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www.rockridge.org
VOL. 24 NO. 5 ISSUE NO. 256 May 2, 2009
CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses
Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council • 5245 College Ave. PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94618 • 869-4200
4th Bore Project: $3 Million Settlement to
Fix Project’s Effects on Rockridge Schools
RCPC Town Hall Meeting
AGENDA
May 2009
Note mtg.
start time
by Ronnie Spitzer, RCPC board member
Memorializing the settlement reached
in January between Caltrans and
the Fourth Bore Coalition, state Sen. Loni
Hancock, D-Berkeley, and Assemblywoman
Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, presented a
check for $3 million to Oakland Unified
School District officials in a ceremony held
April 17 on the Chabot Elementary School
baseball field.
With members of Chabot’s student
traffic patrol looking on, the check was
accepted on behalf of the school district
by interim School Superintendent Roberta
Mayor, School Board member Jody London,
and principals Jonathan Mayer of Chabot
Elementary and David Chambliss of Cla-
Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room (Upstairs)
The City Budget:
■
■
Oakland City
Council President (and Rockridge resi-
dent) Jane Brunner discusses plans for
dealing with the City’s budget crisis.
Teen Zone for the Rockridge
■
■
Branch Library: Oakland Public
Library Associate Director Gerry Garzon
presents Teen Zone details.
Safeway’s Latest Plans:
■
■
Review and
discussion of Safeway’s latest plans for
its College Avenue store, featuring local
architect Jerome Buttrick.
Photo: Tony Rossmann
RCPC ByLaw Amendment
■
■
:
Members of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) — persons age
18 or above, who can show evidence of
residing in Rockridge — will be invited
to vote on an amendment to Section 8.4
of the RCPC Bylaws. The amendment
would clarify that the Board may declare
vacant the seat of any director who fails
or ceases to meet any required qualifica-
tion of the director’s seat that was in
effect at the beginning of that director’s
term of office.
On a sunny April afternoon, Chabot
School’s safety patrol members
witnessed school officials accepting
Fourth Bore settlement funds.
Bore Settlement, page 10
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¤
June 3: Red Oak Realty Office App to Planning Commission
Plan to attend the June 3 hearing at City Hall when the Planning Commission will con-
sider a non-retail use (Red Oak Realty) of ground floor retail space. Let the Planning
Commission know that Rockridge residents want to protect our successful retail district.
☛ Details: Land Use Committee report, page 5.
Be Involved! Docents Needed for September 20 Kitchen Tour
by Jennifer Edmister, tour co-chair
The 2009 Rockridge Kitchen Tour
takes place Sunday, September 20. An
ensemble of spectacular kitchens awaits
visitors from near and far. Whether you
are a kitchen enthusiast in particular, or a
Rockridge enthusiast in general, the Kitchen
Tour committee cordially invites you to
participate in and support this regionally
renowned event.
There are many ways to participate, but
one of the most popular is to volunteer as a
kitchen docent, guiding tour guests through
Rockridge’s finest kitchens. Docents, and all
other volunteers, receive a complimentary
ticket to the event. Docents also receive a
private pre-tour of three kitchens. If you are
interested in being a docent, please contact
Nancy Sale at 655-4625.
We are also
seeking volunteers
for the publicity
committee. Pub-
licity volunteers
will help contact
local media to pub-
licize our event. To
volunteer for the
publicity commit-
tee, please contact
Jennifer Edmister at 510/547-2841.
If you would like to support the Rockridge
Kitchen Tour Call, page 12
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¤
RCPC Kitchen Tour docents receive a complimentary ticket
and a private pre-tour of three kitchens. Photos: Susan Montauk
2.
May 2, 2009
Photo not
available
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon, Tues:
Weds, Thurs, Sat:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
Andy Charman Bill Kaufner
Colby Lavin
Ruth Miller
Ronnie Spitzer
Ann Winterman
RCPC Election Fills Board Positions
Rockridge residents voted in April to
elect to full board terms four RCPC
boardmembers previously appointed to
interim positions, and for two new candi-
dates to fill vacant positions on the RCPC
board of directors.
Following notice of the election and can-
didates’ statements printed in The Rockridge
News, residents attending the April RCPC
Town Hall meeting listened as candidates
spoke in a panel presentation of their interest
in the positions and their intent to work on
behalf of the Rockridge community.
Voting was conducted during the April
16 meeting and again on Saturday, April
18, at the Rockridge branch library. Fifty-
one residents voted; 40 at the meeting, 11
on Saturday.
Votes cast for each candidate were as
follows: Current, appointed board members
elected to full terms: Andy Charman, 45;
Ronnie Spitzer, 41; Colby Lavin, 41; Bill Kauf-
ner, 39. New board members elected to full
terms: Ann Winterman, 34; Ruth Miller, 26.
In a subsequent special meeting, the
board elected new officers. Andrew Char-
man was elected vice-chair, Ruth Miller
was elected secretary and Joan Martin was
elected treasurer.
Congratulations to the new board mem-
bers, to those confirmed for full terms and
to those elected as officers of the board.
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
Andrew Charman ���������������Vice-Chair
Ruth Miller ��������������������������Secretary
Joan Martin ��������������������������Treasurer
Annette Floystrup, Jonathan Gabel, William Kaufner,
Don Kinkead, Colby Lavin, Doug Patton,
Katy Taylor, Ann Winterman
Contact the Board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
FORL Board Welcomes New Members
On the night of the April RCPC meeting,
the voting community elected four new
members to the Friends of the Rockridge
Library (FORL) board of directors: Jen-
nifer Alper, Kathryn O’Neal, Shari Tavaf,
and Cheryl Vesely. Current co-Chair Carol
Bieri was re-elected. The board will wel-
come these new and returning members at
its next meeting Tuesday, May 12, at 7:30
p.m. in the Rockridge branch of the Oakland
Public Library.
The board at this meeting will discuss the
provision of funds for materials purchases
outside those supported by the city budget,
the maintenance of the landscaping, security,
the proposed Teen Zone inside the library
building, and the organization’s plans to
further the library’s mission.
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
Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
Sat 9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
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.
$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
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
June 6, 2009
June deadline is May 21.
Advertising rates are $26/column inch. Six-
month pre-pay rate available. For display ads,
call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or e-mail
joellis1@hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right to
refuse any display or classified ad that it deems
inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page 14.)
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
3.
May 2, 2009
Rockridge Celebrates Earth Day: April 18, 2009
Earth Day on College Avenue with the
Rockridge District Association (RDA)
R
DA arranged three
Earth Day projects
on College Avenue:
cleaning the mini-park at
Miles and College (left);
cleaning and painting in
the walkway between
College and Hemphill
Place (left below); and
trimming and cleaning
the planting around the
library (below).
Earth Day at Rockridge’s FROGPark
It was a beautiful sunny Saturday at FROG Park for this year’s
spring family Earth Day clean up. And let’s hear it for our com-
munity volunteers! FROG Park wouldn’t be the same without them
(and in fact wouldn’t be here at all), as the City’s budget cuts means
that community members must help take care of their local parks.
Lots of families and neighborhood residents showed up to spruce
up their local park, including a local Brownie troop.
We cleaned the playgrounds, sweeping the structures and
turning over the fibar mulch; we picked up garbage; we swept the
paths; and we cleaned the pond and the creek bed of all the big
debris, so that when the creek is turned on this month, there won’t
be any clogged culverts.
Many thanks to everyone who helped. We also thank Clinton
and Will from the city of Oakland – our hardworking, faithful main-
tenance staff. And thanks to Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Bakesale
Betty who contributed tasty treats for the volunteers.
To get involved with future park clean ups or other park projects,
please visit the FROG Park website: www.frogpark.org. Hope to
see you at the park soon.
— Jennifer Cooper, chair, FROG Park
Photos below and below right by Susan Montauk and Don Kinkead,
taken at Redondo and Hardy Parks. Names from left to right.
Top: Keenan Brekke (l.); Daniel
Brekke; Betsy York; Elizabeth
Armstrong; Joyce Gardner, FIT
Clothing.
Above: Patrick Zak (l.); Rick
Wallenback; Susan Bernosky,
Allstate Insurance; Nicholas-
Lee; Chris Jackson, RDA and
NCPC.
Justin Horner
and Violet
Above: Carol Bieri (l.);
Cathy Furtado (Terrace
Street); Eric Warren;
Jennifer Kaplan, Rockridge
Home.
Howard Ferrier
Patrick Hoge, Jennifer
Cooper, Barney Smits,
Theresa Nelson,
Tamir Scheinok
Clinton Pugh, Theresa
Nelson, Will Patterson
Lois Dixon and
Chris Staller
Rodrigo Prudencio, De’Mar Lacy,
Susan Shawl, John Russell
Hannah and Cory Lieu,
Michelle Blakeley
Frank Foster,
Public Works
Agency
Steve Schiesser,
Freida and Katya
(Euclid Avenue)
Henry and
Tom Dolan
Max Feiler
Worth the Effort!
4.
May 2, 2009
Letters to the Editor
to be a community art space, just a way to
get around the zoning requirements. And
no one has gone back to correct this.
The people who run the stores that make
Rockridge a nationally recognized model
of a pedestrian-oriented retail area are
dedicated to this neighborhood, and many
of them live here as well as run these busi-
nesses. They deserve our support, and the
neighborhood deserves a retail store where
it was promised to be retail.
RCPC should fight to maintain all retail
space zoned C-31 as retail stores, or College
Avenue will someday simply be one long
string of offices and restaurants, with not
a single store in sight.
— Theresa Nelson
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.
Continuing Conversion of College Avenue Retail Space to
Office Use Threatens the Lifeblood of Rockridge
in the Dreyer’s building, it made available
one of the larger retail spaces on College
Avenue, unfortunately at a time when retail
is struggling and new store openings are
outweighed by closures.
It would be a dire mistake for several
reasons to allow this retail space to become
an office, whether for Red Oak Realty or
any other office use:
First, the original Dreyer’s permit
■
■
mandates that the entire College Avenue
frontage be retail, to maintain the flow and
streetscape for pedestrians; that should not
be violated.
Second, if an office moves in, this
■
■
space will likely never be retail again,
because store owners will be priced out
of the market.
Third, we have seen other retail spaces
■
■
converted to office use, sometimes when
the office developer offers a tiny sliver of
retail or “community space” in front of
the office space. While that might sound
like a nice compromise, in practice it does
not work out. Offices are not open during
many retail hours, so the storefront does
not really function as a store and lacks the
liveliness of a real store.
For instance, when one real estate office
was allowed to open by saying they would
offer space for community art exhibitions,
then displayed the same few sculptures for
years on end with no community access,
it seems clear that this was never intended
Editor:
Opposing the Red Oak Realty applica-
tion to take over the Cotton & Company
space makes sense for the neighborhood
long-term, and I’m glad that the RCPC
board voted its opposition recently. Here’s
why I believe RCPC’s opposition is good
for Rockridge.
Writing the Neighborhood Merchant
column for the newsletter, I’m fortunate
to be able to speak personally with many
individual store owners – the people who
take enormous financial risks to open a
store that fulfills a lifelong dream, and, they
hope, meet a neighborhood need.
As Rockridge has prospered, rents
have risen dramatically, and, over time,
some stores have been forced to close or
relocate. During these difficult economic
times, stores also face decreased sales while
rents remain unchanged, and some have
closed recently.
Why is nearly every store that closes
replaced by something that is not a retail
store? The answer is that restaurants, service
business (such as hair salons) and offices
have a different financial structure than
retail stores, and can pay higher rents for the
same ground floor space. This pushes rents
ever higher, and drives out the retail stores
that cannot afford to pay the same rents as
offices. Zoning rules require offices to be
located in certain areas so as not to artifi-
cially inflate retail rents. Allowing offices
in retail zones thus makes it increasingly
difficult to retain retail and to maintain the
pedestrian-oriented retail environment on
College Avenue that is so appealing and
important to Rockridge.
When Cotton & Company closed its store
Theresa Nelson writes the Neighborhood Merchant
column and Changes on College for The Rockridge
News. She is a former RCPC chair.
“Unofficial” Recyclers are Human
Editor:
In regards to Mr. Richter’s letter in the
April issue of The Rockridge News (What
Are “Unofficial” Recyclers Up To?), Mr.
Richter should understand that, for the most
part, these are homeless people who can’t
do anything else. Yes, they recycle this
stuff. Yes, they trade it for cash at recycling
centers. No, they don’t get much for it but
sadly, it is their income.
Perhaps Mr. Richter should come out to
the seedy side of town to a recycling center to
see how these poor souls make their living.
Is it legal? No, and neither is parking the
wrong way on a street, obstructing the free
flow of traffic by doing less than the speed
limit in the passing lane, unnecessary use of
high beams or talking on the phone while
driving, but I’ve never heard of anyone being
ticketed for these offenses.
The noise and the mess? Yes, it’s a
drag but, you know, the people who take
Letters to the Editor, page 12
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¤
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5.
May 2, 2009
The RCPC Land Use Committee meets the
fourth Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m.,
at the Rockridge Library.
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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 Update
by Stuart Flashman,
RCPC Land Use Committee chair
Land Use Meeting Agendas
Contact Stu Flashman at 652-5373 or chair@
rockridge.org for a copy of the current Land Use
Committee meeting agenda.
Red O
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ak Realty (5915 College
Avenue – Dreyer’s Building)
Red Oak Realty’s application to move
its Oakland office into the 4,000 square
foot space formerly occupied by Cotton &
Co. has tentatively been set for hearing on
June 3 by the Planning Commission. (Visit
RCPC’s Web site at www.rockridge.org for
future updates. Also, sign up at the site for
the RCPC e-news to receive information
via e-mail.) RCPC is still in discussion with
Red Oak to see if it’s possible to identify
a mutually acceptable solution that would
keep the College Avenue frontage in retail
use. RCPC has also circulated a petition
to College Avenue merchants in support
of keeping ground floor College Avenue
space in retail use.
Plan to attend the June 3 commission
hearing and let the commissioners know
that Rockridge residents want to protect our
successful retail district. Planning Commis-
sion meetings are held at Oakland City Hall,
One Frank H. Ogawa Plaza (between 14th
and 15th Streets at Clay Street), Hearing
Room No. 1, starting at 6 p.m. The planner
is Dave Valeska (510/238-2075, DValeska@
oaklandnet.com).
5464 College Avenue
Proposal: To construct a 235 square-foot
ground-floor addition and an 823 square-foot
second-story to a one-story commercial struc-
ture located at the rear of a property containing
two commercial buildings.
Contact: Jeff Doney
Phone: 415/999-8658
Owner: Donatas Januta
Permits Required: Regular Design Review for
additions to an existing structure exceeding
1,000 square-feet in floor area.
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property; Survey Rating: C2+
Case Planner: Ann Clevenger at 510/238-6980
or aclevenger@oaklandnet.com
present their alternative plans to Safeway’s
new architect when they met with him last
month, as was reported in The Rockridge
News June issue. Instead, they presented a
compilation of the community’s concerns
about the project.
Rockridge Montessori
■
■
Expansion Project (5616
Broadway)
Contrary to some current rumors, the
planning application by this school for
a further expansion to over 200 students
has not been withdrawn. No decision has
been made on the level of environmental
review to be required, but RCPC continues
to be concerned about potential traffic and
pedestrian safety impacts of the project, and
the creeping encroachment of a commercial
use into the adjacent residential area. The
assigned planner is Ulla Jonsson (510/238-
3322, ujonsson@oaklandnet.com). RCPC
will continue to follow developments.
5649 Buena Vista Avenue
Proposal: To construct a deck and a stucco wall
fence at a single-family residence.
Contact: William Lyons Architect
Phone: 510/444-6229
Owners: Dragan Simikic & Alice Robinson-
Simikic
Permits Required: Regular Design Review for a
new attached 320 square foot, 13 feet high max.
stucco deck and a 6 feet high max. stucco wall
fence along the west and southwest property
line located in the R-30 Zone; Minor Variance
to allow a street side yard setback of 6 feet
where 10 feet is required for a portion of the
deck (northwest side) and a rear yard setback
of 1 foot where 20 feet is required for a portion
of the deck (west side)
Case Planner: Mike Rivera at 510/238-6417 or
mrivera@oaklandnet.com
6000 College Avenue (Corner
■
■
of Harwood) – Winebar/
Restaurant Proposal
An application has been submitted
for an Italian winebar/restaurant in this
renovated retail space formerly occupied
by a children’s furnishings store. It would
be patterned after the successful Vinoroso
bistro in San Francisco, and would have
wine tasting and serve light cuisine.
The RCPC board will review the applica-
tion at its May 7 meeting. Possible concerns
are:
hou
■
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rs of operation (evenings only on
weekdays).
addition of yet another restaurant
■
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College Avenue Safeway
■
■
Rebuild (6310 College Avenue
at Claremont)
Safeway presented its latest plans for
revamping its College Avenue store at a
public meeting held April 29. At this writ-
ing, RCPC has not officially seen the plans,
but they apparently still call for a 50,000
square foot store plus a series of small shops
fronting on College Avenue. Small shops
may be nice, but adding a 50,000 square foot
big box store will almost certainly gener-
ate traffic levels far beyond what College
Avenue can handle. At this point, RCPC
remains firmly opposed to this oversized
project. Visit the RCPC Web site at www.
rockridge.org for further updates. The
planner is Peterson Vollman (510/238-6167,
pvollman@oaklandnet.com).
5436 Broadway
Proposal: To construct a 662 square foot
upper story addition to an existing single family
home.
Contact: Debbie Kim and Kathy Rogers
Phone: 510/526-2720
Owner: Elizabeth Falkner
Permits Required: Regular Design Review for a
new floor area and exterior alterations; Minor
Variance to allow a side yard setback of 1 foot,
11 inches where 5 feet is required for new stairs
connecting main and upper floors
Case Planner: Holly Pearson at 510/238-3079
or hpearson@oaklandnet.com
on College.
proximity to the existing liquor license
■
■
at Barclay’s and the College Avenue
Presbyterian Church across the street.
Please send comments to chair@rock-
ridge.org or leave voicemail at 869-4200.
Correction: Local architects did not
Land Use Committee, page 12
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¤
h fh fh fh fh fhh fh f
6.
May 2, 2009
Make Rockridge Greener: Take a Walk
Kitchens
by Laurie Leiber
Listening to NPR a couple of weeks
ago, I heard six brilliant and articulate
experts debate the question, “Is reducing
carbon emissions worth the cost?” They
argued for and against the motion for
the better part of an hour. At no time did
anyone question the urgent need to address
the crisis of climate change, only how it
should be done.
How indeed? While I won’t add much
to what national and international policy
experts have to say, I do have a suggestion
for how Rockridge residents can reduce
our contribution to global warming while
simultaneously supporting local businesses
and improving our health and well-being;
walk.
I didn’t come by this brilliant notion
easily. I broke my shoulder last spring and
was unable to drive for several months.
Forced out of my car, I ultimately came
to appreciate just how much I could get
done on foot. Now that I’ve got the habit
I’m never going back.
The grand opening gift from Pharmaca
helped. The soft, green shopping bag zips
into a compact rectangle that fits easily into
my purse or pocket. Even while limited to
one arm, I could walk to do many of my
errands with the help of this handy shop-
ping bag. At the same time, I got a modest
amount of exercise, and spent money in my
immediate neighborhood.
At first, I stayed within a few blocks
of my house. But, as my range gradually
began to expand, I felt limited by the amount
of stuff I could carry. I could only walk
as far as I was willing and able to schlep
my inevitable purchases home with me.
Acquisition of a wheeled, wire shopping
basket has proved a near perfect solution.
As long as I don’t overfill my cart, I can
free range all over with impunity.
My new system works so well, I’m
frankly surprised I don’t see more of
my neighbors out there pulling carts. Do
people have to break their arms to realize
the multiple rewards of shopping on foot?
In one fell swoop I can reduce greenhouse
emissions, save money, burn calories, and
lower my blood pressure—all while sustain-
ing local businesses.
I have my suspicions as to why I see so
few Rockridge residents pulling shopping
carts. I think we are dealing with psycho-
logical resistance. It’s true, even I refer to
my trusty rolling basket as a “granny cart.”
And, although I was careful to buy a solid
black basket, I have to admit it was merely
the least dorky of those on sale. People aren’t
out there saving the planet by walking to do
their errands because dragging a “granny
cart” doesn’t look cool.
I think we need to reframe the ques-
tion. “Is reducing carbon emissions worth
looking a little goofy while out doing your
shopping?” Let’s all say yes!
• Design
• Remodeling
• Showroom Sales
www.acornkitchens
andbaths.com
KITCHENS & BATHS
510
547-6581
4640 TELEGRAPH AVE • OAKLAND
HOURS: T-F 10-5 • SAT. 10-4
Laurie Leiber is a Rockridge resident who teaches
Pilates at her home.
Me. I’ve been an Allstate Agent for 10
years. And riding bikes for 17. That means
I can talk all day about insurance features
and discounted rates, but I’d just as soon
talk about a new route you’ve found.
Let’s talk today.
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed
(510) 654-3339
Susan Bernosky, LUTCF
(510) 450 9050
5940 College Ave, #A
Oakland
susanbernosky@allstate.com
Praying - Serving - Growing
りきゅう
After 25 years of preparing
authentic Japanese cuisine
for exceptional restaurants
such as Kiku of Tokyo,
Mikaku San Francisco,
Kirala, and We Be Sushi,
Chef Tatsuya Koyake
decides to have his own
space to share his passion
for cooking. Come join
him for a taste of Japan.
St. Augustine
Roman Catholic
Church
400 Alcatraz Ave.
Oakland
(between Telegraph
and College
Avenues)
510-653-8631
Mass Schedule
Saturday: 5 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m.
& 10:30 a.m.
Weekdays: 8:30 a.m.
The Cupped Hands logo is a registered service mark of Allstate Insurance
Company. Life insurance and annuities issued by Allstate Life Insurance
Company, Northbrook, IL and Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Lincoln, NE.
In New York, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, Hauppauge,
NY. Property-casualty insurance products issued by Allstate Fire and
Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate
Insurance Company, Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company:
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Reconciliation
Saturday, 4 p.m.
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ADDRESS 5335 College Avenue,
Oakland, CA 94618
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7.
May 2, 2009
Touching
the Earth
Earth Day
It’s Earth Day celebration time again
and this year in particular communities
everywhere are trying to “outgreen”
each other. It’s probably overkill, but
I’m so glad it’s happening. The time
is long overdue for us to reorder our
priorities and recognize our natural
environment as the source of information
about the universe and ourselves, about
sustainability, healing, learning, spirituality,
in short, everything we need to know
to live well.
was on the other side of the wall.
No, it’s not asphalt. It is a garden, a
wonderful garden, a sanctuary where
young minds can explore their connection
to the natural environment. Islands of
flowers and vegetables intertwine with
welcoming outdoor meeting places,
inviting communal interaction. No
concrete benches here, just tree stumps
to climb up on. Close your eyes and
you’re in summer camp!
Thank you to all who bring gardens
to the schools.
The
Rockridge
Muse
by Ortrun Niesar
for small miracles.
Our Gardens:
Small Wonders
There used to be orchards here,
but they are long gone, together with
the farmers who tended them. Today,
Rockridge gardens are generally kind
of small, but at least we are lucky
enough to have them. It’s where we
can touch the earth with our feet, feel
the organic quality of the living earth
and connect to what was here before.
Treat it kindly and it will yield abundant
good health, good food, good spirits
and mindboggling beauty.
By our house, we wait for the asparagus
spears to appear voluntarily each spring;
for the apricot tree to yield its fruit in
the summer for dozens of jars of jam.
We plant sunflowers to help the bees,
and parsley and radishes for ourselves.
Hummingbirds stop by to drink the nectar
from the bougainvillea. The apple tree
on the parking strip must be spreading
its roots deep and very wide to reach
water from the creek buried somewhere
near here; how else to explain the
bushels of apples it produces every year,
enough to feed the whole neighborhood.
Its roots are strong enough to lift the
concrete sidewalk slabs like they were
made of straw. It’s a miracle.
Breaking Through
I think of our obsession to cover up
the planet with concrete and asphalt as a
symptom of our general disconnect with
nature and our gross misunderstanding or
disregard of our necessary relationship
to our environment. It is also a major
contributor to global warming, food
and habitat shortage, not to mention
scraped knees. All the more meaningful
that a school has torn up at least a little
patch of asphalt so that the kids have a
place to touch the earth directly with
their bare feet if they want.
Consider the wall of Claremont
Middle School facing College Avenue.
At first, it looked as forbidding as the
Great Wall of China. Then, over the
years, some paint and messages appeared
on the wall to let people know what’s
behind it or under it. Still, a disconnect
for most passers-by.
But then, one day this spring, like a
bouquet of flowers, a whole orchestra
appeared on the lawn in front of the
wall. It prompted me to find out what
A Possum Crosses
Claremont Avenue
I almost hit it. It wasn’t in a hurry
to cross the street. Seemed like it
thought it had the right of way. After
all, the animals were there before we
came into the neighborhood. So were
the trees and the creeks and the birds,
and the farmers who planted their food
right here in Rockridge where they built
their homes. Since then we have done a
pretty good job of sending the farmers
packing and encasing everything else in
concrete. We haven’t totally destroyed
it, but just as in fairy tales of yore, the
secret has been locked away and the key
has been lost. In the fairy tales, misery
and famine then spread over the land
until someone pure of heart comes along
to break the spell. She does it by simply
touching the earth with mindfulness and
all springs back to life. Better to look
Rockridge
Optometry
Your neighborhood
family eyecare providers
since 1947
Post Script: Thank you to Beth
Waitkus (bethwaitkus@earthlink.net) for
spearheading the garden program at San
Quentin, www.insightgardenprogram.
org.) She can use help.
Books to read: Patricia Klindienst, The
Earth Knows My Name; Robert Kourik,
Roots Demystified; Barbara Kingsolver,
Small Wonder.
Dr. Donald Sarver
Dr. Larry Sarver
Dr. Scott Yokoi
Dr. Cindy Sakai
20% off all
Jones New York &
Converse Frames
5321 College Avenue, Oakland
510-655-3797
www.rockridgeoptometry.com
Ortrun Niesar can be reached at
oniesar@sbcglobal.net.
Open11am - 8pm Everyday
5418 College Ave. (510) 420-1928
8.
May 2, 2009
RCPC Takes BART to Task on Project Noise
by Stuart Flashman, chair, RCPC
Rockridge residents have, since Janu-
ary, become familiar with the routine
annoyances associated with the seismic
retrofit project at the Rockridge BART sta-
tion. Blocked sidewalks, coned-off traffic
lanes, missing spaces in the BART parking
lot, giant trucks full of construction debris –
they’ve all had to be accepted as a necessary
part of protecting BART and area residents
from major post-earthquake damage.
The construction noise, however, has
often been almost unbearable. It’s also
violated BART’s own construction site
regulations. RCPC brought the problem to
BART’s attention, and changes for the better
can already be seen and (not) heard.
When BART put forward its plans for
the seismic retrofit project several years ago,
federal law required the agency to consider
and to mitigate the project’s environmental
impacts. One mitigation required that sound
levels be limited and barriers be in place
in particularly noisy work areas. BART
was granted a legislative exemption from
state environmental law (the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)), pre-
mised on the agency’s promise to alleviate
project impacts.
When construction began, however,
the contractor was apparently unaware of
the sound level requirements. The project
involves removing and replacing large sec-
tions of the subterranean concrete supports
for the pillars supporting BART’s elevated
structures. Breaking up concrete is noisy
work; the only barriers installed were sheets
of green canvas partially surrounding the
construction sites.
BART had promised to keep sound levels
below 85 decibels (dB). RCPC measured
construction sound levels at the nearby AC
Transit bus stop on the east side of College
Avenue at above 90 dB. Sound levels along
the pedestrian walkway BART had opened
on the west side of the station to replace
After RCPC identified dangerously high
sound levels at BART’s construction
site, the agency posted this sign.
Photo: Stuart Flashman
barricaded sidewalk areas were even higher
– above 95 dB.
RCPC brought the matter to BART’s
attention in late February, and used the
California Public Records Act to obtain
copies of the sound measurements made by
BART’s contractor. The records also showed
the regulations were being violated.
BART has begun to change the contrac-
tor’s behavior, and the results are evident.
Sound barriers have been placed around
noise-intensive operations. At least one piece
of equipment not meeting BART’s construc-
tion regulations has been banished.
RCPC will continue to monitor sound
levels at the BART retrofit construction
site, especially as the work moves closer to
Claremont Middle School and residences.
AC Transit Studies Changes for 51 Line
by Ronnie Spitzer, chair, Transportation,
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety committee
Agency Wants Input
A
C Transit Line 51 links our neigh-
borhood with downtown Oakland,
Alameda, UC Berkeley and the Berkeley
Amtrak station from 5 a.m. to midnight. At
13 miles, it is one of the longest routes in
the system. Its length is one of the factors
that make the route subject to late buses,
slow service and bus bunching. AC Transit
has prepared recommendations for service
changes to address these problems. The
agency has extended the public comment
G
R E A L T O R S
The GRUBB Co.
A New Year
and a
NEW DAY
to help
those in need.
Should the 51 bus line be split? AC Transit
wants to hear what the public thinks
about its proposals. Photo: Don Kinkead
Throughout 2009, I will donate 10% of
my net proceeds to the charity of your
choice whenever I represent you (or a
friend) in the purchase or sale of a home.
You pick the charity and I will promptly
send a check after the close of escrow. So
pass the news along and please send your
referrals my way.
Changes to 51 Bus?, page 13
¤
¤
a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
the Rockridge community
in lifestyle and service.
The art of hair design
Together, we can truly impact some
very worthy causes.
Julie Gardner
510.339.0400/245
jgardner@grubbco.com
JulieGardner.com
G
5431 College Ave Oakland Ca 94618
510.652.5431
www.elizabethh.net
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue, Oakland 510 658-3665
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9.
May 2, 2009
Teen Zone Planned
for Rockridge
Branch Library
literature, computers, and activities at the
Rockridge Branch.
While the branch has an adult section and
a children’s section, only a small space is
dedicated to teens. Library staff surveyed 60
adult patrons and 30 teen patrons to gather
information relevant to each group’s needs
and library usage.
Community members at the meeting
welcomed the prospect of a teen zone that
would result in a better library atmosphere
for all patrons, and an enhanced educational
experience for teens.
More community meetings are planned and
will be announced on the RCPC Web site, www.
rockridge.org, and in The Rockridge News.
Planners say project design would run
through December, 2009, the project would
go to bid in spring 2010, and remodeling
would begin that summer.
To see an example of a successful teen
zone in action, visit the TeenZone at the Main
Library, 125 14th Street. The library’s Web
site has more information and a picture of
the TeenZone: http://www.oaklandlibrary.
org/Seasonal/Sections/teen_zone.html.
Ask a Cop
This month, The Rockridge News initi-
ates the “Ask a Cop” column which
will provide a question-and-answer format
for Rockridge Problem Solving Officers to
answer residents’ law enforcement and
crime-related questions.
Proposed by PSOs Chew and Gerrans
in the hope of improving communications
and involving residents in the Neighbor-
hood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
activities, the column depends on your
participation. Send your questions to
editor@rockridge.org.
by Bill Kaufner, RCPC boardmember
Exciting changes are in the planning
stages for the Rockridge Branch Library.
On April 2, Oakland Main Library staff,
Rockridge Library staff, and members of
the Nolan-Tam architectural firm met with
community members to brainstorm ideas for
a teen zone. This teen zone, the second in
Oakland, would be modeled after the new
TeenZone at the Oakland Main Library.
City Council President Jane Brunner has
secured seed money to help create a dedi-
cated space for teens with appropriate teen
Greetings, Readers:
Our names are Officer Chew and Offi-
cer Gerrans. We are Problem Solving
Officers (P.S.O.) for the Oakland Police
Department. Officer Gerrans is currently
the P.S.O. for beat 12Y and Officer Chew
is the P.S.O. for beat 13X. Both of these
beats encompass the Rockridge neighbor-
hood area.
We are interested in fielding questions
you may have and look forward to opening
up a dialogue with the whole community.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
Jeff Auen
REMAX ACCORD
A Prevention Oriented Practice
Residential
■
■
Ask-A-Cop Questions, May, 2009
Income Properties
■
■
What are the responsibilities and the dif-
1.
REO Specialist
■
■
ferences for the PSO officer compared to
the Beat Officer? — E. Galimba
WWW.REO-SFBay.COM
WWW.JLAHOMES.COM
LOOKING FOR DIRECTION IN THIS
VOLATILE MARKET? LET'S TALK.
Where should I call if I see a crime in
2.
progress? Where should I call to report
a crime against me (burglary, mugging, car
theft?) — S. Rainolds
JeffAuen@comcast.net
800-805-8827
Lan J Shaw
Financial Advisor
.
2161 Allston Way Suite A
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-704-8854
www.edwardjones.com
Member CIPF
Member SIPC
Peace of Mind
Bodywork
A touch therapy to relax
the fabric of your being.
Sharon Smith, CMT
6097 Claremont Ave., Oakland
www.peaceofmindbodywork.com
510-461-6431
10.
May 2, 2009
Claremont Invites All to its Spring Festival
Tips for Bike to
Work Day
Come join us from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Saturday, May 30, at Clare-
mont Middle School, 5750
College Avenue (at Birch
Court) for our annual Spring
Fling, a county fair-style
celebration featuring carni-
val games, food booths, arts
and crafts activities, music
performances, henna art,
face-painting, and even a pet-
ting zoo! Test your hammer
strength at the Hi-Striker, pet
the pot-bellied pig, try your
hand at Spin Art, enjoy the
sounds of different student
bands, shop for handicrafts, or eat your way
down in the midway. There’s something
for everyone!
The Spring Fling is organized by the
Claremont PTA as an end-of-year party
and a benefit for school programs. Last
year’s event raised about $2,000 for the
6th grade field trip to Point Bonita, the 7th
grade Yosemite trip, 8th grade promotion
by Ronnie Spitzer, chair, RCPC Traffic
and Pedestrian Safety Committee
Join thousands of cyclists from around the
Bay and ride your bike to work! The San
Francisco Bay Area’s 15th annual Bike to
Work Day takes place Thursday, May 14, as
part of National Bike Month. Bike riding is
healthy, economical, reduces traffic and is
environmentally-friendly. For more informa-
tion, see http://btwd.bayareabikes.org/
Bike Commute Tips
If you haven’t biked in a while or are
new to biking to work:
Check out your route in advance.
■
■
Claremont Middle School creates a carnival midway
on the schoool playground to celebrate its Spring
Festival, and invites the community join in.
Photo: Mike Mages
Make sure your bike is reasonably
■
■
well tuned and your helmet fits.
Wear comfortable clothing.
■
■
activities, the music program, a sports
award banquet, and more. Game tickets
cost 50 cents each; the number of tickets
varies by game. Food sales are by cash. For
more information about the Spring Fling or
donation opportunities, please call Becki
Couch-Alvarado at 510/541-1545.
— Julie Harris
Obey all traffic laws including stop
■
■
signs and red lights.
Ride predictably, visibly and safely.
■
■
Get an early start.
■
■
If you’re planning to mix bike and
■
■
transit, be aware of BART bike restriction
periods (mornings and evenings in the
“commute direction”), and that AC Transit
bus bike racks may be fuller than usual
on Bike to Work Day. Leave extra time.
Check BART’s Web site at http://www.
bart.gov/guide/bikes/bikeRules.aspx for
bike rules.
Bicycle Coalition Offers
Bike Safety Classes
Free East Bay Bicycle Coalition urban
bicycle safety classes are offered in May
and June to teach you how to safely share
the road. To sign up, go to http://www.ebbc.
org/safety.
Bore Settlement
Rockridge Resident
Publishes Children’s Book
Rockridge resident Jennifer Vetter
reads her first children’s book, a
modern telling of a venerable rhyming
song at Diesel Books,
May 5, 7
p.m. The
Rockridge
N e w s
will have
a review
n
e
x
t
month.
from page 1
remont Middle School.
Of the funds, $2 million comes from
the state Air Resources Board for special-
ized air-filtration systems of all buildings
and classrooms at Chabot Elementary and
Claremont Middle schools.
An additional $1 million grant was pro-
vided by CalFire’s Urban Forestry Program
to pay for trees to be planted to reduce
the effects of noise from increased traffic
expected to occur after construction of the
new tunnel bore.
This article is partially based on the Oakland Public
Works department’s bike to work day Web page:
http://www.oaklandpw.com/page125.aspx.
Residential &
Commercial
Armed Patrol,
365 x 24 x 7
When hiring
a service
company,
make sure
they are the
best at what
they do.
547-SAFE
(547-7233)
11.
May 2, 2009
Atomic Garden
Owners: Jamie Kidson and
Adrienne Armstrong
5453 College Avenue, Oakland
510/923-0543
www.atomicgardenoakland.com
Open Monday – Thursday
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday – Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.,
Sunday 12 - 5 p.m.
Atomic Garden
The Neighborhood Merchant
Photo: Don Kinkead
by Theresa Nelson
Most items in the store include some
element of sustainability or recycled materi-
als: Old restaurant dishes are transformed
into new dinnerware with reglazing; hemp
linens made in Transylvania in the ’30s and
’40s have been refashioned into dish towels
and table runners which grow softer with
each washing. Atomic Garden socks are
made from recycled cotton scraps which
have been ground and respun into new
fibers. One unusual item is the compostable
umbrella, created when the designer saw
how many broken umbrellas were discarded.
Made of plant-based plastic, bamboo and
string, it’s really waterproof, and after five
years of use is fully compostable.
Newer items are made by people who
follow the fair trade, fair wage, health-con-
scious, recycling philosophy. The stainless
steel water bottles won’t leach pieces of
internal coating into the liquid. The stun-
ning black clay pots from La Chamba are
handmade, non-toxic and have no glazes,
instead being naturally finished by stone
polishing. For use on stovetop or oven, they
range in size from small bowls to large
casserole dishes. Beautiful cards by Linea
Carta are printed on an old letterpress on
recycled paper with soy inks.
Clothing follows the same sustain-
able philosophy. Local designer Calliope
makes children’s dresses and shirts from
A Very Green
(Atomic) Garden
Atomic Garden goes beyond being green
to incorporating sustainability and recycled
materials in almost everything it carries,
and even to the store itself. Formerly a print-
ing business, the space was transformed
using wood and old floorboards reclaimed
from a family farm in Penngrove, and an
old canning cupboard got a new life as a
display cabinet. The one-of-a kind bird-
houses, wall art and mirrors on display
were created by the man whose family
owned the farm.
Co-owner Jamie Kidson told me that
she and Adrienne Armstrong had been
clothing designers with their own lines,
and found they shared values about focus-
ing on quality instead of quantity. They
believe it’s important to know how and
where fabrics were manufactured, who
made them and whether they had fair pay
and working conditions. When they found
the current Atomic Garden space, they
decided to open a store instead of design-
ing and manufacturing their own clothing
line. Both live in the neighborhood, and
walking to work allows them to exercise
their philosophy of sustainability and low-
impact on the community.
leftover fabrics, and Stewart Brown uses
organic cotton in his basic tank dresses
and tops. In Dosa’s popular line, all the
fabrics are recycled; even leftover pattern
pieces are saved and re-used. A handmade
little black dress gets its beautiful texture
from its many fabric pieces. Their shawls
are lovely: fabric scraps encased in light,
see-through muslin look almost like stained
glass. Prairie Underground of Seattle offers
long and short-zippered hoodies with fas-
cinating details and a romantic, cloak-like
hood that is quite stylish.
Matt Bernson shoes, made in Brazil
with nontoxic dyes, are available in silver
or pewter-colored flats and multi-metal-
toned sandals with soft, cushioned soles.
Also made from recycled plastics are
Melissa’s mary janes and clogs, in bright
and shiny black, red and forest green, and
Gypsy Style totes and laundry bags with
brilliant stripes.
Lovely purses by rubyzaar come as
popular belt bags or classic shoulder bags.
Produced in fair trade partnership in
Southeast Asia, the leathers come from an
organic farm in Thailand using hides from
animals which expired of natural causes,
cured only by smoke or plant extracts, hand
tooled by craftsmen and women.
If you believe in buying sustainable,
fair trade and fair wage items that are
also beautiful, be sure to stop by Atomic
Garden.
Rockridge Home Sales On The Rise...?
Kimberly Lang
Closing Date BR/Bth
Address
Original Price DOM
LP
SP
4/3/2009
2/2
5351 Belgrave Place #1B
$539,000
16
$539,000
$560,000
3/31/2009
3/2
6016 Broadway
$548,000
18
$548,000
$558,000
4/1/2009
3/2.5
43 Clarewood Lane
$649,000
11
$649,000
$638,655
4/3/2009
3/2
5334 Miles Avenue
$879,000
21
$849,000
$813,000
3/25/2009
5/2.5
5602 Taft Avenue
$850,000
4
$850,000
$850,000
3/25/2009
4/2.5
7101 Chabot Road
$1,125,000
8
$899,000
$940,000
Draperies
Roman Shades
Cushions and Pillows
Fabric and Style Advice
The average market time has decreased by 57% compared to this time last year.
1/3 of the home sales in Rockridge last month Sold for over the asking price.
There is currently a 2.25 month supply of inventory in Rockridge.
The Average List/Sales Price hasn’t changed much from a year ago, last month being 100% vs. 101% in ’08.
510.540.6864 www.kimberlylang.com
12.
May 2, 2009
Land Use
Committee
Kitchen Tour Call
Letters to
the Editor
from page 1
Kitchen Tour, but can’t volunteer your time,
our kitchen tour brochure provides local
merchants, real estate brokers, builders,
architects, designers, decorators, and other
residential home decoration professionals
with an opportunity to reach an interested and
enthusiastic audience. For more information
about tour brochure advertising space contact
Jo Ellis at 510/653-3210, after noon.
Take your mind off the global slump and
enjoy an afternoon with your neighbors, in
our thriving Rockridge community. Ticket
sales will begin in June at www.rock-
ridge.org. As a guest, a docent or a tour
volunteer, on September 20, the Rockridge
Kitchen Tour is the place to be!
from page 5
from page 4
recyclables on my street are careful to be
quiet early in the morning and always clean
up after themselves. Why? Because I have
made a point of recognizing them and saying
hello; not overly friendly, just letting them
know that I will treat them like people if
they do the same.
They know that if they breach that trust
I will make sure they’re out of there.
— Len Lauro
College Preparat
■
■
ory School
Facilities Master Plan (6100
Broadway)
Reminder: CPS and RCPC are jointly
sponsoring a neighborhood meeting about the
school’s proposal to construct about 20,000
square feet of classroom and theatre space,
spread out over the next 10 to 15 years. Some
of the construction will replace buildings to
be demolished.
The meeting is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May
6, in the Smith Room on the CPS campus, 6100
Broadway. (Details in last month’s Rockridge
News Land Use Update, page 5.)
YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE GOES BEYOND
STOCKS AND BONDS. SHOULDN’T YOUR
FINANCIAL STRATEGY DO THE SAME?
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© 2007 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. Member, SIPC.
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4444 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
www.InsideOutsideFitness.com
13.
May 2, 2009
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Call for a free estimate.
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www.namasterockridge.com
5416 college avenue 510.547.YOGA
(near Rockridge library)
ened by splitting it into two lines. Transfers
would be needed by riders traveling beyond
the split point. Proposed split points are at
Rockridge BART, at downtown Oakland,
or at the MacArthur BART station on a
revised route. This choice would make
Rockridge’s connection to either Berkeley
(live south of BART station) or downtown
Oakland (live north of BART station) a
two-bus trip.
A/B service would divide the stops
■
■
into alternating groups. Route 51A buses
would stop at the current 1st, 3rd, 5th stops,
etc., and 51B buses at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.
Both A and B buses would stop at select
transfer points. This method has been used
in some other dense urban cities.
A Limited/Local combination would
■
■
add some buses, which stop at only selected
locations. The route is now purely local.
A fourth option: make no changes.
■
■
Changes to 51 Bus?
from page 8
period specifically to allow more neighbors
in the Piedmont Avenue, Temescal and
Rockridge districts to weigh in.
The Service and the Problems
The 51 line carries 19,000 riders per
day, connecting them with:
Four BART stations.
■
■
One Amtrak station.
■
■
Thirty AC Transit routes, including six
■
■
transbay, 22 local and two Rapid bus lines.
System-wide, buses average a speed of
nearly 12 miles per hour. Line 51 averages nine
mph; even an increase to 10.5 mph would be
very noticeable. Buses are normally moving
only 52 percent of the time. They “dwell” at
stops 20 percent of the time, but are just plain
delayed even more time: 28 percent. Delays
are commonly caused by narrow streets,
uncontrolled pedestrian crossings or turning
vehicles. Dwell time is increased by passengers
exiting via the front door, insufficient red curb,
blocked loading zones and sidewalk hazards.
Boarding takes three seconds per passenger;
paying fares adds to that.
The Proposals
With the participation of a task force,
AC Transit proposes the following choices
to address service problems.
Improvements would be sought through
operational changes; improvements to roads,
traffic and pedestrian signals; bus zones;
and line configurations.
Line changes under consideration are:
Split route. The route would be short-
■
■
Fully half of Rockridge would be
impacted by a split at the Rockridge sta-
tion, with transfer timing and charges
undetermined at this point. The RCPC
board would like the community’s input on
which proposals it should support. Neigh-
bors may download a report with maps at
www.actransit. org (look under Planning
Focus, then under Projects in the Works).
Send your comments to Puja K. Sarna at
psarna@actransit.org or call her at 510/891-
4867. Please copy Ronnie Spitzer, TPBS
Chair, at Ronnie@rockridge.org.
Reprinted and adapted to the Rockridge locale with
permission of Piedmont Avenue Neighborhood
Improvement League and Valerie Winemiller.
Cathy M., Oakland
Homeowner:
“Extraordinarily attentive to
detail and individual cus-
tomer satisfaction. Their
vacation services are of
the highest caliber!”G
GRUBBCO.COM
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland
14.
May 2, 2009
Help with your PC or Mac
College student can help you in your home.
Affordable rates. Experienced & patient. Routine
scans/maintenance $35/hr. Internet applications
training, repairs & upgrades $25/hr. Call Tony,
653-1079. Rockridge only.
Pilgrimages: Medjugorje
and Rome
Join us on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje and the
shrine of Our Lady of Peace or Rome and the
Seven Pilgrimage Churches. Visit www.MyUITour.
com or call 866/984-8687 or 415/963-4477.
CST:2070359-40.
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Clas-
sifieds, 5245 College Avenue, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94618. April deadline is May 21.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
Skin Care Salon
Penelope’s Aesthetics, a serene garden setting
in Rockridge 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.
Career Workshop
Are you having trouble moving forward with your
career transition even though you “know what to do”?
Learn to work with the “emotional turbulence”that
gets in your way. Fri. May 22. 9am-4pm. Montclair.
www.bluestream-consulting.com.
Unexpected Guest?
Short-term rental, lovely room 2 blocks from
Rockridge BART in owner’s flat. A steal. Photos
available. Wi-fi, cable, TV. Suitable for one person.
Photos available. Barbird@aol.com 510/652-7044.
Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other odd
jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/761-7168.
Rockridge Office Lease $3,000
1,350sqft of remodeled office. Two newer
bathrooms, a remodeled kitchen. Close to
freeway, College Ave, and BART. Reception
area, conference room, 1 private office, many
work stations. www. 5767Broadway.com. Ron
510/547-5970 ext 55.
Single Again– A Support Group
For persons reconstructing their lives after
separation, divorce. This painful experience can
be put to good use in redefining ourselves, our
priorities. Rockridge area group. $120/month.
Carla Haimowitz PhD. 510/655-7828.
Quality Gardening
Skilled monthly or bimonthly maintenance,
aesthetic pruning, planning, design, irrigation,
consultations, ecological practices. 15 years of
horticultural experience in the East Bay. Local
references. Green’s Gardens, 510/593-3490.
Creative Computing Solutions
Multimedia engineer can help you setup any
computer, network, music or video system.
Enjoy internet, digital music, DTV. Create
discs, websites. From $35/hour. Call Andy at
510/301-2795 or email andy@tmuse.net.
Discount Builders
Remodeling: bathrooms & kitchens, decks,
patios, slate stairs, seismic upgrades. Low
prices. Lic#664509. Insured & bonded. Ned
510/301-5448.
Psychotherapy for Older
Women/Grandmothers
Brief or long-term therapy for women wanting
a better relationship with their adult children/
grandchildren. Older, 30 years experience,
interactive psychotherapist. Maggie Rochlin,
LCSW. 510/845-6556.
Make Money Teaching
Disaster First Aid©
Complete Instructor Kit with PowerPoint
presentation CD, Instructor Guide how-to, and
more. Used by schools, CERT programs, and
private instructors. For information: wwwdisas-
terfirstaid.com, or disasterfirstaid@gmail.com.
Affordable Home Cook
I cater to your dietary needs with as many meals
per week as needed, cooked in your home or
in my Rockridge kitchen. 30 years professional
cooking experience. Excellent local references.
Call Elvia 510/557-5947.
Home Repairs
Carpentry, electrical, kitchen, bath, decks,
fence, drainage, tile, windows, walls, dry rot,
termite damage, crown molding. Lic#458473.
Don 510/812-0310.
Patios, Decks, Fences,
Painting /Custom Artistic Tiling
I build outdoor amenities and have 20 years
experience with lots of Rockridge references.
www.Diegodesigns.com. Call Diego: 510/828-
9473. “We listen to your dreams.”
Electrical Repairs & Remodels
From doorbell repair to whole-house rewiring,
we’ve been doing electrical work in Oakland
and Berkeley for over 30 years. Sutorik &
Company, lic#397149. 510/655-3677.
Aesthetic Pruning
I specialize in pruning trees & shrubs under 20
feet tall. I work with trees to enhance their natu-
ral beauty. Specialties: maples, camellias, fruit
trees, & focal points. Pruning instructor Merritt
College. Bruce Thompson 510/428-4964.
Rockridge Boot Camp
By Bay Functional Fitness. All levels wel-
come. Morning, lunchtime, evening and
Saturday classes, beginning in May. Contact
Lisa@BayFunctionalFitness.com or call Katie
510/922-1614.
Low Stress Carmel Getaway
Comfortable, cheery 3BR+2BA family home
available for short-term rental. Fully furnished
from piano to ping pong, sunny patio. Quiet,
peaceful—pines, oaks, birds. Only two hours
away. Reasonable weekly rates. E-mail: lowstress-
getaway@yahoo.com.
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.
SIMPLIFY!
Clutter Control
6
%
Paper/Filing Systems
Kitchens/Closets
Space Planning
Packing/Unpacking
Solutions for the critical mess
Non-Judgmental & Confidential
Since 1986
realtyadvocates.com
www.SummersOrganizing.com
(510) 428-0757
Barbara ✔ 415-381-0707
15.
May 2, 2009
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.
Compiled by Jo Ellis
counseling and many other services. Saturday, May 9,
noon to 4pm. 460 63rd Street. Parking at St. Augustine’s
church (across from the school on Alcatraz Ave.). Info:
Jen McKillips, jsmckillips@yahoo.com.
Claremont Middle School
Annual Spring Fling
Community Calendar
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
June: Alicia Wallace and class: Paintings and
drawings
Lobby Display Case:
May: Barry Paul: drawings – color pencil.
June: LGBT Month display.
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 closed: 5/22, 5/25 and 6/5.
Diesel Book/Poetry & Events
A county fair-style celebration featuring carnival games,
arts and crafts, food booths, music and more. Saturday,
May 30, 11am to 3 pm, on the school playground, 5750
College (at Birch Ct.). A PTA benefit for school programs.
Info: 879-2010. See article, pg. 10.
Wisteria Ways Concert Series
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.
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.
New additional Baby and Toddler Story Time:
■
■
1st and
3rd Wednesday, 10:30am, upstairs Community Room
(same days and times as Pre-School Story Time).
Pajama Story Time
■
■
: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7 pm
(see special events below).
Special Events for Children:
Moms, Pops and Pop-ups Pajama Story Time
■
■
:
Stories to celebrate our families, then, a pop-up
card-making party. Tues., 5/12, 7pm.
May Pajama Story Time
■
■
: stories of Asia and the
Pacific Islands. Afterwards, make a scroll-painting
to hang at home. Tues., 5/26, 7pm.
FOR TEENS:
Rockridge Ninjas (Anime Club): Teens 13 and up
■
■
,
watch and talk about anime (Japanese animation) with
other teens. Second Tuesday each month (5/12), 5 to
6:30pm, upstairs meeting rm.
FOR ADULTS:
Writers’ Support/Critique Group
■
■
: ALL writers wel-
come. Bring 12 copies of up to 5 double-spaced pages
of prose for on-site reading/discussion. 3rd Saturday
each month, 1-5pm. Sponsored by the California Writers
Club, Berkeley branch (www.berkeleywritersclub.
org.) Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Knitting Classes for Seniors
■
■
(50+): In collaboration
with Pleasant Valley Adult School; instructor Teri Barr.
All levels welcome. Beginners bring light color yarn
and a pair of size 8 needles. If experienced, bring
projects to work on. Every Tuesday, 12:30-2:30pm,
upstairs meeting room. NOTE: DUE TO SCHOOL
BUDGET CUTS, MAY WILL BE THE LAST MONTH
FOR THE KNITTING CLASS.
Lawyers in the Library:
■
■
Free legal advice. First
Tuesday each month from 6 to 8pm. Advance sign-up
starts 5pm. More info: 597-5017.
ART EXHIBITS
Gallery: May: Merritt College Students: Figure and
portrait drawings.
Wake the Dead: World’s First Celtic All-Star Grateful Dead
Jam Band. From Rock to Irish reels, and songs familiar
to Deadheads everywhere. Saturday, 5/30, 3pm (house
opens at 2:30pm). Outdoor concert (wheelchair acces-
sible): bring something to sit on (blanket or lawn chair),
hat, a picnic. $15-20 suggested donation for musicians
(cash please at the door).383 61st Street. Info at www.
wakethedead.org. Reservations recommended), RSVP
to info@WisteriaWays.org or 655-2771.
Oakland Youth Orchestra Auditions
All events are FREE and open to the public.
Wed., 5/5, 7pm. Rockridge resident J
■
■
ennifer Riggs
Vetter: debut picturebook, Down By the Station.
Mon., 5/11, 7pm.
■
■
Amnesty International Meeting:
All invited to exchange ideas on action.
Tues., 5/12, 7pm.
■
■
Russell Howze: Stencil Nation:
Graffiti, Community, and Art.
Thurs., 5/14, 7pm.
■
■
Daniel Mendelsohn: two new
translations of C.P. Cavafy’s poetry: C.P. Cavafy:
Collected Poems and C.P. Cavafy: The Unfinished
Poems.
Sun., 5/17, 3pm. Book Launch Party for local poet
■
■
Membership in this outstanding youth orchestra is open to
highly qualified players of all orchestral instruments from
Bay Area schools. Generally, students are 12-22 years,
but exceptional younger students may also be admitted.
Candidates will be heard on Tues., 5/5, 3 – 10pm; Wed.,
5/6, 3 – 10pm, and Sat., 5/9, 9am – 12pm at 1428 Alice
St., Rm. 202M. Get full details, applications, musical
excerpts and directions at www.oyo.org.
Calif. College Of The Arts (CCA)
and professor Barbara Tomash: The Secret of White,
along with guest reader Nona Caspers.
Wed., 5/20, 7pm.
■
■
Norm Sperling: The Journal of
Irreproducible Results new anthology, This Book
Warps Space and Time.
Thurs., 5/21, 7pm.
■
■
Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson:
The Scavenger’s Manifesto.
Sun., 5/24, 3pm.
■
■
Renee Swindle’s students from
her UC Berkeley Extension Novel Writing Workshop
will read from their works-in-progress.
Wed., 5/27, 7pm. Local author
■
■
Susan Kuchinskas:
The Chemistry of Connection.
Thurs., 6/4, 7pm.
■
■
Elana Dykewomon: Risk.
Sun., 6/7, 3pm.
■
■
Poetry Flash – Lyric Postmodernisms.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. Info: other
events, book groups and El Grupito, Spanish discussion
group: 653-9965 or www.dieselbookstore.com.
Peace Corps Information Night
Undergraduate Exhibition Program: CCA student work,
rotating weekly. Receptions every Wed., 5:30-7:30pm. 5212
B’way, Oliver Art Center. Info/hours: 658-1223 (or 1224) or
www.cca.edu/students/undergadexhibitions.
North Oakland Senior Center
Program Highlights: Computer classes; Health Insur-
ance counseling and advocacy program; exercise;
trips, tours and theater outings; Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Support Groups.
Living with loss: Free grief support group.
■
■
Wednes-
days, 2 – 2:30pm, May 6 through June 10.
Voter InfoDay
■
■
: The League of Woman Voters offers
Info about the May 19 special election. Thurs., May
7 (call for times).
Brain Fitness – Insight “Visual” Program
■
■
: focus
better/ improve driving. Registration: Thurs., 5/21, 3pm
for class starting June1 through Sept 2. Free tuition
for adults 50+ ($25 materials fee).
Purchase vendor spaces in May for
■
■
Big Flea Market
on Sat., June 6, 8am to 4pm. Info: 597-5085.
Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8:45am to 4:45pm. 5714 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Way. Subscribe to “The North Oakland Senior
Times” for a schedule of classes/events and monthly lunch
menu ($2.25 to $4.). Details about events, membership,
and volunteer opportunities: call 597-5085.
American Red Cross
Mobile Blood Drive
■
■
- Donate blood: Fri, 5/8, 8:30am
– 1:30pm, at Children’s Hospital, Outpatient Center,
Basement, 747 52nd St. Call 800-GIVE LIFE (800-
448-3543) or go to HelpSaveALife.org (Sponsor Code:
CHO) to schedule an appt.
Volunteer Orientations
■
■
: Tour the Oakland Blood
Center. Learn to assist blood donors, deliver blood,
help with special projects. 5/6, from 10am-noon;
5/12 and 5/20, 6pm to 8pm. 6230 Claremont Ave.
(across from College Ave. Safeway). Learn more or
sign up: Anne at 594-5165 or BlackstoneA@usa.
redcross.org.
Learn about volunteering in 76 countries in education,
health, business, environment and more. No upper age
limit. Tues, 5/26, 6 to 7:30pm, Rockridge Library, 5366 Col-
lege Ave. Info: Heather Driscoll, 452-8444, sfevents@
peacecorps.gov or www.peacecorps.gov.
Peralta In Bloom
Peralta Elementary School Spring Community
Festival: Carnival games, 30-foot climbing wall, potted
plants; feast on pulled pork sandwiches; live music and
more. Proceeds benefit art and music programs, sports,
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
Rockridge
Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level
Entry on Shafter Avenue
510-655-8808
482-2227 Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work • Free Estimates
Lic # 695711
www.curvesrockridge.com
Free Parking!
Across from BART
Open 7 Days
Mon- Fri 6:00 -7:30
Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon
16.
May 2, 2009
Restoration / Renovation
Custom Wood
Windows and Doors
(510) 893 1157
www.woodenwindow.com Lic 640153
aboutface&body
dayspa oaklandberkeley
serving you since 1981
Specialists in
Brazilian waxing
3190 college avenue
at alcatraz
berkeley, ca 94705
p 510.428.2600
www.aboutfaceandbody.net
sun-tues 10:30-5:30
wed-sat 10:30-8:00
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING
Professional,
Full Service
Real Estate Brokerage
To Rockridge Clients
For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN
W Residential Sales
W Income Property
W Commercial
W Property Management
29
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
Terry just sold her 72nd Rockridge Listing
Is there a move in your future?
Put 25 years of real estate sales experience
to work for you
Let’s make your home number 73!!
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
WINSTON’S PLUMBING
ROBERTS ELECTRIC
HEATING & ELECTRICAL
RECO
COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL
lic.# 537739/554406
Since 1979
• Trenchless Sewers
INSTALLATION • REPAIR • 220 WIRING
• Earthquake Protection
NEW CONSTRUCTION • REMODEL
FREE ESTIMATES
• Tankless Water Heaters
2408 Webster St. 834-6161 Oakland
• Remodel & Repair
SERVING THE EAST BAY SINCE 1932 CA. LIC# 728215
510-652-8014
www.winstonsplumbing.com
“”May your toilet never runneth over!”
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL
ABOUT
ASHBY LUMBER?
FOR RENT OFFICES – ROCKRIDGE
5767 Broadway
$2,500/ mo.
Professional Offi ces Approx 1,350sqft
Remodeled Open Floor Plan, 2 Bathrooms, Kitchen
www.5767Broadway.com
FOR SALE – ELMWOOD
3040 Benvenue Ave
$1,495,000
5 Beds & 2.5 Baths
Traditional Craftsman w/ Flair
www.3040Benvenue.com
FOR SALE – ROCKRIDGE
331 Clifton Street
$739,000
2+ Beds & 1 Bath
Charming Craftsman w/ Offi ce
www.331Clifton.com
5677 Ocean View Drive
$1,195,000
3+ Beds & 2+ Baths
Traditional 2-Story Craftsman
www.5677OceanView.com
5906 Colby Street
$935,000
2 Beds & 2 Baths 2-Story Owners
w/ 2 Beds & 1 Bath Apartment
www.5906Colby.com
1,458
years of
Experience,
…as of today.
Pending
ASHBY LUMBER
HARDWARE & BUILDING SUPPLIES
824 ASHBY AVE BERKELEY
(510) 843-4832 OPEN 7 DAYS
2295 ARNOLD INDUSTRIAL WAY
CONCORD (925) 689-8999 Mon-Sat
L A W T O N
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@jps.net
A S S O C I A T E S
“#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
R E A L E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E