Extracted text · highlighting “Doug Patton”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 25      NO. 43      ISSUE NO. 266     April 3, 2010                     CIRCULATION: 5,100 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

Joint RCPC-NCPC Town Hall Meeting
☛ AGENDA
April 2010

Thursday, April 8, 7:00 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College Avenue at Manila,
Community Room (Upstairs)

Note
Special Time
and Date

 Listen
 Learn
 Ask
 Vote: Community Elections
 Plan to Attend

n In a joint Town Hall presentation, RCPC
n RCPC, NCPC and FORL (Friends of the
Rockridge Library) are holding elections
simultaneous with this meeting. RCPC and FORL
will take ballots for their annual elections in the
hall near the main meeting room. Following Chief
Batts, the NCPC will have a brief election for
chair and vice chair, and then conduct its regular
meeting with Rockridge’s Problem Solving Officers
and Neighborhood Services Coordinator. All are
invited.
and the Greater Rockridge NCPC (Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council)(beats 12Y and 13X)
present Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts. Chief
Batts will discuss law enforcement and crime in
Oakland and take questions from the audience in
the first hour of the meeting. Come share your
questions and concerns regarding crime and public
safety in Rockridge.
OPD Chief Anthony Batts (Courtesy OPD)
51 Bus Line Split Takes
an Unexpected Turn
Keith and Miles Suddenly on New Route
Marathon Runners Swarm Rockridge Streets
Rockridge residents and
visitors crowded College
Avenue sidewalks Sunday,
March 28, to watch and cheer
as thousands of marathon
runners joined in the
Oakland Running Festival,
in what has been referred
to as its inaugural event.
Runners traced College
Avenue to Claremont, then
doubled back to Keith and
up to Broadway.
Photo: Don Kinkead
Riding for a Reason: Cyclist Looks Forward
to Sacramento School Funds Ride
AC Transit's plan to separate its 51 line into two
new routes will send northbound bus traffic up
Keith (pictured at its College Avenue intersection)
and down Miles for the return leg of the trip. Three
metered parking spaces next to Cactus Tacqueria
may be converted to a new bus stop.  Photo: Don Kinkead
by Paul Vetter, school funds cyclist
I
have been a bicyclist for years.
I’m one of those quiet zealots who
think that bicycles are a great way
to get around. It’s a fantastic fitness
program – free exercise while you
commute to work. I have been bugging
my patient wife for years now to let
me ride a “century” to Sacramento,
and her usual annoyingly sensible
response is that I should do it with
some ride buddies. I was jealous of the
guys who did the first ride last year,
by Andrew Charman, RCPC Transportation Committee
chair, and Michael Kan, RCPC boardmember
When AC Transit’s 51 line was split into two routes
meeting at the Rockridge BART station effective
Sunday, March 28, northbound 51A buses traveling along
College will turn right onto Keith Avenue, left on Presley
Avenue, left on Miles, and left back onto College to begin the
southbound portion of the redesigned route. (See details on
the Line 51 split at www.rockridge.org or www.actransit.org.)
Local residents were recently informed of the proposed
route in a letter from
Paul Vetter and supporters.
Photo: Jennifer Vetter

¤
¤ Bus Route Changes, page 3
¤
¤ Cycling for Schools, page 12


April 3, 2010
2.

The
Backyard
Naturalist

Annette Floystrup

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 Sundays and Mondays, and April 6
Morning in Birdland

As light seeps into the bedroom, my
ears come awake to the early morning
chorus, which today is particularly raucous
– two Steller’s Jays have decided to settle a
friendly argument in the camellia just outside
our window. They are magnificent birds,
and at 12 to 13 inches, among the largest we
see here in Rockridge. Their deep blue and
black feathers culminate in a fantastic raised
crest on top of their heads. Their morning
scolding takes me back to countless morn-
ings in camp listening from the comfort of
a cozy sleeping bag as I steel myself to get
up in the morning mist and chill.
The morning chatter of dozens of spe-
cies of smaller birds is overlaid by the loud
caws of the biggest birds in our area, the
American Crows. At almost one pound,
and 17 to 21 inches in length, these ebony
beauties are hard to miss. Breeding season is
in full swing, and they are currently flock-
ing in a combination of mateless floating
flocks and already formed family groups.
These large omnivores are extremely social;
often raising their young cooperatively in
groups, and are rarely seen alone. If you
are seeing less roadkill in Rockridge, it’s
the crows doing yeoman’s work on cleanup
duty. Unfortunately, they are also significant
nest predators, and pose a danger to the eggs
and young of smaller songbirds.
Food: Wild or Provided?
This year’s well-distributed El Niño
rains have made for an abundance of natural
food sources, and we are seeing birds in far
greater numbers than in many years past.
There are some populations of less frequently
seen birds hanging out in good numbers.
Cedar Waxwings have been spotted in
small flocks just about anywhere pyrocantha
and other berry-bearing bushes are found
in the neighborhood. These elegant fruit
eaters are crested and sleek taupe-colored
birds with bright red tips on their second-
ary wing feathers and bright yellow tips on
their tail feathers.
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, 2009-2010
Stuart Flashman �����������������Chair
Andrew Charman ���������������Vice-Chair
Michael Kan ������������������������Secretary
Joan Martin ��������������������������Treasurer
Cesar Angobaldo, Annette Floystrup, Jonathan Gabel,
E v e n
t h e
most robust,
protected bird
f e e d e r  m a y
fall prey to a
d e t e r m i n e d
j u v e n i l e
squirrel looking
for seeds.
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.
Photo: Annette
Floystrup
Contacting The Rockridge News
 Are there community issues you’d like to see
Bird feeders are a great supplement to
natural sources of food, and
neighbors in my area have
noticed Pine Siskins, a relative
of House Finches and Gold
Finches, at their feeders. The
little streaky brown birds have
an unexpected bar of bright
yellow on their wings and a
splotch of yellow on their rumps.
Like all the finches, they are
very social, very vocal, and
highly entertaining to watch
flitting between the bird feeder
and the shrubbery. Putting your
feeders near bushes gives birds
a chance to use their normal
feeding patterns of gathering
food and taking it to a hidden
place to eat.
covered in The Rockridge News?
 Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
 Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News

Project FeederWatch
Bird feeders provide endless entertainment for
the cost of some quality seed, and benefit wild
birds by providing a reliable food source. Annual
back yard bird counts take advantage of this fact to
track bird population fluctuations from year to year.
While this year’s Project FeederWatch draws
to a close April 9, now is the time to register to
participate in the 2010-11 season, which begins
November 13. Registration is $15, which goes
to support the research of the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology.
The Cornell Lab Web site has extensive informa-
tion on all things bird. You can listen to bird calls
and get a wealth of information on individual birds
at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/. By participating,
you assist studies on the effects of climate change
and global warming.
¤
¤ Backyard Birder, page 12

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.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
 May 8, 2010
 May deadline is April 22, 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.)


April 3, 2010

3.

The RCPC Land Use Committee meets on the
4th Wednesday of the month.
Next meeting: April 22. Rockridge Branch Library,
Upstairs Meeting Room: 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.

