Extracted text · highlighting “Ron Kriss”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 21    NO. 3    ISSUE NO.   221    March 4, 2006  
 CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

Sponsored by The Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 869-4200

Rockridge Then and Now:
The More Things Change…
Welcome to the 20th
Anniversary Issue of
The Rockridge News!
Sby Annette Floystrup,
Rockridge resident since 1955
Aing. In upper North
Oakland, a tract of
land was subdivided
above Broadway in
1910, and named
“Rockridge Place.” In
all, three tracts were
subdivided from 51st
Street to Ocean View
and up to about where
Highway 13 runs
now. The lots were
ample, expensive and
intended to attract
wealthy residents who wished to enjoy fine
living. The large and magnificent white
entrance gates on Broadway stand today
as a testament to the developer’s intent,
as do the many lovely homes.
ince its raw beginning as hand-written notices
stapled to telephone poles in 1986 as a call-
to-arms response to Rockridge development
proposals, The Rockridge News has evolved from
a single-page publication to a full-blown, 16-page
newsletter. In continuous publication since its
beginning, the paper has always been sponsored
by the Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC) as a reflection of the organization’s
interest in getting important neighborhood
news directly to neighbors.
sk most people why they live in
Rockridge and you will immedi-
ately hear a group of common reasons:
wonderful and architecturally interesting
housing; a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented
shopping and dining “main” street; great
public and private transportation for com-
muting near and far; and a wonderful
sense of community supported by a vital
neighborhood association.
Entrance to
early Rockridge
development
on Broadway.
In celebration of our 20th year of publica-
tion, this issue only has expanded to 20 pages,
with six pages in color. On the front page and
inside, we consider Rockridge’s changes as
well as providing the usual up-to-date look at
what’s going on in the present.
Amazingly, if you had asked a
Rockridge resident that question in
1920, you would have heard much the
same thing.
Housing Stock
In the 10 years following the 1906
earthquake, Oakland’s population more
than doubled from 66,960 to over 150,000
as people and businesses relocated from
earthquake-ravaged San Francisco.
There was a desperate need for hous-
Join us, once again, and enjoy!
— Cy Gulassa, Editor

Those who could not quite afford the
high prices in Rockridge Place found
Traffic Studies for
Upper Broadway

Outcome could be bicycle lanes
and new traffic solutions
by Steve Meyer, Chair,
Rockridge Traffic,
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Safety Committee
During a recent Rockridge Traffic, Pedestrian
and Bicycle Safety (TPBS) Committee
meeting, members heard an update by Jason
Patton, of the Oakland Pedestrian Safety Project,
on the status of the Bicycle Master Plan and they
discussed a proposal to integrate those plan-
ning efforts into the TPBS Committee’s goals
Traffic Plans, page 14
¬

RCPC Seeks
Board Candidates
by Deborah Weinstein,
RCPC Chair
Are you interested in developing
a community center? Organizing
our community to prevent crime?
Increasing safety for pedestrians
and bicyclists? Improving the Under-
BART plaza? Encouraging community
involvement in our public schools?
Addressing traffic and parking prob-
lems? Well, Rockridge needs people
RCPC Seeks Candidates, page 
¬

Rockridge History, page 
¬
agenda: RCPC
Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, March 16, 7:00 pm
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila;
Community Room
	 Preventing Identify Theft; and

What to do if it Happens to You:
Identity theft is a growing threat in today’s
sometimes shadowy cyber-world when our
personal information is more available than
we may realize. When someone uses your
personal information without your permis-
sion to commit fraud or other crimes, you
become a victim of identity theft. Because
Identity Theft, page 
¬


2.

March 4, 2006

Maureen Clarke, at left,
gathered each month
with Rockridge neighbors
(to Maureen’s right) Jo
Ellis, Gail Durkin, David
and Patrick Young,
and Susan Montauk to
bundle The Rockridge
News for delivery to
Rockridge residents
by the 148 volunteers
who deliver the paper.
Maureen passed away
enexpectedly last month.
We will miss her.
Photo: Ken Ellis
In Memoriam
Maureen Clarke
In the summer of 1950, Maureen Clarke and her friend Dorothy Sterns had
just graduated from Jordan High School in Long Beach, California, and they
were looking for adventure. Maureen proposed a train trip to the Midwest to
visit a new friend at the University of Chicago. Marureen’s father, wary of two
young, innocent girls taking a train trip alone, spied two marines sitting across
the railroad car aisle and asked the young men to keep an eye on the girls,
much to their embarrassment. The Chicago visit completed, and beyond the
watchful eye of her father, Maureen proposed a side trip to New Orleans, a
first trip to the “old south” for both girls and one that would provide a lesson
in the social inequalities of the time. In New Orleans they boarded a bus and
made their way to the comfortable seats in the back. Soon, the bus pulled
over to the shoulder where a couple of uniformed officials were waiting. The
two men entered the bus and made straight to the back to take the girls to
the white section in the front of the bus. While being “escorted” to the front
seats, according to her friend Dorothy, Maureen, a quick and creative thinker,
was outraged and protested at the top of her lungs all the way down the aisle,
“But, you can’t do this. I’m a mulatto! I’m a mulatto!”
The modest, former teacher, wife of 47 years and mother of two, who
once a month sat with our small group to bundle The Rockridge News for the
last four years with her dog Bear obediently at her feet, seemed very differ-
ent from the rebellious, strong-willed fighter for social justice that relatives
and friends described at her memorial service on February 8. Maureen, born
in 1932, died in her sleep at her Broadway Terrace home on February 1. She
grew up in Southern California during World War II with strong convictions
and passions. She defended her friends and her honor, even if it meant fisticuffs
on the playground to set a bully straight or risking her teaching job to stand
up at a school board meeting for a friend who had been fired. We knew that
Maureen loved to travel; she related some of her adventures. We later found
out that her travels took her to 30 countries on five continents and that she
often traveled to those exotic places on her own, striking up friendships and
inviting adventures wherever she went. The Maureen we knew loved to read
— she volunteered at the Rockridge Library, helping to choose the “good
books” among the hundreds that are donated — and had definite opinions
about politics and restaurants, but was a good listener and a reliable volunteer.
She will be missed by all who knew her. She leaves behind her husband Henry
Clarke, a former American Federation of Teachers union organizer, her son
Cameron, an elementary school teacher, and a grandson.
— Susan Montauk

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon,Tues:
Weds,Thurs, Sat:
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
19.
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.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa...........................Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson.....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2005-2006
Deborah Weinstein...........Chair
Jessica Pitt............................Vice-Chair
Adrienne DeAngelo..........Secretary
Susan Montauk...................Treasurer
Kent Deverell, Jennifer Edmister, Cy Gulassa,
Al Hussian, Hiroko Kurihara, Mike McDonald,
Steve Meyer, Mike Taylor, Stephanie Upp, Robert Wiles
Newsletter Subscriptions
For annual subscriptions to The Rockridge
News, send your check for $20, 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?
	 Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
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: 510/869-4200
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
 April 8, 2006
 April deadline is March 23.
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.
March 4, 2006

The Rockridge News:
RCPC 2005
Financial Statement
The Zoning Counter
20 Years of
Service and Support
by Don Kinkead,
Rockridge News Layout
A
(Cash Basis)
RCPC General Fund
Income

Rockridge News
$35,643

Kitchen Tour
23,195

Other Fundraising (ex. K-tour)
866

Interest Income
260
Total Income
59,964
Expenses

Rockridge News
32,647

Other Program Expenses
807

Kitchen Tour
6,344

Other Fundraising Expenses
802

Grants
600

Legal & Accounting
-

Insurance, Permits and Sales Tax
2,063

Misc. Administrative Expenses
1,356
Total Expenses
44,617
Net Receipts
15,347
5417 Shafter Ave.
Proposal: To raise an existing single-family
dwelling 2.5’ in height creating new habitable space
at the ground floor level and convert the existing
attic space into a new master bedroom with a new
dormer on the rear-facing porting of the existing
roof. Total added floor area of 1,236 s.f. to an
existing 1,386 s.f. single-family residence.
Applicant: Patrick Hogue
Contact: Patrick Hogue 510/594-1748
Owner: Patrick Hogue
Planning Permits Required: Residential
Design Review per Section 17.136 for additions
and alterations to an existing single-family
dwelling, and a Minor Variance to increase the
degree of an existing nonconformity by increas-
ing the height of an existing structure within the
minimum side yard setback (Note: The existing
building is located 2.48' at the front right corner,
.57' at the mid-portion and .62' at the rear right
corner, whereas 5' minimum is required).
Historic Status: Potential Designated His-
toric Property (PDHP); Survey rating: Dc2+,
located in the Hudson and Shafter Historic
District.
Case Planner: Ann Clevenger at 238-6980 or
aclevenger@oaklandnet.com
glance through this issue of The Rockridge
News might lead one to ask if it is about
the history of Rockridge or about a celebra-
tion of the newsletter’s 20th anniversary. The
answer is: It is both. As long-time Rockridge
resident Annette Floystrup points out in her
article (page 1), the Rockridge neighborhood
has always been intertwined with neighbor-
hood associations. From the Vernon Park
Club to today’s Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council (RCPC), Rockridge residents
have taken a passionate interest in the doings
of their neighborhood. Over time, that pas-
sion led to The Rockridge News.
Friends of the Rockridge Library
(FORL)
Income

