Extracted text · highlighting “Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 21    NO. 11   ISSUE NO. 229    December 2, 2006 
 CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

Rumors Abound Regarding Fate of Albertsons Site

sales price on the site, but rather solicited
bids from interested parties that were due
in early August of this year.
Possible uses for former
Albertsons include Ross Dress
for Less, Trader Joe’s, condos.
Koenig stated an
announcement…was
expected within 30 days,
Since the Albertsons site became
available earlier this year, speculation as
to who might take over the site has run
wild in the community. Rumors include
Trader Joe’s, Ross “Dress for Less,” and
a mixed-use housing/retail development.
In July, a meeting hosted by RCPC about
the potential future of the site attracted
a large attendance and responses from
more than 200 Rockridge residents and
community leaders who provided dozens
of suggestions for the site’s use.
by Michael McDonald, RCPC Board
Member, Land Use Committee
Aand that he felt
“the community would
s of December 1, Mark Koenig of
Terranomics, the real estate broker
representing the College Avenue Albert-
sons site, confirmed that the Albertsons
property was “in contract to be purchased,”
but would not comment on the identity
of the potential new owner, nor would he
comment on the prospective buyer’s type
of business.
be pleased.”
real estate developer Ron Kriss, to share
their ideas for a mixed use housing/retail
project for the site. In a presentation of
the class project, UC Berkeley graduate
students Joseph Wright, Jean Shia, and
Elizabeth Kelly suggested the site might
be ideal for an upscale mixed use housing
and retail development with as many as 85
apartments or condominiums and 10,000
square feet of retail. Based on meetings
with the community, the UC Berkeley
Koenig’s office further stated that there
had been overwhelming interest in the Col-
lege Avenue site from national and regional
retailers, real estate investors of all types
and housing and mixed use developers.
Given the potential value of this site, and
several other Bay Area Albertsons sites,
Terranomics chose not to put an asking
In early November, students from UC
Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and the
Goldman School of Public Policy, working
on a hypothetical development assignment
for a class, met with the RCPC Land Use
Committee, community residents and a
representative from Councilmember Jane
Brunner’s office, and separately with local
Albertsons, page 
¬
RCPC Opens
New Year
with Planning
Meeting

EBMUD Calls for Water Conservation
As Tunnel Bypass Enters Final Stage

by Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
Sbuilding the new tunnel. In fact, water is not in
short supply — reservoirs are full — but con-
necting the new bypass requires that the tunnel
be closed until March, 2007. During that time,
workers will drill through an additional 30 feet to
reroute future water flow into the new bore.
tarting immediately, East Bay Municipal Util-
ity District (EBMUD) officials are requesting
that water users north of Highway 24 reduce their
use of water voluntarily by 10% daily, due to an
operational adjustment during the final stage of
by Jessica Pitt,
Chair, RCPC
On Thursday, January
18, at 7:30 p.m. in the
Rockridge Library, RCPC
will hold its third annual
community planning meet-
ing, which will provide an
opportunity for Rockridge
residents to express views on
what the Board’s priorities
ought to be for the coming
year. The community’s sug-
gestions will be incorporated
Known as the bypass, this new bore replaces
the one directly on the Hayward Fault and most
prone to damage in the event of an earthquake.
Built to the latest seismic standards, the new
bypass was needed because supporting timbers in
the old tunnel were too far apart for stability, and
the tunnel had separated from the original bore by
as much as five feet in places. These conditions
made collapse probable in an earthquake.
Engineers have shored up the entire length
of the 3.4-mile tunnel from near Orinda, but the
Water Tunnel. Photo from EBMUD Web site.
Planning, page 
¬
EBMUD Progress, page 
¬


2.

December 2, 2006

Rockridge School Events and reports
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
Chabot
Elementary
Carnival a
Big Success
C
Chabot School
Offers a Special
Musical Treat
J
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon,Tues:
Weds,Thurs, Sat:
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
Closed Sundays, and closed 12/25 and 1/1/07
oin us in the Chabot Elementary School
Auditorium on Friday evening, December
8 at 7 p.m., for a concert by Corinne West
and the Posse.
habot Elementary’s Fall Carnival on
October 29 was a big success, thanks
to great weather, great enthusiasm and
spectacular attendance.
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.
This is a rare opportunity for an inti-
mate encounter with this rising star and
her talented band members, who have been
making a buzz locally and nationally on
the American/folk/bluegrass scene. The
concert will be a family event that will
raise funds for Chabot’s enrichment pro-
grams, which provide Art, Music, Library,
Technology, Garden and Spanish classes
to Chabot students.
We’d like to thank everyone in the com-
munity for supporting us, and hope that
those of you who came had a wonderful
time. We exceeded our fundraising target
for this PTA community building event,
which supports enrichment programs at
the school for Art, Music, Technology,
Library, Garden and Spanish programs to
500 Chabot students.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa...........................Editor
Janet Somers.......................Copy Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
To learn more about the musicians,
visit http://www.corinnesmusic.com. Visit
our website at www.chabotelementary.org
for a ticket order form. Tickets are $12 for
adults, $6 for kids.
For those of you who missed it, mark
your calendars for October 21 next year,
when the Chabot Fall Carnival will return,
better than ever.
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson.....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2006-2007
For questions about this event or about
Chabot’s fundraising efforts or programs,
contact Tamara Morrish at 205-6971 or
tamara@secventures.com.
Jessica Pitt............................Chair
Mike Taylor ......................... Vice-Chair
Janelle Cavanagh and
Gloria Bruce.......................Co-Secretaries
Susan Montauk...................Treasurer
For more information, contact Karen
Cheever at 910-0826 or chuckcheev@
sbcglobal.net.
Gloria Bruce, Janelle Cavanagh, Kent Deverell,
Jennifer Edmister, Annette Floystrup, Cy Gulassa,
Albert Hussian, Hiroko Kurihara, Mike McDonald,
College Preparatory Students
Excell in Scholarship Competition
D
Steve Meyer, Stephanie Upp
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
r. Murray Cohen of the College Prepa-
ratory School recently announced that
23 members of the class of 2007 have been
named semi-finalists and 33 as commended
students in the 2007 National Merit Scholar-
ship Competition. In addition, four members
have been recognized by the National
Achievement for Black Americans, and four
as honorable mentions and scholars by the
National Hispanic Recognition Program.
These students represent seventy percent
of the College Prep class of 2007.
who took the Preliminary SAT/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in their
junior year
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?
	 Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News block
captain?
	 Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following addresses or
telephone numbers:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 510/869-4200
Articles published in The Rockridge News may be
reprinted only with the permission of the Editor.
“The National Merit Program is impor-
tant to all juniors and seniors in high school,”
said Martin Bonilla, CPS Director of College
Counseling. Semi-finalists will enter into
competition for scholarships to be granted
next spring. The awards will help finance
their college careers.”
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
 January 6, 2006
 January deadline is December 21.
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. (Classified Ad contact, page 14.)
As National Merit semi-finalists, these
exceptional students placed among the
top 1% of California high-school students


3.
December 2, 2006

Planning

from page 
RCPC Seeks Web Designer
R

into RCPC’s annual strategic plan at its
retreat in late January.
The meeting will also be an opportunity
to update community members on the work
of RCPC’s committees over the past year.
You will hear about important developments
around traffic and pedestrian safety, plans
for improving the area under-BART, and our
efforts to redesign the RCPC website so that
it becomes a valuable portal for information,
news, and activities in Rockridge.
In 2007, RCPC plans to launch a new
capital improvements campaign, with the
goal of investing small amounts of money
in capital improvement projects around the
neighborhood, such as helping restore the
pillars at the entrance to Birch Court. Please
come with your ideas and suggestions for
capital improvement projects that RCPC
might take on. We will develop a list of
priority projects and incorporate as many
as we can into our annual budget.
We hope you can join us for this impor-
tant meeting. We greatly value the input
of community members and look forward
to hearing your priorities for Rockridge
in 2007.