The Land Use Committee did not meet in March. A report in The Rockridge News will follow the April meeting.

also expressed frustration that
residents had not been informed
or consulted at an earlier stage of
the routing and scheduling deci-
sions. Residents sought adoption
of an alternate route, or for AC
Transit to sign on to a contrac-
tual guarantee to pay for any
damage to their homes, streets,
or underlying infrastructure such
as sewage lines.
AC Transit described its rea-
sons for choosing to split the
51 line at the Rockridge BART
station, despite concerns raised last year by
several Rockridge residents and the RCPC,
saying the intention was to create a more
dependable route for the nearly 19,000
passengers that ride this route every day.
AC Transit noted that Rockridge BART is
located about midway along the current 51
route, and just south of the segment most
prone to causing bus delays and bunching,
along College Avenue in Berkeley. Splitting
the route at BART is intended to create the
most reliable and improved route. Company
representatives explained that concerns
over congestion and equity suggested that
the Miles-Forest-Shafter circuit should not
be used by the 51A buses, as lines 51B and
49 (the replacement for the existing 7 line)
will use that routing.
Although the split of the 51 line at
Rockridge (and other locations) was dis-
cussed in public meetings and documents
last year, AC Transit admitted that the
Bus Route
Changes
from page 1
AC Transit. Many residents along Keith,
Presley, and Miles Avenues were troubled
by the potential effects of traffic, noise,
mechanical vibration, road damage, and
pedestrian safety, as well as the perceived
lack of adequate notice by AC Transit and
the lack of opportunity for public comment.
Resident Michael Weiss said, “This is not
a well thought out solution to AC Transit’s
budget issues, and it will certainly infuri-
ate the residents, who already suffer for
the location.”
Responding to resident’s concerns, Zac
Wald, chief of staff for City Council Presi-
dent Jane Brunner, promptly organized and
hosted a meeting to bring together Rockridge
residents, representatives from RCPC and
RDA, BART board member Bob Franklin,
Oakland Transportation Services staff with
AC Transit Director-at-Large Chris Peeples,
Deputy Director Nancy Skowbo, and several
Transit Service Development staff.
The meeting offered an opportunity for a
frank discussion of residents’ concerns
and AC Transit’s efforts to address them.
Residents on lower Keith, in particular,
feared the buses would exacerbate existing
traffic and noise problems stemming from
the BART parking lots and the avenue’s
heavy use as a feeder to Highway 24. They
These three metered parking spaces
on Keith Avenue near Cactus Taqueria
may be converted to a bus stop now
that AC Transit has reconfigured the
51 line.                         Photo: Don Kinkead
specifics of the route the buses would use
to turn around were buried in an obscure
appendix. It also acknowledged shortcom-
ings in the public notice for the proposed
changes, stemming in part from the fact
that Keith Avenue was included on a list of
streets with already existing bus service,
namely the 59 line, which, however, passes
by approximately every hour, in contrast to
every eight minutes or so for the planned
51A buses.
“It is outrageous that AC Transit should
be allowed to make a change with such a
drastic impact on residents without advance
notification and an opportunity for public
comment. A notice informing us of what
sounds like a done deal, and merely two
weeks ahead of time, is just plain wrong,”
said resident Karisa Bohon.
AC Transit did not address the contrac-
tual guarantee against possible damage, but
pledged to look into interim solutions more
palatable to local residents, possibly involving
routes through BART parking lots, which
would involve only short segments along
Keith, Miles, and Shafter. Company repre-
sentatives also pledged in the longer term to
find routes which neither utilize Keith Avenue
nor unfairly impact other residential streets
by June 2010. One suggestion was to make
use of the Claremont-College intersection,
although how that might work was not imme-
diately evident. Interim adjustments may be
made as soon as possible, while permanent
route changes to avoid Keith will take place
with the summer bus driver sign-up, at the
end of June. Proposals for both the interim
and long-term options will be discussed at
a follow-up meeting in early April.
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April 3, 2010
4.

Letters to the Editor
tenant of and a co-tenant of RDA executive
board members, and who will not be voting
his own money;
4) another non-merchant resident with
development experience, Matthew Krohn, a
commercial properties manager and Realtor
who hangs his license at, but does not have
a desk at, Caldecott Properties which is
located on Broadway, not College Avenue.
Additionally, we note that of the five
board members up for re-election to two-
year terms, one is a neighborhood resident
who is an advocate of high density develop-
ment; two others pay only $60 assessments
as “upstairs” people; another doesn’t vote
her own money as the branch manager of a
savings and loan; and only one is an actual
ground level merchant/business owner.
This is also similar to the composition
of current board members with one year
remaining terms.
The RDA specifically changed its by-
laws to minimize merchant involvement
and maximize these corporate, so-called
community at large and other non-merchants
seats, and did so, clearly with the purpose of
proceeding with their single-purpose agenda
of forming a CBD. Please be certain: The
College Avenue Property Owners do not
want a CBD, and resoundingly voted it down.
How many times must a large number
of smaller parcel owners defend themselves
against the pressure and politics of a very
few large parcel owners?
— Tim Martini and
Larry & Anne Olund
for the College Avenue
Property Owners
Against the CBD
P S: We have learned from our own research
that the RDA board improperly used
approximately $50,000 of the merchants’
assessment money without the merchants’
knowledge for the failed CBD attempt.
Those small merchants are our tenants and
we would like to see that their money is
returned to them.
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.
Again – No Rockridge CBD!
Editor:
[Following is a copy of a letter sent to City
Council President Jane Brunner and to The
Rockridge News. — Ed.]
Dear Council President Brunner:
Our strong coalition of College Avenue
small property owners continues to closely
monitor the activities of the Rockridge
BID (Business Improvement District) and
its management corporation, the RDA
(Rockridge District Association). We remain
very disturbed with the continued attempts
to undermine our August 2009 unanimous
vote against the formation of a CBD (Com-
munity Benefit District), as evidenced by
the on-going efforts to populate the RDA
board with allies and others helpful to the
large property/business owner interests.
For example, rather than recruiting
independent, ground-level, store-front
retail, business-owner merchants, those
who define College Avenue and its success
and those whom the RDA exists to assist
and promote, the four proposed new RDA
board members instead are:
1) a large multi-national corporate
property owner representative, Elizabeth
Armstrong, who runs the Dreyer’s Ice Cream
Parlor, and whose employer was the sole
vote in favor of the CBD;
2) commercial finance and land use
expert, Joe Garrett, a principal of Garrett &
Watts, a national real estate lending/mortgage
banking advisory firm, and who served on
the Berkeley Planning Commission and the
Berkeley Redevelopment Agency;
3) an employee of an absentee-owned
business, Grant Outerbridge, whose
employer, Diesel Books, is both a long-term
Keep Neighborhood Services
Coordinators; Control Crime
Editor:
[Following is a copy of a letter sent to
City Council President Jane Brunner and
to The Rockridge News. — Ed.]
Dear Council President Brunner:
I heard some very distressing news that
the City Council is considering eliminat-
ing the Neighborhood Services Division
including the Neighborhood Services
Coordinators as part of its efforts to help
resolve the outrageous City budget deficit.
As the acting chair of the Greater
Rockridge NCPC (Beats 12Y & 13X), I feel
that it is my obligation to insist that you do
whatever you can to make sure that this does
not happen. The NSCs are the backbone of
the NCPCs and are invaluable in assisting
Oakland residents in matters of reducing
crime and increasing public safety. In spite
of the budget deficit, now is not the time to
sacrifice our public safety in order to save a
few dollars. Eliminating the Neighborhood
Services Division would fly in the face of
Chief Anthony Batts’ recently announced
Strategic Framework for the city of Oak-
land and would put the future of the NCPC
program in jeopardy.
Please let me know when the City Council
intends to take up this issue so I can make
sure that my fellow NCPC chairs, officers
and residents can press our case for keeping
the NSD intact.
 — Frank J. Castro, Acting Chair
Greater Rockridge NCPC
Beats 12Y & 13X
Jeff Auen
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April 3, 2010

5.

More...

BART construction barriers near Hardy Dog Park snarl traffic

Letters to
the Editor
 Obeying existing
t r a f f i c  s i g n a g e
a t  H u d s o n  a n d
Claremont, drivers
travelling north on
Claremont merge
haphazardly into the
remaining through
traffic lane. Letter
w r i t e r  M i c h a e l
Adel has asked the
city to temporarily
re c o n f i g u re  l a n e
instructions.
No Students at Studio One? Look
at the Costs to Attend!
Editor:
I’m an artist and painter living in Tem-
escal. The reason that the Studio One art
center lacks students [The Muse, Rockridge
News, March 2010] is obvious: How about
the outrageous costs of the classes?
Once affordable to residents, classes may
now cost around $150, when they used to
be half that price.
It’s great that the facility has a new
face but how about the ability of the city’s
residents to partake of our own “recreation
center”?
Have you looked at San Francisco’s rec-
reration center classes: free, or as little as $5,
minimal associated costs, state-of-the-art
centers and hundreds of classes for all ages.
We’re not San Francisco but we could
learn a bit from them.
— Caroline Stern
Artist and painter
Photo: Don Kinkead
These simple changes should allow much
more traffic to cross Hudson more safely.
The department promised to check it
out. To date, I have had no response, but
hopefully they will take some action and
we will see an improvement in traffic flow.
Readers interested in supporting my
recommendations can call Supervising
Transportation Engineer Joe Wang at
238-6107, or e-mail him at JSWANG@
oaklandnet.com
— Michael Adel
P.S. I’ve had two previous successes
dealing with Oakland Transportation
Services: Several years ago they recon-
figured the four-way stop light at College
and Claremont and they installed a Yield
sign on Clifton so cars turning right onto
Claremont northbound must yield to traffic
exiting Highway 24.
— M.A.
Editor:
When BART construction barriers at
Hardy Dog Park took over a northbound
lane of Claremont Avenue traffic, I was
perturbed to see that the two lanes of traffic
coming up Claremont must merge into the
remaining through lane approaching the traf-
fic light at Hudson Street. It is either merge
or be forced onto Highway 24, due to a left
turn only lane marking. This causes serious
backups, especially in the late afternoon
during heavy commute time.
I called Oakland’s Transportation Ser-
vices department to offer a two-part solution:
1) Since relatively few cars make a left
turn onto Highway 24, the left lane should be
marked as for left turns OR through traffic;
2) For this to work properly, lane mark-
ings should be added on the other side of
Hudson Street as Claremont continues, to
direct traffic into the right-hand lane.

RDA-Masons Joint Pancake Breakfast to
Help Support Claremont School Programs
Joining forces to support Claremont
Middle School programs, the Oakland-
Durant-Rockridge Masonic Lodge #188,
Claremont Middle School PTA, and the
Rockridge District Association (RDA) will
host a community pancake breakfast at
the Rockridge Masonic Hall, 5449 College
Avenue, Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m. to noon.
Breakfast will include pancakes, eggs,
sausage, bacon, fruit, coffee and tea. The
goal is to raise $5,000 for the school. Tickets
are $10.
Proceeds from the breakfast will support
programs at Claremont, a part of the College
Avenue community since 1913.
In addition to a wonderful breakfast,

The Right Agent Communicates Well!
The Piedmont Perspective
piedmontperspective.com
Julie Gardner
510.339.0400/264
jgardner@grubbco.com
GRUBBCO.COM

diners will have the opportunity to see the
interior of the Hall. Constructed in 1926,
the hall replaced a previous Masonic Hall
which stood on the corner now occupied
by Market Hall.
Today’s Rockridge Masonic Hall is one
of the most historically significant buildings
on College Avenue. Among the prominent
local men who founded Oakland Lodge
#188 was Henry Durant, for whom Berke-
ley’s Durant Street was named. Berkeley
Masons later named their Lodge #288 in
his honor. Still later, Oakland Lodge #188
and Berkeley Lodge #288 merged with
¤
¤ What’s for Breakfast?, page 10


April 3, 2010
6.

Discovering Garber Park in
Claremont Canyon
by Lynn Hovland, Hills
Conservation Network
“The woods are lovely, dark
and deep.”— Robert Frost:
“Stopping by Woods on a
Snowy Evening”
John Garber (1833-1908), for
whom Garber Park is named,
was an attorney and judge who
lived in Berkeley. He once owned
(with several others) most of
the land that is now the Clare-
mont District. Garber’s daughter
inherited his share of the land
and donated 13 acres of it to the
City of Berkeley for a public park. Garber
Park became part of Oakland when the
boundaries of Berkeley and Oakland were
officially determined.
Garber Park is a beautiful, shady
woodland with steep trails. It lies mostly
between Claremont Avenue and Alvarado
Road. There are unofficial entrances (no
signs) on Evergreen Lane, Rispin Drive
and Alvarado Road. The park contains
some of the oldest trees of diverse species
in Claremont Canyon. Trails through the
park have been recently created, cleared
and maintained by volunteers.
Bindu Frank, who took the above photo,
grew up in the house closest to Garber Park.
If you go to Garber Park
The Evergreen Lane entrance is most
accessible. There is no sign; the trail into the
park begins at the end of the cul-de-sac, close
to the stairs that lead up to 144 Evergreen
Lane. Getting down the first few feet of the
trail is most difficult. Wear hiking boots or
sneakers that give you some traction. Help
yourself to (and return) a walking stick that
you will see to the left of the trail.
This article was originally printed in the February
issue of the Hills Conservation Network newslet-
ter. The Hills Conservation Network is a volunteer
organization committed to saving healthy trees.
The group’s Web site is: http://www.hillsconser-
vationnetwork.org
To get to Garber Park, take Claremont to
Ashby, turn right on Ashby, passing by the
Claremont Hotel to Alvarado. Left on Alvarado
up to a left on Slater Lane. Take Slater Lane to
Evergreen Lane and turn right. Drive to the end
of Evergreen, park and hike into the woods.

Rockridge Counts!
Complete and return
your Census form.
Rockridge
Optometry
Your neighborhood 
family eyecare providers
since 1947
Dr. Donald Sarver
Dr. Larry Sarver
Dr. Scott Yokoi
Dr. Cindy Sakai
5321 College Avenue, Oakland
510-655-3797
www.rockridgeoptometry.com
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.
Susan Bernosky, LUTCF
(510) 450 9050
5940 College Ave, #A
Oakland
susanbernosky@allstate.com
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:
Northbrook, IL. © 2007 Allstate Insurance Company


April 3, 2010

7.

The Italians:
Rockridge’s
Tap Root
I
Ligure Club
The Ligure Club was formed in 1934
in Temescal by first generation Italian
immigrants from Genoa (Liguria). Its
primary purpose was to provide these
newcomers, who spoke a distinct
Italian dialect, with a venue where they
could gather socially and support their
communities. Their club proudly maintained
a facility at 4799 Shattuck Avenue (the
building still exists) until 1980, when it
was decided to sell this venue and share
a space with the Fratellanza Club. Times
have changed but the clubs endure. All the
heritage clubs have thriving memberships,
ranging from 400 to 1,000. Visit a club
any day of the week and you will find
members gathered there to socialize with
old friends, swap stories of love and war,
make music, play a little Bocce and get
ready to prepare yet another massive
monthly birthday dinner for the guys.
No longer exclusively Italian, these
clubs welcome all who cherish and respect
Italian culture and heritage. Sponsorship
is required, of course.
“La Dolce Vita”—
A Fundraiser
Parties are fine, but culture and education
are a priority in the Italian American
community. The Ligure Club, for example,
organizes fundraisers every year to provide
scholarships to college-bound students.
It doesn’t hurt if they have an interest in
pursuing Italian culture and community
service, but it is not essential to win one
of these scholarships. The organizers
want it known that there is a special
fundraising event on April 17 at the
Fratellanza Club. It will be a wine tasting,
a silent auction to music, and a special
raffle for a one-week stay for six people
at a spectacular private residence, “Casa
del sol y luna,” in Manzanilla, Mexico.
It comes complete with a chauffeur and
cook.
If you have an Italian neighbor, check
to see if they have raffle tickets to sell.
There will also be posters around the
neighborhood and possibly a table in
front of Vino on College Avenue soon
offering information, raffle tickets and
tickets to the event. Call Joe Scodella
at 510/653-8279 or Madeline Petri at
510/655-4678 for more information. See
you there!
The
Rockridge
 Muse
s there still somebody out there who
disputes the very strong Italian roots of
our Rockridge community? Ask anyone
who has lived in the neighborhood for
more than 35 years about their ethnic
ties and they will likely tell you, “Italian.”
Their great-grandparents possibly arrived
here as immigrants, loved what they
found, including a Mediterranean climate
and lots of work, and they stayed.
While the Italians did not establish
Rockridge per se, they have been part of
the fabric of this community for almost
100 years. Our architecture, customs and
traditions, even the kinds of vegetables
we grow in our back yards and the wines
we drink, bear witness to an enduring
strong, mature, Italian cultural presence
that all of us can savor. You can go to
Genova Delicatessen, for example, and get
almost anything you need to prepare an
authentic Italian meal. And if you did not
grow the remaining ingredients yourself
in your own backyard – and pickled,
canned or fermented them like they did
in the old country – you can certainly
find what you need at Market Hall.
Italian Heritage Clubs
Then there is the time-honored
institution of the Italian heritage social
club. Ask an Italian-American if he belongs
to one, and chances are that the answer
is an enthusiastic “yes.” Locally, we
have three major clubs: the Colombo
Club at 5321 Claremont Avenue and
the Fratellanza and Ligure Clubs at 1140
66th Street at San Pablo Avenue in
Emeryville. My guess is that our Italian
community will continue to thrive as
by Ortrun Niesar
long as there are these wonderful places
where people can meet and share a
common cultural heritage, language,
food and drink. Rockridge should be
so lucky as to have a community center
like this for all its residents.
The Germans Versus
the Italians
Lately, I have had the pleasure of
experiencing the Italian social clubs first
hand. It all happened when I joined the
German singing societies. The gauntlet
was thrown down. Gerry, my mezzo-
italiano husband, decided he needed
to fight fire with fire, so he joined the
Italians; the Ligure Club, to be exact.
He joined not just casually but with full
heart and soul. As a result I now find
myself running from one heritage camp to
another, sometimes in the same evening.
Our kids are now involved, their friends
are involved, and their friends’ friends
are joining in. They adore all the fun,
the goodnaturedness and uncomplicated
camaraderie. Male camaraderie, that is:
By and large women are relegated to the
auxiliary organizations and participate
by invitation at special gatherings only.
How retro is that! But, perhaps there is
a need for an oasis where male bonding
can take place. So let’s not be too hasty
in condemning this practice.
Welcoming boys & girls ages 5 and up
Ortrun Niesar can be reached at oniesar@
sbcglobal.net or 510/326-2161 cell
(510) 547-4441 www.piedmontchoirs.org
PIEDMONT EAST BAY CHILDREN’S CHOIR


April 3, 2010
8.

City Renews Rockridge BID with Amended Agreement

by Annette Floystrup, RCPC boardmember
The City Council has approved renewal
of the Rockridge Business Improvement
District (BID) following amendments called
for by the city in the original contract with
the Rockridge District Association (RDA),
the non-profit corporation which administers
the BID’s assessments.
Financial Reporting
Requirements
According to Margaret Fujioka of
Council President Jane Brunner’s office,
the agreement between the city and the
Rockridge BID will now require that each
fiscal year the BID submit a full disclosure
financial statement, including an actual
expenditures summary.
The financial statement is to be provided
within 60 days of the end of the fiscal year,
except that for the fiscal year 2009-10, it is
due by June 15, 2010.
The BID is also to submit to the city a
CPA review report and to post quarterly
financial statements on the association’s
Web site commencing June 15, 2010.
RDA Annual Meeting
At the March annual meeting of the
RDA, treasurer Hank Levy said the BID had
a “horrible year.” No financials were made
available, but losses were attributed to Out &
About and a final payment of $31,579 to New
City America for the professional services of
Marco LiMandri. LiMandri’s services, paid
for by business assessee funds, were used in
the failed attempt to form a property owner
based Community Benefit District (CBD). In
total, the RDA spent in excess of $46,000 on
the failed conversion effort. The total annual
assessment projected for fiscal 2010/11 is
$120,000, about the same as fiscal 2009/2010.
RDA Board Election
The RDA board election, held March
18, returned Thelma Harris (Thelma
Harris Gallery), Jessica Pitt (resident),
Beverly McArthur (First Federal Savings
& Loan), Joyce Gardner (FIT) and Susan
Bernosky (Allstate Insurance) to the board.
Four additional members were added to
the 10-member board, expanding it to 14.
New members are Elizabeth Armstrong
(Dreyer’s), Joe Garrett (Garrett, Watts &
Co., Community-at-large), Grant Outerbridge
(Mgr. of Diesel, a Bookstore) and Matthew
Krohn (Caldecott Properties). The new board
will consist of four street-level retail business
owners, three upstairs professional services
business owners, one upstairs retail business
owner, two community-at-large members
(area residents), and three employees of
street level businesses, one of which is a
banking institution, not a retail operation.

Supporting Independent Business on College Avenue

by Annette Floystrup
Local Shops Shop Locally
Recently, Jeff Dodge of La Farine bakery
posted an impressive list of the local
vendors he buys from to run his business.
The vast majority of his suppliers were
local businesses, in contrast to national
chains like Safeway, which source globally.
Buying baked goods from La Farine,
for example, puts money immediately back
into our local economy and our commu-
nity. La Farine and the other independent
businesses on College Avenue are second
only to Oakland’s Chinatown in revenue
generation for the city of Oakland.
Local employment
According to the Small Business
Administration, small businesses pay 44
percent of total U.S. private payroll, and
have generated 64 percent of net new jobs
over the past 15 years. They employ just
over half of all private sector employees.
College Avenue merchants epitomize
small business success and the reasons
for it. Most Avenue stores have weathered
the economic downturn, and have done
so because they are tuned in to the needs
of their customers and offer goods and
services with a personal touch.

Got $50 to Spend? Save a Local Business
A
3, 50, 68.
3: Pick 3 independently owned busi-
nesses you would miss the most if they
disappeared.
50: Spend $50 a month in those local
businesses. If half the employed US
population spent $50 each month in
independently owned businesses, their
purchases would generate more than
$42.6 billion in revenue.
68: For every $100 spent in indepen-
dently owned stores, $68 returns to
the community through taxes, payrolls
and other expenditures. If you spent it
at a national chain, only $43 stays here.
If you spend it online, nothing comes
back to the community.
blog spawned a Web site and became
an international movement about
preserving small businesses. Cinda
Baxter, retail consultant and professional
speaker, writes Always Upward: the
Blog, and on March 11, 2009, she wrote
a post that went viral in days. One year
later, it is an international phenomenon.
Her Web site – www.350project.net – is
filled with resources for small business
people and their supporters. Materials
are free to registered users.
Baxter’s message is simple: Pick three
local independent businesses, spend
$50 a month in them, save your local
economy. She calls it the 3/50 Project,
and it is brilliant because it is doable.
Baxter explains it by the numbers:
Peace of Mind
Bodywork
りきゅう
After 25 years of preparing
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him for a taste of Japan.
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April 3, 2010

9.

Come to the Claremont Spring Fling
Earth Day,
Rockridge
by Julie Parker,
Claremont PTA member
Celebrate the wonderful and
diverse Claremont Commu-
nity at our annual Spring Fling
Fundraiser. Festivities begin at
noon Saturday, May 1, and run until
4 p.m. This year we applaud the
many cultures that make up our
community at large in a county-fair
style format. Entertainment will
include an assortment of music,
ethnic dance and acrobatics plus
carnival games and activities for
children of all ages. Our special guest, radio
station KMEL, will be rocking the house
too. Delicious food will be prepared by our
own Knights of the Round Table (formally
the Dad’s Club). We’ll have a climbing wall,
dunk tank, cake walk, prizes and more.
Saturday,
April 17
Time to Celebrate
with Service
FROG Park: An Oakland Earth Day
Featured Location
Whimsical decorations add to the fun of a past
Claremont School Spring Fling fundraiser.
Photo: Mike Mages
by Howard Ferrier
Almost nine years ago, the Rockridge
community came together to build the
Rockridge Greenbelt, now known as FROG
(Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt) Park.
The Friends now need your help to keep the
park clean, maintained and safe.
Join us Saturday, April 17, any time from
9 a.m. to noon, at the Hardy play structure
for our maintenance day at the park. We
will be working on the Redondo and Hardy
playgrounds as well as the connecting path
between each park site.
Bring gloves, hand tools and energy.
Children over 5 years old may help if
supervised by a parent.
For more information please contact
Howard Ferrier, volunteer coordinator, at
hwferrier@sbcglobal.net.
RDA Earth Day 2010
Bring your friends and family to a fun-
filled day at Claremont Middle School, 5750
College Avenue. Proceeds benefit the wide
variety of enrichment programs sponsored
by the Claremont PTA.
Support Digital Media at Claremont
by Mike Mages, parent of a Claremont
Middle School student
Claremont is the home of the only Digital
Media Lab and Digital Media Program
of its kind in an Oakland School District
middle school, built and created by the
Claremont Middle School PTA.
Over 400 students have been taught
professional digital media software, such
as Autodesk Maya 3D, Final Cut Pro and
Photoshop, over the last year and a half in
an extraordinary Media Lab. With the help
of Oakland Tech’s Parent Teacher Student
Association, we have expanded the vision of
this program to include Tech. We now call
it Project Seven to highlight the mission of
teaching professional digital media tools to
students starting in 6th grade through 12th.
Please take a look at www.projectseven.org
for more details.
Due to budget cuts in California educa-
tion, all of these efforts are being supported
solely by donations and grants. To support
this amazing program, please go to the
Claremont Web site at www.claremontms.
org and click on the ‘Donate’ button. Then,
select “Project Seven” from the ‘Designa-
tion’ choices.
by Chris Jackson
To celebrate this national day dedicated
to focusing on local, state and national
environmental issues, the Rockridge District
Association (RDA) is sponsoring five differ-
ent projects to improve the College Avenue
environment. RDA members will head up
the work at each site; anyone interested is
invited to come lend a hand.
The projects are:
1.	Cleaning, weeding, and planting
the traffic island across from Claremont
Middle School at College and Miles
Avenues. Come work with RDA Board
members Susan Bernosky from Allstate
and Elizabeth Armstrong from Dreyer’s,
beginning at 9 a.m.
2.	Freshening up the pedestrian walk-
way to Hemphill Court at College and
Broadway between Wendy’s and Sabuy
Sabuy Thai restaurant at 5231 College.
By The Numbers
94618
INVENTORY
DAYS ON MARKET
MARKET CONDITIONS
Expect that consistent up trends in demand will be
required before price trends change significantly.
For the week of: 3/22/10
Median List Price: $799,000
Avg. Days on Market: 122
Avg. Price per Sq. Ft.: $496
Want all the facts?
Stop by and discuss 94618
weekly updates with a
Rockridge McGuire agent.
¤
¤ Earth Day 2010, page 13


April 3, 2010
10.

Sidewalk Signs – What do You Think?
Sidewalk adver-
tising signs are
seen by some to
be a problem,
by others to
be useful. Tell
RCPC what you
think. Story at right.
Oakland’s planning code prohibits
sidewalk advertising signs (commonly
called sandwichboard signs), but you’d never
guess it from walking along College Avenue.
City enforcement has been lax, at best. On
the other hand, sidewalk signs can convey
useful information – everything from restau-
rant menus to special sales. Jane Brunner’s

office is considering whether the current
prohibition should be relaxed or revised.
We’d like to hear your opinions: Please
send us an e-mail at chair@rockridge.org,
or write to RCPC at 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, 94618.
Please mark your e-mail or envelope
“Sandwichboards”.
What’s for Breakfast?

from page 5
Rockridge Lodge #468. All three are now
known as Lodge #188.
The building, an architectural treasure,
will be open to the public. Come for break-
fast, meet your neighbors, and visit a part
of Oakland’s heritage, all while supporting
Claremont Middle School.
For additional information, contact
Kenneth Tramiel at ktramiel@yahoo.com
or Kathy Rieves at 510/809-7530.
There are three ways to purchase
tickets for the Breakfast:
1) Purchase on-line at the Claremont
Middle School Web site: www.clare-
montms.org. Click on the “Donate” button.
On the following page, click on the “Click
to Donate” button, select $10 as your
donation amount and select “Pancake
Breakfast” from the Program Designation
list. You MUST fill out your first and last
names for the ticket to be credited to you.
2) Write a check to “Claremont Mid-
dle School PTA,” noting on the check that
it is for the pancake breakfast and which
seating – 9 a.m., 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. – you
plan to attend. Send or drop it off at Cla-
remont Middle School, 5750 College Av-
enue, Oakland, CA 94618. (Place check in
an envelope labeled “Claremont Middle
School Breakfast.”) Your name will be
placed on the guest list.
3) Contact Kenneth Tramiel at ktra-
miel@yahoo.com or Patrick Zak at pat-
rickzak@ymail.com to purchase tickets
directly.
When you attend the breakfast you
will be asked to indicate how you pur-
chased your ticket(s).
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
Ortrun Niesar
Senior Marketing Consultant
Prudential California Realty
2 Tunnel Road
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-326-2161
oniesar@sbcglobal.net
Craftsman Gem on Rockridge/Temescal/Berkeley Border
If you don’t need to be on College, make music on
Telegraph! This exquisite property is ideal for Live/work or
 professional services.  2 buildings. The possibilities are endless.
Interested? Call me for more information.
Owner financing available.
www.6529TelegraphAve.com
Offered at $675,000


April 3, 2010

11.

Lower Rockridge Parents Group Holds 8th Annual Yard Sale

by Nicole Aruda
On Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to
1 p.m., Lower Rockridge Parents Group
(LRPG) will hold its annual community
Yard & Bake Sale, the proceeds of which
will benefit Peralta Elementary, Lower
Rockridge’s excellent public elementary
school. The sale will take place at the Per-
alta School playground on Alcatraz Avenue
between Telegraph Avenue and Dana Street.
LRPG was founded in 2001 by three
neighborhood moms who had two specific
goals in mind: to build community sup-
port for Peralta, the neighborhood public
school, and to increase the general level of
community within the Lower Rockridge
neighborhood.
To meet these goals, LRPG established
playgroups for children based on the
year they would enter Kindergarten,
monthly neighborhood brunches, and
a listserv as a way to connect people
in and around the neighborhood. In
2002, LRPG held its first Yard Sale
benefit for Peralta.
LRPG has made huge strides in
meeting its goals. The LRPG listserv
now has over 350 members and has
become an important way neighbors
and friends communicate on a myriad
of issues ranging from education,
politics, entertainment and general
family-related information.
Since the inception of the yard sale,
it has raised over $26,000 to help support
Peralta’s many programs, including the new
Kindergarten play area and many of the
new gardens and art installed throughout
Peralta’s campus.
The LRPG Yard Sale is a great oppor-
tunity to get together with friends and
neighbors to do some spring cleaning, shop
for some great stuff, meet new friends, catch
up with old friends, and/or have a coffee and
brownie in one of Peralta’s many gardens
– all while supporting one of California’s
finest public schools.
There is always an abundance of great
Peralta Yard and Bake Sale offers a wide
selection of donated goods to choose from.
Photo from: Nicole Aruda
stuff to shop for, including tons of baby
clothes and equipment, adult clothes, furni-
ture, household goods, tools, art and books.
The sale is the perfect way to celebrate Earth
Day; recycle your old, unwanted stuff and
find and reuse other people’s stuff.
Items not sold will be donated to other
charities. Past charities receiving donated
items include: Clausen House, Elizabeth
House, Bananas and The Salvation Army.
If you have questions about the sale,
please contact lowerrockridgeparents@
yahoo.com or call Nicole Aruda, 510/547-
7976.
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Native Plant Gardens & Stonework
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• Remodel & Repair
510-652-8014
www.winstonsplumbing.com
20 - 75% markdowns on the
largest selection of womenʼs yoga wear
and yoga props in the East Bay.
Andrea Hurd, Horticulturist and Stonemason
License #883905 h tel. 510.558.8429
www.mariposagardening.com
“”May your toilet never runneth over!”
Receive 20% off non-sale items with this ad.
Discount is for retail items only.
Praying - Serving - Growing
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.
510-658-2599
Reconciliation
 Saturday, 4 p.m.
Hourly consultation
to fit the size
of your interior or exterior
home projects.
www.angelissekarolcolor.com
www.namasterockridge.com
5416 college avenue  510.547.YOGA
(near Rockridge library)
www.staugustineoakland.com


April 3, 2010
12.
Backyard Birder

public education spending is way too low:
California is 45th in the nation on spend-
ing per pupil. I hope we can demonstrate
that we’re serious about public schools in
Oakland, that we expect elected officials
and other citizens to share our dedication.
We want to make our public schools places
that we can all be proud of.
We raise money by sponsoring each
cyclist. Pledge money for me or any of the
other riders at http://rideforareason.dojiggy.
com/pvetter. Thank you for your support.
— Paul Vetter, bikerdad
Cycling for
Schools
from page 2
We make the effort to buy fresh seed
mixes that attract the widest variety of
birds. These are available at some pet stores
and at stores dedicated to wild birds. Fresh
and organic isn’t just preferred by humans.
During the winter and well into the breed-
ing season, we also hang suet cages. Fatty
seed cakes, often studded with peanuts and
sunflower seed chips, provide important fuel
to many birds like the Chestnut-backed
Chickadees during the cold and lean months.
From My Desk Window
As I write this, the bark crevices on the
large Monterey Pine outside my window have
been visited by two stunningly beautiful male
Nuttall’s Woodpeckers. Along with their
larger cousins, the Acorn Woodpeckers,
they are what we hear making that rat-a-tat
rat-a-tat sound as they hunt for insects in
the local trees. The Rosy Breasted Nut-
hatches are also busy cleaning the bark
crevices of insects, while Chestnut-backed
Chickadees turn pinwheels hanging from
camellia branches picking the leaf stems
and new buds clean of insects.
And I just spotted our annual returnee,
the Black Phoebe, America’s only small
black and white flycatcher, hanging about
in our abutelon bush. A nesting pair have
returned each spring, drawn by our neigh-
bor’s large pond.
Field Guides
I keep several field guides by my desk
for quick reference. I bought my first field
guide shortly after I moved into this house
in 1981 and got my first garden. A quick
trip to Pendragon netted me a classic: Roger
Tory Peterson’s “A Field Guide to Western
Birds,” for the princely sum of $3.
Our local bookstores have many different
field guides to North American birds, both
new and used, and I urge you to pick one up
as a quick reference to the question, “What
bird is that?” Who knows; you may evolve
into the next Backyard Birder.
from page 1
and I am really glad that they decided to do
it again, with renewed effort and dedication.
I’m also a zealot for public schools, so this
ride combines two of my big zealot issues.
Public schools shouldn’t be just ware-
houses for kids where we pound enough
answers into their heads to pass the state
tests. We want to raise awareness that
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April 3, 2010

13.

Union Protests at Safeway on College Avenue

by Nancy McKay
Carpenters Union Local 152 demonstrated
in front of the College Avenue Safeway
store for about four days during the week
of March 15-19. Union Field Representative
Tim Lipscomb said the union expanded this
demonstration to various Safeway locations
around the Bay Area.
Union carpenters distributing handbills in
front of a San Jose Safeway using non-union
carpenters hung a banner on public property to
publicize their grievance. Wielding a knife, the
manager of the San Jose Safeway store report-
edly cut down the banner and confiscated it.
Union members felt threatened, and the union
filed an unfair labor practice complaint. The
National Labor Relations Board is currently
investigating the incident.

Nancy McKay is co-chair of Concerned Neighbors of
Safeway on College and co-vice president of Friends
and Neighbors of Safeway on College (FANS). FANS’
Web site is www.fansco.org
Photo: Nancy McKay

project starts at noon and runs to 4 p.m.
4.	 At Hudson and College across
from the Library and Hudson Bay Café
near Glass and Brass, we will be weed-
ing, putting down weed cloth, and adding
new plants and bark. This starts at 10 a.m.
5.	 At Eddie’s Liquors, corner of Col-
lege and Forest, we will also be weeding,
planting and generally “spiffing” up the
planter boxes. This project begins at 10 a.m.
Come work with Chris Jackson here, too.
On Earth Day 2010, meet your neighbors
and help your neighborhood. The RDA will
have Earth Day T-shirts and snacks for
participants. Bring yourself, your gloves,
a big smile and be ready to pitch in. Please
go directly to the project of your choice.
Earth Day 2010
from page 9
Starting at 9 a.m., we will repaint the fence,
pull weed and trim back the shrubs. Come
work with Chris Jackson.
3.	 Jennifer Kaplan of Rockridge Home
is once again taking the lead to spruce
things up at the Rockridge Library. This
This is the second year RDA has sponsored Earth
Day projects to help keep our business district and
neighborhood a vibrant and attractive place.

To RSVP, or if you have questions, e-mail the
RDA at RDA@rockridge.com or call 510/604-
3125. To adopt a spot for an Earth Day project
of your own, visit Oakland’s Earth Day Web site
at http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page289.aspx
More: RDA Earth Day 2010
Jennifer Kaplan, left; Jesse Thompson
(former RCPC Chair Chad Thompson’s
son); Eric Warren; Jeffrey Orenstein,
and Brian Schirber.   Photo: Ronnie Spitzer
Jennifer Kaplan, proprietor of Rockridge
Home, along with members of her staff,
friends and community volunteers, issues
an open invitation to one and all to join
her – starting at noon April 17 – in cleaning
and trimming the plantings surrounding the
Rockridge Branch Library.
Jennifer is pictured above with clean-up
crew members who worked with her on a
similar clean-up in January.


April 3, 2010
14.

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 Mer-
ritt College. Bruce Thompson 510/428-4964.
Organizing Angel
I specialize in making stacked-up papers dis-
appear. Working together, we’ll clean up and
organize your office or study, so you can feel
more free and fresh! Experienced materials orga-
nizer. MFT, Phyllis Greenwood. 510/523-0656.
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. May deadline is April 22.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
Rockridge Math Tutoring
U.C. Berkeley Math Ph.D. specializing in over-
coming “math fear”, almost always the result of
poor teaching! I help students gain confidence
in their own common sense. Everyone can
successfully learn math. Janet, 510/653-6783.
Lake Tahoe Summer Rental
Lovely 2-BD, 2-bth condo: pool, hot tub, BBQ,
kid’s playground, on beach. Also available —
condo in Puerto Vallarta: on beach, special
deal, anytime. 510/658-9530.
Landscape Design,
Maintenance & Installation
The timeless elements of rock, wood and
water allow us to create gardens that are
simple, vibrant and enduring. Slate patios,
water features, woodwork & stonework.
www.zenscape.com. Lic #935424. Local.
415/794-0664.
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 & Com-
pany, www.sutorikandco.com, lic#397149.
510/655-3677.
Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other odd
jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/761-7168.
High Quality Gardening
Skilled maintenance, clean-ups, aesthetic
pruning, irrigation, design and installations.
Ecologically-minded since 1995 in the East Bay.
Personal attention, local refs, free estimates.
Green’s Gardens. 510/593-3490.
Tahoe Condo for Rent
Our lovely 3br/2+ba condo in Incline Village is
available for rent! Sleeps six, is fully equipped!
Close to everything! Call 652-6664.
Home Improvement & Repair
Decks, cottages, shingles, seismic engineering
& upgrades, windows, doors, waterproofing,
additions, walls & fences. Competitive rates.
Quality work. Free estimates. Nedworks: call
510/301-5448.
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.
Penelope’s Aesthetics:
Certified Organic
Treatments
Paraben, Silicone, and artificial coloring-free
facial treatments on special now for $49. Experi-
ence a complete European facial with massage,
using eco-cert products. www.penelopecalef.
com. Call for an appointment. 510/594-1552.
Get Rid of Your Junk!
Rockridge Hauling
I am a local resident with a trailer specializing
in small to medium dump runs. Call Steve.
Cell: 415/310-0962.
TAI CHI and QIGONG
New beginners welcome. Thursday morning
beginners 9:30. Saturday morning beginners
9:00. Rockridge BKU Methodist Church, 303
Hudson@College. For details please visit our
website www.harmonytaiji.com or phone
Gail 415/786-2469.
Record your Music
in Rockridge
Comfortable music production studio. Experi-
enced Producer/Engineer/Multi-instrumentalist.
Vintage and modern gear. Professional, afford-
able. 415/531-4671. www.benbernsteinmusic.
com
www.elitetradealliance.com
Mention Elite Trade Alliance (code ETA-RN)
for your preferred 10% off rate and
priority scheduling!
Non-Toxic House Cleaning
Lotus Cleaning Services provides excellent ser-
vice while protecting your health and the planet.
Licensed, bonded and insured. Experienced,
reliable cleaners. Great for households with
allergies, asthma, small children. Reasonable
rates. 510/452-0755, lotusclean@comcast.net
Painting & Electrical
Wooden Doors & Windows
Plumbing & Hydronics
Custom Wood Products
Landscape Design
Need to refresh your landscape? Consultations,
plans, planting design, edible gardens, landscape
structure permit drawings, extensive horti-
cultural education and experience, complete
portfolio and excellent references. Please call
Kathleen Carson-Asher 510/531-4905 www.
landesign.us
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Norman H. Burg, DDS






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General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland


 
	
A Prevention Oriented Practice


April 3, 2010

15.

Calif. College of the Arts (CCA)
5212 Broadway (near College Ave,) Events are free
and open to the public.
23rd Annual Barclay Simpson Award Exhibition:
Award-winning artworks by CCA’s MFA graduates.
Apr. 19–24. Reception: Mon., 4/19, 5:30 to 7:30pm. Hrs:
Tues, Thurs, Fri, 10am-noon and 1–6pm; 10am–noon
and 1–7:30pm; Sat, 10am -4pm. Oliver Art Center. Info:
415/551-9214.
Readings in Celebration of Humble Pie Volume 2:
Apr. 20, 7:30pm in Nahl Hall. Humble Pie is the new
literary journal of the Writing and Literature Program.
Come for the readings, refreshments and pie! Presented
as part of CCA’s Hearsay Reading Series. Info: 597-3708
or humblepie@cca.edu
SPRING FAIR: Apr. 24, 11am -3pm. Shop for one-of-
a-kind, affordable gifts made by CCA students, alumni,
faculty and staff. Paintings, photography, jewelry, ceram-
ics, blown glass, clothing, textiles and more. Live Jazz
and refreshments. Info: 415/703-9571.
Lower Rockridge Parents Group
Annual Yard & Bake Sale
Saturday, Apr 17, 9am–1pm. Proceeds benefit Peralta
Elementary School’s many programs. Meet neighbors
and shop for clothes, books, household goods, tools
and more. Peralta School playground on Alcatraz Ave.
(between Telegraph. And Dana). More info: Nicole Aruda,
547-7976 or lowerrockridgeparents@yahoo.com.
See story p.11
Hillcrest School Carnival
Saturday, Apr 17, 11am–3pm. Old fashioned fun with
games, a giant slide, live music, BBQ, Jamba Juice
and more to benefit Hillcrest PTA programs. Hillcrest
School playground, 30 Marguerite Drive (near B’way
Terrace and Hwy 13). More info: visit hillcrestpta.org/
walkathon.shtml.
Claremont Middle School Pancake
Breakfast Fundraiser
Saturday, Apr 24, 9am–noon. Menu also includes eggs,
bacon/sausage, fruit and drinks. Help raise $5,000 for
school programs. Includes a tour of the historic Rockridge
Masonic Hall. Rockridge Masonic Hall, 5449 College Ave.
Tickets are $10. For info on how to purchase tickets,
see story p.5. More info: Kathy Rieves, 809-7530 or
Kenneth Tramiel, ktramiel@yahoo.com.
Claremont Middle School
Annual Spring Fling
Saturday, May1, noon–4pm. The annual PTA fund-
raiser is a celebration of our diversity with a county fair
format featuring carnival games, ethnic dances, arts
and crafts, great food, music and more. On the school
playground at 5750 College Avenue (at Miles). Info:
879-2010. See story p.9
Peralta In Bloom
Saturday, May 8, noon–4pm. Peralta Elementary
School Spring Community Festival: Carnival games,
30-foot climbing wall, potted plants; great food, live
music and more. Proceeds benefit art, music and sport
programs, counseling, and other services. 460 63rd
Street. Info: Paul Kagiwada, paulkag@yahoo.com.
Memory Camp
Instructor Terri Barr: Apr 22 through June 24; 10:15am–
12:15pm. Remember more, feel energized and improve
concentration. $30 materials fee. No. Oakland Senior
Center, 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. More info:
597-5085.

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

Community Calendar

Council President Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
Saturday May 1, 10am to noon. Peralta Elementary
School: 460 63rd St. (parking on Alcatraz, east of
Telegraph). Mtg. topic and other info: 238-7001, or view
Brunner Report at www.oaklandnet.com (the site for
all City-related information).
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
Joint Town Hall mtg. with RCPC (see p. 1). Express
your concerns about crime and public safety. OPD Chief
Anthony Batts will speak and ans. questions. 4/8, 7pm.
Rockridge Library, upstairs meeting room, 5366 College
Ave. Info: chair@rockridgencpc.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 Wed., 10:30am.
Baby and Toddler Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wed.,
10:30am, upstairs.
Special Events:
National Library Week Book Swap and Book-Mark
Making: All ages welcome. Bring any book to trade
(1 for 1) with others. Bring a mat or blanket to display
your books. Tues., 4/13, 7pm.
Around the World in Story and Song: Celebrate El
Dia de los Ninos/El Dia do los Libros (Children’s Day/
Book Day) with Mara of Story/Song Productions. Tues.,
4/20, 7pm.
FOR TEENS
Rockridge Ninjas Anime Club: Teens 13 and up, watch
and talk about anime (Japanese animation). Second
Tues. each month, 5 to 6:30pm, upstairs meeting rm..
FOR ADULTS (Library sponsored events)
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 (or come
empty-handed). Third Saturday each month, 1 to 5pm.
Sponsored by the California Writers Club, Berkeley
branch (www.berkeleywritersclub.org.) Info: 420-
8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice. First Tues.
each month from 6 to 8pm (call to confirm). Advance
sign-up starts 5pm. More info: 597-5017.
Other Adult Events:
• Author/photographer Candacy Taylor discusses her
book, Counter Culture: The American Coffee Shop
Waitress. Sponsored by the American Association of
University Women (AAUW), Oakland-Piedmont Branch.
Info: Sue; 530-2328.
ART EXHIBITS
Gallery:
Apr.: Abba Yahuda: paintings.
May: Merritt College portrait class.
Lobby Display Case:
Apr., Nila Oaks: photographs.
May: Nancy Elliot: watercolors.
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed Sundays and Mondays, & closed: Tues., 4/6.
Diesel Readings and Events
All events are FREE and open to the public.
Thurs., 4/8, 7pm. Judith Tannenbaum: By Heart: Poetry,
Prison, and Two Lives, a two-person memoir she wrote
with Spoon Jackson.
Mon., 4/12, 7pm. Amnesty International Meeting
(2nd Monday each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
Wed., 4/14, 7pm. UC Berkeley law professor Kirk Boyd:
Launch Party for his new book, 2048: Humanity’s Agree-
ment to Live Together.
Sun., 4/18, 3pm. Launch Party for poetry collection by
Margaret Ronda: Personification. Also. local poet Brian
Teare: Sight Map.
Tues., 4/20, 7pm. Local author Daniel Alarcon: The
Secret Miracle: The Novelist’s Handbook, a new anthol-
ogy about writing.
Sun., 4/25, 3pm. Lisa Shannon, founder of Run for
Congo Women: A Thousand Sisters: My Journey Into
the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman.
Thurs., 5/6, 7pm. Local author Lucy Jane Bledsoe: The
Big Bang Symphony: A Novel of Antarctica.
Tues., 5/11, 7pm. Deborah Burnes: Look Great, Live
Green: Choosing Beauty Solutions That Are Planet-Safe
and Budget-Smart.
Thurs., 5/13, 7pm. Greil Marcus: When That Rough God
Goes Riding: Listening to Van Morrison..
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. Info about
other events and book discussion groups: 653-9965
or events@dieselbookstore.com.
Studio One Art Center
365 45th Street
Register NOW for the Summer Poetry Workshop
on June 14-18. Participating poets: Graham Foust,
Truong Tran and others. Daily afternoon panels on
various topics such as Small Press Publishing with
Rusty Morrison and Matthew Zapruder. Info: 597-5027
or studiooneartcenter@gmail.com.
Wisteria Ways House
Concert Series
PremaSoul: Ancient Indian melody with the soul of
American music. Hear sound clips at www.premasoul.
com. Sunday, 4/25, 3pm (door opens 2:30pm). $15-20
donation for musicians (cash only at the door).383 61st
Street. (Not wheelchair accessible) For reservations
(highly recommended), RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.
org or 655-2771.
Volunteer for Earth Day on Saturday, April 17. See details, page 9.


April 3, 2010
16.

Rockridge
Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level
Entry on Shafter Avenue
510-655-8808
www.curvesrockridge.com
Free Parking!
Across from BART
Open 7 Days
Mon- Fri  6:00 -7:30
Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon

5431 College Ave
        Oakland Ca 94618
510. 652. 5431

www.elizabethh.net

For Sale – rockridge
5556 claremont ave. (price reduced) 2beds/1bath   $759,000
Huge Private Lot w/Darling Craftsman Bungalow
www.5556claremont.com  –  chabot elementary
5558 claremont ave. (price reduced) 4beds/2baths   $759,000
2-story Craftsman w/full Basement
www.5558claremont.com  -  chabot elementary
5377 locksley ave.  3beds/2baths   $1,095,000
Redone blending the old & new seamlessly
www.5377locksley.com  -  chabot elementary
coming Soon – rockridge
clifton ave. 3beds/2baths Price upon request
Redone from Ground Up – New Modern Interior

51st St. Duplex 3bed/2bath & 2bed/1bath
Easy Rental for Investors - Price upon request
coming Soon – TemeScal
Webster St. Duplex 2beds/1bath & 1+beds/1bath
2 Charming Flats w/ Garages & Garden-Price upon request
Pending – rockridge
5415 manila ave – 3beds/1bath $779,000
Amazing Gumwood Detailing in Classic Craftsman
www.5415manila.com       Pending Sale
468 58th St.  2+beds/2baths   $474,000
Charming Craftsman Cottage
www.468-58thSt.com     Pending Sale
463 cavour ave.   3beds/2baths   $719,000
Clean and Solid on a huge park-like south facing level lot
www.463cavour.com
Pending Sale
5326 James ave.   2beds/1bath   $769,000
Perfect Craftsman Bungalow on most desirable Street
www.53326James.com    Pending Sale
5238 miles ave.   3bed/2+baths   $879,000
Redone “Top to bottom” Craftsman 2-story
www.5238miles.com
Pending Sale
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

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COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
Mon – Fri  9:30 – 6:00
Sat  9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
482-2227  Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
Lic # 695711
Sustainable Living
Starts at Home
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed.
(510) 654-3339
Sustainable Building
Starts at Ashby Lumber
Looking for a Contractor?
Visit our Contractor Directory
at ashbylumber.com
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
.
824 Ashby Avenue    Berkeley
Ph: 510.843.4832  Fax: 510.843.3840
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients

 For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN

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29
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland