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VOL. 22  NO. 4  ISSUE NO. 233  April 7, 2007 
CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

✔
RCPC Election Hotly Contested
April Meeting Agenda:
RCPC/NCPC Town Hall Meeting
In one of the most hotly contested elections in RCPC history, eleven
candidates are vying for six seats on the board of directors of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council. Before casting your vote,
be sure to read their statements on pages 4 and 5. The issues are
significant and will have lasting impact on the character and quality of
life in the Rockridge community. They range from how to respond to
zoning conflicts and pressures for growth and development to how to
deal with crime, parking, traffic congestion and pedestrian safety, and
more. Come hear the candidates speak and cast your vote upstairs in
the Rockridge library on Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m. If you are unable
to attend the candidates’ presentations, you can also vote in the lobby
of the Rockridge library on Saturday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
VOTE!
Thursday, April 19, 7:00 pm., Rockridge
Branch Library, 5366 College Avenue
at Manila, Community Room (Upstairs)
RCPC Election: Board candidates
introduce themselves and describe
their platforms for Rockridge

n Following candidate introductions and state-
ments, there will be two opportunities to
vote for the candidate of your choice:
1. Vote at the meeting, Thursday, April 19:
2. Vote Saturday, April 21, in the lobby of
the Rockridge library, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
See announcement in box at right.
‘Coalition’ of the Unwitting:
Developers Send Deceptive Mailing
n Voter Eligibility
People age 18 and over who live within
RCPC boundaries are eligible to vote.
Verification will be by driver’s license or
DMV ID card showing an address within
RCPC boundaries, as shown on the RCPC
website at rockridge.org.
NCPC Panel: OPD officers and a
Neighborhood Watch representa-
tive discuss crime in Rockridge
by John Gussman
D
Temescal /Telegraph Business Improve-
ment District, and over 1,000 concerned
Temescal residents.”
uring late March, many Rockridge
and Temescal residents were sur-
prised to receive, in the mail, an elaborate
color brochure announcing another in a
succession of new, ad hoc groups – the
“Coalition for Housing and Retail on
Telegraph Avenue.”

The brochure invited recipients to
return a detachable postcard, indicat-
ing whether they preferred: (1) to “keep
Telegraph Avenue and the Temescal
District as it is now”; or (2) “revitaliza-
tion of the Temescal District including
new retail and increased housing.” They
were not asked whether they would like
to see new retail and housing, carried
out in compliance with the current C-28
zoning along Telegraph.
n A panel of Oakland police officers and a city
Neighborhood Watch representative will
discuss crime issues in Oakland in general
and Rockridge in particular. The panel will
feature OPD Deputy Chief Jeffrey Israel.
The full story is below.
“A coalition has formed to encour-
age increased housing and retail along
the Telegraph transportation corridor,”
it declared. “The coalition includes the
Sierra Club, Eastbay Workforce Hous-
ing Coalition, Oakland’s Better Housing
Coalition, ULTRA (Urbanists for Liv-
able Temescal and Rockridge Area), the
RCPC/NCPC Town
Hall Meeting:
Elections and Crime
by Susan Montauk,
NCPC chairwoman
C
A number of recipients told The
Rockridge News
Brochure, page 12
¬
The Friends of the Rockridge
Library Board Needs You!
Trime and the Rockridge Community Planning
Council board elections are on the bill for
the April 19 Town Hall Meeting at the Rockridge
library, co-hosted by the Greater Rockridge
Neighborbood Crime Prevention Council and
the RCPC. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. with the
introduction of candidates (see pages 4 and 5 for
candidates’ statements) for the RCPC board of
directors. To vote, you must be 18 or older and live
within RCPC bound-
aries as described at
RCPC/NCPC, page 10
¬
he FORL board meets four times a year to discuss and implement ways of cham-
pioning our wonderful local library. Current projects include helping to find and
fund a student for our summer intern program, building the books-on-CD collection,
assisting with ongoing practical needs, planning ways to increase our membership,
and advocating for the library. Come join us and enjoy terrific colleagues, interesting
projects, delicious cookies, and a great cause.
RCPC & FORL Board elections are on Thursday, April 19, at the Rockridge library.
For more information phone FORL Chairwoman Jennifer Vetter at 510/595-1817, or
e-mail her at jrvetter@comcast.net.

April 7, 2007

Letters to The Editor
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Your name,
address, phone number and e-mail address and city/neighborhood
must be included for verification. Only your name and city/neigh-
borhood will appear with your letter. Letters may be edited for
clarity and brevity.

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon,Tues:
Weds,Thurs, Sat:
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.

RCPC Land Use Committee Subverts Role of the RCPC Board

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.
appears on the web page of RCPC (www.
rockridge.org), the Land Use Committee
has abandoned organizational restraints and
assumed a troublesome degree of autonomy
(emphasis added):
Editor:
The current RCPC Land Use Committee’s
mission statement is in serious conflict with
RCPC Bylaws, grants excessive authority to
the committee and undermines the historical
relationship between the RCPC board and
its committees.
The Land Use Committee’s mission
is to: advocate for, propose, and guide
planning and development policies and
projects towards a sustainable, vital
commercial and residential neighbor-
hood. This committee is responsible
for monitoring, providing substantive
review and commenting on commercial
and residential planning, applications,
zoning compliance, and relevant leg-
islation; in addition to promoting the
implementation of neighborhood plans.
This Committee promotes working rela-
tionships between community members
and serves as a liaison between RCPC
and the Oakland Planning Commis-
sion, city staff, developers and project
proponents.
Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa...........................Editor
Janet Somers.......................Copy Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &
First, a little history. RCPC was formed
in 1974 in opposition to the city’s proposed
densification and mid-rise residential zoning
around the newly opened Rockridge BART
station. Through this effort, and those of other
community groups, the C-31 zone was defined
and adopted by the city. A decade later the
“new” RCPC was formed, largely in opposi-
tion to the Dreyer’s redevelopment project on
College Avenue, and the feeling that C-31, and
its hard won benefits, needed protection.
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson.....................Neighborhood Merchant
Lydia Gans...........................Photography
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2006-2007
Jessica Pitt............................Chair
Mike Taylor ......................... Vice-Chair
Janelle Cavanagh and
Gloria Bruce.......................Co-Secretaries
Susan Montauk...................Treasurer
Kent Deverell, Jennifer Edmister, Annette Floystrup,
The RCPC board’s primary function was
then, and is now, to represent the interest of
the community as expressed in community
meetings, and in informal contacts between
board members and residents in the RCPC
area. To avoid conflict of interest and legal
liability, RCPC never endorsed projects, it
only “opposed or not opposed” them based
on C-31 zoning and community preservation
and enhancement.
Cy Gulassa, Albert Hussian, Hiroko Kurihara,
Mike McDonald, Steve Meyer, Stephanie Upp
Newsletter Subscriptions
The statement conflicts with the stated
mission of RCPC to protect C-31 and pre-
serve and enhance the community. Most
importantly, it indicates that the Committee
itself (not RCPC or its board) will advocate,
propose, and guide policies and projects. By
whose authority? Certainly not as a represen-
tation of RCPC or its membership, but as an
apparently independent interest group.
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
Contacting The Rockridge News
 Are there community issues you’d like to see
RCPC also created several committees
with special interests and functions which
still operate today. The committees prepared
analyses and recommendations for the Board
to consider and adopt. The members of the
committees understood that they did not
function as independent entities and that in
public forums only the RCPC board chair or
designee was authorized to speak on behalf
of RCPC.
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:
Frankly, I view this mission statement as
an abrogation or subversion of the board’s
power as provided in the bylaws. I believe
the board should restructure the Land Use
Committee and reaffirm the committee’s
responsibilities to the board and to the RCPC
membership. The
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 510/869-4200
Articles submitted for publication may be e-mailed
to the above address. Submissions are limited to
650 words; must include the authors’s name, phone
number, e-mail address, and city or neighborhood
of residence; and are subject to editing. To reprint a
Rockridge News article, please contact the editor.
Based on the mission statement which
Letters, page
¬
a
What’s Your
Home Worth?
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
the Rockridge community
in lifestyle and service.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
Call Me for an
Opinion of Value
 May 5, 2007
 May deadline is April 19.
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.)
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