CPC is redesigning its website. If you are a Rockridge resident with the right
skills, please view the Request for Proposals at http://www.rockridge.org/.
reetings, best wishes and happy holidays

Rockridge Community Planning Council.
G

Albertsons
from page 
F

from the Board of the

or well over 20 years, the Rockridge Community Planning Council has worked to
preserve and enhance the unique character of Rockridge, promote the safety and
security of residents, and assure strong representation in public forums. We are pleased
to carry on that tradition of leadership, one that helped create our library, parks, friendly
neighborhoods and walkable streets lined with fine shops and restaurants. Let us know
what you think is best for Rockridge by reading The Rockridge News and attending our
Town Hall meetings.

team is currently updating their project
and findings and plan to forward a copy
of their class project results to the RCPC
Land Use Committee and Brunner’s office.
Their scenario may be helpful in thinking
about best uses for the Albertsons site.

The Board— Front row, from left: Steve Meyer, Gloria Bruce, Susan Montauk, Albert
Hussian, Hiroko Kurihara, Kent Deverell, Janelle Cavanagh. Back row: Jessica Pitt, Jen-
nifer Edmister, Stephanie Upp, Annette Floystrup, Mike McDonald, Mike Taylor.

Terranomics’ Koenig did state that an
announcement as to the new owner was
expected within 30 days, and that he felt that
“the community would be pleased.” RCPC
will continue to monitor and report prog-
ress on this important community issue.
RCPC is considering potential negotiation
points based on how the community might
respond to the new owner, once announced.
For updates, read The Rockridge News and
visit the RCPC website at www.rockridge.
org. To be notified of updates via e-mail,
send a request to Hiroko Kurihara, Chair,
RCPC Land Use Committee, at h2Oakland@
sbcglobal.net.

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4.

December 2, 2006

December 2006
Closed
Soirée
5405 College Avenue
Grasshopper Restaurant
New Stores & Restaurants
Habit
Women’s Clothing and Accessories
5467 College Avenue
6317 College Avenue
Swallowtail Antiques
Shuz of Rockridge
(formerly Birkenstock Connection)
European fashion comfort shoes for
Favor
Handmade sterling silver
5332 College Avenue
and acrylic jewelry
Caramia Visick, owner
men, women and children
John Riker, owner
6012 College Avenue
5337 College Avenue
510/653-2741 or 888/653-2741
Moved
510/658-9742
Somerset Restaurant
www.shopatfavor.com
Recapture Vintage Bridal
Purple Pepper Pizza
Now at 4496 Broadway
American comfort food
Lunch & dinner, brunch on Sundays
5405 College Avenue
510/530-5828
Gary Rizzo, owner
5912 College Avenue
510/428-1823
Washing cars at commercial car
washes, which recycle water
Substituting a broom for the hose
in washing down driveways.
The goal is to reduce winter use from
about 80 million to 72 million gallons per
day in the areas from Emeryville, including
Rockridge, to Crockett. During past winter
closures, it was possible to reroute supply
through auxiliary systems in case of an
emergency in the overall system. However,
until March, the engineers and workers will
be connecting the new bypass and shutting
down the old tunnel, a complicated opera-
tion that cannot be interrupted even during
an emergency. Reducing the water flow by
10% will ensure a margin of safety against
the need to rely on a temporary auxiliary
system during the closure and startup of
the new bypass.
EBMUD Progress

from page 

final 1,500 foot portion in Oakland has
been completely replaced. The water tunnel,
built in 1929, serves 800,000 people daily
from Crockett to Castro Valley, according
to Charles Hardy, EBMUD public relations
representative. The upgrade is funded by a
$37-million bond issue, part of a ten-year,
$100-million seismic upgrade following
post Loma Prieta studies of the District’s
system weaknesses.
“EBMUD’s Seismic Improvement Pro-
gram is a model for planning ahead and
protecting the community,” said William B.
Patterson, president of the EBMUD Board
of Directors. “Most of the work is done; now
we need this group of customers to come
through for all of us so we can be safe in
the event of an earthquake.”
For further information, call EBMUD
at 287-1038.
During this final stage of construction,
the public is asked to observe a modest
voluntary reduction in water use by 10%,
by means of simple measures like:
Turning off irrigation clocks and
timers, irrigating less frequently
Fixing toilet leaks; replacing loose
flappers
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Individual and
Family Counseling
(415) 235-1071
Located at College and Alcatraz
Treating relationship issues,
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childhood trauma, grief, infertility
and adoption, and addictions.


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5.
December 2, 2006

Helping Our Feathered Friends Survive Winter in Rockridge

by Annette Floystrup
Oseed mix with shelled sunflower
and peanut chips, that allowed them
to get the protein and fat from these
oily seeds, as most insects don’t fly
in the rain.
Cooper’s hawks
usually stick to
riparian areas
and forest
edges. A garden
usually filled
with birdcalls
can be eerily
silent when
this predator is
around.
Photo: from “All
nce again we are rushing headlong into
winter, and that can mean food short-
ages for our friends the garden birds. While
you are providing for your family’s holiday
meals, take a moment to consider adding
a bird feeder or two to your garden. They
also make wonderful holiday gifts!
Ground Feeders
We have a repeat visitor from
last year, a spectacular Townsend’s
warbler. With his distinctive yellow
head marked with a long black cap,
black “Zorro” eye mask and throat
and a yellow and black streaked belly,
he adds real pizazz to the winter
garden. This is the second warbler
species I’ve seen at my house this
winter, the other being the Audubon’s or
yellow-rumped warbler. The yellow-rumps
were flying for insects against a warm wall
just after a bad rain, but the Townsend’s
was eating the shelled sunflower chips in
my seed mix.
Enough seed always hits the ground to
provide good sustenance for the Oregon
juncos, those lovely little black-hooded
birds with white chests and russet backs. We
are also seeing the usual army of mourn-
ing doves in their elegant pearly taupe
finery. These are locally plentiful (they
clutch six times a year), but rapidly disap-
pearing elsewhere. We have finally gotten
some white-crowned and yellow-crowned
sparrows, who also eat from the ground.
Flocks of house finches and sparrows are
often mutually exclusive because they are
highly competitive for space (turf wars are
not limited to humans). Ours tend to hang
out at different ends of the house.
Insect Eaters
About Birds,”
Cornell University.
©Marie Read
in crowds (often as many as 10 to 30) and
some are also very colorful. They range in
size from 4½ to 6 inches. The American
goldfinches are in their winter olive drabs
with black wings barred in white, but
some of them are already starting their
transition to bright lemon yellow with
black markings.
Suet feeders are also invaluable sources
of fuel for insect eaters and others on those
cold days and nights, and our suet cakes
are actively visited by red-breasted nut-
hatches and chestnut-backed chickadees,
with Oregon juncos happily eating what
hits the ground.
Bird Feeder Regulars
House finches are attracted to regular
seed mix, which includes red and white
millet, and really love hulled sunflower seed
and peanut chips. This tasty mixture brings
chestnut-backed chickadees, plain titmice
(all gray with pointed head caps), and the
occasional Bewick’s wren (say “Buick”) as
well. These perky little brown wrens have
long white eyebrows, white underparts and
the characteristically entertaining stubby
tail which points straight up and bobs and
flicks with every movement.
Sugar is Sweet
Last winter, with its heavy rains, was a
wonderful opportunity to see many differ-
ent species of birds, especially for backyard
birders who put out a variety of bird foods.
The almost unrelenting rains made find-
ing suitable food difficult for many birds,
especially the insect eaters who had to fill
their protein requirements hampered by
having evolved with beaks quite unsuited
to cracking seeds. We bought a special
Our three thistle feeders are positioned
around the yard and one is designed exclu-
sively for goldfinches. Among the finches,
goldfinches are the only ones capable of
feeding in the upside-down position, which
is quite entertaining. We are attracting all
kinds of finches including American gold-
finches, pine siskins, and house finches.
Hummingbirds often have a tough time
in the cold of winter. They are the Ferraris
of the small bird world, with feul consump-
tion requirements to match. In Rockridge,
we typically see the Anna’s Hummingbird
which lives here year round. Fairly large as
hummingbirds go, the Anna’s is about 4"
long and a beautiful green on its back with
a rose-red head that can appear black in
Finches are fun to watch; they arrive
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510/845-0211
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Birds in Winter, page 10
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Sat 9:30 – 5:00
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Serving Rockridge Since 1909
Happy Holidays
from Namaste
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
3210 College Avenue
5951 College Avenue, Oakland  510 658-3665
Sunday worShip 10:30 aM • ViSit: capcchurch.org
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5416 college avenue • 510 547-YOGA
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our wonderful coMMunity Meal, fridayS, 6-7pM
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.

December 2, 2006

Experience Corps: Older
Adults Help Transform
Oakland Schools
by Jessica Bullen, Experience Corps Field Manager
O
Letters to
The Editor
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.
ver the past year-and-a-half, a dedicated force of local older
adults has begun transforming the culture of designated
Oakland schools. Through participation in Experience Corps
Bay Area, a nonprofit, community-based organization geared to
matching adults 55 years and older with public school youth as
tutors and mentors, volunteers have not only enhanced academic
and emotional support for local schoolchildren, but have added
an intergenerational feel to school culture.
Vandals Come in All Sizes
Unfortunately, vandalism isn’t just for kids on College Avenue
anymore; adults are getting into the act, and it reflects badly on
our community.
Many sidewalk repairs are being done on the Avenue to repair
damage from street tree roots. Work crews expect that newly
poured concrete will attract little fingers, and they do their best
to see to it that their hard work is not defaced. But they don’t
expect adults to ignore safety barricades and temporary side-
walks to deliberately walk through a job site, or worse yet, roll
a stroller through it.
During the 2005-2006 academic year, 17 volunteers at two
North Oakland Elementary School sites provided over 2,200
hours of tutoring and mentoring assistance. The results of their
efforts were very encouraging; 9 out of 10 teachers said they
were “extremely satisfied” with the work of the Experience Corps
Volunteers, and reported “significant” to “extremely significant”
academic improvement by students tutored by Experience Corps
volunteers.
In two recent incidents, College Avenue pedestrians showed
a total disregard for the highly skilled cement workers and their
work, caused extra work for the crews, and aroused the contempt
of the crew foreman.
Experience Corps, a national organization, has been in the Bay
Area since 1999 and in Oakland since 2005. While all Experience
Corps programs follow an innovative team-based model which
highlights quality training, each Experience Corps site adapts
to its surrounding community. Experience Corps is looking for
more older adults to join our existing three north and east Oakland
teams, or help pioneer teams at new expansion sites in January. If
you or someone you know would like more information, please
contact Jessica Bullen, Experience Corps Oakland Field Manager,
at 510/495-4966 or jbullen_ec@yahoo.com.
In the first incident, two fathers with small children sat down
on the curb and proceeded to write their kids’ names in the wet
cement with their coffee stirrers. When challenged, they defended
their actions, and huffed off with a few well-chosen expletives.
My question: what were they teaching their children about treat-
ment of others’ property? Or respect for the work of others?
The second incident involved two women who ignored both
the safety barriers and all pleas to stop, and walked through the
job site across hardening cement. This generated a good bit of
work for the crews to repair the damage, after they had just put
in 7 hours to do a job they could be proud of.
What’s New at Curves?
Ladies, I salute you! Nice sense of entitlement, and way to go
to promote goodwill toward our community.
New Owners!
I hope that in the future we can be more respectful of everyone’s
hard work.
— Annette Floystrup
New Look!
New Circuit!
New Hours!
the year FREE! !*
Now we are open 7 days a week!
Bring this ad and get the rest of the year FREE! !*
(510) 655-8808
Rockridge Market Hall’s Lower Level
Free Parking & Bart
Curves.com
*New Members only. Offer based on first visit enrollment minimum 12 mo. cd program.
Not valid with any other offers. Valid in participating locations only. Offer expires 12/31/06.


7.
December 2, 2006

rk Corner
a
Precognition will be printed on the Donor
Kiosk signs. Please note that we will need
you to review, sign and return the form to
us along with any changes you want made
in the way your acknowledgement will be
printed. Those we don’t hear back from will
have their recognition printed as we have
it. If you have questions or want to make
your response via email, you may do so to:
frogdonor@yahoo.com
G
A monthly update on
what’s happening at the
FRO
best community-built
and maintained
park in Oakland
by Mike McDonald, RCPC Board and
Frog Steering Committee Member
A
Park Dog Park owner’s group for
improvements.
If you can’t make the meeting, but want
to contribute ideas or have questions about
how to get involved, email nelsontm@
pacbell.net
Donor Recognition Letters
Thanks to those who helped
s you read in The Rockridge News last
month, the FROG Park Re-Opening
Celebration was a huge success and lots of
fun. Since the re-opening, the park has been
packed with families enjoying the tables
and benches at Lily Pad Plaza, the swings
and all the other wonderful additions and
improvements. Thanks again to all who
made Phase II happen.
2007 Kick-Off Meeting
with kiosk construction:
Mike McDonald
Michael Lyons
Fernado Sorto
Mauricio Argueta of the
McDonald Construction Team
If you were one of the many generous
neighbors who donated $250 or more to the
Phase I or Phase II campaigns, you will be
receiving a letter and a form acknowledging
your donation and showing exactly how your
Ian Read of Level 4 Studio,
and neighbors Barney Smits
Jeff Clapp, and Jimmy Pederson
On Thursday, January 11, from 7 to 9
p.m. at the Rockridge Library, bring your
ideas, questions and enthusiasm to the annual
FROG Park kick off meeting which will
focus on setting priorities for 2007. Current
priorities being discussed include:
Newly constructed kiosks in FROG Park
a public restroom at Hardy Park
extension of the greenbelt along High-
way 24 to the BART parking lot
co-promotions with the Farmer’s
Market at the DMV parking lot
improving the Creek flow
working together with the Hardy
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Photo: Cy Gulassa
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
Lexine Alpert
W EDDING P HOTOGRAPHY
A Prevention Oriented Practice
510 547-4807
www.lexinesweddingphotos.com
www.AboutInsideOut.com     510.655.7674


8.

December 2, 2006

2006 — A Banner Year for Library Friends

by John Gussman,
Friends of the Rockridge Library
Fbeen to fund and assist with the repair,
refinishing, and replacement of key library
furnishings. FORL was active in this area
during 2006 — for example, replacing the
library’s large comfortable armchairs in the
Reading Circle (special thanks to FORL
Treasurer Phil Fitzwater for a private dona-
tion). Recently the board voted to fund an
upgrading of the musical CD storage, to
permit easier browsing.
&
or the Friends of the Rockridge Library
(FORL), 2006 was a time for celebrating
past achievements, and for pressing ahead
with new enhancements to the Rockridge
Library and its offerings.
FORL is now branching out in the area
of collection development, with a gift to
the library to help build the holdings of
quality audiobooks on CD. The nearly 30
titles to be acquired — all in high-grade
“library editions” — include a number of
prize-winning novels, memoirs, and works
of history, ranging from Philip Roth’s The
Plot Against America and Edward P. Jones’s
The Known World, to Frank McCourt’s
Angela’s Ashes, and David McCullough’s
1776, as well as some of the popular his-
torical novels by Patrick O’Brian. Several
of the books are read aloud by the authors
themselves; the rest are read by talented
actors. The new audiobooks will begin
to appear on the “Hot Picks” shelf at the
library early in 2007.
The peak of the FORL year was the public
event held in early September, to celebrate the
10th anniversary of the Rockridge Library in
its permanent home at College and Manila
(see the October issue of The Rockridge
News). In the run-up to the event, the FORL
board was working at full throttle, but with
good results: the event was declared a definite
success by all who took part.
In 2006, as in prior years, FORL funded
a position for a summer intern from Oakland
Technical High School to help the librarians
manage the Summer Reading Game for
children. FORL also renewed its funding
for key subscriptions which are beyond the
scope of the library’s regular periodicals
budget, such as The New York Times, The
The anniversary event gave renewed
impetus to FORL’s long-term efforts to
promote and enhance the Rockridge Library.
These include helping to build the Rockridge
Library’s permanent collection, upgrading
the library’s grounds and landscaping,
replacing worn-out library furnishings
and inadequate equipment, and, in other
ways, bringing this valuable neighborhood
resource to its fullest luster.
Library Friends, page 
¬
During the past year, FORL also con-
tinued with its long-term effort to improve
and care for the library’s grounds and land-
scaping. This is a two-pronged effort, which
involves pruning and weeding the existing
landscaping, as well as selective installations
of new ornamental rocks and shrubs. FORL’s
Landscape Committee has begun working
closely with a new and energetic mainte-
nance team from the Oakland Department
of Public Works (Clinton Pugh and Oscar
Smith, Sr.). As a result of this collaboration,
the landscaping that FORL helped to install
in 2004 (funded through a special donation
from the Rockridge Women’s Club) received
its first full-scale maintenance.
In recent years, FORL has devoted spe-
cial attention to helping build the Library’s
reference collection. In 2006, FORL’s
contributions to this effort have taken the
form of a new Encyclopædia Britannica
and two large atlases, including the new
Oxford Atlas of North America. (Among
the earlier FORL gifts are other major,
multi-volume reference sets — including the
Oxford English Dictionary, the Dictionary
of National Biography, and the New Grove
Dictionary of Music and Musicians — and
two full sets of the NOLO Press legal self-
help books.)
Susan Bernosky LUTCF
Insurance Agent
(510) 450-9050
5940 COLLEGE AVE #A
OAKLAND
susanbernosky@allstate.com
CA Lic: 0738807,0D34069
Another ongoing FORL effort has
Become a Friend of
the Rockridge Library!
Call me today to see how you can save
when you combine your auto policies.
(Spend more on your honeymoon).
Name _______________________ Address ________________________
City _________________________ e-mail __________________________
Enclosed is my check for:
Notary Public available
	 Family Donation............... $35. 
Student or Senior_______$15.
	 Individual Donation......... $25. 
Business Donation____ $250.
	 I would like to make a special contribution of $______________
	 My employer will match my contribution.
Please make checks payable to FORL and mail to:
Friends of the Rockridge Library, 5245 College Avenue #311, Oakland, CA 94618.
Federal Tax ID #94-3011284
Insurance and savings subject to availability and qualifications.
Savings applies to most major coverages. Allstate Indemnity
Company:  Northbrook, IL.
©2004 Allstate Insurance Company.
contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.


9.
December 2, 2006

New Urban Cohousing Development
Proposed for Temescal Area

Library Friends
from page 
Economist, the New York Review of Books,
Art in America, Morningstar, BARRON’S,
and ValueLine.
by Karen Hester
A
If successful, the project will join with
the smaller communities of Temescal Com-
mons Cohousing near 42nd and Telegraph
and Temescal Creek Cohousing, near 45th
and Broadway, to create the epicenter of
cohousing in the United States.
fter seven or eight years of fruitless
attempts to find an appropriate site
for a new cohousing group, members of
the East Bay Cohousing umbrella group
have located a wonderful site in North
Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood and will
partner with a local development team to
build a 27- to 30-unit new community just
north of where Claremont and Telegraph
intersect.
In 2007, FORL plans to move forward
on various fronts, both old and new. The
board is currently looking into options for
improving the library’s climate control and
ventilation system. Persons with relevant
technical expertise, who would be willing
to help in this process, are urged to contact
the FORL Chair, Jennifer Vetter, at jrvetter@
comcast.net.
Cohousing communities combine the
advantages of private homes with the ben-
efits of more sustainable living, including
shared common facilities and ongoing con-
nections with neighbors. These intentional
neighborhoods, created and managed by
residents, offer an innovative solution to
today’s environmental and social challenges.
(http://cohousing.org)
North Oakland Cohousing should be
completed and ready to move into during
the first quarter of 2009. This is a rare
opportunity to be part of the first East Bay
cohousing community to be developed in
six years, and it is likely to be the last one
for a long time to come. Cohousers who
join at the beginning stage will be able to
select unit sizes and prices.
FORL’s ability to assist the Rockridge
Library, at the level described in this article,
depends on donations from members and
the public. Donations are tax-deductible. If
you would like to donate to FORL — and
especially if you enjoyed the September
event — please use the form on the previ-
ous page, or contact Jennifer Vetter at the
above e-mail address.
Green building practices will be empha-
sized, and the design and size of the units
and the common house will be determined
by the group in workshops with the archi-
tects; individual units are likely to range
from studio apartments to 3-4 bedrooms,
with common space for community meals,
outdoor patios, children’s play, guests,
laundry, and workshop.
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
Contact Karen Hester for details about the
project and if you have interest in becoming
a member: 510/654-6346, karen@hesternet.
net, or http://www.northoaklandcohous-
ing.org.
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Rockridge Resident
[24778-v1-0668]RP-260-0805
Leila S. Gough,AssociateVice President-Investments
1999 Harrison, Suite 2050 • Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 452-8060
www.agedwards.com/fc/leila.gough
More Classifieds
2004 A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. • Member SIPC
from page 14
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.
Jazz & 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.
Feet Wanted! Relax,
Restore, Rebound
Give yourself a gift and help me get certified
in Reflexology. Free 1-hour sessions (donations
gladly accepted). Pass the word to co-work-
ers, family and friends. Near Rockridge BART.
510/601-0614 missjones@dotcomdetox.com.


10.

December 2, 2006

chasing a songbird through tree branches
and brush in a sprint. Eighty percent of
their food is songbirds; the balance is
small mammals. Our juveniles were just
learning to hunt completely on their own,
so they seemed to take more rodents than
songbirds. We noticed a marked decrease
in rodent activity in the ivy at St. Albert’s
next to our fence, so they probably had an
impact on that population.
Natural Rodent Control
ing an owl box from them or the Hungry
Owl Project. Owl boxes DO usually get
an occupant within a year or two, so this
is a very rewarding project to do for your
garden habitat.
Birds in Winter
from page 
some light. A hummingbird feeder is an
endless source of entertainment. Males
are highly competitive and will dive in
death-defying plunges from great heights,
only to pull up in a sharp U-turn at the last
possible moment. This is both courtship
and fighting behavior. If you do put out a
hummingbird feeder, remember to change
it often and keep it very clean. Hummers
are easily poisoned by mold toxins. An
easy recipe for sugar syrup is 1 part sugar
to 4 parts water, mixed until the sugar is
disolved and then brought to a boil in the
microwave for food safety. Cool and set
out and in a few days, you will have these
beautiful visitors to enjoy as well.
Unusual Visitors
Rockridge has traditionally been home
to a variety of raptors including the Great
Horned Owl, with its signature “who who”
call. This bird is not seen as often as heard,
and perches in tall pines and redwoods in
the daytime. One of the eeriest and most
wonder-inspiring life events one can experi-
ence is having an owl glide past one in the
night. Their flight is utterly silent due to
their fluffy feathers, and their passage is
more felt than seen.
Want to See More Pictures?
Apropos of natural rodent control, many
raptors, including owls, make rodents their
primary diet, but they have a grave enemy
in human beings who use poison to con-
trol rodent populations. Poisoned rats and
mice become food for these natural pest
controllers, and the rat poison kills these
magnificent birds.
The Rockridge Library has field guides,
encyclopedias and other books just about
birds. Guides by the Audubon Society and
Roger Tory Peterson are the classics to
start from. Our local bookstores, Diesel
and Pendragon carry many bird books both
new and used. In addition, there are many
wonderful websites about birds, including
the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology
where you can hear the birds as well as read
about them. Search online at the library for
keywords birds, wild birds, and bird feeding
to get started. Happy discoveries.
In California there is a strong effort to
repopulate the state with Barn Owls, (http://
www.hungryowl.org) and our neighboring
city, Berkeley, has made the Barn Owl its
city bird. There is a grassroots organization,
Hungry Owl Project, dedicated to helping
these sweet faced birds in urban areas, and
in Berkeley the group Keep Barn Owls in
Berkeley (www.KBOIB.org) has formed to
distribute information about these helpful
birds. You can get directions for build-
Early this fall, we had a second apperance
of juvenile Cooper’s hawks (http://www.
birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/Bird-
Guide/, then click on “Alphabetical”). We
had a single juvenile a few years ago, but
this year there were two. They announced
themselves with sharp “kek kek” feeding
calls that sent all the songbirds in the area
into hiding. A garden usually filled with
birdcalls can be eerily silent when this
predator is around.
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11.
December 2, 2006

researching the history of this community,
which was home to practically every social
group not granted entrance into Berkeley
proper. The goal was to tell the story
of this place as a means of reconnecting
the past to the present, thereby forging a
stronger sense of community today. How
appropriate for a neighborhood that is, as
everyone knows by now, poised to change
again dramatically in the near future as
more high-density housing comes to the
area. The message is clear: a community, a
neighborhood and the people who live in
it cannot thrive without history, without
a story. We want to thank the artists
and all those wonderful, talented locals
for giving that story a voice that cannot
be ignored.
by Arlene Sagan who also has the Berkeley
Community Chorus & Orchestra (BCCO)
under her baton. Admission is by nominal
donation. Call 510/525-5393 or e-mail
info@bellamusica.org. BCCO has one
more concert on Sunday, December 17,
4:30 p.m. at St. John the Worker church,
1640 Addison Street, Berkeley. They are
performing Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester
Psalms, Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs
and works by Julian White: 510/433-9599
or www.bcco.org.
The
Rockridge
 Muse
by Ortrun Niesar
Building Community
The 2006
Christmas Revels
H
Through
Community Theater
Lere’s an invitation to join the
Christmas Revelers on a “Theatrical
Celebration of the Winter Solstice,”
held every year at the Scottish Rite
Theater, 1547 Lakeside Drive in Oakland.
This year’s focus is the music, stories,
dance and holiday traditions from the
dark and wintry forests of late 18th-
century French Canada. Special guest
performer Pierre Chartrand of Montréal’s
Danse Cadence will dazzle you with his
magnificent Québecois music and dance.
Rockridge resident Theresa Nelson and
her daughter Madeleine will again be
singing in the chorus. Performances
run Friday through Sunday, December
8-10 and 15-17. Performances are at 1
and 5 p.m. on weekends; this is great
festivity for the entire family. Order
tickets online at www.calrevels.org or
call 510/452-9334.
ast week, Rockridge resident Claire
Wahrhaftig and I made our way over
to the Ashby Stage at 1901 Ashby,
across from the BART parking lot. The
theater now permanently houses the
Shotgun Players. We wanted to catch a
performance of Love is a Dream House in
Lorin, a beautifully crafted play developed
along the concepts of community-based
collaborative theatre, a form of theatre
developed in the ’60s and ’70s that
has gained popularity nationwide in
recent years. It promotes direct artistic
collaboration with the community for the
greater good of that community.
Beginning November 29, the Shotgun
Players will perform The Forest War, “an
ancient play for modern times” written
by Mark Jackson, author of The Death
of Meyerhold. Call 510/841-6500 or go
to www.shotgunplayers.org. You can
order tickets online, but you will still
have to come an hour early and stand
in line for seat assignments, not a good
arrangement. We hope that they will
come up with a better system soon. We
do like their commitment to a sliding
scale or “pay what you wish” policy.
Written by Marcus Gardley, Love is a
Dreamhouse in Lorin was conceived and
nurtured in the history of the very turf
the theater stands on. Few people know
that this area was a separate community
known as Lorin in the 1800s, annexed
into Berkeley only in the years after the
1906 earthquake. The Shotgun Players,
together with local residents, spent months
Holiday Music
This year’s offering from Bella
Musica is Bach’s magnificent B Minor
Mass. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday,
December 8, Arlington Community Church,
Kensington, and 4 p.m. Sunday, December 10,
St. Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman
Street, Berkeley. Bella Musica is directed
And with that, I leave you to celebrate,
enjoy and revel to your heart’s content
in this darkest time of the year, this
season of incredible hope.

A Glimpse at November Sales Stats in Rockridge
Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
5925 Ocean View Dr
3/3
$825,000
$800,000
11/3/2006
5367 Belgrave Pl
2/1
$795,000
$826,000
11/3/2006
5427 Claremont Ave
2/2
$699,000
$685,000
11/6/2006
6128 S Rockridge Bl
4/3
$1,250,000
$1,400,000
11/7/2006
5506 Carlton
3/1
$1,050,000
$980,250*
10/17/06
Comparing last year, and this year early November: November 2005 median price of a home sold was
$809,000, with average. time on market 18 days; in 2006, the median price was $813,000 with an aver-
age. of 31 days on the market. Values are holding in Rockridge, though there is a trend for properties
staying on the market longer.

* Please note the corrected selling price for the Carlton property from that reported here in last month’s update.


12.

December 2, 2006
Holiday Safety Requires Extra Vigilance Against Crime
Report from the
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council (NCPC)
by Susan Montauk, NCPC Chair
A

teenage boys around noon on Miles Avenue
November 14, a neighbor who heard their
screams dialed 911 from her cell phone, a
mistake which cost valuable time. When
you dial 911 from a cell phone, your call is
routed to California Highway Patrol. After a
wait of over five minutes, the witness called
911 on her land line, and several police cars
arrived within minutes and apprehended one
suspect. The emergency number equivalent
to 911 for cell phones is 777-3211; program
it into your cell phone.
Burglars are looking for easy prey and
become especially brazen this time of year,
so don’t make your house inviting to them. A
resident parked in his car in mid-November
noticed a young male on a bicycle, 15-17
years old, with dreadlocks, riding along
Miles Avenue between Cavour and Clifton,
stopping to tug and push on first-story
windows of three different houses. If you
witness suspicious behavior, call 777-3333,
the OPD non-emergency number. If a crime
is in progress or imminent, call 911.
t this time of year, citizens often become
nervous about their safety, and with
good reason; his-
torically, crime
incidents rise at
holiday time and
people need to
take extra pre-
cautions. Reports
to the Rockridge
Neighborhood
Watch Network Yahoo Group from mid-
October to mid-November highlight the
need to act judiciously and quickly: a
pistol-whipping of a guard at the College
Avenue Safeway during a robbery attempt,
belligerent door-to-door solicitors and a mid-
day armed robbery were recent unnerving
incidents.
In general, solicitors operating without
special permits from the City of Oakland
are operating illegally and, more likely
than not, the person showing up at your
door has no such permit. In any case, it
is best not to open the door to solicitors,
be they students selling subscriptions,
or others. Use your judgment, of course;
if the person is a member or officer of
a religious or charitable organization to
which you also belong, and is collecting
on a volunteer basis, the person does not
need a City permit.
The Oakland Police Department provides
safety tips on its webstie. Go to http://www.
oaklandpolice.com and click on “Avoid
Being a Crime Victim.”
The Rockridge neighborhood Crime Preven-
tion Council meeting — held the 3rd Tuesday
of each month — provides a useful forum for
voicing concerns with OPD officers and an
opportunity to help set monthly priorities for
our Problem Solving Officer. Go to http://www.
rockridgencpc.com for meeting details, crime
statistics and crime fighting resources.
Knowing how to respond in such situa-
tions is your best defense. When two women
were robbed of their purses at gunpoint by
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13.
December 2, 2006

Rockridge Merchants Celebrate the Season!
W

hen the twinkling lights go up at Market Hall and the
decorations appear along College Avenue, it’s time to
enjoy some neighborhood holiday shopping. Stroll along College
Avenue, Claremont and Broadway, find unique gift ideas for your
holiday list, and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner in one of our
many fine restaurants.

You’ll avoid the crowds in malls, chain stores and parking lots,
save on gas and frustration, and support our local Rockridge mer-
chants and services. Don’t forget to check out the new merchants
and restaurants in the burgeoning Temescal shopping district along
Telegraph Avenue. There’s something for everyone on your gift
list, and for you and your home as well.
W

