Extracted text · highlighting “Safeway”

www.rockridge.org

!
No
Newsletter
!   In August   !

VOL. 22    NO. 7    ISSUE NO. 236    July 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

Residents Hear Plans for
Safeway Reconstruction
Chabot School Makeover Starts
by Gloria Bruce,
RCPC Secretary
Adesign, or number of parking
spaces will not be determined
for some time, he said that
residents could expect a larger
store footprint, structured park-
ing (likely above the store), and
a more transparent frontage
along College Avenue. Paradis
estimates the store will reopen
in mid- to late 2010.
backlash against sushi bars
and Starbucks and pleas
to protect neighborhood busi-
nesses were just a few of the
opinions expressed at RCPC’s
June town hall meeting on
Safeway’s proposal to rebuild its
store at College and Claremont
avenues.
Some residents at the meet-
ing opposed the idea of an
in-store sushi bar or Starbucks,
but many liked the idea of a
welcoming streetscape along
College Avenue, with windows
or entrances replacing the exist-
ing ’60s-era blank stone wall.
They also said that new ameni-
ties like a bakery, pharmacy, or
expanded produce section should
At the well-attended gather-
ing, Todd Paradis of Safeway’s
real estate team briefly outlined
tentative plans to rebuild the
23,000 square-foot store. He
said the company has not yet
filed a formal application with
the city, has no architectural
plans and wants input from the
community before drafting a
proposal. Though exact size,
Master plan drawing for Chabot Elementary improvements.
Courtesy of Beverly Prior Architects
School District Approves
Chabot School Master Plan
Safeway, page 
¬
Environmentally sustainable design underway
July Meeting Agenda:
NCPC-RCPC Town Hall Meeting
by Jennifer Edmister, RCPC boardmember
Chabot Elementary is on its way to having a new facility that
will replace most of the 18 temporary classrooms that cur-
rently house many of its students during the school day. With
$13.5 million of the 2006 Measure B funds allotted to Chabot,
the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) recently approved a
final master plan for the campus. Having established the general
layout, a team from Beverly Prior Architects has worked closely
with the school and its long-range planning committee to develop
a schematic design.
Thursday, July 19, 7 p.m., Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila, Community Room
Workshop: Personal and Home Security
Options to provide an
active community safety
program are on the agenda for
the special Rockridge Neigh-
borhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC) meeting at
7 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at
the Rockridge Library, 5366
College Avenue.
The Rockridge Commu-
nity Planning Council (RCPC)
is sharing its regular monthly
general meeting time slot with
the NCPC for this special
meeting. Neighborhood Watch
block captains, official and
unofficial, and residents inter-
Working under new sustainability guidelines recently adopted
by OUSD, the Chabot team will spend the next few months plan-
ning schematic elements like the size of the classrooms, the design
of mechanical systems, and the efficient use of natural daylight,
energy and water. The new guidelines require the school to be
designed and built according to criteria established by the Col-
laborative for High Performing Schools (CHPS).
Home Security, page 13
¬
Studies show that meeting CHPS criteria has an unmistakable
positive impact on school performance. Students who learn in CHPS
classrooms have been shown to have higher test scores, reduced
absenteeism, and lower rates of
Also read about:  n The RCPC Kitchen Tour,
set for October 7; page 5.  n The panel dis-
cussion on crime in Rockridge presented at
the June 13 NCPC meeting; page 6.
INSIDE
INSIDE
Chabot Plan, page 12
¬


2.

July 7, 2007

Requiem for a Redwood
A giant Rockridge redwood tree is felled
on the summer solstice
S

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

everal weeks ago one of my neighbors told me that a landowner several properties
down the street had applied for a permit to cut down our local landmark redwood tree,
which dominates our block. It is probably over one hundred feet high and is possibly one
hundred years old. I called the telephone contact number on the public notice posted on
the telephone pole and was told that, yes, the owner had applied for a tree-cutting permit
because the tree’s roots were beginning to affect his duplex’s foundation.

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 (RCPC),
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.

Yesterday, I saw a long row of orange traffic cones near the redwood tree, and I knew
that this magnificent specimen was doomed. This morning, several workers armed with
ropes and chain saws showed up and in a few short hours cut all the branches and greenery
from the tree and fed them into a noisy chipping machine.

This ancient redwood had two main trunks that separated about 20 feet above the ground,
in the manner of the El Palo Alto, the twin-branched redwood tree that grows along the
San Francisquito Creek at the northern boundary of Palo Alto. The City of Palo Alto is
named after this tree, which in Spanish loosely translates as “tall tree.”
I

Rockridge News Production
Cy Gulassa...........................Editor
Janet Somers.......................Copy Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Claire Isaacs Wahrhaftig.... Writer
Barry Kaufman...................Food
Jo Ellis...................................Advertising &

n the early evening, I walked down the street and took a picture of the still intact massive
base of the tree. I gathered up a couple of small leftover redwood branches and put them
in water, so now my kitchen has a slight Christmasy smell. Tonight in the dimming light
of dusk, I took final pictures of what was left of this magnificent redwood. Several small
birds, possibly house finches, fluttered up to perches on the rough bark, then gave up and
flew off to a large chestnut tree in the next yard as their new night roosting spot.

Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson.....................Neighborhood Merchant
Susan Montauk...................Business Manager
Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2007-2008
Ronnie Spitzer....................Chair
Annette Floystrup ............ Vice-Chair
Gloria Bruce.......................Secretary
Susan Montauk...................Treasurer
Jennifer Edmister, Stuart Flashman, Cy Gulassa,

The log sections of this redwood tree were not saved to be turned into fine lumber; they
were merely cut into large chunks that the workers carried to the waiting truck. This tall
tree shaded part of my garden for a couple of hours each day in the wintertime, and I will
miss its stately presence as a neighborhood landmark. In the fog-free evenings that we had
actual sunsets, this redwood used to glow radiantly in the fading sunset.

Ellen Peterson, Peter St. John, Jeff Small,
Richard W. Smith, Danica Truchlikova,
Stephanie Upp, Margaret Wahlberg

— James K. Sayre
Library Seeks Student Volunteers

Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
by Erica Siskind
Ithe reading they’ve done, giving out prizes,
making phone calls to raffle winners, and
helping library staff with stamping, labeling,
sorting, photocopying, craft projects and set-
ting up and putting away after special events.
It is an unpaid, volunteer position.
Contacting The Rockridge News
f you are 11 to 16 years old, if you like
talking with younger kids, if you like
helping people, if you like being in the
library, and if you have about three hours
a week during July or August to spare, we
need you. The Rockridge branch library
needs student volunteers to help run the
Summer Reading Program and to help out
with other library tasks.
	 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:
We are located at 5366 College Avenue,
and we’re open the following hours:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 510/869-4200
Monday and Tuesday:  12:30 - 8
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday:  10 - 5:30
Friday:  12 - 5:30       Sunday:  Closed
Your job may include explaining the read-
ing game to kids, helping them keep track of
To get details and sign up, call Erica
Siskind or Gay Ducey at 597-5017
Articles submitted for publication may be e-mailed
to the above address. Submissions are limited to
600 words; must include the author’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.
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
Rockridge
Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level
 September 8, 2007 (No August Issue)
 September deadline is August 23.
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.)
Entry on Shafter Avenue
510-655-8808
482-2227  Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
Open 7 Days
Mon- Fri  6:00 -7:30
Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon
Free Parking!
Across from BART
Lic # 695711


