Extracted text · highlighting “Jane Brunner”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 21    NO. 4    ISSUE NO.   222    April 8, 2006  
 CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

RCPC April Town Hall Meeting Candidates’ Night
Oakland Mayoral Debate &
RCPC Board Elections Forum
T

he April 20 Candidates’ Night will consist of two events: a debate between the
three candidates for the mayor of Oakland and a brief presentation by each of
the seven candidates for the Board of the Rockridge Community Planning Council.
(Details, page 3). Attendees will also have an opportunity to vote for candidates
for the Board of the Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL). (Details, page 5).
The event begins at 7 pm at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church Sanctuary,
5951 College Avenue.

Housing units and retail space will soon
rise on this weedy lot at the corner of 51st
Street and Telegraph Avenue now that
developers and residents have reached
agreement on the proposal.    Photo: Don Kinkead
Oakland Mayoral Debate
by Cy Gulassa, Editor
Y
RCPC Board Election
by Deborah Weinstein, RCPC Chair
Prior to the Mayoral Debates on
Thursday, April 20, at the College
Avenue Presbyterian Church (5599 Col-
lege Avene), the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) will hold a
Candidates’ Forum for the RCPC Annual
Board of Directors’ election beginning at
7 pm. Seven candidates are vying for six
seats on the RCPC Board.
Two Views on a
Project Settlement
ou’ve watched them on TV, read
about them in the papers, and lis-
tened to critics; now it’s time to come
hear for yourself what Ron Dellums,
Ignacio De La Fuente, and Nancy Nadel
have to say about the future of Oakland
and Rockridge. What’s to be done about
schools, libraries, crime, traffic, parks,
redevelopment, zoning, trees, (take a deep
breath), sidewalks, litter, billboards and
budgets? What about city business taxes?
Or the strong mayor proposition? This is
your opportunity to ask tough questions
and afterwards vote in a straw poll for
your favorite.
The Contenders:
n	 Ron Dellums, a native of Oakland,
worked his way up the ladder of politics
from Berkeley City Councilmember to
long-term liberal Congressman. He won
national fame for his oratory and steadfast
opposition to the apartheid regime in South
When the Planning Commission approved
a development proposal for the corner
of 51st and Telegraph, a group of neighbors
appealed to the City Council. Councilmember
Jane Brunner brokered revised project condi-
tions acceptable to the neighborhood group
and the developer. The agreement is discussed
in the following report from a representative
of the neighborhood group and a statement
by developer Ron Kriss.      — Editor
Residents are invited to meet and
listen to the candidates, ask questions,
and cast their votes. Votes may also be
cast in front of the Rockridge Library on
College Avenue at Manila on Saturday,
April 22, from 11 am to 1 pm.
We Will be Tested Again...
Rockridge residents who are over 18
and live within RCPC Boundaries are
eligible to vote (see map at www.rockridge.
org for boundaries). Voters will be asked to
verify their address with a driver’s license
or a piece of received official mail such
as a utility bill.
by Janelle Cavanagh, Project Neighbor
Aneighborhood group gathered over 700
signatures in opposition to the height of the
building originally proposed for the corner of
51st and Telegraph. Many in this group support
growth for our neighborhood, but not “maximum
density” projects with six-story heights in a
predominately two-story neighborhood.
Mayoral Candidates, page 
¬
RCPC Board Candidates, page 
¬
After the
We Will be Tested, page 13
¬
Note Location &
agenda: RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Time Change
Green Light for CIVIQ
Thursday, April 20, 7:00 pm at the College Avenue Presbyterian
Church Sanctuary, 5951 College Avenue at Harwood
by Ron Kriss, Principal, Project CIVIQ
C

RCPC Elections: Vote for 6
new board directors (candi-
dates’ statements, page 3).
FORL Elections: Vote for board
members of Friends of the
Rockridge Library (page 5).
Mayor al Forum: Mayoral
Candidates Ignacio De
La Fuente, Ron Dellums
and Nancy Nadel address
Oakland issues. Audience
questions to follow (above).

IVIQ, the proposed project at 51st and
Telegraph, was unanimously approved
by the Planning Commission in January, and
then appealed to the City Council by a group
of neighbors.

CIVIQ Green Light, page 13
¬


2.

April 8, 2006

RCPC Inaugurates
Rockridge Champion Awards
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
Cham·pi·on (chàm¹pê-en) noun
1.	One that wins first place or first prize in a competition.
2.	One that is clearly superior or has the attributes of a winner:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
a champion at teaching.
3.	An ardent defender or supporter of a cause or another person:
a champion of the homeless.
4.	One who fights; a warrior.
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.
— The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Third Edition© 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
by Cy Gulassa
The Board of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council has unanimously
decided to begin honoring members of the
community who selflessly devote themselves
to our collective welfare. With little publicity,
they work tirelessly to improve the quality of
life of the neighborhood and strive for bal-
ance among competing interests and visions.
Whether it’s standing before the planning
commission to defend zoning regulations
or organizing neighborhood construction
of a local park or weeding a creek, they
contribute much and expect little beyond
the satisfaction that they have worked hard
to do what they know is right.
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
At a recent Board meeting, RCPC
Chair Deborah Weinstein presents
Don Kinkead with the first Rockridge
Champion Award for his work with
The Rockridge News since its inception.
Photo: Cy Gulassa
Kent Deverell, Jennifer Edmister, Cy Gulassa,
Al Hussian, Hiroko Kurihara, Mike McDonald,
Steve Meyer, Mike Taylor, Stephanie Upp, Robert Wiles
Among the many deserving to be the
recipient of the first RCPC Champion Award
is Don Kinkead, who helped establish and
has worked over the years to maintain The
Rockridge News, a voice for the Rockridge
community that has helped to define its
identity and focus.
Newsletter Subscriptions
happenings. Beginning as handbills stapled
to telephone poles, the newsletter grew from
a single page to its present 16 pages. Over
the years, Don has served as editor, layout
artist, reporter and photographer for the
newsletter, helping spread news of Rockridge
through the more than 1.5 million words
printed over the last 20 years.
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
Twenty years ago, alarmed by develop-
ers who envisioned Rockridge as the ideal
location for highrise towers and urban
densification, a group of neighbors rallied
the neighborhood to action. Don helped by
putting together The Rockridge News to
serve as a diligent observer of Rockridge
covered in The Rockridge News?
	 Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
	 Would you like to volunteer to be a Rockridge
With great pride, RCPC pays tribute to
Don as one of the early supporters of the
thriving and prosperous neighborhood we
celebrate today.
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
Small Office Specialists
Small Office Specialists
Articles published in The Rockridge News may be
reprinted only with the permission of the Editor.
For a kitchen,
consult a kitchen expert.
For a closet,
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
find a closet designer.
For your office,
 May 6, 2006
 May deadline is April 20.
Advertising rates are $26/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.)
come to us.
5933 College Ave. (off Claremont) Oakland, 510-654-9500
WWW.GALVINS.COM
1265 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, 650-365-7800


