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VOL. 21  NO. 6  ISSUE NO. 224  July 3, 2006 
CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

Gala Anniversary Celebration Planned for Fall
The Making of the
Rockridge Library
by Jennifer Vetter, Friends of the Rockridge Library
T
Fourth Bore Project Update
Has Caltrans
adequately
planned to
minimize
Caldecott
construction
that will affect
his September, the Rockridge Library, one of the most popular
in the Oakland system, will mark its tenth anniversary with a
gala celebration. More than a collection of books, the library is the
soul and center of Rockridge, a symbol of what a neighborhood can
do if it has the wisdom to dream and the will to achieve. The story
of its birth is as much the story of Rockridge itself: how a small
organization and a few visionary leaders mobilized the community
to work for the common good.
Rockridge?
File Photo: D. Kinkead
Caldecott Hearing Set
For June 15; City Funds
Independent Evaluation
In 1996, ready-
by Kent Deverell, RCPC Board Member
Co-Chair, Fourth Bore Coalition
On May 12, Caltrans released the Draft Environmental Impact
Report (DEIR) for the planned addition of a fourth bore to
the Caldecott Tunnel. Five years of 24/7 construction is slated
to begin as early as 2008. Public hearings will soon be held in
Orinda and Oakland (see box at
right). Residents are encouraged
to attend, ask questions, and voice
their opinions.
Mitigating Project Impacts
to-be readers
attending the
library’s grand
opening enjoy the
new surroundings
and wait for
books to arrive
on the empty
DEIR Hearings
(Both meetings: Open house–
6pm; Public comment– 7pm)
Orinda Meeting: June 8,
Orinda Community Center,
26 Orinda Way, Orinda.
Oakland Meeting: June
15, Claremont Middle School,
5750 College, Oakland.
On-line copies of the DEIR:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/
caldecott/draft_ea_eir.htm.
shelves.
Photo: Don Kinkead
When Nancy Dutcher joined
the RCPC in 1986, then-
chair Barbara Anderson said,
“Everyone on the Board has
to take on a project.” Nancy
chose the library as her project
and volunteered to help with a
survey of library users. No one
knew that the fortunes of the
library were about to change
dramatically.
Since February 2005, the Fourth
Bore Coalition, a group of neighbor-
hood associations, businesses, and
local citizens on the western side of
the tunnel, has worked with politi-
cians and organizations to ensure
that the project is environmentally,
economically and socially respon-
The Rockridge Branch
Library had been housed since
1924 in the building on the
corner of College and Miles
Avenues where Jucy’s is now
Library Celebrates, page 13
¬
Caldecott Bore, page 10
¬
Thursday, June 22, 7:30 pm: Rockridge Library
Community Room, 5366 College Avenue at Manila
Town Hall Meeting
BART Plaza Improvement
Strategies; An In-Person Look
If you’ve ever used the Rockridge BART sta-
tion, ask yourself these three questions:
• Have you ever wished you’d spent a

groves in the station courtyard?
• Have you ever wished there were more
security lights as you dug in your back-
pack for car keys?
If you answered yes to any of these ques-
tions, then your voice should be heard.
Join RCPC at our June Town Hall meeting,
focusing on strategies to reduce the con-
crete “blight” of
the BART plaza.
few more minutes on College Avenue
instead of on the cold, windy BART
platform waiting for a delayed train?
• Have you ever wondered what kind
FROG Park improvements
Town Hall, page
¬
of beady-eyed varmints live in the ivy
take shape. Story page 6

June 3, 2006

My Day at
Oakland Tech
by Andrew Swanson,
Oakland Tech Student
M
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
y day begins with the loud, startlingly
annoying beeping of my alarm clock.
It is set for six-oclock, and I have to go to
bed earlier than most so that I have enough
energy to even get up. After swiftly get-
ting dressed, I often sit down and watch
the morning news. I don’t know about my
compatriots, but I like to be kept updated
on some things in my community. In any
case, I don’t eat much for breakfast, except
some fruit. After I’m packed and ready, I
head off to school.
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
Also Closed:
July 4
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.
Oakland Tech student Andrew
Swanson.
Photo: Andrew Swanson
doesn’t always have an effect on a brain
that is half conscious. We take notes every
day, practice speaking the language, and
do bookwork.
After that, I go down to my P.E class.
We’ve been doing many different activities
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa...........................Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
My first stop is “mi clase de Español”
(Spanish class). The teacher is very enthu-
siastic, which is good, but such optimism
My Day at Tech, page
¬

Extra Cops Helpful But Crime Persists

Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson.....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2006-2007
by Susan Montauk, NCPC Chair and
RCPC Board Member
Athree months of
soaring crime
from January to
March, Oakland
citizens formed
c o m m u n i t y
groups to decry
the shortage of
police officers. With media highlighting
the crimes and citizens demonstrating at
City Hall, OPD Chief Tucker and the City
Council were hard-pressed for solutions.
They worked with the police union to put
more cops on the street by juggling work
schedules. But long-term solutions are lack-
ing, especially for how to attract applicants
to the training academies and encourage
them to stay in Oakland once they gradu-
ate. Historically, many Oakland graduates
have gone elsewhere to
find jobs.
NCPC, page 10
¬
t the Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (GRNCPC)
May meeting, Sergeant LeRonne Armstrong
(Problem Solving Officer Commander)
said that an additional 24 patrol officers
have been deployed in Oakalnd, 14 during
the dogwatch shift (5 pm-3 am). The extra
officers are the City’s emergency response
to the fact that the murder rate from Janu-
ary through March doubled in comparison
with last year. Rookie officer Aisha Stevens
told the audience that her group of 19 new
graduates were given their assignments and
she is very excited about her new job. This
puts the number of OPD officers closer to
the goal of full staffing (739) required by
Measure Y.
Jessica Pitt............................Chair
Mike Taylor ......................... Vice-Chair
Adrienne DeAngelo..........Secretary
Susan Montauk...................Treasurer
Kent Deverell, Jennifer Edmister,
Annette Floystrup, Cy Gulassa, Hiroko Kurihara,
Mike McDonald, Steve Meyer, Stephanie Upps
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:
The extra police are a boon to the under-
staffed Oakland force. After experiencing
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,
 July 3, 2006
 July deadline is June 22.
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

.
June 3, 2006

New College
Avenue Benches
Installed, Tested

Earthquake
Retrofit Planned
For Rockridge
BART Station
by Steve Meyer, RCPC Board Member
According to the US Geological Survey
(USGS), there is a 62% probability of
at least one earthquake with a magnitude of
6.7 or greater in the next 30 years in the Bay
Area. That’s why BART’s top priority is an
earthquake safety program. Upgrades and
retrofits are essential to minimize serious
damage to elevated tracks that cross or are
close to major faults.
Shortly after Ian Read (above, left)
and Erol Yildiz of Oakland’s Level
Four Studio installed one of the new
benches on College Avenue, an eager
pedestrian, left, and her companion
tested it for comfort and shade.
Photos: Mike MacDonald
Early this year, spokespersons Molly
McArthur and Catherine Westphal described
to the RCPC Board the scope of the pro-
gram and its impact on the neighborhood.
Measure AA, passed in 2004, along with
other state and local sources, provide the
funds for the 10-year $1.3B retrofit.
In late 2004, Brunner alerted the com-
munity that she had procured City “Pay
Go” funds for capital improvements along
College Avenue and wished to know how
the community wanted to use these funds.
The College Avenue Bench and Tree project
was the result of months of planning sessions
with the Rockridge Community Planning
Council (RCPC), the Rockridge District
Association (RDA) and Brunner’s office.
by Mike McDonald, RCPC Board Member
You may have noticed a few additional
places to sit on College Avenue lately, as
the first phase of the College Avenue Bench
and Tree project, sponsored and paid for by
Councilmember Jane Brunner’s office, has
been completed.
In Rockridge, work will consist mainly
of seismic retrofits to the structural columns
that support the overhead rails. The plan is
to excavate around the base of the vertical
supports, install new footings, strengthen
foundations, and wrap steel “jackets” around
columns. Expect lots of work around the
Rockridge BART Station and Hardy Park.
BART also plans to improve the structural
integrity of the escalators, staircases, and
canopies at the Rockridge station.
Many thanks are owed to Brunner’s office
and to the hardworking folks at RCPC and
the RDA for making this project happen.
The RDA has agreed to maintain the benches
and monitor safety and repair issues. RCPC
and the RDA will play an ongoing role in
bringing additional improvements to College
Avenue and the neighborhood. Stay tuned
specifically for exciting news regarding
improvements at the under-BART plazas.
More than 90 of the custom stainless
steel and IPE (Brazilian Hardwood) benches
have been installed by Oakland’s Level Four
Studio, LLC, a design/fabrication firm. Sev-
eral dozen more benches will be installed
when sidewalk repair along College Avenue
is completed. Also, up to 50 new trees will
be planted along College Avenue.
The project is now in the planning
phase, with actual construction tentatively
scheduled to start in late 2007. Each aerial
support will require several months for
completion, with work likely being done
on just one column at a time, each of which
will require temporary closure of about
20 BART parking spaces. Portions of the
dog run and basketball courts at Hardy
Park will likely be closed off for those
months as well. In addition to noise, dust
and mud, other temporary impacts include
relocation of bus stops, sidewalk closings,
street parking restricted, and possible
traffic diversion lanes along Hudson and
other nearby streets. BART promises to
minimize these inconveniences and keep
residents up to date on progress.
See you on the Avenue!
A Hair, Nail and Beauty Supply
Dedicated to providing excellence in our service
Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5
5510 College Avenue, Oakland
510.595.4227
RCPC will work with BART to expedite
the retrofit and clean-up. Watch for updates
in The Rockridge News.

June 3, 2006

May Day
In Rockridge
Wheels Turning at Peralta
by Hiroko Kurihara,
RCPC Boardmember and
Proud Peralta Parent
May was National Bike
Month, and Thursday,
May 18, marked the Bay Area’s
12th annual Bike to Work Day.
In addition to helping promote
bicycling as a healthy and fun
way to get around, Peralta
Elementary School encouraged
families to walk, scooter, bus,
carpool, or skate to school.
There are about 150 stu-
dents at Peralta; we saw 65%
of our kids get into the spirit.
Neighborhood locations hosted
families who live too far to bike.
About a week before, lots of kids
participated in a bike safety
class presented by bike safety
guru Ron Bishop. Thank you,
Ron. And thank you, students
and families and friends who
helped make it happen.
Children of Rockridge’s My Own
Montessori School delivering May
Baskets to neighbors on May Day,
May 1.
Photo: Delia Burdeyney
Bicycles packed Peralta School bicycle parking
lots on Bike to Work Day in May.
Photo: Hiroko Kurihara
Susan Bernosky LUTCF
Insurance Agent
(510) 450-9050
5940 COLLEGE AVE #A
OAKLAND
susanbernosky@allstate.com
CA Lic: 0738807,0D34069
Call me today to see how you can save
when you combine your auto policies.
(Spend more on your honeymoon).
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Insurance and savings subject to availability and qualiﬁcations.
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Company: Northbrook, IL.
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June 3, 2006

Impressions of Israel: 1956 – 2006

by Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
Ion cable TV. Where conversation once
concerned crops and weather, high tech is
the talk of today, the economic engine of
21st-century Israel.
n March of 1956, it took nearly three
weeks for me to reach Israel via train,
ship and boat. This March, 2006, I flew
to Israel in Business Class and was in Tel
Aviv in less than 24 hours.
The face of the land has changed dramati-
cally. Empty stretches of road from Haifa to
Tel Aviv are now filled with construction,
and ugly high tension lines disfigure the
blue sky views I remember. Lush farms
and villages cover once open land. I was
startled to see that Jerusalem’s old hills,
which I remembered as exposed, weathered
and brown, were now green with forests, as
if the hills around Bakersfield had changed
into the Sierra. The Dead Sea, where I once
was lucky to find a bottle of orange juice
to drink and a cave to cool off in, is now a
resort with air-conditioned, five-star hotels
where Europeans come to cure themselves of
skin diseases in the amazing Salton waters.
Fifty years ago my friends and I loved to
picnic at the old forum at Caesarea, with
its headless, toga draped statues. Nearby, a
Roman aqueduct framed the Mediterranean.
It was peaceful, quiet and uninhabited. Today,
the town of Caesarea is a posh suburb and
Herod’s grand and ambitious palatial city has
been exhumed. In Jerusalem, Be’it She’an
and throughout the land, archeologists from
many countries have revealed the past in
acres upon acres of protected ruins.
My recent trip offered a unique oppor-
tunity to compare my experiences of a half
century ago, as a young girl on an exciting
adventure, with my mature reflections of
life in Israel today.
Fifty years ago, Israel was less a 20th-
century country than a 19th-century outpost.
Because private phones were scarce, one
was welcome to drop in on friends without
notice. Hardly anyone owned cars; busses
were the main form of transportation. One
also shared cabs, but I preferred hitchhik-
ing. Once I rode with five Arab men who
found this red-haired Jewish girl quite a
curiosity. Such travel is unthinkable today;
cars clot the streets and highways and many
ride the speedy new Tel Aviv-Haifa train,
which will soon be joined by a Tel Aviv-
Jerusalem line.
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig at the
Shrine of the Book in Israel.
Photo: Courtesy Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
Airport, with its Jerusalem limestone and
giant windows, welcomes and inspires
arriving travelers. The great Supreme Court
building in Jerusalem is a near mystical
experience of light and surface. Standing
before the lovely Shrine of the Book, which
houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, I recalled
that 48 years ago I had taken notes when
the architect and the Hebrew University
President met to visualize the building and
select the site.
Media in Israel in 1956 consisted of Kol
Yisrael, the Voice of Israel Broadcasting. I
could walk anywhere and hear the nightly
news broadcast or even the opening concert
at the new Tel Aviv Symphony Hall echo-
ing throughout the streets. For the latest
American pop songs, I tuned in Radio
Ramallah in nearby Jordan and listened to
Arabic-accented English. Today Israelis have
more cell phones per capita than Americans,
and people ardently follow their favorite
European soccer and basketball leagues
The healthy but plain, unvaried food of
Israel’s early days has been replaced with an
enormous variety of cuisines. Gone are the
street vendors with their falafel and salted
corn from boiling pots, the black bread,
jam and thick yogurt which fed us after a
day’s work in the fields. Gone also are the
Russian-style cafeterias, rationed coffee and
kibbutz austerity. In their place are sophisti-
cated restaurants, ethnic tastes brought into
Israel by its many and diverse immigrants,
accompanied by international, award-win-
ning wine from the Golan Heights.
Clearly, that little pioneer country is now
an advanced, modern nation. But warmth and
friendliness have been replaced by hurry and
anxiety. Many Israelis I met this trip were tense
from the constant battle to convince the world
they can and should exist. This contrasted
dramatically with their hopeful attitude a
half century ago. Then, the world loved and
admired Israel; all believed peace would come
with time. Today, Israelis are discouraged by
the response from “the other side.”
Original
Bronze Art
By an internationally
exhibited sculptor
But there is cause for hope. One of my
greatest thrills was to cross the border into
Jordan for the first time, with whom Israel
signed a peace treaty in 1994. I was treated
with respect and kindness and could discuss
Israeli-Jordan disagreements about water
without rancor. I learned that Jordanians,
both civilian and military, are often treated
at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital. I dream
of the possibility of peace like this on all of
Israel’s borders — the rewards are beyond
imagining.
Adventurous architecture bursts into the
skies above Tel Aviv. The new Ben Gurion
Berhane
by Heli Perrett
Rockridge studio
Rockridge: 5400 College Avenue
510.655.1481
mesart.com/heli
Elmwood: 2930 College Avenue
Weekend Brunch in Elmwood

June 3, 2006

clear, unobstructed sight lines, creating the potential for a serious
collision. I have had a couple close encounters of this type in the
past few months.
Letters to
The Editor
To improve safety, I would urge that the faded yellow lines
on Claremont be repainted and that the City install “Right Turn
Only” signs at the Safeway and 76 station exits. This hopefully
would reduce the potential for accidents.
Kevin
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.
Landscaping tax for what?
Editor:
Add ‘Respect’ to the 3 Rs
Editor:
I received my Official Property Owner Ballot and intend to
oppose the proposed assessment increase for the City of Oakland
Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District. I would be more than
happy to support a tax for “Maintenance of city trees, landscaped
areas along streets, sidewalks.” However, I have lived in Rockridge
for 34 years and have yet to see on my block any maintenance
performed on any tree or the sidewalks that they have destroyed.
What I have seen are an infestation of Hackberry Woolly Aphids,
the black scum they leave on cars and sidewalks, ugly patches of
asphalt attempting to smooth over cracks in sidewalks, faded marks
made years ago by city workers leading people to believe that
something would be done, and the three disabled people within a
block of my home attempting to maneuver their wheelchairs over
the Matterhorn two houses down from me.
On May 3, at around 4 in the afternoon, as I was walking
along the sidewalk in front of the Rockridge Library, I was set
upon by a group of eight to ten young people, aged about 11-13,
who blocked my path, taunted me, and threw mock punches at my
head. Kids can be energetic and boisterous, but this was a mob
scene that could easily have degenerated into physical contact and
violence. The library does not serve in loco parentis, and parents
and schools (including the Claremont Middle School where these
kids are from) are responsible for teaching kids to be respectful
of themselves and others. Otherwise, our community, and these
kids, will suffer.
Bill Tilden
Fortunately I have no tree in front of my house. No matter, the
roots of the one next to me (the largest on the block) have twice
invaded my sewer line (which undoubtedly explains why it’s the
largest) at considerable cost. I note with interest that the house
down the block that just sold for over $1,050,000 has no tree in
front. Oh, I forgot: during my time here, a streetlight was replaced.
$150-$160? That’s one powerful bulb!
Pat Parker
Make Claremont and College Safer for Drivers
Editor:
I have observed that Claremont Avenue approaching College
Avenue is a magnet for irresponsible driving. If the Hazens’
unfortunate accident with a speeding vehicle isn’t enough reason
to pay more attention on the road (“Bob Hazen…,” Rockridge
News, May 6, page 1) I would like to point out another: the danger
of trying to turn left onto Claremont as you exit Safeway or the
76 gas station.
Letters to the Editor, page 12
¬
A left turn requires the driver to first cross two lanes of south-
bound traffic and then merge into fast-moving northbound traffic,
a difficult feat at best. But the problem is compounded because
the view of the exiting driver is blocked by cars parked on Clare-
mont. To see if the road is clear, the left-turning driver must first
creep dangerously forward into the traffic lane itself, then shoot
across to merge into northbound traffic, the latter a maneuver
with its own hazards. The truth is that none of the drivers have
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June 3, 2006

rk Corner
a
Pto help us improve and maintain the park.
Whether you have planting, weeding, paint-
ing, organizing skills, or just about any
other skill or interest, WE NEED YOU. To
volunteer or become a FROG Park Steward,
contact Head BullFROG/Chief Steward/
Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier. For
general information about getting involved
with the FROG Committee, join us at our
meetings held on the second Wednesday of
each month at the Rockridge Library.
Last Chance to Contribute
G
A monthly update on
what’s happening at the
FRO
best community-built
and maintained
park in Oakland
The Swings are Coming!
Last call for contributions honoring
FROG Park Phase I and Phase II construc-
tion! We’ll be finalizing donor names for
the signage and kiosk soon, so be sure to
contribute to FROG Park before the June
30 deadline.
by Jennifer Cooper
H
Coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@
sbcglobal.net, 510/653-6463.
Art in the Park
ave you or your youngster spied the con-
struction equipment? The new FROG
Park pathway from Clifton to Cavour has
been completed, with irrigation underway
and planting to come. Construction is taking
place in the Hardy Park area, with plaza and
pond improvements about to start, along
with the new swings, drinking fountain,
and ADA play panels. Then comes the
renovation of the basketball courts. Thanks
to a city of Oakland grant, a new bike rack
will be installed at Hardy, with another to
follow in the fall. FROG is finalizing the
kiosk plans and tables for the plaza, to be
installed in late summer. For more informa-
tion or to get involved, call Jennifer Cooper,
FROG Vice-Chair, 510/653-6581. With all
the warm, sunny weather, it’s hard to wait
for the project to be complete.
The public art project planned for the
Greenbelt is moving ahead.
Artist Mark Brest van Kempen, an
Oakland resident and recognized public
artist, has developed a design that will focus
on natural and man-made elements found
in the park now and in the past, using a
series of telescopes and a periscope. The
sculptures will be located along the length
of the greenbelt, and be oriented towards
park users young and old. A community
meeting for the project was held May 25.
For more project information, contact
Jennifer Cooper or Kristen Zaremba, city
of Oakland Acting Assistant Public Art
Coordinator, at 510/238-2155 or kzaremba@
oaklandnet.com.
Get Involved
The new donor signs will list the names
of all who gave $250 or more to FROG
Park. Multiple gifts by an individual will
be added and appear as a single total. If you
make a new gift of $250 or more, or add to
a previous gift to reach $250 or more, you
can choose to have your name on the sign.
Donors will be recognized at various levels
from $250 up to $15,000. Those who made a
donation of $250 or more will soon receive
a letter requesting confirmation of how their
names should be listed (contributors may
also remain anonymous.)
Please use the coupon below to make
your gift or visit the FROGpark website,
www.FROGpark.org to make a contribution
through PayPal. For more information about
contributions, contact FROG Chair Theresa
Nelson at 510/420-0539.
Looking to get your hands dirty? A
community planting is planned for the Fall,
focusing on the Greenbelt between Clifton
Street and Hardy Park. Contact Volunteer
One of the most wonderful things about
FROG Park is that it is community-built and
maintained. We need more FROG members
FROG Park Donation Form
o My check is enclosed.
o I’m sending my gift through PayPal at www.frogpark.org
o General Donation Amount $ _____
o Adopt-a-foot (as many as you want)
@ $50/ft. .................. $ _____
Name: ____________________________________________
o Park and Pathway
Donation Opportunities
Street Address: _____________________________________
City / State / Zip code: _______________ / _____ / _________
Basketball Hoops ....................... $1,200
Asphalt Play Court .................... $5,000
Phone: _____________________ Email: _________________
Seating Plaza by
Hardy play area ........................$12,000
Company or Family Name (for acknowledgment, if different than above):
__________________________________________
Public art................................... $ _____
Send this form with your check or credit card information payable to: FROG
Park/RCPC, 5245 College Ave PMB #311, Oakland, CA 94618. All donations are
tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Federal tax ID#94-3011284. For
more information, call: 510/644-4228.
Maintenance Fund........... $ _____

June 3, 2006

My Day at Tech

PTA Stands For: Plenty to Applaud

from page
by Mike Taylor, RCPC Schools
Committee Chair
T

Field trip and the beautification of the
school. Recent negotiations between the
district and the unions are explained in
detail (the main reason I have come). One
parent laments that those fleeing to pri-
vate schools take money away from pubic
schools. A tangential conversation occurs
about how money is allocated to public
schools. Although desperate to get home for
my evening run, I stay longer than planned
because I find the topics stimulating.
Ihe ceiling of the room is filled with
homemade atomic models. Colorful
mobiles made of Styrofoam, pipe clean-
ers, wood and whatever else the students
could find are labeled with symbols and
properties. From the notes left on the
board, electron shells and Occam’s Razor
have been the topic of discussion earlier
in the day.
But now, this science room is the set-
ting of a Claremont Middle School PTA
meeting. The busy-ness of the room and
the length of our agenda indicate that a
lot is going on at Claremont.
make two conclusions about such
grassroot efforts to improve our schools.
One is that when you attend a community
forum, you often learn much more than
you planned. The other is that communities
may be driven by a handful of dedicated
individuals, but require the support of
everyone to succeed. For ways you can help,
see the Schools link at www.rockridge.org
or just drop in on your school of choice.
The attendees include parents, teachers,
the principal and a School Board member.
The discussion begins with the dominance
of the three basketball teams and moves to
Math Club events, the upcoming Yosemite
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during the year, but the most common is
jog laps; lots and lots of laps around the
football field. It’s fun for me, in a way, but
it’s pretty darn painful once you’ve jogged
your fifth or sixth lap.
The next two classes are my favorite.
They are English and History, which have
been linked into one two-hour class. We
do huge amounts of work in this class for
“Advanced Placement” prep. I don’t like that
part (I don’t know any student that does),
but I do like it when we have debates (which
are unscheduled most of the time). The
subject normally revolves around what we
were discussing at the time (which always
sparks from note-taking), but goes off on
several different tangents until the whole
class may be in an uproar.
Lunch comes up next. Not much hap-
pens here. Some kids play Frisbee, others
play soccer, and quite a few play basketball
and football. Some, like me, simply sit
somewhere and watch everyone else pass
by or do whatever.
My biology class is the second-largest
in my schedule. We do a lot of note-taking
and classwork. We have watched some films
(okay, a lot of movies), and they all have to
do with biology in some way, like Jurassic
Park and GATTACA deal with DNA and
gene alteration.
The last class I attend for the day is
Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry. It’s pretty
advanced for my grade, as I am one of three
freshmen in the class. It’s intimidating at
times, but I can cope with it. After an hour
of equations and quadratic functions and
linear graphs, it’s time to go home.
I have two ways of getting home: getting
a ride from a friend, or I can decide to not
be lazy and walk back. The latter takes
about 20 minutes unless I decide to jog it
or power-walk. When I get home the jour-
ney is over, and I end up doing homework
and then relaxing for the rest of the time.
This whole process will repeat itself over
and over and over, unless there happens
to be a major project or assignment or the
hated CAT [California Achievement Test]
Exams.
The RCPC Schools Committee welcomes sub-
missions from local students. Contact editor@
rockridge.org

.
June 3, 2006

Standing Room Only as Temescal
Considers Major Developments
Town Hall
from page
by Matthew Wadlund
Mdents know that plans also are incubating
for more large development along Telegraph
and Claremont Avenues.
Bob Franklin, BART Board of Direc-
tors, will discuss new funding streams
available to improve the beauty and
security of our local station. He
will also provide initial ideas—such
as ivy removal, a kiosk with real-
time train information and greater
accessibility—and solicit ideas from
community residents. This is an op-
portunity to have a direct impact on
your community.
Come share your ideas and concerns
with RCPC, your BART director and
your neighbors. And wear comfortable
walking shoes! We will start promptly
in the library and then walk to the
BART station for a site visit.
ost American cities are dynamic
works in progress, and that’s what
makes them wonderful places. The late Jane
Jacobs compared cities to living beings,
functioning much like a body in which
the streets are the arteries and veins. The
constant flow of growth and innovation
keeps cities alive.
The Temescal District’s recent public
meeting focussed on the neighborhood’s
lifeblood: Telegraph Avenue.
The open-forum discussion attracted new
residents, young families and 30-year-long
residents alike. Several developers also
attended. Amid the occasional colorful
oration, the at-times-impassioned dialogue
evoked both the pros and the cons of devel-
opment. Too much development too fast and
Temescal could lose its character, balance
and appeal. Not enough density and the
critical mass for transportation, commerce
and safety is not reached. What’s the right
building height limit? Where will all theses
new residents and shoppers park? Where
will families live?
Hosted by Councilmember Jane Brun-
ner, and with a presentation by Planning
Director Claudia Cappio, the meeting filled
Faith Presbyterian Church to standing-room-
only with nearly 300 vocal Temescal and
Rockridge residents.
The continued revitalization of the Tem-
escal District, specifically along Telegraph
Avenue from 40th Street to the Highway
24 overpass, could affect Rockridge in
unforeseen ways.
Telegraph Avenue has seen a recent
upswing in activity, energy, and the double-
edged sword of development. A major
concern voiced at the meeting was the effect
of large, mixed-use developments, such as
Temescal Place and the recently approved
CIVIQ project (see The Rockridge News,
April 8, 2006). Informed and active resi-
Complete architectural
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Temescal residents’ strong neighbor-
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involvement in Rockridge and neighbor-
hoods throughout Oakland. Hats off to the
residents of Temescal. Contact RCPC or the
City of Oakland to get involved.
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10.

June 3, 2006

Caldecott Bore
NCPC
waiting for people to leave.
Officer Stevens had some crime preven-
tion tips:
from page
from page
Form a Neighborhood Watch for your
block (call 238-6372).
Join the neighborhood Yahoo Groups
(Rockridge Neighborhood Watch
Network and Colby Park).
Research the best kind of locks for
your home. For instance, a front-door
inside key lock is recommended over
a typical dead bolt.
Consider good fencing to make your
back yard less accessible.
When walking, avoid dimly lit areas
with heavy brush; be aware of who
is around you.
Do not leave inviting items in your
car.
The GRNCPC will hold its annual Town
Hall meeting on Thursday, July 20, at the
Rockridge Library. Speakers from Neighbor-
hood Watch and C.O.R.E. will be featured
along with our very own North Oakland
Police Service Area Commander, Lieuten-
ant Jim Meeks. Election of NCPC officers
will also take place. Anyone interested in
running for office should contact the NCPC
via info@rockridgencpc.com
sible, particularly with regard to impacts on
local communities.
Draft EIR Overlooks Impacts
With more cops on patrol, the Mayor, City
Council and OPD had hoped to see a drop
in crime, but the data offer no confirmation.
In Rockridge, the crime rate holds steady.
The good news is that Oakland burglary
victims may be able to get better follow-up
since two more investigators were appointed,
bringing the burglary investigation depart-
ment to three. Automobile thefts continue
to be the most common crime in beats 12Y
and 13X (see www.rockridgencpc.com for
beat maps) with home burglaries not far
behind. At their monthly Rockridge District
Association safety meeting, merchants noted
the resurgence of vandalism to storefront
windows by graffiti etchers.


The Coalition is concerned that the EIR
may not adequately inform the public and
appropriate government agencies about the
environmental consequences of the project,
and may not appropriately explore mitiga-
tions required under federal law. Specific
issues include a truncated scope that does
not extend beyond Broadway and does not
include sensitive public sites like Chabot
Elementary School, Claremont Middle
School, Frog Park and Lake Temescal. In
addition, the assessment fails to analyze the
impact of increased traffic on downstream
bottlenecks like the 24/980/580 interchange
and the Maze, ignores impacts on traffic
and pedestrian safety on local surface
streets, and significantly downplays the ef-
fect of five-plus years of around the clock
construction done on a massive scale.




Attendees at the May NCPC meeting
shared recent incidents, among which was
a mid-day home burglary in the Colby Park
area when residents were absent from the
house for just one hour. The burglars broke
through a back window and left through
the front door, carrying off the booty in a
stolen backpack. The perpetrators appeared
to have targeted the home, watching it and
Last year the coalition backed Vice-
Mayor Jane Brunner’s effort to ensure
representation for Oakland residents. The
city council then requested that the city
administrator hire consultants to help review
the draft environmental documents and
develop appropriate options for mitigation
measures to reduce or eliminate impacts to
Oakland as the result of the project.
2006 to Date Crime Statistics for Beats 12Y and 13X
Month /
Crime 10851
211
459(R) 459(A) 459(C) 245(A) Key:
10851 • vehicle theft, auto
211 • robbery
459(R) • residential burglary
459(A) • auto burglary
459(C) • commercial burglary
245(A) • assault with a deadly weapon
The Coalition is grateful for Brunner’s
work in shepherding this request to coun-
cil.
January
10
6
9
6
1
1
February
18
8
4
3
0
2
To get involved with the Fourth Bore
Coalition, please contact Kent Deverell at
deverell@fluid.com.
March
14
4
13
2
0
1
April
17
6
15
5
1
2
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11.
June 3, 2006

Rockridge resident Greta Dutcher put
out a similar book about Alameda where
she lives now, and Erika Mailman has
written Oakland Hills for Arcadia. You
would be joining an exclusive club.
will be another at Mrs. Dalloway’s, on
College Avenue in Elmwood, in September,
date to be announced. Buy a copy at a
neighborhood bookstore, or at www.
sixteenrivers.org. By the way, Murray
tells me that two more Rockridge poets,
Helen Wickes and Nina Lindsay, are
slated for publication in 2007.
The
Rockridge
Muse
Poetry Found
Sixteen Rivers Press has just published
Any Old Wolf, a lovely first collection of
poems by long-time Rockridge resident
Murray Silverstein. Murray, an architect by
profession, has coauthored several books,
including A Pattern Language, a must-read
for every student of architecture. His
warm, compassionate, and witty poetry
resonates with the cadence and sound
of Rockridge life. His first reading took
place at Cody’s on Telegraph (sadly,
soon to be gone) last month. There
Rockridge Annual
by Ortrun Niesar
Photo Exhibition
The show will go on after all, due
to popular demand and many new
photographers coming out of the dark
room or Photoshop and craving an
audience. Scheduled for October at
the Community Gallery in the Rockridge
Library, the loosely juried show is open
to all ages and levels of experience.
Participants, however, must live, go to
school or work in or around Rockridge,
or have some other strong connection to
the area. The theme: a discovery of who
we are individually and how we function
as a community. To participate, either
as a photographer or show organizer,
please e-mail me at oniesar@aol.com or
call Courtenay Redis at 510/541-3253. Do
it now! Entry deadline is August 25.
Comings and
Goings
Rockridge Book
Seeks Author
Arcadia Publishing has contacted
Rockridge resident Annalee Allen,
who authored Oakland, A Post Card History,
to help find an author (or authors)
interested in working with them to
produce a book on the history of Rockridge
through historic photographs, postcards
and such. The publishers have a certain
format for their books — check out
Annalee’s — that must be followed.
Rockridge’s history is full of drama
that makes good bedtime reading, from
rural beginnings, urban settlers, housing
development and “progress” beyond the
Hills, to a hideout for Patty Hearst and
the Symbionese Liberation Army, the
Great Fire of 1991 and its rebirth as
one of the premier neighborhoods in
the East Bay. Interested? Call Annalee at
510/654-6791 or e-mail her at ldmklady@
aol.com (that’s “landmark lady”) for
more information. Incidentally, former
Pro Arts Open Studios
June 3-4 and 10-11
It’s here and it’s happening! The maps are
out in the East Bay Express and in cafes
and bookstores along College Avenue.
Pick one up and plan a weekend day of
studio touring. You can walk or bike it
in an afternoon if you limityourself to
studios in the Rockridge/North Oakland/
Claremont vicinity, and get good exercise
as well. Ample refreshments will be
available. For an overview of East Bay
Open Studios 2006, visit Pro Arts Gallery
at 550 Second Street in the Jack London
Square area, call 510/763-9425 or go to
www.proartsgallery.org.
Murray Silverstein: Architect,
author, poet, Rockridge resident.
Median Sales Prices Up 8.4%
Ortrun Niesar, the Rockridge Muse, can be reached
at oniesar@aol.com or 510/652-6664.
Address
Bed/Bath List Price
Sales Price
5100 Lawton Avenue
2/1
$ 485,000
$ 485,000
5332 Bryant Avenue
2/1
$ 679,000
$ 710,000
5357 Shafter Avenue
2/1
$ 749,000
$ 835,000
6045 Claremont Avenue 3/2
$ 875,000
$ 869,000
5829 Colby Street
4/1
$ 899,000
$ 1,020,000
5265 Lawton Avenue
3/2
$ 1,050,000
$ 1,150,000
5780 Marigold Drive
3/2
$ 1,385,000
$ 1,375,000
The median sales price
rose 8.4% from May
2005 to May 2006 while
the total unit sales
dipped slightly from
18 to 15.
If you are interested in
buying or selling your
home or just need advice
in the current market,
please contact me.
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
663-6674 Mike
Rockridge resident over 10 years
Quality Work • Free Estimates
Lic # 695711

12.

June 3, 2006

Book
Cogito by Martin Aronson, available online
at Amazon or Barnes and Noble, and via
Diesel Books and Pendragon Books.
T
Letters to
The Editor
by Cy Gulassa
Note
raditional summer reading is light stuff—romance, mystery,
travel—appropriate for lazy beaches or drowsy afternoons in the
backyard hammock. Rockridge author Martin Aronson’s new book
from page
Thieves Dig Up, Steal
Mature Trees from Yards
Editor:
bucks that torpid trend. Cogito is a mental wakeup
call, a summons to stretch, think big and enjoy the
exhilaration of Rene Descartes’ dictum, cogito ergo
sum: “I think, therefore I am.”
We recently planted a Japanese Maple
tree in our front yard (on our property) and
much to our surprise (and anger) someone
has STOLEN it! Can you believe that?
The book consists of 18 essays, varying from
five to twenty pages, that explore a range of intrigu-
ing ideas. On the occasion of his 50th birthday,
Aronson wrote the essay “The Future as History,”
a meditation on what the world will be like when he
reaches 100. In “The Beatles Karamazov,” he con-
vincingly argues that the musicians bear an uncanny
psychological resemblance to Dostoevsky’s four
main character types. Ever ponder why so many
religions use the trinity motif when describing the
attributes of their deities? Ever speculate on the
nature of chaos? Read Cogito for cogent answers.
The short essays provoke lively reflection, a refresh-
ing tonic for summer afternoons.
It was literally dug up and dragged
through our yard and loaded into some-
one’s vehicle. The theft occurred either after
8 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, or before
10 a.m. on Sunday, May 14. We live near-
Broadway and Lawton Avenue and thought
we would warn other neighbors about this
strange theft. A similar thing happened to
our neighbor across the street; their Dog-
wood tree was stolen a few months back.
Although our tree is replaceable, its theft
is disturbing and irritating. We spent a lot
of time researching different types of trees
that would do well in our yard based on all
the elements, not to mention the time we
spent finding and planting it.
Martin Aronson
Photo: Cy Gulassa
We are not sure what homeowners can do
to protect themselves; we thought we would
share this information as there are many
beautiful gardens in our neighborhoods.

Martin Aronson, a writer and editor who lives in Rockridge, is the author of Jesus
and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings (Ulysses Press) and Journey to the Heart (iUniverse).

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Thanks.
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Correction: A sentence in the article “More
Than the Way You Look,” The Rockridge News,
May 6, should have read: “Many of the women
who work with Veronica come from diverse
cultures, so it’s important to her that the
women, while practicing their speaking, find
their voice.” — Editor
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13.
June 3, 2006

Library
Celebrates
FORL Plans Gala Event for
Rockridge Library Anniversary
from page
Hold the date! To mark the first 10
years of the Rockridge Branch Li-
brary at College & Manila, the Friends
of the Rockridge Library (FORL) are
planning a gala celebration, to be held
at the Library on the evening of Tuesday,
September 12. Bookworms of all stripes
will gather upstairs to hear a panel of out-
standing local authors address the topic,
“Writers on Reading.” Downstairs, there
will be delights and surprises for kids.
located. In 1987 the property changed
hands and the new owner raised the rent
from $500 to $5,000. The City of Oakland
balked at the rent increase, so the library
lost its home and moved into a double-wide
trailer in the schoolyard of Claremont Middle
School across the street. No one was happy
about this, and the search for permanent
quarters began.
The present Rockridge Branch
Library came into being through a nine-
year, community-wide effort, begun by
RCPC in the 1980s (see accompanying
article.) The Branch opened its doors to
the public on August 3, 1996.
Look for further news of the planned
celebration in the July issue of The
Rockridge News.
Attention soon focused on the former
Art Stone and Pottery Works property,
which included three adjacent lots along
College Avenue south of Manila. The City
was already in the process of acquiring the
property for off-street parking. RCPC and
the College Avenue Merchants Associa-
tion designated a joint committee to look
into other possible uses of the site, and to
communicate with the City, with the aid
of then-Councilmember Marge Gibson-
Haskell. The early proposals brought to
the committee called for mixed-use devel-
opment, with a branch library squeezed in
alongside retail and gallery spaces. One
developer “wanted to build a row of com-
mercial storefronts ‘with a nice quiet room
in the back for your library,’” remembers
Nancy with a chuckle.
home. In October, The Rockridge News
reported that nearly two-thirds of those
responding to an RCPC survey of residents
had “stated that a new permanent branch
library was their most desired improve-
ment for Rockridge.” The RCPC Board of
Directors had already endorsed the idea of
a neighborhood special assessment district
to raise the funds for construction. (It would
also be necessary to reimburse the City’s
off-street parking fund for the land given
over to non-parking uses.) During these same
months, Nancy Dutcher and other library
supporters formed a Library Project Steering
Committee — soon reborn as the “Neighbors
for a Rockridge Library” — to develop the
plan for a library on the Art Stone site, and
to pursue the funding package.
In November 1990, an overwhelming 81.6%
of Rockridge residents voted to approve a
$25 annual parcel tax to fund construction
of a new home for the library.
But that was just step one. In 1991, the
State Library Prop. 85 Funding Committee
was awarding grants to build new libraries;
two-thirds of the funds would be provided
by the state and one-third would be covered
by local funds. More districts were interested
than could be accommodated. “Rockridge’s
proposal wasn’t highly ranked,” Nancy
recalls. “Then the Oakland Hills fire hap-
pened. In late November, we heard there
would be a vote on December 17. Several
members of Neighbors for a Rockridge
Library drove to Sacramento and sat in the
front row of the audience on the day of the
committee vote. They wore name badges
decorated with red cellophane flames to
remind the committee of what Rockridge
had just been through.”
After several months of meetings, the
joint committee recommended that the entire
Art Stone site be dedicated to the Rockridge
Branch Library and associated parking. The
feasibility of the idea was uncertain, to say
the least. An article in the February 1988
Rockridge News stated: “Discussions with
the City have revealed that no City funds
are available to construct the new branch
library.... The City is agreeable, however,
to using a portion of the Art Stone property
for a library branch if funding is secured
by the neighborhood.”
Even as the idea grew, the site itself was
expanding. By the end of the year, the adjoin-
ing property at the southeast corner of College
and Manila, containing the 1906 Windmuller
house and storefront, had come on the market
and was being acquired by the City.
Out of 48 libraries applying for state
funds, only 12 applicants were approved;
Rockridge was one of them, receiving $2.4
million.
The Neighbors for a Rockridge Library
quickly set to work with the City, to assemble
the funding for a library project on the entire
site. Nancy was told that most people throw
out computer-addressed envelopes without
even opening them, so she and her cohorts
hand-addressed a mind-boggling 6,000 let-
ters to residents of the greater Rockridge
area, asking if they would consider an
increase in their property taxes to fund the
local library. Shaking her head in amaze-
ment, Nancy recalls: “Within a month we had
$10,000 in donations, $8,000 of which we
used for the election campaign. I was really
overwhelmed by the positive response. We
made ‘Vote Yes on L’ window signs, yard
signs, and did telephone nights; Coldwell
Banker let us use their office in Montclair.”
Groundbreaking came on February 11,
1995, and the doors officially opened on
August 3, 1996, with a well-attended grand
opening and dedication ceremony. Today,
the beloved Rockridge Library serves as an
anchor of the community and consistently
ranks as the second-busiest branch in the
Oakland Public Library system.
During 1988, hopes began to rise that the
Rockridge Library would get a permanent
It has now been 10 years since the new
building opened its doors, and 19 years
since Nancy and other concerned Rockridge
residents began the campaign for a perma-
nent home. The story of the campaign is
fascinating history and a testament to the
power of grassroots volunteer efforts in
Rockridge.

14.

June 3, 2006

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.
Piano Lessons, Vocal Lessons
Highly experienced piano/voice teacher now
has openings for summer and fall in Rockridge
music studio. Classical, jazz, pop, rock styles.
All ages, levels. Lisa 653-0107.
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. July deadline is June 22.

For information: e-mail smontauk@juno.com
Looking to Rent a Parking Spot
In or near Rockridge. Indoors, secure, daily
access. Please call Rich. 510/923-1843.
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.
Share Our Nanny!
Share our fantastic, energetic nanny starting
July 17. Looking for Mon-Fri full-timer and Mon
& Wed part-timer. Care at your house. Walking
distance from Market Hall a plus! Justin: 658-
7876. justinhorner@sbcglobal.net.
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.
At-Home Cooking Classes
Learn how to cook in the comfort of your own
home using organic, seasonal and sustainable
produce and meats. 10 years cooking experi-
ence. Currently at Chez Panisse. Michelle
415/225-1878. www.homemadecook.com.
House Rental
Claremont and Forest. 1-year lease, 3BR/2ba,
yard, cemented front/back patio, fenced, car-
peted, washer/dryer, sunroom, alarm, driveway.
Unfurnished ($2,600) or furnished. Available
6/21. Professional couple/faculty/PhD candidate.
Mike, 510/420-0551.
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.
Rockridge Therapy Space
for Lease
8 new private offices, soundproof walls &
doors, waiting room w/light system, ADA
requirements, elevator, kitchen, free on-site
parking. Offices approx. 170-200 sq.ft. utilities
inclu. Barbara Kami Ellwood Commercial Real
Estate 510/238-9111x12.
Creative Writing Workshops
Come write with us! Experience the safety
and inspiration that the Amherst Writers &
Artists method provides. All skill levels/genres.
Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m. Next session begins
June 28. Joan Marie Wood 510/653-4576. www.
temescalwriters.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.
College Avenue Office Space
for Lease
Two suites, each 1,152 sq.ft. on 2nd & 3rd
floor of modern bldg. Free on-site parking,
easy BART and freeway access. Good natural
light. Barbara Kami at Ellwood Commercial
Real Estate, 510/238-9111x12.
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 stu-
dents to succeed beyond their expectations
— and to love math. dbuckwald@hotmail.
com. 510/845-6441.
Low Stress Carmel Getaway
Comfortable, cheery 3BR+2BA family home
available for short-term rental. Fully furnished
from piano to ping pong, sunny patio. Quiet,
peaceful—pines, oaks, birds. Only two hours
away. Reasonable weekly rates. 510/547-1856.
Piano Lessons/Writing Coach
Adult Beginners a Specialty! Experienced,
patient, fun instructor offers private lessons/
writing coaching. Classically trained. MFA from
Mills College. A summer fling with Gershwin?
Cocktails with Dorothy Parker? Carol at
510/655-2716. www.caroljameson.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.
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.
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.
Need a personal assistant to help
with your move?
Nicole Reams, Realtor®, understands how difficult it is to relocate. Having to find
reputable movers, research new schools, contact utility companies, etc.—
SIMPLIFY!
can be time consuming and costly.
As a Realtor®, Nicole Reams can market your home and manage your move.©
Clutter Control
Listens and applies what you want and informs you of what you need
Paper/Filing Systems
Knowledgeable about Rockridge, the Bay Area and the state of California
Kitchens/Closets
Accessible to other Realtors, marketing, neighborhoods,
Space Planning
and household resources
Packing/Unpacking
Solutions for the critical mess
Negotiates on your behalf
Why not get the most out of your Realtor?®
Non-Judgmental & Confidential
Call 510-812-8824 for more information
www.SummersOrganizing.com
Barbara ✔ 415-381-0707
California Pacific Realty® & California Pacific Mortgage Group®
License#: 01439549

15.
June 3, 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

Remember to Vote
Tuesday, June 6
Councilmember Brunner’s Annual
Summer Picnic
Everyone invited. BBQ and drinks provided — you
bring a side dish or dessert. July 9, 12 noon to 3pm.
Temescal Regional Park, North Temescal picnic site.
6500 B’way, next to the highway 24/13 interchange.
Parking off B’way ($4 fee).
No Community Meetings in June or July. For more
information on all District One issues or events, call
238-7001 or www.oaklandnet.com (the site for
all City-related information).
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y and
13X areas are invited to voice their concerns about crime
and public safety. 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.
Rockridge Branch Library
FOR CHILDREN:
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
6/3, 6/10, 7/1, 7/8.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am: 6/7 (replaced by Zoomobile presentation),
6/21, 7/5.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm:
6/13, 6/27.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES:
ó
ó
ó
Zoomobile’s Introduction to Animals: Wednesday,
6/7, at 11am. For pre-school age children, (in place of
Preschool Story time).
ó
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
Rebecca Lueck, LCSW
Individual and
Family Counseling
(415) 235-1071
Located at College and Alcatraz
Treating relationship issues,
anxiety, depression, panic disorders,
childhood trauma, grief, infertility
and adoption, and addictions.
Sliding scale : Insurance accepted

Diesel Book/Poetry Events
Make a Summer Reading Journal: especially for kids
7 through 12. Thursday, 6/15, 3pm to 4:30pm.
Magic Mike: a spectacular magic show for all ages.
Tuesday, 6/20, 7pm.
Family Reading Workshop: special Story Time
and Craft/Activity for families with kids ages 1 to 6.
Tuesday, 6/27, 7pm.
Wildlife Associates; Predator and Prey. Kids of all
ages invited to meet rescued wild animals. Wednes-
day, 6/28, 3pm.
Make Origami Animals with Won-Ju: for kids 7 to
12 (younger kids welcome with a helpful grown-up).
Thursday, 6/29, 3pm.
Dance Naganuma Student Performance: Friday,
7/7, 3:30pm.
FOR TEENS:
ó
All events are FREE and open to the public
ó
Tuesday, 6/6, 7:30pm. First mtg. of new Spirituality
Book Group. Discussion of The Left Hand of God:
Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right, by
Rabbi Michael Lerner. All are welcome.
Thursday, 6/8, 7:30pm. Lewis Buzbee: The Yellow-
Lighted Bookshop.
Sunday, 6/11, 3pm. Daniel Pinchbeck: 2012: The
Return of Quetzalcoatl.
Thursday, 6/15, 7:30pm. Sheerly Avni: Cinema by
the Bay.
Thursday, 6/29, 7pm. Lama Sherab Drolma: Teach-
ings offered by the Brazilian Lama as part of U.S.
speaking tour.
5433 College Ave. For more information about other
events, Book Discussion Groups and El Grupito, the
Spanish discussion group: 653-9965 or www.die-
selbookstore.com.
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
Junior Volunteers Needed to help with the Summer
Reading Program, which will begin on June 10. If you
are between the ages of 11 and 15, and are available
for 2 hours a day during the summer, ( you can work
only one time or all summer, depending on how much
time you have), call Erica ASAP at 597-5017 to find out
the details and set up your volunteer schedule.
Bookwormz (Teen-Led Book Club): 3rd Saturday
of the month, 6/17, from 1 to 2pm in upstairs mtg.
room. Anime Club: Watch and talk about new anime
(Japanese animation) with other teens. 2nd Tuesday
of each month, from 5 to 6:30pm, in the upstairs mtg.
room. On 6/13 we will watch DNAngel.
New Teen Summer Reading Program at the
Oakland Public Library: open to teens entering the
7th through 12th grades. Teens will get a sign-up gift
and win other prizes for reading over the summer.
Program starts July 1 and ends Sept. 5. Register at
the Rockridge Library. For questions about this or
any other teen event, call Susy, the Teen Specialist
Librarian, at 597-5017.
FOR ADULTS:
ó
Writers Support/Critique Group
ALL writers welcome. Bring at least 10 copies of 5 pages
of your prose for on-site reading/discussion. Spon-
sored by the California Writers Club, Berkeley branch
(www.berkeleywritersclub.org/) Rockridge
Branch Library, third Saturday of the month from 1 to
5pm. For more information: 420-8775 or Writefox@
aol.com.
ó
Pro Arts Open Studios
ó
More than twenty Rockridge artists will be participat-
ing on the weekends of June 3-4 and June 11-12. Meet
and interact with artists, and view artworks and studio
workspaces. Pick up free map and directory at the
Rockridge Library, and several other shops on Col-
lege Ave. For more information: 763-4361 or www.
proartsgallery.org.
Julia Morgan Center Events
Book Reading and signing: Local author Mose
Durst: Oakland, California: Toward a Sustainable
City. Saturday, 6/17, 2pm to 3:30pm.
Lawyers in the Library: No June meeting because
Library is a polling place for elections.
ART EXHIBITS:
ó
Bharatnatyam Arangetram: Formal dance debut of
Maghana Gadgil. Traditional Indian dance. Saturday,
6/17, 2pm. Free event.
Family Film Sunday Series: Mulan. Sunday, 6/18,
11am. Suggested $5 donation to benefit the Julia
Morgan Center. Children under 12 must be accom-
panied by an adult.
Presented at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640
College Ave. For information on other events: 845-8542
or www.juliamorgan.org.
ó
ó
ó
Gallery: June: Far West School: Art Show.

July: Aliea Wallace: Photo Etchings.
Display Case: June: Rockridge Teen’scape;
photos by teens of after-school patrons.
July: Mittie Cuetara: Watercolors of dogs and cats.
ó
ó
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
Earthquake Safety & Preparedness
Workshop for Rockridge
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
Saturday, June 10, 11am. Hosted at the Rockridge Montes-
sori School, 5633 Manila Ave. Adults only; no childcare
available. RSVP at 652-7021: ask for Sid or Paul.
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed Sundays, AND Closed Tuesday, July 4
What’s Your
Home Worth?
Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
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
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990

16.

June 3, 2006

VINITA GOKHALE
ROCKRIDGE REALTOR AND HOMEOWNER
ROBERTS ELECTRIC
Happy
RECO
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Highest Sales
INSTALLATION • REPAIR • 220 WIRING
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FREE ESTIMATES
Year!
Lowest
Commission
2408 Webster St. 834-6161 Oakland
SERVING THE EAST BAY SINCE 1932
CA. LIC# 728215
Flush with
Confidence
510-428-0757
Email: Vinita@realtyadvocates.com
www.
Coming Soon
.com
Cozy Bungalow on Miles Ave
2Br/1Ba w/Stunning Kitchen and
• Sewer Pipe Diagnostics
• Trouble Shooting & Repair
• Trenchless Sewer Replacement
Magical Garden and Ofﬁ ce”
New Listings
510/465-3000
5344 James Ave
3 bed/ 3 bath
Craftsman + In-Law
Berkeley — Oakland — Rockridge
(can be converted back to a house)
$945,000
• • • •
Rare Ofﬁ ce Space for Lease
on Upper Broadway - Rockridge
S E A F O O D R E S T A U R A N T
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works stations, reception, conference, 1 private, 2
remodeled bathrooms, kitchen and storage, close to
BART, College Ave and Hwy 24. Call for pricing.
Early Dinner Special
3 course meal
“YOUR 24/7
REALTOR”
$18
5:15–6:15 everyday
Ron Kriss, Broker
L A W T O N
Lawton Associates
Serving a wide selection of seafood
from the Monterey Fish Market
510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@jps.net
5301 College Avenue, Oakland
A S S O C I A T E S
Open 5:15–9:30 everyday 510/985-8388
“#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
R E A L E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
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
Terry Kulka 510/339-4789
terrykulka@att.net
http://www.terrykulka.com
With over 300 homes sold –
Experience Counts

Jan Fougner
OWNER – BROKER
BUYING OR SELLING IN
ROCKRIDGE? IF YOU
NEED THE SERVICES
OF A REALTOR, CALL
29
ME. I HAVE 28 YEARS
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5353 College Avenue
Oakland