Donations
2,569

Merchandising (e.g. book sales)
2,181

Interest Income
1,106
Total Income
5,856
Expenses

Gifts to the Library
14,740

Misc. Administrative Expenses
159
Total Expenses
14,899
Net Receipts
(9,044)
In 1986, College Avenue was faced with
development plans that raised neighbors’
concerns. Notices posted on telephone
poles gave way to a single-page newsletter
created on a Macintosh with PageMaker
software. Then, timely delivery  of the fledg-
ling newsletter was assured when Bobbie
Kinkead and Barbara Anderson designed a
Rockridge-wide distribution system involving
more than 140 volunteer residents.
Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt
(FROG)
Income

Donations
11,988

Interest Income
376
Total Income
12,364
Expenses

Playground Build & Maintenance
1,827

Misc. Administrative Expenses
441
Total Expenses
2,267
Net Receipts
10,096
Fast-forward to the present when the
single page has grown to 16 pages monthly,
with a special 20 page issue this month,
all produced and distributed by Rockridge
residents. Published under the dedicated
sponsorship of RCPC, The Rockridge News will
continue to be of service to Rockridge.
The Zoning Counter is a compilation of re-
cent applications filed with the Oakland
Planning Department. Individuals may contact
the case planner or the Planning Department
for additional information by phone or on-line
at www.oaklandnet.com.
Whistlestop Account
No activity in 2005
Locksley Gardens
No activity in 2005
RCPC Seeks Candidates
Assets (1)
Cash Accounts

RCPC
36,205

FORL
15,520

FROG (2)
61,822

Whistlestop
705

Locksley Gardens
609
Other Assets

RCPC CDs
20,916

FORL CDs
30,871

FROG Custodial/Phase II Restricted Gifts	 23,035
Total Assets (1)
189,683
from page 
community is available online at www.
rockridge.org.
like you. Serving on the Board of
Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC) will enable you to work on these
issues and make Rockridge a more thriv-
ing, dynamic community.
R
Candidates for the RCPC Board are
invited to submit a photo and a 125-word
statement, describing their interest in
running for the Board. Statements and
photos must be received by March 16
for publication in the April issue of The
Rockridge News. Please include your
address, phone number and e-mail
address. Mail hard copies to RCPC, 5245
College Ave, PMB 311, Oakland, CA,
94618. Electronic copies can be sent via
e-mail to deborahlweinstein@yahoo.com.
CPC will hold its annual election in
April for six Board Directors, each
of whom serves a two-year term. The
Board consists of 12 elected and two
appointed directors. Candidates must
be at least 18 years of age, reside within
RCPC boundaries and indicate their
intention to run for office by March 16. (A
map and description of RCPC boundaries
is available online at www.rockridge.org.)
Liabilities

FORL: Oxford Univ Press Balance
4,019
Total Liabilities
4,019
(1) Excludes the recent $100k pledge by Council-
member Ignacio de la Fuente to Phase II as well
as the remaining balance of public funds pledged
in 2001 from Councilmember Jane Brunner’s
Paygo Account for capital improvements to the
Greenbelt.
Candidates will speak, and voting will
take place at the April 20 General Meet-
ing at the Rockridge Library, from 7 pm
on, and again on Saturday, April 22. All
Rockridge residents, age 18 and over, are
eligible to vote.
Organized in 1985 as a 501(c)(3) orga-
nization, RCPC represents Rockridge to
the City of Oakland on issues that affect
the community. RCPC acts as a com-
munity steward on a variety of issues.
A description of RCPC’s work in the
(2) A portion of these funds are restricted gifts
towards specific items planned for Phase II
development.
For further information, e-mail RCPC
Chair Deborah Weinstein at deborahl-
weinstein@yahoo.com, or call 595-3352.
RCPC tax records are on file at the Rockridge
Library for public review.


.

March 4, 2006

Rockridge History
Rockridge – Chimes – Rockridge:
What’s in a Name?
from page 
Many of us who lived here in the ’60s
recall the surprise we felt when BART
named the newly built station on College
Avenue “Rockridge.” We thought we lived in
Chimes, and that the name came from hear-
ing the Campanile at UC Berkeley chime the
hours, a pleasure the entire neighborhood
enjoyed until the opening of the Grove-
Shafter freeway and the resulting traffic noise
pollution. In truth, the two names have gone
back and forth over time and had nothing to
do with the UC Campanile carillon bells.
Rockridge from the land development, which in
turn was named for a large rock outcropping,
now almost obliterated. Chimes made its debut
with the opening of a very fancy movie theater
in 1917, which stood about where the Market
Hall is today. It featured an open projecting
bay 40 feet above the street housing a full set
of chimes. The Chimes Theater was an imme-
diate hit, and soon other businesses adopted
the name. By the 1920s, College Avenue was
known as the Chimes district. Today, the only
surviving business with the Chimes name is the
Chimes Pharmacy.
homes in the Vernon Tract, the land on either
side of College Avenue. The truck farms and
orchards west of College Avenue gave way
to Craftsman bungalows by the dozen, most
built between 1910 and 1920. Scattered in
between were late-era Victorians and the
occasional original farmhouse.
College Avenue
College Avenue is distinguished by
the presence of internationally recognized
colleges on either end. Oddly, these two
swapped cities in the beginning of their
histories. UC Berkeley began life in Oak-
land as The College School on Fifth and
Broadway in 1853 and moved to Berkeley
upon the completion of North and South
Halls in 1873. Known for most of its his-
tory as the California College of Arts and
Crafts (CCAC), the California College of
the Arts (CCA) was founded in 1907 and
moved to its present site at College and
Broadway in 1922.
The area above College Avenue got the name
served the needs of the community expand-
ing rapidly on each side. Over time there
have been groceries, two movie theaters,
two bowling alleys, a skating rink, two car
dealerships, florists, children’s and adult’s
clothing stores, bakeries, French laundries,
dry cleaners, pharmacies, churches, banks,
community halls and, later, eating establish-
ments. On the upper floors of most buildings
were commuter-oriented apartments, and
two buildings had doctors and dentists
upstairs (look up at Harwood and College
to see the architectural evidence), plus one
of the first elevators in a commercial build-
ing in Oakland.
In the early 1960s demolition began for
construction of the Grove-Shafter freeway
(Highway 24) and BART. 1,400 properties
were demolished, mostly single-family
homes. College Avenue was almost brought
to its commercial knees. Construction lasted
for years, and the traffic disruption, coupled
with the loss of population steadily eroded
the commercial base. Store after store closed
its doors, until finally half of the businesses
stood empty with storefronts boarded up.
Crime in the area skyrocketed and by the
early ’70s Rockridge became Oakland’s
highest crime neighborhood.
R
From the beginning, College Avenue
Rockridge development on upper
Broadway (undated). Sign on the hill,
center, says “Rockridge Properties.”
Courtesy of Oakland Library History Room
ockridge residents, now operating under
the banner of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC), led the way to
obtaining Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) funding for planning studies. As a
result, in 1973, the City of Oakland adopted
a new zoning designation, C-31, for College
Avenue consisting of pedestrian-oriented
retail with mixed-use upper stories.
Rockridge is now studied as a Model
Continued top of next page
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5.
March 4, 2006

From previous page
College Avenue looking toward Berkeley.
The Hut in left foreground.
Date: late 1930s.
Courtesy of the Oakland Library History Room
Urban Area by land use planners. In 1994,
the West Coast Conference on Land Use
Planning conducted a tour of College Avenue
during their annual meeting for planners,
architects and politicians. The unique mix
of College Avenue retail has made it the
top sales-tax generator in Oakland for
many years.
The Original Commuter
Neighborhood
Rockridge is uniquely situated to take
advantage of an expanded transportation
system in all four directions. Commuters can
take freeways, BART or bus to work in San
Francisco and beyond, and few know that the
routes they take were established almost 100
years ago to serve the same purpose.
Since the opening of the Grove-Shafter
Freeway and BART in 1970, neighbors once
again have commute options like those they
enjoyed in the 1930s.
A Strong Community
Aorganization for Rockridge, has a positive
relationship with the local Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council, has helped keep
Engine 19 on Miles Avenue open when
it was threatened with closure, sponsors
programs in our schools and built the new
Rockridge library.
The electric street-car line to Berkeley
ran along College Avenue beginning in 1904.
The Key System trains of the E-line began
running down Claremont Avenue in 1907,
about where the E bus to San Francisco runs
now. Key System trains ran to the Oakland
Mole, Oakland’s long-demolished ferry
building, and later across the bottom deck
of the Bay Bridge. It took about as long to
get to San Francisco then as it does today
by BART. The Key System later became
part of AC Transit.
s quickly as Rockridge developed as a
community, just as quickly did residents
form a neighborhood association. The first
was called the Vernon-Rockridge Improve-
ment Club, later the Rockridge Improvement
Club, founded in 1910. The early neighbor-
hood association was concerned with the
basics: community policing and safety, fire
suppression services, schools and a library.
These concerns have remained the same over
the decades, changing only with technology
and the challenges produced by time. The
Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC), which arose to become the neigh-
borhood organization for Rockridge in the
1970s and ’80s to become the neighborhood
This month, The Rockridge News,
begun as a single-page flyer written and
photocopied by Don Kinkead, celebrates 20
years of community service and a circulation
of 5,100 households and 200 businesses.
Along the way, hundreds of volunteers
have written articles and distributed The
Rockridge News, and the newsletter has
earned a journalism award from the Ameri-
can Planning Association as the best small
newspaper in Northern California covering
planning issues. Volunteer efforts are seldom
sustained for so long; the newsletter is a
unique volunteer effort.
By 1913, the Sacramento Northern
Railroad had expanded to run on Shafter
Avenue up through Chabot Canyon; it was
possible to get to Sacramento in about the
same amount of time as on the Amtrak
specials from Emeryville now. This railway
was closed in 1957, but remnants of the
railway bed can be seen just off Roanoke
at Chabot Road.
Rockridge is one of the few neighbor-
hoods in the nation to finance its own
branch library with funds assembled through
community activism. The 11-year com-
munity effort involved over 100 volunteers
in various capacities at various times, and
was sustained by progress reports in The
Rockridge News. The library was built to
meet the needs of the wider community with
meeting rooms that are often fully booked
for weeks in advance. Among other initia-

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.

March 4, 2006
Citizens Seek Answers at Brunner Police Meeting

by Susan Montauk,
Greater Rockridge NCPC Chair
F
6, it was difficult for some
attendees to see how that
goal could be achieved. It
would take 3,000 appli-
cants, three times more
than currently apply in one
year, to reach the goal of
802 in spring of 2007.)
or her February 4 Community Advisory
meeting, Councilmember Jane Brunner
assembled a panel of policing officials to
answer North Oaklanders’ queries about the
perceived rise in crime in their neighborhoods.
The panel, headed by OPD Chief Wayne
Tucker, first spoke to the theme of the meeting
— “Visions for Policing in Oakland” — and
then answered hard questions from a packed
auditorium of about 150 people.
Bob Valledon, President
of the Oakland Police Offi-
cers’ Association, said it is
a challenge to keep officers
in OPD. While salaries may
be competitive, he said,
Oakland police officers
take 15 times as many calls
in a shift than officers of
some nearby cities. Many
leave Oakland to go to cities
with less pressure. He recommended giving
cash incentives to officers to start here and
punitive payments if they leave early.
Brunner directed the panel to address three
concerns: when and how the 109 vacancies
in the police department will be filled; how
Oakland conducts criminal investigations; and
how the “Riders” case has hurt Oakland.
Chief Wayne Tucker, at left, Lt. Jim Meeks, Don
Link, Amy Lemley, Patrick Caseras, Bob Valledon.
Photo: Susan Montauk
Chief Tucker, appointed just a year ago by
Mayor Brown, said he hoped that OPD would
reach the Measure Y authorized number of
police, 802, by spring of 2007. (But with
a current force of 690 police officers, plus
22 trainees in the current academy and 20
more who started an academy on February
Brunner Meeting, page 14
¬

Councilmembers Call for Police Training Academies
O

n February 14, Councilmember Jane Brunner and City Council President Ignacio
de la Fuente introduced a resolution in the Finance Committee meeting calling
for the police chief “to immediately begin as many training academies as necessary
to bring the Oakland Police Department up to its current authorized strength of 802
officers as soon as possible, but no later than January 1, 2007.” The resolution will
be heard by the full Council on March 7. Activists in the Gaskill, Lowell, and West
Street areas have organized a rally in front of City Hall that same evening from 6 to
9 pm to exhort the City to fulfill the policing quotas. Rally information and a petition
can be found online at http://www.orpn.org/Gaskill_petition1.htm

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7.
March 4, 2006

rk Corner
a
P
Finishing up a similar project in Seattle,
Mark is now in contract with the City
of Oakland’s Public Art Program and is
developing his design concept — periscopes
focusing on and interpreting the natural
and man-made elements that lie within the
greenbelt. Join us for a community meeting
to discuss Mark’s art proposal, to be held
in March or early April. Contact Jennifer
Cooper, FROG Vice Chair, at 653-6581 for
more information.
FROG Park Stewardship and
Volunteer Program
G
A monthly update on
what’s happening at the
FRO
best community-built
and maintained
park in Oakland
July. In addition to the funds contributed by
Councilmember Jane Brunner, Measure DD,
and the City’s ADA Fund, many neighbor-
hood residents, businesses and others have
contributed to these long-awaited improve-
ments, including most recently City Council
President Ignacio de la Fuente. Many thanks
to all for making Phase II happen.
by Mike McDonald,
RCPC Board Member and
FROG Steering Committee Member
Construction Begins on Phase II
I
One of the most wonderful things about
FROG Park is that it is community-built
and maintained. Hundreds of neighborhood
volunteers came out for the Phase I build
three years ago and dozens more donate
valuable time and skills each month to
maintain and improve the park.
t’s really going to happen: Phase II of
FROG Park will begin construction in
March! At the Hardy Park area, Phase II
will include new swings, a water fountain, a
fence to keep the kids away from Claremont
Avenue, an informational kiosk, improved
basketball courts, a new plaza with picnic
benches and seating, and an enhanced
pond and stream area. At both Hardy and
Redondo, there will be new ADA accessible
play equipment and ramps. Phase II will also
include the completion of the greenbelt from
Clifton to Cavour Streets (by the DMV) with
a new pathway and native plantings.
The FROG Steering Committee has
worked overtime to get the most for our
money and the project under way. BBI Con-
struction, the contractor for Phase II, will
begin posting the closure of work areas in
early March. If you find the play structure
at Hardy temporarily closed, note that the
one at Redondo will remain open.
Public Art project moves ahead
There are exciting community-build
elements to Phase II, including the Hardy
to Clifton Landscaping and Planting Proj-
ect and the Hardy Park Kiosk and Plaza
build project. Also, there is always a need
for volunteers for regular maintenance
and educational days. To volunteer or to
become a Frog Park Steward, contact the
Head Bullfrog/Chief Steward/Volunteer
Coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@
sbcglobal.net, 653-6463. Next Volunteer
Maintenance Day is Saturday, April
22. Also, for general information about
getting involved in a project or with the
FROG Committee, we meet on the second
Wednesday of each month 7 pm at the
Rockridge Library. Come join us.
Oakland artist Mark Brest van Kempen
was selected last fall to complete an interpre-
tive art project for FROG Park greenbelt.
Barring any major obstacles, construc-
tion should be completed by the end of
Month to Month Rentals
Housekeeping
Active Social Calendar
Full Laundry Service
Adult Education Programs
Compassionate 24 hr Staffing
Transportation Services
Walking Distance to Shops
Fine Dining
Dynamic Enrichment Program
Now offering signature Home Care to the Community (510)450-0916
Now offering Signature Home Care to the Community (510) 450-0916
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R  E  A  L  T  O  R  S
The GRUBB Co.
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard •Oakland
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley


8.

March 4, 2006

me mad. What an incredible location! I
think, what is wrong with our city that
such a prime parcel is sitting empty? Now
finally someone wants to take advantage
of the location and offer more housing, and
retail. It will help out that corner and make
it more attractive. It will bring 67 units of
housing to the community.
51st and Telegraph Project Good
Letters
to
The
Editor
for the Neighborhood
Editor:
I support building a big, mixed-use
building at 51st and Telegraph.
I think that the concerns of people living
nearby are overblown, and that a big project
like the one proposed would be good for
the neighborhood. Also, it would be good
for Oakland.
Lastly, I think concerns about parking
are exaggerated. It generally turns out that
the places with the hardest parking are the
most attractive — because they are nicer to
walk around. Look how many people go to
Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, or College
Avenue in Rockridge and Elmwood. The
parking is tough, but the neighborhoods
are vibrant. Sorry to say, they go together.
The only types of places with “enough”
parking for everyone are shopping malls.
Rockridge isn’t Emeryville, and we shouldn’t
want it to be. If they build a building with
67 units and limited parking, it will attract
people who don’t have cars — adding more
pedestrians to the sidewalk, thus making the
neighborhood more foot-friendly.
Joshua Sperry
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the
editor. 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.
We all know about the enormous housing
crisis in the Bay Area. Most of us are by
now opposing to solving that problem by
developing virgin lands for more suburban
sprawl. Every environmental group and city
planner talks about high-density, transit-
oriented, urban infill development as the
best choice. It reduces sprawl, promotes
public transit, cuts air pollution and traf-
fic congestion, and makes neighborhoods
nicer to walk around. And no city is riper
for urban infill than Oakland — we have
more vacant lots than any other city in the
region.
51st and Telegraph Project Needs
More Review and Traffic Study
Editor:
The developers of the 51st and Telegraph
condominium complex have not listened to
over 500 neighbors who signed a petition
requesting the height of the proposed six
story complex be lowered. It is true that the
developers worked with a neighborhood
group to improve their plans by continu-
ing the greenbelt and lowering the height
of one of the four buildings by a few feet
on Clarke Street. They have also offered to
lower the main building on the Telegraph
corner from 65 feet to 61 feet. Four feet is
simply not enough.
Every time I pass by 51st and Telegraph,
the waste of that empty grassy lot makes
©2006 Curves International
8
T
H

A
N
N
U
A
L

F
O
O
D

D
R
I
V
E
Come to the City Council meeting
Tuesday, March 21, 7 pm. We will appeal
to the Council to overturn the Planning
Commission’s approval of this 67-unit proj-
ect, and suggest the following changes:
1.	Lower the height of the 51st and
Telegraph corner building to 50 feet. Our
request is still significantly higher than
current zoning allowances and leaves a
59 foot tall second building on the Global
Entertainment side of the complex.
2.	Have the developers hire a consultant
to find solutions for traffic, parking and
pedestrian safety issues that will certainly
occur in an already congested area.
3.	Ask that City Councilmember Jane
Brunner form a neighborhood design review
process that will provide meaningful feed-
back on all future developments.
Bring a bag of non-perishable food items between
February 27th and March 11th to your local
Curves and join with no service fee. All groceries
will be donated to local food banks.
Please e-mail Jane Brunner at jbrunner@
oaklandnet.com to stop the construction of
six story buildings in our neighborhood.
For questions, call Jeff at 510/653-7190 or
e-mail janellecavanagh@yahoo.com
Janelle Cavanagh
Resident of Miles at Cavour
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9.
March 4, 2006

Rock  ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman

Bay Area. With the arrival of former Chez
Panisse Chef Paul Bertolli at Oliveto, the
gourmet ghetto shifted from North Berkeley
to Rockridge.
With all the “hot” new College Avenue
restaurants, cafes and bars, I most miss
Norman’s (now a tea shop) and the Edible
Complex (now Crepevine). When we first
moved into Rockridge, our family were
regulars at the Edible Complex. It was
child-friendly and you could always get
a great bowl of soup, a salad, a two-tone
cupcake or the best egg salad on a toasted
bagel. Now the new family restaurant is
Cactus Taqueria. It is our granddaughter’s
favorite place to eat. On any given evening,
Cactus is jammed with families with young
children. Other child-friendly restaurants
include Tachibana, Pasta Pomodoro and the
all-time favorite Rockridge Café.

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today;
Sergeant Pepper Taught The Band To Play

1986
20 years, Rockridge has eclipsed North
Berkeley as the East Bay food Mecca. Five
of the S.F. Chronicle’s top 100 restaurants
are in Rockridge: Grasshopper, Oliveto,
Citron, Pearl, and À Coté. Fifteen of the 38
Oakland restaurants listed in the respected
Zagat restaurant guide are on College
Avenue. No other neighborhood in the Bay
Area has the concentration of top-rated
restaurants, cafes, and food specialty shops
that Rockridge does.
News Headlines: Challenger explodes;
nuclear accident at Chernobyl; $30 mil-
lion secret weapons sale to Iran; money
went to Contras
Sports Headlines: Roger Clemens strikes
Rockridge has come a long way in 20
years. As a community we are most fortunate
to have a cornucopia of wonderful places
to dine, drink fine wine and beer, or just
hang out and drink coffee or tea.
out a record 20 batters in a row; NY
Mets win World Series; NY Giants win
Superbowl XXI
Entertainment Headlines: Cosby
Show Number One TV show; L.A. Law
wins Emmy; Platoon wins Academy
Award for best picture
Economy: $0.93, gallon of gas; $0.87,
This month’s recipe is the signature dish
from À Coté — it is fail-proof.
How, in 20 years, did College Avenue
become a nationally recognized gastro-
nomical destination? A combination of the
Rockridge BART station and the building
of Market Hall created an anchor that
brought food-conscious commuters to Col-
lege Avenue. With the opening of Market
Hall, commuters parked at the Rockridge
BART and shopped at the Pasta Shop, Grace
Bakery, Enzo Meats, and Paul Marcus
Wine. Oliveto downstairs became a must
before- or after-commute pit-stop for the
perfect latte and scone or glass of wine,
while upstairs quickly achieved a reputa-
tion as one of the best restaurants in the
Steamed Mussels With Pernod
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¾ cup minced shallots
1 cup dry white wine
3 tablespoons Pernod or other anise
dozen eggs
Rockridge Culinary Scene: six res-
taurants (Normans, Buttercup, Edible
Complex, Rockridge Café, Zachary’s and
Hunan Garden), four ice cream/yogurt
shops, one café/coffeehouse
2006
Taperitif
4 pounds mussels, well scrubbed
¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over
moderately high heat. Add the shallots and
sauté for about 3 minutes, until softened. Add
the wine and Pernod, increase the heat to
high and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about
1 minute to cook off the alcohol, then add the
mussels, cover and steam until the mussels
open, about 3 minutes. Add the parsley and
toss well. Divide the mussels and their sauce
evenly among warmed serving bowls. Serve
with lightly toasted sliced baguette.
Serves 4.
oday there are nearly 60 restaurants,
cafes, and food specialty shops along
College Avenue. In 1986, the East Bay
food destination neighborhood was North
Berkeley’s gourmet ghetto. Over the past
Envision the
possibilities.
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California Culi-
nary Academy. He is available for cooking classes.
Email Barry at kaufman42@earthlink.net.
Adults going back to school:
• Undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Certificates and Credentials
• 12 to 1 Faculty to Student Ratio
• Weekend and evening schedules
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
www.hnu.edu   800.430.1321
HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY
3500 Mountain Blvd., Oakland, CA 94619
663-6674  Mike
Rockridge resident over 10 years
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
Lic # 695711


10.

March 4, 2006

The Neighborhood Merchant
Photo: Don Kinkead
by Theresa Nelson
Destination: Iniam
When Lisa Raja opened Iniam in May
2005, she had two concepts in mind:
to open her own women’s clothing store,
something she had wanted to do for years,
and to have a place where she can offer her
own designs. The first is embodied in this
gracious and delightful store, and the second
will, she hopes, be coming soon.
fresh palette of colors with lots of neutrals,
chocolates, creams, greens and other brights.
For example, if you’re going to an outdoor
wedding, consider a sophisticated dress with
cream silk bodice, a jewel-trimmed empire
waist and green chiffon skirt below.
Iniam
Lisa M. Raja, Owner
5902 College Avenue, Oakland
597-1558
A large central table offers jeans from
Chip & Pepper, Paper Denim, Red Engine,
and Gold Sign, an assortment ranging from
lower to higher rise, and curvy or straight fits.
Also offered are supple cashmere sweaters
in sky blue, pale pink, orange sherbet, lime
green, black and soft tan; and in v-neck, jewel
neck and cardigan styles. Lisa carries pieces
from many designers, including Nanette
Lepore, Trina Turk, Theory, Jones Perse,
Tocca, Vince, and Tom K. Nguyen.
lisa@iniam.com    www.iniam.com
Iniam — that’s Lisa’s maiden name
Maini spelled backwards — provides an
opportunity for Lisa to present her own
ideas about contemporary women’s clothing
and interacting directly with customers, her
favorite part of the work. Lisa lives nearby
in Oakland and comes from a background in
large corporate retail. She opened Iniam to
offer distinctive, sophisticated clothing and
accessories for a wide range of women.
Monday – Saturday   11 am – 6 pm
Sunday   12 – 5 pm
offers even more. One of the most intrigu-
ing is the closet service. Lisa or her staff
will come to your home and assess your
closet, offering advice on how to put outfits
together, develop a personal style using items
you already own, and trim and realign your
clothing selection. This service is offered
by the hour, and can include multiple visits
as needed.
Iniam also offers a range of accessories.
Hip belts are available in true leather colors
with decorations and cutouts. The scarves
from India feature silk-wool blends and pure
silks in bright colors and contemporary
patterns. A rolling carry-on bag in deep
burgundy or warm tan from Gogoleather
will carry your computer and travelwear
in style.
The store is large and spacious, with
bleached wood floors, cathedral ceilings
and skylights, an ornate chandelier and a
stunning circular wrought iron sculpture
behind the counter. There is a large couch
in the middle of the store near the spacious
dressing rooms for guests who want to take
a break or admire what’s coming next.
As Lisa said, “We have such wonderful
customers. Their support and enthusiasm for
our products and services make coming to
work each day a sincere pleasure.” That’s
evident from the store and the attention you
receive when you’re shopping. Lisa surveys
her customers so she can better follow their
interests and style preferences. Frequent
customers receive special rewards, like a
10% discount on their birthdays and awards
when they reach certain purchase levels.
The clothing is displayed to suggest
colors and concept mixes. For example,
the black and white rack offers a number of
elements that you can tone up or down, as
Lisa likes to offer clothing that can go in at
least two ways. So you’ll see black jackets
with intriguing gold trim, stylish Nanette
Lepore black piqué pants and silk tops, and
a gorgeous green Bianca Nero silk halter
dress to dress up the pieces.
Jewelry has a special place at Iniam. Lisa
carries items from local designers like Jen-
nifer Tuton (featured in inStyle magazine in
February) with earrings of three gold filigree
squares, and delicate metal branches with
colored gemstones.
So stop by Iniam, let Lisa help you find
that perfect something you’re looking for,
and enjoy her very special brand of personal
service.
Iniam also offers a number of innova-
tions to customers. Lisa strongly stresses
the importance of customer service, offer-
ing pick-up and drop-off service, calling
customers on a request list for special items
and, of course, special orders. But Iniam
With spring ahead, new offerings are
coming into the store every day, including a
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11.
March 4, 2006

“One City, One Book” Comes
To Rockridge Library
Library Friends
Seek Board
Candidates for
April Election
Spicing up Rockridge
by Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
By purchasing 250 copies of The Mistress
of Spices by Indian-American novel-
ist Chitra Divakaruni, the Oakland Public
Library gambled that its first celebration
of the citywide program “One City, One
Book” would appeal to a wide audience
interested in both diversity and the world
of magic realism and fantasy. The books
were distributed liberally to every branch
library and inspired many celebrations of
Indian life.
by Jennifer Vetter, Chair, FORL
Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL)
meets four times a year at the library,
and this is an especially interesting time to
get involved: We are planning several events,
including an author panel, for September,
2006 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of
the library building on College at Manila.
The group’s annual election will be held
at the April 20 meeting at the Rockridge
Library when RCPC also elects its board
of directors.
As a partner in the festivities, the
Rockridge Library enjoyed a literal “Taste
of India,” presented by San Francisco
Chronicle food writer Laxmi Hiremath.
This attractive and eloquent woman stirred
up three beautiful dishes of popular home
cooking familiar to Indian peoples, recipes
for all of which are included in her book,
The Dance of Spices. Home cooking, she
explained, is quite different from the res-
taurant version most Americans know; it’s
much lighter and contains far less oil.
There are five open spots on the FORL
Board. To place your name on the ballot,
contact FORL Chair Jennifer Vetter at jrvet-
ter@comcast.net or 595-1817. No statements,
photos or speeches required. Shy and retiring
bookworms are welcome.
The mission of the Friends of the
Rockridge Library is to champion the
Rockridge Library; to create and stimulate
public enthusiasm for library programs
and interest in the needs, services, and
facilities of the library; to serve as advo-
cates for the library to the community and
government bodies; to generate new ideas
for the enhancement of library facilities and
programs; to encourage gifts and volunteers
for the library; and in general, to foster the
continued development of the library so that
it can respond to the needs of our diverse
population.
San Francisco Chronicle food writer
Laxmi Hiremath preparing three
popular Indian dishes at the
Rockridge Library.
Photo: Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
The lucky audience enjoyed a minty raisin
rice dish and a yogurt blend of tomatoes,
cucumbers, and various spices. Laxmi also
prepared a form of chaat, (small plates of
savory snacks typically served at the side of
the road from stalls or carts) built on home-
made popped rice with added spices.
favorite spices. When she travels, the spices
go with her, a custom featured in the novel,
The Mistress of Spices. The main charac-
ter is commissioned, like a missionary, to
transport her spices to America so that the
Indian people living here will not lose the
taste of their native country. Laxmi, as an
Indian emissary to Rockridge, deliciously
treated Rockridge to a true taste of India.
Laxmi also shared with the audience her
personal spice box, filled with seven of her
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12.

March 4, 2006

‘Light Pylons’
Sculpture
Approved for
Studio One
by Patrick Daughton,
Friends of Studio One
A
A New College for Downtown Berkeley
Berkeley’s venerable Vista College will
be rechristened Berkeley City College
when the Peralta College system opens
its newest facility on Center Street later
this year. The new building will contain
all the amenities of a multi-acre campus,
from bookstore to cafeteria, within a
single 165,000 sq. ft. structure.
The building features a central six-story
atrium with a skylight to bring natural
light into an urban enclosure.
— Cy Gulassa, Peralta College Trustee
major public art installation by
San Francisco sculptor Cork Marche-
schi has been approved for the entrance
plaza of Temescal’s Studio One Art Center,
located at 365 45th Street. The artist’s final
design was vetted in February
by the Oakland City Council,
following the results of a January
neighborhood survey initiated by
Councilmember Jane Brunner.
The image at right
depicts the design
of the lighted pylon
sculptures only and
may not represent
the final architectural
design of the Studio One
The approval is the culmina-
tion of a process that began over
a year ago with 51 proposals
from artists all across the coun-
try plus many public meetings,
community workshops and artist
refinements.
building. More details in
accompanying story.
Graphic supplied by Cork
Marcheschi and Oakland
Cultural Arts Dept.
Though fabrication of the work will
soon begin, residents must wait until late
2007 to view the completed sculptures.
Installation will occur only after the $12
million renovation of the Studio One Build-
ing, expected to take 18 months, is near
completion. Renovation and the sculpture
installation are funded by Measure DD,
the Trust for Clean Water and Safe Parks
Bond of 2002.
Studio One, page 18
¬
Original
Bronze Art
By an internationally
exhibited sculptor
Berhane
by Heli Perrett
Rockridge studio
510.655.1481
mesart.com/heli


13.
March 4, 2006

the “Week” evolved
into a “Month.”
r
The
Rockridge
 Muse
When, back in
1964, Turner created
his cartoon “Wee
Pals,” it was the first
to feature black char-
acters. Since then he
has added children
of all races and eth-
nicities — the first
integrated cartoon
ever. Hispanic, Asian,
Caucasian even
Jewish characters —
27 in all — people his
strip. For example,
he added Trinh, the
Vietnamese boy, after
a trip to Vietnam with
a group of cartoonists
in 1969. He is now considering adding an
Arabic character. “It’s a very serious matter,
and I really have to think it through care-
fully,” he said.
by Claire Isaacs Warhaftig
Wee Pals’ Morrie
Turner Holds Court
at Rockridge Library
Cartoonist MorrieTurner presented his art and
discussed the creative process in a recent visit to the
Rockride Library.
Photo: Claire Isaacs Warhaftig
Pioneer African-American
cartoonist wows kids
Icomic strips and “Soul Corners” about
minority women.
t was truly a “soul corner” at the Rockridge
Library Saturday, February 4, when
pioneering cartoonist and Oakland native
Morrie Turner met with a lively group of
children and adults to discuss his artwork
and his life. Turner was the first African-
American cartoonist to be syndicated and
was at the library to celebrate Black His-
tory Month.
The gathering was a wonderful oppor-
tunity to meet with an unusally gifted man
who, as a child, didn’t realize he was an
artist; he just loved to make pictures. He’d
talk the butcher out of some extra paper so
he could draw. And he loved the old radio
shows, like “The Shadow,” “Inner Sanctum,”
“Green Hornet,” and “The Whistler.” While
listening, Turner would draw the characters
in these stories as he pictured them in his
imagination.
In later years, Turner added a feature
called “Soul Corner” to serve as the “drop-
out” panel required in Sunday comics. The
panel can be eliminated or kept, depending
on page composition. Turner features blacks
and other minorities whose accomplishments
are significant, but not generally well-known.
“I seldom feature entertainers and sports
figures,” he said, “because they already get
a lot of publicity.” He is more likely to draw
and include information about a statesman,
inventor, scientist, public educator, astronaut,
architect or humantarian. He has published
a book, Super Sistahs, which also features
“Black History Month,” said Turner, with
a barely perceptible wink, “used to be Black
History WEEK! It started on February 12
and ended after a week. Why?” he asked
slyly. Finally, it dawned on those present
that the ending date was not a second day
honoring George Washington, but rather
the birthday of the great black antislavery
crusader Frederick Douglass, who advised
President Abraham Lincoln. Some time later
From time to time at the library, Turner
would stop talking and invite one of the
children up to pose. He’d whip out a very
charming cartoon sketch of the child and
take one characteristic of him or her, for
example: dancer, flyer, and so forth, to create
an identity for the child. These lucky ones
left the library with their prized and signed
original sketches clutched proudly.
Turner, who nows lives in Berkeley,
attended both Oakland’s McClymonds
High School and Berkeley High but had
very little formal artistic training. He was
a great fan of Milton Canniff, whose “Terry
and the Pirates” and “Steve Canyon” action
adventure comics were omnipresent for many
years in the mid-20th Century. He wrote to
Caniff and received a six page reply, which
boosted his confidence and started him on
his career. He also was friendly with Charles
Schulz of “Peanuts” fame, who encouraged
him to draw children. However, he decided
that African-American children needed
characters of their own, The strip first
Pending Sales — Look For Final Sale Prices in Next Issue
Address
Bed/Bath
List Price
5343 Boyd Avenue
4/2
$ 849,000
6125 Broadway
3/3
$ 899,000
5117 Manila Avenue
3/2
$ 749,000
5437 Shafter Avenue
3/2
$ 935,000
5468 Shafter Avenue
3/1
$ 825,000
Please contact me if you are interested in buying
a new home or in selling your current home.
This month’s Pending
Sales took an average
of 31 days to sell, while
current Active Listings
have been on the market
for an average of 41 days,
indicating it is taking
longer to sell properties in
our current market.
Wee Pals, page 16
¬


14.

March 4, 2006

Brunner Meeting
Lane reduction
design
possibilities are
shown at right
in overhead and
below right in
section view.
Traffic Plans
from page 
How effective is the investigative arm of
OPD? The Chief admitted that OPD priori-
tizes its investigations, committing most of
its investigative resources to violent crimes.
However, resources are meager. There are
three assault investigators and two robbery
investigators for the whole city. With only one
burglary investigator, the department is not
equipped to follow leads like fingerprints.
One frustrated victim of an armed robbery
in his own home recounted that he was told
that the prints lifted at the crime scene would
take 4-6 months to process.
from page 
to improve pedestrian and bicycle
safety and calm traffic along Upper
Broadway between Highway 24 and
College Avenue.
As part of the Bicycle Plan initia-
tives, traffic studies will be conducted
to determine the feasibility of a bicycle
corridor along Upper Broadway all
the way into downtown. For more
information on the Oakland Bicycle
Master plan, contact Jason Patton
(jpatton@oaklandnet.com) or visit
the City of Oakland website (http://www.
oaklandpw.com/page123.aspx).
The Riders case has consumed a signifi-
cant amount of department resources. In
September 2003, after the longest criminal
trial in county history, a jury acquitted
three OPD officers of eight charges relat-
ing to assaults on people, falsifying police
reports and conspiring to obstruct justice
while patrolling West Oakland in 2000; and
deadlocked on the remaining 27 charges.
Street and pedestrian safety concerns along
Claremont Avenue, and will address other
problem areas in Rockridge.
According to Patton and the TPBS Com-
mittee, plans for Upper Broadway, could
include:
To participate in this committee, attend
the next meeting on March 8, 7 pm, at
the Rockridge Library, or join the Yahoo
Group. E-mail your contact information to:
Rockridge_Traffic_and_Pedestrian_Bicycle_
Safety-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Meanwhile, the department was sued
civilly, and the resulting settlement imposed
reforms on police conduct. Chief Tucker has
instituted 46 of the 51 reforms mandated
by the settlement, but, according to OPD
reports, 30 officers have been reassigned
to internal affairs to achieve this goal.
Don Link, Chair of the city’s Community
Policing Advisory Board, said he thought
the Negotiated Settlement Agreement was
being “overzealously enforced,” hampering
the work of the officers and generating too
many nuisance complaints.
Reducing the number of traffic lanes
from 4 to 3 (1 lane in each direction,
with a center turn lane)
Adding bicycle lanes on both sides
of the street
Keeping the existing on-street park-
ing, but eliminating parking within
10 feet of the intersections to prevent
parked cars from obstructing the
vision of drivers turning onto Broad-
way from side streets)
Adding high-visibility crosswalks at
each of the intersections
A stoplight at the Lawton intersection
to ease traffic and pedestrian issues.
Similar mitigations have been imple-
mented on Berkeley’s Marin Avenue, with
encouraging results. Heath Maddox, a former
Rockridge resident and associate transpor-
tation planner for Bicycle and Pedestrian
Programs for Berkeley, presented an update
on the Marin Avenue project and said that
even residents who were strongly opposed
to the project during the planning phase
now agree there have been few negative
effects from the lane reduction. In fact, he
said, overall traffic flow and pedestrian and
bicycle safety effects have been positive.


Community Calendar Note
Many of these same issues will be
addressed at Councilmember Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting on Saturday,
April 1. Rockridge residents will be asked
to consider whether North Oakland wants
Berkeley-style traffic controls. See the
Community Calendar on page 19 for details
about meeting time and place.



aboutface&body
dayspa
oaklandberkeley
3190 college avenue
/at alcatraz/
berkeley, ca 94705

p/ 510.428.2600
www.aboutfaceandbody.net
In addition to Upper Broadway, the
TPBS Committee will focus on traffic
calming/volume reduction options for Colby
sun-tues/ 10:30-5:30
wed-sat/ 10:30-8:00


15.
March 4, 2006

SIMPLIFY!
Antique Finishing & Repairs
Experienced and knowledgeable. New finishes,
repairs, waxing, house calls, p/u & delivery avail.
All types of furniture. We buy Fine Antiques
and Estates. E-mail or call for estimates or
questions. Bruce@BayAreaAntiques.com;
534-0603.
Clutter Control
Paper/Filing Systems
Kitchens/Closets
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $20. (Phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Classifieds,
5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland,
CA 94618. April deadline is March 23.
For information: e-mail smontauk@juno.com
Space Planning
Do You Need a Pet Sitter…
for upcoming vacations/business trips? At Your
Service, A pet and home sitting service, provides
your pet and property with the care by pet-
loving professionals. Call 510/386-3163.
Packing/Unpacking
Solutions for the critical mess
Non-Judgmental & Confidential
www.SummersOrganizing.com
Barbara ✔ 415-381-0707
Considering Solar Electricity?
Is it wise to get 3 bids? You’ll probably choose
us. We do quality workmanship and excellent
payback analysis. We are an Alameda Green Busi-
ness, owner is NACEB certified, electric lic#C-10
8511488 www.berkeleysolar.com 658-3042.
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.
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.
High Quality Gardening
Skilled Maintenance, Clean-ups, Aesthetic
Pruning, Planting, Irrigation, Roses, Fruit Trees,
Edibles, Ornamentals, etc. Organic practices,
13 years in the East Bay, personal attention,
local references, free estimates, Green’s Gar-
dens 510/593-3490.
Housecleaning Cooperative
Reasonable rates. Expert & reliable service
from local employment cooperative. Call
499-5836 and we’ll send someone to spiff
up your home. Ask for our references from
Rockridge clients.
Lexine Alpert
W EDDING P HOTOGRAPHY
Planning a Trip to Paris?
Rent our charming fully-equipped one-bedroom
or studio, 7th Arrondissement. Close to Champs
de Mars/Eiffel Tower, Rodin Museum, Musée
d’Orsay, fabulous restaurants, cafes, shops. Call
for price and availability. 510/658-5710.
510 547-4807
www.lexinesweddingphotos.com
Rebecca Lueck, LCSW
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.
Individual and Family
Cash for Your House?
Behind on payments? Facing foreclosure?
Moving? Need cash quick? I buy houses. No
fees or commissions. Written offer in 48 hours!
Call Richard: 415/267-6105.
Counseling
(415) 235-1071
Located at College and Alcatraz
Pride Chiropractic
15 years experience, same location. Quality,
affordable, friendly, healthcare in comfort-
able, no-rush office. Evening appointments.
Dr. Mark Heltemes, 6245 College Avenue,
near Claremont Avenue. 510/652-2059; www.
pridechiropractic.com.
Treating relationship issues,
anxiety, depression, panic disorders,
House Cleaner Available
House cleaner available. Rockridge resident.
Weekly/bi-weekly, one-time cleaning. I am reli-
able and very thorough. Experienced with great
references. I bring all my own supplies. “I don’t
miss a thing!” Call Grace. 510/207-3933.
childhood trauma, grief, infertility
and adoption, and addictions.
Sliding scale  :  Insurance accepted
Writing and Editing Services
Need help with your book, article, presenta-
tion, proposal, ad copy, essay, or other written
work? E-mail marcwordsmith@california.com
or call 658-9358, or visit www.marcwordsmith.
com. Reasonable rates.
*
EFFHASWORKEDWITHUSONTRANSACTIONSOVER
THEPASTYEARSANDISOURTRUSTEDREALESTATE
ADVISOR(EHASSAVEDANDMADEUSMONEYTIME
ANDAGAINWITHHISEXCELLENTNEGOTIATINGSKILLS
ˆ#/AND-0 /AKLAND,AFAYETTE
*EFF!UEN
"EYOND
4RADITIONAL
2EAL%STATE
(ERITAGE2EAL%STATE#ENTURY
2OCKRIDGE-ONTCLAIR,AFAYETTE
2ESIDENTIAL)NVESTMENT
,OTSANDLAND2ENOVATION#ONSULTING
#ALL*EFF
6ISITWWW(OMES%AST"AY)NFO


16.

March 4, 2006

RE: The RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Identity Theft
and Oakland Police at the Rockridge
Branch Library. Credit card fraud,
mail theft and forgery as related
to identity theft will be discussed.
Should you be concerned about iden-
tity theft? Consider this: The Council
of Better Business Bureaus and Jav-
elin Strategy and Research studied
5,000 consumers, more than 500 of
whom were identity theft victims.
While the median value of the fraud
for this study was just $422, it took
victims about 40 hours of work
to resolve. Approximately one-
third of perpetrators were identi-
fied; 15 percent of the identified
perpetrators
were
co-workers.
You can learn more before the
meeting: The Federal Trade Com-
mission maintains a web site to
educate and aid consumers. Visit
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/
for more information and identify
theft prevention tips.
from page 
of its nature, identity theft is difficult
to detect and hard to fight. What can
citizens do to protect themselves?
You can find out at the RCPC Town
Hall meeting March 16, 7 pm, when
RCPC will host presentations and a
question and answer period featuring
the Secret Service, Postal Inspectors
Wee Pals
from page 13
New
Students:
$8/week —
appeared in 1965 in the Oakland Tribune,
Philadelphia Bulletin and L.A Times, but
was slow to spread; most papers were not
about to publish such a radical new comic
strip, a black comic strip. However, after
Martin Luther King was assassinated, the
comic’s circulation quickly grew to 110
newspapers nationwide. “I hated to think I
gained from Martin’s death,” Turner said
sadly, “but in fact, there was so much interest
then that I became popular.” One can find
his work today in the Oakland Tribune, with
his familiar children arguing and debating
charmingly.
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
Asked what he thinks about Aaron
McGruder’s comic, “Boondocks,” a very
contemporary, hip view of the black experi-
ence, he replied that he enjoys it, although
its direction is very different.
Morrie Turner was an ideal visitor to
help celebrate Black History Month at the
Rockridge branch library. He is a man
who, one feels, has seen it all. He has an
amiable surface, but underneath is a wry,
sophisticated, knowing quality. Chatting
with him was an opportunity to learn a bit
of real history directly from a person who
made some.
Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
Sat 9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990


17.
March 4, 2006

Rockridge Real Estate Stays Solid

in an overheated real estate market.
Rockridge residents do not believe that
we are going to be greatly affected by this
situation. A mild leveling off in aggressive
pricing will happen.
by Ortrun Niesar
Rockridge real estate values reached new
heights in 2005. The number of single
family homes sold was 125, about normal for
Rockridge; but the overall median price for
a Rockridge home topped out at $930,500,
up 15.6% from $805,000 in 2004. Sales
were brisk, particularly in the second and
third quarters where sellers and buyers
experienced strong competition resulting
in an average 11% overbidding.
The overall median
price for a Rockridge
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that
there will be a more reserved real estate
market, one where there will be greater
balance between the bargaining strength
of buyers and sellers. Sale prices, however,
will continue to stay strong; a sharp drop
in prices is generally connected to an
economic downturn, a situation that is not
anticipated here. Further, there continues
to be more demand than supply for homes
in our neck of the woods.
home topped out at
$930,500, up 15.6%
from $805,000 in 2004.
Rockridge the 2005 average price per square
foot for a 2-bedroom home was $605, and
$522 for a 3-bedroom home. The median
prices per square foot were $622 and $539
respectively.
Outlook for 2006
N
The median price for a 2-bedroom bun-
galow was $805,000, versus $707,000 the
year before, representing a jump of 14%.
For a 3-bedroom home the median price
reached $925,000, up from $805,000 or 15%
over 2004. The number of homes sold at
over $1,000,000 in Rockridge was 43, about
the same as 2004, but proportionately this
represented 34% of the entire inventory, up
from 25% the year before. Figures such as
these never tell the entire story, but taken in
context with other statistics, they serve as
good value indicators.
How will we fare overall? There is
currently too little inventory to be able to
test the waters effectively. Spring will tell
the story.
ow for the rest of the story. As strong as
overall sales were in 2005, Rockridge
apparently is not entirely convinced that it
will be immune from current changes in the
real estate market. In the fourth quarter of
2005 Rockridge prices had already dipped
slightly overall, about 4%, and offers over
asking price capped at an average of 5.6%.
Nevertheless, sales were strong, and nearly
matched the third quarter. Sales for the first
quarter of 2006 seem to have stalled more
than normally
for this time of
year. November
and December
were extremely
quiet, heralding
a slow first quar-
ter. Analysts are
citing uncertainty
about the rise in
mortgage interest
rates and the cor-
rection expected
Ortrun Niesar is a Realtor with Prudential Cali-
fornia: ortrun.niesar@prurealty.com
The median price per square foot for all
homes sold was $527, and the average price
per square foot was very close at $530. For
real estate market analysis, price per square
foot is calculated by dividing the sale price
by the number of square feet in your home.
It does not take into consideration attributes
such as the condition of your home, the
current market or the size and location of
the lot. Therefore, you will note that the
smaller the home you are purchasing, the
higher the price per square foot will be. In
Rockridge Home Sale Prices 2002-2005
Year
Avg. Price
% Change Median Price %Change
2002
770,604
691,500
2003
847,637
9.9
750,000
8.5
2004
902,000
6.4
805,000
7.3
2005
1,032,139
14.4
930,500
15.6
This analysis covers Rockridge homes sales from the Berkeley border
in the north, south to Broadway Terrace and 51st Street, west to Colby
and east to Highway 13. Information supplied by EBRD 2006 is deemed
to be reliable but not guaranteed.
S E A F O O D  R E S T A U R A N T
Early Dinner Special
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
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$18
5:15–6:15 everyday
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Serving a wide selection of seafood
Rockridge Resident
[24778-v1-0668]RP-260-0805
from the Monterey Fish Market
Leila S. Gough,AssociateVice President-Investments
1999 Harrison, Suite 2050 • Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 452-8060
www.agedwards.com/fc/leila.gough
5301 College Avenue, Oakland
Open 5:15–9:30 everyday 510/985-8388
2004 A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. • Member SIPC


18.

March 4, 2006

Marcheschi, an accomplished artist who
exhibits internationally, has for 25 years
been creating large-scale public art with an
emphasis on the use of light. He earned his
MFA in Sculpture at nearby California College
of Arts and Crafts (now California College
of the Arts) and maintains a studio (www.
corkmarcheschi.com) in San Francisco.
Rockridge
History
Studio One
from page 12
Marcheschi’s design (shown in the
graphic to the right of the story on page
12) consists of six lighted pylon sculptures,
each about 10 feet tall and arranged in two
rows flanking the landscaped “front yard”
of the art center. They will be constructed
of stainless steel plate and a rugged dichroic
glass and translucent safety glass laminate.
Each pylon, using minimal electricity, will
be softly lit by a low-power xenon light
source.
from page 
tives, RCPC, with the aid of The Rockridge
News, helped organize the drive for kid’s
playgrounds, a dog park and the greenbelt
known as FROG Park. RCPC is also active
in reviewing and commenting on land-use
applications for commercial properties in
Rockridge, representing the community’s
interests.
Then and Now
L
Studio One, is the Oakland Parks and
Recreation public arts education facility
and regularly conducts over 100 classes
for children, youth and adults in the studio
arts, as well as in health and fitness.
Classes are temporarily disbursed to the
Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts
(http://www.oaklandnet.com/parks/facili-
ties/rc_studioone.asp) and other recreation
centers in Oakland.
By day the dichroic glass exterior will
reflect and refract a wide range of subtle
colors, the aspect of which will vary largely
according to the vantage point of the viewer.
By night the sculptures, illuminated from
the inside and equipped with separate
controllers, will display gradually chang-
ing colors independent of one another.
According to Marcheschi, the night time
glow from each pylon, though insufficient
to read by, will offer illumination about
equivalent to a 40-watt lightbulb beneath
a parchment shade.
ooking back, Rockridge has always been
a wonderful neighborhood in which to
live. It is an inclusive neighborhood, with
an almost equal representation of renters
and owners; it also welcomes visitors to the
Avenue with open arms. There are residents
with multi-generational ties here, and resi-
dents who moved in yesterday… and all are
here for the same reasons: great housing,
great shopping and dining, great commute
and great neighbors. The more things change,
the more they stay the same.
To follow developments around the
building’s renovation, or to learn more about
the history and role of Studio One in our
community, visit Friends of Studio One at
http://www.friendsofstudioone.org/.
What’s Your
Home Worth?
Call Me for an
Opinion of Value
Children playing on the steps of
the Vernon Rock-Ridge Hall in
early Rockridge.
Courtesy Oakland
Fatima N. Ali
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL
510/845-0211
e-mail: Buyali@aol.com
ABOUT
ASHBY LUMBER?
Library History
Room/Vernon
Family
Collection
1,458
years of
Experience,
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654-8707 or 593-4780
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Professional,
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Real Estate Brokerage
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For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN
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(510) 843-4832 OPEN 7 DAYS
2295 ARNOLD INDUSTRIAL WAY
CONCORD (925) 689-8999 Mon-Sat
Living Alternatives for Seniors &
Those Who Care For and About Seniors
W Residential Sales
W Income Property
W Commercial
W Property Management
Is there a move in your future?
Talk to me about featuring your home
For Sale in this ad space as well as other
creative marketing ideas
No Charge - Community Service Seminar
Hear from a Realtor®, Reverse Mortgage specialist,
Estate Planning Attorney, and an Elder Care Manager
We will provide you and your loved ones a well-balanced
package of information so that you can make an informed,
Better Homes
thoughtful decision about your future.
Saturday April 1st from 9:00 to 2:00  :  Call me for further information
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Terry Kulka 510/339-4789
terrykulka@att.net
http://www.terrykulka.com
With over 300 homes sold –
Oakland
Experience Counts


19.
March 4, 2006

E-mail Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1@hotmail.com, phone 653-3210 (after noon), 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
Sick Plant Clinic
Art Exhibits:
Gallery: In March: Fraser Rotchford: acrylic and oil
paintings. In April: Susan Hall: watercolor plus oil and
acrylic on canvas.
Display case: In March: Laura Grossman: environ-
mental art. In April: Betty La Cuse: paintings (for the
non-profit Heifer Project).
ó
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. No registration necessary. UC
Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley (above
Cal Memorial Stadium in Strawberry Canyon). For more
information: 643-2755 or http://botanicalgarden.
berkeley.edu.
April 1 topic: How Should North Oakland Solve its
Traffic Problems? Meetings: first Saturday every other
month, 10am to noon. Peralta Elementary School: 460
63rd St. (parking on Alcatraz Ave., above Telegraph).
For more information on all District One issues or events,
call 238-7001 or www.oaklandnet.com (the site
for all City-related information).
ó
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
Library Hours:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Activities and Events For Seniors
Closed Sundays.
Diesel Book/Poetry Events
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y
and 13X areas are invited to voice their concerns
about crime and public safety. Meets 3rd Tuesday
each month, 7 to 8:30pm at California College
of the Arts (CCA), 5212 B’way (at College Ave.),
Bldg. B-4. Directions and more information: www.
rockridgencpc.com.
College Avenue Adult Center
Light exercise, socializing, travel programs and music.
Hot lunch at noon for $2.00. Every Wednesday, from
9:30am to 1:30pm. For details about upcoming field
trips, call Kathy at 531-6724.
College Ave. Presbyterian Church, 5955 College
North Oakland Multi-Purpose Senior Center
ó
All events are FREE and open to the public
Tuesday, 3/14, 7:30pm. Book Club #3: Discussion
of Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem. All
welcome.
5433 College Ave. For more information about other
readings, book discussion groups and El Grupito, the
ó
Rockridge Branch Library
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” provides a class schedule and monthly
lunch menu: (suggested donation: seniors age 60 +
$2.25; $4 under age 60). Call 597- 5085 for details
about membership, newsletter, classes/events and
opportunities to become a volunteer.
ó
Spanish discussion group: 510-653-9965 or
For Children:
www.dieselbookstore.com.
Writers Support/Critique Group
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
3/4, 3/11,4/1, 4/8.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am: 3/15,4/5.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm:
3/14, 3/28.
Special Event for Kids and Families: Royal Rumpus:
Stories and crafts by Pam Brown, all about Kings and
Queens. Tuesday, April 4 at 7pm. Presented as part
of National Library Week. Best for ages 3 to 10, but
all ages welcome.
For Teens:
ó
ó
ALL writers welcome. Bring at least 10 copies of 5 pages
of your prose for on-site reading/discussion. Sponsored
by the California Writers Club, Berkeley branch (www.
berkeleywritersclub.org/) Rockridge Branch
Library, third Saturday of the month from (3/18), 1 to
5pm. For more information: 420-8775 or Writefox@
aol.com.
ó
ó
Volunteers Needed
Book Signing
Bambino Thrift Shop: All Volunteer Shop benefiting
Oakland Children’s Hospital. Volunteers needed Tues-
days through Saturdays. We will train you to help with
pricing, selling and merchandise display. 5290 College
Ave. Call manager, Carol Maes: 654-9709.
Second Start Adult Literacy Program: Teach an
adult to read. Free training. Nine month minimum
commitment. Volunteers can meet with their stu-
dents 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 graders,
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. (at Colby). Contact
Julia Kassissieh, Director: 655-0540 or director@
noccs.org.
Friends of Temescal Creek (FOTC): Monitor water
quality by collecting water samples at Lake Temes-
cal for analysis. Important for Rockridge residents
because Temescal Creek runs above-ground near
FROG Park. Volunteers meet the 3rd Saturday of each
month, 10am to noon. Regular commitment preferred.
For information and location, contact fotc2005@
yahoo.com.
HEROES: is the volunteer placement program for the
Oakland Unified School District that helps enhance the
quality of educational experiences for students in the
Oakland public schools. To volunteer, call 879-2908
or www.oaklandheroes.org.
ó
Lachu Moorjani: of Berkeley’s Ajanta restaurant, will
sign his new book, Ajanta: Regional feasts of India. Will
include tastings of ingredients and recipes, as part of the
Pasta Shop’s 3 week celebration of foods and flavors
from India. Friday, March 10, from noon to 2pm. The
Pasta Shop, Market Hall, 5655 College Ave. For more
information: 547-4005 or www.pastashop.net.
Bookwormz (Teen-Led Book Club): third Saturday
of each month (3/18) from 1 to 2pm in upstairs mtg.
room For any questions, call Susy, the teen specialist
librarian at 597-5017.
Anime Club: Watch and talk about new anime
(Japanese animation) with other teens. 2nd Tuesday
of each month (3/14, 4/11) from 5 to 6:30pm, in the
upstairs mtg. room.
For Adults:
ó
ó
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Chabot Elementary School PTA
Annual Spring Auction
Knitting Classes for Seniors (50+): All levels wel-
come. If you are a beginner, bring light color yarn and
a pair of size 8 needles. If experienced, bring projects
to work on. Tuesdays: 3/7, 3/14, 3/28, from 12:30 to
2:30pm. Instructor is Teri Barr.
Book Signing with local authors Annalee Allen
and Erika Mailman. Saturday, March 25th from
2 to 4:30pm.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month: 6pm to 8pm. Advance sign-
up starts 5pm.
ó
Fundraiser for enrichment programs: art, music, garden,
computers, bldg. improvements. “Brazilian Carnival”
theme with food/drinks, live music and both live and
silent auction. Great prizes from local merchants. Pauley
Ballroom on the UC Campus on Saturday, March 25, 6 to
11pm. Ticket prices: $26 (in advance) or $30 at the door.
Purchase tickets online at www.chabotelementary.
org. For more information, contact Susie Poncelet at
985-1246, or sponcelet@earthlink.net
ó
ó
ó
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$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only  Present with incoming order
ó
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Avenue, Oakland
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
601-1188
Mon – Fri 7 – 7 • Sat 8 – 6
Across from Albertson’s & Zachary’s Pizza


20.

March 4, 2006

ROBERTS ELECTRIC
RECO
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
INSTALLATION • REPAIR • 220 WIRING
NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODEL
FREE ESTIMATES
2408 Webster St. 834-6161 Oakland
SERVING THE EAST BAY SINCE 1932
CA. LIC# 728215
Flush with
Confidence
www.
.com
• Sewer Pipe Diagnostics
• Trouble Shooting & Repair
• Trenchless Sewer Replacement
510/465-3000
Berkeley — Oakland — Rockridge

a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue, Oakland  510 658-3665
Sunday worShip 10:30 aM • ViSit: capcchurch.org
our wonderful coMMunity Meal, fridayS, 6-7pM
a great opportunity to SerVe
Jan Fougner
OWNER – BROKER
BUYING OR SELLING IN
ROCKRIDGE? IF YOU
NEED THE SERVICES
OF A REALTOR, CALL
ME. I HAVE 28 YEARS
OF ROCKRIDGE SALES
EXPERIENCE AND THE
EXPERTISE YOU NEED.
6 5 5 - 2 3 3 0
ROCKRIDGE
R
E
A
L T
Y
6 0 1 9  C O L L E G E  AV E N U E
Thank You, Neighbors,
for 20 Great Years.

In Rockridge, Thereʼs Only One #1
Ron Kriss - “Listings SOLD in 2005”

List Price $695,000
Sale Price $875,000
www.322Clifton.com
List Price $739,000
Sale Price $750,000
www.5387Belgrave.com
SOLD
SOLD
List Price $599,000
Sale Price $655,000
 www.5268Shafter.com
List Price $729,000
Sale Price $875,000
 www.5355Miles.com
SOLD
SOLD
List Price $1,149,000
Sale Price $1,149,000
www.5329Broadway.com
SOLD
L A W T O N
Ron Kriss, Broker
1
Listing Broker  in
Rockridge for 2005
List Price $649,000
Sale Price $650,000
www.5231Coronado.com
#
SOLD
List Price $995,000
Sale Price $1,160,000
www.6447Regent.com
(Number of Homes Listed
A S S O C I A T E S
& Total Sales)
As reported to the Realtors® MLS.
SOLD
R E A L   E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E

List Price $859,000
Sale Price $973,000
www.5426Lawton.com
SOLD
List Price $1,050,000
Sale Price $1,050,000
 www.5490Kales.com
SOLD
List Price $660,000
Sale Price $660,000
442 61st Street
SOLD
List Price $749,000
Sale Price $820,000
378 Hudson Street
SOLD
Find out why!

Ron Kriss, Broker     Lawton Associates     510-547-5970 Ext. 55     ronkriss@jps.net

If your house is currently listed for sale this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.