3.
July 7, 2007

RCPC Establishes Planning and Project Review Committee

by Ronnie Spitzer,
RCPC Chairwoman
T
The PPRC will review and
analyze project proposals for
compliance with the Oakland
General Plan and applicable
zoning, and assess their merits
from an architectural and urban
design perspective. The commit-
tee will bring the results of its
review to the RCPC board for
discussion and further action.
The board has appointed Rich-
ard Smith to chair the PPRC,
replacing interim land use Chair-
woman Gloria Bruce. The board
is developing guidelines for
prospective members.
ing to seek broader community
input. Separate community
meetings will be scheduled when
the Town Hall forum is not avail-
able. The Rockridge News will
publish monthly status reports
on projects being reviewed by
the PPRC and the schedule of
monthly meetings.
Open communication is a
priority for the RCPC board;
it is of the utmost importance
to keep the Rockridge com-
munity involved and informed
and to hear community views
on proposed projects. Thus, the
board will reinstitute monthly
Town Hall meetings open to the
Rockridge community. PPRC
findings will be presented in each
monthly RCPC Town Hall meet-
o better represent the
Rockridge community and
respond in a timely and profes-
sional manner to new project
proposals, the board is restruc-
turing the Land Use Committee
as the Planning and Project
Review Committee (PPRC),
a technical working group of
board-appointed members with
expertise in planning, architec-
ture, and land-use legal issues.
If you have any questions
or comments about this pro-
posed restructuring, contact
Ronnie Spitzer at rcpcchair@
rockridge.org.

Project Updates from the Planning & Project Review Committee

by Richard W. Smith, RCPC Planning
and Project Review chair
n Hauser Creekside
– Global Video/5132 Telegraph
Tfor discussion. The Planning Commission
will hear the issue, probably in August.
■ Kingfish Co-Housing Project
41st Street to Alcatraz; Shafter, 45th to
the Highway 24 freeway; and Claremont,
Telegraph to Cavour Street. Planning staff
presented the proposed changes at the ZUC
hearing on June 20. During public commen-
tary, RCPC Chairwoman Ronnie Spitzer
expressed concern about the proposed
height, developer bonuses, and rezoning
Claremont from C-28 to C-30. RCPC
objects to C-30 because it does not provide
for neighborhood-oriented commercial
facilities, allows for an excessive increase
in building height, and does not set an
appropriate image for future developments
along Claremont, which the organization
views as a gateway to Rockridge. RCPC is
now pursuing an offer by Planning Com-
missioner Doug Boxer to walk the area
with interested residents.
RCPC’s PPRC Committee is reviewing
the Kingfish proposal, which fronts on
both Telegraph and Claremont avenues and
includes an adjacent property on Claremont.
Tentative concerns include the height and
intensity of development and the associated
impacts on the livability and developability
of neighboring properties. On completion
of its review, the committee will provide
comments to the Planning Commission
prior to the July 18 hearing.
■ 5253 College Avenue
he Planning Commission’s Design
Review Committee (DRC) heard com-
ments, took testimony on, and passed this
project, sending it to the full commission.
The RCPC board sent a letter to the com-
mission, and R. W. Smith read excerpts
during public testimony. RCPC Chairwoman
Ronnie Spitzer argued for a reduction in bulk
and scale and the inclusion of an effective
extension of the Frog Park Greenway. Other
concerns were height, intensity of develop-
ment and lack of adequate parking.
On June 19, the City Council denied
neighbors’ appeal of the CEQA exemp-
tion claimed by staff for the 5253 College
Avenue project.
In addition, RCPC noted the severe
impacts on the Claremont Towers Apart-
ments, a 40-unit apartment building with
affordable rents immediately adjacent to
the proposed project on Claremont. These
impacts include deep shadowing of win-
dows, view blockage, and noise from the
proposed trash pickup loading area only
10 feet from the existing building. This
apartment building is an important asset
to the Rockridge area.
Several weeks after the DRC hearing,
the Hauser team gave a presentation to the
RCPC board. In answer to the concerns listed
above, Hauser said everything is on the table
The Planning Commission’s approval of
the project itself was not deemed eligible
for appeal, so the council did not consider
project design changes. The neighbors have
filed a lawsuit.
■ Zoning Update Committee
– Lower Temescal Corridor
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.
The Zoning Update Committee (ZUC)
of the Planning Commission has been
working on a revision to the General Plan
and the zoning of parcels along Telegraph,
5506 Taft Street
Proposal: Construct a 1,160 second floor
addition to an existing 1,160 sq. ft. single-family
dwelling.
Contact: Kristin Personett 510/697-4289
Owner: Madeline Lilley and Eric Faurot
Planning Permits Required: Regular
Design Review for additions that exceed 1,000
sq. ft.
Historic Status: Potential Designated His-
toric Property (PDHP)
Survey Rating: C2+
Case Planner: Caesar Quitevis, 510/238-
6343 or clquitevis@oaklandnet.com
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4.

July 7, 2007

A Big ‘Thank You’
To My Rockridge
Neighbors
I
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 will
appear with your letter. Letters may be edited
for clarity and brevity.
want, first, to acknowledge the
wonderful article which Ortrun
Niesar wrote for the June issue of The
Rockridge News, highlighting my phi-
losophy and work in Rockridge and greater
Oakland while pastoring the College Avenue Presbyterian Church
the past 34 years. Time goes by so fast!
Dreyer’s Agreed to Always Keep an Ice Cream
Parlor, Didn’t They?
Editor:
I want to express, following all of the special services and
statements accorded me, how much they were appreciated by Beth
and me and our College Avenue Church family. It feels surreal
not to be doing what I’ve always been doing. But, as those much
older than I have offered, live the next stretch in a very focused
way and thus achieve what couldn’t have been achieved when
responding to so many agendas at once. I will take the advice
of my elders.
It has been several months now since the Rockridge area lost
both the Double Rainbow and the Dreyer’s ice cream shops. Dreyer’s
has had a sign posted since the shop closed saying “closed for
remodeling.” My kids sent a letter to Dreyer’s recently asking them
to please reopen the College Avenue store, for all the reasons we’d
all like to have an ice cream shop in the area. Dreyer’s responded
recently, telling them, “I am sorry to inform you that we have no
future plans as of yet to reopen that store, but I will forward your
remarks to the Marketing Department.” They enclosed a few cou-
pons for $.50 off ice cream in the grocery store, hardly the same
as walking into the ice cream shop, surveying all the flavors and
then enjoying your chosen treat on the spot.
Beth and I plan to live in Rockridge and offer support where
most useful in our City of Oakland, where two of our three kids
also live. Beth will continue managing the Folks Art store on Pied-
mont Avenue, and I particularly mean to be available to encourage
pastors, teachers and community leaders who are working so hard
to make a difference in the lives of our larger community.
Some people to whom I’ve relayed this information have told
me that part of the conditional use permit for the Dreyer’s offices
on College Avenue was the maintenance of a retail outlet. Is this
true? Was the condition voided when Nestle took over? It would
be great if RCPC could help the kids of north Oakland, young and
old, regain a neighborhood ice cream shop.
— Jody London
Again, thank you for your care, respect, support and involve-
ment in all the activities that we accomplished together over these
many years.
— Pastor Bill Beatty
Safeway, from page 
Editor’s Note:
The Dreyer’s project application in 1989 provided for ground-
level retail/commercial space along the College Avenue side of
the building — something RCPC had fought for since 1985. The
City’s planners, in their analysis, assumed that most of the retail
space would be devoted to food service uses, but such uses were
not specifically addressed in the permit conditions. The company
did give informal assurances that an ice cream parlor would be
included; however, the ice cream parlor was never mandatory.
not compete with the independent businesses on the other side of
College. Traffic and architecture were further concerns. Several
attendees advocated strongly for the closure or consolidation of
driveways on College, citing the tangle of cars, buses, bikes and
pedestrians at its intersection with 63rd Street. Others urged Para-
dis to ensure that any rebuild be environmentally sustainable and
honor the neighborhood’s modest scale.
Paradis said audience suggestions for mixed use reconstruction
and leasing stores to independent businesses on the site were unlikely
to occur, but that he would not rule anything out. Some neighbors,
while requesting more efficient use of space and better service,
expressed affection for the existing Safeway’s size, neighborly feel
and affordable products. Overall, the tone of the discussion was
respectful and the group thanked Safeway for conducting com-
munity outreach before submitting specific plans.
Paradis closed by promising further opportunities for input, and
introduced a new website – www.safewayoncollege.com – where
people can make suggestions and get updates.
MORE...
Community Calendar: Volunteers Needed
Chabot Space and Science Center needs volunteers to assist visitors and
share their wonder of the Universe with others. No science or astronomy back-
ground needed – extensive training opportunities available. Call the volunteer
department at 336-7414 or visit www.chabotspace.org.


5.
July 7, 2007

Rockridge Kitchen Tour Advance Tickets on Sale Now!

by Jennifer Edmister
T
A preview of one of
the kitchens on the
October RCPC Kitchen
Tour.
Photo: Susan Montauk
he 2007 Rockridge Kitchen Tour is
almost here. Our selection committee
spent months considering a record number
of kitchens—almost twice as many as ever
before—and the winners include a wide
sampling of the neighborhood’s finest. This
year’s kitchens run the gamut from cozy
bungalow kitchens to grand-scale modern
kitchens in larger homes. Don’t miss the
bright, spacious kitchen with a glass floor
illuminating the stairway below and a stun-
ning three-bridge view; or the impeccably
appointed Craftsman, remarkably true to
the period, with a stove that will make you
look twice; and certainly visit the contem-
porary kitchen with an Asian flair and an
unexpected twist.
mail, please fill out the ticket
order form on this page and
enclose a check and a self-
addressed, stamped envelope
with your order. Tickets will
be mailed to you within
two weeks of the tour. Or
order online beginning mid-
July, at www.rockridge.org.
Click on “Rockridge Kitchen
Tour,” and follow the easy online payment
directions. Then, save the confirmation
number you receive via e-mail. Beginning
August 21 discounted tickets will be on
sale in Rockridge at Maison d’Être, 5640
College Avenue.
Docents Needed
or after their shift on the day of the event.
If you would like to be a docent, please call
Nancy Sale at 655-4625.
Brochure Advertising
While you are strolling the neighborhood
and enjoying refreshments, don’t forget
that the Kitchen Tour is RCPC’s primary
fundraiser. Net proceeds allow RCPC to
continue coordinating resources and funding
to improve our neighborhood.
Buy Discounted Tickets Now
Many tour guests are looking for both
inspiration and resources to assist them in
future renovation projects. To that end, we
furnish a brochure with advertising space
— an excellent way to reach an interested
and enthusiastic audience. All space must
be reserved this month, in order to meet
our printing deadlines. Please contact Jo
Ellis at joellis1@hotmail.com or after 12
noon at 653-3210.
If you’d rather join the fun behind the
scenes, the Rockridge Kitchen Tour still
needs docents. Docents, who guide guests
through each of our featured kitchens,
receive a pre-tour of three kitchens and will
have an opportunity to visit the remaining
kitchens—with a free ticket­—either before
Advance purchase tickets are available
now for $30, and day-of-tour tickets will
be available for $40. There are two con-
venient ways to order tickets. To order by
,

YES! Save me a spot for the 2007 Rockridge Kitchen
Tour, Sunday, October 7, 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Ticket Order Form
2007 Rockridge
Kitchen Tour
Advance

Please send me the following ticket order:

_____ Number of tickets @ $30 advance price = $_________ total enclosed

Name ______________________________Phone _____/________

Address _____________________ City____________ ZIP_______

Mail this coupon, a self-addressed stamped envelope and your check or money
order payable to: RCPC/Rockridge Kitchen Tour, 5245 College Avenue PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94618. Thank you!

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Sat 9:30 – 5:00
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6.

July 7, 2007

Crime in
Rockridge: ‘the
Good, the Bad,
and the Ugly’
by Janet Somers
Shere is not so dramatic when viewed from
the standpoint of the absolute numbers,
especially compared with other areas of
the city.
Oakland
Police Chief
Wayne Tucker
addresses the
crowd at the
June NCPC
meeting. Police
officers, DA
representatives
and council-
woman Jane
Brunner also
discussed local
crime concerns.
Lack of police manpower – only 730
of the OPD’s 803 officer positions are cur-
rently filled – and a high attrition rate (5.9
officers per month, according to Tucker)
is an ongoing problem. But OPD has 25
more cops this year, Tucker said. About two
dozen officers were set to graduate from
the academy on June 27 and more recruits
will join academies in July and August.
The academy’s 35% attrition rate is also a
continuing problem, Tucker said. (Last week,
Tucker kept a promise made at the meeting
by announcing the move of 15 officers from
the airport back to the streets.)
aying she would talk about “the good,
the bad, and the ugly,” North Oakland
City Councilwoman Jane Brunner told a
standing-room-only crowd of about 150
people at the Rockridge library that crime
in Rockridge is the worst she’s seen in 40
years.
Photo: Susan Montauk
fight, and I’ve done all three of those,” she
said. “We need an overall plan from the
chief so every time there’s a problem we
don’t have to fight for more cops. We need
more investigators. We need to keep the
CRTs [Crime Reduction Teams] in North
Oakland so they’re not just temporary. We
hear excuses: the settlement agreement [after
the “Riders” case], the vacancies. There
can be no more excuses. We all deserve to
be able to walk during the day in our own
neighborhoods.”
The June 13 meeting, featuring panelists
from the Oakland Police Department and
the Alameda County District Attorney’s
office, was held by the Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
(NCPC) in response to surging crime.
Tucker also said that because of the
“Riders” settlement agreement 27 officers
are assigned to the internal affairs division,
in contrast to only 10 investigators citywide
in homicide, eight in robbery and eight in
assaults. Brunner said her office disagrees
that 27 internal affairs officers are mandated
by the agreement and wants more of them on
the street. Tucker estimated at the meeting
that the OPD would be out from under the
agreement by the end of the year. However,
last week it was extended through January
2010, according to OPD chief of staff Sgt.
Michael Poirier.
Rockridge has suffered 19 robberies
so far this year, up from 12 at this point
last year, according to NCPC chairwoman
Susan Montauk, who obtained the statistics
from the Oakland Police Department. In
Temescal, there was a 400% increase in
burglaries and, in North Oakland overall,
a 110% increase in robberies “on the street,
with guns and knives, at all times of day,”
Brunner told the crowd.
People at the meeting expressed outrage,
fear and frustration over the increase in crime
and a perceived lack of police response.
“Burglaries have become so low on the
priority list that you don’t even show up,”
one man said,­ a complaint that was voiced
by several people.
Deputy Chief Jeff Israel acknowledged
the problem. “It’s not that I don’t want to
respond,” he said. But he said OPD lacks
the manpower to pursue “cold cases,” where
the perpetrator has already left.
Brunner, a Rockridge resident, said that
within the past four months her husband was
held up at gunpoint in broad daylight on his
way to BART and a burglar broke into her
house while her son was home.
At the meeting, Tucker announced his
frequently-touted plan to reorganize the
police department into three geographical
rather than time-based assignments, a model
that has reduced crime in New York and
other cities by increasing accountability.
But the police officers’ union is fighting the
plan because the implementation currently
proposed would require officers to work
three 12-hour shifts per week. The longer
shifts would reduce overhead and overtime
costs, OPD Deputy Chief Jeff Israel told
Sgt. Ron Lighton of the criminal inves-
tigations division said criminals are moving
into Rockridge as a result of crime suppres-
sion efforts elsewhere in the city. “You turn
on the lights in one room and the roaches
run to another one,” he said.
But Chief Wayne Tucker said OPD is “not
trying to police this city at the expense of
Rockridge.” He said the increase in crime
Brunner acknowledged that a robbery
suppression effort by police is beginning
to pay off. (At press time, one suspect
thought to be responsible for over a dozen
armed robberies in North Oakland had
been arrested.) But she demanded better
answers and a long-range plan from the
police department.
“I can advocate, I can beg, and I can
NCPC Meeting, page 
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.
July 7, 2007

NCPC Meeting
the other end of the Caldecott Tunnel,
Bruns Shakespeare Theater at Gateway
in Orinda will be offering a more varied
program this year. Bernard Shaw’s “Man
and Superman” will be performed in July
(www.calshakes.org).
The
Rockridge
 Muse
from page 
The Rockridge News.
Deputy District Attorney John Creigh-
ton told the meeting audience that OPD is
operating under “extraordinarily difficult”
circumstances. “They are triaging most of
the time,” he said. Despite that, he said the
criminal justice system is “not breaking
down.” Last year, the DA’s office prosecuted
200 felonies with a 94% conviction rate. (A
plan announced at the meeting to deputize
city attorney personnel to prosecute mis-
demeanors will not be adopted by the city
this year because of costs.)
Announcing
Rockridge Projects
Three Rockridge projects listed below
are in the works. These are projects in
which you the readers have expressed
an interest. We are very excited about
working on them with you and would
like to take the months of July and
August for some planning. Please get
in touch with me promptly if you have
an interest in joining us. My contact
information is oniesar@sbcglobal.net
or 510/652-6664.
by Ortrun Niesar
Summer:
Leave No Body Inside
Summer is here! What a glorious
time of the year. The weather is
great, so far. Rockridge has never looked
more beautiful and lush, thanks to our
marvelous local gardeners. Yes, it’s time
to get outside. Ride a bike, walk the dog,
jog! There are trails to be discovered
all over Rockridge and the Claremont
Canyon Hills, none more than a few
minutes from your doorstep. Plan a
picnic. Sleep in a tent. Stick your feet
into the bay. Or, if nothing else, just
hit an outdoor café.
North Oakland commander Lt. Jim Meeks
ended the meeting with a ray of hope.
“We just arrested seven people, including
a three-striker wanted for multiple robber-
ies,” he said. “We’re partnering with the
California Highway Patrol and BART. We
met with Youth Uprising; these local rap
artists are committed to helping us. We’re
trying to make it safer for you today. We
are 100% committed to make this a safe
community, and we’re going to do that. But
it’s not going to happen overnight.”
Annual Rockridge Photography
Show (October 1-30)
All levels of experience are welcome.
We are also looking for an organizer
this year.
The Spoken Voice
Or al Histor y and Stor y telling
Workshops with Gay Ducey (fall). Help us
capture local stories. Dates for workshop
to be worked out.
Local outdoor cultural activities to
consider this summer include the Annual
Oakland Heritage Alliance Walking Tours
scheduled every weekend July through
September. Call OHA at 510/763-9218
or e-mail them at info@oaklandheritage.
org. Woodminster Amphitheater, one of
Oakland’s hidden treasures in Joaquin
Miller Park, will be presenting “West Side
Story” July 13-22 with a cast studded
with local talent. Arrive at sunset and
bring a picnic supper. Performances begin
at 8 p.m. (www.wooodminster.com) At
a
Poets and Writers
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
of Rockridge
(Beginning in the fall.) We plan
to feature our many writers in The
Rockridge News and in possibly organizing
neighborhood readings.
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8.

July 7, 2007

Rock  ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman
Indian Cooking: It’s All in the Spices
Safeway. The recipes don’t require a trip to
an Indian market for exotic ingredients.
BK: How do you teach your students to
cultivate their own culinary instincts rather
than slavishly follow a recipe?
RK: I try to teach my students that Indian
cooking is more than just a recipe. It is
about a culture and a centuries-old way of
life. The book introduces home cooks to
the five most basic Indian spices: coriander
and mustard seeds, cumin, ground cayenne
and turmeric. I have students grind and
taste each spice to make a garam masala.
I encourage those who read my book to
experiment with different combinations of
the five basic spices. I also teach students
basic cooking techniques like sautéing,
braising, roasting and frying.
BK: How do you create a menu for a dinner
party?
RK: I try to combine basic Indian dishes
and dishes with Indian flavors made with
ingredients not commonly found in India.
I recently made an Indian spiced pork roast
with pears and cardamom.
BK: What one piece of advice can you
give to home cooks who want to explore
Indian cooking?
RK: It’s all in the spices. Know your spices
and how to balance out the unique flavor
of each spice.
R
An interview with Rockridge
chef Ruta Kahate
In the home of Ruta Kahate, chef, cook-
ing teacher and cookbook author, I met
with her and her two charming daughters
to talk about her new cookbook, “5 Spices,
50 Dishes: Simple Indian Recipes Using
Five Common Spices” (Chronicle Books,
2007). Ruta teaches regional Indian cooking
in her Rockridge home on Alcatraz Avenue
and has been featured on the Fine Living
TV Network.
Barry Kaufman: Congratulations on your
recent write-up in the “Chronicle Pairing
Guide,” where you help the experts decide
on what wines go best with Indian cuisine.
By the way, I made your tangy shredded
cabbage salad and mussels in green curry.
Both were excellent. Who influenced your
interest in cooking?
Ruta Kahate: Both of my parents enjoyed
cooking and were very supportive of me
when I started cooking at 11. During the
summer my brother and I used to cook lunch
together. I came to America wanting to be
the first woman pilot for an Indian airline.
But after I got my pilot’s license, I became
disillusioned and decided to become a
professional cook.
BK: Indian cooking, like so many of the
other great world cuisines including Chinese
or Italian, is highly regionalized. Where do
you see yourself in the regional diversity of
Indian cooking?
RK: I try to draw upon all of the regions
of India. India is a very large country with
incredible culinary diversity. However, all
Indian cooking is deeply rooted in the Hindu
sacred Veda texts. When I go back to India,
I try to find grandmothers, local cooks and
professional chefs to learn new recipes. I
always follow the basic recipe and then make
changes to meet my own taste.
BK: Who is the audience for your book?
RK: The book is for people who like to cook
and want to explore the basics of Indian
cuisine. Rather than novices, the book is
intended for cooks who have some familiar-
ity with the basic Indian spices available at
ather than a recipe this month, I urge
readers to purchase Ruta’s book. With
very little effort you will be creating authen-
tic and delicious Indian dishes.
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for cooking
classes. His email is kaufman42@earthlink.net
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9.
July 7, 2007

rk Corner
a
P
G
A monthly update on
what’s happening at the
FRO
best community-built
and maintained
park in Oakland
S
Save the Date:
hare the joy of community spirit
with your children. Bring a picnic
lunch or, better yet, pick something
up at the Temescal Farmer’s Market,
and then join the volunteer commit-
tee of FROG Park with kid-friendly
weeding and other general care and
maintenance. FROG Park is a special
spot and needs your help to keep it so.
Have a good summer.
Picnic in the Park
Family Fun
Task Force Day
at FROG Park
Sunday 11 – 2 p.m.,
September 9, 2007
Just Released: The city has approved funding for the proposed
FROG Park permanent bathroom improvement.
Watch for details in the September Rockridge News.
YOU MAY LIVE 30 YEARS
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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

RCPC Appoints
New Boardmember
Environmental attorney Stuart M. Flash-
man was appointed to fill a vacancy on
the RCPC board of directors at the June 7
board meeting. A Rockridge resident since
1992, he’s currently a solo land use law
practitioner.
Stu co-chairs the legal team for the
Fourth Bore Coalition, protecting Rockridge
from the impacts of that enormous Caltrans
project. He also is the attorney for the
petitioners on the Oak to Ninth project. A
past member of the Sierra Club executive
committee, he currently serves on the Bay
Chapter legal committee.
Stu is a past planning commissioner
(1989-1990) and city council member
(1985) for the City of Emeryville, and was
an elected East Bay MUD director for this
area from 1990-1994 (President, 1994). He
currently serves on EBMUD’s water supply
management plan 2040 Community Liaison
Committee. He founded the Emeryville
Shoreline Committee and served as its co-
chairman from 1985 to 1990. He was on
the board of directors of Citizens for the
Eastshore State Park from 1986 to 1992,
and served on the board of trustees of the
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement
District from 1985 to the present.
Caldecott Tunnel
4th Bore Update
The RCPC subcommittee on the 4th
Bore of the Caldecott Tunnel project
is preparing its response to the project’s
Draft Environmental Assessment/Envi-
ronmental Impact Report (EA/EIR). The
RCPC board of directors appointed board
member Ellen Peterson as its representa-
tive to the Fourth Bore Coalition (FBC),
an association of neighborhood groups
created in response to the potential project
impacts. The FBC will compile a list of
mitigations over the summer, prior to
the anticipated release by CalTrans of
the final EA/EIR in October.
The EA/EIR is available at the proj-
ect’s CalTrans website: http://www.dot.
ca.gov/dist4/caldecott/draft_ea_eir.
htm. An overview of the project and
alternatives as identified by CalTrans
are also available on the site.


10.

July 7, 2007

Saint Augustine
Church Celebrates
100 Years in
Rockridge
by Jackie Frost
Shistory reflects the ebbs and flows of the
neighborhood itself.
In 2004, the Diocese of Oakland closed St.
Augustine School.
During the boom years of the 1950s,
more than 1,500 families crowded into
the 550-seat Tudor style church and 350
students attended St. Augustine School. To
accommodate the growing congregation,
the old church was torn down and replaced
in 1959 with the current, larger building on
Alcatraz Avenue. The gym and cafeteria were
also added during this time. The Sisters of
the Holy Names were in residence in their
convent on Regent Street.
Today, the parish is in the midst of a
renewal. Membership has more than doubled
since Father Wiesner became pastor in
January 2004, and two new schools have
taken up residence in the school building:
The Pacific Boys Choir and the Escuela
Bilingue Internacional. The old convent
now houses Elizabeth House, a transitional
home for women and their children.
aint Augustine Church will celebrate
its centennial this fall with a full roster
of events to commemorate its 100 years in
Rockridge.
Parish members serve in a broad range
of ministries, including the St. Vincent de
Paul Society, a mentorship program at Per-
alta Elementary School in its early stages,
Oakland Community Organizations (OCO),
Amnesty International and Youth Uprising,
and prison and hospital ministries.
Father Mark Wiesner, pastor of the
diverse 400-member parish, will officiate
at a special Centennial Mass Sunday Sep-
tember 9 at 10:30 a.m., marking 100 years
to the day of the founding of the Alcatraz
Avenue parish. Bishops Allen Vigneron and
John Cummins of the Diocese of Oakland
will also join in the celebration.
Only the pipe organ was retained from the
original church and members of the parish
are now hoping to have it restored.
 During the 1970s, church membership
declined. Split by the new BART line and
freeway, many Rockridge residents left
for the suburbs. The Holy Spirit Parish in
Berkeley opened and took with it families
who lived north of Ashby Avenue. In 1975,
the convent closed and the Sisters of the Holy
Names moved to their Harbord Drive loca-
tion in Oakland. By the mid-1990s, fewer
than 200 families attended mass regularly.
The 48-year-old building is also in line
for improvements. The parish will retrofit
the front façade of the church as well as
the rectory, construct a wheelchair access
to the church’s meeting hall, reconfigure
the parking lot, create gardens and green
space, and restore the bell tower with digital
chimes.
The first Mass celebrated in the parish
was held at midnight on Christmas Eve,
1907, and Bishop Cummins returns to his
home parish of St. Augustine this coming
Christmas Eve to preside and preach for
this special centennial liturgy.
“Of course, we need a good party,” Father
Wiesner said, so the parish is planning
a Centennial Dinner Dance on Saturday
evening, January 26, 2008, at the Elks
Lodge in Alameda with a catered dinner
and dancing to a live band. Tickets will go
on sale in the fall.
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A Prevention Oriented Practice


11.
July 7, 2007

Impressive Community Showing at City’s Zoning Meeting
Z

oning changes proposed for the Tem-
escal district could drastically change
Telegraph and lower Claremont avenues.
Recognizing both the proposal’s complexity
and divided neighborhood viewpoints, the
city’s Zoning Update Committee delayed its
recommendations and scheduled a meeting
for August 15 to provide additional time for
unheard neighborhood input.
benefit,” such as underground parking,
affordable housing, or contributing to a
neighborhood park.
to this area, each including height and a
development density bonus; a new design
review procedure; and several General Plan
amendments. The proposed changes affect
properties along Telegraph Avenue from
the Berkeley border to 41st Street, along
Shattuck from Highway 24 to 46th Street,
along Claremont Avenue between Telegraph
Avenue and Cavour Street, and in two Tem-
escal residential neighborhoods. Claremont
Avenue’s classification northeast to Cavour
would change from “Mixed Housing Type
Residential” to “Community Commercial”
with C-30 zoning replacing the current
C-28 zoning for this area only.
Differing opinions on Temescal’s future
were evident at the hearing.
Standing Together for Accountable
Neighborhood Development (STAND),
representing over 1,000 residents through
petition signatures, supports a 35-foot
limit with 45 feet conditionally permitted
in all overlay zones, preventing impacts
from more intense development. STAND
members worked hard for a condition-
ally-permitted increase to four stories (or
45 feet) on Telegraph with neighborhood-
serving ground-floor commercial space. In
contrast, other speakers proposed a 55-foot
minimum height.
Commissioner Doug Boxer expressed
interest in meeting with community groups
and walking through the neighborhood to
better understand the issues prior to the
next hearing.
The City Planning Department’s pro-
posal contains several elements including
updating Oakland ’s C-28 zoning code; four
special SD-TEM (Special District-Temescal
Corridor Combining Zone) zones specific
The plan includes protecting the historic
“neighborhood-defining” commercial sec-
tion on Telegraph and Shattuck avenues.
A height limit of 35 feet is proposed for
that section only. For all other areas, the
building height increases to 45 feet, with
55 feet conditionally permitted. A proposed
30 percent density bonus would be granted
when a developer provides one “community
The RCPC board envisions a future
Claremont Avenue/Telegraph Avenue
Rockridge “Gateway” developing into a
human-scale, mixed-use area with indi-
vidual, diverse storefronts of an appropriate
commercial unit size and density. Extending
the General Plan “Neighborhood Center
Mixed Use” designation from Telegraph
Avenue along Claremont Avenue and
retaining its C-28 zone best accomplishes
this goal.
Pilates Plus
The complete proposal can be found
either at www.oaklandnet.com/government/
ceda/revised/planningzoning/Commis-
sion/ and viewing the June 20 agenda,
or at www.rockridge.org under the PPRC
Committee.
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Rockridge Hangs Tight in a Transitional Market!
Sale Date
Address
Bed/Ba	 Original List
Final SP
DOM
06/05/07
434 North St
2/2
$649,000
$700,000
13
06/07/07
6439 Hillegass
3/1
$949,000
$1,155,000
15
06/12/07
6146 OceanView
4/4
$1,879,000
$1,870,000
23
06/12/07
5340 BroadwayTer
3/2
$629,000
$595,000
78
06/14/07
5208 GoldenGate
2/1
$769,000
$850,000
14
06/15/07
5620 KalesAve
3/1
$859,000
$859,000
17
06/15/07
142 Beechwood Dr	 5/4
$1,798,000
$1,851,000
104
06/19/07
17 Westminster Dr	 5/4
$3,150,000
$3,100,000
12
06/26/07
6207 Mathieu Ave
4/3
$1,475,000
$1,295,000
111
2007 2nd Quarter
Avg DOM: 20 days
closed sales, 17 days
for pending properties
compared to 17 days
2006 closed sales. Avg
List/Sell: 108%; 107%
in 2006. 75% sold over
original list, 19% sold
below. 2006: 75% sold
over asking and 22%
sold below.
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.


12.

July 7, 2007

from page 
Oakland Bicycle
Master Plan Update

Chabot Plan
asthma. The school buildings have shown
reduced operating and maintenance costs.
OUSD has also undertaken a district-wide
energy and water conservation strategy that
is expected to reduce utility costs by between
$750,000 and $1,000,000 annually. Chabot
Elementary will be the first school to be
constructed or retrofitted under OUSD’s
new environmental guidelines.
by Gloria Bruce, RCPC Secretary
At the June RCPC Town Hall meet-
ing, Jason Patton, manager of the
Oakland Bicycle Master Plan, provided
an overview of a long-term update of the
city’s 1999 bicycle plan which aims to
make Oakland more bicycle-friendly. The
city currently has three types of bikeways:
paths completely separate from cars (such
as the path at MLK Regional Shoreline);
bicycle lanes (such as those along Broad-
way Auto Row); and bicycle routes (like
the popular Webster-Shafter route from
Rockridge to uptown Oakland). The new
master plan proposes two new types of
bicycle access: bicycle boulevards mod-
eled somewhat after Berkeley’s network,
and arterial bike routes (busier roads with
outer lanes that can accompany bicycles).
Proposed improvements include enhanced
signage and traffic calming to create a route
from Temescal to Emeryville via Cavour,
Vicente, and 55th Streets.
would slow down cars. The evolution of the
plan will depend on how the city, public
works and neighbors balance the benefits
of swift car travel with pedestrian safety
and bicycle access, he said.
At an open community meeting attended
by teachers, parents and neighbors on June
11, the design team took input on the initial
schematic design. They presented the final
schematic design at another community
meeting on June 28.
The meeting closed with pleas for better
bike parking for everyone from Oakland
Tech students to elder residents who feel
insecure locking their bikes outside. Patton
urged residents to stay involved, check
www.oaklandpw.com for the draft Master
Plan’s progress, and use the many bicycle
routes already existing in Oakland.
The final design phase will occur in
late summer. If all goes according to the
ambitious project schedule, the construction
team will break ground in June 2008.
All are invited to the next community
meeting Tuesday, September 25, 7-9 p.m.,
at the Chabot School Auditorium, 6686
Chabot Road.
The RCPC will continue to inform
neighbors about these projects and to hold
frequent town meetings with opportunities
to comment on neighborhood issues.
Of interest to many RCPC residents
was a proposed reconfiguration of upper
Broadway between Keith and College
avenues. Patton described changing the
current four-lane road into a thoroughfare
with one travel lane in each direction,
a center left-turn lane, and bike lanes
alongside street parking. He stressed that
this proposal was in its early stages and
more traffic impact studies would follow.
While one resident found the proposal
“counterintuitive,” others praised the idea,
including a Lawton Avenue resident who
said he and his neighbors are hoping for
a safer, quieter Broadway. Patton assured
listeners the reconfiguration would not
cut auto carrying capacity in half, but it
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13.
July 7, 2007

Lights,
Camera…
Rockridge?
by Jeff Small
O

Peralta School Celebrates Bike to
School Day with Parade and Posters

by Melanie Grubman, education
director, Safe Routes to Schools
Oto poster contests, with the goal of creat-
ing safe neighborhoods and healthy kids
by encouraging more foot and bike traffic
to school. Due in part to the success and
enthusiasm of the pilot program at Peralta
School, Alameda County is now planning
to expand the Safe Routes project to 30
more schools.
n Thursday, May 17, National Bike to
Work Day, 50 parents and kids showed
up at 7:45 am— no minor feat for parents
of school-aged kids—at Peralta Elementary
School on 63rd Street with bikes, trailers,
flags, helmets and smiles. With motivational
cheers like, “Peralta students bike to school,”
kindergarteners to 5th graders pedaled and
rolled their way three wobbly miles to the
school’s temporary location at Carter Middle
School, 4521 Webster Street. Peralta School
boasted over 65 students—one quarter of its
total population—who rode to school on two
wheels (not counting training wheels).
n Monday, May 7, many a Rockridge
resident awoke to find our sleepy
hamlet had been bitten by the Hollywood
bug. Saatchi &
Saatchi Adver-
tising had chosen
Rockridge as the
backdrop to film
a new Toyota
commercial to
be aired this summer. College Avenue was
blocked from 6 to 9 a.m. from the BART
Station at Keith all the way to Kales.
Shown below are the winners of the
Bike to School Day poster contest, entitled
“Rolling Around my Neighborhood on
Human-Powered Wheels.” The first-place
winner was third-grader Chloe Kilebrew-
Bruehl; second place went to kindergartener
Sam Knight.
All poster artists were entered into a free
raffle for a new bike and helmet subsidized
by Hank and Frank’s Bicycles, which was
won by Gabriel Stamperkurn. For more
information on how to sign your school up
for technical assistance provided by the
Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools
Program next year, contact melanie@
transcoalition.org
Shiny new Toyota Camrys and High-
landers could be seen being filmed as
they turned from the side streets onto Col-
lege Avenue. Peter Newfield from Ranch
Exit Films, the company that executed
the filming, was happy to be filming in
Rockridge. He humorously commented:
“The Rockridge neighborhood was very
generous to accommodate our intrusion
and unrealistic no-parking demands for
the necessary post-apocalyptic look that
Toyota insists upon.”
The event was a culmination of a year’s
worth of activities preparing families and
youth for the Safe Routes to Schools program
sponsored by Alameda County. Training
spanned the spectrum from safety classes
t Peralta
School third
grader Chloe
Kilebrew-
Bruehl
garnered first
place poster
honors.
It is customary for a community to
receive a gift when a production company
films in a residential area. On behalf of the
Rockridge community, the RCPC thanks
Peter Newfield and crew for the donation
of $500 to Peralta School to aid in their
post-fire rebuilding efforts.
u Second
place went to
kindergartener
Sam Knight.
Home Security
Your Neighborhood Rockridge Mortgage Specialist
from page 
ested in taking action towards self-protection
are invited to this workshop, co-sponsored
by the City of Oakland’s Neighborhood
Services division.
Rates are Low!
It’s a good time to buy as we
move into a Buyer’s Market!
Following an update from the RCPC on
development projects in our neighborhood
and presentations from security experts,
we will form geographic groups to explore
options to provide an active community
safety program.
Take advantage of
great inventory —
Call now for Pre-approval!
Contact NCPC Chairwoman Susan Mon-
tauk at info@rockridgencpc.com to obtain
an e-mail flyer to distribute to your lists.
Monica C. Di Perna
510-225-5635
monicaloan@aol.com
15 years in the mortgage industry;
I am a Rockridge resident
This NCPC meeting is in lieu of the regu-
lar monthly steering committee meeting.


14.

July 7, 2007

Keep the Creek Flowing
Cooper (jennifer@live-work.com or 653-
6581) to help. Sticks and other objects in
the creek can block it and lead to flooding.
If more blockages occur, the creek will
be turned off. Also, Join FROG’s creek
flow committee: Contact Colin Dudley,
studleydud@earthlink.net.
The Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt
faux creek is finally flowing again and
FROG needs your help now to ensure that it
continues to flow! Volunteers are needed to
help clear the gratings and creek path once
a month (or more often). Contact Jennifer
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. September deadline is August 23.
For information: e-mail smontauk@gmail.com
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.
Work From Home!
Internet business opportunity with 34-year-
old NYSE company. PT/FT. Unlimited income
potential marketing  service everyone needs.
Training, support provided. Free information:
http://JForest.buildlastingsuccess.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.
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.
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.
St. Augustine Roman
Catholic Church
Fr. Mark Wiesner, Pastor, 400 Alcatraz
Avenue, Oakland, Parish Office: 510/653-8631,
Saintaugustinechurch@comcast.net. Satur-
day Sacrament of Reconciliation, 4-4:30 p.m.;
Saturday Vigil, 5 p.m.; Sunday Eucharist, 8 am.
and 10:30 am.
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.
K9run Fitness Training
For Your Pooch!
Individual programs designed to fit your dog’s
needs. Give your dog the exercise he/she
deserves! Pick up and other service available.
Suzette: getfit@k9run.com 415/378-5722
[Rockridge Resident) www.k9run.com.
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.
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.
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.
Garage Sale
Rockridge Montessori School annual garage
sale, July 14, 8 am-1 pm. Clothing, books,
toys, strollers, high chairs, knick-knacks, etc.
5633 Manila, near Broadway. Contact Sherry,
415/609-5487.
Educational Therapy for
Adolescents and Adults
Shawn Usha provides assessment, intervention,
and tutoring to set the challenged learner on the
path to learning success by developing the neces-
sary tools, self-knowledge, attitude, and skills.
www.iknowhowtolearn.com 510/450-0646.
Handyman
Carpentry, electrical, Kitchen, bath, decks,
fence, drainage, foundation repair, windows,
walls, dry rot, termite damage. Lic#458473
Don  510/812-0310.
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.
Energize yourself at your friendly,
Kitchens
independent, neighborhood gym!
• Design
• Remodeling
• Showroom Sales
www.acornkitchens
andbaths.com
Formerly Inside Out -
new owner, new look,
new classes, new energy!
KITCHENS & BATHS
This is not your typical gym!
Pay-as-you-go memberships.  Light, airy space.
510
547-6581
4640 TELEGRAPH AVE  •  OAKLAND
Over 45 classes a week.
Motivating instructors & trainers.
Group Classes, Personal Training, Childcare
HOURS: T-F  10-5  •  SAT. 10-4

$PMMFHF
"WF
	


4444 PIEDMONT AVE, OAKLAND (510) 655-8308
WWW.INSIDEOUTSIDEFITNESS.COM


15.
July 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

Jane Brunner’s No. Oakland Picnic
6:30pm, upstairs meeting room. Meet 7/10 to play
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja I & II on PS2. Film on 8/14
to be decided.
Play Board Games: Tuesday, 7/17, 4:30 to
5:30pm.
PS2 FUN. Bring your favorite PS2 games to play
video games with other teens on a BIG screen.
Wednesday, 8/1, 4:30 to 5:30pm.
Teen Advisory Board: Talk about what YOU want
at the library. Meeting on Wednesdays, 7/18, and
8/15, 3:30 to 4:30pm.
FOR ADULTS:
Tighter the Sweater: 20 Funny Women on Beauty, Body
Image, and Other Hazards of Being Female.
Thursday, 7/19, 7:30pm: Philosopher Jacob Needle-
man: Why Can’t We Be Good?
Sunday, 7/22, 3pm: Apogee Press Party. Poets
Elizabeth Robinson, Paul Hoover and Valerie
Coulton will read from their new books.
Thursday, 7/26, 7:30pm: Local author for young
adults Wendy Lichtman: Do the Math: Secrets,
Lies and Algebra.
5433 College Ave. Info for more events, call: 510/653-
9965 or www.dieselbookstore.com.
Everyone invited. Saturday, July 22, noon to 4pm. BBQ
and drinks provided – bring a side dish or dessert.
Lake Temescal north picnic area. 6500 B’way, next to
the highway 24/13 interchange. Parking off B’way. No
Community Meetings July, Aug., or Sept. Information:
238-7001 or www.oaklandnet.com.
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
Rockridge Branch Library
ó
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
Toddler Story Time: 1st and 2nd Saturdays, 10:30am:
7/7, 7/14, 8/4, 8/11, 9/1, 9/8,
Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am: 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, (Pre-School Story Time will
resume on 9/19).
Pajama Story Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm: 7/17,
7/31, 8/14 (see special party below), 8/28, 9/11.
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES:
ó
Beginning Computer Skills: get help from teen
volunteers on Thursdays, 4 to 5:30pm and Fridays,
4:30 to 5:30pm. Make an appointment with the adult
reference desk: 597-5017.
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/) Rockridge Branch
Library, third Saturday of the month (7/21and 8/18)
from 1 to 5pm. For more information: 420-8775 or
Writefox@aol.com.
Writing From the Soul Workshop with Suzanne
West. Saturday, 7/21, 2 to 4:30pm. Call 597-5017
to sign up.
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.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday of each month, 6 to 8pm. Advance sign-up
starts 5pm.
ART EXHIBITS IN THE GALLERY
July: Stan Cohen, Oakland Art Association exhibit.
August: Darril Tighe: abstract watercolor.
September: Melissa West: ink and acrylics on paper.
ó
Jazz at the Chimes
ó
Featuring SLAMMIN All Body Band: The sextet from
Oakland performs a mix of a cappella singing, beatboxing
and body music. Sunday, July 15, 2pm. Ticket sales at the
door begin at 12:30pm: $10 (cash only) for concert and
reception. Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave.
Info/Reservations: 228-3218. www.lifemarkgroup.
com/oakland/special_events.asp.
ó
ó
The Summer Reading Program runs through August
11. Children of all ages can come in any time to sign
up and get prizes for reading.
Los Mapaches Music of the Andes: Local young
musicians share Peruvian and Central American
music. Tuesday, 7/10, 7pm. All ages welcome.
DanceSpace Student Annual Performance: Friday,
7/13, 3pm. All ages.
Read-Aloud: Listen to librarians and guests read a
little bit of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows each
day, starting on Monday, 7/23, from 4 to 4:45pm. Call
Erica for more information.
Make a Magical Dragon: Workshop conducted by the
Museum of Children’s Art. Monday, 7/30, 7pm.
Sing-Along with Gary Lapow: Tuesday, 8/7, 7pm.
All ages welcome.
End-of Summer-Reading-Game Party: Pajama
Story Time, followed by a party celebrating our vol-
unteers and all our great readers. Stories, games and
snacks. Tuesday, 8/14, 7pm. All ages welcome.
FOR TEENS:
ó
Oakland Symphony Chorus Summer
Sing-ins 2007
ó
July 10, Orff: Carmina Burana; July 17, Stravinsky:
Symphony of Psalms; July 24, Gershwin: Porgy and
Bess choruses and Faure: Requiem; July 31, Verdi:
Requiem; August 7, Schubert: Mass in G and Bern-
stein: Chichester Psalms; August 14, Bach: Cantata #
4 and Haydn: Theresa Mass. Tuesdays from 7 to 10pm.
Scores and refreshments provided. $10/evening
or $50 series pass. Handicap accessible and ample
parking. First Covenant Church, 4000 Redwood Road,
Oakland. Info at 207-4093 or www.oaklandsym-
phonychorus.org.
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
ó
North Oakland Senior Center
ó
Program Highlights: Computer classes; Health Insur-
ance counseling and advocacy program; Alzheimer’s
Caregivers Support Group; AARP driver Safety classes;
Farmers Market every Wednesday from 10:30am to
2:30pm.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
LIBRARY HOURS:
Mon. and Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Teen Summer Program, through Aug. 11. Assist
beginning computer users, help younger kids with
the Summer Reading Game. Earn points for Teen
Summer Prizes. Teens with at least 10 hours of
combined library activity time (reading, volunteering
or attending programs) will be invited to a celebra-
tion with raffles and snacks. Call for more info and
to sign up.
Anime Club: Teens ages 13 and up, watch and
talk about new anime (Japanese animation) with
other teens. 2nd Tuesday of each month, from 5 to
ó
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays.
Diesel Readings and Events
National Night Out: Meet with neighbors for live
music, food, free stuff, fire truck for the kids. Tuesday,
8/7, 6:30 to 8:30pm (patio on 58th St.).
Gilroy Garlic Festival, Friday, 7/18, 8:30am to 5pm.
$40 (includes roundtrip deluxe motor coach and
Festival admission).
Alameda Civic Light Opera: Sunday matinees at
2pm for: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on
7/15; Cinderella on 8/12; Kiss Me Kate on 9/9. $67
for three performances.
Sign up with payment in advance at the reception desk.
Center Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:45am to 4:45pm. 5714
Martin Luther King, Jr.Way. The newsletter, “North Oak-
land Senior Times,” provides a full schedule of classes
and a monthly lunch menu ($2.25 to $4). Call 597- 5085
for more information.
ó
All events are FREE and open to the public.
ó
Thursday, 7/12, 7pm: The Young Writers’ Camp
graduation. The new graduates will read from
their works.
Wednesday. 7/18, 7:30pm: Editors Lisa Taggert
and Samantha Schoech: The Bigger the Better, the
ó
ó
ó
ó
Rebecca Lueck, LCSW
Individual and
Family Counseling
(415) 235-1071
Located at College and Alcatraz
10th Annual Bay to Barkers
Join with hundreds of dog lovers (and their dogs) for this
annual Dog Walk/Run and festival. Activities include a
Doggy Fashion Show, Olympiad and the largest dog
bone biscuit ever made. July 15, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Cesar
Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina (west end of University
Avenue, across the freeway). For information: www.
berkeleyhumane.org.
Treating relationship issues,
anxiety, depression, panic disorders,
childhood trauma, grief, infertility
and adoption, and addictions.
Sliding scale : Insurance accepted


16.

July 7, 2007

VINITA GOKHALE
ROCKRIDGE REALTOR AND HOMEOWNER
ROBERTS ELECTRIC
Happy
RECO
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
You are invited to
visit my new neigh-
borhood website at
the address below
for local information,
links and real estate
information. – Vinita
http://www.myrockridgeneighbors.com
INSTALLATION • REPAIR • 220 WIRING
New
NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODEL
FREE ESTIMATES
Year!
2408 Webster St. 834-6161 Oakland
SERVING THE EAST BAY SINCE 1932
CA. LIC# 728215
510-717-0630
510-428-0757
Email: Vinita@realtyadvocates.com
SPY
PI PE
™
• Trenchless Sewer Pipe
Replacement
• TV Pipe Inspections
• Drain & Sewer Service
Coming in July - Rockridge
Free Estimates
Over 25 Years Experience
IMMEDIATE RESPONSE
Stunning 2-story Totally Redone
Craftsman @ 5455 Lawton Ave.
(510) 465-3000
License #754966
4+ Beds/ 3 Baths
Coming in July - Lwr Rockridge
442 60th Street     $774,000
Charming 3 Bed/ 2 Bath Bungalow
on a Double-sized lot.
Ron Kriss, Broker
L A W T O N
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
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5353 College Avenue
Oakland