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VOL. 20 NO. 7 ISSUE NO. 214 July 9, 2005 CIRCULATION: 5,100 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES
Sponsored by The Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 644-4228
RCPC Switches
From Monthly to
Quarterly Town
Hall Meetings
agenda: RCPC/NCPC Town Hall Meeting
Note Start
Time
Thursday, July 21, 6:45 pm., Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila, Community Room (Upstairs)
Police Chief Wayne Tucker ad-
Recycling Coordinator Cliff Feldman
updates new recycling program;
Neighborhood Services Coordinator
dresses community crime concerns;
OPD Lieutenant Lawrence Green
discusses crime trends in North
Oakland;
Claudia Albano covers Home Alert;
NCPC Election.
Special meetings to be scheduled
as needed
OPD Chief to Speak
the Greater Rockridge Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council Town Hall Meeting on
Thursday, July 21, 6:45-9 p.m. in the com-
munity room of the Rockridge Library. Light
refreshments will be served.
At Town Hall Meeting
by Jessica Pitt, RCPC Board Member
B
NCPC Holds Elections
eginning in July, RCPC will move to
a new Town Hall meeting schedule.
Rather than holding community meetings
on the third Thursday of each month as we
have in the past, RCPC will hold quarterly
Town Hall meetings in January, April, July
and October. The meeting day and time will
remain the same: the third Thursday of the
month from 7:30 – 9 pm at the Rockridge
Library.
by Susan Montauk
A
Chief Tucker, appointed in February to
replace Chief Richard Word, will be joined
by Police Service Area 2 Lt. Lawrence
Green, who will discuss North Oakland
crime trends. Cliff Feldman of Environ-
mental Services will address recycling and
scavenging problems and Claudia Albano,
Neighborhood Services Coordinator, will
talk about the Home Alert program. Follow-
ing the speakers, the audience will have an
opportunity for questions. Also, the NCPC
will hold its annual election of officers.
re new crime-fighting strategies in
Oakland paying off? Have Measure
Y police hires kicked in yet? How does
Rockridge crime compare to the city as a
whole? How can citizens help prevent crimes
in their neighborhood? Interim Police Chief
Wayne Tucker will speak to these issues at
The RCPC Board decided to reduce the
frequency of community meetings because
turnout at some of the meetings over the past
year has been low. The board would prefer to
have more time to plan and conduct outreach
for fewer meetings on topics that we know
are of interest to the community.
In Rockridge,
auto thefts
and break-ins
are top
crimes,
followed by
assaults and
Although Rockridge does not experience
the high level of violent crime of some other
Oakland neighborhoods, it has its own crime
problems: auto thefts and break-ins top the
The 2006 quarterly Town Hall meetings
burglaries.
NCPC MEETING, PAGE 12
RCPC MEETING SHIFT, PAGE 3
Rockridge Kitchen Tour Date: October 2
include cozy bungalow kitchens,
grand-scale kitchens in larger
homes, modern architecture,
classic Craftsman artistry and
more, all completed within a
variety of remodeling budgets.
This year, we are pleased to pres-
ent the Tour’s first completely
wheelchair-accessible kitchen,
designed with a delightfully
warm, modern flair. Across
the street is another bright
remodel that blends period and
contemporary elements, includ-
ing a sparkling glass backsplash.
We are also sure you’ll enjoy
a complete Craftsman renova-
tion, designed and built from
the studs to the cabinet boxes
by the homeowner herself.
Two ways to purchase
advance tickets
by Jennifer Edmister
The 2005 Rockridge Kitchen
Tour is only a few months
away. Our selection commit-
tee spent months considering
a record number of kitchens,
and we are thrilled to unveil
our finalists. The tour is your
opportunity to admire a wide
sample of the neighborhood’s
finest. Our featured spaces
KITCHEN TOUR, PAGE 13
This built-in range is a focal
point of a kitchen featured on
the October 2 kitchen tour.
The tour showcases kitchen
styles and design ideas in nine
recently remodeled Rockridge
kitchens.
2.
July 9, 2005
Hop to It and Save the Date!
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by Theresa Nelson
If you remember the excitement and sense
of accomplishment from the Frog Park
Big Build of 2001 — or if you missed it
but want to be a part of building the next
phase — then save the date of Saturday,
September 17, 9 am – 4 pm and join your
neighbors for Big Build Phase Two. Projects
will be going on throughout the day, and
lunch will be provided.
Special Projects
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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.
away, we hope to involve a new generation
of park enthusiasts.
The volunteer roles now available are:
There are several exciting projects sched-
uled for September, in addition to our annual
major maintenance day involving sanding
and sealing the structures. We’ll build a
small fence to better separate the Hardy play
structure from the sandbox and keep the
sand in the sandbox (mixing sand and fiber
becomes a drainage and wood rot problem).
We will also demolish the large concrete
ring near Hudson Street, which was the
old play area location. For those who enjoy
gardening, we’ll be weeding and planting
along the Hardy-Clifton pathway. Finally, if
the plans are approved, we’ll construct the
new community information kiosk and donor
recognition structure at Hardy, designed by
Rockridge resident Lisa Ferrier.
Maintenance Captains
Food Coordinator (for maintenance
days)
Phase Two Coordinator for Frog-
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa ..........................Editor
Ortrun Niesar,
Claire Wahrhaftig-Isaacs.... Writers
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
built projects (new plaza and others)
Communications Coordinator
Gardeners and Horticultural
Coordinator
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
Treasurer
Please contact Howard Ferrier if
you can assist with any of these roles at
hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or 510/653-6463.
See you on the 17th.
Thanks to Wonderful Volunteers
T
RCPC Board of Directors, 2005-2006
Deborah Weinstein...........Chair
Jessica Pitt ...........................Vice-Chair
Adrienne DeAngelo..........Secretary
Ehab Bandar........................Treasurer
Kent Deverell, Jennifer Edmister, Dan Ferdelman
hanks to Kate Runyan and Steve
Mitchell, who are moving from Cali-
fornia with their new son. They have made
remarkable contributions during their five
years on the committee. Steve has been
a faithful maintenance captain for years,
and Kate and her committee organized the
feeding of 1,600 volunteers during the ten
days of the 2001 Big Build. She has handled
maintenance day food since then and served
as treasurer these past two years. Kate also
served as project manager for the restora-
tion of the beautiful Oceanus mural along
Claremont Avenue in 2003. Thank you for
everything you have done for Frog Park and
the community, Kate and Steve.
We’ll also be adding new fiber and sand
to the play areas, and, as in past years, we’ll
be joined by the freshman class of College
Preparatory School, who provide welcome
energy and enthusiasm. Please note that
the play structure areas at Redondo and
Hardy will be closed on both Saturday the
17th and Sunday the 18th to accommodate
the work.
Frog Park Needs You
Cy Gulassa, Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk,
Mike McDonald, Mike Taylor, Robert Wiles
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
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
The FROG Committee welcomes new
members, and we need your involvement to
make this park a continuing success. There’s
a committed core group, but as some move
Would you like to volunteer to be a Rockridge
News block captain?
Contact us at one of the following addresses or
telephone numbers:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 510/644-4228
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
September 3, 2005
September deadline is August 18.
Advertising rates are $22/column inch. Six-
month pre-pay rate available. For display ads,
call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or e-mail
joellis1@hotmail.com. (RCPC reserves the right
to refuse any display or classified ad that it deems
inappropriate.)
3.
July 9, 2005
RCPC Meeting Shift
At the June RCPC Town Hall Meeting
from page 1
Transit Experts Discuss 4th Bore,
BART, Bikes, Fees, Road Diets
will be devoted to the following topics:
JANUARY: Annual Planning Meet-
ing. Rockridge residents will have
an opportunity to provide input into
RCPC’s priorities for the coming
year.
Rockridge
residents listen to a
panel discussion of
local transportation
issues during the
June RCPC Town
Hall Meeting.
APRIL: RCPC Board Election.
Rockridge residents will vote on
RCPC and Friends of Rockridge
Library (FORL) board members.
is also working on
its East Bay Rapid
Transit (EBRT) proj-
ect designed to create
rapid-travel, bus-only
lanes between down-
town Berkeley and
the Bay Fair BART
station. Regional Measure 2 funding has
enabled AC Transit busses to offer night
service that parallels BART lines, a boon
to travelers stranded after BART shuts
down at night.
JULY: Land Use, Transportation, or
Community Safety Forum. RCPC
will highlight recent developments
related to land use, transportation,
community safety or other pressing
issues affecting the Rockridge com-
munity.
by Kent Deverell, RCPC Board Member
O
OCTOBER: Voter Forum. In prepara-
ne evening last June, despite the rain,
45 Rockridge residents attended
RCPC’s Town Hall meeting to hear public
transit experts discuss the proposed Calde-
cott Tunnel Fourth Bore project, BART, AC
Transit, cycling, and other transit issues.
tion for the November election, RCPC
will host a voter education forum.
As issues of interest arise, RCPC will
schedule community meetings on the off
months, such as the recent successful trans-
portation forum held in June.
Bob Franklin, Rockridge’s representa-
tive on the BART board, said that in 2006
the rail system will begin charging $1 to
park at its lots. He also described a new
“Translink” debit card good for travel on
either BART or AC Transit that will inte-
grate fare collection and set rates good for
travel anywhere in particular zones. BART
is scheduled to conduct a seismic retrofit
program in 2008 that might provide an
opportunity for RCPC’s UnderBART
committee to pursue improvements at the
Rockridge station. Franklin also said BART
will reduce train noise by smoothing the rails
the electric paddles ride on. For updates:
bobfranklinbart@aol.com.
CalTrans project manager Cristina Ferraz
(510/286-3890; http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/
caldecott) explained that the tunnel project
consists of drilling a fourth bore that will
add two to three lanes for tunnel traffic,
thus expediting flow and reducing com-
mute congestion. The Environmental Impact
Report (EIR), scheduled for completion in
December, is problematic for Rockridge
because it has a shortened, 45-day public
comment period, does not address noise and
other public health hazards, and excludes
Chabot Elementary, Claremont Middle
School and FROG Park as “beyond the
scope” of the project.
If you have ideas for meeting topics,
please share them with us. An RCPC
Board member would be happy to work
with you to organize a community meeting.
Contact Jessica Pitt, RCPC Vice-Chair at
jessica@jessicapitt.com.
Rockridge Little
School to Open
Fall 2005
The Rockridge Little School is now
accepting enrollment for Septem-
ber of 2005. Founded by seasoned
non-profit administrator Holly Gold,
Rockridge Little School will provide
a vibrant, culturally rich, and fun full-
day program for 40 children, ages 2.5
to 5. The school site is in the heart of
Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, at
the historic College Avenue Presbyterian
Church, designed by Julia Morgan.
Jason Patton, a member of Oakland’s
Bike and Pedestrian Safety Program, said
that a master plan for bikes and pedestri-
ans in Oakland is currently under review,
but residents need to decide what kind of
Oakland they want. For any given road, who
and what should it service? Cars? Pedestri-
ans? Bikes? Busses? Which modes of travel
should have priorities on which streets? To
consider these questions, a public workshop
series meets throughout the summer; EIR
hearings are scheduled for December.
For more information, contact Jason at
238-7049 or jpatton@oaklandnet.com or
visit http://www.oaklandpw.com/bicycling/
bikeplan.html.
CalTrans estimates construction costs
at $200 to $400 million, and despite chal-
lenges, local leaders consider the project
a “done deal.” If you would like to get
involved or receive email updates on the
project, contact RCPC board member Kent
Deverell at deverell@fluid.com.
Public transit costs are rising. According
to AC Transit Board Member Greg Harper,
an adult fare will increase from $1.50 to
$1.75, while the 75-cent fare for youth,
seniors and persons with disabilities will
increase to 85 cents, effective September
6. The increase will help offset a projected
$40-million deficit by 2008. AC Transit
The school will be open weekdays
8am-5:30pm with full and part-time
enrollment. Their web-site is www.rockri
dgelittleschool.com or contact Rockridge
Little School at 510/420-1200.
4.
July 9, 2005
City Council
Restores
Rockridge
Library Position
Meet Putthy Yem, Rockridge
Library’s New Summer Intern
The summer intern position
is funded by Friends of the
Rockridge Library (FORL)
by Rockridge Branch Library Staff
Sby Jennifer Vetter, Chair
Friends of the Rockridge Library
The’s 17, has just finished her junior year
at Oakland Tech, and is the fourth of six
children born to Cambodian parents who
emigrated to California in the mid-1980s.
Bilingual in Khmer and English, she loves
math, art, and working with children.
he Friends of the Rockridge Library
would like to thank Jane Brunner,
Ignacio De La Fuente, Jean Quan and the
rest of Oakland’s city council for restoring
the adult reference-librarian position to
the Rockridge Library in the 2005-2007
Oakland City budget.
Putthy Yem is the new Rockridge Library
summer intern, a position established three
years ago with funding provided by Friends
of the Rockridge Library.
As the second busiest branch in the
Oakland Public Library system, open
six days and two evenings per week, our
library needs to be fully staffed to serve
the needs of the Rockridge community
and the many users from other Oakland
neighborhoods. We’re glad the city council
responded to our concerns and did the right
thing during a very challenging budget
season. Thank you.
With the help of teen volunteers, trained
and supervised by the intern, the program,
whose objective is to promote reading as a
joyful and inspiring experience, welcomes
all children from pre-school through eighth
grade. Prizes, including free books, are
awarded based on the amount of time the
children read.
