub here on the
West Coast, both in the Bay Area and in
the Pacific Northwest. Here are a growing
number of important tea companies, which
obtain high-quality teas, often from limited
sources, and, for use in Earl Grey, the finest
Italian bergamot. Of the nearly 90 Earl
Greys sampled for this article, more than
half, including almost all the best ones, came
from West Coast or British firms.
There are now bergamot-scented green
teas, selling under such names as “Earl
Green.” Some of these must be accounted
failures; but if you are open to the con-
cept, you have two outstanding choices,
both of which use whole-leaf green teas
from the Zhejian province of China. One
is the green Earl Grey from Portland’s Tao
of Tea (sold at Andronico’s), which has
an excellent bergamot scent and which
elegantly replicates, within the medium
of a green tea, the satisfaction that comes
from a good black Earl Grey. For something
slightly more elaborate, try the Imperial
Tea Court’s “Organic Lavender Green”
Earl Grey.
Professional tea people sometimes
wonder at the durability of Earl Grey.
Across the whole field of tea, why should
a scented tea be so popular, and this one in
particular? Probably this question is being
whispered more often now, with once-scarce
and fabled teas pouring in from China and
elsewhere.
Charles, Earl Grey
through the wonders of modern transport;
but they were robust enough to withstand
the passage from China to Europe, and
also to hold a strong bergamot scent. The
use of Chinese tea as the sole base for an
Earl Grey, though no longer dominant, is
still alive and well. Probably the best local
example is the excellent Earl Grey sold at the
Imperial Tea Court, a Chinese tea house
in San Francisco. It is made from Szechuan
tea, with both bergamot and lavender.
For decades, very satisfactory Earl
Greys have been produced from blends of
Chinese and Indian tea. These tend to be
strong, stable mixtures. Usually they make
use of the robust and reliable Assam teas
from eastern India, but sometimes also the
more delicate Darjeeling teas grown in the
Himalayan foothills. Peerless Coffee and
Tea Company, the well-known Oakland
wholesaler, offers a respectable Earl Grey
in this category. Retail customers can pur-
chase it online, or at the company’s shop
on Oak Street.
The answer is that Earl Grey tea provides
an experience of a different kind from other
teas, even teas that may be more distinctive
in other respects. A good Earl Grey has a
fullness and complexity which register in
the mouth and nose on several levels, and
impart a feeling of satisfaction that is hard
to match.
The first Earl Greys were made from
black teas produced in China expressly for
export to the West. They were, perhaps, less
delicate than some teas which come to us
Many of the other “Chinese” Earl Greys
— not surprisingly, given the tradition – hail
from Britain. Twinings is the best-known
example; but other, less well-known firms
aim higher. One of the best of the genre
comes from Taylor’s of Harrogate (it is sold
locally at Peaberry’s and Andronico’s). The
tea is rich, strong, and splendidly scented,
leaning to the smoky side of the Earl Grey
spectrum. Another excellent, but hard-to-
find British blend is the highly aromatic and
An unusual variation on this theme is the
fine Earl Grey from Whittard of Chelsea,
which combines, in a harmonious blend,
Darjeeling and Chinese Keemun. This Brit-
ish blend can usually be purchased online
through import firms.
Within the new generation of Earl Greys,
one important
EARL GREY, PAGE 12
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8.
February 5, 2005
Rockridge Real
Estate 2004
And Beyond
A
Rockridge Retailers: Giving the Gift of Healing
By Courtenay Redis
A
cknowledging the desire of many of us to give a meaningful gift during and after
the holidays, especially to someone who seems to have everything, more than 15
retailers, many in Rockridge, have chosen to display and sell copies of a unique calendar
benefiting women who have survived breast and other cancers.
s predicted last year at this time, the
Rockridge real estate market contin-
ued to be solid throughout 2004. A look at
the statistics for our neighborhood reveals
changes worth noting as you make your
real estate plans and assessments. As in the
past, our analysis covers Rockridge from
the Berkeley border south to Broadway
Terrace and 51st Street.
Price
“Enlighten-ment: Finding the Beauty Within” is a just-released inspirational photo-
graphic calendar created by Rockridge photographer Elizabeth Opalenik to help build
scholarship funding to allow women to participate in healing retreats held at the historic
F. Holland Day chalet
in northern Maine. The
chalet and grounds pro-
vide the setting for the
photographs.
All of the Healing
Workshops involve per-
sonal coaching and various
forms of the healing arts,
including photography,
yoga, dance and writing.
Opalenik is a member
of a team of artists and
healers who facilitate the
workshops.
As anticipated, prices did increase, but
statistically only at an overall median 7.3%
percent over last year. In contrast, the nine
county Bay Area region just reported an
overall 17% increase in median price for
single-family homes in 2004. This does not
mean that Rockridge home prices did not
increase substantially in certain categories.
The median sold price of a 2-bedroom
bungalow now stands at $707,000 versus
$580,000 in 2003, a whopping 22% jump. A
3-bedroom home median price is $805,000,
about 11% over 2003. A new factor is the
ever-increasing number of newer, larger or
totally remodeled Rockridge homes on the
market priced at $1,000,000 or more. In
2004, 42 homes (25% of all single-family
homes sold in Rockridge) sold in excess
of $1,000,000, versus 26 the year before.
Average price per square foot now stands
at $455. This compares favorably with
Berkeley’s Elmwood neighborhood just to
the north of us.
Inventory
Asked how she went
from teaching fine art photography nationally and internationally (she teaches in Tuscany,
Provence, Burgundy, Mexico, Santa Fe) to participating in a program like the Healing
Workshops, Opalenik said she teaches photography, “with the theory that all photographs
are self-portraits.” Regardless of location or subject, photography is a way for individuals
to explore their interior landscapes, she said.
Opalenik explained that it was natural to want to assist women who have survived
life-threatening illness, as they look inward in search of the beauty and wholeness that
was altered by their being sick.
“The photographs impact how the women feel about themselves,” she said. “Through
the workshops and the images, they come to realize their beauty and even the gifts that
cancer can bring.”
T
he “Enlighten-ment” calendar sells for $15 and can be purchased online, at local
bookstores and retail shops, nationally and in the Bay Area. Since 100% of the sales
of the calendar are donated, merchants do not profit by carrying it. However, they and
the people who buy the calendar from them profit from helping women find healing.
At Chimes Pharmacy, proprietor John Galinas made scarce counter space available to
display and sell the calendar despite having a calendar of his own for sale.
Inventory of homes for sale in 2004 was
substantially higher than the year before
— 166 versus 121 in 2003. The reasons for
this are not clear, but the general uncertainty
about the economy and the Fed’s constant
threat of interest rate hikes were likely
factors. 2004 was
also an excellent
For more information, visit the photographer’s website: http://www.opalenik.com.
REAL ESTATE, PAGE 13
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9.
February 5, 2005
Basking in the Glow of Del Sol String Quartet
The
Muse
by Ortrun Niesar
Iing the forgotten and testing
the new as they play works of
great masters and young local
composers alike.
f you haven’t yet heard about the Del Sol
String Quartet, be prepared for a wonder-
ful surprise that just might change your life,
musically speaking. Meet the members of
this prestigious quartet ensemble: Rick
Shinozaki and Kate Stenberg, violinists;
Charlton Lee, violist; and Monica Scott, cel-
list. Rick lives in Rockridge and is married
to Irene, choral director at St. Augustine’s.
Monica is also a North Oakland resident. The
four young principals describe themselves
as “mid-career classical musicians with
kids and jobs.” But when it comes to their
music, they are fearless in their exploration
of the musical language of the here and now.
Their chosen territory is the classical music
of the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del
Fuego, celebrating the ancient, rediscover-
Mornings, the group prac-
tices furiously in Rick’s sunny
bungalow on Manila. The music
sparkles, crackles, and flows
like fiery lava into the nooks
and crannies of the Rockridge
neighborhood. The group, with
the assistance of Monica’s artist
husband, Dominique Pelletey, is
also developing new multi-dis-
ciplinary programs for young
audiences. This is really dear
to Monica’s heart, herself a
daughter of teachers and the mother of two
young children. The programs they have
developed so far include teaching guides
and tools like games and puzzles to round
out the musical experience presented by the
players in the classroom.
D
Music flows into the neighborhood when
the Del Sol Quartet practices. From left,
Kate Stenberg and Rick Shinozaki, violinists,
Charlton Lee, violist, and Monica Scott, cellist.
tion with SFMOMA on the occasion of the
Yes!Yoko Ono Exhibition. They are also the
current recipients of the Chamber Music
America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous
Programming.
"SHOULD YOU
SAVE FOR YOUR
KID'S COLLEGE
OR FOR YOUR
RETIREMENT?
OR BOTH?"
In 2005 Del Sol Quartet will tour in the
US and in Latin America. The group will
also perform three concerts in Bay Area
venues, beginning with a performance at
The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Avenue at
Martin Luther King, Jr. Way on Wednesday,
February 16 at 8 p.m. If you attend the con-
cert, plan to purchase a CD or two. “Tear”
(2002) features works by 12 North and South
American composers, and a new recording
of the complete Quartets of George Antheil
will be out by then on Other Minds label.
el Sol also been hosts weekend Quar-
tetFests, a summer workshop for young
string players, and participates regularly in
Adventures in Music, Young Audiences of
the Bay Area and American Composers
Forum. You are welcome to contact them
to learn more about their involvement in
education, coaching activities, masterclasses,
pre-concert talks, fundraising events and just
plain fun ways of sharing and experiencing
music.
Ticket information is available by e-
mail at info@delsolquartet.com or by phone
at 415/831-5672.
Quartet Del Sol has been in existence
since 1992. Recent performances include
“Sky Piece for Jesus Christ,” in collabora-
Real Estate Made Simple
Discover the value of your Home at:
http://www.MyHouseValue.info
Search for any Home in the Market:
http://www.HomeSearchNow.info
Real estate articles and Info:
http://www.HomesEastBay.info
1-800-805-8827 JeffAuen@Comcast.net
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10.
February 5, 2005
are very much a part of this area we call home.
Letters to The Editor
Rampant speculation and artificial restrictions on zoning/
planning keep the prices of homes in the Bay Area stratospheric,
especially places like Rockridge. Mrs. Eileen Levin asked a key
question about the future for her and her husband in “Rockridge
Needs Senior-Friendly Housing” (Rockridge News, November 6,
2004). How many of the children now living here will be able
to afford something in this area or one like it? I’m not suggest-
ing we need corridors of high-rise condos on College Avenue or
Broadway next week. Yet we do need to consider how to sanely
increase density and opportunity within Oakland.
The Rockridge News
5245 College Ave., PMB 311
Oakland, CA 94618
or e-mail: editor@rockridge.org
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.
What can we do to keep some sense of place here and still make
it easier for people to live a reasonable distance from their work
and not cut every tree and pave every farm out to Fresno? May I
suggest we work to prepare and plan for increased densities where
we have the potential infrastructure and transportation to support
it, and force this to happen area-wide (not just in Rockridge)?
Robert Wiles
ST. ALBERT’S IS A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Editor:
Thank you for the informative article on St. Albert’s priory,
past sex offenders and their impact on the Rockridge neighbor-
hood (Rockridge News, January 8, 2005).
I live across the street from Siena House, where the priests
in question live, and my backyard abuts the larger St. Albert’s
Priory property, so I am surrounded by this organization. We (my
family) have lived here for 15 years and have raised our 17-year-
old son here since he was two. There are other families near us
with children of all ages. We know many of the priests who live
at the Siena House, in particular Father Leo, whom we wave to
all the time. They have been here a very long time and we know
their cars by sight.
SF EXHIBIT FEATURES WORK OF LATE ROCKRIDGE ARTIST
Editor,
I thought our Rockridge community would enjoy knowing
about an art exhibit featuring the bold prints and lithographs of
my father, Richard Correll, a long-time Rockridge resident and
“booster.” The exhibit is a two-man show shared with a colleague
of his, Frank Rowe, who was a particularly beloved art teacher
at Laney College. Both men are gone now, but their work lives
on as vibrant political and social commentary that is as relevant
today as it was when it was made decades ago. The exhibit, “As
They Saw It: Six Decades of the Art of Social Conscience,” is
at the Meridian Gallery, 545 Sutter Street near Powell in San
Francisco, through March 5, 2005 www.meridiangallery.org. Many
of my father’s prints in the show were made here in the house
on Coronado Avenue and printed on his press in his downstairs
studio. (Much of the framing is by long-time experts at Bosko’s
on College Avenue.) Subjects include civil rights, peace, and
environmental themes.
They are not recently released felons who have been dropped
into a neighborhood; they have been our neighbors and some have
been here longer than we have. When I saw a notice on my car
windshield from SNAP, I was surprised.
We have had absolutely no negative experiences with the priests
nor with St. Albert’s Priory. If I hadn’t gotten the leaflet from
SNAP, I would not have known about the situation. I am glad to be
informed, but we have not been hurt by these men, and in particular,
my son has led a happy, care-free life.
Personally, I have been touched by St. Albert’s Priory. We are
not Catholic and are very far from being Christian or religious,
though my son attends Bishop O’Dowd High School, which is
Catholic. He is not religious.
I recently finished a book of my father’s artwork which he
began before he died. A copy of the book has been donated to the
Rockridge Library, where, by the way, there is a tile in my father’s
memory. A second copy is at
the Temescal branch. I hope
LETTERS CONTINUED NEXT PAGE
However, on Sundays we see the priests walking from Siena
House to St. Albert’s Priory wearing white robes, and I like seeing
the formal ceremony and clothing; their heads are bowed and they
seem intent on being good people. Every year, we are invited to
attend their Christmas Mass, and though we have never gone, we
are happy to know that such gatherings are taking place. It brings
a kind of warmth to the neighborhood. And as the largest “public”
building around, several neighbors and myself attended emergency
procedures classes at St. Albert’s Priory in the aftermath of the
Loma Prieta earthquake and Oakland firestorm. Father Leo would
sometimes personally welcome us as we came into the building.
Again, thank you for your article and I look forward to hear-
ing other opinions.
Alan Ohashi, AIA
CHANGE CAN ENRICH ROCKRIDGE
Editor,
I love Rockridge, but I object to the demand to keep it just the
way it is or was. The cycle of people and the variations they bring
11.
February 5, 2005
Feeling Secure?
caused the unnerving explosion?
Letters, from previous page
My husband, Bill, suggested I call the
FBI. “Homeland Security, isn’t it, Claire?”
he said with a charming but evil grin, daring
me to make the call. But the recorded mes-
sage at the Oakland FBI office said that its
voice mail was FULL!
from page 1
our neighbors will enjoy the work of one of
the many wonderful artists who have made
Rockridge the special place it is.
Leslie Correll
busy for minutes. Finally, a laconic female
said she’d notify the beat cop. I seriously
doubted that there was a beat cop on duty
on New year’s Day. I heard nothing further
from the OPD.
I checked the phone book again. The
FBI suggests phoning San Francisco offices
if Oakland is not available. I did. On the
other end was a laid-back fellow with a light
Irish accent and an odd sense of humor. He
said, “You realize of course that hundreds
of thousands of people were riding BART
last night and well into New Year’s morn-
ing. If, indeed, there had been trouble in
the BART system, we would have heard
about it.”
UC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
BAD FOR ROCKRIDGE
Editor:
Next I called the Fire Department. A
man asked if there was any smoke. No, I
didn’t see smoke. “Well, I guess there’s no
fire,” he said.
I’d like to encourage RCPC and the
Rockridge neighborhood as a whole to
support Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates in
his efforts to gain some control over UC
Berkeley’s Long Range Development Plan
for the next 15 years. UC employees and
students are major contributors to the grind
of traffic along College, Claremont and
Telegraph Avenues.
Next I tried BART. Directly under our
home is the BART tunnel to Orinda and
all points east. But BART had no reports
of anything amiss. If they heard anything,
they would phone back.
Someone must know something, I
thought. I decided to try our Water
District. EBMUD is doing major seismic
repair on the Claremont Water Tunnel, also
beneath us. If it breaks apart in an earth-
quake, we would be amongst the 800,000
people who would lose their water supply
for at least six months and have to endure
rationing. The EBMUD contact said no
blasting was scheduled, nor would there
be any on a weekend or holiday, nor would
any occur without prior notice. So what
“Yes,” I replied, in proper little woman
style. No help there either.
UC’s answer to more employees is more
parking lots because they generate revenue.
Pressure from all the surrounding com-
munities could help force UC to mitigate
the negative impact it creates.
Claire Lomax
So Bill and I sat in our home in the hills,
thinking about an explosion that neither
the police, the fire department nor the FBI
knew anything about.
A few hours later we heard from the
BART police. They HAD sent out an inspec-
tor (hurrah!). He determined that someone,
probably kids, had set off a cherry bomb
in the BART tunnel. Ah, well; kids will
be kids.
theRockridgecommunity
inlifestyleandservice.
a
crossculturalcongregation
strivingtopartnerwith
Meanwhile, the next time I have to
practically undress in the name of Home-
land Security when my titanium hip sets
off buzzers at the airport, I will remember
how alert, helpful and quickly responsive
were the Warriors of the War on Terrorism
when there was an explosion in the hills
above Rockridge.
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue, Oakland 510 658-3665
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* Offer based on 12 mo. c.d. program. 1 of the new members
must have proof of LWE contract. Other discounts apply.
The Power To Amaze Yourself
12.
February 5, 2005
Earl Grey
import firm (www.britishfood.com; tel:
888/840-1280).
T
But if you must brew your Earl Grey from a
teabag, you will do well to stick with Tazo,
Taylors, or Williamson & Magor, if you like
your tea strong. Otherwise, try Numi, or
Whittard’s or Harrods if you can get them;
or even Twinings. The W&M teabags, unlike
most Earl Grey teabags from Britain, come
in sealed foil envelopes, which significantly
extend the life of the bergamot. (If Earl
Grey tea is not hermetically packed, the
bergamot scent begins to wear off in the
first 12 months, well before an otherwise
well-stored black tea would be stale.) Tazo’s
teabags, though more expensive than most
domestic Earl Greys, are still a good value
because of their quality.
he breathtaking spread of Earl Grey tea
over the last 30 years owes much to the
teabag. The teabag has not improved the
quality of any cup of tea; and yet, much of
the gap in quality between loose and teabag
teas is not inevitable. It is just that teabags
lend themselves too easily to bad practices.
They tend to be filled with inferior teas,
and usually contain only tea-dust or “fan-
nings,” not even cut leaves.
from page 7
category consists of the alI-Indian blends.
These tend to be more understated than the
Chinese Earl Greys and the Chinese-Indian
combinations. Two excellent examples are
the subtle and balanced Peaberry’s blend
(see, “Earl Grey in the Ascendant,” The
Rockridge News, January 8, 2005), and
the well-blended, though strangely named,
“Duke of Earl Grey” at A Cuppa Tea.
For Earl Greys, the problem is com-
pounded because teabags provide a
convenient delivery vehicle for artificial
bergamot flavoring. Flavoring is, of course,
much cheaper and easier to apply than oil
of bergamot, and has a longer shelf-life.
But the result cannot genuinely be called
a scented tea. Also, the flavorings are apt
to bring along extraneous notes, such as
lemon or orange.
Oakland’s Numi Tea Company, a young
but fast-growing concern, has shown that
Assam teas can do well by themselves in an
Earl Grey. Numi, which sells its teas mostly
in teabags, has pioneered a new approach
to bergamot. Instead of squirting bergamot
oil into the leaves, the blenders expose the
leaves to flakes of bergamot rind. The result-
ing cup of tea is subtle, slightly astringent,
and bracing.
I
As for the budget teabags, it’s best to
stay away. One exception is the Trader Joe’s
“Organic Earl Grey,” a Ceylon-Indian blend
that uses bergamot oil and is usually all
right.
One last note: There will always be those
who are simply addicted to the taste
and aroma of bergamot or of lavender, and
who are not much concerned with the tea
leaves. Bergamot fanatics should ignore the
preceding paragraphs, drop everything, and
contact Portland’s Stash Teas for a supply
of the black “Double Bergamot” Earl Grey.
Lavender lushes may check out L’Amyx Tea
Bar on Piedmont Avenue, where the “Earl
Grey with Lavender” combines tea leaves
and lavender in a nearly equal ratio.
A word to the wise: if you have a box of
Earl Grey teabags which makes no mention
of “bergamot oil,” and the brewed tea is
lacking in bergamot scent, artificial flavor-
ing has probably been used. If it is present,
you will likely find out the truth by taking
another teabag from the box and tearing it
open. If you see white granules among the
fannings, you will know you are face-to-
face with artificial flavoring.
n this writer’s opinion, the use of Dar-
jeeling or Nilgiri teas (grown in the
north and south of India, respectively) all
alone in an Earl Grey pushes the edge of
the Earl Grey envelope too far. The Dar-
jeelings and Nilgiris have less body than
the teas of Assam, and in general cannot
carry enough bergamot to qualify as good
Earl Greys. But such Earl Greys are now
widely available, and any one who wishes
may test this judgment.
As a rule, brewing from loose tea is best.
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) is a source of many
fine teas, most of them having a character-
istically simple and rounded taste, which
some tea-drinkers prefer. For tea drinkers
who do not share this preference, the Ceylon-
based Earl Greys are unlikely to thrill. In
any case, one of the more pleasing attempts
can be found at the Far Leaves tea-house
in Elmwood.
HAPPY VALENTINE¶S DAY
REALTY ADVOCATES
GSPNUIFNVMUJQMFCJETQFDJBMJTUTBU
Better results are generally achieved by
blending Ceylon tea with tea from India or
China. The most conspicuous example of
a good combination of Ceylon and Indian
tea in an Earl Grey comes from Tazo in
Portland. Tazo’s Earl Grey, introduced in
1994, is an intense blend which artfully
balances teas from three different regions
of Ceylon, and from the Assam and Nilgiri
(Blue Mountains regions of India.
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13.
February 5, 2005
Real Estate
mortgages by the end of this year, but
most experts think that will have little to
no effect on the market in our area. As
long as there continues to be a Bay Area
housing shortage, something fueled by
the surge of Baby Boomers entering the
market, Rockridge homes will continue
to appreciate. For entry level buyers who
find it difficult to compete for single-
family homes, an alternative might be an
investment in a condominium, still very
affordable. Rockridge does not have many
of them, true, but you will find more and
more of them in the surrounding areas.
Not a bad trade-off.
from page 8
year to cash in on Rockridge’s popularity
and “move up.” Popular options include
moving up the hill a little or through the
Tunnel. Piedmont is another choice for
parents with older school age children.
But, as has been true for the past several
years, there was no shortage of buyers;
sales were brisk.
Outlook for 2005
The year has started out without
any noticeable let-up in buyer demand
for homes in Rockridge. Nationwide,
financing policies will probably continue
to favor the real estate market. Predic-
tions are that interest rates will climb
at least a half point for 30-year fixed
Ortrun Niesar is a Realtor with Prudential Cali-
fornia, Claremont Office. Information supplied
by EBRD 2005 is deemed to be reliable but
not guaranteed.
Rockridge Home Sale Prices 2002-2004
YEAR
AVG. PRICE
% CHANGE
MEDIAN PRICE
%CHANGE
2002
$770,604
$691,500
2003
$847,637
9.9%
$750,000
8.5%
2004
$902,000
6.4%
$805,000
7.3%
!
!
!
Rockridge News
Needs Distribution
Volunteers
The Rockridge News is looking for a
Marshal to help with distribution.
Duties comprise picking up the bundled
newsletters in Rockridge the first weekend
of each month and dropping them off at 5
nearby homes.
Block Captains are also needed to dis-
tribute the newsletter door-to-door for the
following routes:
Route 16D: Both sides 5200 Claremont,
including apartment at 5248;
Route 14B: Both sides of Desmond between
Coronado and 51st, and 51st from Broad-
way to Coronado.
Please call 547-3855 or e-mail Susan at
smontauk@juno.com to volunteer.
Pendragon’s and
Diesel’s Lists
from page 5
Pendragon Fiction
How We Are Hungry: Stories by Dave
Eggers
The News From Paraguay by Lily Tuck
takes place in Paris during the mid 1800s,
when the future dictator of Paraguay pursues
a courtship with the young and beautiful
Irishwoman, Ella Lynch.
Pendragon Nonfiction
Bring Me the Rhinoceros and Other
Zen Koans to Bring You Joy by John Tar-
rant explores how a way through can appear
naturally if you are open to its taking an
unfamiliar shape.
The Bitch In The House by Cathi
Hanauer explores the truth about sex,
solitude, work, motherhood, and marriage
through the stories of 26 women.
Pendragon Culture and Cooking
Bouchon by Thomas Keller introduces
the reader to the delightful world of French
Bistro cuisine.
The Gourmet Cookbook by Ruth
Reichl provides recipes ranging from gour-
met hors d’oeuvres and paté to pizza, burg-
ers, and mac n’cheese.
14.
February 5, 2005
Ergonomic Workstation &
Movement Analysis
We work on site in your business or home
office to solve problems in both equipment
and body usage with easy, cost-effective solu-
tions. Prevent injury with The Body At Work:
510/601-9863, www.thebodyatwork.com
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message: $18 (phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Classifieds,
5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA
94618. March deadline is February 17.
Hawaii Vacation Rentals
New, immaculate, designer furnished condos for
rent! Big Island; 2bd/2ba. www.time4hawaii.com
Maui, 1bd/2ba. www.timeformaui.com. Owner
direct: 510.681-4294.
To place a classified ad,
call Susan Montauk, 547-3855
5295 College Avenue (nr Broadway)
Oakland • 510 601 8828
Jazz and Classical Piano Lessons
Rockridge jazz pianist with UC Berkeley
music B.A. offers lessons in jazz, blues, clas-
sical, music theory, ear-training, technique.
Experienced, patient teacher, all ages/levels.
Janet 653-6783.
Pilates or Gyrotonic®
Free 30-minute private session*.First class
FREE* in Pilates, Yogilates, NIA®, Gyroki-
nesis®, and/or Yamuna® Body Rolling. (*For
new clients). Mind-Body Connection, 5255
College Ave, 420-0444 (www.mindbodycon
nection.net)
Housecleaning
Reasonable rates. Expert & reliable services
from local employment cooperative. Call
534-6766 and we’ll send someone to spiff
up your home. Ask for our references from
Rockridge clients.
Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other odd
jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/464-5934.
Temporary Room Rental
Having out of town guests and nowhere to put
them? Large, sunny room available in Crafts-
man home in Rockridge/Elmwood area. See
website for photos and info. http://geocities.com/
cayenne2810 or call 547-8788.
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
' #(" )" &*
"$'+ !))' "* " ( )" &*&, )*% &*)
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Love Dancing to
World-Beat Rhythms?
Rockridge newcomer, former Texas Artist-
in-Education, specializing in Afro-Latino &
Brazilian dance, eager to start a Saturday
class. Great work-out & music! Class com-
bines yoga, pilates & fun choreography. Call
Lina 510/658-3423.
Tax Phobic? Paperwork in a Muddle?
Personal Coach with an interest in tax prepara-
tion (go figure!) will help you organize to file
this year AND develop a system so next year
will be stress-free. consultkh@comcast.net
652-3160.
Psychotherapy & Spiritual Inquiry
Psychotherapy to create harmony with yourself
and the world. You were born to be peaceful,
loved, and prosperous. A guided journey to ful-
fillment and spiritual connection. Lana Theimer,
MFT (MFC#39913). 510/845-0548
15.
February 5, 2005
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.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Compiled by Jo Ellis
Councilmember Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
Art Exhibit & Reception
sponsored by the National Council of Teachers
of English. Bring a favorite book, story, or
poem to read in a continuous reading “chain”.
Groups country-wide will gather at this desig-
nated time. Children will lead in reading first.
Local editor/author Daphne Muse will serve as
host. Questions: call Linda, 597-5017.
For Adults:
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month: 6 to 8pm. Advance
sign-up starts 5pm.
Rockridge Branch Library, upstairs gallery.
Terry Jackson: show of watercolor and acrylic
paintings and pen-and-ink sketches. Opening
reception Monday, 2/7, :30 to 7:30pm. Light
refreshments. Show runs through February.
First Saturday every other month, 10am to
noon. Peralta Elementary School: 460 63rd
St. (parking on Alcatraz Ave., just east of
Telegraph). February 5th topic: Casinos.
No March meeting. More information at 238-
7001 or www.oaklandnet.com (the site for all
City-related information).
Activities, Events for Seniors
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 at noon for
$2.00. For details about upcoming field trips
and special programs, call Kathy at 531-6724.