3.
April 7, 2007

Rockridge Makes Room for One More;
RCPC Chair Takes on New Roles
R
CPC Chairwoman Jessica Pitt and her husband, Bob Franklin,
who represents our own District 3 on the BART board of direc-
tors, happily announce the birth of Ivan Alexander Franklin. Born a
bit early, on February 10, Ivan is already a man about town. A regular
at the Farmer’s Market, baby Ivan also enjoys long walks on College
Avenue, and often ends up at the BART station, where he and Dad
ponder ways to improve access, including benches, landscaping and
passenger drop-off zones.
Concluding four years of service to the community as a member and
then chairwoman of the RCPC board of directors, Jessica will leave the board
when her current term expires, in April of this year. She plans to devote most
of her new free time to Ivan and to her job managing the Bay Area Workforce
Funding Collaborative, a grant program of The San Francisco Foundation.

Meet Your Neighbors; Help Your Community
Join the Rockridge Kitchen Tour Committee!

The Zoning Counter
The Zoning Counter is a compilation of re-
cent applications filed with the Oakland
Planning Department. Individuals may contact
the case planner or the Planning Department
for additional information by phone or on-line
at www.oaklandnet.com. (See www.oaklandnet.
com/government/ceda/revised/planning.html
for applictions on file.)
by Jennifer Edmister,
RCPC board member
The 2007 Rockridge Kitchen
Tour Committee has had the
pleasure of viewing a number
of stunning kitchens since the
selection process began last
December. For our neighbors
who spent weeks or even months
cooking on a camp stove or
washing dishes in the bathroom
sink, the sacrifice has paid off.
We look forward to a spectacular
Kitchen Tour on October 7!
5800 & 5802 Ocean View Drive
Proposal: To convert two existing residential
dwelling units into two residential condominium
units.
Applicant: Jonathan Gabel
Contact Phone Number: 510/653-8879
Owner: Jonathan Gabel
Planning Permits Required: Vesting
Tentative Parcel Map for condominium con-
version.
Historic Status: Potential Designated His-
toric Property
Survey Rating: C2+
Case Planner: Mike Rivera at 510/238-6417 or
mrivera@oaklandnet.com
2005 Kitchen Tour guests admire Janli
Degenhardt’s Locksley Avenue kitchen.
The continuing success of the Kitchen
Tour is due not only to the magnificent
kitchens on display, but to the enthusiastic
volunteers who lend their time, energy and
specials skills to this biennial event. If you
would like to join us by volunteering, we
have openings on the publicity and general
coordination committees. We are also look-
ing for docents to show off Rockridge’s
finest kitchens. All volunteers will be
treated to a ticket to the show. But perhaps
the most gratifying reward is knowing
that, as a Kitchen Tour volunteer, you’ve
helped raise the funds that allow RCPC to
advocate for health, safety and quality of
life in Rockridge. Volunteering is also a
great way to meet your neighbors and to
feel connected to your community.
Zoning Counter, page 5
¬
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
PAST RETIREMENT.
If you have a few hours (or perhaps a
few more) to contribute, we have a place
for you. To volunteer for the Kitchen Tour
Committee, or to make a last-minute rec-
ommendation of a special kitchen, e-mail
Jennifer Edmister at toejrb@earthlink.net
with subject “Kitchen Tour,” or call her at
510/869-4200. To volunteer to be a docent
on the day of the tour, call Nancy Sale at
510/655-4625.
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
2004 A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. • Member SIPC

April 7, 2007

Election 2007: RCPC Board Candidates

Jennifer Edmister
Thomas Avenue
Steve Meyer
Broadway
Incumbent
S
Incumbent
Aince joining the RCPC board of directors
in December 2003, my primary focus has
been the Rockridge Kitchen Tour, RCPC’s
sole fundraiser. As the co-chair of this
event, it has been my pleasure to meet both energetic newcomers
to the area and many of the longtime Rockridgians who helped
build this community. Formerly a real estate litigation attorney,
I’ve lived in and loved Rockridge for almost 10 years. Today, as
a stay-at-home mom, soon to start my oldest son in our public
school, I have an even greater appreciation for the quality of life
here. I would like RCPC to help ensure that Rockridge remains a
healthy, vibrant neighborhood, in which we can all live, walk, and
send our children to school.
s a homeowner and resident of Rockridge
for the past three and a half years, and
RCPC board member for the past year and
a half, my family and I have enjoyed and
truly appreciate all of the things that make
this neighborhood great and unique. As current chair of the RCPC
Traffic, Pedestrian, and Bicycle Safety (TPBS) Committee, I have
been able to work with Rockridge residents and City of Oakland
officials by facilitating dialogue and communication in an effort to
define feasible solutions for the issues that have been identified in
our neighborhood. Our current and ongoing focus is in the areas
of Upper Broadway and the Rockridge Triangle. I would very much
like the opportunity to continue to serve on the RCPC board, and
thank you for your support.
Albert Hussian
Locksley Avenue
Grace Park
Birch Court
I
Incumbent
Ihope to nurture the growth of this
neighborhood and to preserve and
protect the very character that makes
Rockridge a wonderful place to live. By
character I mean a walkable, diverse,
economically vibrant community that is a unique expression
of a neighborhood of Oakland. And by preserve and protect,
I mean to speak for and champion the welfare of the people
who live here.To that end I would like to see an explicit position
statement that: 1) guides the RCPC to act as an impassioned
defender of traffic safety, public areas, environmental concerns
and enlightened land use, and 2) expands the dialogue between
the RCPC, community groups, residents, businesses and the city
government on neighborhood issues.
have lived in Rockridge most of my life,
love this area and want to remain on the
board to help make smart decisions that
serve the best interests of the community.
I want to see the charm and character of Rockridge stay the same,
but community safety increase and grow with the changes that do
happen. I may not always agree with the other board members, but
I do agree with their ideals. I have worked with FORL, FROG Park,
and the RCPC board by providing a sound system, engineering and
planning for events throughout last year, reducing their expenses
while enhancing their events. My plan includes working more closely
with the Rockridge business association (RDA) on community
events and special projects.
Hiroko M. Kurihara
62nd Street
Ellen Peterson
Roble Road
I
Incumbent
Ihave lived in Rockridge for over 20 years,
first as a renter, then as an owner and a
landlord. Following the Oakland Hills Fire,
and following my retirement from practicing
law, I became involved in several planning
issues as they impacted my neighborhood, including sound mitigation
below Highway 24, land marking the Claremont Hotel, and various
zoning issues. For several years, I have been president of the Chabot
Canyon Association, our neighborhood association. I support the
traditional values of the RCPC, believing that those who obtained
the C-31 zoning have preserved and improved Rockridge. Without
that zoning, Rockridge will lose its special character. Thank you
for your consideration.
’ve volunteered as chair of the Land Use
Committee for four years. I am inspired
to continue as a board member because I
believe that the RCPC needs to ask: What
are the core values we hold as a community? I see a community
where people with mixed incomes and different backgrounds
have multiple options for housing that suit all phases of life. I
see innovative buildings (e.g., a community center with multi-
generational housing above) that engage people with each other
and create a sense of place that is livelier, safer, and supportive of
our local businesses. Let’s preserve Rockridge as a walkable transit
neighborhood and go one step further and become an inclusive,
caring community that takes responsibility for the future.

5.
April 7, 2007

Jeff Small
Hudson Street
A
Danica Truchlikova
Manor Crest
Ms a 10-year Rockridge resident and
Oakland business owner, it is a
privilege to run for a position on the RCPC
board. From attending recent planning
meetings, I learned of something that I
think most Rockridge residents are unaware of. We are in the
middle of a small zoning crisis. Our city “general plan” has been
updated but our zoning hasn’t. The result is a mess, with each
development being an “exception” and people’s personal agendas
coming before the voice of the community. I am ready to help
change that trend and foster responsible, vibrant growth that
reflects the community. That is RCPC’s mission.
y name is Danica Truchlikova. I am a
licensed architect and have recently
retired after 40 years of practice. I have
lived in Rockridge for over 20 years and
care deeply about our neighborhood. I am
running for the board because I strongly
support the original RCPC mission to preserve the unique
character of Rockridge – its human scale and density. I am
concerned about the large, high-density developments currently
proposed for the border of Rockridge, and the possibility of
similar proposals within our boundaries. If elected, I would
use my professional experience to serve the best interests of
Rockridge residents by working hard to ensure that any future
projects maintain the scale and character of our neighborhood
and conform to current zoning.
Ronnie Spitzer
Kales Avenue
I
Margaret Wahlberg
Ocean View Drive
R
’m dedicated to upholding the historic
RCPC mission and representing the
community’s interests. As a former RCPC
director, 1994-2000, my service included
RCPC vice-chair, Traffic Committee chair
including leading the 1994 Rockridge
Neighborhood Plan, appointed Neighborhood Liaison on the
MTC Caldecott Tunnel Study Technical Committee, and interim
Zoning chair. I’m current FROG treasurer. If elected, I pledge
to: 1) preserve and uphold all provisions of existing Rockridge
planning code, including height, density, College Avenue ground
floor retail usage, parking; 2) follow precedents and policies of
past boards including opposing unnecessary variances; 3) restore
RCPC’s historic ties to other North Oakland neighborhood
groups; 4) work with Oakland to reconcile the General Plan and
Zoning Code provisions; and 5) represent residents’ views.
ockridge is nationally acclaimed as a
successful urban village with a vibrant
business district backed by a strong
community. Huge development projects,
however, are pressing against our borders,
and as never before, Rockridge must
preserve its quality of life by protecting the foundation on which
it stands: C-31 zoning. The development and height regulations
of C-31 have helped to define and enhance Rockridge as one of
this country’s most desirable places to live. As a 16-year resident
of Rockridge, small-business owner, and a member of the RCPC
Land Use Committee, the Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council, and co-founder of WhistleStop, one of my goals as an
RCPC board member will be to uphold the restrictions of C-31
zoning for all future Rockridge development.
Peter St. John
Benvenue
I
Meet the candidates and hear their statements
at the RCPC Town Hall Meeting, April 19, at the
’ve lived and worked in Rockridge since
1986. Starting with an MFA from CCA, I
have based my building and design business
here. I’m running for the board of the RCPC
to preserve the scale, livability and cultural
diversity of this special neighborhood.
Rockridge is threatened by the type of high-density residential
projects dominating Emeryville, spreading in Temescal, and planned
for Rockridge. The RCPC’s past battles defending the unique
character of our neighborhood have earned us a reputation as
a difficult place for aggressive developers – a good thing. This
valuable reputation is threatened by the recent dominance of the
RCPC board by high-density residential advocates. If elected to
the board, I will work to take back the future of Rockridge.
library. Vote April 19 or April 21 at the library.
More from...
from page 3
The Zoning Counter
6105 Chabot Road
Proposal: One parcel subdivision for 4 resi-
dential condominium units.
Contact Person: Maurice Tolbert,
653-5829
Owner: Mike and Mila Tolbert
Case File Number: TPM 9347
Planning Permits Required: Tentative
Parcel Map to create four condominium units.
Survey Rating: F3
Case Planner: Caesar Quitevis at 510/238-
6343 or clquitevis@oaklandnet.com
Correction: In the story on Studio One renovations in
the March Rockridge News, the amount of Measure DD
funding available for the project was misstated. The
correct amount is $10,000,000.

April 7, 2007

of scale or neighborhood concerns, developers are planning huge
condominium projects on the Rockridge/Temescal border. These
Emeryville corridor-type developments are supported by the
urbanists that currently sit on the RCPC board.
Letters to The Editor,
continued from page 2
The pro-development trend has not gone unnoticed in Rockridge.
At a well-attended January RCPC meeting, in spite of the attempts
of the chair to quiet the voices of dissent, one member of the audi-
ence after another arose to express the need for a moratorium on
new development and displeasure at the actions of the board.
approaching board elections will provide the membership with the
opportunity to select board members who are in touch with their
neighbors and those of Rockridge in general, and can authentically
represent those interests in the functioning of RCPC.
Richard Smith,
Former RCPC board member
The RCPC founders’ legacy lies in the zoning/height restric-
tions (C-31) and the RCPC charter that stands to “preserve and
enhance the unique character of the Rockridge neighborhood.”
Change can be a good thing and it is inevitable; and indeed, in
certain locations, high-density projects may work very well. But
Rockridge is already a flourishing “transit village,” and unneeded,
large-scale development, without regard for the character of this
neighborhood, would not be change for the better.
RCPC Replies: Land Use Committee Mission Statement
Revision Likely on New Board’s Agenda
The restructuring of the Land Use Committee has been an
ongoing topic of discussion with the board and in this newspaper
for several months. The RCPC board has already taken some steps
to address the concerns of a number of Rockridge residents and past
RCPC board members regarding the direction of this committee.
As Mr. Smith, a former RCPC board member, rightly points out,
the committee’s mission statement should be examined for revision.
This will likely be part of the new board’s agenda.
Mike Taylor,
RCPC vice chairman
Rockridge residents will have the opportunity to elect new
RCPC board members on either Thursday, April 19 between 7
and 9 p.m., or on Saturday April 21 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at
the Rockridge library. Keep large-scale infill development out of
Rockridge by voting for those candidates who express an honest
commitment to protect and enhance Rockridge by preserving
current C-31 zoning regulations.
Christine Acker
Rockridge resident
Save RCPC’s Legacy and
Preserve Rockridge’s Character
Editor:
Don’t Tar and Feather this
Advocate of Higher Density
Editor:
In 1971, the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC)
was formed to combat the threat of high-rise buildings around the
Rockridge BART station. In 1974, the council was able to thwart
plans that proposed a Jack-in-the-Box at the corner of Harwood
and College; in the 1990s it scaled back the expansion of Dreyer’s.
How ironic it is, then, that some 30 years later, the very council
that was put in place to protect the character of Rockridge is now
advocating for high-density, infill, large-scale development.
At the risk of being tarred and feathered by those who oppose
high-rise development along Oakland’s major corridors, I would
like to point out a major need for positive consideration of higher
density in Rockridge and other Oakland
neighborhoods. Here are some reasons
Letters, page
¬
In recent years there has been a remarkable attempt by some
RCPC board members to change the philosophy and mission of
the council. While holding dual membership in the high-density
infill group known as ULTRA (Urbanists for a Livable Temescal
Rockridge Area), a board member has tried to relax the applica-
tion of our zoning laws, thus making it easier for developers to
build large-scale projects in Rockridge. Without regard for issues
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April 7, 2007

Letters
FROG Park Corner
Condo
Proposal;
Hardy
Park Restroom;
Earth Day
Housing and No Cars is Unrealistic
Editor:
I cannot understand how the proposed
high-density developments will accomplish
anything other than make developers rich.
High density is beneficial to the community
only when people can live/work and shop
without the use of automobiles. High-den-
sity residential structures, like those in our
neighborhood, still require residents to drive
to work and shop for necessities – two of
the worst aspects of suburban living that
contribute to congestion. What are these
ULTRA people thinking? More people and
more cars crammed into an already over-
developed area will help nothing.
Nancy Friedberg
Rockridge resident since 1985
from page
for not maintaining the current status of
Rockridge single-family housing:
1. We are contributing to urban sprawl;
when the single-family neighborhoods are
filled (as Rockridge is), young families are
forced to move farther out.
2. We are contributing to the continued
escalation of housing prices by decreasing
housing supply.
by Mike McDonald, RCPC board member;
FROG steering committee member
3. When housing prices escalate to such
a degree, it is not possible to suggest that
police officers, firefighters, and other public
servants live within the city limits of the
municipality they serve.
Concerns about proposed condo
development near the park
At the Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt
(FROG) monthly steering committee
meeting, members summarized neigh-
borhood concerns about the proposed
development for the Global Video site at
Claremont and Telegraph Avenues, adjacent
to the Greenbelt extension planned to 51st
Street through the Civiq development,
across the street from Redondo Park. The
developer proposes building two struc-
tures with heights of six and four stories,
respectively.
4. As housing prices increase, to make
ends meet, single-family homeowners are
renting out rooms, converting basements to
in-law apartments, and making garages into
rental rooms. Our single-family neighbor-
hood streets begin to appear to be parking
lots.
Temescal Housing Proposals Make
Sense, Create Neighborhoods
Editor:
I was pleased to read about the proposed
housing developments planned for the Tem-
escal neighborhood. I hope to move into one
of the planned highrises. People seem to be
realizing that suburban living is socially
and intellectually limiting and environmen-
tally devastating. Infill in the cities, besides
making ecological sense, creates viable,
exciting neighborhoods. I look forward to
living in a place where most of the ameni-
ties are within walking distance, where
there are people in the streets engaged in
commerce and business in the daytime
and socializing in the evenings, where
there is good public transportation and the
opportunity to meet and form friendships
with people of different ages, backgrounds
and interests – and, in addition, cause less
pollution and make less of an impact on our
fragile environment.
Lydia Gans
Rockridge resident
5. As more and more people move outward
into urban sprawl, more and more people are
forced onto overcrowded highways.
6. The longer the commute time, the less
time mothers and fathers have to spend with
their young families.
Concerns include public accessibility
of the extension, building design, possible
blocking of light due to the development’s
height, parking entrances and exits, and
landscaping consistent with the park. Ques-
tions or comments can be directed to FROG
Steering Committee Chairwoman Jennifer
Cooper at jennifer@live-work.com.
Hardy Park Restroom Project
7. The longer commute time on these
overcrowded highways contributes to global
warming.
8. Many of the Rockridge Craftsman
houses have narrow driveways that have
been converted to gardens or other non-auto
uses, and some single-family homes have
three, four, or even five cars.
Again, risking being tarred and feathered
out of my Rockridge home of 23 years,
I stand as an advocate for well-planned
higher-density housing, which, when properly
planned, can provide more open space than
single-family housing can with its fenced-in
back yards.
Bud Sisson
Rockridge resident
The (FROG) steering committee will
host a neighborhood meeting on Saturday,
April 14, 10 a.m., at Hardy Park, for people
interested in learning about and sharing
thoughts on the Hardy Park permanent
restroom project. If you can’t make the
meeting and have questions or input, e-mail
Mike McDonald at mike@m-c-d.net.
April 21 is Earth Day
Small Office Specialists
Small Office Specialists
Join your friends and neighbors and help
clean and maintain the park this coming
Earth Day weekend. Meet Saturday, April
21, at 8 a.m. (or anytime you can make it)
at Hardy Park. All skill levels welcome,
including kids who can pick up trash, rake
leaves, etc. We are specifically seeking a
few experienced construction or landscaping
folks to be “captains.” For more informa-
tion, e-mail Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@
sbcglobal.net.
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April 7, 2007

Update: RCPC Land Use Committee; Project Proposals

by Gloria Bruce, RCPC board member
T
Both projects, if built, would create a new hub of housing and
street life at the Telegraph-Claremont intersection, but also raise
questions about the future of development along Claremont in terms
of height, architectural style, parking, and density. RCPC will play
an active role in keeping neighbors informed and helping ensure
these projects on our neighborhood’s border serve both old and
new residents well. The developers continue to solicit community
feedback. Watch this space for announcements.
he past month has been an active one on the Land Use Com-
mittee. As announced in last month’s Rockridge News, I have
stepped into the role of interim chairwoman, taking over from
Hiroko Kurihara. I look forward to working with Hiroko and the
rest of the committee, neighbors, the city and developers to ensure
positive, community-serving planning solutions for everyone in
North Oakland.
With so much development planned in the Rockridge, Temes-
cal, and Broadway-Piedmont neighborhoods, this task is especially
crucial now. Many new residences and several businesses are likely
to appear soon. Specialty grocer Trader Joe’s has applied to occupy
the former Albertson’s building, at 5727 College. RCPC will keep
abreast of developments and work with Trader Joe’s to promote
traffic and parking mitigation, landscaping and lighting plans, and
possible amenities like bicycle racks. Send us your ideas.
Other projects on the horizon include a 28-unit mixed-use
condominium for 5175 Broadway and a possible mixed-use proj-
ect just south of Oakland Tech. The owners of the latter project
are working with the community to solicit neighborhood input
before presenting a design to the city. E-mail Mona L. Hansen at
mona@hansenandco.com to share your thoughts and hear about
upcoming community meetings.
Keeping abreast of all the development in North Oakland is no
small task, but we urge you to share your ideas with RCPC, develop-
ers, and the city. To learn more, email me at gloriabruce00@gmail.
com and ask to be put on the Land Use Committee mailing list.
Farther south on College Avenue, architect Kirk Peterson plans
to build a mixed-use Mediterranean-style building. Stop by his
office, at 5253 College, to see the model in the window. The city
has granted conditional-use permits for the placement of ground-
floor office space and parking, and a minor variance for the amount
and location of open space. Several neighbors, concerned about
the building’s height, its traffic impacts, and privacy, have filed
an appeal with the zoning department. At press time, a hearing
date had not been set. RCPC is urging the city to consider these
concerns and will continue working with both sides.
Hillcrest Elementary Holds
Carnival and Book Fair
The Hillcrest Elementary School PTA welcomes the com-
munity to its annual Carnival and Book Fair, on Saturday,
April 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event takes place on the school
playground, 30 Marguerite Drive, in Upper Rockridge (up
Broadway Terrace, right on Harbord, left on Mandalay, then
one block to Marguerite).
North Oakland Cohousing (www.northoaklandcohousing.org)
is working with Thomas Dolan Architecture to create a five-story,
Craftsman-inspired, 33-unit “intentional community” at 5227
Claremont featuring 2,300 square feet of ground-floor commer-
cial space, 30 parking spaces, condos of various sizes, and shared
facilities and amenities. The cohousing project is scheduled to go
before the planning commission on April 18 at 6 p.m. Across the
street, at 5132 Telegraph, Hauser Architects (www.hauserarchitects.
com) proposes replacing the Global Video building with a six-story
mixed-use development featuring commercial space, 115 condos,
public and private open space, and 106 parking stalls.
Come enjoy an afternoon of fun for all ages with a BBQ
(provided by Village Market), carnival games, climbing wall,
giant slide, bounce house, face painting, splash booth, Scho-
lastics Book Fair, cotton candy, and even an espresso bar for
the grown-ups.
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9.
April 7, 2007

Traffic and
Pedestrian Safety
Committee News
by Steve Meyer, chairman of the
RCPC Traffic, Pedestrian and
Bicycle Safety Committee (TPBS)

and bicycle safety issues be addressed as
part of any project plan.
Wednesday, April 18, 6 p.m.: The City
Planning Commission will hold a public
hearing on the draft EIR and on the proposal
to adopt the Bicycle Master Plan as part of
the Land Use and Transportation element
of the Oakland General Plan.
T

he TPBS Committee brings these other
bicycle- and traffic-related items to
your attention:
Thursday, April 12, 7 – 8:30 p.m.: The
RCPC TPBS Committee will hold its meet-
ing at the Rockridge library. Jason Patton
will provide an overview of the Draft Plan
and Draft EIR, and will specifically review
the plans for upper Broadway (re-striping to
create bikeways and reduce vehicle traffic
lanes) and other areas within and around
Rockridge.
T

Comments Welcome on
Oakland’s First Bicycle Master
Plan Revision
T
Bike Racks: As part of the Transporta-
tion Development Act, Article 3, the city
will continue to install free bike parking
racks throughout Oakland throughout
2007. Please suggest a location! For more
information, visit http://www.oaklandpw.
com/Page127.aspx.

he first update to Oakland’s Bicycle
Master Plan is scheduled for comple-
tion this fall, and your comments are now
welcome on the first draft.
The new Draft Plan and Draft Environ-
mental Impact Report (EIR) can be viewed
at www.oaklandpw.com/bicycling/bikeplan.
htm; hard copies are also available at no
charge from the city. Comments must be
received no later than 4 p.m. Friday, April
27, and should be addressed to Jason Patton,
Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager;
City of Oakland Public Works Agency,
Transportation Services Division; 250 Frank
H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 4344; Oakland, CA
94612. Patton can also be reached by phone
at 510/238-7049 or by e-mail at jpatton@
oaklandnet.com.
wo other topics will also be
addressed:
A proposal for a detailed traffic study
of the Rockridge Triangle area (Telegraph,
Alcatraz, College, and Claremont) will be
discussed. The proposal is nearing final
approval, and the study, which would run
eight weeks and be performed by the Oak-
land Public Works Agency, is expected to
begin within the next few weeks. Its intent
is to evaluate volumes and flow patterns of
traffic along arterial and connector/feeder
streets. The results would be reviewed
by TPBS and the city, with the goal of
determining mitigating measures needed
to address any issues identified.
May is National Bike Month, and
Thursday, May 17, is the Bay Area’s Bike to
Work Day (sponsored by the San Francisco
Bicycle Coalition). Save the date.


Safe Routes to School (SR2S): A public
art project and sidewalk routes will be used
to encourage safe walking for students and
parents to and from Peralta Elementary
School. Also, the last Friday of each month
is Peralta’s Walk to School Day. For the rest
of the school year, raffle tickets for a new
pair of sneakers will be given to students
and families who walk, bike, carpool, or
take the bus to school on those days. A
new pair of sneakers will be raffled off
each month.

Several opportunities are coming up
in April to get more information on the
plan:
Thursday, April 5, 6:15 p.m.: A com-
munity meeting and open house will be
held at the Lakeside Park Garden Center,
666 Bellevue Ave. at Grand Ave. There will
be a presentation at 6:15, and members of
the public are welcome to stop by any time
between 5:30 and 7:30.

An overview of current and proposed
residential and commercial development
projects in Rockridge will be provided at
the meeting. With several projects currently
in the pipeline, one of the concerns of resi-
dents is to ensure that traffic, pedestrian,
Telegraph & 51st Street: There is
$208,000 available from the city for
streetscape and pedestrian safety improve-
ments in this area, and Councilwoman
Jane Brunner wants your input. $65,000 is
earmarked for pedestrian-safety measures
at the following intersections: 51st & Tele-
graph, 51st & Clarke, Clarke & Redondo,
and Telegraph & 52nd; and $143,000 is
slated for streetscape improvements in
the Temescal area. (A streetscape plan
for Telegraph Avenue was completed in
2005.) The plan is available for viewing
on-line at http://www.business2oakland.
com/main/documents/TelegraphFinalPlan-
emailversion.pdf.


To stay up-to-date on these and related
issues, join the RCPC TPBS Commit-
tee Yahoo group by sending an e-mail
with your name, address, e-mail address,
phone number, and area(s) of interest to
RCPC_Traffic_Pedestrian_and_Bicy-
cle_Safety_Committee-subscribe@
yahoogroups.com.

10.

April 7, 2007

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Sat 9:30 – 5:00
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nal Affairs
Division, the
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tions and the
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Services.
RCPC/NCPC
Town Hall
from page
www.rockridge.com.
After the candidates introduce them-
selves, a panel of Oakland police officers and
a city Neighborhood Watch representative
will speak about crime issues in Oakland in
general and Rockridge in particular.
The panel will feature OPD Deputy Chief
Jeffrey Israel. Born in Brooklyn in 1964,
Israel left New York for California in 1975.
The family moved to Oakland in 1978, where
Israel attended Oakland High School and,
later, Hayward State College (now California
State University, East Bay). In his teens,
he fell in love with the idea of being a cop
and became a volunteer police officer. He
served as a reserve Oakland police officer
from 1987 until 1990, when he graduated
from the 126th training academy to become
a full-time OPD officer. Promoted to lieu-
tenant in 2000 and captain in 2002, he has
served as deputy chief since 2005, heading up
I s r a e l
approaches
his responsi-
bilities with
passion, dedication and a keen understand-
ing of the Oakland Police Department
and its strengths and weaknesses. His
talk will focus on the increase in violent
crime, the planned reorganization of the
Oakland Police Department to improve
response time, and progress with Measure
Y staffing mandates. Sharing the podium
will be Rockridge Beats 12Y/13X Problem
Solving Officer Everett Peterson, College
Avenue Walking Officer Doug Chimpky
and Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
Claudia Albano.
OPD Deputy Chief
Jeff Israel
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11.
Peralta Fire: March 26, 2007

April 7, 2007
Peralta School parent coordinators Christopher
Waters and Cathy Reeves (inset top) survey
damage to Oakland’s Peralta Elementary School at 460
63rd St., caused by a suspicious fire on Monday, March
26. The $500,000 blaze forced complete evacuation of
the school, pending major repairs. It took more than
30 Cor-O-Van workers to box everything from pencils
to posters, and more than 14 truckloads to haul every-
thing to a temporary location at Carter Middle School,
4521 Webster. Teresa Schott (Bottom inset) explains
to Lucy Pavana why her class with Mr. Copman had to
be cancelled. Thanks to an extraordinary turnout of
hundreds of volunteers over the weekend, the Carter
site was ready for kids by Tuesday, April 3.
From the Rockridge Neighborhood
Watch Network: “Peralta always
welcomes donations. Go to http://
www.geocities.com/peraltaschool/.
The Peralta Parent Teacher Group
(Peralta Parent Group, Inc.) is a
501(c)(3) organization. Contributions
are tax-deductible.”
It’s Heating Up In Rockridge
Last year at this time there
were only 5 homes that
sold with an average number
of days on the market being
31. This year 10 homes sold
and the average time on the
market was only 9 days!!! The
majority of properties went
for the asking price or over.
Last year, all properties sold
for under the asking price.
Address
Bed/Ba. Orig. Price Selling Price Close Date
35 Buena Vista Place
4/2
$565,000
$650,000
2/16/2007
5400 Broadway Terrace 2/2
$691,000
$695,000
2/16/2007
6431 Brookside Avenue 4/3 $1,200,000
$1,260,000
2/27/2007
5290 Broadway Terrace 2/2
$675,000
$710,000
2/28/2007
5400 Broadway Terrace 2/2
$639,000
$639,000
3/2/2007
6015 Harwood Avenue
3/2
$675,000
$742,000
3/8/2007
5400 Broadway Terrace 2/2
$640,000
$640,000
3/9/2007
5400 Broadway Terrace 2/2
$679,000
$679,000
3/9/2007
2 Eustice Avenue
2/1
$749,000
$742,000
3/15/2007

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12.

April 7, 2007

Lambert said the general purpose of
the outreach effort is to build public sup-
port for the densities allowed in Oakland’s
1998 General Plan – densities indicative of
larger structures than the zoning ordinances
would allow, and which, he stated, “take
precedence over zoning.” (Under the Oak-
land Planning Code (sec. 17.01.100, enacted
in 1998), development which conforms
with the General Plan, but which would
not ordinarily be permitted under current
zoning, may still be allowed if the city
grants a conditional use permit.)
Raffanti, said the board generally supports
increased development in the Telegraph cor-
ridor and has endorsed specific development
projects, including CIVIQ and Centrada
Temescal (4700 block of Telegraph). He
said that District members who responded
to a board mailing last year were broadly
supportive of “the General Plan strategy for
growth and change on Telegraph Avenue
and… buildings being four stories or more,”
and that the recent color mailer “expresses
a point of view that we have endorsed.”
Charlene Rios Drapkin, the District’s
Executive Director, noted that economic
and competitive pressures on retail busi-
nesses have increased in recent years. She
said that higher residential density along
Telegraph Avenue, together with improved
pedestrian infrastructure and public transit,
would generate more foot traffic, which in
turn would help retail businesses.
Raffanti and Drapkin both made clear
that the District board has spent little time
on the subject of zoning. Neither could
say whether the board might, in future,
support limits on building heights along
Telegraph.
Brochure
from page
that they considered the brochure’s depiction
of the issues to be simplistic and misleading.
Some were bemused, and some irritated,
by the brochure’s cover, which sported the
motto, “Telegraph Avenue – Its time has
come… again” superimposed on a photo
of a busy downtown Oakland street corner,
circa 1940.
Around the same time, a separate
announcement of the new “coalition”
appeared in an article in Temescal News
and Views, by Roy Alper, a real estate
developer who is a principal in a number of
high-profile condominium projects in the
Telegraph and Shattuck corridors (includ-
ing the six-story Temescal Place at 48th &
Telegraph, completed in 2004, and the five-
story CIVIQ project at 51st & Telegraph,
which will soon begin construction). Alper
named the Temescal Merchants Association
as another coalition partner.
The one organization willing to declare
itself part of a “coalition” is the Temes-
cal/Telegraph Business Improvement
District, established by the City Council
in 2004 for the purpose of beautifying and
enhancing the Temescal business district.
The District finances its activities by
assessing properties along Telegraph and
Shattuck Avenues from 40th Street to the
Berkeley border. The District board, which
is elected, consists of eight property owners,
two business owners, and two community
members (including Lambert of Shasta
Pros, a Temescal resident).
The District board chairman, Rick
But during the week after these announce-
ments appeared, nearly all of the six named
organizations denied any connection with
the media splash. When contacted by The
Rockridge News, senior representatives of
most of the organizations said their orga-
nizations had not endorsed the mailer and
were not part of any such “coalition.” Kent
Lewandowski of the Sierra Club’s Northern
Alameda County Group, and Linda Best
of East Bay Workforce Housing, said they
had never heard of the “coalition,” while
Carlo Busby of the Merchants Association
said he had heard it mentioned but did not
know what it was. Greg McConnell of the
Better Housing Coalition explained that his
organization is interested in infill housing,
but does not enter into formal alliances of
this sort. Completing the pattern, a spokes-
person for ULTRA e-mailed a statement
to The Rockridge News, disclaiming any
endorsement of the brochure or involvement
with the “coalition.”
April 25th, 2007 @ 6:30pm - Maison Nouveau East Bay
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The mailer was soon revealed to have
been the creation of Shasta Production
Services, or “Shasta Pros,” a local firm
that facilitates permits and entitlements
for development projects in the Telegraph
corridor. According to Bill Lambert of
Shasta Pros, who oversaw the preparation
of the mailer, it was funded by the same
real estate developers that are pursuing
the new high-density development projects
along Telegraph.
an open question session. Hors d'Oeuvres will be served.
VISIT MAISONNOUVEAU.COM
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13.
April 7, 2007

Rockridge News Seeks
Delivery Volunteers
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News business manager
W
Music That Cooks
by Albert Hussian
Music That Cooks is a concert series whose proceeds help feed
the less fortunate residents of Oakland and Berkeley and,
as a fringe benefit, help support local artists. Great performers,
like singer/songwriter Katie Knipp, who recently opened for the
Doobie Brothers, have graced our stage.
elcome aboard to Robin Patfield, who has volunteered to
deliver The Rockridge News along Route 20A; and thank you
to Beth Greenfield and family, who have served as marshals for the
route above Broadway for several years. Beth is stepping down, so
we need a new marshal to pick up newsletters from a local home on
the first Friday or Saturday of each month and deliver them to five
district captains in the neighborhood. In addition to Beth’s route,
three other routes need block captains. Please call 510/547-3855
or e-mail Susan at smontauk@gmail.com to volunteer. Be sure to
mention the delivery route and leave a call-back number.
Position:
Task:
Marshall
Pick up newsletters and distribute to five homes
above Broadway.
Block Captain Distribute newsletters to homes in designated
The concerts, to which admission is by optional donation, are
held the third Friday night of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Col-
lege Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue, between
Claremont and Chabot. All ages, single-, double-, or triple-digit,
are welcome. Each concert is preceded by the monthly free
dinner, held at the church at 6 p.m. on the same night. Donations
are split half and half between the dinner program and the artists
as a group, but often the artists donate their portion to the food
program as well.
This month, the regular Friday-night concert, held April 20, will
feature singer/songwriter David Serotkin and Friends. There will
also be an extra concert this month: On Sunday, April 29, at 7:15
p.m., The Galax Quartet, a classical string quartet, will perform
a new piece written for them by San Francisco composer Belinda
Reynolds, who will give a brief talk about her composition.
route;
Route 21G
Along the odd numbers of 6000 Claremont.
Route 24B
The south side of Woolsey from Benvenue to
Hillegass, both sides of 6400 Hillegass, up the
north side of Alcatraz to Benvenue.
Route 04A
Harwood, both sides, from College Avenue to
6049/51 and across the street from 6052 back
to College Avenue.
For more information, check out these websites: www.galaxquar-
tet.org, www.myspace.com/musicthatcooks.
RCPC board member Albert Hussian is the coordinator for Music that Cooks.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
A Prevention Oriented Practice
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
offer good until 4/30/07
great inventory —
Call now for Pre-approval!
Monica C. Di Perna
510-225-5635
monicaloan@aol.com
15 years in the mortgage industry;
I am a Rockridge resident

14.

April 7, 2007

Manicure & Pedicure
We use Zoya polish which does not contain
formaldehyde or toluene or DBT. Call Halina
@ Milagro Salon, 5269 Broadway @ College.
510/593-5080. Mention this ad and receive a
10% discount.
peaceful – pines, oaks, birds. Only two hours
away. Reasonable weekly rates. 510/547-1856.
Tahoe Condo for Rent
Our lovely 3br/2+ba condo in Incline Village is
available for rent! Sleeps eight, is fully equipped!
Close to everything! Call 510/652-6664 for
more information.
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $20. (Phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Clas-
sifieds, 5245 College Avenue, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94618. May deadline is April 19.
For information: e-mail smontauk@gmail.com
High Quality Gardening
Skilled maintenance and fine gardening, aesthetic
pruning, outdoor lighting, irrigation, clean-ups,
real estate prep, installations. Organic practices.
14 years in the Berkeley/Oakland area. Green’s
Gardens—Green Huse. 510/593-3490.
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.
We Hand Wash Rugs from
Around the World!
Fifty years of rug washing and repair as well as
carpet and upholstery cleaning in Rockridge
homes. Yes, we will pick up your rugs. www.
Applebycleaning.com 510/351-5230.
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.
Unexpected Guests?
Short-term rental, lovely room 2 blocks
from Rockridge BART in owner’s flat. Wi-fi,
cable, TV. Photos available. Barbird@aol.com
510/652-7044.
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.
Got Tenants?
Need Tenants? Property
Management Services
Tired of managing your East Bay rental property?
Need some help? Reasonable rates regardless
of size. Bringing tenants and landlords together
is my job! Contact George at 510/710-6826
GvRealtor@gmail.com.
Feather River Art Camp
www.featherriverartcamp.com June 24-July 1,
a perfect joyful blend of art, nature, creativity,
camaraderie. Adults and kids. Sign up now for
an amazing art experience. Class sizes limited.
510/601-1619.
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.
Tai Chi Classes
Thursday/10 am, Saturday/9 am, No class
April 7. Rockridge Methodist Building, 303
Hudson at College. Harmonize the mind and
body with gentle exercise. Contact: Instruc-
tor Gail Sprung, 415/786-2469 or visit www.
harmonytaiji.com.
Save Lives! Be A Crisis
Phone Counselor!
Volunteer at Crisis Support Services of Alameda
County. We train you free. No experience or
special background required. For information,
phone Claire at 510/420-3204.
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,
Pilates Plus
Pilates
Gyrotonics
Strength and Flexibility Training
®
5255 College Avenue
Oakland CA 94618
www.pilatesoncollege.com
510 . 420 . 1412
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.
April 7, 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

Rockridge Branch Library
LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday and Tuesday, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5:30pm
to 9pm. Livetalk@CPS is the school’s Evening Lecture
Series open to all in the community. Tickets: $15 ($5 for
students). Proceeds support the school’s endowment
fund and financial aid program. CPS Buttner Auditorium,
6100 B’way. For more information: 420-2351 or www.
college-prep.org/livetalk.
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
Friday, 12 to 5:30pm
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
4/7, 4/14, 5/5.
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am: 4/18, 5/2.
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm:
4/10, 4/24, 5/8.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES:
ó
Closed: Sundays
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
ó
Calif College of the Arts Events
All events are FREE and open to the public
ó
20th Annual Simpson Awards Exhibition: Award-
winning works by fine-arts graduate students. April
23 through April 27 at Oliver Art Center. More info:
415/551-9213.
“Interface”: Media Arts exhibition and screening.
May 5th, 7:30 to 10pm at Oliver Art Center, Isabelle
Percy West Gallery. More info: 510/594-3656
Spring Fair: Collected Works by CCA’s newest talent.
April 21, 11am to 3pm, main walkway of Oakland
campus. More info: 510/594-3666.
These events are free and open to the public. Calif
College of the Arts, 5212 B’way. More info at www.
cca.edu/calendar.
“Locks Of Love” Benefit
ó
Sunday, 4/8, 3pm: Bay Area poet Joseph Lease:
Broken World.
Monday, 4/9, 7:30pm: Amnesty International meet-
ing. All welcome.
Sunday, 4/29, 3pm: children’s writer Karen Stanton:
Papi’s Gift. Bring the kids.
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
ó
Book swap: Trade your old books with others. Bring
a blanket or mat to display your books. Parents can
also trade books with other parents. Saturday, 4/14,
from 3 to 4pm in the Community Meeting Room.
Pre-teen Zine Scene: Draw, write, make a comic
book, or anything else that inspires you to create an
8-page mini-zine. Bring photos, rubber stamps or other
materials you might like to include. Thursday, 4/19,
from 3:30 to 5pm. Best for ages 8 to 12.
FOR TEENS AGES 13 and up:
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
Rockridge Storynight
Storytelling for Grownups: Open mic personal stories,
solo performance, folktales and more. 15 yrs and up
welcome. Hosted by storyteller Annie Goglia. Tuesday,
4/17 from 7 to 9pm. Rockridge Library, 5366 College
Ave. For more information: Annie at 655-1433 or kala-
mari@juno.com.
Anime Club: Watch and talk about new anime
(Japanese animation) with other teens. 2nd Tuesday
of each month, from 5 to 6:30pm, upstairs meeting
room. Film on 4/10 is Fruits Basket. For questions
about this or any other teen event, call Susy, the
Teen Specialist Librarian, at 597-5017.
FOR ADULTS:
ó
Locks of Love uses donated hair to provide hairpieces
for financially disadvantaged children suffering from
long-term medical hair loss. Get a free haircut when you
donate 10 inches of hair (or more). Cash donations are tax
deductible. Bring the kids for face-painting and snacks.
Call to reserve an appointment. Sunday, May 6, 11am to
4pm. Alexander Pope Salon, 5413 College Ave. More
info: Jennifer at 601-5220 or www.alexanderpope.
com or www.locksoflove.org.
Jazz At The Chimes
Go Green Neighborhood Network
Meet with neighbors and learn what it means to live
more sustainably in large and small ways. Discussion
topic: Climate Change: What One Person Can Do.
Saturday, 4/21, 10:30am to 12:30pm. Rockridge Library,
5366 College Ave. For information on future meetings:
Gina at 428-0349 or gina.blus@gmail.com.
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 (3/17), from 1 to 5pm. For more information:
420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Knitting Classes for Seniors (50+): 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.
Computer Skills: Our teen volunteers are avail-
able to assist new computer users with beginning
computer skills. Thursdays, 4 to 5:30pm and Fridays,
4:30 to 5:30pm. Make an appointment with the adult
reference desk: 597-5017.
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: April: Aparna Cleary: Large Quilts.
Lobby Display Case: April: Photographs by students
of Dana Davis, Berkeley City College.
ó
Celebrate Jazz History Month with Remembering the
Kid from Red Bank: A Tribute to William “Count” Basie
featuring the Count Basie Tribute Orchestra. Fundraiser
for the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music (OPCM).
Sunday, 4/15. Doors open at 12:15pm for pre-concert
conversation with Orrin Keepnews, founder of Milestone
Records, from 12:30 to 1:30pm. Concert at 2pm. Tickets:
$25 – 35 (sliding scale). Get tickets at the door, or in
advance through www.brownpapertickets.com or
from OPCMusic, 836-4649. Chapel of the Chimes, 4499
Piedmont Ave. More information: www.opcmusic.org
or mdorazi@lifemarkgroup.com.
Chamber Singers Home Concert
Garden Reception/Fundraiser for Stand
Live music, buffet, hosted refreshments. Sunday,
May 6, 4 to 6pm. at the Mauser house, 449 49th Street
(corner of 49th and Clarke). Donations: $25 individu-
als and $40 couples. Proceeds to benefit the STAND
(Standing Together for Accountable Neighborhood
Development) legal fund. To RSVP, send checks, or
for more information: Virginia Browning, 362 Cavour
St., 654-8925 or 655-3841.
ó
ó
Reduce Traffic & Parking Problems
A discussion with experts, including Rebecca Kaplan
of AC Transit, to find strategies and solutions for traffic
and parking problems. Healthy snacks provided. Part of
ULTRA’s Neighborhood Solution Series. Tuesday, 4/24,
6pm. Rockridge Library 5366 College Ave.
ó
The S.F. State Chamber Singers (recently returned
from a tour in Cuba), directed by Joshua Habermann,
present an a capella program of folk songs, madrigals
and choral favorites from the U.S. and Cuba. Also per-
forming: the Davis High School Madrigals, directed by
Karen Gardias. Saturday, 4/21, at 8pm. Tickets at the
door: $15/ $10 students and seniors. St. Albert’s Priory,
6172 Chabot Road. Information: 596-1800.
College Preperatory School
Livetalk@CPS: Environmentalist/entrepreneur Paul
Hawken will discuss Blessed Unrest: The Biggest Move-
ment in the History of Humanity. Thursday, 4/19, 7:30
$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

16.

April 7, 2007

VINITA GOKHALE
ROCKRIDGE REALTOR AND HOMEOWNER
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See www.5767Broadway.com
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510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@jps.net
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Is there a move in your future?
Talk to me about featuring your home
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Terry Kulka 510/339-4789
terrykulka@att.net
http://www.terrykulka.com
With over 300 homes sold –
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OWNER – BROKER
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