Putthy Yem, Rockridge Library summer
intern.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY
to multi-task — all qualities necessary to
being an effective intern.
In this time of severe budget cuts, our
libraries are more dependent than ever on
volunteers and on highly-qualified stu-
dent-interns, especially in programs with
a high turnout.
Teen volunteers also help with many other
activities scheduled at the library through-
out the summer, including arts and crafts
workshops and performances by puppeteers,
magicians, musicians and clowns.
Children’s Book
Project Comes
To Oakland
We are delighted to welcome Putthy,
who started work on June 15, and we invite
parents and children to come in and meet
her and to enroll in the Summer Reading
Program.
Thanks to the efforts of Louis Thomas,
the school-to-work counselor at Oakland
Tech, we interviewed five terrific applicants
this spring, each of whom had wonderful
qualities. Putthy (pronounced Put-tea),
however, was a perfect match for this
position. Not only has her work experience
included supervising students roughly the
age of our junior/teen volunteers, but she
has worked extensively with young children.
Enthusiastic and possessing a rare balance
of maturity and playfulness, she has excel-
lent organizational skills and the ability
Book donations welcomed
Ed. Note: The Community Calendar, page 15,
lists many library events for children and adults.
by Abby Cohen
Now into its second decade, Children’s
Book Project of San Francisco has
expanded and just opened in the East Bay.
The project, headed by Ann Katz, a retired
kindergarten teacher, provides free books to
children without access to books. Teachers
and nonprofits come to the project to take
up to 25 books free of charge. One quarter
of the SF project’s users were folks from the
East Bay who drove there to pick up books,
so it is great to have a local branch.
Located in the Grand Lake Neighbor-
hood Center, 530 Lake Park Avenue, the
project is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 3:30 until 6:00 pm. Donations of new
or gently used books suitable for levels birth
to high school are welcome. For more infor-
mation, e-mail abbyccm@aol.com.
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5295 College Avenue (nr Broadway)
Oakland • 510 601 8828
5.
July 9, 2005
Children’s Book Illustrator Has
Deep Roots in Rockridge
Kieren’s Rockridge bungalow is the
source of much of her inspiration and cre-
ativity. “My neighborhood and my family
provide terrific material for my work,” says
Kieren, who is hard at work trying to secure
a publisher for a children’s counting book
based on Fanny, her Welsh Corgie. She
also has big plans for a calendar featuring
kid-centric Bay Area sites like Tilden Park
and Fairyland.
K
Artist Kieren Dutcher
at work in her studio.
An illustration from a
children’s book by Kieren
Dutcher.
PHOTOS: ADRIENE DEANGELO
ieren works mostly in gouache resist,
a technique that was introduced to
her several years ago by an illustrator in
Seattle. The technique involves illustrating
in pencil, then painting over the drawing
with gouache paint, leaving the pencil lines
exposed. After the paint dries, Kieren covers
the original painting with black India ink,
then sprays off the black paint with water.
The black ink saturates only the exposed
paper. The technique intensifies the color
and gives a print-like effect. “I really like
the look of it,” she says.
by Adrienne DeAngelo
Lifetime Rockridge resident Kieren
Dutcher has wanted to be an illustra-
tor since she was thirteen years old. That’s
when she first laid eyes on the book The
Tyger Voyage by Richard Adams, illustrated
by Nicola Bayley. “I cried when I got it
because I wanted to paint like that. I still
love Bayley’s glowing illustrations — and
I still have that book,” she says.
Kieren grew up in Rockridge in a big old
brown shingle house. She is the daughter
of Bill and Nancy Dutcher, longtime mem-
bers of the Rockridge community. “I got a
lot of my creativity from my parents,” she
says. “My Dad’s an architect, and he was
always building things.” For many years,
Bill was also on the Board of the Oakland
Museum, so Kieren had early exposure
to local artwork and artists. Nancy, who
imbued Kieren with a love of nature, is a
docent in the natural history section of the
Oakland Museum. “Our house was always
a mess, with everyone creating something…
my Dad in his workshop in the basement,
my Mom sewing or cooking, and my sister
making little leather saddles for her Breyer
horses.”
ley’s Black Pine Circle school, which affords
her the opportunity to focus on her art and
pursue her lifelong dream of publishing a
children’s book.
As an adult, Kieren abandoned her child-
hood ambitions in favor of practicalities.
She attended the California College of
Arts and Crafts and majored in design,
then worked as a graphic artist for several
years. Later, she got a teaching credential
and taught elementary and middle-school
school art.
The interlude has paid off: Kieren was
the featured artist on the Northern Cali-
fornia Society of Children’s Book Writers
and Illustrators’ website for the month of
May. “It was a real honor to be a featured
artist with an organization like SCBWI,”
she says. “Being an illustrator is hard…
there are a lot of setbacks. I hope this is a
harbinger of good things to come.”
She currently works part-time at Berke-
Kieren lives with her husband, two kids,
a mischievous dog, a whiny cat, and lots of
art supplies. To see Kieren’s artwork, visit
her website at www.kierendutcher.com.
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6.
July 9, 2005
Cooking is less about latest trends and
more about tradition, memory and story-
telling. Although the following recipe can
be prepared in a sauté pan, I urge you to
consider using a well-seasoned wok (see
note). This dish is often prepared as part
of a Chinese Lunar New Year feast.
Long Beans with Eggs
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
5 eggs
1⁄2 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of olive oil
8 ounces of Chinese long beans
Ethnic Cookware: Food with a Memory
Irecently finished reading Breath
of a Wok, by Grace Young and
Alan Richardson, which won the
James Beard award last year. Part cultural
anthropology and family storytelling and
part recipes, the book celebrates the history
of and reverence for one of the world’s oldest
cooking pots. In many Chinese families,
the same wok has been used for many
generations and is called a thousand-year
wok. According to tradition, each new dish
prepared in an old, seasoned wok acquires
the flavors of previous dishes. Imagine the
wonderful foods your grandmother cooked
over 50 years ago as part of what you pre-
pare today. Most “Americanized” Chinese
cookbooks suggest using a sauté pan if you
don’t have a wok. However, preparing a
Chinese stir-fry in a sauté pan just doesn’t
taste as good as one cooked in a seasoned
wok. (Note: you can purchase pre-seasoned
woks at the Wok Shop at 718 Grant Street
in San Francisco.)
drying out – a perfect combination of steam-
ing and braising. Each new dish I make in
it incorporates the spices and flavors of the
previously cooked foods. Like the wok, the
tagine is cookware with “food memory.”
or Blue Lake green beans cut into
1⁄2-inch pieces
My other favorite piece of ethnic cook-
ware is a Spanish cazuela. Similar to the
tagine, a cazuela is a deep terracotta pan
with a flat lid. The cazuella also needs be
soaked in water for 24 hours before using.
The cazuela is best for cooking tough cuts of
beef, lamb, or pork, and is ideal for Jewish-
style brisket or Mexican pork stews.
Directions
In a medium bowl beat eggs with
1⁄4-teaspoon of the salt.
Heat a wok over high heat until very
hot. Swirl in the oil, add the long beans
and the remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon of salt,
and rapidly stir-fry 1 minute. Swirl in
the eggs and stir-fry. Constantly turn
the mixture with a spatula and allow
the uncooked egg to run to the bottom
of the wok until the eggs are set but not
dry (1-2 minutes).
For more years than I care to count, our
friend Janet has cooked her Jewish-style
brisket in a cazuela and every year it gets
better and better. Our daughter will eat
brisket only when cooked in the cazuela.
Whenever I ask Janet for the recipe she
laughs and says it’s so easy, but I know the
secret is in the pot, each new dish borrow-
ing flavors from the old.
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.
While reading Breath of a Wok, I thought
about other ethnic cookware. Why does
every dish taste better when prepared in an
older and well-cared-for ethnic pot rather
than modern “gourmet” cookware? Noth-
ing quite compares to a seafood, sausage,
and chicken paella cooked on a traditional
paella pan over a wood-coal fire on a braiser.
When our daughter’s new Spanish in-laws
came to America for her wedding, Tomas
brought a beautiful paella pan as a special
family gift. He prepared a traditional Valen-
cian paella that we shared with our closest
family and friends. What a way to start a
marriage and bond with in-laws!
For years, I’ve been cooking Moroccan
stews in my cast iron Dutch oven. About two
years ago, I bought a traditional ceramic
Moroccan tagine. After soaking the tagine
in water for 24 hours, as required, I prepared
a traditional Moroccan lamb stew. What a
difference! The cone shaped ceramic lid of
the tagine traps steam which retains flavors
and prevents the stew or vegetables from
7.
July 9, 2005
GET INVOLVED!
Do you live on (or near) Broadway between 51st Street and Highway 24?
Are you concerned with the speeding traffic?
Do you wish that the street was more bike and pedestrian friendly?
Would you like to see more trees along this stretch of Broadway?
Would you like to see Broadway as more of a parkway and less of a speedway?
If you answered "YES" to any of these, please join us in an initial meeting of
interested residents, the RCPC (Rockridge Community Planning Council),
representative(s) from the office of Jane Brunner, the Oakland police, and other
city officials to make some of these improvements a reality.
When: TBD
Where: Rockridge Library ² Upstairs Community Meeting Room
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 — 7 p.m.
Some of the suggestions for improvements include:
Reducing the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph or better yet, 25 mph (currently, in the
business stretches of Broadway, the speed limit drops to 30 toward 51st street and then
to 25 as it gets into downtown)
Adding more (or any) police monitoring and ticketing for speeding traffic
Reducing the number of lanes from 4 to 3, with either a center turn lane or a center park
strip with trees; and allowing for wider margins on the sides for bike lanes.
Better/clearer marking of crosswalks
If you are interested in becoming actively involved in this project or are unable to
attend the meeting but would like to remain up-to-date on the issues involved, contact
Steve Meyer at 510/655-6081 or e-mail meyer770@sbcglobal.net
If you are interested in becoming actively involved in this project or are unable to attend the meeting but would like to remain up to
date on the issues involved, contact Steve Meyer at 510-655-6081 or meyer770@sbcglobal.net
Complete architectural
services since 1970
5278 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-6755 fax 654-3424
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SF Sculptor
Selected for
$100K Studio One
Art Commission
by Patrick Daughton
San Francisco sculptor Cork Marcheschi
was awarded a $100,000 commission
from Oakland’s Cultural Arts department
to create and install a public art piece for
the Studio One Art Center, now undergoing
renovation. The selection panel of artists
and art professionals chose Marcheschi from
51 applicants nationwide. Its decision has
been accepted by Oakland’s Public Art
Advisory Committee.
Funds for the $10 million renovation
of Studio One come from Measure DD,
the $198 million Oakland Trust for Clean
Water and Safe Parks approved by voters
in 2002.
An open house is planned for mid-July
(date and location to be determined) to pro-
mote dialog among the artist, public art staff,
members of the Studio One community and
residents of the Temescal neighborhood.
Marcheschi will share examples of his
past work and will welcome suggestions
for the project design. Oakland staff, the
architectural team, and Friends of Studio
One will also be present to provide context
and background.
At a second community meeting in
August, the artist will present his pro-
posal prior to submitting it to the selection
panel. For final dates of the two meetings
and to learn more about Studio One, visit
http://www.friendsofstudioone.org.
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8.
July 9, 2005
PLEASED TO HAVE LOCAL ARTIST SHOWCASE
Editor:
Letters to The Editor
The Rockridge News
5245 College Ave., PMB 311
Thank you so very much for publishing Claire Wahrhaftig-
Isaacs’ article about my photography exhibit at the Rockridge
Café (“The Rockridge Muse,” June 4). Rockridge is fortunate
to have a quality neighborhood paper and writers like Claire. It
is equally fortunate to have Bill Chung as the proprietor of the
Rockridge Café, a delightful neighborhood gathering place. He
goes out of his way to showcase local artists and is quite an asset
to the community.
Oakland, CA 94618
or e-mail: editor@rockridge.org
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Please limit letters to
200 words. Include your name, address and a phone number for verifica-
tion. Only your name will appear with your letter. Letters may be edited for
clarity and brevity.
Again, thank you.
Gerry Keenan
HIGH DENSITY PLANS AND TRANSIT VILLAGE PROJECTION
ARE COUNTER TO PRIOR NEIGHBORHOOD EFFORTS
Editor:
I read about the agenda for the upcoming meeting on Thursday.
I am very concerned that the high density plans and transit village
projections will essentially go against everything that was fought
for in the zoning ordinances enacted in Rockridge some 30 years
ago. I will not be able to attend the meeting, but would be obliged
if you could forward my concerns to the chair of this meeting, and
that if possible the concern could be addressed. Thank you.
Christine Acker
RCPC IS HELPING TO FACILITATE A DIALOGUE ABOUT
WHAT CHANGES ARE INEVITABLE
Editor: (The following by Hiroko Kunihara is in response to a letter
from James K. Sayre published in the June issue of The Rockridge
News.)
Mr. Sayre, I agree with you that humans have had a devastating
effect on the natural world. However, our urban environments can
reflect bio-regional ecosystems as well, where equity and balance
contribute to sustainable practices; where we all have fair access
to what is needed.
In addition to our cultural addiction to petrochemicals I agree
with you that over-population is a serious problem. If we continue
to fortify our “free”-ways we will further disrupt the environmental
balance between urban development and rural lands.
Your comments about immigrants I take personally. I arrived
in California with my family in the United States in 1972. How
about your family? Isn’t the entire United States of America
essentially an immigrant nation?
Regarding population increases in the region: the Association
of Bay Area Governments estimates that by 2030, our nine-county
region from Sonoma to Santa Clara will see an increase of 1,246,683
million employed residents with a total increase of 1,367,140
jobs. With an average of 2.7 people per household, we can speculate
that many “immigrants” will be coming to fill those jobs.
The RCPC is helping to facilitate a dialogue about what kind
of changes are inevitable. In September we will begin discussions
in kitchens, schools, churches and other venues to discuss every
possible option and to discover what is the most equitable way to
guide and nurture our future. I know we have common concerns
and goals. Please remain involved.
Hiroko Kurihara, Chair
RCPC Land Use Committee 510/384-0557
This year, summer is our treat.
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losing weight, and we’ll give you the rest of the summer for
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9.
July 9, 2005
Claremont’s Spring Fling a Success!
*
*and Beyond…
New Owners
It’s Your Move,
Games and Hobbies
Board and interactive games
and on-site game playing
Terrance Roff and Sally Amsbury
4920 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
by Julie Harris
Claremont Middle School PTA’s
Spring Fling in May drew an
enthusiastic flow of students, par-
ents, and neighbors to the school
to enjoy a silent auction, food and
arts booths, a rummage sale, a
jumper, and a great variety of
performances. The total proceeds
came to about $4,500, enough to
ensure the school’s art program will
continue next school year.
Laotian Mien dancers at
Claremont School’s Spring Fling.
PHOTO: MIKE TAYLOR
NOCCS Celebrates First Graduates
510/547-4FUN
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
by Judith Silver
Tsecond K-1 class and a second 2-3 class.
This will add almost 40 new students, who
come from the neighborhood and through-
out Oakland, bringing the total number of
students to 105. NOCCS is also examining
its option to expand beyond 5th grade. The
school’s charter, renewed by the Oakland
Unified School District this year, permits
the addition of a middle school within the
next few years. “That prospect is a little
overwhelming,” says Elizabeth Cushing,
parent of a third-grader and chair of the
school’s board, who spends a lot of time
soothing growing pains. “But it is also
thrilling.”
he North Oakland Community Char-
ter School (NOCCS) graduated its first
crop of 5th-graders on June 16. NOCCS is
a small public charter school that started
in 2000 as a kindergarten/first-grade in
the College Avenue Presbyterian Church
on College Avenue. The school has grown
by a grade a year. Last summer it burst the
seams at the College Avenue Presbyterian
Church and moved into larger classrooms
in St. Augustine’s on Alcatraz Avenue. “St.
Augustine’s is an excellent fit,” says K-1
teacher and former part-time director Jen-
nifer Bloom, “and we are very excited about
developing ties to the community here.”
12 – 8 pm
Tuesday and Thursday, 12 – 10:30 pm
Sunday, 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
www.itsyourmovegames.com
New Hours and New Menu
Temescal Café
New menu includes lasagna and pastas,
grilled sausage, salads, olive & cheese
plates, other hot entrees, beer and wine
4920 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland
Now open:
Monday – Friday, 7 am – 9 pm
If you are interested in learning more
about the school and about volunteer oppor-
tunities, visit http://www.noccs.org.
Saturday, 8 am – 9 pm
NOCCS is poised to grow again. Next
year, it will gain two new classrooms: a
Sunday, 8 am – 9 pm
Correction: New Business
Sahaira
Full hair salon and beauty supply
and manicurist
5510 College Avenue, Oakland
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm
Rockridge is looking like a million bucks!
510/595-4227
Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
5315 Shafter Ave.
2/1.5
$ 695,000
$ 876,000
5/26/05
6218 Manoa
3/1.5
$ 829,000
$ 1,129,000
5/27/05
5866 Birch Ct.
3/2.5
$ 899,000
$ 1,049,000
5/27/05
5712 Buena Vista Ave.
3/3.5
$ 1,175,000
$ 1,300,000
5/27/05
5801 Ross St.
3/2.5
$ 995,000
$ 1,025,000
6/3/05
5850 Chabot Ct.
2/2.5
$ 835,000
$ 925,000
6/8/05
5340 Broadway Terr. #506
2/2
$ 560,000
$ 530,000
6/14/05
5809 Ivanhoe Rd.
4/5
$ 3,700,000
$ 4,300,000
6/14/05
5370 Bryant Ave.
2/1
$ 689,000
$ 778,000
6/15/05
5329 Broadway
4/2.5
$ 1,149,000
$ 1,149,000
6/16/05
Please contact me if you are interested in buying or selling.
10.
July 9, 2005
The Rockridge Muse
Kids’ FAQs series written by Cherie
Winner, which will supply you with the
answers to such puzzling questions as
“What makes the lighting bugs light up?”
and, “How long do bugs live?” Dad, you
will never be clueless again.
by Ortrun Niesar
Lessons of a Summer Day
Butterflies and Children
Benefits of Analog
cuddling up with Mom or Dad, flipping
the pages of a beloved book, marvelling
at the illustrations and eagerly running
little fingers over the letters as they
magically morph into words. So different
from merely pushing a button to turn
on the computer!
and Pressing Issues
A
Search Engine
Tlong the sidewalk, I skip over
hopscotch lines drawn in colored
chalks. Stop here, it says. Okay. Now
what? I don’t know. I need to ask the
kid who lives here if I am ever going
to know. Of course he can’t talk to
me that day because he has turned
himself into a super poison shark. And
I don’t know about the fairy princess
who was busy being saved by a magic
dragon just then.
here was a riot going on right here
in our Rockridge neighborhood
the other day! Just after one o’clock
in the afternoon we were invaded by
a massive swarm of strikingly beautiful
butterflies, no doubt attracted by the
clumps of fragrant lavenders in our
neighbor Annie’s garden. As the fragile
creatures fluttered urgently from bloom
to bloom, the neighbor children joyfully
chased them with their butterfly nets.
“Gently, gently,” admonished their Dad.
“You don’t want to damage their wings.”
“I think this is a male,” said Liza, one of
the children. Then she turned her bright
blue gaze on me. “Do you know what
kind of butterfly this is? And how can
you tell if this is a male or a female?”
I didn’t know, thought we should look
it up in a book.
Rich Veins to Mine
For young explorers, there are
wonderful books about butterflies, bugs
and snails and other garden wonders
available. One of the best places to find
a broad selection of age-appropriate
material is Cody’s on Telegraph. Also,
the Lawrence Hall of Science has a good
selection of children’s books. Gotta Go!
Gotta Go! by Sam Swope, telling the
butterfly story, is a wonderful little
book for preschoolers. So is Hurry and
the Monarch, by Antoine O’Flatharta,
telling of a friendship between a turtle
that never goes anywhere and the
Monarch that flies to Mexico every
year. The illustrations are gorgeous.
There is also a series called Backyard
Books, written by Judy Allen and Tudor
Humphries, that sports titles like “Are
you a Lady Bug?” or “Are you a Snail?”
Slightly older children and their parents
will love “The Everything Bug” from the
I am thinking about the miracle of
butterflies and children feeling so at home
here in Rockridge. It is they who, when
we get distracted by arguments over
tunnel bores and other “pressing” issues,
have the power to make us reconnect
the dots and feel the earth beneath our
feet right here in Rockridge.
$ ) 3 * 4 5 & / 4 & /
) & - - & 3
( " - - & 3 :
Her Dad said, “Check it out on the
computer.” Okay, that works too. But
I’m thinking that before computers
take over their lives, children need to
be encouraged to experience books.
Computers serve their purpose. But
for a child there is still nothing like
Art Fine Jewelry Crafts
.
.
Red Cross Needs Blood Donors
Nominated for 2004
Top100 Craft Galleries
in the United States
The American Red Cross Blood Services at 6230 Claremont
Avenue is in urgent need of blood donors this summer.
To make an appointment, call 800-GIVE-LIFE or go online to
www.BeADonor.com. Walk-ins welcome. Weekly drawings for
$100 gas gift cards will be held through Labor Day.
Custom Jewelry Design
Appraisals
Jewelry Repair
Jewelry Refurbishing and
Redesign
Engraving
Jewelry Cleaning
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NEW ADDRESS!
5829 College Avenue
Oakland, California 94618
510.655.5952
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11.
July 9, 2005
Mr. Sandman Brings
PHOTO: DON KINKEAD
THE NEIGHBORHOOD MERCHANT
You a Dream
S
BY THERESA NELSON
ince we spend about one third of our
lives in slumber, what we wear and
how we sleep are both a big part of
our lives. Mr. Sandman, a new store on
College Avenue near Bryant, has everything
to make slumber time delightful.
Mr. Sandman
Owners: Tiffany and Indy Stevenson
5292 College Avenue, Oakland
510/428-1302
http://www.sfbayshops.com
Open Tuesday — Sunday 12 — 6 pm
North Oakland sisters Tiffany and Indy
Stevenson jointly own Mr. Sandman, and
their creative energy is reflected in the
merchandise and look of the store. The
restful interior is strung with paper lanterns
in colors emphasizing the rainbow of paja-
mas. Tiffany said that she has always loved
pajamas and loungewear and had planned
the store, the first for both sisters, for a
long time.
Tiffany Stevenson, co-owner of
Mr. Sandman, a recently opened
slumberware store on College Avenue.
PHOTO: LYDIA GANS
very chic gown for nursing mothers.
rary TV shows like Will & Grace. The line
features fine cotton pajamas in charming
prints, including pastel Chinese umbrel-
las, red hearts on white, and even sushi.
Matching cosmetic bags come in various
sizes and patterns.
Mr. Sandman’s sleepwear is great for
travel, and the store now carries accessories,
too, including a two-sided lingerie bag (one
for clean, one for laundry). For summer, the
store also carries unique swimwear, made
of fabrics from Brazil and created in San
Francisco. The handmade Zoë bikinis are
complemented by cotton/spandex suits,
flip-flop sandals and sarong wraps.
Mr. Sandman focuses on comfortable,
well-fitting pajamas in beautiful colors that
are attractive and easy to care for. Tiffany
says, “You can walk out our door in these
pajamas and never be embarrassed.” The
Loveletters line of loungewear is especially
attractive, a smooth, cotton knit in bold
stripes, or a pattern of strings of pearls
or even a dotted swiss with pink piping.
Lingerie from the same line includes a
whimsical pink leopard print and Pebbles
and Bam-Bam from the Flintstones. Nick
and Nora loungewear, named after the
famous movie couple of the 1930s, echoes
the elegance of those films and contempo-
Nightgowns by Mary Green, reported
to be favorites of Oprah Winfrey, come in
several patterns, including a fine ribbed silk
with lace trim. Selections from PJ Salvage
include a lovely blue and green flowered set,
fuzzy chenille robes in pink, ivory and black,
and stylish thermals for winter wear.
“I love being on College Avenue because
of the support of the community and mer-
chants,” Tiffany says. Mr. Sandman is
collaborating with other College Avenue
stores on special offers and events.
For a very special gift, consider per-
sonalized pajamas: you can choose items
ranging from yoga-style pants and camisoles
to onesies and baby hats. Customers have
purchased sets for wedding or shower gifts,
personalized with names. There are also hand-
embroidered nightgowns from Brazil and a
Take a leisurely walk down College to
Bryant near Broadway and stop in at Mr.
Sandman. You can try on some of the most
comfortable and stylish sleepwear you’ve
ever seen.
%#$ #
Songwriters performing In the Round
to benefit the Friday Night Meal
$10 Suggested Donation
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12.
July 9, 2005
Graffiti Removal Week on College
Avenue, July 23-31
T
NCPC Meeting
Zealous
taggers
even left
their mark
on a plant.
from page 1
list, followed by assaults and burglaries.
In the week of June 6-12, 11 crimes were
reported in beat 12Y (roughly from 51st
Street to the Berkeley border and from
Telegraph Avenue to Broadway):
he Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council has made
graffiti cleanup its project for the last week
of July and will work with merchants and
city agencies to clean up College Avenue.
Graffiti on lamp posts, mailboxes, traffic
signals, parking meters, magazine stands,
and private buildings will be painted over.
Participating merchants will receive
materials to paint out future scrawls.
PHOTO:
SUSAN
MONTAUK
2 auto thefts
1 robbery with a dangerous weapon
Graffiti is an eyesore and often linked
to gang activity. It should be reported to
info@rockridgencpc.com, or call the Graf-
fiti Hotline at 238-4703.
2 bodily harm to a spouse or date
1 assault with a deadly weapon
2 burglaries
2 grand thefts.
Beat 13X (above Broadway to Moraga,
Highway 13 and the Berkeley border) reported
one crime: willful cruelty to a child.
July: NCPC Priorities for Beats 12Y & 13X
Beat 12Y
1. CalTrans Transients: Increased
blight/crime, break-ins, stolen vehicles,
suspects along Miles/Presley, up the ivy
path on Patton, and under the freeway
behind the school portables.
2. Telegraph/59th: The Washhouse,
Mattress Store, Williams Market; Increase
in robberies, mail & ID theft, assaults,
vandalism — 3 block radius.
3. Rockridge BART: Extra patrols to
abate late evening robberies (when res-
taurants are closing). The area toward
Alcatraz and Broadway.
Other 12y Concerns: The Tot Lot
Park — Redondo/Clark Streets. History
of Urban Nomads using the area as a
“Bed ’n Bath...room.”
Beat 13X
NO NEW Priorities
Since October 2003, Rockridge residents
have been able to query OPD’s chief about
crime issues on-line at rockridgeneighbor
hoodwatchnetwork@yahoogroups.com.
The NCPC will also conduct its annual
election of officers. Anyone over 18 living in
beats 12Y or 13X may run for office and/or
vote at the Town Hall meeting. See http:
//www.rockridgencpc.com for a description of
the NCPC, its officer’s duties and beat bound-
aries. Candidates should submit their names
to Jeff Benroth at info@rockridgencpc.com
by July 15. Nominations will also be accepted
from the floor.
! %! " ! $
$" # %&!! $'
General Dentistry
REFILL
SAVE BIG
PRINT HAPPY
13.
July 9, 2005
Kitchen Tour
from page 1
While you are strolling the neighbor-
hood and enjoying refreshments, remember
that the Kitchen Tour is RCPC’s primary
fundraiser. Net proceeds allow RCPC to
continue coordinating resources and funding
to improve our neighborhood.
Buy Discounted Tickets Now
A
Advance Kitchen Tour Ticket Order Form
Save me a spot for the 2005 Rockridge Kitchen Tour
YES!
Sunday, October 2, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Please send me the following tickets:
___ # of tickets @ $25 advance price = $_______ total enclosed
Name ________________________ Phone ______________
Address __________________ City___________ Zip______
Please mail this coupon, a self-addressed stamped envelope,
and your check or money order payable to:
lthough Bay Area housing prices have
soared, the Kitchen Tour is pleased
to announce that ticket prices have not:
advance-purchase tickets are available for
$25, and day-of-tour tickets will be avail-
able for $30. There are two convenient
ways to order tickets: by mail or on-line.
To order by mail, please fill out the ticket
order form on this page and enclose a check
and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with
RCPC Kitchen Tour, 5245 College Avenue PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94618
Thank you!
your order. Tickets will be mailed to you
within two weeks of the tour date. To order
online, go to http://www.rockridge.org. Click
on “Rockridge Kitchen Tour,” and follow
the easy online payment directions. Then,
save the confirmation number you receive
via e-mail.
Docents Needed
guide Tour guests through each of our fea-
tured kitchens, receive a pre-tour of three of
the kitchens, and will have an opportunity to
visit the remaining kitchens — with a free
ticket — either before or after their shift on
the day of the event. Many of our docents
have been with us since the very first Tour
in 1995. If you would like to be a docent,
please call Nancy Sale at 655-4625.
Brochure Sponsorship
"SHOULD YOU
SAVE FOR YOUR
KID'S COLLEGE
OR FOR YOUR
RETIREMENT?
OR BOTH?"
If you’d rather join the fun behind the
scenes, the Rockridge Kitchen Tour would
love to have you as a docent. Docents, who
Many of our guests are looking for both
inspiration and resources to assist them in
future renovation projects. To that end,
we furnish a tour brochure that offers a
limited amount of advertising space — an
excellent venue to publicize your kitchen or
residential renovation business or services.
All space must be reserved by July 15 in
order to meet our printing deadlines. Please
contact Jo Ellis at joellis1@hotmail.com, or
after 12 noon at 653-3210.
!
!
!
What is Full Service Real Estate?
“Jeff wholeheartedly went above and beyond our greatest
expectations. He handled virtually every aspect of the sale
(after we released the first agent) from personally re-doing
the staging more effectively; initiating creative marketing;
handling requested termite and repair fulfillment; and
negotiating the best price. The Buyers were also impressed
and decided to work with him as well! I am honored to
recommend Jeff to anyone.” — CM: Oakland/Lafayette
#,%"#(-% &
(!)'# +)*#+-%#,
1-800-805-8827
Find your HOME VALUE at:
www.RealEstate-infoSource.com
Real Estate Blog and Jeff’s site:
www.HomesEastBay.info
#!1.'0'#/,$$#.#"0&.,1%& ))/0 0#'+ +!' ) #.2'!#/ #!1.'0'#/'+
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14.
July 9, 2005
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. September deadline is August 18.
Place a classified ad: call Susan Montauk, 547-3855
Jazz and Classical Piano Lessons
Rockridge jazz pianist with UC Berkeley music
B.A. offers lessons in jazz, blues, classical, music
theory, ear-training, technique. Experienced,
patient teacher, all ages/levels. Janet 653-6783.
Pilates or Gyrotonic®
Free 30-minute private session*.First class FREE*
in Pilates, Yogilates, NIA®, Gyrokinesis®, and/or
Yamuna® Body Rolling. (*For new clients). Mind-
Body Connection, 5255 College Ave, 420-0444
(www.mindbodyconnection.net).
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.
Looking to Buy a Home In
Rockridge?
A wise decision. It is a community you can always
take pride in. To begin your search, contact me
today. Nicole Reams, Realtor 510/812-8824.
nrealestate@nextel.blackberry.net. California
Pacific Real Estate.
Temporary Room Rental
Having out of town guests and nowhere to put
them? Large, sunny room available in Craftsman
home in Rockridge/Elmwood area. See website
for photos and info. http://geocities.com/
cayenne2810 or call 547-8788.
Do You Need a Petsitter?
Are you going on vacation or business trip?
AT YOUR SERVICE, A Pet & Home Sitting
Service provides loving care for your pet
while you’re away. Located in Rockridge. Call
510/386-3163.
Tahoe Condo For Rent
Our lovely 3br/2+ba condo in Incline Village is
available for rent! Sleeps 8, is fully equipped!
Close to everything! Call 652-6664 for more
information.
Assisting Sellers In Rockridge
Interested in selling your home? To receive
a free consultation on how to market and
present your home call or email me today!
Nicole Reams, Realtor 510/812-8824 nreales
tate@nextel.blackberry.net. California Pacific
Real Estate.
Councilmember Jane
Brunner inaugurates
“Plant 1,000 Trees” for
Oakland neighbors at
the Rotunda Building on
June 22. Call her office at
238-7001 to arrange tree
planting on your block.
Select the species from
a variety of approved
street trees.
Plant 1,000 Trees!
PHOTO: CLAIRE WAHRHAFTIG-
ISAACS
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
' #(" )" &*
"$'+ !))' "* " ( )" &*&, )*% &*)
((")'&+"*
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15.
July 9, 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
cal Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley. For
more information: 643-2755 or http://botanical
garden.berkeley.edu. Explore the Garden’s
34 acres which have over 12,000 different kinds
of plants from around the world, arranged by
habitat region of origin.
8/2, 7pm. All ages welcome.
Junior/Teen Volunteers still needed: Kids
ages 12 to 17 are invited to volunteer at Rockridge
Branch Library for the summer programs. We
need your help; wee can arrange a schedule
that fits around other activities. Contact Erica
at 597-5017.
For Adults:
• Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
No meeting in July, August and September.
Join Vice Mayor Brunner for her Annual Picnic on
July 17 from noon to 4pm at the North Temescal
picnic area (off Broadway next to hwy 24 and
13 interchange). BBQ and drinks are provided;
bring a side dish or dessert. For information
on all District One issues, call 238-7001 or
www.oaklandnet.com (the site for all City-
related information).
Activities & Events for Seniors
• College Avenue Adult Center: Light exercise,
socializing, travel programs and music. Hot
lunch at noon for $2. Every Wednesday from
9:30am to 1:30pm. College Ave. Presbyterian
Church, 5955 College. Details about field trips
and summer camps for seniors at Yosemite
and Feather River: call Kathy at 531-6724.
• North Oakland Multi-Purpose Senior Center
Tuesday of each month: 6 to 8pm. Advance
sign-up starts 5pm.
Library Art Exhibits
Curb Car Theft at BART
In The Gallery:
• July: Jennifer Downey; Iron-Inspired: Our Land,
So far this year there have been more than
500 auto thefts in North Oakland. Meet at the
Rockridge BART tile wall, Monday, July 11,
3:30pm to 4:30pm to help flyer cars in the park-
ing lot with information about protecting cars
from theft Sponsored by Vice Mayor Brunner
and the OPD.
Our Language. Vivid earth-tone oil paintings
inspired by wrought-iron designs. Opening
reception Monday, July 11, 5:30 to 7:30pm.
• August: Dana Davis; Photography.
• September: Susan Hall and Mike G.: Surprise
Program Highlights: Computer classes; health
insurance counseling and advocacy program;
driver safety; trips, tours and theater outings.
Center hours: Monday – Friday, 8:45am to
4:45pm. 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.
The newsletter, “North Oakland Senior Times”
has a schedule of classes and a lunch menu:
(suggested donation: seniors 60+: $2.25). Call
597-5085 for membership details and informa-
tion about the newsletter, classes/events and
volunteer opportunities.
exhibit!
In The Display Case:
• July: Bill Kepner’s surprise display.
• August: Dana Davis; Photography.
• September: Claire Lomax; Paper sculpture and
NCPC: Crime Prevention Meeting
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y
and 13X areas are invited to voice their concerns
about crime and public safety. July Special Town
Hall Meeting, Thursday, July 21 at the Rockridge
Library, 6:45 to 8:30pm. August meeting (regular
time and place): 3rd Tuesday from 7 to 8:30pm
at Fire Station #8, 463 51st Street.
collage.
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
Museum White Elephant Sale
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm
Weds, Thurs and Sat 10am to 5:30pm
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm CLOSED Sundays
The Oakland Museum is accepting donations for
the 2006 White Elephant Sale from 10am to 12pm
on July16, August 13, Sept.10 at their warehouse,
333 Lancaster Street. For FREE van pickup call
839-5919. More details at 536-6800.
Rockridge Branch Library
For Children:
• Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays,
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
All events are FREE and open to the public
• Wednesday, 7/20, 7pm. UC Press Poetry Night:
10:30am: 7/9, 8/6, 8/13, 9/3.
• Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednes-
Food Recycler Needs Space
Poets Laura Mullen, Geoffrey O’Brien, Martha
Ronk, Carol Snow and Juliana Spahr.
• Sunday, 7/31, 3pm. Pamela Cranston: Coming
days, 10:30am: 7/6,7/20, 8/3, 8/17, (no story
time 9/7).
• Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 7pm:
Daily Bread, the volunteer group that picks up
leftover food from Market Hall daily and delivers
it to shelters still needs a neighborhood location
for its refrigerator (for situations where deliver-
ies can’t be made promptly). An accessible back
yard or garage would be ideal. Call Joan Sautter:
655-6432 or 415/986-1338 x133.
to Treeline: Adirondack Poems.
5433 College Ave. For information about more
readings in July and August, and schedules of
book/discussion groups and classes: 653-9965
or www.dieselbookstore.com.
8/9, (see below for special Tuesday night events
in July).
Special Events for kids and families:
• The 2005 Summer Reading Program: Kids can
continue to sign up until August 13th to receive
prizes for reading over the summer.
• Craft Program: Saturday 7/9 1pm. Make a simple
Volunteers Needed
Art Exhibit
• Bambino Thrift Shop: All Volunteer Shop
Margi Scharff: Collages made of found objects
from her travels in India. Showing through August
14 at Christensen Heller Gallery, 5831 College
Avenue. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am
to 6pm and Sunday, 12noon to 5pm. For more
information call 655-5952.
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
hand-made book. All ages; kids under 7 bring
a grown-up.
• Blue Fairy Storyteller: Tuesday, 7/12, 7pm.
Stories and songs by the famous Blue Fairy
of Fairyland in Oakland.
• Puppet Art Theater: Tuesday, 7/19, 7pm.
(NOCCS): tutors to work with 1st to 5th grad-
ers, one-on-one or in small groups, on math,
reading and writing skills; time commitment
of at least one hour per week. Located at
410 Alcatraz Ave. (cross St. Colby). Contact
Julia Kassissieh, Director: 655-0540 or
director@noccs.org.
• Friends of Temescal Creek: Monitor water quality
Performance of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf!”
• Family Reading Night: Tuesday, 7/26, 7pm. Wear
Writers Support/critique Group
ALL writers welcome. Bring at least 10 copies of
5 pages of your prose for on-site reading/discus-
sion. Sponsored by the California Writers Club,
Berkeley branch (www.berkeleywritersclub.o
rg/) Rockridge Branch Library, third Saturday of
the month from 1 to 5pm. For more information:
482-0265 or Writefox@aol.com.
your pajamas and bring your favorite book for a
group read-aloud story time. Admission price
is a pot-luck midnight snack item; something
simple and enough for 4 kids.
• Crafts for Kids, ages 7 through 12: Two Thurs-
days, 7/21 and 7/28 (both sessions needed to
complete the project). Making a short picture
book. Each person writes a story featuring his
or her own dolls, action figures, stuffed animals,
puppets, etc.,then uses digital photography to
illustrate it. Registration required. Please call
597-5017 for more info and to sign up. (One or
two parent-assistants would be welcome!).
• Magic Show with Magician Norman Ng: Tuesday,
by collecting water samples at Temescal Lake
for analysis. Important for Rockridge residents
because Temescal Creek runs above ground
near Frog Park. Volunteers meet on the third
Saturday of each month from 10am to noon.
Regular commitment preferred. For more infor-
mation and for where to meet, contact Friends of
Temescal Creek at fotc2005@yahoo.com.
Sick Plant Clinic
Bring your ailing plants to the University of
California Berkeley Botanical Garden and get
a free diagnosis by a team of expert UC plant
pathologists and entomologists. First Saturday
of every month from 9am to noon. UC Botani-
16.
July 9, 2005
gifts,
clothing,
and bliss
at namaste
510 547-YOGA
5416 College Avenue
(near the library)
www.namasterockridge.com
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