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VOL. 25    NO. 1    ISSUE NO. 263    January 5, 2010                        CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

RCPC Town Hall Meeting
☛ Agenda
7:30 p.m., Thursday
January 21, 2010
■
■RCPC Reports to the Community… and
gets feedback from community members.

„ The January Town Hall Meeting is traditionally
the occasion when RCPC, FROG Park, and Friends
of the Rockridge Library report to the Rockridge
community on what we’ve all been doing over the
past year. In return, it’s also an opportunity for you,
the membership, to let us know how you think we’re
doing and things you think we ought to be working
on. Your feedback is both important and needed.

A
Rockridge Christmas is
sidewalks crowded with
shoppers, weather ranging
from bitter cold to balmy
and rainy, homes and streets
decorated with snowmen and
Santas, colored balls hung high
in trees, and lights everywhere.
Christmas is wind-blown
leaves on the sidewalk, a
gaunt tree silhouetted against
a house, and the promise of
a New Year just around the
corner.
Rockridge photographer Lydia
Gans recently captured views
of the local season. Her photos
are at left and on page 9.

Rockridge Library Hit by City Budget Cuts in Staff, Hours

summer children’s reading program; and
for the provision of gardening oversight
and ongoing maintenance of the beautiful
and much-used library furniture.
We very much hope that you will
consider becoming a member of FORL
by sending your tax-deductible donation
accompanied by the membership form
available on page 3.
FORL has provided funds for ongo-
ing replenishment of the children’s book
collection; for continued long-term sub-
scriptions to the daily New York Times, Art
in America, Value Line, In These Times, and
approximately a dozen other high-demand
periodicals, magazines, and newspapers;
for a summer intern from Oakland Tech
High School who assists in managing the
You can help: Donate today to
Friends of the Rockridge Library
The Friends of the Rockridge Library
(FORL) needs your support more
than ever this coming year. In 2009, our
community used our library even more
heavily than usual, and the Friends again
provided much-needed support.

City Revisits Permit Parking Costs, Raises Fees on Short Notice

by Jon Gabel, boardmember, RCPC
In October, 2008, when the city of Oakland
considered raising Residential Permit
Parking (RPP) fees, it circulated an analysis
of that program’s cost, held meetings with
the community, and advertised the City
Council meeting at which the issue was
to be decided.
When residents balked at the proposed
increase to $60 for new registration and
$50 for renewals, annual renewal fees were
raised from $15 to $20, new registration
was set at $35, and a performance audit of
the RPP program was mandated.
In December, 2009 permit parking pro-
gram costs again came under consideration.
This time, the City made no apparent
outreach and many residents reported
receiving notice only three days prior to
the December 8 Council meeting that RPP
fees would be on the agenda. The Council
voted to adopt an increased renewal fee of
$35. Several councilmembers stated this
was necessary to cover the costs of the
program. A final vote on this increase was
to take place January 5.
To date, only an interim performance
audit report is available (http://www.
oaklandcityauditor.com/images/oakland/
auditreports/rpp_interim_report.pdf). In
that report, enforcement costs and revenues
from citations are not included. The actual
cost of the RPP program is unknown,
according to the interim report, since pro-
gram costs involve both direct and ancillary
charges involving overlapping agencies.
Furthermore, the report estimates that it
takes 50 minutes to process every permit
each year.
At the December council meeting, City
staff stated that
some improve-
m e n t s
a r e
being made to
the RPP pro-
gram, but no
details have
been made
ava i l a bl e
in written
form.


2.

January 5, 2010

FROG Park Celebrates Art Project
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
Closed Sunday and Monday and Jan. 15 & Jan. 19

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 &

An enthusiastic crowd dedicated the latest
Rockridge public art project “Views of the
Greenbelt” by artist Mark Brest van Kempen
on a rainy day in Rockridge.
Installed between Hardy and Redondo Parks
along the Greenbelt (see accompanying map,
page 11), the strategically placed sculptures
of native flora and fauna, sculptural viewing
devices and a tactile podium centrally located
pay homage to Temescal Creek history and
ecology.
The project was commissioned by the city
of Oakland’s Public Art Project, under the
supervision of Kristen Zaremba. A selection
jury composed of community members, art-
ists, and art professionals recommended
Oakland artist Mark Brest van Kempen.
Project funding came from several sources
including Measure DD, the Oakland Trust
for Clean Water and Safe Parks, the Oakland
Public Art Program, the Oakland ADA
Programs Division, and FROG.
This project would not have been possible
without the assistance of many City staff,
community representatives, and project
collaborators. FROG acknowledges:
Dedication speakers: city of Oakland’s
Public Art Program representative Kristen
Zaremba, Councilmember Brunner staff
member Nila Kim, Oakland Public Art
Advisory Committee member Jennifer
Easton, FROG past Chair Jennifer Cooper,
and artist Mark Brest van Kempen.
Other contributors: Markley Bavinger
and Joel Peter, Measure DD Program; Eric
Cabunoc; Christine Calabrese, ADA Coor-
dinator; Bruce Douglas, Friends of Temescal
Creek; Ian Duffy; Ron Holthuysen, Scien-
tific Art Studio; Claire Isaacs-Warhaftig,
ex-Public Art Advisory Committee; Hiroko
Kurihara; Steve Gillman; Carroll Moore;
Carol McClellan; Theresa Nelson; Jennifer
Cooper; and David Ryan, Ryan and sons
Metal works, FROG steering committee
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
Michael Kan	������������������������Secretary
Joan Martin	��������������������������Treasurer
Cesar Angobaldo, Annette Floystrup, Jonathan Gabel,

Jennifer Kaplan, William Kaufner, Don Kinkead, 
Doug Patton, Ronnie Spitzer,
Katy Taylor, Ann Winterman
Contact the Board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
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
 Kristen Zaremba welcomes resi-
dents to the dedication ceremony.
 Art lovers listen intently to the
speakers.
 Artist Mark Brest van Kempen
addressing the crowd.
 Rockridge-Temescal neighbors
gathered around the accessible plat-
form to hear speaker Kristen Zaremba.
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
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.
Photos: FROG Committee
January FROG Steering
Committee Meeting
You can get involved with improving and
maintaining our neighborhood’s park.
Join us Thursday, January 14, 7 p.m., at the
Rockridge Branch Library upstairs meeting
room —  bring your friends and family —
to learn where help is needed. Not able to
attend? E-mail info@frogpark.org and tell us
what you’re interested in. A FROG commit-
tee member will get back to you right away.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
 February 6, 2010
 February deadline is January 21, 2010.
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.)
¤
¤ FROG Park Art, page 11


3.
January 5, 2010

NOTE: Fall Land Use Committee meeting dates
are revised, due to new Rockridge library
schedules: Next meeting: January 27 (4th Wed)
Meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.
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.
spring, before a final zoning proposal is
brought to the planning commission and
city council for enactment.
also expressed strong concern about the proj-
ect’s inconsistency with the general plan’s
“preserve and enhance” designation for the
area, as well as the project’s inconsistency
with the pedestrian-oriented emphasis of
the area’s C-31 zonings.
For its Rockridge Shopping Center
store, currently already 50,000 sq. ft in size,
Safeway has proposed a somewhat more
modest expansion to 65,000 sq.ft., coupled
to an overall 110,000 sq.ft. expansion of the
shopping center. The renovated shopping
center would go from one to two stories in
height, but would otherwise retain much of
its current configuration. Here, the unified
community response was that Safeway’s
proposal was an inefficient and ineffective
use of this large and centrally located site.
There was also extensive criticism of the
suburban auto-oriented focus of Safeway’s
proposal. RCPC has suggested that the site
deserves a more urban and transit-oriented
development proposal. The City is contract-
ing with outside planning consultants to
prepare environmental impact reports for
both of these large and important projects.
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee chair
■
■The Land Use Year in Review
■
■Citywide Zoning Update
The updating of Oakland’s zoning
ordinance continues to roll forward.
The city Web site (http://oaklandnet.com/
zoningupdate) has posted the current draft
zoning maps, including maps showing pro-
posed commercial and residential zoning
designations and the proposed height limits
for different parts of the city.
For Rockridge itself, little change is
proposed. The only places where sig-
nificant changes are being considered are
along Broadway for one block north of 51st
Street and along Telegraph Avenue north
of Highway 24 to the Berkeley border. In
both of these areas, somewhat taller and
denser development is contemplated. The
commercial corridor technical advisory
group (TAG) will have its next meeting in
late January/early February to review staff
responses to community input. Check the
city Web site for details. TAG meetings are
open to the public. A final round of citywide
community meetings is planned for early
■
■The Safeway Projects
So, now that 2009 is history, what can we
look back on as significant events here
in Rockridge? One word has dominated the
local discussion – Safeway. With two stores
bracketing Rockridge, Safeway has always
had an oversized presence here. Significant
expansion is proposed for both stores, and
both sets of expansion plans have drawn
strong reactions. Interestingly, while the
community response has been strong and
unusually unified, it has pushed in opposite
directions at the two Safeway sites.
At its College/Claremont store, Safeway
has proposed an expansion from 22,500 sq.
ft. to a 50,000 sq. ft. second-floor store, plus
another 11,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor small
shop retail along College and a 174-space
parking garage. The community response
has been alarm, especially over the expected
traffic impacts along already-congested
College Avenue and spillover cut-through
traffic on the neighboring residential streets.
RCPC and other community groups have
¤
¤ Land Use in Review, page 10

Support the Rockridge Branch Library With Your 2010 Tax-Deductible Donation.

 Fr iends of the Rockr idge Library 
2010 Donation Coupon  |  Help Us Help the Library

Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL) is a nonprofit neighborhood committee which
works to enhance the Rockridge Branch Library by providing books, magazines,
equipment, furnishings, and amenities not covered by the City of Oakland Library budget.

Membership Levels:
❐	 $200 Book Lover
❐	 $100 Book Worm*
❐	 $50 Book Friend
❐	 My employer will match my contribution.
❐	 $35 Family
❐	 $25 Individual
❐	 $15 Senior/Student
❐	 Returning member
❐	 Other $____________
❐	 New Member

______________________________________________________________

Name   (as it should appear on the donor roll inside the front door)

_____________________________________________________________________

Street                                                             City                          Zip

_____________________________________________________________________

E-mail    (please include for library news and FORL up-dates)

Send this completed form and your check made payable to FORL to:
Friends of the Rockridge Library, 5245 College Avenue, #335, Oakland, CA 94618
Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL) is a committee of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation.
 Fr iends of the Rockr idge Library 5245 College Avenue, #335, Oakland CA 94618 

*Members at this level & above will receive a
certificate for a beautiful FORL heavy canvas tote
bag redeemable at the check-out desk of the library.


4.

January 5, 2010

Letters to the Editor
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.
example, was the subject of a service and
reliability report completed in December
2008 that details the lines’ operating and
reliability characteristics. (The report is
on-line at http://www.actransit.org/pdf/
planning_focus/planning_focus_228.pdf
?PHPSESSID=1c939660de8429dd5057
3ed4d407591c.)
The Rockridge News reported on the
proposal to split the line in the May 2009
issue.
According to Jim Gleich of AC Transit,
the agency’s board of directors has voted
to implement the line split.
AC Transit Proposes to split
Route 51 at Rockridge BART
Editor:
AC transit is proposing to cut route
51, which goes down College, into two
routes. The terminus will be Rockridge
BART. This will cause disruption in rides
for many people. It will also mean that
AC transit buses will be maneuvering on
the side streets in the neighborhood to get
into position to return down College. The
new lines will be the 3 and 4. Some of the
buses will be turning every 10-15 minutes
times two lines.
I am a bus rider and oppose the cut into
two lines at BART. As a pedestrian, I do
not want to compete with buses. Cars are
enough.
I haven’t seen anything in The Rockridge
News about this change that will affect
busriders and the neighborhood around
the BART alike.
— Kathleen Martin
Safeway Brings Wider Selection,
New Shops to College Avenue
Editor:
I’d like to register my support for the
Safeway remodeling.
Wouldn’t anyone prefer a better market
with more options and greater selection?
Wouldn’t anyone welcome new shops on
the site where there’s been a pretty ugly
gas station for years?
— Joe Garrett
Editor’s Reply:
The change to AC Transit Line 51 is
one among many system-wide service
adjustments studied, planned and imple-
mented by the transit agency. Line 51, for
Rockridge
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5.
January 5, 2010

On a Roll with High Expectations:
The Rockridge News Sits Down with the
Principal of Oakland Technical High School

by Bill Kaufner, chair, RCPC Education Committee
You might compare a modern-day high school principal to the CEO of a small
corporation. Certainly, Sheilagh Andujar, in her 6th year as principal of Oakland
Technical High School, fits the bill. Her mission is to marshal a workforce of more
than 125 employees to create a program that will result in educational excellence for
1700 students each semester. That said, Oakland Tech has made great strides towards
fulfilling that goal under the leadership of Ms. Andujar, her administrative team, and
her seasoned teaching staff.
Tech’s principal served her apprenticeship in San Leandro and Alameda, working
in special education, counseling, and administration before coming to Oakland. A UC
Berkeley graduate, she has expanded the highly successful Academies Program at Tech
and has helped make Tech a school of choice for students in the City of Oakland.
Following are excerpts from an interview with Ms. Andujar, focusing on her vision
for the continuing renaissance taking place at Oakland Tech:

Sheilagh Andujar, Principal, Oakland
Technical High School.
Photo: Bill Kaufner
Estuary. A group of our students are part
of the Students Run Oakland Club and will
compete in the Los Angeles Marathon. Of
course, we have all the traditional sports
teams competing in the Oakland Athletic
League.
RN: What should parents expect
when they send their children to
Oakland Tech?
SA: They will be sending their children to
the most diverse high school in Oakland
where their children will receive a solid
educational foundation. Our staff is com-
mitted to listen and respond to the needs
of all students. We are a dynamic group
with the ability to adjust and change. Tech
has been here since 1915 and we have had
generations of families attend. Our alumni
are coming back and enriching the school.
We have three assistant principals, four
counselors, numerous links to local col-
leges, and graduates in recent years who
have gone on to Cal, Stanford, M.I.T.,
and Harvard. We have school tours each
Fall and student-to-student shadowing
in the spring.
RN: How do you manage to stay
on top of all that goes on at Tech?
SA: Part of the fun of my job is putting all
the pieces of a big puzzle together. Keeping
the puzzle together has me working an
average of 70-80 hours a week but I manage
to take myself through YMCA Boot Camps
and plan to run in local road races.
city high schools. A lottery is held and
students who enter Tech take a regular
9th grade course of study with smaller
learning communities in cohorts of ninety
students and three teachers. In the spring
semester, 9th graders make a final choice
and enter the Academy program in 10th
grade. We offer a full academic program
to students who choose not to join an
Academy. While not part of the Academies,
our Paideia Program and our Performing
Arts Program are wonderful options for
Tech students. My philosophy is students
must have access to many options and all
doors to learning should be open.
RN: Speaking of academics,
what classes are offered that are
relatively new to Tech?
SA: We now offer four foreign languages
including Mandarin 1, 2, and 3, and Italian
1 and 2. In mathematics we have Statistics
Advanced Placement and Calculus AP. Our
Computer Academy now has a networking
course. We offer Creative Writing in our
English Department. In Physical Education
we have an Ice Sports class that meets at
the Sharks Oakland Ice Rink. Established
courses include Computer-Assisted Design
(CAD)-3D drawing and California History.
RN: On the student activities side
are there any new clubs or teams?
SA: We just started an Ice Hockey Club/
Team coached by one of the teachers who
is from Boston. We have a Lacrosse team
that has started to compete on a club basis.
We also have a group that participates in a
Jack London rowing club on the Oakland
Rockridge News: What are the
latest developments taking place
at Tech?
Sheilagh Andujar: We received our West-
ern Association of Schools and Colleges
(WASC) accreditation for six years, which
is the maximum granted. This year, we
opened our new College and Careers Center
with help from our UC partners and our
counseling staff. We produced a College
Fair for all students which had represen-
tatives from 40 colleges in attendance.
Our Health Academy students created a
Health Fair keyed to adolescent issues.
Our After-School and Tutorial Program
is in full swing and fully funded.
Lastly, our Parent Student Teacher organi-
zation (PSTA) is flourishing as parents who
were active in elementary/middle school
groups have continued to put their energy
into improving Oakland Tech, including
staffing our Parent Resource Center. I might
add that by parent request, AC Transit has
expanded Bus Route 662 to originate in
Montclair and travel to Tech.
RN: Have there been any changes
to the Academies Program?
SA: A new Green Academy has opened
focusing on energy conservation, green
building and environmental careers. We are
very excited to see this Academy join our
established Academies: Health Sciences;
BioTechnology; Engineering; Computer.
Let me explain that we are part of the
Options Program of Oakland Schools.
All 8th grade students may select three
choices for Academy Programs in our
For more information, visit Oakland Tech’s Web
site: http://oaklandtech.com/staff/


6.

September 5, 2009

January Date Set for Rockridge BID Hearing

Runners, Take
Your Marks!
Is your throat getting hoarse from all that
arm-chair quarterbacking? Do you own
a few pairs of still-pristine running shoes,
but aren’t sure where they are?
Here we are in 2010 and it’s New Year’s
Resolution time. This time, it’s easy: For
the first time in 25 years, a marathon run
is coming to Oakland. But the marathon is
only part of the fun.
Welcome to the Oakland Running Fes-
tival, March 27 and 28, 2010. In addition to
the marathon, there will be a half-marathon,
4-person relays, a 5K run and a kids’ fun
run. To add to the fun, local running groups
will offer training sessions.
Learn more at http://www.oaklandma-
rathon.com/Home_Page.htm
by Annette Floystrup, RCPC boardmember
College Avenue merchants and profes-
sionals, as well as area residents, will
have the opportunity to comment on the
Rockridge Business Improvement District
(BID) and its operation on January 26, when
the City Council’s Community Economic
Development Committee (CEDC) takes up
the matter of renewing the district. This
issue, first scheduled for an October meet-
ing, was postponed due to lack of proper
notice (Rockridge News, November 2009).
The purpose of the January hearing
is to determine whether the City should
renew its contract with the Rockridge
District Association (RDA) to administer
the special assessment district that College
Avenue merchants and professionals pay
into. The hearing gives the City Council the
options of continuing, suspending, revising,
or ending the BID. Appropriate topics for
comment at the hearing could range from
whether the BID should be continued at all
to issues with its management and efficacy.
Comments may be submitted to the com-
mittee by e-mail, letter or in person.
Concern Grows Over BIDs
Special assessment districts like the
Rockridge BID and the Oakland LLAD
(Landscape and Lighting Assessment Dis-
trict) are proliferating across the nation in
response to legal constraints involved in
raising new taxes. The rapid growth of these
special assessment districts has generated
academic scrutiny. In a paper entitled “The
Problem with Being Special: Democratic
Values and Special Assessments,”* authors
Vladimir Kogan and Mathew D. McCubbins
of UC San Diego argue that these districts
pose unique difficulties that they call “social
choice pathologies,” which manifest in
abuses of the process that the authors dub
Agenda Control, Gerrymandering, Layered
Democracy, Representation, and Agency
Problems.
Agency problems arise when authority is
delegated and “the agents act opportunisti-
cally, maximizing their own gains at the
expense of their principal’s interests. Such
opportunism is most likely to emerge when
agents possess hidden information (i.e.,
knowledge about a choice that is unavailable
to the principal or that is available but too
costly for the principal to obtain), which
is often referred to as adverse selection, or
when the agent can take hidden action (i.e.,
the principal cannot observe the agent’s
actions), which is known as moral hazard.”
Professor McCubbins has been asked to
testify before a committee of the California
Legislature in February.
Rockridge BID
Hearing Schedule
When:
January 26, 2pm
What:
Community Economic
Development Committee
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.
Where:
Oakland City Hall,
Meeting Room 1
Direct comments to the Committee:
Kogan is a graduate student at the Department of
Political Science, University of California – San
Diego. McCubbins is Distinguished Professor
and Chancellor’s Associates Chair in Political
Science, University of California – San Diego;
Visiting Professor of Law, University of Southern
California; Co-Director, USC-Caltech Center for
the Study of Law and Politics.
Ignacio De La
Fuente,
Chairperson
idelafuente@oaklandnet.
com
Susan Bernosky, LUTCF
(510) 450 9050
Jane Brunner
JBrunner@oaklandnet.
com
Patricia
Kernighan
pkernighan@oaklandnet.
com
5940 College Ave, #A
Oakland
susanbernosky@allstate.com
* http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.
cfm?abstract_id=1277522
Larry Reid
lreid@oaklandnet.com
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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:
Northbrook, IL. © 2007 Allstate Insurance Company


7.
January 5, 2010

Daily Bread on the Rise: Seeks Volunteers

by Joan Sautter
In the September 2004 issue of The
Rockridge News, our community was
introduced to Daily Bread, the all-volunteer
organization that gathers leftover foods
from many sources (e.g., markets, bakeries,
restaurants, and even occasional parties
and social events) around Oakland and
Berkeley and deliveries them to shelters
and charitable organizations that provide
food to people in need. As a result, folks
who may otherwise be going hungry or have
only limited access to food get to sample
some of the best food that the Bay Area has
to offer. The September issue, which is
archived on the Rockridge News Web site,
describes the origins of the Daily Bread
connection with Market Hall, which donates
generously to this program. They supply on
a daily basis bakery goods, produce, and
salads and other leftovers from the deli.
Volunteers typically commit to about
an hour a week, taking on a regular pickup
and delivery assignment once a week. Daily
Bread can alway use new volunteers and
currently we are in need of several vol-
unteers for the Market Hall “run.” If you
can spare this time and are interested in
participating in this worthwhile food recy-
cling program, we would love to connect
with you. Anyone interested should call
Patrice Ignelzi, the program coordinator,
at 510/526-3123 (e-mail: patrice@pcsyes.
com), or, if you live close to Market Hall
and particularly would like to volunteer for
this site, call Joan Sautter at 510/655-6432
(e-mail: joanmsautter@yahoo.com). Also,
we are looking for a new site with an avail-
able refrigerator in the Market Hall area so
that we can store perishable food donations
overnight and deliver them the following
day. Any leads will be appreciated.
Jeff Auen
REMAX ACCORD
■
■Residential
■
■Income Properties
■
■REO Specialist
WWW.REO-SFBay.COM
WWW.JLAHOMES.COM
JeffAuen@comcast.net
800-805-8827
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.
For the week of 11/30/09:
Median List Price: $795,000
Avg. Days on Market: 162
510-658-2599
Authentic Japanese Cuisine
ADDRESS 5335 College Avenue,

 Oakland, CA  94618
Hourly consultation
to fit the size
of your interior or exterior
home projects.
www.angelissekarolcolor.com
Rikyu
TEL 510 595 7388
JAPANESE RESTAURANT


8.

January 5, 2010

Happy
2010!
Ask a Cop
by PSO Officer Chew and PSO Officer Gerrans
The “Ask a Cop” column provides
a question-and-answer format for
Rockridge Problem Solving Officers (PSO)
to answer residents’ law enforcement and
crime-related questions. PSOs Chew and
Gerrans hope the column will improve
communications and involve residents in the
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
(NCPC) activities. Send your questions
to editor@rockridge.org. Please include
your name and address. Only your name
will be printed.
Crimeview is the address where the vehicle
was stolen from, showing the original loca-
tion of the crime, not the location where
the vehicle was recovered.
Another category of auto theft is “auto
clout.” Auto clout is when items attached to
a car are removed, more commonly referred
to as “stripping” a car.
This is an incident where the vehicle is
not taken, and the suspect does not break
into the vehicle to take items belonging to
the owner. It is the actual taking of parts
from the car itself.
Officers:
When I get my updates from the com-
puter-generated Crimeview, I see reports of
VT which is vehicle theft. Please describe
this as opposed to vehicle burglary. Also,
if VT is a stolen car, is the listed address
where the car was found or where it was
stolen from? And, if it reflects only one,
i.e., where found, is information available
on where the car was stolen from?
— Sue Feinstein
Rockridge:  5400 College Avenue
 Elmwood:  2930 College Avenue
Weekend Brunch in Elmwood
Mon – Fri  9:30 – 6:00
Sat  9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
Officers Reply:
Auto theft is different from auto burglary.
Auto theft is the actual taking of the vehicle
itself, depriving the owner of possession
of the vehicle, either temporarily or per-
manently, without the owner’s permission.
Auto burglary is when the vehicle is
locked and a person breaks into the vehicle,
takes loose items from the vehicle, then
leaves the area, leaving the vehicle still in
possession of the owner. The address on
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
Sunday worShip 10:30 aM • ViSit: capcchurch.org
our wonderful coMMunity Meal, fridayS, 6-7pM
a great opportunity to SerVe
Rockridge
    Optometry
Your neighborhood
family eyecare providers
since 1947
Henry C. Levy & Co.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Certified Public Accountants
and Consultants
A Professional Corporation
■
• tax preparation • estate planning
• tax planning
• business valuation
5940 College Avenue, Suite C
Oakland, California 94618
510.652-1000   FAX 510.654-2363
Warmest thoughts and
best wishes for a wonderful
Dr. Donald Sarver
Dr. Larry Sarver
Dr. Scott Yokoi
Dr. Cindy Sakai
holiday and a very
Happy New Year.
5321 College Avenue, Oakland
510-655-3797
www.rockridgeoptometry.com


9.
January 5, 2010

A happy shopper on College Avenue
A carpet of leaves for the holidays

Rockridge in Late December
A wintery evening in Rockridge
All Photos: Lydia Gans

Santa visits Rockridge
Busy times for Claremont School


10.

January 5, 2010

dislocation some had feared.
measures, most of which were accepted
by the school. Nevertheless, when the
City approved the school’s revised plans,
the neighbors appealed the decision to the
planning commission. RCPC decided to
stay neutral on the appeal.
Land Use
in Review
■
■School Expansion Plans
Several Rockridge schools either pro-
posed or built expansions to their facilities.
Chabot Elementary School is nearing the end
of a major construction project to replace a
group of outdated portable classrooms with
new permanent buildings. The enlarged
facility should provide an improved learn-
ing environment for Rockridge’s younger
students. Additional improvements to both
Chabot and Claremont Schools are planned,
using funding provided to mitigate the
long-term impacts of the Caldecott Tunnel
expansion.
Meanwhile, two Rockridge private
schools, the College Preparatory School
and Rockridge Montessori School, also
proposed facility expansions.
Rockridge Montessori sought a third
expansion of its use permit, to include
over 200 students and convert an adjoining
residence into a school building. RCPC
has echoed community concerns about
cumulative traffic impacts from the school’s
continued expansion.
The College Preparatory School has
proposed a long-term capital improve-
ment plan including a new performing arts
center and several classroom buildings.
The proposal would also legalize College
Prep’s student body size, which has gone
well beyond that authorized by its existing
use permit.
The school’s neighbors raised a series
of concerns about the expansion, including
noise, traffic, parking, and visual impacts.
RCPC attempted to mediate the dispute and
proposed a number of added mitigation
from page 3
■
■The Impacts of the Recession
Other than that, much of the land use
news in Rockridge this year involved
what didn’t happen, due to the economic
downturn. Several already-approved large
development projects near the Telegraph/
Claremont intersection, including Civiq,
Creekside, and Kingfish, have been put
on hold due to lack of financing, and the
Kingfish has reopened as a bar. The closings
of Cotton & Co. and Galvin’s Workspace
Furniture in the Dreyer’s building have left
a large gap in College Avenue’s retail front-
age at the centrally-located site. Proposals
to fill those spaces with non-retail tenants
brought a strong negative response from
RCPC. RCPC’s position was, and continues
to be, that keeping College Avenue’s C-31
zoned commercial area strong requires
maintaining a critical mass of retail stores.
Particularly given the Dreyer’s building’s
central location, allowing those storefronts
to transition to non-retail uses would be
damaging in itself, as well as setting a dan-
gerous precedent. At this point, it appears
RCPC’s position has been vindicated, and
new retail tenants are rumored to be planned
for both tenancies.
Elsewhere on College Avenue, the reces-
sion has led to closure of a number of College
Avenue merchants, but new merchants are
coming in to fill many of these vacancies.
In short, College Avenue appears to be
weathering the economy without the major
■
■Long-term Development Policy
in Rockridge
Finally, with the recession perhaps turn-
ing the corner, RCPC is planning to open a
discussion about a long-term development
policy for Rockridge. Rockridge has been
a continuing battleground between devel-
opers seeking higher density projects and
residents wanting to maintain the area’s
current pleasant ambiance and fearful of
traffic jams and towering buildings. It’s not
clear whether any middle-ground can be
found between these apparently conflicting
agendas, but RCPC will, in the coming year,
hold some discussions where each side can
make its case, with the hope of encouraging
a productive dialogue.
The Right Agent Communicates Well!
The Piedmont Perspective
piedmontperspective.com
Julie Gardner
510.339.0400/264
jgardner@grubbco.com
GRUBBCO.COM


11.
January 5, 2010

FROG Park Art
from page 2
members past and present, and especially
Jennifer Cooper.
Give back to your Park. Attend the next
steering committee meeting. Details, page
1. For more information, contact: info@
frogpark.org.
BART Earthquake
Safety Construction
Comes to FROG Park

Art installation sites on the Greenbelt parkway betweeen Hardy and Redondo
Parks display the history, ecology and creature inhabitants of FROG Park.

through Saturday, with emergency work as
necessary. There will be noise barriers in
place during the work to reduce any impacts
to park users and local residents. The work
will require a partial lane closure and loss
of some parking on the eastbound side of
Hudson Street. Please note that construction
traffic will include regular personnel vehicles
and occasionally dump trucks, concrete
mixers, or other large vehicles. Please watch
for signs with notices and safety information.
Further construction on the three col-
umns running through the park and seismic
strengthening on one column on north-
bound Hudson Street and two columns on
Claremont Avenue will begin after the start
of this micropile installation. Notifications
will be sent out in advance of all stages of
work. The total duration of construction in
this area will be approximately one year.
BART hopes for your patience and coopera-
tion during this work.
From a notice provided by BART
As part of BART’s system-wide Earth-
quake Safety Program, strengthening
work is in progress on the North Oakland
aerial structures. The work includes adding
steel and concrete to foundations, wrapping
columns with steel reinforcements, and
protecting utilities and equipment.
Starting in early January,  the northern
basketball court in Hardy Park will be closed
and micropile installation drilling to rein-
force column foundations begun. Activities
will include the use of a rig-mounted boring
device to drill into the ground, placing steel
and concrete grout to fill the opening, and
the placement of a steel beam for testing.
Work hours are 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday
Regency Antique Restoration
Professional and Experienced
ALL Furniture Repairs
In-Home Services
New finishes & waxing
FREE ESTIMATES
Pickup & Delivery
517-6280
Bruce Wagg
bruce@bayareaantiques.com
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
Intro to Yoga Workshop
Saturday, January 23
Wishing you the best in
the New Year! - Saraya


12.

January 5, 2010

incentive programs available. Mortgage
rates are still hovering around 5 percent;
however they are expected to rise to about 6
percent by the end of 2010. If you are plan-
ning to refinance, do it now. If you plan to
sell, it is a good idea to prepare your home
properly for sale. If you are looking to buy,
be aware that the banks continue to move
cautiously. For best results, consider offer-
ing a large down payment, low debt/income
ratio and solid employment documentation.
This Year 2009 in Rockridge Real Estate
by Ortrun Niesar
The year 2009 is probably one that
Rockridge home owners and their
Realtors would like to forget. In fact, that
is easily done because nothing much memo-
rable occurred during the year: The sky did
not fall and Rockridge buyers did not gain
much of a leg up over sellers. The blame
for a virtually non-existent market here
can go largely to the general atmosphere
of malaise that has blanketed this country
most of the year. In reality, the financial
climate improved considerably in the latter
half of the year. Sales activity could have
been better. Positive reaction to this did
not really enter the picture until the third
quarter, rendering the rest of this year in
real estate activity moot for Rockridge.
The statistics we have been keeping
for you since 2002 show that Rockridge
operates in a micro-market that continues
to defy regional market statistics for Alam-
eda County. We are doing better than most
areas, but we are also experiencing a slow
decline, largely due to little sales activity.
Like a fire storm, a slow market also cre-
ates its own climate that can affect both
sellers and buyers adversely. For example,
when refinancing your home, appraisers are
required to use local sales that have occurred
in the three months prior for comparison.
Not only have Rockridge sales been few
and far between, but also many homes that
were offered for sale in recent months were
frankly in poor condition or distressed in
other ways, thus skewing the overall picture
dramatically. Some of that is reflected in
the figures below. Ironically, whenever
there has been a well prepared house on the
market, sellers have seen multiple offers.
Buyers are waiting in the wings.
Comparative Sales Analysis
As you can see, current prices have
dipped below 2005, but if you have
owned your home for five years or more
you are probably still in good shape. Some
homeowners will likely also have problems
with their refinancing projects based on
recent sales history. Average price per
square foot for 2-bedroom homes came in
at $589, versus $593 in 2008; not bad. But
average price per square foot for 3-bedroom
homes was $465, versus $517 in 2008. A
fair number of the homes that were sold in
2009 unfortunately were not representative
of the typical Rockridge home. Further,
homes with four or more bedrooms showed
a price of $411 per square foot, down from
$454 last year. Larger homes naturally
show a lower overall price per square foot
since other factors, such as lot size, will not
change significantly. Also, the competition
for these larger homes is not as intense as for
our traditional Craftsman bungalow homes,
so price negotiations can bring substantial
discounts. If you are refinancing, be sure
that your appraiser knows the local market
and has knowledge of comparable homes in
your neighborhood. Your finance officer or
Realtor should be able to help you with that.
Outlook for 2010
This could be a positive year for
Rockridge. The National Association of
Realtors announced last week that existing
home sales rose 7.4 percent in November,
the best increase since February of 2007,
and they are optimistic that there will be
brisk sales activity through the first three
quarters of this year, that is until federal
funds run out and private funding drives
interest rates higher. There are numerous
This analysis covers Rockridge homes sales
from the Berkeley border in the north, south to
Broadway Terrace and 51Street, west to Telegraph
Avenue and east to Hwy 13. Information supplied
by EBRD 2009 is deemed to be reliable but not
guaranteed. Ortrun Niesar is a Realtor with Pru-
dential California. ortrun.niesar@prurealty.com.
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
482-2227  Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
Lic # 695711
Average Sale Prices by
No. of Bedrooms
Nbr.
Homes
Year
2BR
4+BR
Sold
2005
802,513 1,466,920
124
2006
760,782
1,498,687
112
2007
780,268
1,330,031
127
2008
757,011
1,329,080
98
2009
711,967
1,388,314
79
Compare Rockridge Home
Sale Prices 2002- 2009
Wonderful, ongoing,
weekday classes for
babies or toddlers
Year
Avg.
Price
Median
Price
%
Change
A
Mov
e
m
e
nt
P
2002
770,604
691,500
rog
ram f
or
Drop-ins or sign ups
for ALL families: songs,
slides, tunnels, parachute play,
bubbles, a fab ball pit, rocking
horses & more!
2003
847,637
750,000
8.5
A
L
L
Fa
mi
lie
s
2004
902,000
805,000
7.3
2005
1,032,139
930,500
15.6
2006
1,111,317
903,500
-3.0
For 9 months up to 3 years with an adult
Dawn Margolin  |  510.547.7726
2007
1,106,186
1,000,000
10.3
2008
1,029,153
905,000
- 9.5
Temple Beth Abraham
327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
(near the Grand Lake Theatre)
.
2009
904,954
850,000
-6.0
w w w . t b a o a k l a n d . o r g / k i n d e r g y m


13.
January 5, 2010

LOOKING FOR DIRECTION IN THIS
VOLATILE MARKET? LET'S TALK.
Lan J Shaw
Financial Advisor
.
2161 Allston Way Suite A
Berkeley, CA 94704
510-704-8854
www.edwardjones.com
Member CIPF
Member SIPC
G
GRUBBCO.COM
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland

Blood Bank Seeks Plasma Donors,
Offers Big Screen Plasma TV
in Oakland, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton,
Newark, and San Jose, or at mobile blood
drives during the promotion period.
In Rockridge, the donor center is at
the Oakland Blood Center, 6230 Clare-
mont Avenue.
Call 800-GIVE-LIFE (800/448-
3543) or visit HelpSaveALife.org/NC to
schedule an appointment.
Individuals who are at least 17 years
old (16 with parental permission), meet
height and weight requirements (at
least 110 pounds based on
height) and are in gener-
ally good health may be
eligible to donate blood.
— Sara O’Brien,
American Red Cross
Wanna Watch the Big Game on
a Big Screen?
Project Plasma Gives Blood Donors
an Opportunity to Bring Home a
Plasma HDTV Just in Time for Kickoff
Are you searching for a way to enhance
your current sports-viewing experi-
ence before the biggest football game of
the season?
From January 1 – 31, as part of the
Red Cross’ Project Plasma promo-
tion, all presenting blood
donors can enter a draw-
ing for a new 50" plasma
HDTV. The drawing will
take place on February 4,
giving the winner time to
set up that new TV before
the game gets underway
on February 7.
Enter at any one of five
nearby blood donor centers
Ed. Note: See Community
calendar, page 15, for
additional Blood Bank
drawings in January.
Only
   $8
PER
MONTH
Residential &
Commercial Alarm
Monitoring,
365 x 24 x 7
ALARM
547-SAFE
Limited time offer
with this original
copy only.
More info at
alarms@safetydynamics.org
Other fees and
restrictions may apply.


14.

January 5, 2010

Berkeley Daily Planet
Fundraiser
Sunday, Jan. 24, 4:30--7:30. The Omni, 4799 Shat-
tuck. $50singles/$90 couples (suggested donation).
Live music by Faye Carol and others. Refresh-
ments, hosted bar. For more info + to RSVP:
Bob/Al 655-3841, broklcrofts@earthlink.net.
8 Weeks to Look & Feel
Your Absolute Best
Enhance your fitness or weight loss program
just in time for the holidays! Classes-Tuesdays/
Thursdays, 6-7 pm at Danspace, 473 Hudson
St. Visit: www.fit4livingnow.com. E-mail
Geneva@fit4livingnow.com Call 510/918-7108.
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. February deadline is January 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.
Health Talks
“How to Lose Five Pounds of Extra Weight,”
Jan 9, 12 pm. “Train Without Pain; Benefits of
the Anti-Inflammatory Diet,” Jan 23, 12 pm.
Rockridge Community Room. No cost. www.
oaklandchiropractor.net Robert Townsend
DC 510/708-9363.
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.
Wood Floors
Install, refinish, repair all types of wood floors.
Personalized service. 20 + YEARS IN THE East
Bay. Bruce L. Williams Wood Floors. 510/652-
8121. www.blwfloors.com Lic#913-727.
Rockridge Bungalow
Vacation Rental
Fully outfitted with style! Best location. Steps
to College Avenue shopping, restaurants &
cafes. Home away from home. www.rock-
ridgebungalow.com
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.
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,
www.sutorikandco.com, lic#397149. 510/655-3677.
Home Improvement
and Repair
Decks, cottages, shingles, seismic engineering
& upgrades, windows, doors, waterproofing,
additions, walls & fences. Competitive rates.
Quality work. Free estimates. Nedworks at
510/301-5448.
Start the New Year with
Tai Chi and Qigong
Improve your health through breathing and
gentle whole-body exercise. Rockridge BKU
Methodist Church, 303 Hudson at College.
Thurs., 10 am & Sat., 9 am. Please visit www.
harmonytaiji.com or e-mail gail@harmo-
nytaiji.com
Design, Construction
Victorian, Edwardian, and Craftsman rehabs.
Interior, exterior, big, small. Many local ref-
erences. Lic. #813074, insured. See www.
catconstruction.biz. Craig. 510/232-5978.
Aesthetic Pruning
I specialize in pruning trees & shrubs under 20
feet tall. I work with trees to enhance their
natural beauty. Specialties: maples, camellias,
fruit trees, & focal points. Pruning instructor
Merritt College. Bruce Thompson 510/428-4964.
Reduced Commissions!
Why pay 6% to sell your home when Hal Feiger
with Realty Advocates offers the same full
service as other companies for 4%? Call me
today. 510/428-0757 or check us out on the
web. www.realtyadvocates.com
Non-Toxic House Cleaning
Lotus Cleaning Services provides excellent
service while protecting your health and the
planet. Licensed, bonded and insured. Experi-
enced, reliable cleaners. Great for households
with allergies, asthma, small children. Rea-
sonable rates. 510/452-0755, lotusclean@
comcast.net
Gardener
Over 15 years of service to the Rockridge
area. Maintenance and garden restoration.
Reasonable rates and excellent references.
Please call Chris: 510/655-0157.
Deco Art
Decorative Painting, murals, faux finish, sten-
cils, gold leaf, color, fine art, interior painting,
repairs and restoration. Deco Art. 510/652-
0683. www.carolinestern.com
Do Something For You,
This Year
Learn to fly with one of East Bay’s most quali-
fied flight instructors. Train locally at an FAA
approved flight school. Introductory flights
start at $99. Contact Matt at 415/412-9011.
http://flymatt.com
Repairs
Carpentry, electrical, kitchen, bath, decks,
fences, drainage, tile, windows, walls, dry rot,
termite damage, foundation. Lic# 458473. Don,
510/812-0310.
My neighborhood gym!
“After working out here for years,
 I bought the place!
 Check out our new
 equipment & classes.
 Bring in this ad &
 get a *FREE
 WORKOUT*”
-Lisa
Gartland,
gym owner










 
­
Inside
Outside
Fitness
* New members only *
(510) 655-8308
4444 Piedmont Ave
Oakland, CA 94611
www.InsideOutsideFitness.com


 
	


15.
January 5, 2010

Christensen Heller Gallery

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

Exhibit of paintings by Kim Bach. Show runs Jan. 15
through Mar.28. Galley hrs: Wed-Sat., 11am to 6pm;
Sun. noon to 5pm. 5829 College Ave. Info: 655-5952,
baird@christensenheller.com or www.chris-
tensenheller.com.
Calif. College of the Arts (CCA)

Community Calendar

Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
Library Hours
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays
(Library branches no longer open on Mondays).
Also closed: Fri. 1/15 and Tues. 1/19.
Peralta Elementary School Tours
■
■Multiculturalism and Identity Exhibition: Combined
show by CCA students and students at the Univ. of
Cape Town, So. Africa. Show will later travel to Cape
Town Univ. Media range from photography, video,
sound, textiles and drawing. Jan. 19-23; Reception:
Jan. 20, 5:30-7:30pm. 5212 B’way, North/South
Galleries (hrs: 11am to 6pm). Info: mpoli@cca.edu.
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y and
13X areas are invited to voice their concerns about crime
and public safety, 2nd Thursday each month, 7pm.
Rockridge Library, upstairs meeting room, 5366 College
Ave. info@rockridgencpc.com or infofordenise@
yahoo.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
■
■Reading by Adam Johnson, author and lecturer at
Stanford Univ. Jan.19, 7:30pm.Presented as part of
CCA’s Hearsay Reading Series. 5212 B’way, Nahl Hall.
Info: 597-3708 or humblepie@cca.edu.
Prospective families have an opportunity to visit class-
rooms and learn about this K-5 small, diverse, arts
anchor school before the OUSD registration period
ends on Jan.15. Tours on Wed. 1/6; Fri. 1/8; Tues. 1/12
and Thurs. 1/14. To sign up for a school tour at 460-63rd
St., call the Peralta office at 879-1450.
An Evening With the Peace Corps
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
■
■Open Secrets: 3rd Annual Math and Science Fair:
features projects showcasing the intersection of art
with math and science concepts. Jan.22 -29. Hrs:
Mon. – Fri. 8:30am to noon and 1 – 4:30pm (closed
Wed. morning). Winning submissions announced at
reception on Fri. Jan.22, 7 – 10pm. 5212 B’way,
Oliver Art Center. Info: 597-3709 or lreed@cca.edu.
■
■Toddler Story Time: Every Saturday, 10:30am.
■
■Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wed., 10:30am.
■
■Baby and Toddler Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wed.,
10:30am, upstairs.
Meet a Peace Corps Recruiter to learn about opportunities
in 76 countries in education, health, business, environ-
ment and more. No upper age limit to join. Tues.,1/26, 6
to 7:30pm, Rockridge Library, 5366 College Ave. More
info: Yune Lee, 452-8444, sfinfo@peacecorps.gov,
or www.peacecorps.gov.
Diesel Book/Poetry Events
■
■Pajama Time: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 7pm. Kids
invited to come in pajamas.
Snow Stories and Craft: Snowflake cutting, 1/12.
■
■A Paper + Cloth Dream Exhibition: print works on
paper and cloth by students at CCA and its sister
school, Osaka Univ. of Arts in Japan. Feb. 8-19. Hrs:
Mon.-Fri. 8:30am to noon and 1-4:30pm (closed Wed.
morning). Reception: Thurs. 2/18, 5:30-7:30pm. 5212
B’way, Oliver Art Center. Info: nobanion@cca.edu.
North Oakland Senior Center
Cat and Dog Stories and Craft: Face painting
and mask making. 1/26.
FOR TEENS:
■
■Rockridge Ninjas (Anime Club): Teens 13 and up,
watch and talk about anime (Japanese animation).
Second Tues. each month (1/12 & 2/9), 5 to 6:30pm,
upstairs meeting rm. Susy: 597-5017.
All events are FREE and open to the public.
■
■Sun., 1/17, 3pm: Jerry Ratch: A Body Divided.
■
■Tues., 1/19, 7pm: Jacob Needleman: What is God?
■
■Thurs., 1/28, 7pm: Norman Dog (local illustrator and
cartoonist Raymond Larrett) will discuss The 37
Cartoons You Should Read Before You Die.
Program Highlights: Computer classes; health Insurance
counseling and advocacy program; exercise; trips, tours and
theater outings; Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Groups
and more. Hrs: 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 lunch
menu ($2.25 to $4.). Info about events, membership, and
opportunities to be a volunteer: 597-5085.
American Red Cross
■
■Jewelry Making Workshop with Chelsee Robinson:
Make jewelry for yourself or as a gift. Wed., 2/3, 4 to
5:30pm. To sign up call 597-5017.
FOR ADULTS
■
■Sun., 1/31, 3pm: Poetry Flash with Cheryl Klein and
Terry Wolverton.
■
■Writers’ Support/Critique Group: All writers welcome.
Bring 15 copies of up to 5 double-spaced pages of
any prose for on-site reading/discussion (you’re also
welcome to come empty-handed). Meets 3rd Saturday
each month, 1 to 5pm. Sponsored by the California
Writers Club, Berkeley branch (www.berkeleywrit-
ersclub.org) Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
■
■Sat., 2/6, 3pm: Amy Bloom: Where the God of Love
Hangs Out.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. Info about
other events and book discussion groups: 653-9965
or: events@dieselbookstore.com.
Wisteria Ways Concert Series
■
■Mobile Blood Drives: In Jan., all donors can enter
two drawings: one for a 50" plasma TV and another
for a one-night stay at Inn by the Lake in South
Lake Tahoe (not available at high school or college
blood drives). Call 800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543) or
visit HelpSaveALife.org/NC to find a location near you.
■
■Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First
Tuesday each month from 6 to 8pm (call to confirm).
Advance sign-up starts 5pm. More info: 597-5017.
ART EXHIBITS: (Call to confirm dates).
Gallery:
Teslim: Bay Area musicians Laila Flexer, violinist and
Gari Hegedus on oud and a variety of stringed instru-
ments perform Greek, Turkish and Sephardic music.
Saturday, 1/16, 8pm (house opens at 7:30pm). $15-20
donation for musicians (cash at the door).383 61st
Street (inside venue, not wheelchair accessible). For
reservations (highly recommended), RSVP to info@
WisteriaWays.org or 655-2771.
Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir
■
■Volunteer Orientations: Tour the Oakland Blood
Center. Learn to assist blood donors, deliver blood,
help with special projects. 6230 Claremont Avenue.
To get training schedules and to sign up call Anne at
594-5165 or BlackstoneA@usa.redcross.org.
Chabot Space & Science Center
Volunteer Orientation
■
■Jan.: Oakland Art Assoc.: group show.
■
■Feb.: Richard Vannucci photographs.
Lobby Display Case:
■
■TBA (Call for info).
Celebrates the New Year with “Truth, Justice & Peace”
Winter Concerts. Saturday, 1/23 at 2pm and 7pm. First
Presb. Church, 2619 B’way. Info: 547-4441 or www.
piedmontchoirs.org/concerts.lasso.
Many volunteer opportunities available, including
assisting visitors and working at the Starry Nights Gift
Shop. Sign up now for the next orientation meeting on
Saturday, January 23, at http://chabotspace.org/
getinvolved/. For more information contact Megan
Gray, Volunteer Services Manager, 510/336-7414 or
mgray@chabotspace.org.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
Complete architectural
services since 1970
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
$8 per month burglar
alarm monitoring.
Email: alarms@
safetydynamics.org
5278 College Avenue
Oakland, CA  94618
(510) 654-6755   fax 654-3424
ALARM
A Prevention Oriented Practice


16.

January 5, 2010

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