3.
April 8, 2006

RCPC Board Candidates, from page 
The Zoning Counter
T
The RCPC Board consists of 12 elected and
2 appointed directors. Candidates serve
two-year terms and act as community stewards
on a variety of issues, including land use, parks,
and traffic and pedestrian safety.
As the RCPC board represents your inter-
ests as a community — the way to ensure
your voice is heard is to cast your vote!
he 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.
Following are the candidates’ state-
ments.
Annette Floystrup
Birch Court
Mike McDonald
Locksley Avenue
5295 Broadway Terrace
Proposal: 8,497 square foot expansion, includ-
ing a new exercise area, women’s locker room
and loung; and redesign of the swimming pool
area, including a new pool and pool house, with
landscaping.
Applicant: John Malick Associates Architects
Contact Person: John Grove, Project Architect
510/595-8042
Owner: Claremont Country Club
Planning Permits Required: Design Review
and Minor Conditional Use Permit to expand,
including a new exercise area, women’s locker
room and lounge; and redesign of the swimming
pool area, including a new pool and pool house,
with landscaping, in an R-30 zone.
Historic Status: B+ - Major Importance, 1+ -
Contributor to an Area of Primary Importance,
the Claremont Country Club District
Case Planner: Joann Pavlinec, 238-6344 or
jpavlinec@oaklandnet.com
I
Rhave lived in Rockridge
since 1955. I have been a
child, renter, homeowner
and home-based small
businessperson here. It goes
without saying that I love
this community deeply. I
have previously served on the RCPC board,
and I was a part of the 11-year process
that got the Rockridge library built.
ockridge is an amazing
place. When my wife
and I moved here in 1999,
we got that immediately. In
my first term as an RCPC
board member, I got to see
how much work there is to be done. I also
got to meet and work with members of
the RCPC board and witness firsthand the
level of their dedication. I hope to continue
to bring the neighborhood leadership
and listening. Please honor me with your
continued support. Thank you.
I have a strong background in economic
development, having served as both Board
Member and Chairperson of the Bay Area
Small Business Development Corporation,
overseeing a $19 million revolving loan fund,
with an emphasis on lending to women
and minority owners.
Susan Montauk
Boyd Avenue
I hope to serve my community again,
as I feel that I bring a unique perspective
to the RCPC Board, understanding the
needs of residents and business alike.
424 Avon Street
Proposal: To convert an existing four residential
unit bulding into four condominium units.
Applicant: John E. Gutierrez
Contact Phone Number: 510/647-0600
Owner: Mattew Ranney
Planning Permits Required: Tentative Parcel Map
to create four residential condominium units.
Case Planner: Jason Madani, 238-4790 or
jsmadani@oaklandnet.com
In my years of service to the
community as a director
of the RCPC, I have had
the good fortune to work
with a great many of the
diverse groups of people who
make Rockridge the model
community it is today. I’ve met them
through RCPC events and projects such
as the Rockridge Kitchen Tour and the
Rockridge News. My work on the RCPC
Schools Committee (SCOR) introduced
me to another set of invested community
members. I’ve joined neighbors to help
build our beautiful library and our children’s
fantastical park. I’ve worked side by side
with Rockridgians painting a mural under
the freeway and pruning bushes along our
Rockridge corridors. All these activities
have given me a better understanding of
our community and its needs today. With
your vote I hope to continue to serve the
community through the RCPC.
Albert W. Hussian
Locksley Avenue
Ihave lived in the Rockridge
District my whole life. I
have seen all the changes
to the District over the
years: a freeway dividing
the neighborhood, Market
Hall, BART and more. Some of these
changes have been for the better and
some have been less than desirable.
I am concerned with the Rockridge
neighborhood. I would like to see growth
in the areas of affordable housing, and
a community center for our youth and
others in our community. I am a member
of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church
and Coordinator of the Music That Cooks
concert series, and I help with the Friday
night dinners for the less fortunate.
Original
Bronze Art
By an internationally
exhibited sculptor
Berhane
by Heli Perrett
Rockridge studio
510.655.1481
mesart.com/heli
RCPC Board Candidates, page 
¬


4.

April 8, 2006

rk Corner
a
P
G
A monthly update on
what’s happening at the
FRO
best community-built
and maintained
park in Oakland
by Mike McDonald,
RCPC Board Member and
FROG Steering Committee member‘
Phase II Construction Schedule:
In case you haven’t yet noticed, con-
struction work is happening. Work on the
greenbelt between Clifton and Cavour
began early in March and will continue
through July. Clearing and demolition is
now complete, and concrete work will
take place during April and early May,
followed by landscaping and site furnish-
ings in June.
“Closed for construction,” but, with
the creek path concrete forms going
in, the Phase II FROG Park restoration
project is on track.    Photo: Don Kinkead
Concrete work at the Hardy Park plaza is
scheduled for May: swings, play equipment
and a water fountain will be installed, along
with improvements to the basketball courts.
BBI, the contractor, is working to minimize
disruption while maintaining their schedule.
Look for upcoming announcements for the
opening celebration to be held in July.
Kiosk and Improvements
Saturday, April 22nd —
Volunteer Maintenance Day
The Spring Volunteer Maintenance Day
is Saturday, April 22. Contact Head Bull-
frog/Chief Steward/Volunteer Coordinator
Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net,
or phone 653-6463.
Public Art project moves ahead:
FROG is preparing plans for the kiosk
and improvements and site furnishings
for Hardy Plaza. They will be built by
community volunteers following Phase II
construction. For more information, con-
tact Mike McDonald (mike@m-c-d.net) or
Jennifer Cooper.
Stay tuned for an update in next month’s
Frog Park Corner regarding the exciting
Public Art Projects planned for the park. For
more information, contact Jennifer Cooper,
FROG Vice Chair, jennifer@live-work.com
or phone 653-6581.
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Susan Bernosky LUTCF
Insurance Agent
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5940 COLLEGE AVE #A
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5.
April 8, 2006

Friends of the
Rockridge
Library (FORL)
2006 Election
The annual election of the Friends
of the Rockridge Library (FORL)
will be held at the Rockridge Branch
Library on April 20, 2006, at 7 p.m,
concurrent with the RCPC annual elec-
tion (see page 1). Five 2-year seats on
the FORL board will be filled in this
election. Current candidates include:
Karen Carlson; Kristine Carraway; Jenny
Scholten; Penelope Wong; and Jennifer
Vetter. Others who may be interested in
running should contact Jennifer Vetter,
FORL Chair, no later than April 15, at
jrvetter@comcast.net or 595-1817.
Balloting will be among all interested
Rockridge residents who are eligible to
vote in the RCPC annual election, and
any other persons whose names appear
on the FORL membership roster.
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
663-6674  Mike
Rockridge resident over 10 years
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
Lic # 695711
G
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

RCPC Board
Candidates
fences as a Frog Park volunteer. I am a
dog owner who has logged countless
hours in Hardy Dog Park. I am also an
SF commuter who “casual carpools” into
work and BARTs home each day. My
professional background is in economic
and community development, and I’ve
consulted with Alameda County on issues
related to child care, transportation and
asset development.
from page 3
Mike Taylor
Ross Circle
I
If elected to serve on the 2006
Board, I look forward to continuing my
work on “Under-BART” beautification
efforts, enhancing community outreach,
and creating more linkages between my
Fairview Park neighbors and the RCPC.
joined the board just over
two years ago because
I wanted to learn more
about Rockridge and help
in maintaining its excellent
qualities. During my tenure
I’ve learned a lot about
both the duties of the board and the
challenges our community faces. I hope
to apply my own special knowledge as
a schoolteacher, a businessperson, and
an active neighbor to help Rockridge
stay true to its roots while addressing
the unique opportunities that arise as
our neighborhood changes. Specifically,
I want to continue putting a spotlight on
the improvements that are happening
in our schools, and helping RCPC gain
consistent interaction with the Oakland
City Planning Commission.
Deborah Weinstein
Boyd Avenue
Rockridge has been
my home since 2001,
is the birthplace of my
18-month old daughter,
and the place my husband
and I married and bought
our first home. I’ve served on the RCPC
board since 2002, as Secretary, Vice Chair,
Co-Chair and currently as Chair. It’s been
such a great learning experience to meet
neighbors from all avenues, discussing a
variety of issues — land use, parks, schools,
crime prevention, traffic and pedestrian
safety, earthquake preparedness, seismic
retrofits, kitchen tours, and community
centers. I am proud of the work RCPC
has done to represent the community’s
interests.
Stephanie Upp
65th Street
My diverse experiences
a s a Ro ck r id ge
resident reflect a broad
range of community
constituent issues, which
I believe can add valuable
perspective to the work of the RCPC
Board. I am a recent homeowner, but
spent five years as a Rockridge renter.
I am a new parent who helped shellac
My experience working for the
community with the RCPC board has
enriched my life and helped to balance my
professional endeavors in public relations
and, more recently, as a fulltime mom. I
would be honored to continue to serve
the community for the next two years.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
General Dentistry
Based here in Rockridge,
we specialize in:
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
Architectural remodels/additions
Gardens/outdoor spaces
New construction
A Prevention Oriented Practice
www.AboutInsideOut.com     510.655.7674


.

April 8, 2006

Claremont School Spring
Fling to Benefit School Arts
Peralta School Gardens
Featured on County Tour
O
Pn Saturday, May 20, from
10 to 3, Claremont Middle
School hosts its second annual
Spring Fling, featuring a com-
munity stage, silent auction, and
food and arts marketplace. There
will be something to entertain
everyone—even a jumper for the
littlest member of the family.
Proceeds will go toward arts
programs that benefit all Cla-
remont students.
biggest fundraiser last year, and
we are hoping to solicit even
more donations for it this year.
To donate an item or service for
the auction, rent booth space
to sell your food or wares, or
perform on the community
stage, call Bonnie Trinclisti at
510/547-2313.
eralta Elementary School’s
acclaimed schoolyard gar-
dens will be highlighted in the
Third Annual Bay-Friendly
Garden Tour on Sunday, April
30, from 10 am to 4 pm. The
free, self-guided tour is spon-
sored by EBMUD, the Alameda
Countywide Clean Water Pro-
gram and StopWaste.org. It will
include over 30 public and private
gardens throughout Alameda
County, showcasing natural
gardening techniques.
less work by Peralta’s staff and
families, and generous contribu-
tions from the Potrero Nuevo
Foundation, the Building Trades
Union, The City of Oakland, UC
Berkeley Cooperative Exten-
sion, and the Lower Rockridge
Parents’ Group. The result is a
courtyard oasis incorporating
cozy shaded tables and vibrant
murals, a sunny amphitheater
covered in colorful ceramic tile,
and a whimsical picket fence
featuring wooden cutouts of
sunflowers and insects.
The festival will be held
on the school grounds at 5750
College Avenue at Miles. All
are welcome.
The silent auction was our
Mayoral Candidates
The Peralta schoolyard is
one of the few public gardens
included in the tour, which
celebrates the diverse styles of
Bay-Friendly gardens. Other
featured gardens include a Medi-
terranean-inspired retreat; a
corner garden with rooms hedged
by drought-tolerant plants; a
native plant hillside terraced
under a lofty oak; and an edible
kitchen garden complete with
hens and bees. For a sneak
preview of the tour, visit www.
BayFriendly.org.
During the tour, Peralta stu-
dents will guide visitors through
the schoolyard garden, explain-
ing the school’s Bay-Friendly
gardening techniques. Visitors
will also have the opportunity
to purchase Bay-Friendly plants
cultivated by Peralta students
and neighbors.
from page 
Africa. As the first African-American member of the House Armed
Services Committee, he was critical of the military and wasteful
defense spending. Lauded for his contributions, he resigned in 1998
after 27 years of Congressional service. Among other pursuits, he
has since worked as a lobbyist for local and national businesses.
n
Ignacio De La Fuente became an American citizen at 21, settled
in Oakland and began a career in union work that led to his present job
as business manager of an international union serving 30 companies.
He was elected to the City Council in 1992 and became council presi-
dent in 1999 after passage of Measure X, the strong mayor initiative.
He is the point person for downtown and neighborhood revitalization,
and his achievements include the Fruitvale transit village and the
conversion of the Montgomery Ward building into a school.
n
Nancy Nadel, elected for two terms to the EBMUD Board and its
first female president, has served for nine years on the City Council.
A popular progressive who ran unopposed in the last election, she
prides herself on the redevelopment in District 3, including the cre-
ation of a transit village at the West Oakland BART station and the
revitalization of the Jack London Square area and Old Oakland. Other
improvements she shepherded include new market-rate condominiums
in Uptown and new retail in depressed and blighted areas.
Registration for the tour is
required. Registrants will receive
a tour guidebook with garden
directions and descriptions by
mail. For more information or to
register, visit www.BayFriendly.
org or call 510/444-SOIL.
Peralta’s extensive gardens
are the product of years of tire-
Over 9,000 locations worldwide.
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In Market Hall, Enter on Shafter
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Next to BART, Under produce
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Note: RCPC, a nonpartisan neighborhood organization,
takes no position on any of the candidacies in this election.
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2006 Curves International


7.
April 8, 2006

Measure Y Protesters Demand Results from Police, City

by Susan Montauk, NCPC Chair
I
This is one of the suspects wanted for
forced entry at gunpoint on Lawton
Avenue between Cavour and 51st Street
on December 30 and in the 400 block of
Cavour Street. He is about 6' 2" tall and
weighs about 240 lbs. His accomplice
on both occasions was a light-skinned
African-American male about 6' tall
and about 170 lbs. They are extremely
dangerous. Their M.O. is to catch people
off guard, coming home from grocery
shopping, dinner, etc.
t looks as if Oakland citizens are mad and
they’re not going to take it any more. At
City Hall on March 9, 45 residents, many
of them victims of the recent crime wave,
voiced their concerns about the severe short-
age of police on the streets. In the first two
months of this year, crimes have soared.
Chief Tucker reported to the Council that
by the first week of March murders had
increased by over 300%, and burglaries and
armed robberies both by over 200% from
2005. City Council members, inundated
with calls and e-mails from constituents,
responded by passing a resolution calling
for an immediate increase in training acad-
emies with the goal of reaching full staffing
by January 2007 of the 802 police officers
provided for in Measure Y.
In early March, OPD had only 703 sworn
officers. Many of those were assigned to
duties other than street patrols, and 67 offi-
cers were out on disability. That left only
about 38 officers on beat patrol per shift for
the entire city. Officers beginning their shifts
would often have a backload of 10-15 calls
for help and were forced to choose which to
answer. Since violent crimes routinely get
first priority, many callers waited hours for
cops to arrive.
www.oaklandnet.com), Chief Tucker writes
that short staffing is only one part of the
Department’s present difficulties. His plan
to deploy 84 officers during peak crime
times by overlapping shifts had strong
support in the City Council, but met some
resistance from the Oakland Police Officers
Association. The Council threatened to
declare a state of emergency by mid-March
if the union did not endorse the Chief’s
plan, but it postponed this decision when
the city and union reached an agreement
to put a maximum of 100 patrol officers
on the street by adjusting the swing-shift.
Resources provided from Measure Y will
also be dedicated to stepped-up recruitment
and hiring for the academies, casting a
wide net for candidates from other states,
if necessary.
Rockridge Crime
On December 30, two men were accosted
outside their Lawton Avenue home in
lower Rockridge by two African-American
males who forced them inside at gunpoint.
The robbers cut electrical cord, bound their
victims, and proceeded for the next hour
to search the house for valuables. Shortly
after the crime, one of the robbers used the
victim’s stolen credit card to obtain cash
from an ATM and was photographed (box
above). A similar crime took place on March
13, just one block away from the other. In
the early morning before his work shift, a
homeowner had stepped onto his porch to
smoke a cigarette when he was forced inside
at gunpoint, this time by three African-
American males. These robbers, too, used
electrical cord to bind their victims and made
some of the same threats and comments as
the perpetrators of the Lawton crime. The
perpetrators have not been caught; fliers
have been distributed in the surrounding
blocks to caution neighbors.
Rockridge NCPC Meets
To Address Crime
The Rockridge Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council meets April 18 at 7 pm
on the California College of Arts campus,
room B-4. Problem-solving officers and
patrol cops will be on hand to answer ques-
tions about policing and crime prevention,
and policing priorities for the next month
will be set by attendees. See www.rockrid-
gencpc.com for a meeting map and the latest
2006 Rockridge crime statistics. Join the
Rockridge Neighborhood Watch Network
Yahoo Group to stay abreast of local crime.
Go to www.yahoogroups.com
The call for more cops on the street now
has reached a crescendo among citizens
and officials. The City Council resolution
seeks a long-term solution, but Oaklanders
need immediate remedies. In his “Vision
and Plan of Action to Reduce Crime and
Improve Accountability,” (see entire plan at
Signs of a Changing Market
Address
Bed/Bath	 List Price	 Sales Price
5351 Belgrave Place
2/2
$ 689,000
$ 689,000
5117 Manila Avenue
3/2
$ 749,000
$ 752,000
5371 Shafter Avenue
2/1
$ 799,000
$ 800,000
5468 Shafter Avenue
3/1
$ 825,000
$ 815,000
5343 Boyd Avenue
4/2
$ 849,000
$ 849,000
5437 Shafter Avenue
3/2
$ 935,000
$ 920,000
If you are interested in buying or selling your home or
just need advice in the current market, please contact me.
While median prices in
2005 & 2006 have
remained virtually the
same, marketing strategies
have changed. In 2005
properties sold for an av-
erage of 15% above the list
price and this year, they
are selling at an average
of 1% below list price.


.

April 8, 2006

Camp Galileo:
A Summer for
Discovery and
Experiment
by Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
T
Camp Galileo Kids
visit the countryside.
Photo: Camp Galileo
to see their kids involved
in hands-on education, he
said. School is so heavily
weighted towards train-
ing for testing that there is
little time for creativity and
problem solving.
his summer, a new opportunity for
alternative education and recreation is
being offered to Rockridge children. Camp
Galileo, a summer day-camp named after
the great scientist, intellectual explorer, and
creative thinker, will operate for the first time
for five weeks at Holy Names school.
Camp Galileo offers
daily experiences for chil-
dren in the age groups of
kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, and 3 to 5
in art, science, and outdoor activities. Each
week, all age groups undertake “theme”
activities in art, science and outdoor activities
appropriate to their age group. For example,
during “Psychedelic ’60s and Space Explor-
ers” week, grades 1 and 2 make tie-dye shirts
and “lava” lamps, and create Warhol-style
self-portraits. As space explorers, they
build a space ship, analyze rocket fuels,
design for maximum lift-off and landing
impact, and test Newton’s law of gravity.
Other themes include Egyptian art, crime
solving, amusement park engineering, and
designing psychedelic ’60s album covers
and a concert poster.
ativity applies not only to the arts, but
includes the sciences and activities in gen-
eral. Kids discover that art and science are
not so far apart. The camp is proud that it
enrolls about 45% girls, compared to many
science and computer camps which enroll
mostly boys. This is particularly of interest
in view of last year’s controversial remarks
by Harvard University Professor Lawrence
Summers that fewer women become scien-
tists due to genetic causes.
Camp Galileo has been operating in San
Francisco and the Peninsula since 2002,
under the direction of Galileo Educational
Services founder and CEO Glen Tripp. Its
mission is to help children discover their
passion through teamwork, leadership
development and hands-on exploration of
art and science.
In 2002, Rockridge resident Tripp
stepped down as President of the Rockridge
Community Planning Council in order
to devote time to his dream: establishing
an alternative program of exploration for
children. At present, Camp Galileo oper-
ates at 12 other sites in San Francisco, the
Peninsula and the East Bay. About 10,000
children, grades K through 5, are enrolled
each summer. The Oakland/Rockridge site
has a capacity for 300.
The director of Camp Galileo for Oakland/
Rockridge is Beth Sondel, who received her
graduate degree from Harvard in Education
Policy and Management. The local Advisory
Board includes professionals and parents.
Tripp says Camp Galileo started in Palo
Alto because he had taught there and had a
base of advisors there. A parent himself, he
is truly pleased to at last open the camp in
his own neighborhood — Rockridge — and
hopes parents will take advantage of this
unusual opportunity. For more information,
call 510/595-7293, or 1-800/854-3684, or
visit www.galileoed.com.
To build a solid base for these activities,
the camp has developed curriculum partner-
ships with the Tech Museum of Innovation
in San Jose; Klutz, a division of Scholastic;
and Art in Action.
Tripp’s interest in alternative education
began two years after college, when he started
a job with Score Education Center, a national
after-school education program. From then
on, his undergraduate degree interests in
economics and international relations took a
major turn towards education: he discovered
a huge need for children to “get stuff they
don’t get in school.” Today’s parents want
The camp’s mission is to help kids dis-
cover their passion. Educators emphasize
team building and leadership. One counselor
is in charge of a group of 16, who then break
into teams of two to four for each project.
Outdoor activities offer challenges but are
not competition-oriented.
Another goal is to demonstrate that cre-
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9.
April 8, 2006

regularly mobbed on weekends during the
heyday years of Brunch. We even had, for
a time during the mid-1980s, a restaurant
which served very good, highly authentic
Breton buckwheat crêpes.
ago, killed by a fall off a cliff during a family
camping trip. The fall was most likely caused
by an epileptic seizure. Surviving David
are his wife, Jennifer, and two children; his
daughter, Anna, and son, Gilman, then aged
three and one, respectively. A memorial
plaque for David, possibly mentioning the
names of his children, would be a fitting
“thank you” to someone who was so inte-
grally involved in creating our park.
Letters
to
The
Editor
Let’s take just a moment to remember
Figaro’s, with the award-winning façade that
delighted children of all ages from 8 to 80,
where so many Rockridgers discovered the
joys of gelato. And, without deprecating the
wonderful new Bittersweet The Chocolate
Café, what can restore the loss of Leaven &
Earth, which once occupied the same space?
The décor was unpretentious, but the éclairs
and the chocolate chip sour cream cake
have never been matched, and the chocolate
Liquor Sliquors kept some of us going, well
before anyone had caught sight of a truffle
between Alcatraz and Broadway. (For a
long time, after Leaven & Earth closed, I
kept a supply of Sliquors in the freezer. The
taste of one, when thawed, did as much as
any madeleine cake to send a person à la
recherche du temps perdu.)
John Gussman
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.
There are many in the community who
know of and appreciate David’s contribution
to the Greenbelt. David was a founding co-
chair of the DMV Neighbors Association
(DNA) and a founding member of FROG.
He was articulate and forceful in working to
locate the children’s play structures in their
current spots, against great opposition. In
February, 1999, David, along with artist Eric
Clausen, became among the first Rockridge
voices to speak in favor of opening up the
Alameda County Flood Control land to
create a greenbelt anchored by Hardy Park
on the north and Redondo Park on the south.
In addition, he was a big part of the very
first DNA creek cleanup of Redondo Park
in 1999, when we rolled up a carpet of ivy
that covered the asphalt walkways. Helping
to raise seed money for FROG at the Flea
Market and Bazaar that took place in the
Claremont DMV lot in July 2000 was just
one more among many of the ways David
supported the Greenbelt.
Although David was not one to seek
recognition for his efforts, it would be very
fitting to place a memorial plaque in the
Greenbelt to honor David’s contribution to
the children of Rockridge because, as his
widow Jennifer says, “David’s main goal
was the creation of something that lived
beyond him.”
Jacqueline Hoeppner-Freitas
Former Chair, DNA
Eating Scene Goes Way Back
Editor:
In the March installment of “Cornuco-
pia,” our respected food columnist Barry
Kaufman marvels at the transformation of
College Avenue, over the past 20 years, into
a gourmet dining hub.
Unfortunately, he has failed to recall
much of the eating scene which actually
existed in Rockridge in 1986. Probably
Zagat’s would not have noticed the Rockridge
eateries of that era; but they were more
affordable, by and large, than the restau-
rants of today, and some of the offerings
were just as striking, or more so. I refer, for
example, to Gugliemo’s, with the mouth-
watering eggplant pizza; Noble Pies, with
its imaginative line of dinner pies and pas-
ties, from African babootie to the end of the
alphabet; or the cozy Simon’s restaurant, at
College and Broadway, whose succulent
chicken-and-vegetable melange lives on in
memory, though never trumpeted in any food
column. Or to the Café Joli, which, with its
delicious blintzes and specialty omelets, was
Remembering David Ostrander
Editor:
This letter is to support the application
I made to the Friends of the Rockridge-
Temescal Greenbelt (FROG) to place a
special memorial plaque for the late David
M. Ostrander in the Rockridge-Temescal
Greenbelt. I have requested that part of the
personal donation I made and earmarked
for the swings be used for this purpose and
that the plaque be placed on the swings or
other site agreeable to the family and FROG.
This plaque would be separate from the one
honoring donors to the Greenbelt.
David died tragically almost three years
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10.

April 8, 2006

The Neighborhood Merchant
Photo: Don Kinkead
by Theresa Nelson
Beautiful Bedrooms
and Sweet Dreams
W
Berkeley Kids’ Room
6022 College Avenue, Oakland
Owner Loretta Davis
hen it’s time for a new bed for your
child, Berkeley Kids’ Room is an
important stop and a wonderful place to
experience. The cozy, charming showroom
offers adults and kids the chance to feel the
smoothness of the wood, try the drawers,
and most important, lie on the bed to find
exactly the right match. In the store, you’ll
see that kids really enjoy trying out the beds,
and seem to know instinctively what’s both
fun and best for a good night’s sleep.
510/420-0811
www.berkeleykids.com
Monday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm,
Sunday 12 – 5 pm
Berkeley Kid’ Room display.
Photo: Lydia Gans
dressers; as the child grows, the dresser can
be used on its own. Desks have morphed into
computer hutches with fold-down keyboards.
And for spring, there are a number of new
loft beds and more accessories.
business when it was spun off seven years
ago in Berkeley.
Since moving the store to Rockridge
a little over a year ago, she has especially
enjoyed working directly with children and
parents from the neighborhood as they try
out beds and other furniture. She noted that
the store complements the other children’s
stores in Rockridge, and that customers
say they like having a store like this in the
neighborhood as an alternative to chain
stores and catalogs. “I am so glad to be in
a really community-oriented place thast’s
business friendly,” she says, “and I really
enjoy having the children’ come in to try
out the beds.”
In addition to the beds, lofts, dressers, desks
bookcases, chairs, toy chests and accessories,
cribs, changing tables and toddler beds can be
ordered, and some items can be customized.
Berkeley Kids’ Room also carries high-quality
bedding in many styles and prints.
Berkeley Kids’ Room features furniture
that owner Loretta Davis calls “your child’s
first bed,” and for many, the next bed as
well. These solidly built, attractive pieces
will stand up to years of use and still look
great to hand down to the next generation.
“We offer high-quality pieces in all price
ranges, with a variety of looks to satisfy
adults and children,” Loretta said.
Loretta was raised in an Oakland home
filled with custom furniture built by her
father and grandfather. “I grew up in a
project-oriented home,” she said, “where
something was always being made or
adapted.” At age 17 she bought and finished
her first piece of furniture and went on to
obtain degrees in design from Laney College
and Cal State East Bay (Cal State Hayward
at that time). She managed the children’s
section of the Berkeley Design Shop in 1984,
purchasing her current children’s furniture
The store’s website carries photos and
descriptions of the more than 10 lines avail-
able, most of which are American-made,
including Camelot, D.L. Mayra Hart, My
Room, Silver Eagle, Vermont Precision, and
Vermont Tubbs. Loretta can order from an
extensive collection of styles and colors.
When you’re looking for your child’s first
– or second – bed, or beautiful accessories
for that special child in your life, stop by
Berkeley Kids’ Room and you’ll likely find
exactly what you’re looking for.
Berkeley Kids’ Room also features acces-
sories to complete any room or serve as
delightful gifts. Larger items include cotton
rugs in bright solids, stripes, and prints of
animals, sports, moon and stars, and ocean
fish. Beanbag chairs are back and are popular,
and come in cotton, denim, vinyl, suede-like
fabrics and solid colors as well as prints of
animal and soccer balls. The sophisticated
style of the glider chair and ottoman by Best
would fit in a living room as well as a child’s
room. An innovation is the “chair and a half,”
a plush and comfy seat big enough for two
small children, which pulls out to a twin-size
sleeper, available in many fabrics. And the
Webkinz stuffed animals join smaller items
such as clocks and wall hangings, the current
favorites of many children.
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11.
April 8, 2006

Farewell to Jackie Hoeppner-Freitas and
Tony Freitas as They Move to the Hills

Earthday Spring
Cleaning in
Rockridge
by Margaret Pinter
At the lunch sponsored by the DNA
(DMV Neighbors Association)
on Earthday following the clean-up
projects, neighbors will honor Jackie
Hoeppner-Freitas and her husband,
Tony Freitas, who, along with their dog
Reina, are retiring to the mountains
after 22 years in the Rockridge-Temes-
cal area. Jackie and Tony have worked
tirelessly to improve our environs
since the DNA was formed in 1998 to
address proposed changes to the DMV
parking lot and later, the Greenbelt
Project. When the Fire Station on
51st Street was demolished, Jackie
and Tony were successful in getting
it rebuilt and keeping our firemen in
the neighborhood. Jackie’s organizational
skills have given a framework and focus to
our group and its positions on neighborhood
issues. Tony has always made time for prep
work, using his garden tractor to mow the
by Margaret Pinter and Susan Montauk
Come celebrate Earthday in Rockridge,
Saturday, April 22, 9 am ’till noon
by working at one of several project sites.
The City of Oakland will provide a limited
number of gloves and tools so volunteers
are encouraged to bring their own favorites,
marked with their names. Wheel barrows,
rakes, shovels and pruning implements will
come in handy.
Gardening Projects: Pick One
These projects entail litter collection,
pruning, weeding. Sign in at the DMV
parking lot at the corner of Redondo and
Cavour and enjoy pastries contributed by
Bakesale Betty and coffee provided by
Alem’s Coffee House. Then choose to work
at one of the following:
Tony, Reina and Jackie.
Photo: Margaret Pinter
parks prior to our cleanups, delivering the
Columbo Club’s huge kettles of food, and
hauling tables for our potluck lunches. They
will be missed for their spirit of giving, fair
play and energy.
Redondo Avenue, down to the chil-
dren’s play structure at the cornier of
Redondo and Clark
Hardy Park, or
The 51st Street public way and
median.
Graffiti Eradication
On Telegraph Avenue



Meet at Telegraph and 58th Street to
paint bus benches and trash cans and do
some minor cleanup work. Materials pro-
vided. Contact Chris with any questions:
chridjack@bigplanet.com
Lunch
At noon, participants are invited to the
after-event traditional potluck sponsored by
the DNA Neighbors Association to take place
in the driveway of 5275 Redondo Avenue.
Pasta, green salad and garlic bread will
be provided by the Colombo Club. Bring
a side dish, salad or dessert to share. The
DMV Neighbors Association will provide
beverages and going-away cake in honor of
Jackie Hoeppner-Freitas and her husband,
Tony. (See adjacent story.)
Pleased
with the
results of
their clean-
up work in
last year’s
Earth Day
program,
three
volunteers
pause for a
photo.
Photo: Susan Montauk


12.

April 8, 2006

The Rockridge
News Needs
Your Help
Do you have 10-15 minutes to spare
each month? Would you like to share
this time with your community? Here is a
Rockridge News delivery route that needs
a volunteer:
District Captain for Routes 07A-
07F: Box with bundles will be delivered
to DC’s doorstep the first weekend
of each month except August. The
District Captain delivers bundles to
six houses along Broadway and side
streets, including Mendocino.
Call Susan Montauk at 547-3855 or
e-mail her at smontauk@juno.com to discuss
your availability.

The faithful seven who bundle the 6,000 copies of The Rockridge News each
month celebrate the newsletter’s 20th anniversary issue with a glass of
champagne. Copies are counted out, assembled in packets and passed out to
150 volunteers who then deliver it to the 5,500 homes and businesses in the
Rockridge community. From left: Meredith Kaplan, Bill Dutcher, Nancy Dutcher,
Jo Ellis, Ken Ellis, Gail Durkin, Susan Montauk.     Photo by Cy Gulassa

Lexine Alpert
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13.
April 8, 2006

appearance of height).
improvements.
We Will be Tested
2) The side of the building facing Global
Entertainment will be stepped back at the
fourth floor to allow more light into the
Greenbelt pathway.
6) The developers will pay $20,000
toward the cost of permits in an Approved
Residential Parking Permit area to residences
in the area bounded by Telegraph Avenue,
Cavour Street, Shafter Avenue and 49th
Street. Residents in this area may vote on
instituting this program on their block.
from page 
Planning Commission approved the plans,
the neighborhood group appealed to the
City Council. Moments before the appeal
came before the Council, the group reached
an agreement with the developers through
negotiations led by Councilmember Jane
Brunner. The group is not happy with the
outcome but feels it was our best option.
3) The developers will pay $15,000 for a
pedestrian safety study that, with community
input, will identify pedestrian safety hazards
and improvements for adjacent streets.
7) Brunner’s motion at the Council meet-
ing noted that this development will not be
seen as a precedent for other developments.
She also requested to initiate a process to
update the Zoning Ordinance and reconcile
it with the General Plan. The current gap
between these two planning documents has
allowed the mayor and Planning Commission
to push their high-density agenda.
4) The developers will pay $50,000 into
a fund for pedestrian safety improvements
at the five intersections on the periphery of
the development.
This battle is over, but given the politi-
cal pressure toward maximum density
development in the city, we will be tested
again soon enough. Jane Brunner agreed to
convene a meeting on Thursday, April 27
at 7 pm at Faith Presbyterian Church, (49th
and Webster) to begin forming a commu-
nity design review process that will review
all future projects in the neighborhood.
Everyone who wants to prevent similar
battles over scale and density — especially
Rockridge residents — is urged to attend.
This process, if organized well with strong
community participation, will provide us a
more effective role in determining future
neighborhood development.
5) Proceeds from a lien on the former
theater property (estimated to be about
$250,000) to be paid by the developers
will be earmarked for pedestrian safety

Note: RCPC voted in January to drop opposition to the 51st Street and Telegraph Avenue
project provided conditions were agreed to as described in a letter posted at www.rockridge.
org. RCPC plans to attend the April 27 forum on neighborhood design guidelines.

CIVIQ Green Light, from page 
Councilmember Jane Brunner led a mediated
negotiation that resulted in an “11th hour”
agreement; the appeal was withdrawn prior
to the Council hearing.
sion of the FROG park walkway we will
create from Clarke and Redondo along the
northwestern side of the project to a wide,
sun-filled plaza at 51st Street. This excit-
ing pedestrian thoroughfare, including two
new public plazas, will fulfill the long-held
neighborhood goal of connecting the FROG
Park greenbelt to the Telegraph and 51st
intersection.
Negotiations on 51st and Telegraph
included:
The agreement includes some height
reductions at the corner of 51st & Tele-
graph; relocation of an upper level access
concourse, a pedestrian safety study and
related area improvements, and developer
contributions towards a possible future
residential parking program for the area
around the project.
1) The tower element on the corner of
Telegraph and 51st Street will be reduced
from 65 to 57 feet. The rest of the building
extending along 51st Street will be lowered
from 57 to 52 feet. The developers agreed to
an additional requirement of either reducing
the entire building by one more foot (tower
would be 56 feet, the rest of the building,
51 feet) or stepping back the corner tower
at the fourth floor (thereby reducing the
The project implements the City’s General
Plan, which calls for Telegraph Avenue in this
area to “Grow and Change.” It will provide
infill housing along one of the City’s busi-
est transit corridors and in proximity to two
BART stations. With a million new people
projected to come to the Bay Area in the
next 15 years, this is the kind of project the
City needs, and is why it was so enthusias-
tically supported by Planning Commission
members and staff. Accommodating these
new residents along urban transit corridors
is the most environmentally effective solu-
tion for the continuing growth of the Bay
Area. Project CIVIQ is designed to promote
walking, house bicycles and create space for
two City Car Share vehicles. The project will
also set a new Bay Area standard for energy
efficiency and use of solar energy.
We want to thank Rockridge area resi-
dents for their participation and support of
design improvements for the project. Of
great community significance is the exten-
*
EFFHASWORKEDWITHUSONTRANSACTIONSOVER
THEPASTYEARSANDISOURTRUSTEDREALESTATE
ADVISOR(EHASSAVEDANDMADEUSMONEYTIME
ANDAGAINWITHHISEXCELLENTNEGOTIATINGSKILLS
ˆ#/AND-0 /AKLAND,AFAYETTE
*EFF!UEN
"EYOND
4RADITIONAL
2EAL%STATE
(ERITAGE2EAL%STATE#ENTURY
2OCKRIDGE-ONTCLAIR,AFAYETTE
Perhaps the most tangible offshoot of the
project will be the 125 or so new resident
shoppers in the Temescal commercial dis-
trict. The project’s 67 residential condos and
retail space will continue the revitalization
in this area, producing a more vibrant and
commercial environment for all to enjoy.
2ESIDENTIAL)NVESTMENT
,OTSANDLAND2ENOVATION#ONSULTING
#ALL*EFF
6ISITWWW(OMES%AST"AY)NFO


14.

April 8, 2006

near Claremont Avenue. 510/652-2059. www.
pridechiropractic.com.
Expert SAT Preparation
It’s essential to begin early and prepare thor-
oughly for the SAT because of advanced math
questions and the new writing section. My
students achieve outstanding scores on this
challenging test. Call 510/599-0044. E-mail
SATprep@hotmail.com.
Aesthetic Pruning and
Garden Maintenance
Combining art and science in the care of your
garden. Complete garden maintenance or sea-
sonal pruning of trees and shrubs under 20 feet.
Specialties: Japanese maples, pines, camellias.
Bruce Thompson 510/428-4964.
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. May deadline is April 20.

For information: e-mail smontauk@juno.com
Thinking About Selling Your
Home or Property?
I can give you a FREE estimate of value, with
No Obligation. I’m a long-time East Bay
resident (and a graduate of U.C. Berkeley).
Visit www.EastBayHouseInfo.com or call
510/504-1522.
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 Gardens 510/593-3490.
Considering Solar Electricity?
It’s wise to get 3 bids! You’ll probably choose
us. We do quality workmanship and excellent
payback analysis. We are an Alameda Green
Business, owner is NACEB certified, electric
lic#C-10 8511488 www.berkeleysolar.com
685-3042.
Investment Basics Seminar
Learn to examine your financial situation,
control taxes, and identify and manage risks.
Call today to enroll. Contact Lu Vazquez at
547-1146. www.edwardjones.com.
Ergonomic Workstation &
Movement Analysis
We work on site in your business or home
office to solve problems in both equipment
and body usage with easy, cost-effective solu-
tions. Prevent injury with The Body At Work:
510/601-9863, www.thebodyatwork.com.
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.
Jazz and Classical Piano Lessons
Rockridge jazz pianist with UC Berkeley
music B.A. offers lessons in jazz, blues, clas-
sical, music theory, ear-training, technique.
Experienced, patient teacher, all ages/levels.
Janet 653-6783.
Licensed Architect
As-build drawings, residential additions or
new construction. Rockridge resident licensed
since ’03, 5 years experience, starting out on
her own, affordable rates. E-mail LyndsayK@
gmail.com.
Experienced Cat Sitter
20-year Rockridge homeowner. Loving care
in your home. Home visits, playtime, petting,
litterbox cleaning, food, water, meds, Reiki mas-
sage, plants watered. Certified in Pet First Aid.
References. $18-20 a visit. 510/599-2590.
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.
Custom Hardware and Furniture
Custom furniture and store fixtures in wood
and metal. Custom hardware in stainless
steel, aluminum, brass, etc. Industrial and
mechanical design. 510/522-2719. www.frank-
bdesign.com.
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.
Tutoring by Math Teacher
A teacher’s level of experience is the most
important factor in determining your child’s
success in math. I have inspired countless
students to succeed beyond their expecta-
tions—and to love math. dbuckwald@hotmail.
com. 510/845-6441.
Expert Tree Pruning
Aesthetic pruning of vines, shrubs and trees
to 25’. Emphasizing health and beauty. Special-
izing in fruit trees. Skilled in Japanese Maples.
Restoration of neglected, topped and abused
trees. Tree plantings offered. David, 415/515-
4753. ldbeller@yahoo.com.
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.
Tahoe Condo for Rent
Our lovely 3br/2+ba condo in Incline Village is
available for rent! Sleeps eight, is fully equipped!
Close to everything! Call 652-6664 for more
information.
Economical Mendocino Cottage
In hidden coastal community. 1-BR plus living
room sofabed, fireplace, fully-equipped kitchen.
Viewing/walking distance to the water. You supply
sheets and towels. $90/day (3-day minimum),
$550/week. saturn82004@yahoo.com.
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,
SIMPLIFY!
AJ Benham
Certified Instructor
510.654.7078
Clutter Control
Paper/Filing Systems
Come and see us...
Peralta Elementary School
NO
JOINING FEES!
Kitchens/Closets
Space Planning
460 63rd Street
(Telegraph & Alcatraz)
Oakland, CA 94609
New Student Offer...
Packing/Unpacking
Solutions for the critical mess
GET 1 MONTH
M, W, F: 5:30pm
T, TH, F: 6:15pm
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Barbara ✔ 415-381-0707
*when you sign up for an EFT monthly pass.
1.800.FIT.IS.IT • www.jazzercise.com


15.
April 8, 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
Events: California College of the Arts
Art Exhibits:
Gallery: April: Susan Hall: watecolor plus oil
and acrylic on canvas.

	May: Stan Cohen: Oak Art Group.
Display Case: April: Betty La Cuse: paintings
(for the non-profit Heifer Project).

May: Evelyn Montandouen: gourds
ó
Lecture by Gyongy Laky, textile artist and founder
of Fiberworks, Center for the Textile Arts in Berkeley.
Laky’s sculptural improvisations conceptually address
environmental issues of use, overuse and sustainability.
Wednesday, April 19, 7pm. 5301 Broadway. For more
information: 594-3747.
Barclay Simpson MFA Awards Exhibition: award-
winning work by CCA graduate students in Fine Arts.
April 24 – 28. Reception and awards presentation:
April 24, 5:50 to 7:30pm at Tecoah Bruce Gallery,
Oliver Art Center. CCA Campus, 5212 Broadway.
Gallery hours: Mon.-Fri., 10am to 5pm. For more
information: 551-9213.
ó
First Saturday every other month, 10am to noon. No May
Meeting. 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
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
ó
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
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.
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed Sundays.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
All events are FREE and open to the public
Sick Plant Clinic
Sunday, 4/9, 3pm. Franz Wright (Pulitzer prizewinner
for poetry): God’s Silence.
Monday, 4/10, 7:30pm. Anna Moore Lappe & Terry
Bryant: Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen.
Wednesday, 4/19, 7:30pm. Daniel Alarcon: War by
Candlelight, a short story collection.
5433 College Ave. For more information about other
readings, book discussion groups and El Grupito, the
Spanish discussion group: 510/653-9965 or www.
dieselbookstore.com.
ó
Rockridge Branch Library
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.
For Children:
ó
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
4/8, 5/6.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am: 4/19, 5/3.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm:
4/11, 4/25.
For Teens:
ó
ó
ó
ó
Bookwormz (Teen-Led Book Club): Usually meets on
the 3rd Saturday of the month, but because of Spring
Break the April meeting is on the 4th Saturday, 4/22,
from 1 to 2pm in upstairs mtg. room.
Anime Club: Watch and talk about new anime (Japa-
nese animation) with other teens. We will watch Full
Metal Panic, and discuss our trip to the SF Cherry
Blossom Cosplay (costume) contest and parade at the
end of April. Usually meets on 2nd Tuesday of each
month, but because of Spring Break, mtg. is on 4/18,
from 5 to 6:30pm, in the upstairs mtg. room.
Third Annual Manga Contest: Win prizes and have your
art displayed. For ages 12-19. Deadline is April 21. Contact
Susy, the teen specialist librarian, at 597-5017.
For Adults:
ó
Activities and Events for Seniors
Writers Support/Critique Group
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. College Ave. Presbyterian Church,
5955 College Ave. For details about upcoming field
trips, call Kathy at 531-6724.
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, Berke-
ley branch (www.berkeleywritersclub.org/)
Rockridge Branch Library, third Saturday of the month
from (4/15), 1 to 5pm. For more information: 420-8775
or Writefox@aol.com.
ó
North Oakland Multi-purpose Senior Center
Program Highlights: Computer classes; Health Insurance
counseling and advocacy program; driver safety; trips,
tours and theater outings and Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Support Group. *Sign up now for the Asparagus Festival
in Stockton on April 22.* Center Hours: Monday – Friday,
8:45am to 4:45pm. 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
The Newsletter, “North Oakland Senior Times” provides
a full schedule of classes as well as a monthly lunch
menu: (suggested donation: seniors age 60 + $2.25;
$4.00 for those under age 60). Call 597- 5085 for details
about membership, newsletter, classes/events and
opportunities to become a volunteer.
ó
Cinco De Mayo Celebration
At Claremont House
ó
The residents and staff of Claremont House invite all
Rockridge neighbors to our FREE Cinco de Mayo
party. Fantastic and authentic music and great food.
Saturday, May 6, from 11am to 2pm: 4500 Gilbert Street
(corner of Pleasant Valley, across from main entrance
to the Rockridge Safeway and Long’s), on the 2nd floor
patio. RSVP at 658-9266 by May 1.
Knitting Classes for Seniors (50+), in collaboration
with the Pleasant Valley Adult School: Instructor is
Teri Barr. All levels welcome. If you are a beginner,
bring light color yarn and a pair of size 8 needles. If
experienced, bring projects to work on. Tuesdays, from
12:30 to 2:30pm in the upstairs meeting room. Classes
extended to run through the end of May.
Writing from the Soul: Writing for Creative Expres-
sion and Spiritual Growth. Class by Suzanne West,
Chair of the Liberal Arts Dept. at JFK University.
Saturday, 4/15 from 2 to 4:30pm. Class limited to 30.
Call 597-5017 to sign up.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month: 6pm to 8pm. Advance
sign-up starts 5pm.
ó
Oakland Elizabeth House
Celebration
Volunteer Opportunity
ó
Join us for an Open House to celebrate our 15th
Anniversary as a transitional residence for women and
children, and to honor our loyal volunteers. Friends old
and new are welcome. Sunday, April 23, from noon to
4pm. 6423 Colby Street (off Alcatraz), near St. Augus-
tine Church. For more information: 601-1213 or www.
oakehouse.org.
Jewish Coalition for Literacy
Reading tutors to introduce students in local elementary
schools to the excitement of reading. Tutors are given
comprehensive training and on-going support. Time com-
mitment of one hour per week to work with one to three
students. Call 839-2900x274, or www.jclread.org.
ó
ó
a
What’s Your
Home Worth?
Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
Sat 9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
Call Me for an
Opinion of Value
Fatima N. Ali
510/845-0211
e-mail: Buyali@aol.com
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
3210 College Avenue
5951 College Avenue, Oakland  510 658-3665
Sunday worShip 10:30 aM • ViSit: capcchurch.org
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
our wonderful coMMunity Meal, fridayS, 6-7pM
a great opportunity to SerVe


16.

April 8, 2006

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