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Library Hours:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm
Weds, Thurs and Sat 10am to 5:30pm
NCPC Town Hall Meeting, Tuesday, February
15, 7pm, Rockridge Library. See story, page 1.
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.
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed: Sundays. Also closed:
2/12(Lincoln’s Birthday) and 2/21 (President’s Day).
North Oakland Senior Center
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm.
• Free help with taxes: starts Tues., 2/8.
Call for appt.
• Free foot care clinic: Wed., 2/16.
• Stagebridge presents “Civil Rights Tales”
Thurs., 2/17, 1-3pm.
The newsletter, North Oakland Senior Times
provides a class schedule and monthly lunch
menu: (suggested donation: seniors age 60+
$2.25; $4 for those under 60). Call 597- 5085
for membership details, newsletter, classes/
events and volunteer opportunitiesvolunteer.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
5433 College Ave. All events are FREE and
open to the public.
Tuesday, 2/8, 7:30pm. Join Book Group #3 to
discuss Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
Thursday, 2/10, 7:30pm. Susie Bright, editor:
The Best American Erotica 2005.
Monday, 2/14, 7:30pm. Amnesty International
Monthly Meeting. All welcome.
Tuesday, 2/15, 7pm. Join Book Group #1 to
discuss The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.
Wednesday, 2/23, 7:30pm. Adrienne Rich: The
School Among the Ruins: Poems 2000-2004.
More: 653-9965 or www.dieselbookstore.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
For Children:
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays,
10:30am: 2/5, (closed 2/12), 3/5.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednes-
days,10:30am: 2/16, 3/2.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesday,
7pm: 2/8, 2/22(see special event), 3/8.
Special Events:
• Jamie Myrick presents a drama program
about Ida B. Wells to celebrate African-Ameri-
can History Month: Tues., 2/22, 7pm. For kids
ages 4 to 10, but all ages welcome.
• Make Valentine cards: Fri., 2/11, 3-5pm.
For kids of all ages. Inf. at Children’s
Reference Desk.
Intergenerational Program:
Sunday, February 6, from 2-4pm. Join us
in celebrating Black History Month through
literature. The Rockridge Branch Library is a
participant site for the Annual 16th National
African-American Read-In Chain, nationally
Elder Care Support Group
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 Alta Bates support/education
groups, call Monica at 869-4569 or e-mail
Monicalcsw@alum.calberkeley.org.
Claremont Middle School Mtg
5750 College Avenue at Miles. Saturday, 2/12,
10am to 1pm, in the music room. Current and
prospective parents and community members
invited. The meeting includes an overview
of the school and changes Claremont is
planning, followed by brainstorming and
public input sessions. Parking available in the
schoolyard off Miles Avenue. Enter through
classroom 41b from the parking area.
Volunteer Opportunities
Bambino Thrift Shop: All-volunteer shop
benefiting Oakland Children’s Hospital. 5290
College Ave. Volunteers needed Tuesdays
through Saturdays. We will train you. Call
manager, Carol Maes: 654-9709.
North Oakland Community Charter
School (NOCCS): tutors to work with
1st to 4th graders, one-on-one or in small
groups, on math, reading and writing skills,
at least one hour per week. Located at Col-
lege Ave. Presb. Church, (next to Dryers ice
cream). Contact Jennifer Bloom, Director:
655-0540 or teachers@noccs.org.
Writers Support/Critique Group
Rockridge Branch Library, February 26 (4th
Saturday), 1:30 - 5pm. Coming months will
meet on the 3rd Saturday, 1:30 – 5pm. ALL
writers welcome. Bring 8 copies of 5 pages
of your prose for on-site reading/discussion.
Sponsored by the California Writers Club,
Berkeley branch (www.berkeleywritersclu
b.org/). For more information: 482-0265 or
Writefox@aol.com
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16.
February 5, 2005
gifts,
clothing,
and bliss
at namaste
,
-
510 547-YOGA
5416 College Avenue
(near the library)
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www.namasterockridge.com
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Choose a Full Service
Realtor. Residential
& Investment sales,
renovation consulting,
proven strategies
to increase value.
Full Service
Pre- and Post-Sale.
27 Years in Rockridge.
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BUYING OR SELLING IN
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