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VOL. 20 NO. 9 ISSUE NO. 216 October 1, 2005 CIRCULATION: 5,100 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES
Sponsored by The Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 644-4228
October Town Hall Meeting
Planning for Rockridge’s Future
RCPC to Ask Community to
Help set Priorities and Goals
by Deborah Weinstein,
Chair, RCPC
R
League of Women Voters to
Moderate RCPC Discussion
Of State Propositions!
Eight propositions will require your vote in the statewide elec-
tion on November 8. RCPC’s October Town Hall meeting,
moderated by the League of Women Voters, will be devoted to
an introduction and discussion of the pros and cons of each of
these issues. Please join us on Thursday, October 20, 7:30 pm in
the Rockridge Library.
ecent letters to the Editor indicate
confusion about the Rockridge Com-
munity Planning Council’s approaches to
Rockridge planning and zoning. I would
like to take this opportunity to set the
record straight.
PROPOSITION 73: Waiting Period and Parental Notification
Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy.
PROPOSITION 74: Public School Teachers. Waiting Period for
The RCPC originally formed in the
early 1970s as an organized effort to resist
rezoning for construction of high-rise
apartment complexes around BART. In
1985 RCPC incorporated as a nonprofit,
public benefit, 501(c)3 organization to support the following objec-
tives: 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.
Permanent Status. Dismissal.
PROPOSITION 75: Public Employee Union Dues. Restrictions
Deborah Weinstein
COURTESY D.W.
on Political Contributions. Employee Consent Requirement.
PROPOSITION 76: State Spending and School Funding Limits.
PROPOSITION 77: Court Order: Redistricting.
PROPOSITION 78: Discounts on Prescription Drugs.
PROPOSITION 79: Prescription Drug Discounts. State-Negoti-
ated Rebates.
PROPOSITION 80: Court Order: Electric Service Providers.
In the fall of 2003, RCPC launched a community planning pro-
cess with the goal of updating the Rockridge Area Plan, originally
produced in 1994 with extensive community input. As our plan-
ning process got underway, issues began to arise which forced the
RCPC Board to grapple with questions about the future growth and
development of Rockridge. Through a series of public community
meetings, articles in The Rockridge News and Board retreats, we
began to explore how RCPC might approach development oppor-
tunities in Rockridge. Unfortunately, during the course of these
discussions, a number of ideas emerged that led to misperceptions
about our position on development.
Iagenda: RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, October 20, 7:30 pm., Rockridge Branch
Library, 5366 College Avenue at Manila, Community Room
League of Women Voters: RCPC’s October Town Hall meeting,
moderated by the League of Women Voters, will be devoted to an
introduction of these measures followed by discussion of the pros and
cons of each. Additional details and list of propositions above.
Crime Alert
Rockridge Burglar Swipes Laptops
n brief, RCPC’s current position on development in Rockridge
is to encourage the preservation of C-31 zoning along College
Avenue, and to identify opportunities for possible in-fill develop-
ment that might meet C-31 zoning requirements.
by Susan Montauk, NCPC Chair
Laptop computers have been stolen from a number of Rockridge
homes, mostly between Claremont and Alcatraz, during
September. In more than eight reported incidents, a burglar
entered occupied homes in the evening or at night and took or
attempted to take a laptop and, once, keys. The burglar’s style
in each case leads Oakland police to believe there is one thief,
probably a male, with an accomplice driver. He also appears to
be widening his area: the last reported incident was on Florio.
There, sleeping residents of a home heard glass breaking.
They saw a man with gloves reaching for a laptop. The thief
escaped through the window
LAPTOP BURGLAR, PAGE 7
For those not familiar with local zoning, it might be useful to
provide an overview of C-31 zoning. Most municipalities employ
zoning, which is the regulation of land and building use to con-
trol the character and sound functioning of an area. In Oakland’s
General plan, Rockridge is divided into several distinct residential
and commercial zones that regulate use and building requirements
(see map and zoning categories on page 10). Rockridge’s principal
commercial zone is the C-31 Special Retail Commercial Zone along
College Avenue. This
zone is intended to
COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND GOALS, PAGE 10
2.
October 1, 2005
RCPC Seeks New Board Members
I
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s there something about Rockridge that you would like to change? Serving on the
Rockridge Community Planning Council offers you the perfect opportunity to work
on a solution.
Currently, there are two vacancies on the RCPC Board of Directors. Under the RCPC
Bylaws, the Board includes 12 voting seats typically filled by election of the members,
and two seats (including one non-voting seat) which are filled by appointment. If an
elected Director’s seat becomes vacant during mid-term, the Board appoints a new
Director to fill that vacancy for the remainder of the term. This fall, the Board plans
to make appointments to fill both the appointed voting seat and an elected seat which
was vacated by a resigning Director. The Board is seeking candidates with specific
skills in event planning, fundraising, financial analysis, bookkeeping, website design,
and newsletter design.
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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.
Candidates must be 18 years of age, reside within RCPC boundaries and indicate
their interest in the position by November 1, 2005. (A map and description of RCPC
boundaries is available online at www.rockridge.org.)
Candidates for the RCPC Board are invited to submit a 125-word statement,
describing their interest in being appointed to the Board for a limited term. Please
include your address and phone number. Electronic copies can be sent via e-mail to
deborahlweinstein@yahoo.com. Mail hard copies to RCPC, 5245 College Avenue, PMB
311, Oakland, CA, 94618.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa ..........................Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Wahrhaftig-Isaacs.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
Candidates will be interviewed at the November RCPC Board meeting, on Thurs-
day, November 3. For further information, please contact Deborah Weinstein, RCPC
Chair, at 510/595-3352.
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
Hollowe’en is Coming to Rockridge
Join the 14th Annual Rockridge Children’s Hal-
loween Parade on Sunday, October 30, from 1-3
p.m. Infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers, and elemen-
tary-age children in costume, accompanied by an
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
Cy Gulassa, Hiroko Kurihara, Susan Montauk,
Mike McDonald, Mike Taylor, Robert Wiles
adult(s), are invited to join the parade along College
Avenue. Meet at the Dreyer’s parking lot behind
5925 College Avenue (enter on Claremont Avenue),
for a list of participating merchants, followed by
trick-or-treating. Merchants will be distributing treats
to children in the parade along College Avenue until
3 p.m. Heavy rain will cancel the parade. The parade
is sponsored and organized by the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) and the Rockridge District Associa-
tion (RDA). Volunteers interested in helping with the parade should call RCPC Chair
Deborah Weinstein at 510/595-3352. College Avenue merchants please contact RDA
Program Manager Mary D’Orazi, at 510/604-3125.
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?
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
November 5, 2005
November deadline is October 20.
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.
October 1, 2005
Clean-Up and Celebration Time for Rockridge Library
Volunteer gardeners needed for
Rockridge Library pruning and
landscaping project
by Jennifer Vetter, Chair,
Friends of the Rockridge Library
With the aid of a generous donation
from the Rockridge Women’s Club,
the Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL)
recently re-landscaped the north, south and
east sides of the library. Working closely
with the librarians and FORL, landscaper
Peter Bowyer chose plants for their hardi-
ness and their relatively low needs for water
and maintenance, as well as their ability, in
the case of the bamboo, to provide a natural
partial screen from the sunlight that pours
into the north-facing wall of windows.
Volunteers Prune Rockridge Library Wisteria
L to R: Dimetria Sgouros, Malcolm Scotchler, Alison Levin, Peter Bowyer, Emerald
Canary, Elizabeth Ruiz, Kate Bean (with broom). Not in picture: Tim Hansken, Roger
and Eleanore Phillips.
PHOTO: JENIFER VETTER
Bowyer, who teaches Horticultural and
Landscape Design at Merritt College, also
led a group of volunteers from the Merritt
College Pruning Club in their 5th annual
pruning of the wisteria that grows on trellises
around the library. Librarian Pat Lichter
reported: “It was fascinating to hear them
argue about which branches to cut. One
person would say, ‘You could do it this
way if you’re thinking in a five-year time
frame. But if you’re looking at 20 years…’
Clearly, they really care about their work!”
These professional landscapers prune the
Rockridge Library Begins Planning
For 10th Anniversary Celebration
library’s wisteria every year as a community
service, and this year one couple even came
up from southern California to help.
and tools, if possible. Refreshments will
be served!
To help, contact Pat Lichter, Rockridge
Library Branch Manager, at 597-5017, or stop
by and ask for her at the front desk.
Pat would also like to institute a quar-
terly group weeding session now while the
landscaping is new and young. She is plan-
ning the first “Garden Party” for Saturday,
October 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 11. Volunteers
should bring their own gardening gloves
Rockridge Library “Garden Party”
planned for October 15, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Founded before the library was built,
FORL has provided many services and tan-
gibles not funded by the city library budget.
For example, for the last three summers
FORL has hired and paid the salary of a
full-time summer reading program intern
from Oakland Technical High School. FORL
also augments the library’s book, magazine
and CD collections, and generally helps out
in any way we can.
by Carol Bieri, Abby Pollak, and
Jennifer Vetter
A
Library (FORL) and the library staff would
like to thank the community for its continu-
ing support over the years and to welcome
everyone’s participation in the celebration
being planned for 2006.
s we near the 10th anniversary of the
Rockridge Library building at College
and Manila, the Friends of the Rockridge
To maintain our library’s excellence,
we encourage more people to join the
Friends. We also hope that some Friends
will consider making additional donations,
perhaps inspired by items on the following
wish list:
Become a Friend of the Rockridge Library!
Name
Address _________________________
City
e-mail
Enclosed is my check for:
two lecterns for the upstairs meeting
Individual Donation.............. $25.
Student or Senior ..................$15.
Family Donation ....................$35.
Business Donation.............. $250.
I would like to make a special contribution of $
rooms
a DVD player and a new TV for meet-
ing rooms
particular magazine subscriptions
books on CD
repair or replacement of the storyteller’s
Please make checks payable to FORL and mail to:
Friends of the Rockridge Library, 5245 College Avenue #311, Oakland, CA 94618
CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
CELEBRATION, PAGE 13
4.
October 1, 2005
Doing Your Best
To Prepare For
The Worst
D
Fall Carnival at Chabot Elementary School
C
habot Elementary
School Parent-Teacher
Association (PTA) invites
the community to our
annual fall carnival to be
held on Sunday, October
30, 2005, from 11:00-3:00
p.m., at the Chabot School
lower playground, 6686
Chabot Road. Entrance to
the carnival is free and there are small fees
for food and games.
available for purchase. We
will highlight a new for-
tune telling booth, festive
music and entertainment,
and an annual visit from
a fire truck.
o you know what to do in the event
of an earthquake, fire, flood, terrorist
threat or other emergency situation? Are
you and your family prepared to be on your
own for 72 hours or longer after a major
emergency?
The fall carnival is our
major community building
event as well as well as a
fundraising opportunity.
The Chabot PTA supports the school’s
music, art, garden, and computer programs,
maintains the school’s library, and contrib-
utes to new playground facilities and other
improvements to the physical plant.
Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emer-
gencies (CORE) is a free training program
for individuals, neighborhood groups and
community-based organizations in Oakland
that teaches self-reliance skills and helps
neighborhoods establish response teams to
take care of the neighborhood until profes-
sional emergency personnel arrive.
Each class, Kindergarten through 5th
grade, participates by sponsoring a game
booth such as Ring Toss, Lucky Duck,
Cake Walk and Bean Bag Throw, with
prizes offered. There will be several arts
and crafts opportunities. Food and drinks are
Bring your family for a day of fun and
support Chabot Elementary School. For
more info: sponcelet@earthlink.net.
The underlying premise is that a major
disaster will overwhelm first responders
and leave many citizens on their own for
the first 72 hours after an emergency.
CORE is offering a family preparedness
class in October. Here’s your opportunity
to learn protective techniques that can help
your family:
At the September
RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Remodeling Experts Play to a
Packed Crowd of Likely Remodelers
CORE 1 Home and
Family Preparedness Class:
Thursday, October 13, 2005, 7 – 9 p.m.
by Jennifer Edmister
Tof us to exciting new possibilities for the
most-used room in the house. Kathy and
her team offered beautiful examples of
kitchens re-done in green, earth-friendly
materials like gorgeous, glazed vulcanite
from Mexico, or brilliant countertops made
of resin and recycled paper.
hanks to all who joined us for the
September 15 Town Hall Meeting, a
home and kitchen renovation forum with
standing room only. On hand were Kathryn
Rogers of Sogno Design Group, and local
general contractors Tom Lawrence and Mike
McDonald. Kathy delighted the audience
with a “before and after” slide presentation,
featuring some of her most interesting local
kitchen renovations. Kathy drew nods and
hoots of acknowledgement for her observa-
tion that too many of our Rockridge kitchens
are tiny, cramped, cut off from the rest of
the house, utterly lacking in counter space,
or “just plain ugly.” Her innovative solu-
tions for these problems introduced many
Rockridge Public Library,
5366 College Avenue
Advanced registration is necessary as
the attendance limit is 25 per class.
Contact Akasha, 510/655-8796 to register.
Tom and Mike then joined Kathy
in answering frank questions from a
home-savvy
crowd. With
SEPTEMBER MEET, PAGE 7
CORE I — Home and Family Pre-
paredness. Learn how to reduce common
household hazards, prepare family disaster
plans and emergency kits, develop evacu-
ation plans and respond to earthquakes,
fires, chemical emergencies, flooding and
terrorist threats.
Manuals in Chinese and Spanish are
available. Contact Akasha at 655-8796 to
obtain copies.
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5295 College Avenue (nr Broadway)
Oakland • 510 601 8828
5.
October 1, 2005
Rockridge Spruces Up Parks and Creeks
Above and
top: College
Preparatory School
students and teachers
give Frog Park play
structures a make-
over.
Center: FROG Park
volunteer coordinator
Howard Ferrier tells
CPS recruits of the
park’s history.
Bottom right:
students show off
the latest fashions in
latex gloves.
Bottom left: picnic
break for Temescal
Creek clean-up crew.
!
!
!
College Preparatory School
students work alongside
neighbors in Creek-to-Bay
Day clean-up activities
PHOTOS: CY GULASSA
Complete architectural
services since 1970
5278 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 654-6755 fax 654-3424
6.
October 1, 2005
is covered with water or stock and slowly
simmered for an hour or more. When done,
the gumbo is served over rice.
The gumbo recipe below is adapted from
Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen,
and is one of hundreds. Although there are
many ingredients, the actual cooking is quite
simple. I encourage you to make some gumbo
as a way to honor our first city of American
cuisine — New Orleans.
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been a part. In 1765, some of the Acadians
sellted in Louisiana, shortly after it was
acquired by Spain— a portio nof them in
New Orleans, but most on nearby bayous
and marshlands granted to them by the
Spanish. The term Cajun, a corruption
of Acadian, came into use in the 19th
century. Cajun cooking, a combination of
French and Southern cuisines, is a robust,
one-pot, country style of cooking that uses
available seasonal vegetables, herbs, spices
and seafood, such as the humble crawfish.
The most famous Cajun dish is crawfish
étouffée. Etouffée means “smothered.” In
Cajun cooking, an étouffée is a one-pot stew
that highlights a single main ingredient like
shrimp or crayfish.
b
o
A
Seafood Gumbo
(Serves 4)
1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and
(A Southern Louisiana term derived from
French/Spanish meaning a little something
deveined
5 cups of seafood stock (available at the
extra, an unexpected gift)
The Jamestown flood, the eruption of Mt.
Saint Helens, the 1906 San Francisco
earthquake, the Okalahoma City bombing,
9/11 and now Hurricane Katrina are a few of
America’s natural and man-made disasters
forever etched upon our collective psyches.
We all, in our own way, grieve and reach out
to New Orleans, American’s most culturally
unique city. New Orleans—the birthplace of
jazz and equally as important, America’s
culinary soul. I cannot think of any other
American city that is recognized by culinary
historians as having its own cuisine. Yes,
there is San Francisco sourdough bread,
Boston cream pie, New England clam
chowder, Philadelphia cheese steak and
Chicago pizza, but New Orleans is the
only American city identified by culinary
scholars as a full cuisine with its origins
over 300 years old. One of the ways to honor
the horrific scenes we have been watching
non-stop is to appreciate the rich culinary
tradition New Orleans and Louisiana have
given to America.
Market Hall Pasta Shop or Hapuku Fish
Shop)
2-1⁄2 tablespoons of Paul Prudhomme’s
Cajun Magic Seafood Seasoning
(available at Ver Brugge meat market
on College Avenue or Hapuku)
3⁄4 cup butter
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped green peppers
3 tablespoons filé (available at Safeway
and Albertson’s)
1⁄2 tablespoon Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup canned tomato sauce
1-1⁄2 cups Dungeness crabmeat
New Orleans Creole cooking is more
refined than Cajun. Blending the more
refined cooking styles of the French and
Spanish along with local Indian and African
slave traditions, New Orleans gave birth to
Creole cuisine — America’s first authentic
cuisine. Among the Native American Choc-
taws’ lasting contributions to Creole cuisine
was the introduction of dried sassafras leaves
known as filé, which are used as a flavoring
and in powdered form as a thickening agent
for soups and stews. African slaves brought
the okra plant to the American south, best
known for its use in gumbo.
(Ver Brugge)
In a large, heavy soup pot, melt the butter
over medium heat. Add the onions, celery,
and peppers. Turn heat to high and stir in the
filé, Tabasco, garlic and seasoning mix. Cook
6 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to
medium and stir in tomato sauce; continue
cooking 5 minutes stirring constantly and
scraping the pot bottom, which intensifies
the flavor. Add the stock and bring to a boil;
reduce heat and simmer for an hour, stirring
occasionally. Add the shrimp, and crabmeat.
Cover and turn off the heat. Leave the pot
covered until the seafood is poached, about
6-10 minutes. Serve immediately over rice.
To fully understand the culinary history
of New Orleans, one must first understand
the differences between Creole and Cajun
food. Both cuisines trace their roots to
French cooking. It is only recently that
Creole and Cajun cooking have been used
interchangeably. For nearly 300 years the
Creole cuisine of New Orleans and Cajun
cooking of the surrounding bayous and
Louisiana farmlands were distinct culinary
traditions. Although the two share many
ingredients and some recipes, each has its
own history and unique dishes.
Gumbo is the quintessential Creole
dish. The name gumbo is a derivation of
the African word for okra. Some culinary
historians believe that gumbo is an adapta-
tion of bouillabaisse, the classic French fish
stew. Whatever its origins, there are many
varieties and recipes for gumbo. In New
Orleans kitchens, gumbos vary by what is
seasonally available. Gumbos include the
holy trinity of Creole cooking—onions,
peppers, and celery. Other ingredients
usually include okra and tomatoes, and one
or several meats or shellfish like chicken,
sausage, ham, shrimp, crab or oysters. Often,
authentic gumbos start with is a rich, dark
roux. A roux is a mixture of equal parts of
flour and fat (butter) cooked slowly until it
reaches a dark mahogany color. The stew
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Cajuns were North America’s first
deported population. In the late 1750s,
after the outbreak of the French and Indian
War, Britain expelled the French occupants
of Nova Scotia — called “Acadians” after
the French province of which the area had
7.
October 1, 2005
September Meet
Laptop Burglar
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the audience sharing their own experiences,
we learned that even a kitchen-only remodel-
ing project should begin with a master plan
for the rest of the home. Often, homeowners
find that they save time and expense if they
understand what changes should occur in
the rest of the house. Next, homeowners and
their builders should have a candid discus-
sion about the budget. Mike observed that
not all bungalow kitchen projects require a
$100,000-plus commitment. Finally, Mike,
Tom and Kathy agreed that a solid project
requires a solid team. We were cautioned
that the very best place to start is with a
reputable architect / designer and a general
contractor. Our experts encouraged us to
ask questions, check references and listen
to word-of-mouth.
to a waiting car.
OPD and the Greater Rockridge NCPC
recommend the following precautions:
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When carrying your laptop home from
work, disguise its carrying case. Laptop
thieves may be waiting at BART to scout
out likely candidates.
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PS Y
Do not leave your laptop in view of
an outside window. If working at the laptop
draw the blinds.
Record the serial number of your laptop
for reporting and recovery purposes.
Secure your records with a pass-
word.
Keep your doors and windows locked,
activate alarm systems and install a motion
detector (they can now be adjusted for
dogs).
With all of this in mind, many of us
concluded the meeting by perusing Kathy’s
fine selection of counter top and flooring
samples, as we quietly plotted our dream
kitchens of tomorrow.
Call 911 to report a crime in prog-
ress and 777-3333 to report other crimes.
Although OPD is not likely to follow up on
a crime with no evidence, patterns can be
established if crimes are reported. Also,
insurance claims cannot be made without
a report. Ask the operator for an incident
number. The report number may take several
weeks.
Go to yahoogroups.com and search for
the RockridgeNeighborhoodWatchNetwork.
Join the group and always report suspicious
behavior or crimes to the on-line group.
General Dentistry
Rockridge home sales are still on the rise!
Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
5332 Boyd Ave.
2/1.5
$ 729,000
$ 910,000
8/24/05
5533 Taft Ave.
3/1.5
$ 729000
$ 910,000
8/24/05
5426 Lawton Ave.
3/1.5
$ 859,000
$ 973,000
8/26/05
5720 Golden Gate Ave.
2/2
$ 679,000
$ 805,000
8/26/05
140 Florence Ave.
4/3.5
$ 1.195,000
$ 1,195,000
8/26/05
386 63rd St.
4/3
$ 1,079,000
$ 1,053,000
8/30/05
5547 Kales Ave.
2/2
$ 950,000
$ 940,000
9/8/05
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8.
October 1, 2005
(page 2) we’re told that “residents of Rockridge could support…
sustainability by embracing transit-oriented development,” again
implying a serious deficiency in our current neighborhood.
Letters to The Editor
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Please limit
letters to 200 words. Include your name, address and a phone
number for verification. Only your name will appear with your
letter. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.
“Transit Village in Rockridge” was the headline in June 2005
(page 1) about an upcoming meeting “to discuss transit-oriented
development and multi-modal transportation in Rockridge in the
context of sustainable, smart growth.” A Fruitvale-style transit
village was part of the discussion at that RCPC general meeting.
And on page 9 were questions like: “What will it take for the
Rockridge Village to really embrace and commit to sustaining
a community and the region?” A June 21, 2005 Contra Costa
Times article in which RCPC board members were interviewd
noted that Rockridge “wants to become a transit village.” And in
a June 7, 2005 article in the East Bay Daily News titled, “Transit
village may be right answer,” RCPC board members advocate for
3-4 story developments near BART, saying that Rockridge is “an
invisible gated community.”
I WAS DISMAYED BY THE “CORRECTION”
THAT FOLLOWED MY LAST LETTER
Editor:
Thank you for printing my letter objecting to the creation of a
Fruitvale-style transit village in Rockridge (The Rockridge News,
September, 2005). But I was dismayed by RCPC’s “correction”
to my letter, which denied that the organization ever supported
a transit village or promoted high-density development. The
record tells a different story. (All the citations below are from
the Rockridge News unless otherwise noted.)
A review of these quotes and two years of articles in The
Rockridge News shows RCPC’s position morphing from sup-
porting beautification and upgrades under BART to stating that
something’s so wrong with Rockridge that it needs radical changes
like major developer-sponsored transit villages. It’s very hard to
tell what RCPC is advocating — building a transit village under
the freeway at BART, legal development of more housing above
commercial on College Avenue, or major development somewhere
else in Rockridge, and if so where?
In July 2003, the Rockridge News reported on the UnderBART
project (various improvements to signage and lighting), which
had much public support. Later that year (November 2003, pages
1 & 4) the Board said it would “discuss what changes would be
needed to make (College Avenue) an ideal business district.” In
January 2004 (pages 4 & 8), noted author and urban planner
Peter Calthorpe called Rockridge “A good example… of a livable
community,” with “a multiplicity of housing types, mixed use
neighborhood and strong connections to the region via transit.”
This affirms the view I expressed in my letter.
What I find amazing is that RCPC tried to “correct” or perhaps
“spin” the facts about its interest in transit villages. My letter
needed no “correction.”
— Barney Smits
Suddenly, in April 2004 (page 2) an article calls Rockridge
“an exclusive enclave,” and in September 2004 (page 7), an article
announces that RCPC seeks “new development proposals that will
provide a better mix of residential and commercial establishments.”
In October 2004 (page 2), we learn that “to increase housing den-
sity along College Avenue… the RCPC Land Use Committee will
advocate for multiple-story… development and develop policies
to ensure that Rockridge will once again be in the vanguard of
sustainable living.” Given what Mr. Calthorpe said only 10 months
before, it’s hard to understand exactly what changed so radically
in Rockridge that it now needs such change.
MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TOP OF NEXT PAGE
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So in February 2005 (page 3) we learn that “the Land Use
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9.
October 1, 2005
Mexico City safer because they have packed
in many millions of new residents within
their city limits in the last few years? I
doubt it.
KATRINA VICTIMS NEED OUR HELP
Editor:
Letters, continued from page 8
WHY HIGHER DENSITY?
Editor:
I live in Rockridge and am appealing for
help for the victims of hurricane Katrina.
I was born and raised in New Orleans and
moved to the Bay Area five years ago. I have
many loved ones in New Orleans; family
and friends. Most were able to evacuate, but
their homes have been severely damaged
or destroyed and they may not be able to
return for months. I still have not been able
to contact two dear friends from high school
who work at Charity Hospital in downtown
New Orleans. I think about them every day
and hope that they are safe. This is just my
personal piece of this story, but the bigger
picture is even darker.
People living in these hypothetical new
apartment buildings in Rockridge would
be mostly watching TV, surfing the web or
playing video games or gasp, actually even
reading, not looking out their window and
watching out for our safety in the street
scene below.
I am dumbfounded as to why we are being
urged to increase the population density of
our Rockridge neighborhoods. Our streets
have become crowded parking lots and our
narrow sidewalks are jammed with people.
What is the motivation of these proponents of
development, and what economic interests do
they represent? One letter to The Rockridge
News suggests that, unless we make room for
the 1.6 million migrants to the Bay Area, we
will lose our “beautiful rolling hills and open
space.” How specious and absurd.
Will adding more cars and SUVs of these
hypothetical new residents not worsen our
present traffic mess? Already, there is almost
no parking available along College Avenue
or along nearby residential streets.
Beneath the sweetness and light of their
arguments, I’m reminded of the unscrupulous
entrepreneur who shoehorns more bodies into
his overcrowded ferry boat and prays that it
does not capsize and sink. The tipping point
approaches if we listen to these Sirens.
— Bill Tilden
Another letter writer asserted that some
1,600,000 more people would be “joining
us” in the Bay Area in the next twenty years.
Not if we don’t build another 500,000 new
housing units. They certainly aren’t going
to move here to sleep in the parks or in
their vehicles.
There are so many people from New
Orleans in much worse situations. Most of
my friends and family had the means to get
out and places to go. Not everyone was so
lucky. I was a first grade teacher in New
Orleans. Yesterday I saw a photo of one of
my former students at the Superdome and
cried thinking about what life is like for her
and her family right now. I can only hope
that they are among the lucky few who were
evacuated early.
We humans need to reduce our numbers
by 90 to 99 percent to significantly lower
our consumption of energy resources and to
protect the remaining natural environment.
We certainly don’t need to cram hundreds of
thousands of new residents into our already
seriously overcrowded Bay Area.
LOWER CONSUMPTION,
NOT HIGHER DENSITY
Editor:
Over-development issues never seem to
go away for long in our lovely Rockridge.
Thank you for publishing the thoughtful
letter, “Please, No Fruitvale-style high den-
sity ‘Transit Village’ in Rockridge!” (The
Rockridge News, September 2005). Your
“Corrections” editorial reply absurdly sug-
gested that somehow more development of
apartment buildings along College Avenue
would result “in more eyes on the street”
that would somehow make us “safer.” Are
mega-cities such as Hong Kong, Cairo and
New Orleans is an extremely poor city
and many people will need to rely on shelters
and organizations like the Red Cross and
The Salvation Army for months. I am writ-
ing all of this to ask you to spread the word
among your own friends, family, workplaces,
schools, community centers, and places of
worship. Please help me to raise awareness
about the seriousness of this disaster and the
great need for giving aid to organizations
like the Red Cross (www.redcross.org or
1-800-HELP NOW) and the Salvation Army
(www.salvationarmyusa.org, or 1-800-SAL
ARMY). New Orleans and the whole Gulf
Coast really need the support of Rockridge
and the entire country.
Finally, an article on the Upper Broadway
corridor absurdly proposes to cut the pres-
ent four traffic lanes down to two traffic
lanes. Didn’t The Rockridge News just trot
out this same scheme for restricting traffic
on Claremont Avenue a few months ago?
That silly notion was shot down in flames
by the Oakland city government.
— James K. Sayre
I thank you for any support you can give
—and please keep the people of New Orleans
and the Gulf Coast in your thoughts.
— Zoë Williams
%#$ #
Songwriters performing In the Round
to benefit the Friday Night Meal
$10 Suggested Donation
& %"#'$" %"
& %
"' $( !
10.
October 1, 2005
Rockridge Zoning Map
Community Priorities
and Goals
from page 1
create, preserve, and enhance areas with a
wide range of retail establishments serving
both short and long term needs in attractive
settings oriented to pedestrian comparison
shopping.
C-31 Zoning permits many ground-floor
activities: general retail sales, convenience
sales and services, consumer laundry and
repair services, and certain residential and
civic activities. Offices are generally located
on the second floor, residential apartments
on the third, and buildings may not exceed
a total height of 35 feet. Older buildings
that predated C-31 zoning have been
grandfathered.
In the 1980s, RCPC and Rockridge resi-
dents fought hard for the C-31 designation
because the community recognized that the
economic vitality of the College Avenue
commercial area depends on a vibrant retail
environment. It may be hard to imagine now,
but during the construction of Highway 24
and the BART station,
many retail busi-
nesses on College
Avenue failed and
were boarded up.
ZONING TITLES
RESIDENTIAL ZONES
R-30 One-Family Residential
R-35 Special One-Family Residential
R-40 Garden Apartment Residential
R-50 Medium Density Residential
R-60 Medium-High Density Residential
R-70 High Density Residential
COMMERCIAL ZONES
C-10 Local Retail Commercial
C-28 Commercial Shopping District
C-31 Special Retail Commercial
SOURCE:http://bpc.iserver.net/codes/oakland/
_DATA/TITLE17/index.html
Brunner to make capital improvements like
trees and benches along College Avenue.
Last
January
the RCPC Board of
Directors held a stra-
tegic planning session
to determine RCPC’s
2005 activities and
budget. The session
included professional
planners and architects who discussed
“smart growth,” a way for communities
to grow responsibly for the benefit of all
residents. To further the discussion about
“smart growth,” RCPC held a Town Hall
Meeting on transit-oriented development last
June. As noted in the September issue of
The Rockridge News, RCPC is not advocat-
ing a Fruitvale-style transit village; in fact
officials at the June meeting made it clear
that Rockridge is not suitable for such a
project. But we are interested in improv-
ing the area under and around the BART
station, and after several public meetings,
the community has provided excellent sug-
gestions, all of which are consistent with
C-31 zoning.
…RCPC is not suggesting
that Rockridge become
a Fruitvale-style transit
village…
RCPC continues
to implement its
mission through a
variety of activities carried out by commit-
tees focused on major issues (membership
in these committees is open to the entire
Rockridge community). For example, a
major focus of the Land Use Committee
has been to advocate for the preservation
of C-31 zoning since RCPC believes that a
healthy retail environment is critical to a
vibrant community. As I write this column,
RCPC is appealing the City’s decision to
grant a Minor Conditional Use Permit for
5327 College Avenue, which violates C-31
regulations by allowing an office at street
level. Once granted, this permit remains in
perpetuity with the property.
of these sites about development that would
add to the vibrancy and efficiency of land
use on College Avenue.
Most important, RCPC decided at the
January session to create a comprehensive
process for generating community dialogue
on the future of Rockridge. Plans include
survey instruments; focus group discussions
in Rockridge homes; general meetings at
the Rockridge library; and meetings at
schools, senior residencies, transitional
shelters, businesses and churches. The
community voice will help guide RCPC’s
activities in the coming years. Please join
the discussion. We need to hear your ideas
about what Rockridge should look like in
the next 10-20 years.
RCPC’s College Avenue Committee for
Capital Improvements, formerly called the
“Under-BART” committee, was started by
a group of community members who were
interested in improving the underutilized
space under the Rockridge BART station
and Highway 24 overpass. The group now
collaborates with City Councilmember Jane
During the January strategic planning
session, RCPC also identified several com-
mercial properties in Rockridge that are
under-utilized or have the highest potential
for improvements within C-31 zoning guide-
lines. RCPC plans to talk with the owners
If you have any questions about RCPC’s
activities or plans, please contact Deborah
Weinstein, RCPC Chair, at 595-3352,
deborahlweinstein@yahoo.com.
11.
October 1, 2005
The Rockridge Muse
and applications if you are interested.
Application deadline is November 9. Call
the concert office at 642- 4864. Season
programs can also be viewed at http:
//music.berkeley.edu.
by Ortrun Niesar
The Beat Goes On
Nconcert will take place on Friday,
October 14, 7:30 p.m. The artists are
Courtney C. Patty, hailed as one of the
best up-and coming-female guitarists
on the Best Female Musicians web site
dedicated to emerging women in music;
Jennifer Yax, award winning songwriter
and vocalist; and Pollyanna, winner of
the Best Song of the Year award from
West Coast Songwriters, who sings and
plays piano and guitar. The suggested
donation is $10. Give more if you can;
give 25 cents if that’s all you have.
All donations will be appreciated, but
more importantly, come hear this fine
performance. Come savor what is given
with an open heart for all. Also, if you
are a performer and would like to appear
at one of the future concerts, e-mail Al
Hussian at musicthatcooks@comcast.net
for details.
Author, Author
To follow up on last month’s article
about postcard histories, Greta Dutcher
Rypins’ new book entitled Alameda, also
a postcard history by Arcadia Publishing,
is coming to your favorite book store on
September 21. And Jennie Schacht and
Mary Cech have just published their first
collaborative book entitled “The Wine
Lover’s Dessert Book,” featuring recipes
and pairing of the perfect glass of wine.
You can see it on Amazon.com or ask
for it at your favorite book store.
ew Orleans is in crisis, thousands
have been displaced by the storm,
you feel like the world has gone down
the drain, when suddenly you hear the
sound of New Orleans blues blasting
from your TV screen, played by a group
of young people sheltered somewhere
in Texas or California. There it is: the
joy, the sparkling energy that is the soul
of New Orleans, alive and kicking and
wanting to be reckoned with. Thank
you to our artists who somehow always
manage to pull us back towards center.
They do it because that is what they
were born to do.
Photo Exhibit
The Rockridge Photography Exhibition
will be on display at the Rockridge
Library during the entire month of
October. We invite you to come and
see it at your leisure. Reception date
TBA.
“Music that Cooks”
Organizers at College Avenue
Presbyterian Church are hoping to
raise needed funds to feed the hungry
on Friday nights by putting on concerts
entitled “Music that Cooks.” The next
Music at Cal turns 100
T
Notes
Liz Maxwell is requesting that all
he UC Berkeley Department of Music
is announcing its 100th anniversary!
There will be celebrations going on all
year. Consider attending at least one
or two of the events. Tickets for UC
concerts are always inexpensive, ranging
from free to $3 to $10. And what a
smorgasbord of musical performances
you will be able to savor. There are
also the Wednesday Noon Concerts
at Hertz Hall, totally free, featuring
talented young performers, as well as
the University Symphony (Wednesday,
October 19). By the way, auditions for
the Spring 2006 Noon Concerts are open
to musicians living in our community.
(UC affiliation of some sort is required.)
Call the Department of Music for rules
Rockridge area artists interested
in doing Holiday Open Studios in
December contact her now at 654-
5741 or lizmaxwell@prodigy.net for
group marketing purposes.
The Christmas Revels Tickets are
# ( 2 ) 3 4 % . 3 % .
( % , , % 2
' ! , , % 2 9
$UW)LQH-HZHOU\&UDIWV
going on sale October 15! Go to
www.calrevels.org or call 510/452-
9334.
Ortrun Niesar can be reached at oniesar@aol.com
or 510/652-6664.
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12.
October 1, 2005
Caltrans Repaving Highway 24
With Rubberized Asphalt
+
+
by Cy Gulassa
Hup to five decibels. The material, which
contains ground up old tires, also reduces
skidding and provides a noticeably smoother
and quieter ride than conventional concrete
or asphalt. RAC, developed in response to
the California Integrated Waste Manage-
ment Act of 1989 as a way to recycle old
tires, is also being evaluated as a practi-
cal alternative to the construction of sound
walls, which are costly and often objected
to by residents.
+
ighway 24 cuts through the heart of
Rockridge with a sustained roar that
intensifies during commute hours, often
accented by the backfire of braking trucks
and the snarl of accelerating motorcycles.
$")*$(* !%&!'#
That may soon change — somewhat.
While not promising to reduce the sound of
traffic to a pleasant hum, Caltrans predicts
that its resurfacing of the 4-mile stretch of
Highway 24 between the Caldecott Tunnel
and the 580 interchange with rubber-
ized asphalt concrete (RAC) will
significantly reduce noise pollution
and provide a safer, longer lasting
surface.
Most work on the High-
way 24 project takes place
between 8 p.m. and 5
a.m., when traffic is
light. Caltrans warns
Studies indicate that
RAC is more durable
than asphalt and
reduces tire noise (as
opposed to exhaust
and engine noise) by
residents to expect
delays, closed lanes,
bright lights and
"SHOULD YOU
SAVE FOR YOUR
KID'S COLLEGE
OR FOR YOUR
RETIREMENT?
OR BOTH?"
the noise of heavy
machinery.
! %! " ! $
$" # %&!! $'
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13.
October 1, 2005
Celebration
Out & About in Rockridge
from page 3
Friends of Studio One staff
an informational table during
the Out & About street fair,
Sunday, September 25.
From left: Marian Gray,
City Councilmember Jane
Brunner, Patrick Daughton,
Barbara Havenor, Maria
Gibson-Barra. The fair was
sponsored by the Rockridge
District Association.
rocking chair in the children’s
room
refinishing damaged table tops
a fireplace mural for children’s room
(to be juried)
board games, card decks and puzzles
for children’s programs
tall plants for lobby
fresh flowers for the front desk
This year we are making a special effort
to match donors with specific opportunities
and acknowledge their contributions. The
traditional paper book plate can become a
sticker on a CD case, a label on a library
magazine folder or a brass plaque on the
back of a chair.
PHOTO: CY GULASSA
New
Students:
$8/week —
We currently have an opening for one
more board member, and would welcome
anyone who cares about the library and
can attend four evening meetings a year.
Those interested in joining the FORL Board
and/or making a contribution earmarked for
something specific, please contact Jennifer
Vetter, Chairperson, at jrvetter@comcast.net
or 595-1817.
PERALTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
5 Week
minimum
460 63rd ST. (Telegraph & Alcatraz)
M/W 5:30pm T/TH/F 6:15 SAT 9:00am
AJ Benham 510-654-7078
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REFILL
HARDWARE & BUILDING SUPPLIES
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%$ #&
SAVE BIG
PRINT HAPPY
14.
October 1, 2005
Experienced Cat Sitter
20-year Rockridge homeowner. Loving care in
your home. Home visits, playtime, petting, litter
box cleaning, food, water, meds, Reiki massage,
plants watered. Certified in Pet First Aid. Refer-
ences. $15-20 a visit. 510.599-2590.
Attention Homeowners
How Much is Your Home or Property
Worth? For a FREE on-line valuation, go to
www.EastBayHomeWorth.com for Rockridge
and for other areas.
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message: $18 (phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Classifieds,
5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA
94618. November deadline is October 20.
Professional Life Coach
Personal-Velocity-Are you ready to strengthen
your life’s purpose? Want to find one? PV Coach-
ing provides tools, structures, accountability and
an alliance, to sesign and ACT! info@personal-
velocity.com Call Tara 510.500-0330.
Aesthetic Pruning &
Garden Maintenance
Combining art and science in the care of your
garden. Available for complete garden main-
tenance or for seasonal pruning of evergreen
and deciduous trees under 20 feet tall. Bruce
Thompson 510.428-4964.
Place a classified ad: call Susan Montauk, 547-3855
Jazz and Classical Piano Lessons
Rockridge jazz pianist with UC Berkeley music
B.A. offers lessons in jazz, blues, classical, music
theory, ear-training, technique. Experienced,
patient teacher, all ages/levels. Janet 653-6783.
Pilates or Gyrotonic®
Free 30-minute private session*.First class FREE*
in Pilates, Yogilates, NIA®, Gyrokinesis®, and/or
Yamuna® Body Rolling. (*For new clients). Mind-
Body Connection, 5255 College Ave, 420-0444
(www.mindbodyconnection.net).
Housecleaning
Reasonable rates. Expert & reliable services from
local employment cooperative. Call 534-6766 and
we’ll send someone to spiff up your home. Ask
for our references from Rockridge clients.
Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other odd
jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/464-5934.
Tahoe Condo For Rent
Our lovely 3br/2+ba condo in Incline Village is
available for rent! Sleeps 8, is fully equipped!
Close to everything! Call 652-6664 for more
information.
d a g d a
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
' #(" )" &*
"$'+ !))' "* " ( )" &*&, )*% &*)
((")'&+"*
.#$&
--- -( ) '% $ "$ '+ !
Professional Pet Care
Loving & responsible care for all species. Ser-
vices include dog walking, park excursions,
home visits, meds, pet parties. Licensed,
insured, bonded, excellent references. 18-
year Rockridge homeowner. Buddies Dog
Adventures by Diane. 654-1202
Green Housecleaning
We use 100% eco-friendly products to
achieve unsurpassed quality, while protecting
your health and the environment. Regular and
moving service. Call 510/532-6645 for a free
estimate. Natural Home Cleaning Professionals,
a worker-owned cooperative.
Carmel Family Home
Furnished 3BR+2BA available for short-term
rental. Peaceful setting, 15 minute walk to
town. Great patio, reasonable rates (1 week
minimum). Not cute, quaint or upscale, but
has character. Call 510/547-1856.
High Quality Gardening
Skilled maintenance, clean-ups, pruning, planting,
irrigation, organic practices. Fall is a great time
to plant here!-lawns, bulbs, new plantings. 12
years in the East Bay, personal attention. Local
references. Green’s Gardens—510.593-3490.
15.
October 1, 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
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Weds, Thur and Sat: 10am to 5:30pm
the purple dinosaur). Partial proceeds will be
donated to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
Sponsored by the Parent’s Association. For
more information: 652-7021.
First Saturday every other month, 10am to noon.
Peralta Elementary School: 460 63rd St. (parking
on Alcatraz Ave., just east of Telegraph).
October Topic: Caldecott Tunnel 4th Bore Project
and Freeway Maintenance. No meeting in Novem-
ber. For information on all District One issues,
call 238-7001 or www.oaklandnet.com (the
site for all City-related information).
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Sundays: CLOSED.
North Oakland Community Charter
School (NOCCS) Events
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
All events are FREE and open to the public
• Sunday, 10/2, 2pm. Dan Savage: The Commit-
• Community Day. Friday, October 2 from 9 to
11am. A celebration of our success and growth.
See the school and meet the staff and students.
• Yard and Bake Sale. Saturday, November 5
from 9am to 4pm. Proceeds support the After
School Program’s scholarship fund. Call Judith
Silver: 985-1024. Located at St. Augustine’s,
410 Alcatraz (at Colby). For more details, call
the school: 655-0540.
ment: Love, Sex, Marriage and My Family.
• Wednesday, 10/5, 7:30pm. Daniel Goleman:
has written the introduction to Blazing Splen-
dor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche as
told to Erik Pema Kunsang and Marcia Binder
Schmidt. They will all be here to discuss the
book.
• Wednesday, 10/19, 7:30pm. Larry Kane:
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y
and 13X areas are invited to voice their concerns
about crime and public safety. Steering Commit-
tee meets 3rd Tuesday each month, 7 to 8:30pm
at Fire Station #8, 463 51st Street.
Activities and Events For Seniors
Lennon Revealed.
• Thursday, 10/20, 7:30pm. Eric Hansen: The
• College Avenue Adult Center
Light exercise, socializing, travel programs and
music. Hot lunch at noon for $2. Every Wednesday,
9:30am to 1:30pm. College Ave. Presbyterian
Church, 5955 College Ave. For details about field
trips, call Kathy at 531-6724.
• North Oakland Multi-Purpose Senior Center
Program Highlights: Computer classes; Health
Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program;
driver safety; trips, tours and theater outings.
October Special Events:
• Flea Market in the parking lot. Saturday, 10/8,
8am to 4pm.
• AARP 55 Alive Driving Class for Seniors.
10/11 and 10/13. Call for times.
Center Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:45am to
4:45pm. 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.
The newsletter, “North Oakland Senior Times”
provides a class schedule and a monthly lunch
menu: (suggested donation: seniors age 60+
$2.25; $4. for those under age 60). Call 597-
5085 for details about membership, newsletter,
classes/events and volunteer opportunities.
Rockridge Branch Library
Bird Man and the Lap Dancer: Close Encounters
with Strangers.
• Sunday, 10/6, 4pm. Olivier Said and James
For Children:
• Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays,
Mellgren: The Bar: Spirits, Cocktails, Knowl-
edge.
5433 College Ave. For information about book
discussion groups and classes: 653-9965 or
www.dieselbookstore.com.
10:30am: 10/1, 11/5.
• Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednes-
days, 10:30am: 10/5, 10/19, 11/2.
• Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays,
7pm: 10/11, 10/25 (Halloween stories), 11/8.
Halloween Special Event for Kids and Families:
Tuesday, October 25th: Spooky stories for kids
ages 2 to 5, followed by refreshments and truly
scary stories. Library open until 8pm on Hal-
loween night and will give out treats. See you
in your costume!
For Teens:
• Bookwormz (Teen Book Club): last Tuesday
evening of each month from 5 to 6pm, 10/25.
For more information call Susy: 597-5017.
For Adults:
• Weeding Party: Saturday, October 5, from
9:30 to 11am. Bring garden gloves and hand
tools to weed our new landscaping. Refresh-
ments served. Please respond to Pat Lichter at
597-5017.
• Book Talk and slide show, Saturday,
October 8, from 2 to 4pm. Joanne Sandstrom,
author of There and Back Again: A Family’s 5-year
Odyssey at Sea. Co-sponsored by the Library
and the Oakland-Piedmont Branch of the Amer.
Assoc. of University Women (AAUW).
• Creative Writing Workshop, led by local
author Opal Palmer Adisa. Saturday, October 15,
from 2 to 4pm. Please RSVP; limited to 25.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month: 6 to 8pm. Advance
sign-up starts 5pm.
Art Exhibits:
• Gallery: Annual RCPC Photo Exhibit; photos of
Rockridge by Rockridge community members.
• Display case: John Baldwin; collage and
acrylic.
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.
org/) Rockridge Branch Library, third Saturday
of the month, 1 to 5pm. For more information:
482-0265 or Writefox@aol.com.
Oakland Bird Club
Hans and Pam Peeters, authors and illustrators
of Raptors of California will share their expertise
about raptors using slides and drawings. Free and
open to the public. Refreshments served. Thurs-
day, October 6 at 7:30pm at the Rockridge Branch
Library. For information: 510/444-0355.
Volunteers Needed
• Second Start Adult Literacy Program:
Teach an adult to read. Free training. Nine
month minimum commitment. Volunteers
can meet with their students at the Rockridge
Branch Library. For more information:
238-3432 or www.oaklandlibrary.org
/services/SecondStart.
• North Oakland Community Charter School
(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 by collecting water samples at Temes-
cal 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.
A Different Angle Photo-art Gallery
Colorful food photographs on display during the
Rockridge Kitchen Tour. Sunday, Oct. 2 from 12
to 6pm. 5833 College Ave. For more inf.:653-
8848 or www.adifferentangle.net.
Sick Plant Clinic
Bring your ailing plants to the University of
California Botanical Garden and get a free
diagnosis by UC plant pathologist Dr. Robert
Raabe, UC entomologist Dr. Nick Mills and their
team of experts. First Saturday of every month
from 9am to noon. UC Botanical Garden, 200
Centennial Drive, Berkeley (above Cal Memo-
rial Stadium in Strawberry Canyon). For more
information: 643-2755 or http://botanicalga
rden.berkeley.edu.
Library: 5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
Rockridge Montessori School Yard Sale
Library Hours: top of next column
Educational toys, books and new and gently
used kids clothes. Saturday, November 8, 9am
to 12 noon. 5610 Broadway at Manila (look for
16.
October 1, 2005
gifts,
clothing,
and bliss
at namaste
510 547-YOGA
5416 College Avenue
(near the library)
www.namasterockridge.com
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