Extracted text · highlighting “UC Berkeley”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 22    NO. 1    ISSUE NO. 230    January 6, 2007(!) 
 CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

January Town Hall Meeting to Focus on Planning

by Jessica Pitt, Chair, RCPC
T
The meeting will also be
an opportunity to inform com-
munity members about the work
of RCPC’s committees over the
past year, including important
developments concerning traf-
fic and pedestrian safety, plans
for improving the under-BART
area, and efforts to redesign
the RCPC website to make it
a valuable portal for informa-
tion, news, and activities in
Rockridge.
of investing small amounts of
money in capital improvement
projects around the neighbor-
hood, such as helping restore
the pillars at the entrance to
Birch Court. Funds will be
earmarked for small projects
which enhance the character
of Rockridge. Please come with
your ideas and suggestions for
capital improvement projects of
neighborhood importance that
RCPC might take on. We will
incorporate as many as we can
into our annual budget.
RCPC Town Hall
Meeting Agenda:
he Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC)
holds its third annual com-
munity planning meeting on
Thursday, January 18, at 7:30
p.m. in the Rockridge Library.
The meeting will provide an
opportunity for Rockridge resi-
dents to express views on what
the board’s priorities ought to
be for the coming year. The
community’s suggestions will
be incorporated into RCPC’s
annual strategic plan at its
retreat in late January.
Thursday, January 18,
7:30 p.m., Rockridge
Branch Library, 5366
College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room
(Upstairs)
Your views on board
priorities for 2007
RCPC committees
Under-BART
improvement
Redesigned website
Capital improvements
campaign



In 2007, RCPC plans to
launch a new capital improve-
ments campaign, with the goal


Town Hall, page 10
¬

Assemblyman: Restore Local Control to Oakland Schools

he introduced a bill which would put the
school board back in control and protect the
district’s students from any risky financial
decisions by keeping budget veto power in
the hands of a state-designated trustee.
community for her ability to listen, accept
good advice and embrace changes that have
worked well for students.
Assembly bill seeks to limit
state oversight
by Kerry Hamill,
North Oakland School Board Member
O
Central to any discussion about restor-
ing local governance is how to continue
the momentum for improving academic
performance. Since 1999, when organized
groups of parents from Oakland’s lowest per-
forming schools banded together to demand
change, student
achievement has
akland’s new state Assembly member,
Sandre Swanson, will likely spark some
long overdue discussions in Sacramento
this year about the future governance of
Oakland public schools. On Swanson’s first
day as a member of the Oakland delegation,
If passed, the bill would allow the school
board to resume power in 2008 and select a
new superintendent. To that end, current state
administrator Kimberly Statham will likely
be on a short list of possible candidates. She
continues to earn high marks in the school
Schools, page 
¬
Got Kitchens? The Rockridge
Kitchen Tour Returns in 2007
by Jennifer Edmister
R
Tour guests line up to see Julie Harris’s
home kitchen on Lawton Avenue
during the 2005 Rockridge Kitchen Tour.
ockridge is well known for many wonderful things, includ-
ing the regionally-renowned Rockridge Kitchen Tour which
attracts kitchen aficionados from throughout the Bay Area to tour
renovated and remodeled Rockridge kitchens. If you have—or will
soon have—a newly renovated or remodeled kitchen, RCPC invites
you to submit it for the 2007 Rockridge Kitchen Tour, coming in
October. Past tours have featured exquisite kitchens of all sizes,
from Bungalow style to contemporary and beyond.

For more information, contact Jennifer Edmister at
toejrb@earthlink.net or call RCPC at 510/644-4228, attention
Kitchen Tour.
Photo: The Rockridge News Archive


2.

January 6, 2007

Rockridge School Events and reports
data to guide instruction and giving school
leaders greater control over their budget,
among other measures.
Schools
from page 
Despite the political battles and staff
upheaval since the state took over, the
school board, Mr. Chaconas and Dr. Ward
have articulated educational goals that
have translated into better teaching and
learning.

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

Closed Sundays, and closed 1/15 (MLK,Jr. B’Day)
steadily improved, despite political contro-
versy over management decisions. Oakland
Unified School District’s Katrina Scott
George, who has worked under former
Superintendent Dennis Chaconas and state
administrator Randy Ward, has documented
school progress. Her data indicates that in
1999, 37 Oakland public schools had an
Academic Performance Index (API) below
500 out of a possible 1,000 API. Today there
are only nine such low-scoring schools. In
1999, there were 11 Oakland public schools
with an API over 700, and today there are
42 – approximately half of the district’s
schools.

Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
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.
We still have a long way to go in Oakland,
but I fully support a return to local control
next year. An elected school board working
closely with parents and teachers is the ideal
way to assure the best for Oakland’s students.
The educational program, as illustrated by
state scores, is flourishing.  To assure future
fiscal stability, Assemblyman Swanson’s bill
would require the appointment of a state
trustee who would have oversight and veto
power over the budget. This model, which
has worked well in other state-controlled
school districts, is an essential next step for
Oakland’s schools as they pursue solvency
and academic excellence.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa...........................Editor
Janet Somers.......................Copy Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
Schools in the Rockridge/Temescal
area and their API rankings are shown in
the chart below. The gains were achieved
after increasing teacher salaries, updating
the curriculum from kindergarten through
8th-grade, improving the use of classroom
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson.....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2006-2007
API
API
Change
Jessica Pitt............................Chair
Mike Taylor ......................... Vice-Chair
Janelle Cavanagh and
Gloria Bruce.......................Co-Secretaries
Susan Montauk...................Treasurer
Kent Deverell, Jennifer Edmister, Annette Floystrup,
API gains
came after
API %
CHANGE
1999
2006
School
increased
Emerson Elementary
480
652
+ 172
+ 36
teacher
salaries,
updated
curricula,
Piedmont Ave Elem
558
735
+ 177
+ 32
Cy Gulassa, Albert Hussian, Hiroko Kurihara,
Mike McDonald, Steve Meyer, Stephanie Upp
Peralta Elementary
638
799
+ 161
+ 25
Newsletter Subscriptions
guided
instruction
and greater
local budget
Kaiser Elementary
714
855
+ 141
+ 20
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
Chabot Elementary
781
923
+ 142
+ 18
control.
Oakland Technical HS
506
611
+ 105
+ 21
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.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
 February 3, 2007
 February deadline is January 18.
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.)




3.
January 6, 2007

Brunner Convenes North Oakland ‘Condo Fever’
Meeting; Draws Strong Neighborhood Response

by Cy Gulassa
Condominium supporters, opponents
and everybody in between showed up
for a community debate on higher-density
development last month, sponsored by City
Councilmember Jane Brunner, who kept
tempers leashed with threats to stop the
meeting if things got out of control.
“North Oakland real estate is hot,” she
said. “Proposed projects include 845 new
condo units. Add that to the 540 units for
the MacArthur BART project, and you’ve
got a total of 1,385 units. The condos are
coming; the question is, how do we want
them to come?”
Brunner said population pressures, a
desire for affordable housing, convenient
public transportation, proximity to work
and the attraction of urban diversity were
among the factors fueling the drive to build
condominiums along Oakland’s major cor-
ridors. “People no longer want to commute
from Stockton or Modesto,” she said.

Picketers display their views on condo development at a meeting sponsored
by Jane Brunner and held at Peralta Elementary School in December. From
left, Robert Temple, Jimme James, Robert Brokl, Virginia Browning, Alfred
Crofts, Joyce Smith, Adele Schenker.                                             Photo: Cy Gulassa

city’s zoning ordinances to bring them into
harmony with the Plan. This omission has
allowed project applicants to bypass the
customary zoning standards, exacerbating
conflicts within the community. To remedy
the situation, in Temescal she has started a
design review process that grapples with the
core issues of parking, height, setbacks and
aesthetics, and she will propose a new set
of zoning rules for possible adoption by the
City Council later this year. Brunner also
announced the appointment of her aide Zac
Wald as “czar” of planning issues, and said
she wants the planning department to issue
timely notices, hold early meetings, and
allow for reasonable modifications without
always having to appeal to the city council
for resolution.
Tprojects in detail, including size, setbacks,
landscaping and amenities, and spokes-
persons for local groups who alternately
praised and criticized the condo proposals
and the rationales for higher density. After
the presentations, over 40 members of the
audience had one minute each to express
their views. Many touted the virtues of
specific projects and the need for higher
density along Oakland’s major corridors
(Telegraph, Broadway, San Pablo, Martin
Luther King, Jr. Way) to accommodate the
millions that demographers say are headed
for the Bay Area over the next decade. One
developer said these corridors, if properly
developed, had the potential to become like
“grand European boulevards.”
She also acknowledged the drawbacks
of condo development: parking shortages,
increases in traffic, blocked views, destruc-
tion of old buildings and soaring heights,
which collectively change the character of
the neighborhood. In particular she criticized
the cookie cutter look of projects. “All this
development is starting to look alike and
getting boring. Jack London Square is fine
but we don’t want Jack London Square all
over the city,” she said. “We need to hold
developers to a higher standard and develop
quality buildings that are affordable and
reflect our vision for our neighborhoods.”
The central problem, Brunner said, is
that the provisions of Oakland’s General
Plan, adopted eight years ago, are broadly
framed, and there was no updating of the
But others warned that certain aspects
he meeting’s panel consisted of develop-
ers, who described the scope of their
Condo Meeting, page 12
¬
Regency Antique Restoration
Norman H. Burg, DDS
Professional and Experienced
ALL Furniture Repairs
In-Home Services
New finishes & waxing
General Dentistry
Based here in Rockridge,
we specialize in:
FREE ESTIMATES
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
Architectural remodels/additions
Pickup & Delivery
Gardens/outdoor spaces
534-0603
Bruce Wagg
bruce@bayareaantiques.com
New construction
A Prevention Oriented Practice
www.AboutInsideOut.com     510.655.7674


4.

January 6, 2007

Letters to The Editor
The Rockridge News
5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
or e-mail: editor@rockridge.org
Update:
Albertsons
by Hiroko Kurihara,
Land Use Committee Chair
A
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Please limit to 200 words
and include name, address and a phone number for verification. Only your
name will appear with your letter. Letters may be edited for clarity and brevity.
crowds neighbors. Demand that develop-
ers making killer profits underwrite the
additional costs of police, fire, schools
and other services their projects require.
Demand a master plan, as Jane Brunner
once upon a time proposed, before more of
their projects are approved. Demand TRUE
in-fill housing – vacant lots, truly blighted
buildings; NOT removal of functional, use-
able buildings.
Rhetoric Cloaks Proposed
Condominium Development
Editor:
t newsletter press time in early Janu-
ary, RCPC had not heard who the new
Albertsons tenent is, but more information
about zoning requirements for the site has
been learned from Darin Ranelletti, senior
planner at the city planning and zoning
department, and Justin Horner, chief of staff
for Councilmember Jane Brunner:
Condomania – the current answer to
developers’ prayers for short term gain
– is sweeping the commercial corridors
of MLK Jr. Way, Shattuck, Telegraph, and
Broadway.
Variances and conditional use permits are
being handed out like candy by the planning
department to exceed height limits, elimi-
nate or reduce setbacks from neighboring
properties and residences, and provide the
barest minimum of off-street parking and
required open space. Inadequate noticing
of projects under consideration means most
neighbors are in the dark until it is too late
to do anything.
Join a growing coalition that includes
Neighborhood Preservation (655-3841) and
North Oakland Coalition for Sustainable
Community (654-2329).
— Robert Brokl
A conditional use permit (CUP) is
required for general food sales (e.g., mar-
kets, cafés, supermarkets, restaurants).
Lucky/Albertsons did not have a CUP
because the store existed prior to the
establishment of the requirement.
A CUP is required for any new general
retail sales activity (such as Ross) if the
space exceeds 7,500 sq. ft. Albertsons
is about 23,000 square feet.
The Albertsons facility was a legally
non-conforming general food sales
use (distinct from general retail sales);
the same use by a replacement facility
is “grandfathered” (that is, allowed by
right), unless the plans include expanding
the envelope of the building or doing
any other work. However, if the site
remains vacant for more than a year,
then a new general food sales activity
would require a CUP.
The liquor license for the property has
expired. Any new facility that desires
to sell liquor at the site would need
to apply to the state for a liquor sales
permit. New alcohol sales would also
require a zoning variance, because
the site is located within 1,000 feet of
Claremont Middle School.

RCPC has not responded

appropriately to apparent
Unless we do something, you won’t rec-
ognize your neighborhood. The developers
and their allies are cloaking themselves in
the rhetoric of smart growth, density, and
in-fill. Opponents of these out-of-scale
projects are now not just vilified as “anti-
development NIMBYs,” but as promoting
global warming!
conflict of roles
Editor:
I, and others, were present at a meeting
when the RCPC land use committee chair
deceived committee members, and have
been disturbed that the board of directors,
when informed of the incident by letter and
in person, failed to take action.

The development proponents – many of
whom also pay lip-service to “affordability”
– ignore the tenants being forced out of
rent-controlled units to make way for the
upscale, market-rate condos. We already have
woefully inadequate infrastructure – over-
whelmed police and fire, failing schools,
potholes and broken sidewalks – and can’t
even cope with existing conditions.
At an RCPC land use committee meet-
ing in September, committee chair Hiroko
Kurihara concealed her relationship with a
new land use organization (ULTRA– Urban-
ists for a Livable Temescal/Rockridge Area)
that is ideologically pro-development and
higher density in the greater Rockridge area.
When asked for the names of members of
this group, whose mission conflicts sharply
with that of RCPC, she complied but failed
to identify herself as a member and founder.
Only later did committee members learn
that she was, and continues to be, an active
member of this group.

There is no legal linkage and no guaran-
tee that building generic condo high-rises in
North Oakland preserves farmland and open
space elsewhere as proponents claim. Nor
is the city demanding sufficient mitigation
for parks, schools, and police and very little
for street and traffic improvements.
RCPC has discussed the need to adopt
a proactive stance if current negotiations
fail, and to work with Councilmember Jane
Brunner on seeking (among other things)
a traffic analysis and improvements in
pedestrian safety, lighting and landscap-
ing, as conditions of any new CUP for the
Albertsons site.
I, and others, expressed our concerns to
the board in writing and later in person at
a board meeting in November. The board
acknowledged in writing that Ms. Kurihara
failed to disclose her relationship, and at the
board meeting further acknowledged that
she had been misleading.
What can we do?
Demand a more representative plan-
ning commission that’s not just a developer
rubber stamp! Demand that variances and
conditional use permits be thoughtfully
granted, not routinely allowed to powerful
developers so every new building exceeds
the height limits, eliminates setbacks, and
However, to date, the board has taken no

Letters, top of page 
¬
•  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •  •


5.
January 6, 2007

Letters

discussion about whether it was a conflict of
interest for the chair of the RCPC land use
committee – or any other board member – to
also be a member of another organization
involved in land use issues in Rockridge.
At that time, the board voted not to seek to
change the existing rules which allow board
members to have affiliations with other
organizations, even if there are overlapping
issue areas. The board subsequently invited
you and others who object to Ms. Kurihara’s
affiliation with ULTRA to the November
board meeting where we listened to your
concerns and shared our reasoning for this
policy decision. We regret that you are not
satisfied with the board’s decision.

from page 
The Zoning Counter
T

he Zoning Counter is a compilation of re-
cent applications filed with the Oakland
Planning Department. Individuals may contact
the case planner or the Planning Department
for additional information by phone or on-line
at www.oaklandnet.com.
disciplinary action and apparently finds no
conflict of interest with its land use chair serv-
ing simultaneously as an active member of a
competing land use group with a substantially
different agenda. Deceiving a committee
whose members represent the community
is by extension a communal wrong and a
violation of the integrity and trust essential
for the continuing success of RCPC.
5253 College Avenue
Proposal: Construction of a new three-story six-
unit building over ground floor commercial.
Applicant/Owner/Phone Number: Kirk Peter-
son, 510/547-0275
Case File Number: CDV 06-604
Planning Permits Required: Design Review for
new construction, Variance to allow more
than 20% of group open space on the rooftop,
and Conditional Use permits for ground floor
parking and re-establishment of the existing
non-retail ground floor use.
General Plan: Neighborhood Center Mixed Use
Zoning: C-31 Special Retail Commercial Zone
Case Planner: Pete Vollmann at 510/238-6167
or pvollman@oaklandnet.com
I believe that Ms. Kurihara should be
removed as chair of the committee. Her
duplicitous behavior and poor judgment
warrant such action, and I am at a loss to
understand the board’s inaction.
As stated previously, the board will con-
tinue to monitor all internal appointments,
including the chairmanship of the land use
committee, to ensure that such appointments
serve the stated purposes and goals of the
RCPC, and that RCPC’s goals are not sub-
ordinated to any outside agenda.
— Jessica Pitt, Board Chair
The foundation of a representative com-
munity body is honesty, accountability, and
fidelity, with regard to both principle and
the people represented. A serious conflict of
interest combined with deception and passive
board oversight is a recipe for very unhappy
future surprises. I am saddened and somewhat
bewildered to find that I must write this letter,
but I believe that the Rockridge Community
has a right to know the facts.
— Eric Neville
Land Use Committee member;
Former RCPC Board member, and
former Land Use Committee Chair
420 Avon Street
Proposal: To subdivide one lot with two existing
detached units into two separate lots.
Applicant: Martin Bloom
Contact Person/Phone: 510/207-7446
Owner: Martin Bloom
Planning Permits Required: Tentative Parcel Map
to subdivide one lot into two and a Conditional
Use Permit to waive the minimum lot area, lot
width and street frontage.
Case Planner: Jason Madani at 510/238-4790 or
jsmadani@oaklandnet.com
EBMUD calls for conservation,
ignores leaks
Editor:
The East Bay Municipal Utility District
(EBMUD) is calling for water conservation
this winter, and their recent mailing says 50
gallons per person per day should be suf-
ficient. At the same time, their own facility
at Chabot and Golden Gate Avenue is leak-
ing about 20 gallons a minute into Chabot
Road, and has been for over a month. That
represents the proposed daily allotment for
around 600 people. Similarly, when water
bubbling up into the street (say at Roslyn
Court) is reported, they tend to take over
a month to repair it. It’s hard to view their
insistence that everyone but themselves
conserve without imputing some pretty
serious hypocrisy to them.
— Ron Sipherd
RCPC Chair: “The board will
continue to monitor all internal
appointments.”
Dear Mr. Neville:
5830 Ross Street
Proposal: To construct a new attached garage
at ground level (right/southeast side), expand
an existing bedroom at the second level (right/
southeast side), and expand habitable space in a
portion of the existing attic level with a dormer
at the front. Includes removal of the existing
detached garage in the rear yard.
Applicant: Jarvis Architects
Contact Person/Phone: 510/654-6755
Owner: Robert McClain
Planning Permits Required: Design Review to
construct additions to an existing dwelling and
a Variance to locate the new attached garage
approximately 1-1/2 feet from the right/south-
east side lot line. (Note: the bedroom addition
above the garage is proposed to be located 5
feet from the property line such that it meets
the required 5 foot minimum setback).
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Case Planner: Ann Clevenger at 510/238-6980
or aclevenger@oaklandnet.com.
First, I would like to assure you that the
RCPC board takes your concerns regarding
Ms. Kurihara’s affiliation with ULTRA
very seriously. However, we differ with
your interpretation that the Board has not
taken action.
When concerns were first raised, the
Board engaged in a lengthy and thoughtful
Small Office Specialists
Small Office Specialists
For a kitchen,
consult a kitchen expert.
For a closet,
find a closet designer.
For your office,
come to us.
5933 College Ave. (off Claremont) Oakland, 510-654-9500
WWW.GALVINS.COM
1265 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, 650-365-7800
Zoning Counter, page 
¬


.

January 6, 2007
EBMUD Introduces
Color Alert System to
Avoid Water Rationing
by Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
W