Namaste
Recapture Vintage
Bridal
Rockridge Rags
San Francisco Dance-
wear
Says Who?
See Jane Run Sports
Sefina Studio
Serrahna
Viva Diva Boutique
Children’s Toys,
Games, Clothing
and Accessories
For babies to pre-
teens:
Baby World
Bella Vita “Upstairs”
Child’s Play
Cotton & Company
Milk
Rockridge Kids
Heartfelt &
Impressions Ink
Itsy Bitsy
MVP Comics and
Cards
Noah’s Art
Rockridge Home
Pendragon Fine
Books
Scout
Menswear
Styles for teens and
men:
Alta Bates Showcase
August
Bambino Thrift Shop
Chic
Crossroads Trading
Company
Rockridge Rags
Shoes for Men,
Women and
Children
Everyday wear and
great shoes for the
holidays:
Cotton & Company
Shuz of Rockridge
(formerly
Birkenstock)
Tootsies Rockridge
Transports
Twenty Two
Home Décor,
Furniture, Table
Accessories,
Antiques, Fabrics,
and Linens
Decorate your home,
find the perfect gift, a
new dining room table
or rug, home office, and
more:
Bella Vita
Berkeley Kids Room
Bird’s Eye
Brass and Glass
Claremont Rug
Company
Fenton MacLaren
Vintage Furnishing
Form Vintage
Modern
Galvins Workspace
Furniture
The Good, the Bad
and the Ugly
Hazara Gallery
Homesteader
Levant Oriental Rug
Company
Loot Antiques
Maison d’Etre
Murasaki Fine
Futon Shop
Poppy Fabric
Rockridge Furniture
Company
Rockridge Home
Scout: Home, Garden
& Travel
Talisman Antiques
Warm Things
Food
Food, glorious food,
prepared, to make at
home, gourmet ingre-
dients, indulgences,
and of course, fine
wines:
Bittersweet a
Chocolate Café
Eddie’s Liquors
Enzo’s Meat & Poultry
Great Harvest
Bread Company
Hapuku Fish Shop
Katrina Rozelle
Pastries & Desserts
La Farine Bakery
Lulu Rae’s
Confections
Manicaretti Foods
Market Hall Bakery
Market Hall Produce
The Pasta Shop
Paul Marcus Wines
Peaberry’s Coffee
and Tea
Ver Brugge Foods
Vino!
Yasai Market
Sports, Luggage
& Travel
For the active ones
in your life:
Hank and Frank
Bicycles
Rockridge Luggage
Rockridge Two
Wheels
Transports
Bodycare, Hair &
Beauty
To look your best and
give to others:
Alexander Pope
BodyTime
SaHaira
Vero
Music
For your moods:
Flashback Guitars
The Groove Yard
Saturn Records
Pets
For those who are part
of the family:
Redhound
Flowers
For the perfect touch
at home or a party:
Bloomies
Spring Fever Flowers
Sun Flower
The Meadows
Fomen’s
Clothing
and Accessories
With every imagin-
able style, size and
price range, truly
there’s something for
everyone:
Agatha Rainford
Boutique
August
Body Options
Chic
Cotton Basics
Crossroads Trading
Company
FIT
Habit
i-elle
Iniam
In Full Swing
Madame Butterfly
Mr. Sandman
Arts, Framing,
Jewelry &
Collectibles
Items from all over the
world and for the artist
in you:
Blick Art Materials
Bosko’s Framing
Gallery
Christensen Heller
Gallery
Favor
The Great Frame-Up
High Strung
Itsy Bitsy
Pavé Fine Jewelry
Thelma Harris Art
Gallery
Books, Cards
and Gifts
On any subject, for
every taste and interest:
Diesel A Bookstore
Host Families Needed To House
Regency Antique Restoration
International Students
Professional and Experienced
ALL Furniture Repairs
In-Home Services
New finishes & waxing
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Pickup & Delivery
Share the Beauty and Diversity of
534-0603
Bruce Wagg
bruce@bayareaantiques.com
the Rockridge Community!
436-4848 • info@edservintl.com
www.edservintl.com
Your Neighborhood Rockridge Mortgage Specialist
Rates are Low!
It’s a good time to buy as we
move into a Buyer’s Market!
Take advantage of
great inventory —
Call now for Pre-approval!
Monica C. Di Perna
510-225-5635
monicaloan@aol.com
or more details on hours and locations,
listings and websites for many Rockridge
stores and services may be found on the
Rockridge District Association’s web direc-
tory: http://www.rockridgedistrict.com/
15 years in the mortgage industry;
I am a Rockridge resident


14.

December 2, 2006

display at The Rockridge Furniture Company,
5601 College Ave. 510/652-5753, M-Sat,
10-5:30, Sun, 11-5.
with care by a loving pet professional. Bonded
and insured. Call 510/386-3163.
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.
Fulfill This Year’s
Resolutions at
Inside Outside Fitness!
Your friendly, independent, neighborhood gym
has a new owner, new look, new classes and
new energy. Pay-as-you-go or have unlimited
workouts. 4444 Piedmont Avenue 510/655-
8308, www.insideoutsidefitness.com.
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. January deadline is December 21.
For information: e-mail smontauk@gmail.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,
near Claremont Avenue. 510/652-2059. www.
pridechiropractic.com.
Handyman
Carpentry, electrical, kitchen, bath, decks, roof,
fence, drainage, foundation repair, windows,
walls, dry rot, termite damage. Lic #458473
Don 510/812-0310.
Contractor’s Delight
Coming Soon!
Home for Sale : 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, garage.
1,590 internal sq ft. Lot size: 4,200. Close to
BART, College Ave, and golf course! Maria
Cavallo–Merrion: 510/919-8841.
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.
Rare Rockridge Office Space
1,300 sq. ft. +/-. Freshly remodeled office
space—upper Broadway, Rockridge, for lease.
7-8 work stations, reception, conference, 1
private, 2 bathrooms, storage, kitchen. Great
light, close to BART, College, freeway. Ron
510/547-5970 X 55.
Insurance for Your High
Valued Home
The new Next Generation Homeowners Policy
has the coverages you need and the options
you want. For a free quote please call Pat Ela at
510/688-7688 of Farmers Insurance Agency.
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.
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. $85/day
(3-day minimum), $525/week. 510/482-5577.
saturn82004@yahoo.com.
Love Cats? Need a
Little Exercise?
Volunteer a half hour and take a scenic stroll
to feed a colony of sweet fixed ferals. Food
on site. Ideal for dog walkers! Rewarding &
fun. 601-9724.
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.
Do You Need a Pet Sitter
for the Holidays?
Our service provides your pet(s) and property
Licensed Architect
As-built drawings, residential additions or
new construction. Rockridge resident licensed
since ’03, 5 years’ experience, starting out on
her own. Affordable rates. 510/903-1104 or
LYndsay@kocharchitecture.com.
More Classifieds, page 
¬
Premium Dog Day Care
We specialize in interactive small sized play
groups and activities with skilled and passion-
ate staff. We offer personalized gentle care in
a positive environment. Pride and Pedigree,
510/834-PUPS (7877), www.prideandpedigree.
com.
Christmas at St. Augustine
Community Festival of Lessons and Carols:
Sunday, December 3, 4 pm. Family sing-a-long
of favorites with choir and orchestra. Christmas
Eve: Family Mass, 5 pm, Midnight Mass, 11:30
pm. Christmas Day: 10:30 am. 400 Alcatraz,
653-8631.
“From Head to Toe”
Tom Daniels, haircutter and Halina, manicur-
ist/pedicurist remain together in a new location:
Milagro Salon, 5269 Broadway & College.
Come, let us pamper you. Tom: 923-0403
Halina: 593-5080.
Original Art Now in
Rockridge
Nancy R. Wise California Impressionist oil
paintings in Mission style frames are now on


15.
December 2, 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

The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
CBON Ticket Line 925-798-1300.
2640 College Avenue, Berkeley. For more information
or to find out about tickets at the door, call 845-8542 or
marilyn@juliamorgan.org.
Atelier School of Classical Realism
Lobby Display Case: December: Dana Davis; pho-
tography.
 January: “Season of Non-Violence Exhibit.”
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.), Ralls Bldg. room 203. Directions and
more information: www.rockridgencpc.com.
Community Christmas Festival
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
All welcome to join in a family sing-along of new and old
favorites, with choir and orchestra. Sunday, 12/3 at 4pm.
St. Augustine Church, 400 Alcatraz Ave. (near Colby).
For more information call 653-8631.
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed: Sundays; also Mondays 12/25 and 1/1.
Diesel Book/Readings and Events
Rockridge Branch Library
Holiday Concerts & Events at
Chapel of the Chimes
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN
All events free and open to the public.
Sunday, 12/17, 3pm. Jeff Norman: Temescal Legacies:
Narratives of Change from a North Oakland Neighbor-
hood. Examines 5 historically significant changes to
Temescal, Rockridge and surrounding areas since
World War II.
5433 College Ave. For more information about other
events, Book Discussion Groups and El Grupito, the
Spanish discussion group: 510-653-9965 or www.
dieselbookstore.com.
ó
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
12/2, 12/9, 1/6.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am:12/6, 12/20, 1/3.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm: 12/26,
1/9 Note: see below for special event on 12/12.
Special Events for Kids and Families:
ó
Free music performances and free hot cocoa and
cookies for all visitors.
Oakland School for the Arts Concert Ensemble:
performs carols and gospel music. Saturday, 12/9 from
3 to 4pm. For more information call 228-3218.
Bay Area Flute Fest: Performances by flautists from
across the Bay Area, plus workshops and exhibits.
Sunday, 12/10, from 1 to 5pm. For more information:
333-0474 or www.bayareaflutefest.com.
Carol Alban and Ensemble: chamber music per-
formance. Saturday, 12/16 from 3 to4pm. For more
information: 228-3218.
Visit Santa Claus and give him your list on 12/10 and
12/17 from 2 to 4pm.
Light the Menorah for Chanukah on 12/16 and
12/17 from 3 to 5pm.
4499 Piedmont Avenue. For more information call 228-
3207 or www.lifemarkgroup.com
ó
ó
ó
ó
Opera Piccola: performing The Guest, a Middle-
Eastern folktale. Free live theater for children ages 2
to 12, but all welcome. Tuesday, 2/12, 7pm.
FOR TEENS AGES 13 and up:
ó
Rockridge Artists Open Studios
ó
Rockridge Artists will once again be opening their studios
around the neighborhood. All media of artwork offered for
one-of a kind holiday gifts. Includes ceramics, sculpture,
jewelry, paintings and more. The first 2 weekends in
December (12/2, 12/3; 12/9, 12/10). Get up-to-date maps
with times and directions to participating studios at the
Rockridge Library and Bosko’s Frame Shop on College
Avenue. For more information call Liz at 654-5741.
Anime Club: Watch and talk about new anime (Japa-
nese animation) with other teens. 2nd Tuesday of each
month from 5 to 6:30pm in the upstairs meeting room.
On 12/12 we will be playing video games based on
anime and making an anime related craft. For ques-
tions about this or any other teen event, call Susy, the
Teen Specialist Librarian, at 597-5017.
FOR ADULTS:
ó
ó
ó
Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair
Workshop at Bananas
Writers Support/Critique Group. ALL writers
welcome. Bring at least 10 copies of 5 pages of your
prose for on-site reading/discussion. Sponsored by
the California Writers Club, Berkeley branch (www.
berkeleywritersclub.org/). Third Saturday of the
month (12/16), from 1 to 5pm. For more information:
420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Knitting Classes for Seniors (50+), in collaboration
with the Pleasant Valley Adult School. Instructor: Teri
Barr. All levels welcome. Beginners 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.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month (12/4, 1/2) from 6 to 8pm.
Advance sign-up starts 5pm. For more information
call 597-5017.
Art Exhibits
Gallery: December: John Bartkoviak; oil paintings.
January: David Hardy and group; paintings from the
ó
Benefit for Oakland Elizabeth House, transitional
residence for women and children in North Oakland.
December 3rd, 10am to5pm. St. Augustine Gymna-
sium, 400 Alcatraz Ave. (corner of Colby). For more
information call Sophie at 658-1380 or sophie@
oakehouse.org.
Support Group for Paid Caregivers: babysitters or
nannies that work in the homes of families, full or part
time, live-in or out. All welcome, including those who
speak English as a second language. Share stories and
exchange ideas. Topics include children’s songs and
making your own first aid kits.
Bananas, 5232 Claremont Ave. (near 51st and Telegraph).
Register by phone or on-line, or get more information,
at 658-7353 or www.bananasinc.org.
ó
Los Hilos De La Vida/Threads Of Life
Exhibition of Latina-themed folkloric Story-Quilts by
women and children of the quilter’s cooperative in
Anderson Valley (Mendocino). Opening reception with
the artists on Sunday, 12/3 from noon to 3pm. Regular
Gallery hours: Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm. The
show runs 12/3 through 1/19/07 at the Women’s Cancer
Resource Center and Art Gallery 5741 Telegraph Ave.,
420-7900. For more information about these quilters
and quilts: www.loshilosdelavida.blogspot.com
or Molly at 707-895-3277.
North Oakland Multi-Purpose
Senior Center
ó
Program Highlights: Computer classes; Health Insur-
ance counseling and advocacy program; trips, tours and
theater outings; Alzheimer’s caregivers support group;
AARP driver safety classes; BART tickets for seniors over
65; Farmers’ Market every Wednesday from 10:30am
to 2:30pm. 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 ($2.25
to $4). Call 597-5085 for details about membership,
classes/events and volunteer opportunities.
Julia Morgan Center for the Arts
Holiday Performances
SIMPLIFY!
The Nutcracker: presented by the Berkeley Ballet
Theater (BBT) Children’s Division and Youth Company.
Performance times: 12/8 at 7pm; 12/9 at 2pm and 7pm;
12/10 at 2pm; 12/15 at 7pm; 12/16 at 2pm and 7pm;
12/17 at 2pm. Children can meet cast members at the
Sugar Plum Party following the matinee performances
on Saturdays, 12/9 and 12/16. For tickets, contact BBT
box office: 843-4689.
Circus Finelli’s Holiday Extravaganza: Four hilarious
clowns, joined by some of the best circus performers
in the Bay Area, trained at the San Francisco Clown
Conservatory. Acrobatics, juggling, dance and
live music. Performance times: Wednesday, 12/20
through Sunday, 12/24 at 1pm and 3pm, plus a 9pm
performance on Thursday, 12/21. Advance tickets at
ó
Clutter Control
Sick Plant Clinic
Paper/Filing Systems
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://botanical-
garden.berkeley.edu.
Kitchens/Closets
Space Planning
Packing/Unpacking
Solutions for the critical mess
ó
Non-Judgmental & Confidential
www.SummersOrganizing.com
Barbara ✔ 415-381-0707


16.

December 2, 2006

VINITA GOKHALE
ROCKRIDGE REALTOR AND HOMEOWNER
ROBERTS ELECTRIC
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Confidence
510-428-0757
Email: Vinita@realtyadvocates.com
510-717-0630
www.
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Open Sunday, Dec. 10th & 17th 1-5 pm
New Condos in Temescal
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574 48th Street
12 Brand New Condos in Temescal
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approx. 1,350 sqft of 2nd story offi ce space.
Flexible plan, lots of light, just remodeled.
www.5767Broadway.com
“YOUR 24/7
   REALTOR”
L A W T O N
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@jps.net
A S S O C I A T E S
“#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
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5353 College Avenue
Oakland