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www.rockridge.org
VOL. 23 NO. 8 ISSUE NO. 248 September 6, 2008
CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses
Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 869-4200
How Will BART’s Seismic Retrofit
Plans Affect Rockridge Residents?
Agenda: RCPC September
Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, September 18, 7 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room (Upstairs)
by Stuart Flashman,
chair, RCPC
A
few years back, Cal-
trans did extensive
work on the elevated parts
of Highway 24 that pass
through Rockridge in order
to protect the public when
(not if) a major earthquake
occurs on the nearby Hay-
ward Fault. BART is now
following suit for its elevated
structures including the
Rockridge BART station.
Nearby residents got an
unpleasant first taste of the
potential effects of the proj-
ect work to come when, a few
weeks ago, PG&E relocated
some of its underground
conduits running under the
BART station preparatory
to the full project. The night
work in the parking lots and
on College Avenue, includ-
ing large floodlights and
loud noises, went on into
the early morning hours for
more than a week.
BART says it will try to
limit the night work, but that
some will be necessary.
BART will present its
plans for this important
but annoying work to the
Rockridge neighborhood at
the RCPC September Town
Hall meeting. Come hear
about what will be involved
and give your thoughts on
how to minimize the com-
munity disruption.
The meeting will be held
at the Rockridge Branch
Library in the upstairs
meeting room on Thursday,
September 18, beginning
at 7 p.m.
7:00: Bay Area Rapid Transit
■
■
(BART) representatives discuss
the agency’s seismic retrofit project
planned for the Rockridge BART sta-
tion, and will hear community sugges-
tions for controlling project noise.
7:30 to 8:30: Speakers from
■
■
the California Native Plant
Society and California Invasive
Plant Council will discuss wildlife in
Rockridge, removal of invasive plants,
and the creation of more wildlife-
friendly, water-wise gardens.
n Lech Naumovich, Director of
Goldenhour Restoration Institute,
will speak on habitat restoration of
the Caldecott Sports Field.
Boyd Avenue Enjoys National Night Out
n Laura Baker, on the Board of the
East Bay Chapter of California Native
Plants Society, will speak on wildlife
in Rockridge and gardening with
wildlife.
n A representative from the California
Invasive Plant Council will discuss weed
suppression and wise gardening.
We Mean Green!
Are the plants in your garden eyeing
you reproachfully? Are your roses
being gobbled by foraging deer?
In the midst of a drought, and as
cities eye open space for development
while natural habitat and wildlife are
shouldered aside, can a conscientious
home gardener maintain attractive and
durable plantings without compromising
dwindling resources?
RCPC has invited a panel of experts
on sustainable and native-plant gardening
to discuss plants, wildlife, water-wise gar-
dening, and more at the RCPC Town Hall
meeting, Thursday, September 18, starting
at 7 p.m. The panel will have answers to
your questions. See details above.
Photo: Susan Montauk
Rockridge Residents Party in the Streets
by Susan Montauk
On August 5, Oakland joined the nation
in the 25th anniversary celebration of
National Night Out (NNO), an event cel-
ebrated across America by people sponsoring
block parties to make their neighborhoods
safer. The phenomenal growth of this event
points to the increasing awareness of the
importance of community involvement in
safety. At the first NNO in 1985, 400 com-
munities (an estimated 2.5 million people)
in 23 states participated; by 2007, NNO
Nat’l Night Out, page 12
¤
¤
2.
September 6, 2008
In My Opinion
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon, Tues:
Weds, Thurs, Sat:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
A Suburban Car Culture in Rockridge?
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
by Bill Kaufner
A
typical street in Rockridge: sidewalks
empty of people, cars in driveways or
on the street, an occasional bicycle or jogger
going by. In some ways an idyllic scene and
yet something seems amiss.
Now that I am working at home, what has
struck me is that most of my neighbors do not
walk very much in our neighborhood. They
exit their homes, get into their cars and drive
away. One does see some people walking to
bus or BART and young parents walking with
their children but, seven days a week, most
travel is by automobile.
One could posit the claim that the
majority of residents are really exhibiting
typical suburban behaviors when it comes
to modes of travel.
If our goal as a community is to have a
vibrant street life with our carefully nurtured
mix of residential and commercial zones,
then we need to encourage residents to
take advantage of our very walkable city-
scape. The health benefits of walking are
extensively documented. In fact, there are
numerous healthy city initiatives in current
urban planning that speak to urban designs
that encourage city dwellers to walk, bike,
and use public transit. How to increase
residential foot traffic?
One reason many people have to travel
elsewhere to shop is the lack of certain types
of retail on College Avenue. Boutiques rule,
and hardware or reasonably priced cloth-
ing are not to be found. Greater residential
density would bring more people but most
new projects come with parking structures
so the temptation to drive is built-in.
It could be argued that in urban settings
with transit, sidewalks, and bike racks avail-
able, there is no need for the massive BART
parking structures that dominate around the
...issues work against
our walkable environ-
ment: The possibility
of street crime; inade-
quate lighting; uneven or
broken sidewalks; insuf-
ficient pedestrian-safe
crosswalks; not enough
bicycle racks...
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 nonprofit 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.
Rockridge News Production
Don Kinkead �����������������������Editor
Ortrun Niesar.....................The Muse
Barry Kaufman �������������������Food
Jo Ellis �����������������������������������Advertising &
Community Calendar
Theresa Nelson ��������������������Neighborhood Merchant
Susan Montauk �������������������Business Manager
Don Kinkead �����������������������Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2008-2009
Stuart Flashman �����������������Chair
Ronnie Spitzer ��������������������Vice-Chair
Katy Taylor ��������������������������Secretary
Joan Martin ��������������������������Treasurer
Jason Burke, Annette Floystrup, Jonathan Gabel,
William Kaufner, Don Kinkead, Colby Lavin,
Doug Patton, Ellen Peterson, Danica Truchlikova
Contact the Board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
relatively small BART stations and bring
even more cars into neighborhoods.
Some existing issues work against our
walkable environment: the possibility
of street crime; inadequate lighting; uneven
or broken sidewalks; insufficient pedestrian-
safe crosswalks; and not enough bicycle
racks. Still, the advantages of walking
outweigh these issues. In fact, many such
issues would be resolved if more people
walked for errands and exercise. Residents
would become aware of the beautiful gardens
cultivated by their neighbors and perhaps
even meet our avid gardeners. They could
reduce their carbon footprint and save some
cash by leaving their cars at home while
carrying canvas bags to use at their favorite
stores. And they would develop a better
sense of what needs to be done to maintain
and improve their neighborhood.
So walk more, see more, learn more,
and do more.
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.
Contacting The Rockridge News
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News
block captain?
Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 510/869-4200
Bill Kaufner, is a retired Claremont Middle School
administrator and recently appointed RCPC
boardmember.
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.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
Sat 9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
October 4, 2008
October deadline is September 18.
Advertising rates are $26/column inch. Six-
month pre-pay rate available. For display ads,
call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or e-mail
joellis1@hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right to
refuse any display or classified ad that it deems
inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page 14.)
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
A Prevention Oriented Practice
3.
September 6, 2008
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.
Land Use Committee Meeting:
Wednesday, September 24, 7 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman,
RCPC Land Use Committee chair
Land Use Committee Meetings
The RCPC Land Use Committee meets the
fourth Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., at
the Rockridge Branch Library. Contact Stu
Flashman at 652-5373 or stuflash@aol.com
for copies of the agenda.
College Ave. Safeway rebuild
■
■
(6310 College Avenue at
Claremont)
In response to criticism from RCPC
and others in the community, Safeway has
withdrawn its plans for the rebuild of its
College Avenue store. Instead, Safeway has
proposed a series of meetings with stake-
holder representatives (including RCPC,
the Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood
Association, the store’s Alcatraz Avenue
residential neighbors, Neighbors Concerned
about the College Avenue Safeway, and local
merchants) to discuss appropriate criteria
for a new store design. Six meetings are
planned: September 10 and 22, October 1,
13, and 22, and November 3. The meetings
will be open to the public, but a location
has not yet been chosen. Check rockridge.
org for further updates.
Hauser/Creekside residential/
■
■
mixed-use project
(Global Video Site –
5132 Telegraph Avenue)
The Draft Environmental Impact Report
(DEIR) for this large mixed-use project on the
Rockridge/Temescal border has been released.
Copies are available at the City’s planning
department (250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite
3315) and may be viewed online on the City’s
website (http://tinyurl.com/5evot7). RCPC has
also placed a copy at the Rockridge Library
for residents’ reference. Written comments
on the DEIR may be submitted to the City
up until September 29. The Planning Com-
mission held a public hearing to receive
5871 Margarido Drive
Proposal: To construct a 2-story 272 square-
foot rear addition to an existing single family
home and to construct two new retaining walls
and an approximately 1,400 square-foot terrace
in the rear yard.
Applicant-Owner: Mario Assadi
Phone: 510/812-4430
Planning Permits Required: Regular Design
Review for a new floor area and exterior altera-
tions; Minor Variances for height (addition is 32
feet high where 30 feet is allowed) and building
wall length (40 feet total length where 35 feet
is allowed).
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property; Survey rating: C2+ (Secondary Impor-
tance; contributor to an Area of Secondary
Importance).
Case Planner: Holly Pearson at 510/238-3079
or hpearson@oaklandnet.com
FROG
Park Sets
September
Maintenance Day
Saturday, September 13:
8:30-4 p.m.
Join your friends to rake, replant, and paint
at the FROG Park. Adults and kids over
13 are invited. Come by for just an hour or
whatever time you can spare. Meet at the
playground. FROG will provide cold drinks
and snacks for all volunteers. Find more
details at the FROG Park website: www.
frogpark.org.
oral comments on the DEIR on September
3. RCPC reiterated its concerns about the
project’s impacts on Rockridge, and asked
that the City consider adding analysis of the
new project alternative (see below).
Responding to input from a group of
stakeholder representatives that had been
meeting to talk about the project, the
developer has come up with an alternative
project design to address some of the com-
munity’s concerns. Project modifications
include removing the project’s density
bonus units and reducing its height by
one story, increasing step-backs from the
neighboring Claremont Towers apartment
building, and including a “faux creek” along
the walkway between this project and the
already-approved (but not-yet-built) Civiq
project. Updated plans and drawings for
this new alternative project will be posted
on the rockridge.org website.
BART Seismic Retrofit Project
■
■
See article on page 1 about this month’s
Town Hall meeting.
New Tenants in Dreyer’s
■
■
Building (5915 College Avenue)
RCPC has been notified that Cotton &
Company apparently intends to vacate its
retail space in the College Avenue street
frontage of the Dreyer’s Building. Two
potential tenants, Edward Jones Investments
Land Use Committee, page 13
¤
¤
Small Office Specialists
Small Office Specialists
For a kitchen,
consult a kitchen expert.
For a closet,
find a closet designer.
For your office,
come to us.
5933 College Ave. (off Claremont) Oakland, 510-654-9500
1265 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City, 650-365-7800
Restoration / Renovation
Custom Wood
Windows and Doors
(510) 893 1157
WWW.GALVINS.COM
www.woodenwindow.com Lic 640153
4.
September 6, 2008
Letters to the Editor
Rockridge Branch Library : 5366 College Avenue
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Your
name, address, phone number, 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.
Library Photos: Don Kinkead
I Favor Trader Joe’s Solicitation Policy
Editor:
I strongly disagree with Lydia Gans’ letter concerning Trader
Joe’s solicitation policy (Letters, The Rockridge News, July 2008).
When I first saw the store’s “distraction-free” sign, I was thrilled.
I already have to run the gauntlet at Berkeley Bowl every week
and would love to be able to shop there hassle-free. I also have to
wonder about Lydia’s description of TJ’s as “upscale.” I can see that
adjective applied to Market Hall. But, Trader Joe’s? Trader Joe’s
specializes in providing healthy food at lower prices than you find
at most supermarkets. Regarding her statement that in the 20 years
she’s lived and shopped in the neighborhood she’s never seen anyone
distracted by solicitors, she obviously hasn’t crossed paths with me
or some of my neighbors. I don’t like to shop at Yasai because of
the solicitors who line the already crowded sidewalks.
— Jody Stevens
Rockridge Branch Plans
User Survey for ‘Teen Zone’
by Gerry Garzon, Associate Director,
Oakland Public Library
The Oakland Public Library has received city funding,
requested in FY 2007-08 by Councilmember Jane
Brunner, to develop a “Teen Zone” for the Rockridge
Public Library. In anticipation of community meetings to
plan this project, we would like to hear from you.
A survey – both paper copy and online – will be issued
later this month asking you for feedback about your com-
munity, the Rockridge Public Library, how you use it,
and how you feel about other users. Please help us plan
properly for a new Rockridge “Teen Zone” by responding
to our survey when it comes out.
Survey and Celebration for Library Branches
Temescal Branch Seeks
Memories and Photos
by Martha Bergmann, event planning group member
and former librarian
Staff and friends of the Temescal Branch Library are
gathering photos and recollections for this North Oak-
land community fixture as it approaches its 90th birthday
this December. In celebration, we invite library users of
today and yesterday to forward memories of time spent
in our library. Reading surprises, enjoyable programs,
meaningful encounters – whatever you recall. Please
complete a brief form at the branch or e-mail Sally Bean
at sbean@oaklandlibrary.org. Your name, address and age
are requested along with your memories.
Children are particularly encouraged to participate,
as is anyone with an especially long association with the
Temescal Branch. In December, we plan extra programs,
an exhibit of the history of the branch since its opening
in 1918, and a birthday bash on December 10.
We hope library users will send some good stories, then
join in commemorating 90 years of the Temescal Library.
An Alert Neighbor Helped Recover My Stolen Car
Editor:
My locked ’97 Subaru was stolen on July 17 from my driveway
on Coronado Avenue near 51st Street in Rockridge. It was driven to
a location near Mosswood Park (MacArthur Boulevard at Broad-
way) where the catalytic converter and stereo system were ripped
out. The police reported that Subarus of this vintage are very easy
to get into and to start. An alert neighbor where the car was taken
observed a couple jack up and vandalize the car. He rescued my
paperwork from the glove compartment and called me, enabling
me to recover my car and make a police report. I do not know if the
perpetrators were caught, but I hope so. I’m writing to let Rockridge
neighbors know about the theft and to alert Subaru owners to use a
“club” lock on their steering wheel; I’m going to! I’m also writing
to say how much I appreciate the efforts of the man who called me.
Let’s hear it for thoughtful and alert neighbors!
— Leslie Correll
Temescal Branch Library :
5205 Telegraph Avenue
5.
September 6, 2008
Flowers Flourish in Public Garden Next to Highway 24
by Gordon Piper, chair, North Hills
Landscape Committee
Roses and lavenders are among the many
new Rockridge residents to be found
in the new two-acre public garden being
developed on Caltrans property at the corner
of Keith Avenue and Broadway.
Named the Broadway Garden, the proj-
ect involves a creative partnership between
Caltrans and the North Hills Landscape
Committee, which adopted the property
adjacent to Highway 24 several years ago.
The North Hills group has since planted
nearly 6,000 bulbs, 1,000 shrubs, and over
20 trees to help beautification efforts in
Rockridge.
Caltrans approached the Keep Oakland
Beautiful (KOB) board in 2006 and asked
for KOB’s help in restoring the large offramp
site that had been covered with weeds and
litter. The North Hills Landscape Commit-
tee agreed to work with KOB, Caltrans and
community partners to help in efforts to
beautify the site and convert it into a public
garden. Working under the supervision of
the Oakland’s Department of Public Works,
Keep Oakland Beautiful is dedicated to
creating opportunities through education
and community involvement for a beautiful,
clean and green Oakland.
In the past year, more progress develop-
ing the Broadway Garden has been made
with new plantings by student volunteers
from the nearby College Preparatory High
School and from Cal, aided by the North
Hills Landscape Committee. The commit-
tee praised the College Prep students who
provided nearly 50 volunteers who helped
in weeding, pruning back invasive shrubs,
and planting new lavender plants.
Students from The Berkeley Project at
Cal planted nearly 100 groundcover and
shrub roses in the Broadway Garden. The
committee noted that the roses have been
growing well and blooming profusely.
Several nurseries have also supported
The work of the North Hills Landscape Committee in collaboration with Caltrans
is evident in the profusion of blooming flowers at Keith Avenue and Broadway
next to Highway 24 at the Broadway off-ramp. The group has been working on
the two-acre site for about two years, and plans to add more plants.
Photo: Gordon Piper
of local residents to make it a special and
beautiful show garden illustrating the pride
of Rockridge residents in their community,”
committee representatives said.
The North Hills Landscape Commit-
tee is a local nonprofit that helps maintain
several public gardens in the Rockrige
area, including the Broadway Garden, the
Firestorm Memorial Garden, and the City of
Oakland’s Gateway Garden. The Landscape
Committee also helps develop school gar-
dens in Oakland, and has helped to restore
Temescal Creek at the Caldecott North
Oakland sports field near Lake Temescal.
Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation
serves as the fiscal agent for the North Hills
Landscape Committee.
the garden by donating or discounting plant
materials, thus aiding rapid development of
the garden. A drip irrigation system added
this year helps nurture plantings and mini-
mize weed growth.
Even so, more help is needed.
“We would like to involve more local
residents and community organizations in
helping to maintain, develop and enhance
this public garden in the next couple of
years,” garden committee representatives
noted. The Landscape Committee wants to
add new plantings of shrubs and perennials
to the garden, and expand the drip irrigation
system to water the new plantings
Rockridge residents can also assist the
garden by making tax-deductible dona-
tions of plants or dollars. “We need the help
Gordon Piper, chair of the North Hills Landscape
Committee, serves on the City of Oakland’s Keep
Oakland Beautiful (KOB) Advisory Board. More
information about KOB is available from the
Department of Public Works or via their website
at: http://www.oaklandpw.com/page111.aspx
$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
601-1188
Mon – Fri 7 – 7 • Sat 8 – 6
Across from Zachary’s Pizza
Residents interested in assisting the North
Hills Landscape Committee may contact
Gordon Piper at 843-3828, by mail at 33
Hiller Drive, Oakland 94618, or by e-mail
to Rgpiper@sbcglobal.net.
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
6.
September 6, 2008
place the chilies in a bowl, and cover with
a kitchen towel. Let steam for about 15
minutes. Wearing latex gloves, remove the
chilies and pull off the charred skin. Never
peel or wash roasted chilies under running
water. Once again wearing gloves, split the
chilies open and scoop out the seeds and
pith with the tip of a knife.
Too many chilies, too many recipes: which
to choose? Let’s go with a simple Caribbean
salsa that goes well with grilled fish, shrimp
or chicken. All of the ingredients are avail-
able at Rockridge produce markets.
Rock ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman
Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Peppers
On a recent visit to a local farmer’s
market, I was delighted to see that
chili peppers were beginning to come into
season: Peppers of all colors – red, orange,
green, purple, and deep chocolate brown;
peppers of all sizes and shapes – the tiny
Thai red dragon, long Anaheims, and the
heart-shaped poblano; peppers of all degrees
of heat – from the fiery Habanero or Scotch
Bonnet to the ultra-sweet pimiento or Ital-
ian fry peppers.
I consider chili peppers Mesoamerica’s
greatest culinary gift to world cuisine. Imag-
ine you’ve been projected back to Thailand,
China, India, Italy, or Spain in the year 1490.
What to eat? Hard to believe, but our entire
palate of taste for spicy chili peppers would
be missing from our daily fare. On the other
hand, daily cuisine in 1490 Mesoamerica
consisted of a mélange of foods prepared
with all kinds of peppers.
Today, hundreds of chili varieties are
used throughout the world to impart fiery
flavor to foods. Archeological evidence
suggests that wild chilies were gathered
in Mexico as long ago as 7000 B.C. and
were cultivated before 3500 B.C. Chilies
have been found at Mayan and Inca burial
sites. They were a mainstay of the diets of
Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas.
The Spanish and Portuguese brought
chilies to India and Southeast Asia. Chilies
reached Europe by the mid-16th century,
then China and the East Indies. Within
a century, chilies had spread around the
world from the Americas. By the end of
the 16th century, chili peppers had become
the defining culinary ingredient for most
Asian, Indian and African cuisine.
The characteristic for which chilies are
best known is the heat they produce in our
mouths. This fiery sensation is caused by
capsaicin, a potent chemical that survives
high heat cooking. The amount of capsaicin
present in a chili determines how hot it is.
In 1912, Wilbur Scoville devised Scoville
Units, a measure of the amount of capsai-
cin present in a particular pepper. Chili
peppers range from the mild pimento with
0 Scoville Units to the ultra-fiery Habanero/
Scotch Bonnet measured at 80,000 – 150,000
Scoville Units. A standard bell pepper
comes in at about 500 Scoville Units. The
best antidotes to the hotness of chilies are
dairy products such as milk or yogurt. This
is why Indian food is often served with a
cold lassi, a chilled yogurt and buttermilk
drink, sometimes flavored with mango.
The flavor of a chili pepper is greatly
enhanced by roasting it and peeling
the skin off. There are several methods of
roasting. First, though, cut a small slit in the
chili close to the stem so steam can escape.
The chilies can then be placed on a baking
sheet and put directly under the broiler, or
placed on a hot grill (gas or charcoal). My
favorite is simply to place them on a stove-
top grill screen (available at Sur La Table).
Whatever method you choose, what you’re
looking for is the skin to start blistering.
Make sure the chilies are blistered all over,
or they will not peel properly. Immediately
Caribbean Salsa
(Makes about 2 cups)
2 tablespoons diced onion
2 cups tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch dice
1 fresh Habanero/Scotch Bonnet,
seeded and finely minced
(WARNING: wear latex gloves when
cutting)
4 tablespoons basil, julienned
1 small red bell pepper, cut into
¼-inch dice
Juice of 2 limes
½ cup diced mango, or papaya or pine-
apple
½ teaspoon salt
Put onion in colander, rinse with hot water
and drain. Combine all ingredients and mix
well. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 30
minutes before serving.
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for cooking
classes. His email is kaufman42@earthlink.net
Rockridge
Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level
Entry on Shafter Avenue
510-655-8808
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7.
September 6, 2008
Rockridge Mom
Writes Mysteries
So you’re having
twins? Try writing.
Rockridge women never cease to
amaze me. As if having twins wasn’t
enough of a thrill, Rockridge resident
Clare Langley-Hawthorne also managed
to hammer out the first volume of what
promises to be an engaging mystery
series, featuring new heroine Ursula
Marlow. Her first book, Consequences of
Sin, published in 2007, earned her the
#9 spot on the San Francisco Chronicle
paperback best seller list and a nomination
for a Macavity Award in 2008. Not bad
for a new mom.
In fact, mom is on a roll. Clare’s next
installment, The Serpent and the Scorpion,
comes out September 30. A third, tentatively
entitled Unlikely Traitors, is in progress.
They all star Ursula Marlow, intrepid
sort-of suffragette, whose masses of
unruly curls, inquisitive mind and stubborn
unladylike behavior land her in all kinds of
dangerous intrigue. Clare’s stories are an
easy, fast-paced read, a good page-turner
for a quiet afternoon. There are enough
dead bodies, exotic milieus, disappearing
villains, elegant ladies and handsome men,
cases of mistaken identity and foreign
intrigues to last for a few more books,
maybe even a television series.
Clare, an international health
economics researcher and writer, hails
from Australia and England. A few years
ago when she and husband Tim settled
into their cozy bungalow on Auburn
Avenue, Clare thought she would pursue
Viking and Penguin Books.
I met with Clare in her converted
garage studio. Books lined the north wall.
Some of her favorite authors were there:
D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, and, of
course, Dorothy L. Sayers, author of the
Lord Peter Wimsey series. Diagrams,
character descriptions, chapter outlines
and deadline dates were tacked on the
far wall, while the glass doors on the
south side let her watch her twins, now
aged 4, play in the backyard.
Clare brimmed with enthusiasm and
energy as she described the intricacies of
writing a mystery and of being a professional
writer: Personal discipline, cooperation
with the publisher and a willingness to help
promote the work seem to be essential
characteristics. Why did she choose to
write mysteries rather than romances or
fiction? A life-long love of who-done-it
stories coupled with her talent for research
made the choice easy.
Mysteries need to be fast-paced and
compelling. They also have a readership
that will not stand for inaccuracies. Make
a mistake, you will hear from the fans.
Clare’s focus is the early post-Edwardian
age, circa 1910-16, which encompasses a
fading aristocracy, the suffragette movement
and the rise of socialism. To bring this
milieu to life, she makes clever use of
minute period detail gleaned from a myriad
of sources, among them the many BBC
Masterpiece productions. Also, Clare lived
in England for some years, and took time
for direct observation of key locales. A
trip to Venezuela a few years ago yielded
striking new venues for her characters.
The
Rockridge
Muse
by Ortrun Niesar
Clare Langley-Hawthorne
Photo: the author
a law degree while starting their family.
With the prospect of becoming the
mother of twins, she decided to try
writing instead. Clare joined a local
writers group. That meant writing 500
words per day, but, only a few months
later, the gamble paid off. “We think
you’ve got a book here,” was the excited
verdict of her fellow writers. Toting
three finished chapters and outlines of
those to come, Clare attended the San
Francisco Writers Conference in the fall
of 2004. One thing led to another and
she found herself under contract with
Mystery Writer, page 13
¤
¤
Fall Session
Enrolling Now
Early Bird
Discounts
MONART Classes include:
• Pre-school
• Basic Drawing
• Intermediate
• Teens & Adults
• Seniors
Rockridge Sales Somewhat Scattered this August
Close Date
BR Bth
Addr
Orig Price
DOM
LP
SP
8/7/2008
5
4
5839 Ross St
$1,375,000
15
$1,375,000
$1,402,000
8/12/2008
3
2
518 Forest St
$750,000
7
$750,000
$735,000
8/12/2008
4 4.5
6015 Manchester Dr
$1,785,000
45
$1,785,000
$1,700,000
8/22/2008
4 2.5
6142 Harwood Ave
$1,495,000
17
$1,495,000
$1,500,000
• August of 2007 yielded four times as many closings as August of 2008
• 50% of properties Listed in Rockridge, Sold for OVER asking price,
in comparison to 33% last year.
• In 2007 the average List to Sell price was 107% vs 99% in 2008
• Virtually the same market time in 2007 as 2008.
• There is currently a 1.7 month supply of inventory in Rockridge
Kobi, age 5
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Fine Arts Classes for Children, Teens and Adults
5427 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, CA 94609
www.monarteastbay.com
510.654.DRAW (3729)
8.
September 6, 2008
Boychoir Quilt Selected for ShowG
Photo: Pacific Boychoir Academy
by Angie Lewandowski,
Pacific Boychoir Academy
A
handmade quilt crafted by students at
the Pacific Boychoir Academy Middle
School in Rockridge was selected for dis-
play at the 2008 Quilting in the Garden
show at Livermore’s Alden Lane Nursery.
The annual quilt show features quilts by
local and regional artists and community
members, as well as food and drink and
quilting supply vendors.
Pacific Boychoir Academy Middle School
students in grades five through eight
created their “family quilt” this past school
year. In the process, the boys learned all
about the color wheel, composition, and
working with a sewing machine and power
tools. The traditional Amish-inspired quilt
represents the unique interests and aes-
thetics of the group and commemorates a
specific time of their lives. The quilt will
be auctioned to help raise funds to support
the Pacific Boychoir Academy’s mission.
Contact Carolyn Lord at cmlord@lordanglin.
com for bidding details.
Quilting in the Garden will be held
September 27 and 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Alden Lane Nursery is at 2033 Railroad
Avenue, Livermore.
The Pacific Boychoir Academy, located at 410
Alcatraz Avenue at Colby, is dedicated to training
in the tradition of the finest choirs in America and
around the world. The Academy has performed
with the San Francisco Symphony and Opera,
the University of California Berkeley and Davis
Symphonies, and the American Bach Soloists. The
boychoir is a nonprofit community organization
not affiliated with any church, ethnic group or
specific geographic area, and welcomes boys of
all backgrounds. Learn more about the Pacific
Boychoir Academy and the middle school at www.
pacificboychoiracademy.org.
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9.
September 6, 2008
Rockridge Resident Goes ‘Green,’
Finds Solace in Solar Energy
by Peter Hollingsworth, contributor
Are you ready to go solar? Rockridge
resident Mitch Bolen made that leap
and is glad about it: “Basically it was to save
energy. I’m saving fossil fuels; I’m doing
something green,” he said.
Since installing his residential solar
power system (on Earth Day, coincidentally),
Bolen’s electric bill has gone from $100 a
month on his James Avenue bungalow to a
surplus of $100 a month. He expects to use
up the surplus this winter, with the goal of
breaking even for the year. Breaking even
is important; when you generate your elec-
tricity with your own solar power system,
PG&E calculates your electric bill for the
entire year, and won’t give back any extra
(or give credit on the gas bill, which remains
on a regular monthly use cycle).
The solar panels on Bolen’s house are
invisible from the street and yard. Rising
only a few inches above the surface of the
roof, they have a low profile and cover a
surprisingly small amount of the roof, about
one-fourth of the south-facing pitch.
Installing the system, including panels,
wiring and electrical boxes, took about three
weeks including permits and inspections.
Some bracing was needed in the attic to
support the extra roof weight, typical for
installations in an older Rockridge house. The
solar contractor handled the engineering for
the roof reinforcement, too. The cost? About
$23,000 after rebates and tax credits.
The system has a 20-year warranty, and
Bolen figures it will take about that long
for the project to pay for itself at current
electricity prices.
So is a project like this worthwhile? If
you plan to stay in the house for awhile, yes.
But what if you might sell? Conventional
wisdom says, in that case, maybe. “I’d love
to be able to justify more solar installations
by saying the owners will get it back when
they sell,” says realtor Perry Riani of Lawton
Associates, “but it will not get the same
return as a good kitchen remodel, designer
painting or landscaping.”
On the other hand, Riani points out an
article from an industry publication, the
Appraisal Journal, noting that a $1,200 cut in
annual cost of home ownership (which Bolen
expects from his system) translates into about
$24,000 worth of mortgage, just a bit more
than what Bolen’s system cost. In theory, then,
a solar energy system could be a break-even
proposition, even if you move tomorrow.
Ready or not, is it time for you to go
solar? A good first step is to visit www.
findsolar.com, which offers a list of local
contractors and tools for estimating your
costs and returns. Perhaps, as Mitch Bolen
did, you’ll find that the answer is “Yes.”
One of two banks of low-profile
solar panels on Mitch Bolen’s roof.
On a residential solar power
installation at another location, DC
current generated by the solar panels
is routed through an inverter (top of
photo) that converts DC to AC current
for household use. Each circuit has its
own disconnect switch.
Photos: Don Kinkead
Kimberly Lang
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10.
September 6, 2008
Volunteers
Needed to Survey
Oakland’s Parks
Oakland Parks Coalition invites you to
join our survey teams at Love Your
Parks Day on Saturday, September 27.
The purpose of this annual survey event
is to assess the state of maintenance at
Oakland Parks and put park needs in the
spotlight of City concerns.
Meet at the Lakeside Garden Center
(666 Bellevue, at the Fairyland entrance
to the park off Grand Avenue) Ebell
Room at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast and team
assignments. After a short program, which
includes a few words by Oakland Public
Works gardener extraordinaire Christian
Boyle, there will be a brief training in
survey-taking. By 9:30, teams will be
dispatched to survey 3-5 parks each and
turn their surveys in by noon.
Please e-mail us at opclypd@gmail.
com or call 510/287-2693 to let us know
you can attend. We will reply with more
information and a couple of important
questions that will help us assign you to
the best team.
Visit www.oaklandparkscoalition.
org for event information.
Out and About
in Rockridge:
A Celebration
of Community
Come and celebrate our com-
munity with the merchants and
residents of Rockridge at Out and
About in Rockridge, September 28 from
11 AM to 6 PM on College Avenue.
The event centers around College
Avenue, the hub of activity in Rockridge,
and features hundreds of artisans, craft
and community booths, live music and
dance, alternative health exhibitors,
fashion shows, green living expo, cook-
ing demonstrations, food and drink
vendors, Rockridge merchants, a kids’
area and more! Admission is free.
Daily Bread Seeks Volunteer Drivers
D
o you have an extra hour each week to help feed the Bay Area’s less fortunate
residents? Daily Bread can match you with a food source and needy organization,
doing their best to find a convenient time and place for you. Your job will be to pick up
donated food at donor sites for delivery to local storage. Some pick up sites are available
in Rockridge. Got the time? Call Patrice Ignelgi, 526-3123, or e-mail her at patrice@
pcsyes.com.
Daily Bread also operates the Milk for Kids program, which provides milk donated
by the Berkeley Bowl and the Village Market to children in need. To volunteer, or for
more information, contact Patrice Ignelgi.
a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
the Rockridge community
in lifestyle and service.
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue, Oakland 510 658-3665
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11.
September 6, 2008
East Bay Shelters Help and Heal Animals for Adoption
could help out.
“The guy had stopped someone who put
the kittens in a box and tried to leave them
on the ground,” said McGuire.
Those three kittens are now called Dart,
Dash and Dodger. After receiving medical
attention they are doing well. When ready for
adoption, the kittens will be pictured online at
berkeleyhumane.org. For people not able to
adopt, there is an urgent need for volunteers
to become temporary foster parents.
Other ways to help include administra-
tive support or working with cats at the
shelter.
box all the way from San Bernardino.
According to Richmond, “It was 97 degrees
in Berkeley. It was totally a miracle they
survived.” The kittens were taken to the
Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society where
staff speculated that the mother of Mojave
and Blizzard may have left them in the box
because she thought it was a safe place.
Later in July, three more kittens were
carried into Berkeley’s Humane Society
offices in Ryan McGuire’s baseball hat.
McGuire had been talking about cats at
a Berkeley waste disposal facility. Someone
nearby said that if he liked cats, maybe he
Miracle Kittens Doing Well
After Unusual Rescues
by Marta Edmonds, Berkeley East-Bay
Humane Society
Animals arrive at shelters for all kinds of
reasons. However, two groups of kittens
recently made their way to the Berkeley-East
Bay Humane Society by rather unusual
means. While one circumstance appears to
have been accidental, the other highlights
human disregard for living beings.
During the period of record temperatures
in July, a worker at a nursery in Berkeley
was startled at what she discovered in a
shipment of plant containers. “The kittens
were so small I thought they were mice,”
said Ellice Richmond.
Now named Mojave and Blizzard, these
two tiny felines had been trucked in a sealed
Animal Welfare
Resources
The kittens in the story were helped at
Humane Society offices in Berkeley.
The Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society
is a private, non-profit organization
dedicated to placing homeless animals
with committed caretakers; to develop-
ing healthy relationships between pets
and people through education, training
and counseling; and to promoting the
humane treatment of all animals. The
Society is located at 2700 9th Street,
Berkeley, phone 510/845-3633.
In Oakland, support and help for
animals is provided by the East Bay
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (SPCA) and by the Oakland
Police Department.
The East Bay SPCA offers a wide
variety of resources for the community,
focusing primarily on Alameda County
and surrounding cities. They offer refer-
rals to other organizations, agencies and
businesses. The East Bay SPCA – Oakland
People Soft Adoption Center is located
at 8323 Baldwin Street, Oakland, phone
510/569-0702.
Oakland Animal Shelter and Animal
Control Field Services, a division of the
Oakland Police Department, is respon-
sible for the welfare of all animals in
Oakland and for promoting the health
and safety of animals and people in the
community. Call Oakland Police non-
emergency dispatch at 510/777-3333,
24 hours a day to report:
• A stray, vicious, injured or dead
animal;
• Animal cruelty; or
• An animal-related nuisance, such
as barking.
— From agency web sites
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12.
September 6, 2008
www.rockridge.org
Nat’l Night Out
Find Out What Homes
in Your Neighborhood
are Selling for. Visit:
www.EastBayHouseSales.com
included 11,310 communities (an estimated
35.4 million people) in all 50 states.
Oakland’s NNO reflected heightened
citizen concerns for safety in the face of
an all-time high murder rate and increased
in-your-face criminal activity. In 2007, 317
block parties were held; this year saw 400
parties with an estimated 29,000 people
attending.
Rockridge beats 12Y (below Broadway)
and 13X (above Broadway) were lively
with 18 parties. Neighbors socialized, got
to know newcomers and discussed safety.
Participants left the celebrations with the
comforting feeling that neighbors could
help each other be safe.
from page 1
VOL. 23 ■ NO. 8 ■ ISSUE NO. 248 ■ September 6, 2008 ■
CIRCULATION: 5,100 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES
Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 869-4200
How Will BART’s Seismic Retrofit
Plans Affect Rockridge Residents?
BART will present its
plans for this important
but annoying work to the
Rockridge neighborhood at
the RCPC September Town
Hall meeting. Come hear
about what will be involved
and give your thoughts on
how to minimize the com-
munity disruption.
The meeting will be held
at the Rockridge Branch
Library in the upstairs
meeting room on Thursday,
September 18, beginning
at 7 p.m.
Agenda: RCPC September
Town Hall Meeting
potential effects of the proj-
ect work to come when, a few
weeks ago, PG&E relocated
some of its underground
conduits running under the
BART station preparatory
to the full project. The night
work in the parking lots and
on College Avenue, includ-
ing large floodlights and
loud noises, went on into
the early morning hours for
more than a week.
BART says it will try to
limit the night work, but that
some will be necessary.
by Stuart Flashman,
chair, RCPC
A
few years back, Cal-
trans did extensive
work on the elevated parts
of Highway 24 that pass
through Rockridge in order
to protect the public when
(not if) a major earthquake
occurs on the nearby Hay-
ward Fault. BART is now
following suit for its elevated
structures including the
Rockridge BART station.
Nearby residents got an
unpleasant first taste of the
Thursday, September 18, 7 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room (Upstairs)
7:00: Bay Area Rapid Transit
■
(BART) representatives discuss
the agency’s seismic retrofit project
planned for the Rockridge BART sta-
tion, and will hear community sugges-
tions for controlling project noise.
7:30 to 8:30: Speakers from
■
the California Native Plant
Society and California Invasive
Plant Council will discuss wildlife in
Rockridge, removal of invasive plants,
and the creation of more wildlife-
friendly, water-wise gardens.
WINSTON’S PLUMBING
Boyd Avenue Enjoys National Night Out
HEATING & ELECTRICAL
■ Lech Naumovich, Director of
Goldenhour Restoration Institute,
will speak on habitat restoration of
the Caldecott Sports Field.
■ Laura Baker, on the Board of the
East Bay Chapter of California Native
Plants Society, will speak on wildlife
in Rockridge and gardening with
wildlife.
lic.# 537739/554406
Since 1979
• Trenchless Sewers
■ A representative from the California
Invasive Plant Council will discuss weed
suppression and wise gardening.
We Mean Green!
Are the plants in your garden eyeing
you reproachfully? Are your roses
being gobbled by foraging deer?
In the midst of a drought, and as
cities eye open space for development
while natural habitat and wildlife are
shouldered aside, can a conscientious
home gardener maintain attractive and
durable plantings without compromising
dwindling resources?
RCPC has invited a panel of experts
on sustainable and native-plant gardening
to discuss plants, wildlife, water-wise gar-
dening, and more at the RCPC Town Hall
meeting, Thursday, September 18, starting
at 7 p.m. The panel will have answers to
your questions. See details above.
• Earthquake Protection
PHOTO: SUSAN MONTAUK
• Tankless Water Heaters
Rockridge Residents Party in the Streets
points to the increasing awareness of the
importance of community involvement in
safety. At the first NNO in 1985, 400 com-
munities (an estimated 2.5 million people)
in 23 states participated; by 2007, NNO
• Remodel & Repair
by Susan Montauk
On August 5, Oakland joined the nation
in the 25th anniversary celebration of
National Night Out (NNO), an event cel-
ebrated across America by people sponsoring
block parties to make their neighborhoods
safer. The phenomenal growth of this event
510-652-8014
www.winstonsplumbing.com
Nat’l Night Out, page 12
¬
“”May your toilet never runneth over!”
Step Up and
Step Out for The
Rockridge News
The Rockridge News is back from
vacation and we need block captains
for two of our distribution routes. The job
is fun and easy and provides an essential
service to Rockridge residents. All you
have to do is take about 15 minutes once
a month (except August, when the paper
is not published) to deliver the bundle of
newsletters that will be delivered to your
doorstep. Please contact us at smontauk@
gmail.com or 547-3855 to help with one of
the following routes.
3 classes for $30*
Adorn the Goddess Within!
You can find the Henna Lounge
at Namaste every month
Call 510 547 YOGA for an appointment
as the day does sell out.
Kiddie Kirtan with Jai Uttal
Sunday, June 29 at 4pm
Also visit our store for the largest selection of
women’s yoga wear and yoga props in the East Bay
n Block Captain 07F: Both sides of
Mendocino from Margarido to Lawton,
15 papers
An NNO block party gets a visit
from a Fire Station 8 ladder truck
and firefighter Lt. Sean Gascie. Boyd
Avenue residents Shilpak Mahadkar,
Yoko Idate and their son get an inside
look at the truck’s cab.
Photo: Susan Montauk
*new students only; valid for 30 days
n Block Captain 20A: On Claremont
from 5900 even numbers up Claremont
to Shell station.
Thank you for your support of this
important community resource.
for more info and class schedule, visit
www.namasterockridge.com
5416 college avenue 5 1 0 . 5 4 7 . YO G A
( n e a r Ro c k r i d g e l i b r a r y )
New Market Strategies
■ 7 steps to buying or selling in
the down market
■ Renovation consultation for
rehabs and REOS
■ Over 200 Vendor references
from ReMax Agents
■ What Sellers need to know in
the new market
■ Over 30 articles at
JLAhomes.com and
REOs-BestDeals.com
Jeff Auen, Realtor
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1-800-805-8827
Straight Talk
Listings and Info@
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www.JLAHomes.com
3,000 REOs @:
Results
www.REOs-bestdeals.com
13.
September 6, 2008
Mystery Writer
Land Use
Committee
Clare often meets up with Edwardian
era buffs, fellow mystery writers and
fans on the Internet. She has a site at
www.edwardianstateofmind.blogspot.
com. You will also find her on her own
site, www.clarelangleyhawthorne.com,
www.killzoneauthors.blogspot.com and
numerous other sites authors frequent,
such as www.mysteryreaders.org and
www.sistersincrime.com.
from page 7
One sleuthing mission often leads to
another. Clare discovered a little known
fact of the Edwardian era that could yield
some wonderful new stories. Apparently,
women police personnel existed in England
well before WWI, probably as a consequence
of the suffragette movement. What these
intriguing ladies were up to will be the theme
of a new series entitled Lady Coppers.
from page 3
and Red Oak Realty, have asked RCPC about
its position on their leasing all or part of the
space. Under College Avenue’s C-31 zoning,
either use requires a conditional use permit
from the City. RCPC’s long-standing posi-
tion has been to oppose such ground-level
non-retail uses because they reduce College
Avenue’s value as a retail center.
The RCPC Land Use Committee rec-
ommended not to oppose Edward Jones,
because of its small size, and took no posi-
tion on Red Oak. The board of directors
took up both proposals at its meeting on
September 4, but results were not available
at press time. The board’s decisions will be
posted on the rockridge.org website. Your
comments on this important and recurrent
issue are welcome. Please direct your com-
ments to LUC Chair, RCPC, 5245 College
Avenue PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618, or
via e-mail to chair@rockridge.org.
Clare Langley-Hawthorne will be signing her new
book, The Serpent and the Scorpion, out in paper-
back, at Diesel Books on Sunday October 19 at 3
p. m. She will also be at A Great Good Place for
Books in Montclair on Thursday, October 23 at
7 p.m. The twins will be staying home.
More…
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510-208-3823
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1111 BROADWAY, 22ND FLOOR
OAKLAND, CA 94607
CFP® is a certification mark owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Total Merrill (design/words) is a registered service mark/service mark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
© 2007 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. Member, SIPC.
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14.
September 6, 2008
Non-Toxic House Cleaning
Lotus Cleaning Services provides excellent ser-
vice while protecting your health and the planet.
Licensed, bonded and insured. Experienced,
reliable cleaners. Great for households with
allergies, asthma, small children. Reasonable
rates. 510/452-0755, lotusclean@comcast.net.
Penelope’s Aesthetics
A serene garden setting located in Rockridge
for 12 years, specializes in professional beauty
needs. Facials, waxing, lash/brow tints, skin
tag-capillary removal, permanent make-up,
reflexology and more! 30% off w/ad. www.
penelopecalef.com 510/594-1552.
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Classifieds,
5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA
94618. October deadline is September 18.
For information: e-mail smontauk@gmail.com
Sing With Us!
The Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir is
actively seeking new students, ages 6-18.
Scholarships available. Convenient rehears-
als. Placements start September 13th. Call
510/547-4441 or visit www.piedmontchoirs.
org. Growing with music.
Low Stress Carmel Getaway
Comfortable, cheery 3BR+2BA family home
available for short-term rental. Fully fur-
nished from piano to ping pong, sunny patio.
Quiet, peaceful—pines, oaks, birds. Only two
hours away. Reasonable weekly rates. E-mail:
lowstress-getaway@yahoo.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.
Effective Strategies for Families
How to make it all work: Experienced panel
of mental health and legal and financial
experts answer your questions about divorce,
separation, transition. Piedmont Adult School,
Sept.27,10 am-noon. 594-2655 to enroll.
Woman to Woman
Psychotherapy
Relational Depth Therapy with older, experi-
enced, interactive, kind therapist. Women of
all ethnicities and sexualities welcomed. Maggie
Rochlin, LCSW. 510/845-6556.
Unexpected Guests?
Short-term rental, lovely room 2 blocks from
Rockridge BART in owner’s flat. Wi-fi, cable,
TV. Suitable for one person. Photos available.
Barbird@aol.com 510/652-7044.
The Ultimate Way to Go Green
Buy recycled clothes, jewelry, furniture, art-
work, household goods, linens & more. Finding
affordable treasures is the expectation of our
customers. Bambino Thrift Shop, 5290 College
Ave, 658 -7463, Tue-Fri., 10-3, Sat. 12-4.
Women’s Self Defense
Workshop
4 hours. You will learn avoidance strategies and
brutally effective physical techniques. For women
12 years and older. Danspace, 473 Hudson Street,
off College. Saturday 10-2. $95. Registration or
more information. practicalselfdefenseproject@
yahoo.com. 415/990-9230.
Home Repairs
Carpentry, electrical, kitchen, bath, decks,
fences, drainage, tile, windows, walls, dry
rot, termite damage. Lic#458473. Don
510/812-0310.
Integrative Counseling
Experienced, supportive, nurturing space for
change. Sessions incorporate hypnotherapy and
other modalities to suit your needs. Welcoming
to women of all ages, cultures & orientations.
Free 20-min consultation. 510/464-1288. Valerie
Veza, MSW-ACSW-CHT.
Manicure & Pedicure
20% off first visit. We use Zoya polish which
does not contain formaldehyde or toluene
or DBT. Call Halina at Milagro Salon, 5269
Broadway at College. 510/593-5080.
Why Pay 6% (or even 5%)
to Sell your Home?
Realty Advocates charges only 4% for the same
full service including MLS, brokers tours, open
houses, internet exposure, and much more.
www.realtyadvocates.com or 510/428-0757.
Relationship Astrology
From entire families, especially the kid nobody
understands to the new baby; couples consider-
ing marriage or divorce. Hands-on and private.
Julie Meredith, AFA. 510/547-3616.
Quality Gardening
Skilled monthly or bimonthly maintenance—
pruning, planting, design, irrigation, outdoor
lighting, ecological practices. 15 years in East Bay,
local refs. Green’s Gardens: 510/593-3490.
Affordable Painter for
Any-Sized Jobs
Excellent workmanship, experienced and
professional crew. Commercial or residential.
Licensed. Call 507-3024 for a free estimate.
We wash, sand and seal decks and do small
handyman jobs, too.
Patios, Custom Artistic
Tiling $22/hour
Lots of Rockridge references—have worked
in Rockridge the past 2 years. Over 20 years
experience. See our website at: www.Diegode-
signs.com. Call Diego: 510/828-9473. “We
listen to your dreams.”
Aesthetic Pruning
I specialize in pruning trees and shrubs under
20 feet tall. I work with trees to enhance their
natural beauty. Specialties: mples, camellias,
pines, conifers, fruit trees, focal points and
detail work. Bruce Thompson 510/428-4964.
Home Interiors Decorative
Painting
I specialize in faux finish, murals, stenciling,
marbleizing, refinishing and color consulta-
tion. Local artist. Visit www.carolinestern.com.
510/652-0683.
Home Services
I offer carpentry, electrical work and electro-
magnetic field consultation. For information
about EMF and my 34 years of home service
experience in the East Bay visit www.danmattson.
net or call Dan at 510/658-2819.
Seminar: Reduce
Remodeling Stress
Winans Construction is offering tips and
resources to homeowners to minimize the
stress and frustration of home remodeling. Tues-
day, September 30, 6-8pm at Rockridge Branch
Library. Call to register: 510/653-7288.
Container Gardens/
Outdoor Staging
Lila Prins Horticultural specializes in potted
plant arrangements for decks, patios, entryways,
etc. Installation/maintenance. Outdoor plant/
furniture staging, small-scale landscaping for real
estate or other occasions. Excellent references.
510/219-9361. lila.prins@gmail.com.
Custom Sewing for the Home
Window Coverings: Curtains, Roman shades,
top treatments: Slipcovers; Pillows and Cush-
ions; Duvet covers, bed skirts, pillow shams &
bolsters. Special projects. Decorator fabrics &
drapery hardware. Holly. 510/531-1177.
Responsible, Honest Quiet
Tenant
Works in Rockridge and hopes to continue
living here. Seeking private apartment with
bathroom, kitchen/kitchenette. Willing to
negotiate work on unfinished spaces. Move-in
11/1 or 12/1. $750. Excellent references. Jen:
415/612-0231.
Judith Glass & Sheila Sabine
Your Grubb Company Agents appreciate
Rockridge. If you are thinking of selling your home
contact us-Moving changes your life-we make
the process easy. www.GlassSabine,com.
Cat Sitting
Experienced cat rescue person offers peace
of mind for you and your cats. I offer visits,
overnights and boarding at reasonable rates.
catsbyanne@gmail.com 510/420-1227.
More Classified Ads, page 13
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15.
September 6, 2008
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
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
ART EXHIBITS
Gallery: Sept.: Oparna Ewing, Quilt Group.
Oct.: Photos of Rockridge by community members.
Lobby Display Case: Sept.: Barry Paul: china-marker
and pen drawings.
LIBRARY HOURS:
Mon. and Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays also Tues., 9/9
(Admissions Day).
Rockridge Out & About Street Fair
Area talent. Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave.
Wheelchair accessible. More info at 228-3218 or www.
lifemarkgroup.com/oakland/special_events.asp
or www.myspace.com/vivelejazzmusic.
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y and
13X areas are invited to voice their concerns about
crime and public safety, 4th Thursday each month, 7
to 8:30pm. Rockridge Library, upstairs meeting room,
5366 College Ave. info@rockridgencpc.com or
infofordenise@yahoo.com.
Wisteria Ways Concert Series
Hillbillies from Mars: Appalachian, Celtic and European
repertoire. Song, stories and a few surprises. Saturday,
9/20, 3pm; House opens at 2:30pm. Outside venue
(wheelchair accessible). Bring a picnic and something
to sit on. 383 61st Street. $15-20 suggested donation
for musicians (cash only at the door). For reservations
(highly recommended), RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.
org or 655-2771.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
Toddler Story Time: Every Saturday
■
■
, 10:30am.
Pre-School Story Time
■
■
: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays,
10:30am.
Pajama Story Time
■
■
: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. 7pm:
Note: closed 9/9.
Special Events for Kids and Families
■
■
:
Making Day-of-the-Dead Altars
●
●
: workshop with
Rachel Palacios. Monday, Oct. 6, from 7 to 8pm.
Best for ages 5 and up but all welcome to partici-
pate. Bring photos/mementos of friends, family or
pets you would like to honor. Items will remain on
display from 10/6 to 11/11.
FOR TEENS:
Anime Club: Teens 13 and up
■
■
, watch and talk about
anime (Japanese animation) with other teens. NOTE:
time change for Sept. meeting on 3rd Tuesday,
9/16, 5 to 6:30pm in upstairs meeting rm. Info: Susy,
597-5017.
FOR ADULTS:
Raw/ Vegan Foods Demonstration Class
■
■
with Reggie
Bass: Sat., 9/6, 2-4:30pm. Discussion and tasting
samples of healthy Vegan, raw food dishes.
Writer’s Support /Critique Group
■
■
: ALL writers wel-
come. Third Saturday each month, (9/20) 1 to 5pm.
Bring 10 copies of up to 3 pages of your prose for on-site
reading/discussion. Sponsored by the California Writers
Club, Berkeley branch (www.berkeleywritersclub.
org.) Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Writing from the Soul Workshop:
■
■
Writing for creative
expression and spiritual growth with Susanne West.
Sat., 9/27, 2-4pm.
Knitting Classes for Seniors
■
■
(50+): instructor Teri
Barr. All levels welcome. Beginners bring light color
yarn and a pair of size 8 needles. If experienced, bring
projects to work on. Every Tuesday, 12:30-2:30pm
(closed 9/9).
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice
■
■
. First
Tuesday each month from 6 to 8pm. Advance sign-up
starts 5pm. More information: 597-5017.
Highlights: 4 stages featuring local musicians and
performers, including a DJ dance stage and Rockridge
Runway Fashion with attire selected by local boutiques,
plus a Chef’s Stage featuring the district’s top chefs. Tots’
Town with rides, games, prizes and more. Artisan and
community booths and food booths presented by our
great Rockridge restaurants. Sunday, Sept. 28, 11am to
6pm. Stroll along College Avenue from Alcatraz Ave. to
B’way. Info: www.rockridgeoutandabout.com.
Christensen Heller Gallery
Botanical photographs by local artist Bruce Schneider.
9/3 through 10/2. Gallery hrs: Wed.-Sat., 11am to 6pm;
Sun., noon to 5pm. 5829 College Ave., 655-5952.
Calif. College of the Arts (CCA)
Faculty Exhibition
■
■
: 9/3 – 19, Oliver Art Center. Hrs:
Mon-Fri, 8:30am –noon and 1-4:30pm (closed Wed.
morning). Info: 658-1224 or 594-3712
New Student Exhibition
■
■
: 9/9-12, North/South Galler-
ies. Reception: Wed., 9/10, 5:30 to 7:30pm. Hrs: Tues
– Thurs, 11am-6pm; Fri, 11am-4pm. Info: 658-1223
Constitution Day Exhibition
■
■
: Artworks related to the
U.S. Constitution. 9/15 – 9/19, North/South Galleries
(hrs: Tues –Fri, 11am – 6pm) and A2 Cafe (hrs: Mon
– Fri, 7am – 7:30pm). Info: 594- 3773.
Textiles: Crossing the Line Exhibit
■
■
: 9/30 – 10/9,
Oliver Art Center. Staff and students use concepts,
materials and craft processes to expand traditional
boundaries of the field. Reception: Wed, 10/8, 5:30
– 7:30pm. Hrs: Mon-Fri, 8:30am –noon and 1-4:30pm
(closed Wed. morning). Info: 415-594-3747.
CCA Oakland, 5212 Broadway. www.cca.edu/.
Park Day School Benefit
SF Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll will host an evening
in conversation with author Anne Lamott. Monday, 9/15.
Cheese and no-host wine reception at 6pm, followed by
the conversation on the main stage at 7pm. All proceeds
benefit the school’s academic and financial assistance
programs. Berkeley Repertory Theater, 2025 Addison St,
Berkeley. Tickets, $25, can be purchased in advance at
653-0317 x103 or www.parkdayschool.org.
An Evening With the Peace Corps
Stories from the Republic of Georgia: Peace Corps
Volunteers who lived in the Republic of Georgia will share
their experiences. It’s never too late to serve! Monday,
9/15, 6 to 7:30pm, Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave.
More info: Nick Bosustow, 452-8444, nbosustow@
peacecorps.gov, or www.peacecorps.gov.
North Oakland Senior Center
Program Highlights: computer classes; health insurance
counseling and advocacy program; exercise classes;
trips, tours and theater outings; Alzheimer’s caregivers
support groups and more. Special Events:
OPEN HOUSE FOR 10 YEAR CELEBRATION: Enter-
tainment, speakers, showcasing of Sr. Center programs.
Light refreshments. Wed., 9/17, 1-4pm.
Lavender Lunch Bunch: free lunch, entertainment,
socializing for LGBT elders 55+ and friends. Meets 3rd
Friday each month (9/19, 10/17).
BIG Flea Market: Saturday, Oct 4, 8am – 4:30pm. Clean
out your closets and garage; vendor spaces now available;
$10 (cash only). Sign up at reception desk in office.
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8:45am to 4:45pm. 5714 Martin
Luther King, Jr. Way. Subscribe to “The North Oakland
Senior Times,” for a full schedule of classes/events and
a monthly lunch menu ($2.25 to $4.00). For details about
events, membership, and opportunities to become a
volunteer, call 597- 5085.
Give Blood and Get Gas
Forum on Ballot Proposition 4
Oakland East Bay NOW and Physicians for Reproductive
Choice and Health present their perspective on Proposi-
tion 4, (The Waiting Period and Parental Notification
Act of 2008). Sat., 9/13, 2-4pm. Rockridge Library, 5366
College Ave., Info: Carol, 251-0559 or Oakland East Bay
NOW, cdnorberg@comcast.net.
Diesel Readings and Events
All events are FREE and open to the public.
Sunday, 9/7, 3pm: Robert Scheer: The Pornography
of Power.
Monday, 9/8, 7:30pm: Amnesty International Meet-
ing. All welcome.
Saturday, 9/13, 7:30pm: Hanif Kureishi: Something
to Tell You.
Sunday, 9/21, 3pm: Irvine Welsh: Crime.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. Info about
other events, book discussion groups and El Grupito,
the Spanish discussion group: 653-9965 or www.
dieselbookstore.com.
Jazz at the Chimes
Rebecca Lueck, LCSW
Individual and
Family Counseling
(415) 235-1071
Located at College and Alcatraz
Support the American Red Cross Blood Drives. Call
1-800-GIVE-LIFE or go to www.BeADonor.com to
schedule a donation appointment. Every week through
September, there will be a drawing for a $100 Gas
Gift Card. Grand Prize in September is a $1,000 Gas
Gift Card. More information from American Red Cross,
No. Calif. Blood Services Region, 6230 Claremont
Ave., 594-5205.
Treating relationship issues,
anxiety, depression, panic disorders,
childhood trauma, grief, infertility
and adoption, and addictions.
Featuring Vive Le Jazz! in benefit concert for the
American Heart Association. Sunday, 9/21, 2pm, fol-
lowed by artist’s reception and refreshments. Tickets:
$10-$15 for concert and reception. Kids under 12 free.
Cash only at the door starting at 12:30pm. Sponsored
by the Lifemark Group Arts program that features Bay
Sliding scale : Insurance accepted
16.
September 6, 2008
Jan Fougner
OWNER – BROKER
BUYING OR SELLING IN
ROCKRIDGE? IF YOU
NEED THE SERVICES
OF A REALTOR, CALL
ME. I HAVE 28 YEARS
OF ROCKRIDGE SALES
EXPERIENCE AND THE
EXPERTISE YOU NEED.
6 5 5 - 2 3 3 0
ROCKRIDGE
R
E
A
L T
Y
6 0 1 9 C O L L E G E AV E N U E
30
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at alcatraz
berkeley, ca 94705
p 510.428.2600
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KEVIN BROWN
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654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING
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For Over 26 Years.
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28
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
Coming Soon
New Rockridge Listing 5602 Taft Avenue
This spacious two-story 5-bedroom
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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
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terrykulka@att.net
http://www.terrykulka.com
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on Kales Avenue
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