toilets and other fixtures.
ORANGE (Urgent): indicates demand is too great to guarantee
a reliable water supply. Under orange, mandatory rationing could
be quickly triggered by abnormally warm weather or operational
problems. Cut demand immediately; shut off sprinklers, curtail
washing cars and hosing driveways.
RED (Severe): likelihood of mandatory rationing is great. The
call for voluntary reduction has been ineffective. Cut back imme-
diately on water use while district considers rationing.
ater users will notice a new color-code system alerting them
to possible mandatory water rationing this winter.
EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility District) spokespeople
say that a 10% reduction in overall water usage is essential until
March to avoid disruption to water supplies while engineers reroute
water flow into the recently completed bypass of the former tunnel
under the Oakland Hills. The utilitity is completing the final stage
of the seismic retrofit of the Claremont Water Tunnel at the foot
of Chabot Road under the BART overpass. Customers affected
are those north of Highway 24 from Crockett to north Oakland,
with a total of 13 cities involved.
EBMUD is asking customers to reduce water demand by a
“modest” amount, about 10% of the total 400,000 gallons used
Users should consider all forms of water reduction. Some
successful past practices include saving cold water runoff when
running taps to obtain hot water for bathing and dishwashing.
Capture the cold water in pitchers and use it for indoor plants
and refrigerator storage. Fewer toilet flushes will reduce use
significantly, as will shorter showers and discontinuing tub baths.
Load washers fully before operating.
The Claremont Water tunnel is located directly on the Hayward
Fault. Three recent earthquakes in the 3.5 – 3.7 Richter range,
all with epicenters near Berkeley/Rockridge, shook the middle
segment of the Hayward Fault. It is to avoid a complete destruc-
tion of the 1929 tunnel that the new bypass has been built. The
rest of the over 3-mile tunnel, which bores through the hills, has
been strengthened with the latest engineering technology.
EBMUD will issue an alert each Monday. The last one before
January press time was ORANGE, suggesting that customers
have not yet understood and learned to comply with the requested
10% reduction.
daily in the north
sector. The alert
consists of four
color codes corre-
sponding to actual
water usage:
GREEN (Low):
indicates that
reduction goals
are met. Custom-
ers are asked to
maintain this level
of demand.
YELLOW (Mod-
erate): indicates
demand is higher
than the district
is comfortable
with, and speci-
fies curtailing
outdoor water use
and fixing leaky
Areas subject to
possible mandatory
water rationing.
Dspdlfuu
Dspdlfuu
Spefp
Spefp
Ifsdvmft
Ifsdvmft
Those new to California and the Bay Area should note that
recent heavy rainfall did not significantly affect the water supply.
Local water is brought down from the Sierra Nevada Mountains
and is dependent on the yearly snow pack. EBMUD says the local
reduction is required as the final operation to transfer the flow
from the old tunnel to the new is put into place.
Qjopmf
Qjopmf
Fm
Tpcsbouf
Tbo
Qbcmp
Fm
Tpcsbouf
Tbo
Qbcmp
Sjdinpoe
Sjdinpoe
Fm
Dfssjup
Fm
Dfssjup
Anyone with questions should contact the office of Senior
Public Information Officer Charles C. Hardy at 510/287-0141.
Lfotjohupo
Lfotjohupo
Bmcboz
Bmcboz
What’s New at Curves?
Cfslfmfz
Cfslfmfz
Pblmboe
Pblmboe
Fnfszwjmmf
Fnfszwjmmf
New Owners!
New Look!
New Circuit!
New Hours!
the year FREE! !*
Now we are open 7 days a week!
Bring this ad and get 30% off + 30 Days 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 1/31/07.


.
January 6, 2007

Rockridge Real Estate Turns Real

Who’s the New Kid on the
Block?
Condos in Rockridge? Yes. And they
are affordable and popular too.
Comparative Sales Analysis
by Ortrun Niesar
A
Buyers were willing and able, but they
were definitely looking to get full value
for their money.
What Sold?
s we enter the first quarter of the new
year, Rockridge home sales continue
to be solid but are decidedly conservative.
The total number of single-family homes
sold in 2006 was 112, compared to 124 in
2005. Not much of a surprise to anyone,
inventory of good houses for sale was also
somewhat below par. And, on average, it
took 22 days or more to sell a home rather
than the 13 we were used to. Sigh!
Compare Rockridge sales price aver-
ages for detached single family homes
with the same period last year as shown
in the tables below. Overall, the market is
adjusting gently for us in Rockridge.
What’s the Good News?
C
Homes that were priced correctly
and offered perceived value
Homes in desirable locations (this
goes without saying)
Homes that were above average in
overall quality, improvements and
presentation
Homes that retain their craftsman
character
What Didn’t Sell?



an you do well in this market? Of course,
but it takes a willingness to adjust to
the new reality and adapt good-naturedly to
the things we cannot change. Probably the
most important factor in reaching a satisfac-
tory sale or purchase will be for buyers and
sellers to re-examine their relationship and
establish some kind of new understanding,
perhaps one where the negotiation process
between seller and buyer is conducted in a
balanced, dignified and businesslike manner.
Battle-weary buyers are sending a message:
they are sick of bidding wars, and they mean
it! On the other side, sellers not attuned
to the current climate are often indignant
when bids are offered below asking. That
needs to stop.
The good news is that the market here in
Rockridge, despite dire predictions, is not
crashing around our ears, and there are few
signs that it will. The overall picture is far
from bleak. It just looks a little flat. Prices
did not increase much over the same period
last year, and in some categories there was
a drop of about 3.5%. The bad news: it is
true that multiple bids occurred only for
certain desirable properties, and that this
activity resulted in average overbids of no
more than about 5%-7%. At the same time,
more demand was put on sellers to bring
their homes to the market with high-quality
improvements and in move-in condition.

Homes that were overpriced
Homes that were unattractive or had
obvious flaws
Problem properties of any kind
Homes that were poorly marketed.
Who Viewed the Properties?




Everybody. Open houses were well vis-
ited. Buyers and home owners alike were
full of questions about the market.
Who Bought?
Only those who had a real need to buy
at this time.
Should prices be dropped dramatically?
Of course not. There is no real need for that.
But unwarranted overpricing in these past
months has meant either no sale or, as the
title companies have acknowledged, a high
rate of cancellation of purchase during the
escrow period. To be successful, realtors
and sellers will need to work hard together
at the outset toward establishing the right
price in this particular market.
Time Period/BR
2BR
3BR
4+BR
No. Sold
are decidedly conservative.
Third Quarter
continue to be solid but
Jul-Oct 2005
$813,200
$1,003,104
$1,428,463
47
Rockridge home sales
Jul-Oct 2006
$798,714
$1,002,770
$1,528,000
31
One Year
2005
$802,513
$956,722
$1,466,920
124
2006
$760,782
$962,488
$1,498,687
112
Compare Rockridge Home Sale Prices 2002–2006
This analysis covers Rockridge homes sales from
the Berkeley border south to Broadway Terrace and
51st Street, west to Colby and east to Highway 13.
Information supplied by EBRD 2006 is deemed
to be reliable but not guaranteed. Ortrun Niesar
is a realtor with Prudential California. (ortrun.
niesar@prurealty.com)
Year
Avg. Price
% Change
Median Price
%Change
2002
$770,604
$691,500
2003
$847,637
9.9
$750,000
+ 8.5
2004
$902,000
6.4
$805,000
+ 7.3
2005
$1,032,139
14.4
$930,500
+ 15.6
2006
$1,111,317
7. 6
$903,500
- 3.0
a
What’s Your
Home Worth?
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
Call Me for an
Opinion of Value
Fatima N. Ali

510/845-0211
e-mail: Buyali@aol.com
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


8.

January 6, 2007

Rock  ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman
Food of the Prophet
One of the best ways to understand a
culture is through studying and enjoy-
ing its cuisine. Although the Arab nations
are very diverse, a common virtue is shar-
ing food with others. This tradition has its
origins in the Hebrew Bible, where God
commanded Abraham to invite strangers
into his tent to share a meal. Hospitality
is considered a duty for all Muslims. The
sayings of Muhammad found in the Quran
command the people to entertain “warmly
and joyously.” To entertain many people
together is considered an honor.
halal markets on San Pablo Avenue between
University and Hearst in Berkeley.)
Classic Arabic seasoned lamb is called
shwarma. It is cut in thin slices and served
in warm pita bread with a yogurt sauce.
Another Bedouin staple is bastrima, dried
beef strips similar to beef jerky.
Arabic cooking is characterized by the
use of  spices and spice blends. Grilling little
morsels of lamb or beef over charcoal is
everywhere associated with Muslim cooking.
Skewer cookery, shish kebob, meat, chicken
and fish are the most popular street food in
every Arabic country. Chickpeas, fava beans,
lentils and bulgur wheat have been part of
the Arab diet since the days of the Prophet.
Nuts, particularly almonds and walnuts, have
also been used since ancient times. Yogurt,
honey and pomegranate molasses are also
widely used in Arab cooking.
The spread of Islam was the most impor-
tant factor in the development of Arabic
cuisine, comparable to the influence of
France and China. The death of the Prophet
in Arabia in 632 A.D. was followed by wars
waged by followers of his faith. Bedouin
Arabs from the Arabian Desert spread Islam
throughout North Africa, Spain, and through
the Eastern Mediterranean and Arabian
Peninsula. During the period spanning the
8th through the 13th centuries, known as
the Golden Age of Islam, Arabic cooking
was transformed into a sophisticated art.
Mecca was the religious center, Baghdad
was a major political and religious capital
and Persia (now Iran), was the cultural center
for court cuisine.
The following recipe is for a dip called
muhammara, which is served throughout
the Arab world. There are many versions
of this Turkish and Syrian dip. Serve it with
warm pita bread or as an accompaniment
to grilled lamb. The recipe is adapted from
Claudia Roden’s The New Book of Middle
Eastern Food.
Muhammara
1 cup shelled walnuts
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 slice of whole-wheat bread, crusts
By the 13th century, the center of gravity
shifted from Persia and Baghdad to the Turk-
ish Ottoman Empire. At first the Ottoman
Turks adopted Persian and Arab cuisine, but
gradually they developed a gastronomy of
their own. The Sultan’s royal table took on
the glamour of the lavish Persian banquets.
Meals consisted of numerous courses of
small portion plates, called mezza in Arabic.
Spanish tapas are directly related to the
Turkish mezza.
removed, lightly toasted
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
(see note)
1 teaspoon coarsely ground red-pepper
flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons of sugar
Salt to taste
Blend all the ingredients to a rough (not
too smooth paste). Mound on an attractive
plate.
As in Jewish law, the Quran prescribes a
very strict code of Muslim dietary laws. Like
Jews, Muslims are prohibited from eating
pork. Similar to kosher laws, sheep and
cattle must be slaughtered according to a pre-
scribed method known as halal, which means
“permissible” in Arabic. (There are several
Note: Pomegranate molasses is available
at Rockridge’s Pasta Shop.
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for cooking
classes. His email is kaufman42@earthlink.net.

offer good until 2/28/07
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).
Notary Public available
Insurance and savings subject to availability and qualifications.
Savings applies to most major coverages. Allstate Indemnity
Company:  Northbrook, IL.
©2004 Allstate Insurance Company.


9.
January 6, 2007

The Zoning Counter
from page 5
5175 Broadway
Zoning C-30
This project is proposed for the parcel between
Poppy Fabrics and Wendy’s. The developer is
Gary Feiner of Live Oak Fund, LLP; the architect
is Remple & Associates of Berkeley.
It is a modern design with retail on the ground
floor and 19 units of housing on the upper
floors. The proposed design meets C-30 height
restrictions. Parking will be below grade.
This project is undergoing design review. The
applicant is seeking a variance so the project
can be oriented toward Broadway, rather than
Coronado.

For nearly 30 years, neighbors on Harwood, Rockwell and Chabot have
celebrated the start of the holiday season with a cookie party bash, a great
test of their annual resolve to stay thin during the season. This year, over 60
neighbors dropped by Kathy and Bill Garcia’s home on Rockwell to consume
hundreds of sugary favorites, catch up on the news and toast the holidays.
Above: a sampler of guests who visited during the 3-hour fête on Sunday,
December 17.                                                                                    Photo: Cy Gulassa

Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
Sat 9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
Complete architectural
services since 1970
5278 College Avenue
Oakland, CA  94618
(510) 654-6755   fax 654-3424
Henry C. Levy & Co.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Certified Public Accountants
and Consultants
A Professional Corporation
■
• tax preparation • estate planning
• tax planning
• business valuation
5940 College Avenue, Suite C
Oakland, California 94618
510.652-1000   FAX 510.654-2363

YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
ARE YOU PREPARED?
Rockridge Resident
Leila S. Gough,AssociateVice President-Investments
1999 Harrison, Suite 2050 • Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 452-8060
www.agedwards.com/fc/leila.gough
2004 A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. • Member SIPC

[24778-v1-0668]RP-260-0805


10.

January 6, 2007

Town Hall
from page 
Please join us for this important meeting.
We greatly value the input of community
members and look forward to hearing your
priorities for Rockridge in 2007.
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
J

ust in time to guide the sun through winter solstice and assure
its resurrection, the Ring of Cold Steel Longsword Team danced
in the Rockridge streets December 21 and (above) reveled at the
home of Sharon and David Green on Harwood Avenue. Jocelyn
Reynolds invites anyone interested in this age-old folk tradition of
northern England to join the team. Call 415/731-7104 or e-mail joss@
periodpieces.com.                                                                            Photo: Cy Gulassa

New year’s resolution:
Do more yoga!
for class schedule and more information,
visit www.namasterockridge.com
5416 college avenue • 510 547-YOGA
G
R  E  A  L  T  O  R  S
The GRUBB Co.
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard •Oakland
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley

$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only  Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Avenue, Oakland
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
601-1188
Mon – Fri  7 – 7 • Sat  8 – 6
Across from Zachary’s Pizza
New Market Strategies for
Buyers and Sellers
Comprehensive Market Strategy for Sellers and Buyers
Renovation Consultation for Resale and Purchase
Over 200 Vendor References from floors to kithcens
60-Step Marketing and Pre-Sale Plan for Owners
Over 30 articles free at: www.JLAHomes.com
— CO and MP, Oakland and Lafayette
“J
eff has handled 6 transactions for us and
remains our trusted real estate advisor.”
Residential. Investment Properties. Land.
20 years in Renovation Consulting
Straight
with Older Properties.
Talk
Jeff Auen, Realtor
Residential and Income Properties
Jeff Auen
Heritage Real Estate Century 21
North Oakland.  Lafayette.  Orinda.
Creative
Solutions
Jaoffice@comcast.net
www.JLAHomes.com
Results
1-800-805-8827
Call Jeff: 1.800.805.8827
Web: www.JLAHomes.com


11.
January 6, 2007

and around Lake Temescal enroute to
the Central Valley. In 1912, Rockridge
residents tried to prevent the railroad
from building its yard on Chabot.
Jeff Norman,
artist, author
The
Rockridge
 Muse
Temescal Legacies,
a  d e l i g h t f u l
p o r t r a i t
o f
a f a s c i n a t i n g
neighborhood,
generously
illustrated with
photographs,
documents and graphics. The book’s
design is unusual: The endpapers are maps
of Temescal, typefaces vary from modern
to traditional, and insets and clippings
enliven the reading experience. Jeff based
this book on personal interviews with
residents and included their portraits.
One of the most disruptive historical
events was the construction of the Grove
Shafter Freeway, now designated as
Highway 24. For a heart-wrenching
experience of the cost of progress, turn
to pages 94 and 95 which illustrate from
the same vantage point the before and
after effects of the massive project.
by Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig
Calling All
Rockridge Artists
R
A chapter is devoted to the East
Bay Negro Historical Society, a small
grassroots history organization with a
storefront museum, which eventually
evolved into the African-American
Museum and Library (AAMLO) downtown
near City Hall. There are accounts of
segregation and real-estate covenants
against non-whites.
ockridge artists take note: Apply
for a public art project limited to
artists who live in Oakland. Proposals are
sought for a West Oakland revitalization
project at Raimondi Park, on Wood Street
between 18th and 19th Streets. The park
is a key West Oakland sports field used
by many youth and adult teams and serves
as a community recreation center. The
budget is $37,500. Submission deadline
is Monday, January 22, 2007.
At a reception at Diesel A Bookstore
last month, Jeff noted that his subject is
really “greater Temescal,” the boundaries
of which once included lower Rockridge
before Highway 24 was built. What is
refreshing is that instead of trying to write
a linear history of the neighborhood, Jeff
chose to be selective, viewing his subject
from five angles, each of which comprises
a unique story in time and place.
Jeff also writes about Temescal Creek,
the community effort to save and improve
the Temescal Greenbelt, open space
and the creek itself. Temescal was once
an independent community, but was
eventually annexed by Oakland.
The Oakland Public Art Advisory
Committee is offering a project orientation
and Public Art Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) workshop in early January. View the
prospectus and get your application form
at the Cultural Arts and Marketing web
site, http://www.oaklandculturalarts.org/
main/callforartists.htm. Good luck!
Jeff has been devoting his life to
Temescal for 22 years. He helped establish
its newsletter, as well as the neighborhood
group, Temescal Neighbors Together,
(TNT). By narrating its history, he helps
establish the special identity for this
fascinating neighborhood.
Jeff singles out five significant events
since World War II, including the
establishment of Studio One. He tells
the story of the community fundraising
that created this unique art studio for
adults in the late 1940s, a landmark now
undergoing renovation.
A Tribute to Temescal,
Temescal Legacies, published by Shared
Ground, is available at Diesel A Bookstore,
5433 College Avenue, Oakland (http://
diesel.booksense.com/NASApp/store/
IndexJsp).
Another chapter discusses the “rise
and fall” of the Sacramento Northern
Railway – with its depot and railyard at
Shafter and 40th Street – which ran up
Shafter, across College, through Rockridge
Rockridge’s Sister
Neighborhood
Jeff Norman, Temescal organizer par
excellence, has written a historical book,
aboutface&body
dayspa      oaklandberkeley
waxing . facials . tinting
nails . massage . spray tan
They Are Home for the Holidays!

Address
Bed/Ba.
List Price
Selling Price
Close Date
5437 Shafter Ave.
3/2
$869,000
$869,000
12/1/2006
5744 Presley Way
4/3
$1,749,000
$1,689,000
12/5/2006
6100 Colby St.
2/1
$725,000
$725,000
12/6/2006
5935 Manchester Dr.
4/4
$2,500,000
$2,475,000
12/15/2006
December 2005 to December 2006, Comparison of Home Sales in Rockridge:
It is looking up this holiday season. The median price of homes rose 7.5% from 2005 to 2006.
This has not been the case for other neighboring districts. Last year there were 3 homes that
closed, compared to 4 this year. Days on the market, however, increased from 20 days in 2005,
to 34 days in 2006.

skin care products and gifts
3190 college avenue
/at alcatraz/
berkeley, ca 94705
p/ 510.428.2600
www.aboutfaceandbody.net
sun-tues/ 10:30-5:30
wed-sat/ 10:30-8:00


12.

January 6, 2007

Condo Meeting
notification.
of exclusion. The majority of units start at
$400K, but even the lowest price, $370K,
requires an estimated income of $75K for
purchase, far out of reach of many workers
and service providers.
There was also concern about whether
the condos are attracting the right mix of
people for investing in and building a diverse
community — condo buyers, it was said,
tend to be young skilled workers and pro-
fessionals without children, who may move
elsewhere once they start families. Pricing,
it was pointed out, also creates its own form
from page 
of high-density projects require attention
and mitigation. These include: parking
and traffic congestion; pedestrian and bike
safety; air and noise pollution; sun and
view blockage; absence of green spaces;
inappropriate scale; demolition of historic
buildings; strain on sewage and water sys-
tems, and on police, fire and local school
services; and loss of affordable rental units.
Densification is also an issue, with one
speaker pointing out that 2,800 units are
going up within proximity of his residence.
Another wanted to know what happens in
a severe earthquake.
Some wondered whether the frenetic pace
of development would eventually exceed
demand, leading to a softening market and
devaluation of units.
City planning officials, according to
some, need to provide early notification,
installation of storyboards at sites, public
participation, “and should quit handing
out conditional use permits (CUPs) like
candy.” Planning commissioners should
respect community advice—they routinely
dismiss petitions signed by hundreds of
residents. Planning Director Claudio Cappio
acknowledged the need for improvements
in the planning process, including early

Panelists representing developers and neighborhood organizations argued
the pros and cons of higher density along Oakland’s major traffic corridors at
a meeting last month at Peralta Elementary School.                  Photo: Cy Gulassa

Rockridge:  5400 College Avenue
Elmwood:  2930 College Avenue
Weekend Brunch in Elmwood
Kitchens
• Design
• Remodeling
• Showroom Sales
www.acornkitchens
andbaths.com
KITCHENS & BATHS
510
547-6581
4640 TELEGRAPH AVE  •  OAKLAND
HOURS: T-F  10-5  •  SAT. 10-4

."*40/
/067&"64
3&$&/5

61$0.*/(
-*45*/(4
life
moves you

5)
453&&5
3-
$0.*/(
400/

#&%300.


#"5)
."*40//067&"6$0.
.BJTPO
/PVWFBV
JT
B
CPVUJRVF

CSPLFSBHF
UIBU
QSPWJEFT

VOSJWBMFE
GVMM
TFSWJDF
UP
PVS

DMJFOUT
XJUI
B
VOJRVF
UFBNXPSL

BQQSPBDI

JOIPVTF
mOBODJOH

BO

VOQBSBMMFMFE
NBSLFUJOH
QSPHSBN


BOE
DPNNJTTJPOT
UIBU
NBLF
TFOTF

,&*5)
"7&/6&
0''&3&%
"5



40-%
'03



%":4
0/
5)&
."3,&5


,&*5)
"7&/6&
0''&3&%
"5



40-%
'03



%":4
0/
5)&
."3,&5

$BMM
VT
UPEBZ
BU

BOE

QSFQBSF
UP



."/*-"
"7&/6&
3-
be moved
0''&3&%
"5


40-%
'03


3&$&/5-:
40-%
MAISONNOUVEAU.COM


13.
January 6, 2007

Shake, Rattle and Burn?
we’ll ask you to move it, at an additional
expense.” If you have only $300 or $400
to spend on earthquake preparedness, this
is an effective step to take. (The author has
had a Vanguard Seismic Safety Valve on
her house since right after the Loma Prieta
quake. No subsequent earthquake has been
strong enough to trigger the device.)
the insurance pool will be sufficient to pay
full dollar value.
A simple upgrade can help
avoid the worst outcome
One of the most important earthquake
retrofits you can do is install an automatic gas
shut-off valve. This valve will shut off your
gas whether or not you are home should a
strong earthquake hit. This protects not only
your home, but also all your neighbors, from
fire. The valves are usually easy to reset and
do not activate in small to medium quakes.
Some counties and insurance companies
now require these valves.
by Annette Floystrup
The recent flurry of local earthquakes,
coming just after the 15th anniversary
of our firestorm, is a good reminder that
homeowners need to protect against fire.
The California State Governor’s Office of
Emergency Preparedness estimates that
over 175 fires will break out in our Berke-
ley-Oakland area under normal conditions
after a major earthquake on the Hayward
or San Andreas faults.
Annette Floystrup formerly taught emergency
preparedness to corporations.
Automatic Gas
Shutoff Devices
S
Such devices fall into two categories: a
seismically activated type which responds
to a shaking force and a flow type which
senses excessive flow.
ome cities and counties require the
installation of automatic gas shutoff
devices, which may include excess flow
and/or earthquake actuated gas shutoff
valves. Regulations vary, but generally
apply to new construction, or significant
alterations or additions to existing
buildings. Contact your city or county
agency for regulations.
— From PG&E’s web site
The number of fires could easily triple or
quadruple during hot or windy conditions.
Local fire departments, while better prepared
for disasters today, are simply not equipped
to fight hundreds of simultaneous fires,
even assuming an adequate supply of water.
Further, in addition to fighting fires, other
top priorities of the fire departments include
coordinating outside resources, rescuing
people in collapsed buildings, and supporting
governmental functions and hospitals.
The first type usually contains a ball
which rests in a socket. When shaking hits
5.4 on the Richter scale, the ball falls out and
a mechanism triggers the valve to close. The
second type is designed to sense breakages
in the gas pipes by detecting excessive flow
of gas through the lines. Most of the valves
have a reset device built onto them.
Editor’s Note: The illustration and
text boxed here are from the PG&E
website at http://www.pge.com/safety/
prepare_natural_disasters/earthquakes/
gas_shutoff_devices/index.html and
are presented for general information,
not necessarily as an endorsement of the
installation of gas shutoff devices. Consult
PG&E and your plumber for information
before deciding..
There are a number of valves that are
state certified and most are quite cheap
(mostly under $100). Pacific Gas & Electric
is officially valve-neutral. “Everyone needs
to make the determination whether this
device is best for them,” says Jason Alder-
man, a PG&E representative. “But if you
decide to install one, it’s very important
to have a licensed plumber do the instal-
lation. Don’t buy any do-it-yourself kits or
videos, and make sure the plumber installs
it on the homeowner side of the meter. If
installed on the PG&E side of the meter,
Many of the projected 175-plus fires
could ignite entire blocks and neighborhoods,
as happened in the 1906 San Francisco and
the more recent Kobe, Japan earthquakes.
Why not simply get earthquake insurance
and trust to luck? Rather than risk the odds,
the best way to avoid the worst is to make
your home earthquake and fire resistant,
according to the experts. The cost of seismic
upgrading has a much higher cost benefit
than earthquake insurance over the years.
Besides, insurance policies have very high
deductibles and there is no guarantee that
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
COLLINS ROOFING
great inventory —
Call now for Pre-approval!
Family Owned & Operated
Monica C. Di Perna
510-225-5635
monicaloan@aol.com
482-2227  Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
15 years in the mortgage industry;
I am a Rockridge resident
Lic # 695711


14.

January 6, 2007

N. Tahoe Condo—
Summer 2007 Rental
Lovely 2br/2ba condo on the beach. Full kitchen,
pool, hot tub, fitness room, picnic grounds,
BBQ, children’s playground, wharf. Available
6/10-6/17 and 8/12-8/19. Sleeps up to 6. Call
510/658-9530, janebcal@yahoo.com.
French Culinary Tour—
April 18-29, 2007
Register now for Paris Gastronomique! Explore
French cuisine and culture with Prodigy Chef
Tyler Stone and Thomas Talboy, PhD. Visit
www.MyUITour.com or call 1-86-MY-UI-TOUR.
Book by January 18 for a $300 discount.
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. February deadline is January 18.
For information: e-mail smontauk@gmail.com
Creative Writing Workshop
Come write in a supportive, inspiring writing com-
munity. Meets Wednesdays 7-10 p.m. beginning
January 17. All levels of writing experience welcome.
Joan Marie Wood, 653-4576, www.temescalwriters.
com. This is Temescal Writers’ 12th year.
Trumpet Lessons, Private
Rockridge Area Studio
Professional trumpeter, recording artist, band
leader and educator for over 30 years, Khalil
Shaheed has openings for new serious students,
all ages and levels. Contact Khalil at 510/206-
4509 or oaktwnjazz@aol.com.
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 510/761-7168.
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.
Got Feet?
Free hour with Reflexologist-in-training. Call
now while it lasts–Near Rockridge BART. Relax
Restore & Rebound 601-0614: missjones@
dotcomdetox Donations welcome. NOW YOU
HAVE A FRIEND IN THE FOOT BUSINESS!
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.
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.
Handyman
Carpentry, electrical, Kitchen, bath, decks,
fence, drainage, foundation repair, windows,
walls, dry rot, termite damage. Lic#458473
Don 510/812-0310.
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.
Join the Inside Outside
Fitness Startup Challenge
Make fitness a habit & win prizes! Get that
resolution started with six weeks of work-
outs, personal training, relaxing massage
and motivational meetings. 4444 Piedmont
Avenue, 510/655-8308, www.insideoutsidefit-
ness.com.
Expert Rockridge
Algebra Tutor
I teach Algebra to 8th graders. I really enjoy
kids this age and I love Algebra. If your child
needs review, support or challenge in Algebra,
contact me. It’s my specialty. 510/655-7711.
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.
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.
Unexpected Guests?
Short-term rental, lovely room 2 blocks
from Rockridge BART in owner’s flat. Wi-fi,
cable, t.v. Photos available. Barbird@aol.com
510/652-7044.
SIMPLIFY!
Clutter Control
Paper/Filing Systems
Kitchens/Closets
Space Planning
Packing/Unpacking
Solutions for the critical mess
Non-Judgmental & Confidential
www.SummersOrganizing.com
Barbara ✔ 415-381-0707

f h k f v k p
f h k f v k p


15.
January 6, 2007

E-mail Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1@hotmail.com, phone 653-3210 (after noon), or mail to: Rockridge News
Community Calendar, 5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618. Deadline is the next to the last Tuesday of the month.

Community Calendar
Compiled by Jo Ellis

Councilmember Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
train others through a compost community outreach
program. Sign up now for classes to be given on Tuesday
nights, February through mid-May, including 2 Saturday
field trips. Contact StopWaste.Org at 510/444-SOIL or
www.BayFriendly.org.
First Saturday every other month, 10am to noon. Peralta
Elementary School: 460 63rd St. (parking on Alcatraz
Ave., just east of Telegraph). No January meeting. For
February meeting topic and information on all District
One issues, call 238-7001 or www.oaklandnet.com
(the site for all City-related information).
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Closed: Sundays; also Monday 1/15.
Diesel Book/Readings and Events
Sick Plant Clinic
All events are FREE and open to the public
Thursday, 1/11, 7:30pm. Don Hanlon Johnson: Everyday
Hopes, Utopian Dreams.
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.
The Greater Rockridge N’hood
Crime Prevention Council
Thursday, 1/25, 7:30pm. Mark Coleman: Awake in
the Wild: Mindfulness in Nature as a Path of Self
Discovery.
Wednesday, 1/31, 7:30pm. V.O. Blum: Split Creek.
Thursday, 2/1, 7:30pm. Local author Daniel Alarcon:
Lost City Radio.
Wednesday, 2/7, 7:30pm. Local author and poet Kaya
Oakes: Telegraph.
Friday, 2/9, 7:30pm. Basketball great Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar: On the Shoulders of Giants.
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
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 Broadway (at College Ave.), Ralls Bldg.
room 203. Directions and more information: www.
rockridgencpc.com.
ó
ó
ó
North Oakland Multi-Purpose
Senior Center
ó
Rockridge Branch Library
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
opportunities to become a volunteer.
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
1/6, 1/10, 2/3.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am: 1/17, 2/7.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm:
1/9, 1/23.
FOR TEENS AGES 13 and up:
ó
Peralta Elementary School
Kindergarten Open House
ó
ó
Meet our principal and kindergarten teachers to learn
about our programs. Wednesday, 1/17, 6:45pm. 460 63rd
Street. To RSVP for childcare or for more information call
655-2737 or www.geocities.com/peraltaschool/.
NOTE: school tours are now available on Mondays
and Wednesdays. Call 879-1450 to schedule a tour
date. Get information on open enrollment procedures at
OUSD’s student assignment office at 879-8111.
Anime Club: Watch and talk about new anime
(Japanese animation) with other teens. 2nd Tuesday
of each month (1/9), from 5 to 6:30pm in the upstairs
meeting room. For questions about this or any other
teen event, call Susy, the Teen Specialist Librarian,
at 597-5017.
FOR ADULTS:
ó
Julia Morgan School for Girls
Adnissions Information Meeting for the only all-girls
middle school (grades 6-8) serving the East Bay.
Opportunity for prospective students and their families to
learn about programs and admissions process. Wednes-
day, January 10, 7pm. Located on the campus of Mills
College, 5000 MacArthur Blvd. For more information or
to RSVP, call April Word at 632-6000, ext. 125.
Jazz at the Chimes
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.
“Women, Wisdom and Wealth:” Financial Planning
for Women. Workshop led by George M. Noceti,
instructor at UCB Extension and Financial Advisor
with Morgan Stanley. Workbook and other materials
provided. Co-sponsored with American Association
of University Women (AAUW). Saturday, 1/20, 2 to
4:30pm.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8pm. Advance sign-up
starts 5pm. For more information: 597-5017.
ART EXHIBITS:
Gallery: January: David Hardy and group; paintings
from the Atelier School of Classical Realism.
February: Kathryn Bettis Photographs.
Lobby Display Case: January: “Season of Non-
Violence Exhibit.” by the Bay Area Season for
Non-violence Committee.
February: John Baldwin: collage and acrylic.
ó
Concert, followed by “meet-and- greet” reception, featur-
ing saxophonist Anton Schwartz whose CD, Radiant Blue
hit #4 on national radio charts. Sunday, 1/21, 2pm (doors
open 1:30pm). Monthly series sponsored by Lifemark
Group Arts that feature Bay Area talent. Tickets: $10:
kids under 12 free. Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont
Ave. More info/reservations: 228-3218.
Volunteers Needed
Jewish Coalition for Literacy: Reading tutors to
introduce students in local elementary schools to
the excitement of reading. Tutors are given free
comprehensive training and on-going support.
Time commitment of one hour per week to work
with one to three students. We also accept new
and gently used children’s books which we donate
to public schools in need. Call 839-2900x274, or
www.jclread.org.
Second Start Adult Literacy Program: Teach an
adult to read. Free training. Nine month minimum
commitment. Volunteers can meet with their stu-
dents at the Rockridge Branch Library. For more
information: 238-3432 or www.oaklandlibrary.
org/services/SecondStart.
Friends of Temescal Creek: Monitor water qual-
ity by collecting water samples at Temescal Lake
for analysis.  Important for Rockridge residents
because Temescal Creek runs above-ground near
Frog Park. Volunteers meet on the third Saturday
of each month from 10am to noon. Regular com-
mitment preferred. For more information and for
where to meet, contact Friends of Temescal Creek
at fotc2005@yahoo.com.
ó
ó
Luna Kids Dance
Free Community event: Open House and Dance
Class. Dance, play, improvisation, refreshments and
family fun. Meet the Luna Kids Dance faculty and learn
more about creative-based dance education. Saturday,
1/6, 1 to 3pm. Julia Morgan Center for the Arts (studio C),
2640 College Avenue, Berkeley. For more information:
Rosemary Hannon, 644-3629.
ó
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). Gallery hours: Monday-
Friday, 9am to 5pm. The show runs 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.
ó
ó
Become a Master Composter
Grow a greener community. The Master Composter
Program provides free training in composting, soil health
and bay-friendly gardening techniques. Participants then


16.

January 6, 2007

VINITA GOKHALE
ROCKRIDGE REALTOR AND HOMEOWNER
ROBERTS ELECTRIC
Happy
RECO
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
Highest Sales
INSTALLATION • REPAIR • 220 WIRING
New
Prices,
NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODEL
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
510-717-0630
www.
Open Sundays 1-5 pm
.com
574 48th St.
New Condos
in Temescal
• Sewer Pipe Diagnostics
• Trouble Shooting & Repair
• Trenchless Sewer Replacement
12 Brand New Condos in Temescal
1 bed/1 bath from $389K
2 bed/ 1 bath from $475K
510/465-3000
www.Gate48.Net
Berkeley — Oakland — Rockridge
Soon in Rockridge
Penthouse Condo on Broadway Terr.
2 bed/ 2 bath + Loft
Huge Roof Top Deck w/Panoramic Views
“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
ME. I HAVE 28 YEARS
OF ROCKRIDGE SALES
EXPERIENCE AND THE
EXPERTISE YOU NEED.
6 5 5 - 2 3 3 0
ROCKRIDGE
R
E
A
L T
Y
6 0 1 9  C O L L E G E  AV E N U E
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL
ABOUT
ASHBY LUMBER?
1,458
years of
Experience,
…as of today.
ASHBY LUMBER
HARDWARE & BUILDING SUPPLIES
824 ASHBY AVE
BERKELEY
(510) 843-4832 OPEN 7 DAYS
2295 ARNOLD INDUSTRIAL WAY
CONCORD (925) 689-8999 Mon-Sat
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING
Professional,
Full Service
Real Estate Brokerage
To Rockridge Clients
For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN
27
W Residential Sales
W Income Property
W Commercial
W Property Management
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland