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VOL. 25  NO. 6  ISSUE NO. 268  June 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

Rockridge DVD Project Launches Fund
Drive to Fill Library DVD Shelves

by Annette Floystrup, DVD Project co-chair
The Rockridge DVD Project is kicking
off its fundraising drive to raise $33,000
to place over 2,800 DVDs into the collec-
tions at the Rockridge Branch
Library. A $1,000 challenge
grant has been donated,
which will be matched by
the donor’s employer. This
gift, together with the $500
towards security cases from
Friends of the Rockridge
Library, gets the fundraising
drive off to a flying start.
To see which documentaries, PBS
series and specials, TV series, and classic
and contemporary films for adults and young
people your donations will add to the library
4th Bore Work
Gets Under Way
DVDs are the highest circulation collection
at the Rockridge Library, with over half the
collection checked out at any given time.
collections, a complete database of the
DVD titles has been made using a
free download tool, DVD Profiler
by Invelos Software (www.
invelos.com). To browse the
database, download the free
tool from www.rockridge.
org and follow the instruc-
tions on the Rockridge DVD
Project Web page at www.
rockridge.org. Using the Invelos
software, you will be able to view
the project database on their site and see
a synopsis, cast, cover art and many more
details for each title. A link to an Excel
spreadsheet is also available on the Web
site which shows all the available titles but
includes no additional information.
Donations can be made through the
rockridge.org Web site via PayPal and
by check. Checks should be made out to:
➧➧DVD Fund Drive, page 5
RCPC Town Hall Meeting
AGENDA: Safeway
June 2010

What Were
They Thinking?
D. Kinkead
An unexpected effect of AC Transit’s
split of the 51 line at the Rockridge
BART station was that buses would
travel on Keith and Miles avenues to
position for their return trips. New
stops were created so passengers could
transfer to the next bus to continue
their trip.
At the new Miles stop, above, the bus
blocks the narrow right turn lane to let
passengers off. Turning cars must wait
for the bus to move on, further jamming
College Avenue traffic. — Editor
June 17, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College at Manila
Community Room (Upstairs)

College Avenue Safeway Environmental Report
Coming Soon: How to Make Your Comments Count
The draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for Safeway’s College Avenue
shopping center will be released shortly. Rockridge residents will then have
45 days to submit comments to the City. At the June RCPC Town Hall meeting,
RCPC chair and environmental attorney Stuart Flashman will explain how to
make your comments meaningful, so that the City must respond with more than
just “Comment noted.” There will also be an update on the project’s status, as
well as on Safeway’s new proposal for the Rockridge Shopping Center, corner of
Broadway and Pleasant Valley Road.

A new, temporary, CalTrans soundwall
will help shield Parkwoods residents
from coming tunnel construction noise.
More, page 11. Photo: Don Kinkead
The Rockridge News is changing
its mailing address July 1. The
new address will
be posted in the
July Issue.

June 5, 2010

Nuisance Abatement — Many Ways
for Residents to Respond to Noise
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:
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair
Residents who live on or near College
Avenue have frequently had to put up
with noise and other problems from their
business neighbors. RCPC has occasion-
ally helped to mediate disputes between
residents and businesses, as has Council
President Jane Brunner’s office. The city of
Oakland offers several different pathways
for dealing with such problems.
Nuisance Abatement
The newest and perhaps the most effec-
tive way of dealing with a business nuisance
problem is through the nuisance abatement
program run through the city manager’s
office. Program administrator Arturo
Sanchez (238-7542, e-mail: asanchez@
oaklandnet.com) explained that it takes
two residents’ complaints to initiate action
against a business. Once the complaint has
been investigated, the business owner and
property owner each receive a letter from
the city. Failure to abate the problem can
lead to daily fines against the business
and/or property owner. Sanchez said that
the program can provide relatively quick
relief. That program was recently at least
partly responsible for the closure of the
Water bar and restaurant in the 5600 block
of College Avenue.
ABC (Alcoholic Beverage
Commission) License
Most places with live music serve alcohol,
which means they have a liquor license from
the ABC. However, the ABC license often
comes with restrictions (e.g., no live music).
Checking the details of the ABC license is
often a good place to start an investigation
of a neighborhood problem spot. Filing a
complaint with the ABC will also often get
the business owner’s attention, since a liquor
license can be revoked or suspended.
Code Enforcement
In Rockridge, restaurants and clubs gen-
erally need a conditional use permit. The
conditions, called conditions of approval,
must be followed. Otherwise, the permit
is subject to revocation. It’s a good idea to
check with the planning department to learn
what the conditions are.
However, getting a use permit revoked
is neither fast nor easy. A use permit is an
entitlement, i.e., a property right, and is
protected by the Constitution’s due process
clause. The holder is entitled to a hearing
before a permit can be revoked. The hearing
process can take a long time.
Noise Ordinance
Oakland’s planning code includes a noise
ordinance (Section 17.120.050) that sets spe-
cific enforceable noise standards. However,
a violation of the standards requires a noise
measurement using a calibrated noise meter.
Enforcement is through the city’s planning
and zoning department or the police.
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
Valerie Knight ���������������������Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2010-2011
Stuart Flashman �����������������Chair
Andrew Charman ���������������Vice-Chair
Michael Kan ������������������������Secretary
Cesar Angobaldo ���������������Treasurer
Cesar Angobaldo, Annette Floystrup, Melinda Frey
Jonathan Gabel, Michael Kan, William Kaufner,
Don Kinkead, Ronnie Spitzer, Chris Walters,
Ann Winterman
Contact the Board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
G
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
Contacting The Rockridge News
 Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
 Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
 Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News
block captain?
 Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 5245 College Avenue,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94618
RCPC Voicemail: 510/869-4200
GRUBBCO.COM
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland
Articles submitted for publication may be e-mailed
to the above address. Submissions are limited to
600 words; must include the author’s name, phone
number, e-mail address, and city or neighborhood
of residence; and are subject to editing. To reprint a
Rockridge News article, please contact the editor.
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Avenue, Oakland
601-1188
Mon – Fri 7 – 7 • Sat 8 – 6
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is
 July 3, 2010
 July deadline is June 17, 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.)
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!

3.
June 5, 2010

The RCPC Land Use Committee meets on
the fourth Wednesday of the month.
Next meeting: June 23. Rockridge Branch Library,
Upstairs Meeting Room: 7:30 p.m.
The Zoning Counter
The Zoning Counter is a compilation of re-
cent applications filed with the Oakland
Planning Department. Individuals may contact
the case planner or the Planning Department
for additional information by phone or on-
line at www.oaklandnet.com.
will discuss the project with the applicant at
its June meeting. The city planner handling
the case is Ulla Britt-Jonsson (238-3322,
ujonsson@oaklandnet.com).
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman,
RCPC Land Use Committee chair
5687 Miles Avenue
Proposal: To install a wireless communication
facility consisting of 4 concealed antennas
inside the existing utility penthouse located on
the building rooftop, and 1 ground equipment
cabinet located on the northeast corner of the
property rear yard.
Applicant: Michelle Weller/Clear Wire
Phone: 925/997-1312
Owner: Judith White
Planning Permits Required: Minor Conditional
Use Permit to operate a Mini Telecommunica-
tion Facility in the C-31 Zone; Regular Design
Review to install a total of 4 concealed antennas,
and 1 ground equipment cabinet
Historic Status: Potential Designated Historic
Property (PDHP);
Survey Rating C3X (Secondary Importance)
Case Planner: Mike Rivera at 510/238-6417 or
mrivera@oaklandnet.com
■
■Rockridge Montessori School
(6516 Broadway)
RCPC continues to have concerns about
whether this expansion project (resulting in
a 200-student facility) will create traffic
problems along Broadway, particularly once
the city’s bicycle master plan is implemented
in the next year or two. The master plan
calls for reducing Broadway auto travel
lanes from two to one in each direction
(with a center turn lane) and adding striped
bicycle lanes.
While bicycle lanes generally increase
rider safety, they also increase bicycle
traffic, and the extra turning movements
the expansion will generate, along with the
new drop-off/pick-up zone on Broadway,
could put bike riders and pedestrians at
risk. There are also questions about whether
so large a commercial project belongs in a
residentially zoned area. The RCPC board
■
■Rockridge Shopping Center
(Corner of Broadway and
Pleasant Valley)
Safeway will present its revised plans
for this large (over 300,000 sq.ft.) remodel
and expansion project to the RCPC board in
June. The Rockridge Shopping Center is the
one major shopping center for Rockridge and
North Oakland. RCPC hopes that the revised
project will better suit the urban character
of North Oakland than did Safeway’s prior
suburban-oriented proposal. RCPC hopes to
arrange an area-wide community presenta-
tion of the new plans for some time in July.
Watch for details.
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.
6012 Contra Costa Road
Proposal: To subdivide an existing 31,605 s.f.
parcel containing one single-family dwelling into
three parcels averaging more than 10,000 s.f.
each. (NOTE: This constitutes a re-notice from
the notice sent April 23, 2010, to add reference
to the required Minor Conditional Use Permit
for a Shared Access Facility)
Applicant: Gary Chan
Phone: 415/378-3699
Owner: Gary Chan
Planning Permits Required: Tentative Parcel
Map to subdivide an existing parcel into three
parcels; Minor Conditional Use Permit for a
Shared Access Facility (driveway) serving the
three parcels
Case Planner: Ann Clevenger at 510/238-6980
or aclevenger@oaklandnet.com
New City Contract for Rockridge BID
reflecting the Rockridge BID as a business-
based assessment district.
The City originally proposed the RDA
sign a city-wide blanket contract which
applies more specifically to the prop-
erty-based assessment districts known as
Community Benefit Districts (CBDs).
Oakland has nine special business
assessment districts, seven based on prop-
erty assessments and two, Montclair and
Rockridge, based on assessments of the
income of individual businesses.
by Annette Floystrup,
RCPC boardmember
The Rockridge District Association
(RDA) is expected to sign a new
contract with the city of Oakland by mid-
June to manage the Rockridge Business
Improvement District (BID). The current
interim agreement between the city and the
Rockridge BID expires on June 15, and will
be replaced with an agreement accurately
• Stuck? Depressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed?
• People driving you to distraction?
• Doubting yourself?
• Difficulty coping?
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
It's time to engage the help of
a good Therapist . . .
Sharon Testa-Harker, MFT
CA License No. MFC29310
482-2227 Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work • Free Estimates
Lic # 695711
Berkeley Office near the Claremont Hotel
Office hours by appt.
510-655-3289

June 5, 2010
Scourged by Vandals and Thieves,
Battered Newsracks Blight Rockridge

by Don Kinkead, editor
Daccording to the code. Joint users
have joint responsibility.
Identification of those respon-
sible for maintaining the racks is
required by code to be posted on
the rack and be readily visible.
Few racks on College Avenue
have that information posted.
Notable for promi-
nant postings of
service call contact
numbers were Bay
Area News Group
boxes.
The code declares
(section 12.50.145)
that wrecked or inop-
erative newsracks
promote blight and deterioration and are
therefore a public nuisance to be abated.
The chief of building services of the
Community and Economic Development
Agency (CEDA) is responsible for abate-
ment. On the agency’s Web site, that person
is Interim Chief of Building Services Ray
Derania, (rderania@oaklandnet.com, 238-
4780).
escribed at their installation in 1997
as an attractive solution to the clutter
of individual news racks, many modular
newsrack assemblies on College Avenue
have long since gone to rack and ruin.
Beset by declining newspaper sales,
and by vandals and thieves, the neglected
boxes are a blight on the Rockridge neigh-
borhood.
A recent informal survey of 130 news
vending boxes on 22 modular racks on Col-
lege Avenue between Alcatraz and Hudson
avenues found that 99 have significant
damage. Most others suffer from rough
treatent and lack of maintenance.
Oakland Municipal Code section
12.50.010 establishes city-wide news-
rack controls, setting standards of repair
and public notice. Titled “Maintenance
Required,” code section 12.50.110 states
that newsrack assemblies are to be kept “in a
neat and clean condition and in good repair
at all times” including no broken structural
parts or cracked plastic or glass parts.
The publisher or distributor using the
newsrack is responsible for its maintenance,
Photos: Don Kinkead
Examples of vandalized news
racks on College Avenue,
above. Oakland’s Municipal Code
sets requirements for maintenance
and repair of newsracks, and calls for
visible notices of responsibility to be
displayed on the racks. Most College
Avenue racks lack such notice.
California College of the Arts
extended
education
summer
201 0
Summer registration is happening now!
www.cca.edu/extended
Computers
CCA Extended Education classes range from
one-session workshops to 10-session courses
design
Day, evening, and weekend classes
San Francisco and Oakland campuses
fine arts/2d/3d/4d
For course listings and registration information
visit www.cca.edu/extended
or call 510.594.3710
writing
Register as soon as possible to ensure your place in class.

e t e t a o i i n s h r d l u e t

5.
June 5, 2010

FORL Changes
Mailing Address

Why the Rockidge DVD Project?

D
VDs are the highest-circulation collection at the Rockridge Library, with over
half the collection checked out at any given time.
The May Rockridge News included a story of how the Rockridge DVD Project
began. Videots, the specialty video store in the Elmwood, recently had closed. The
project began with an agreement with the owner to buy some of his 10,000 DVDs
at only $4 each. To expedite the purchase, RCPC agreed to provide a short-term
loan to the Rockridge DVD Project to acquire almost 3,000 DVDs plus a profes-
sional DVD polishing machine to maintain the collection. It will cost about $7 per
DVD for library-approved security cases and professional cataloging. The DVDs
have been selected by library staff and will double the existing collection.

Friends of the Rockridge Library
(FORL) has changed its mailing address
to: PO Box 3723, Oakland, CA 94609
DVD Fund Drive
from page 1
“RCPC/Rockridge DVD Project” and sent
to: RCPC/Rockridge DVD Project, 5245
College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, CA
94618, with a completed donation form
(at right).
Contributions will be gratefully and
publicly acknowledged in the following
categories:
Producer’s Guild $2,500 to $5,000

Director’s Guild $1,000 to $2,499

Actor’s Guild $500 to $999

Writer’s Guild $250 to $499

Craft Guild $100 to $249

Film Critics $50 to $99

Movie Buffs $49 and under
Anonymous donations are welcome
and will be designated in all categories as
“Silent Film Stars.”
All money donated to the Rockridge DVD
Project is a tax-deductible charitable
donation, and will be handled through
RCPC, which is lending the use of its tax
ID to the project.
Money collected in excess of the need to
complete the Rockridge DVD Project will be
dedicated to benefit the future purchase of
DVDs for the Rockridge Branch Library.

RCPC/Rockridge DVD Project Donation Form
Name
E-mail
Address
City, Zip

Company or family name (for acknowledgment):
Enclosed is my check for: $
. Please enroll me as a donor as checked below.
 Producer’s Guild
 Actor’s Guild
 Craft Guild
 Movie Buffs

$2,500 to $5,000

$500 to $999

$100 to $299

$49 and under
 Director’s Guild
 Writer’s Guild
 Film Critics

$1,000 to $2,499

$250 to $499

$50 to $99
 Please indicate my donation as Anonymous

✽ Donate online at www.rockridge.org using your credit card or Paypal account – OR –
✽ Donate by check payable to RCPC/Rockridge DVD Project and mail to:
RCPC/Rockridge DVD Project, 5245 College Avenue, PMB 311, Oakland, 94618
After July 1, mail to 4123 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611
Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Federal Tax ID No.: 94-3011284

Foxtails and Canines
A Bad Match
A
serious hazard for dogs is the hard seeds of
a grass, often called “foxtails.” These seeds
have sharp points at one end, and microscopic
barbs, so they “work in,” but they don’t “work
out.” The most troublesome is the actual “foxtail”
or “wild barley” (Hordeum murinum). This grass
is common all over California, including our
Rockridge neighborhood. It is an annual, and is
soft and green from January through April. This year, the plant is just now turning
brown since we have had such a long rainy season.
As the seed heads dry, they become dangerous, and if not removed by pulling
out the whole plant, they continue to be dangerous to dogs throughout the summer
and early fall.
The seeds can become embedded in a dog’s fur, especially the paws and ears, and
in nostrils or even eyes. Check your dog’s paws daily, and brush them frequently to
keep the seeds from becoming embedded. If the foxtails are not removed before they
work their way in, they may cause infection and require treatment that can be very
expensive. If not treated, the infection can sometimes be fatal to the animal.
It would be wonderful if you would pull the foxtails out of your sidewalk and tree
wells to help protect our local dogs. If you see me out front pulling a few of your
weeds, I’m not looking for a gardening job, only hoping to avoid a big vet bill.
– Margaret Pinter

For more information, or if you have any
questions, contact Annette Floystrup at
RockridgeDVD@rockridge.org
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.
Reconciliation
Saturday, 4 p.m.
www.staugustineoakland.com

June 5, 2010
The
Rockridge

June Is East Bay
Open Studios
Month
The first two weekends of June are
traditionally dedicated to Open
Studios in the East Bay, and this year
is no exception. It’s been that way for
the past 30 years, and we hope that
it will be here with us for another 30
years. It’s part of what makes the East
Bay so livable for us.
Muse
by Ortrun Niesar
Change Is Good
This year, in an effort to serve the
communities of the East Bay better,
participating artists have been grouped
around not just one but three different
hubs. The main event still takes place at
Oakland’s Pro Arts Gallery (150 Frank
Ogawa Plaza (City Hall), 14th Street and
Broadway, Oakland, 510/763-4361). The
Berkeley Art Center in Berkeley’s
Live Oak Park (1301 Shattuck Avenue,
Berkeley, 510/981-6690), hosts Berkeley
artists and the Richmond Art Center
(2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, 510/620-
6772) will host the artists who live further
north. Everyone is very excited to see
the network expand like this.
Artists will also exhibit predominantly
in studio clusters, making it easier for
visitors to reach many more exhibitors.
It makes so much sense when there are
over 460 participating artists. Even some
of our Rockridge artists are showing
their work elsewhere. Not Liz Maxwell,
though. Be sure to visit her on Chabot
Road as always.
The Beat Goes On
Since man or woman cannot live by
art alone, a bevy of restaurants, cafes
and music venues will be participating as
well. That’s on top of all the receptions
and after-hour parties given by the artists.
In addition, the East Bay Express has
also organized Open Studios Happy
Hours in Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville
during these weekends. And the Uptown
arts scene is certainly going to be in
top form. To ratchet up the heat even
more, don’t forget the First Friday’s
art murmur events, which will be
playing right along with Open Studios.
Creative energy is out there in
abundance! Go to Facebook, the East
Bay Express or www.proartsgallery.
org (click on East Bay Open Studios
Events) for full information. You can also
➧➧Muse, page 7
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

Ortrun Niesar can be reached at oniesar@
sbcglobal.net, or by calling 510/326-2161.
East Bay Open Studios
June 5 & 6 and 12 & 13, 11 – 6 p.m.
During the first two weekends in
June, June 5-6 and June 12-13, and
throughout the year by appointment,
East Bay Open Studios connects the
public with over 400 artists in 14 cities
in the East Bay.
How to plan your studio tour:
■
■
Pick up a copy of the Directory of
East Bay Arts that profiles artists and
includes maps, an East Bay Arts Index
of local arts organizations, galleries, and
more Directories are available at Pro
Arts and are distributed in the East
Bay Express, first week in June.
■
■
Go to the Preview Exhibition of
artwork from over 400 participating
artists.
■
■
Attend Open Studios Events.
■
■
Take a Curator’s Tour.
■
■
Log on to the Pro Arts Online Gal-
lery for all your 2010 East Bay Open
Studios information.
Welcoming boys & girls ages 5 and up
(510) 547-4441 www.piedmontchoirs.org
PIEDMONT EAST BAY CHILDREN’S CHOIR

7.
June 5, 2010

Muse
Claremont
Movie Night
Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m.
Thanks to the Temescal Business District, we will be showing Invictus on the
wall of the Claremont Gym Friday, June 11. Bring a lawn chair, warm clothes,
and join us for an old-fashioned outdoor movie. The PTA will provide homemade
popcorn and sodas, and there will be a raffle for prizes beginning at 8 p.m. The movie
starts at dusk, approximately 8:40 p.m., on June 11. The event is a fundraiser for the
2010-11 8th grade class trip to Washington, D.C. Donations are encouraged but not
required. For more information, please contact Mike Napolitano at 655-4725.
from page 6
pick up the Open Studios Directory
at the Library, Diesel Books, Spasso’s
and other venues. The comprehensive
directory also includes information on
many more artists, restaurants, galleries
and events. It’s a good reference tool
to keep handy.
Oakland’s Art Scene
According to the Chamber of Commerce,
Oakland has the most numerous and
diverse groups of practicing artists in the
country, outside of Manhattan. Sadly, the
thriving arts and culture scene that one
could expect to accompany this status
has been rather slow in coming. There
are many reasons for this, but it appears
that we have finally turned the corner.
Talent and artistic life are happening
here and people are beginning to flock to
Oakland to experience it. Oakland’s art
scene even garnered national attention
recently in a New York Times article.
In an odd way, the hardships the city
of Oakland has endured in recent times
have galvanized and nurtured this new,
culturally rich, environment. What I love
about it all is that the arts are clearly
playing a major role in revitalizing our
downtown and they are bringing to life
other neighborhoods such as West and
North Oakland. It’s like mushrooms
appearing miraculously on the forest floor
after a rain. Not sure that Rockridge is
keeping up with all this, though. Could
be that our rents are simply too high
to let our garden grow. On the other
hand, our neighbor Temescal is peddling
mighty fast. (Love that banner spanning
Telegraph Avenue.)
count the galleries on College Avenue
on the fingers of one hand. Our artists
therefore rely heavily on alternative
venues such as Open Studios to sell their
works and make a living. Plan to make
a purchase or several. There will be
plenty of reasonably priced art out there.
Not everything will be a masterpiece.
It doesn’t need to be. A lovely original
postcard purchased for a few dollars can
be framed. A handmade necklace will let
you tell the story every time you wear
it. We need to take seriosly the care
and feeding of our artists. Support our
artists. And enjoy the adventure.
The Artist is Still Hungry
When it comes to art markets, the
East Bay still has little to offer. You can
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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.
Authentic Japanese Cuisine
ADDRESS 5335 College Avenue,

Oakland, CA 94618
Rikyu
TEL 510 595 7388
JAPANESE RESTAURANT

June 5, 2010

Rock ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman

Ramp It Up
Ramps ’n Taters

1 pound bacon
4 or 5 large potatoes, diced
1-1/2 pounds ramps, cleaned and
cut up
6 eggs (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Recently, while shopping at the neighbor-
hood produce market, I overheard a
young couple ask, “What’s a ramp?” Trying
to be helpful, I explained that ramps are wild
leeks also known as baby leeks. I first had
ramps in Viet Nam served with a stir-fried
shrimp dish. A few days later at another
produce market I again overheard two shop-
pers asking about how to prepare cardoons.
Once again I chimed in that cardoons are an
edible thistle and related to artichokes.
As I returned home I began thinking
about how many new and exotic vegetables
and fruits are beginning to appear in our
local produce and farmer’s markets. Long
popular in Europe and Asia, many new
vegetables and fruits are now being grown in
California and sold in local farmer’s markets.
As with all produce, the key is to know how
to identify, select and prepare them
Ramps are native to North America and
are very popular and considered a delicacy
in the Southern states. Like California with
its Gilroy garlic festival, West Virginia has
its spring ramp celebrations at county fairs.
The flavor of ramps is stronger than that of
its cousins in the lily family, leeks, scallions,
and onions. Ramps are usually sautéed or
fried. Ramps fried with bacon and potatoes
is a traditional Appalachian dish known as
“ramps ’n taters” (this month’s recipe).
A word of warning— If you are storing
ramps, store them in a double layer of plastic
wrap to prevent their odor from permeating
everything in your refrigerator.
Cardoons look like a giant flat celery
stalk and are, like artichokes, in the thistle
family. This delicious vegetable is very
popular in France and Italy. L ike artichokes,
cardoons can be boiled, braised, or baked.
Before cooking, remove and discard the
tough outer stalks. Separate the individual
stalks and heart and cut them up. Boil stalks
for 30 minutes or until tender and serve with
a hot olive oil, garlic and anchovy dipping
sauce as part of an Italian appetizer plate.
I recently read an article about che-
rimoyas, a tropical fruit grown in South
America. I have yet to try a cherimoya, but
they sound delicious. The skin is described
as scaly, even reptilian looking. Inside the
green skin is a sweet, smooth custard-like
flesh that is supposed to taste like a com-
bination of banana, pineapple, and papaya.
The cherimoya can be eaten out of hand
with a spoon or pureed and folded into ice
cream or smoothies. I can’t wait to try one.
Let me know if you have had a cherimoya
– was it good?
As you explore our neighborhood produce
and farmer’s markets, keep an eye out for
ramps, cardoons, and cherimoyas. Remem-
ber, who would have thought an artichoke
could be so good to eat?
1. Fry bacon in skillet until crisp,
remove from pan and set aside.
Pour off all but a few tablespoons
of bacon grease.
2, Fry diced potatoes in bacon
grease for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add chopped ramps and continue
frying until potatoes are well
done.
4 If you want your ramps ’n taters
with scrambled eggs, add lightly
beaten eggs, seasoned with salt
and pepper to taste, and scramble
with the ramps and potatoes.
5 Crumble bacon on top. Simmer
about two minutes to heat through.

(If omitting eggs, crumble bacon
on top after pototatoes are well
done.)
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for private
cooking classes. Email: kaufman42@earthlink.net.
The Right Agent Communicates Well!
The Piedmont Perspective
a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
the Rockridge community
in lifestyle and service.
piedmontperspective.com
Design, Installation and Maintenance
Native Plant Gardens & Stonework
Julie Gardner
510.339.0400/264
jgardner@grubbco.com
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
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Sunday worShip 10:30 aM • ViSit: capcchurch.org
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License #883905 h tel. 510.558.8429
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GRUBBCO.COM

9.
June 5, 2010

Letter to the Editor
Your Chance to Join
The Rockridge News
Delivery Cadre
The Rockridge News has two
delivery jobs to award and the
lucky winner could be you! All you need
is a half hour once a month to get the
job done, so please call or e-mail and
refer to the route number when you do.
Call 547-3855 or e-mail: smontauk@
gmail.com to volunteer.
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.
Visit Bananas’ Web site at www.banan-
asinc.org for more information on the
organization. – Editor
Editor:
I enjoyed the positive approach that
Jennifer Edmister took in her article on
preschool options in Rockridge. What was
missing was a mention of an agency right
in/near Rockridge which can give parents
many choices of preschool and other child
care options – BANANAS. This agency has
all the licensed child care programs in its
files along with a large listing of in-home
caregivers/nannies.
It might be time to acquaint or reacquaint
your readers with its extensive free services
to parents and child care providers.
— Jo-Ellen Spencer, Bananas
Jeff Auen
REMAX ACCORD
Route # Description
21N,O Block Captain: Both sides of
6300 Hillegass then along Alcatraz, odd
numbers from Colby to College
07 District Captain: 6 bundle drops
on blocks off Broadway
■
■Residential
■
■Income Properties
■
■REO Specialist
WWW.REO-SFBay.COM
WWW.JLAHOMES.COM
JeffAuen@comcast.net
800-805-8827
www.rockridge.org
VOL. 25  NO. 6  ISSUE NO. 268  June 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
Rockridge DVD Project Launches Fund
Drive to Fill Library DVD Shelves
by Annette Floystrup, DVD Project co-chair
The Rockridge dVd Project is kicking
off its fundraising drive to raise $33,000
to place over 2,800 dVds into the collec-
tions at the Rockridge Branch
Library. A $1,000 challenge
grant has been donated,
which will be matched by
the donor’s employer. This
gift, together with the $500
towards security cases from
Friends of the Rockridge
Library, gets the fundraising
drive off to a flying start.
To see which documentaries,
PBS series and specials, TV series, and
classic and contemporary films for adults
and young people your donations will add
4th Bore Work
Gets Under Way
What Were
They Thinking?
DVDs are the highest circulation collection
at the Rockridge Library, with over half the
collection checked out at any given time.
to the library collections, a complete
database of the dVd titles has been
made using a free download
tool, dVd Profiler by Invelos
Software (www.invelos.com).
To browse the database,
download the free tool from
www.rockridge.org and
follow the instructions on
the Rockridge dVd Project
Web page at www.rockridge.
org. Using the Invelos software, you
will be able to view the project database on
their site and see a synopsis, cast, cover art
and many more details for each title. A link
to an Excel spreadsheet is also available on
the Web site. It shows all the available titles
is also available for view, but includes no
additional information.
donations can be made through the
rockridge.org Web site via PayPal and
An unexpected effect of AC Transit’s
split of the 51 line at the Rockridge
BART station was that buses would
travel on Keith and Miles avenues to
position for their return trips. New
stops were created so passengers could
transfer to the next bus to continue
their trip.
At the new Miles stop, above, the bus
blocks the narrow right turn lane to let
passengers off. Turning cars must wait
for the bus to move on, further jamming
College Avenue traffic. — Editor
D. Kinkead
DVD Fund Drive, page 5
➧
RCPC Town Hall Meeting
AGENDA: Safeway
June 2010
June 17, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College at Manila
Community Room (Upstairs)
A new, temporary, CalTrans soundwall
will help shield Parkwoods residents
from coming tunnel construction noise.
More, page 11. Photo: Don KinKeaD
College Avenue Safeway Environmental Report
Coming Soon: How to Make Your Comments Count
The draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for Safeway’s College Avenue
shopping center will be released shortly. Rockridge residents will then have
45 days to submit comments to the City. At the June RCPC Town Hall meeting,
RCPC chair and environmental attorney Stuart Flashman will explain how to
make your comments meaningful, so that the City must respond with more than
just “Comment noted.” There will also be an update on the project’s status, as
well as on Safeway’s new proposal for the Rockridge Shopping Center, corner of
Broadway and Pleasant Valley Road.
The Rockridge News is changing
its mailing address July 1. The
new address will
be posted in the
July Issue.
Rockridge
Optometry
ROCKRIDGE SALES STILL ON THE RISE!
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
Closing Date
BR BATH
Address
Original Price
LP
DOM
SP
4/20/2010
4
2
6080 Hillegass Avenue
$649,000
$649,000
16
$655,000
5/8/2010
3
1
6330 Telegraph Avenue
$499,000
$499,000
13
$525,000
5/10/2010
3
2
5340 Broadway Terrace
$575,000
$499,000
86
$495,000
5/18/2010
2
1
6322 Colby Street
$849,000
$839,000
49
$797,050
5/20/2010
2
1
5340 Broadway Terrace
$439,000
$439,000
40
$420,000
* Rockridge closed 60% more closings this last month, than a year ago this time
* Rockridge currently has less than 1.5 month supply of inventory
* 40% of listings sold in Rockridge in the last 30 days sold for over asking price
* Between last year at this time and this year, there has been a 1% increase in the list to sell price

10.

June 5, 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.
Dear Officers Chew and Gerrans:
In the March Rockridge News, there
was this response in the “Ask A Cop”
column: “If another person wants to make
a report, we cannot take the report from
that person because they are not the victim
or complainant.”
I confess I can’t make sense of this. If
I know of a crime but am not the victim, I
should not attempt “to make a report”?
This reasoning, taken to extreme, would
seem to cause problems with a murder
investigation, since only the victim would
be allowed to make a report of the crime.
I am curious about this policy and where
it comes from.
– Edward Sutorik
Officer’s Reply:
Let me try to clarify. I was speaking
more specifically to the question referencing
“How can a citizen who hears of such crimes
know if OPD is aware of the similarities so
as not to make extra reports?” I believe this
question was posed in light of recent bur-
glaries that had been occurring. If a person
sees a crime in progress or that a crime has
occurred, they should absolutely phone the
Police Department. But a report will not
be filed until the owner of the property is
on scene to make the report and describe
any items that were taken during the bur-
glary. Since only one report is taken from
the victim, there are no duplicate reports
made, so residents should not feel hesitant
in phoning in a crime that is occurring or
has occurred.
This is especially important because
it can provide the Police Department with
witnesses to the crime of whose existence
we may have been unaware.
If there is a crime that is not against a
person or their property, but is an offense
against the public, then reports can be made
on behalf of the city/state by witnesses to
the crime (e.g., breaking into parking meters
on public streets).
— PSO Officer Chew
Norman H. Burg, DDS
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
A Prevention Oriented Practice

Rockridge is covered by parts of
police beats 12Y and 13X. The
following is a list of crime data
published May 25 for crimes that
occurred in beat 12Y during the
week of May 17-23. No reports were
listed for Beat 13X. Police crime techs
explain that some crimes may not have
been recorded because of confidentiality
or because a report was not ready for filing
in the report period.
Commercial Robbery:
Gas/Service Station at
Claremont and College Aves.
Auto Burglary:
5200 block of Claremont Ave.
5800 block of Broadway
5800 block of Howell St.
Auto Theft:
5300 block of Boyd Ave.
5800 block of Ross St.
400 block of 55th St.
Vehicle Violations
Clifton St. and Lawton Ave.
5400 block of Manila Ave.
510-658-2599
Hourly consultation
to fit the size
of your interior or exterior
home projects.
www.angelissekarolcolor.com

11.
June 5, 2010

Bore Mitigation Projects to be Rated
of walk audits to tour potential improvement
projects with neighborhood leaders occurred
in early June. Next, one-page sheets will be
created, describing the location, purpose
and estimated cost of each. These sheets
will draw heavily on data provided by the
Fourth Bore Coalition as well as information
conveyed during the walk audits and collision
and traffic data for each location.
Using criteria developed in conjunction
with Council President Jane Brunner’s
office, the public, including Rockridge resi-
dents, will be asked to help create the final,
prioritized list of all projects in Fall 2010.
Phase I projects in the Rockridge
area include:
by Ronnie Spitzer, vice chair, Fourth
Bore Coalition, and Victoria Eisen, city
of Oakland transportation consultant
The Fourth Bore Coalition (FBC) filed a
lawsuit against Caltrans over its plans to
add a fourth bore to the Caldecott Tunnel.
The FBC settled its lawsuit under threat
by Governor Schwarzenegger in January
2009. The settlement included $3 million
for air quality and noise mitigation for two
Rockridge public schools immediately adja-
cent to Hwy. 24, Claremont Middle School
and Chabot Elementary.
Of the settlement funds, $2 million
comes from the state Air Resources Board
for upgrades to the ventilation systems of all
buildings and classrooms at both schools.
An additional $1 million grant was provided
by CalFire’s Urban Forestry Program for
landscape barriers to mitigate noise and
air quality impacts from increased traffic
expected to occur after construction of the
new tunnel bore.
The FBC is a coalition of local com-
munity groups in Oakland and Berkeley
centered around Highway 24, including
RCPC and FROG.
Separately, the city of Oakland signed a
Settlement Agreement with Caltrans over
the environmental assessment of the fourth
bore of the Caldecott Tunnel project, in
June 2008, ending months of negotiations.
The settlement called on Caltrans to fund
“enhancement” projects meant to: “Improve
pedestrian, bicycle, transit and local streets;
create barriers to noise; and include projects
that support the use of transit (and thus
reduction of single-occupant motorized
vehicles), such as transit signal coordination
and amenities for the greater community in
the Highway 24 corridor between I-580 and
the Caldecott Tunnel.”
More than 20 higher priority Phase I
projects, estimated to cost $8.2 million
(2008 dollars), were listed in the settlement.
An additional $4 million in Phase II projects
was partially developed in case any Phase
I projects drop off the list, e.g., infeasible;
funded by another source; or in case Phase
I project costs turned out to be less than
initially estimated.
See the rockridge.org and fourthbore.
org Web sites for the full lists.
The process to identify Phase II projects
and prioritize all the projects to be funded
with this money is now underway. A series
■
■Broadway/Lawton: New signal.
■
■Broadway/Keith intersection, Col-
lege/Keith. College/Miles, Telegraph on/
offramps: Signal upgrades.
■
■Install sidewalks along Broadway
between Golden Gate Avenue and Kay
Overcrossing.
■
■Soundwalls: At priority locations, to
be identified.
Phase II projects include:
■
■On/off ramp improvements for pedes-
trians/bicycles/vehicles safety and access.
■
■Bicycle safety and access improve-
ments at the Rockridge BART.
■
■Traffic Signal Transit Coordination
and Synchronization Program: along
Claremont, College, and Broadway.
Watch the Rockridge News for a Town
Hall meeting announcement.
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.
Consulting firm, Eisen|Letunic, with
the technical assistance of Fehr & Peers,
is leading this effort on behalf of the city
of Oakland. Please contact Victoria Eisen
of the consultant team at victoria@
eisenletunic.com, or call 510/525-0220
if you have any questions about this
process.
To express support or concerns about
any Phase I or Phase II project, or Fourth
Bore-related transportation issues, contact
Ronnie Spitzer at fourthbore@rockridge.
org, or phone 510/869-4200.
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

12.

June 5, 2010

Claremont Teacher Parking
Dilemma

by Annette Floystrup, RCPC
boardmember and Birch Court resident
The 60 teachers and staff at Claremont
Middle School (CMS) have been get-
ting parking tickets – a lot of them. The
situation is so bad that some have indicated
they want to transfer away to escape the
problem, which has become an economic
burden for some and an issue for all.
The parking dilemma became evident
during meetings held to decide how to
use a grant approved by the Legislature
to mitigate noise and air quality effects
upon CMS and Chabot elementary from
the Caldecott 4th Bore constructon. The
grant, totaling $800,000 for Claremont MS
alone, is for environmental and noise miti-
gation from increased traffic generated by
the expanded Caldecott tunnels. Two plans
were submitted for consideration, and one
included 14 parking spaces on a portion
of the schoolyard facing Miles Avenue.
Parents, neighbors and, most importantly,
the 4th Bore Coalition, opposed this plan.
The consensus was that using air quality
mitigation funds for a parking lot was
inappropriate. An alternate plan to replace
the lawn behind the gym on Birch Court
with a similar mini parking lot met with
unanimous opposition from Birch
Court neighbors.
Parents, neighbors, RCPC and
representatives of the 4th Bore
Coalition approached City Coun-
cilmember Jane Brunner, District
1 School Board Director Jody
London and Assembly Member
Nancy Skinner to alert them to the
problem and secure their aid. They
testified before the OUSD Facilities
Committee, which includes London,
that they were committed to find-
ing a solution working together
with both the City and OUSD that did not
create a new parking lot, but would find a
creative way to allow teachers to do what
they already do – park on the street, but
without getting tickets.
The need has always existed. For years,
the City issued special parking stickers for
teachers, but stopped the practice in 2000.
Residential Permit Parking (RPP) on
Birch Court was designed to exclude
27 parking spaces for teachers along
the length of the schoolyard. But
teachers who have errands midday,
or counselors whose job takes them
from school to school, can’t find
parking during the day. As BART
parking pressure has increased on the
neighborhood, Rockridge neighbors
have responded by petitioning for
expanded RPP zones on their streets,
and teachers who park in four-hour
RPP zones must use their lunch
hours to move their cars. In some cases,
teacher development and class instruction
time have been adversely affected.
At this writing, city and OUSD staff,
Council President Jane Brunner and School
Board Director Jody London are working on
a solution that won’t require use of valuable
CMS land as a parking lot.

Help Cook up Next
RCPC Kitchen Tour
One of RCPC’s most valued and
anticipated events is the biennial
Rockridge Kitchen Tour. It’s also RCPC’s
main fundraiser. RCPC is now starting
planning for the 2011 kitchen tour, but we
need your help to make the tour happen.
Anyone
can help, but we especially
need people with event
planning or publicity
experience and
two or three
people willing
t o
c o m m i t
a s i g n i f i c a n t
amount of time as event
coordinators. If you’re
interested, please send us a
letter or e-mail (chair@rockridge.org) or
call us and leave a message.

S E P T E M B E R 2 0, 2 0 0 9
A T A S T E F U L T O U R
Rockridge
Kitchens
P L A N N I N G C O U N C I L
RO CK RI D GE CO M M U NI T Y

13.
June 5, 2010

Ride for a Reason Finds 17 Large Ones

by Mike Napolitano, Claremont
PTA vice president
On Saturday, May 8, the fundraising
Ride for a Reason took place. Forty
parents, teachers, and community members
rode their bikes 100 miles from Oakland to
the State Capitol to show their support for
more funding for California schools. Another
20 students and parents joined in for the
final five miles.
Perhaps the biggest challenge of the
day was cross-
ing the Antioch
Bridge, where
riders encoun-
tered strong,
gusty winds
t h a t m a d e
the crossing
stressful. We
had excellent
support from
volunteers who
drove support
vehicles, and
who prepared
a wonderful
lunch consumed near the halfway point in
Isleton. After lunch, we enjoyed some truly
beautiful scenery and quiet back roads along
the Sacramento River, before reaching the
Capitol, where Assemblyman Sandré Swan-
son, a wonderful host, received us.
Kenton Lee, who has two kids at Chabot
and was one of the 100-mile riders, said “This
ride has been life-changing for me in many
ways. Ttraining for the event, I have had the
opportunity to reflect on how important it is
to make small gestures, such as participat-
ing on this ride. Last year, four riders made
a ‘small gesture,’ this in turn inspired 40 of
us to do the same thing this year.”
Many participants were novice cyclists
including Aileen Chang and Jessie Thaler,
both teachers at Claremont. On top of the
demands of teaching, preparing lesson plans,
and grading work, these two took the time
to train for the event and solicit donations. “I
don’t consider myself an athlete,” says Thaler,
who teaches 8th grade English. “Training
for this ride has been an inspirational jour-
ney. I’ve experienced first-hand the type of
struggle many of my students go through
every year: setting a goal that seems unattain-
able, progressing toward it more slowly than
expected, overcoming setbacks
and obstacles, and persevering
when it would be much easier
to give up.”
Through your support, and
the hard work of the participants
and volunteers, we raised public
awareness and approximately
$17,000 for academic enrichment
programs at Claremont Middle
School and Oakland Tech. This
Above: Mike Mages, California State
Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, and
Mike Napolitano.
Left: On the road.
Below: Cyclists and their families
with Sandré Swanson.
The Wheels
of Activism
Spin in Support
of Public
Education
Paul Vetter, and Kenton Lee, our top fund-
raisers; Kathleen McNulty, Jan Newberry,
and Nelson Black, who provided food and
provisions; and Daniel Brekke, Chris Vernon,
Jacob Lubarsky, and Katherine Williams,
who drove the support vehicles.
It is a pleasure to express our heartfelt
thanks to everyone who helped.
Next year we hope to have 100 riders.
year’s ride would not have been possible
without the hard work and knowledge of
Mike Mages, who planned the day of the ride.
Special thanks also to: Kristofer Brekke, who
convinced state assembly members Nancy
Skinner and Sandré Swanson, and Oakland
Superintendent Tony Smith, to participate in
a school assembly at Claremont early in May
to kick off the event; Cliff Rechtschaffen,

14.

June 5, 2010

Rockridge Bungalow
Vacation Rental
Fully outfitted with style! Best location. Steps
to College Avenue shopping, restaurants
& cafes. Home away from home. www.
rockridgebungalow.com
Mexican Vacation Home
Rental
Beautiful 4-bedroom, 3-bath beachfront
villa for rent near Tulum, 1.5 hours south of
Cancun. Sleeps up to 8, reasonable rates, sits
on gorgeous, secluded beach. Visit casarosa.cc
or call 510/510-2299.
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Clas-
sifieds, 5245 College Avenue, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94618. June deadline is May 20.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
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.
Home Repairs/Remodeling
Skilled carpentry and handyman services, 36
yrs. Experience. Large and small jobs. Friendly
and accountable. Rockridge neighbor. Hourly
rates available. Licensed (#509690) and insured.
Local references. Jim Harker: 510/381-6401,
jimrharker@yahoo.com
Summer Tutoring
Unique opportunity: Let this East Bay veteran
high school and community college composition
teacher help you improve your college applica-
tion essay, as well as your reading and writing
skills. Flexible hours. Contact rbrubita280@
gmail.com
Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other odd
jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/761-7168.
Patios, Decks, Fencing $25/hr
Earthquake retrofitting, custom artistic tiling,
construction. Quality work. Lots of Rockridge
references--over 20 years experience. See our
Web site at: www.Diegodesigns.com Call Diego:
510/828-9473. “We listen to your dreams.”
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.
Spectacular Service
Housekeeping
We provide quality housecleaning. We use
eco-friendly products because the planet is
important to us. Let us create free time for
you... call today! 510/228.5704 Excellent recom-
mendations, licensed, bonded & insured.
Native Sun Gardens/
Ecological Landscape
Design
Complement your home w/a drought tolerant
garden. CA natives, Mediterranean and edibles.
Plant lists, consultation & design. Petrol-free.
Included on the B.B.T. Natives Garden Tour.
Joshua Burman Thayer 510/332-2809. www.
nativesungardens.com
Penelope’s Aesthetics:
Certified Organic Treatments
Paraben, Silicone, and artificial coloring-free
facial treatments on special now for $49.
Experience a complete European facial with
massage, using eco-cert products. www.
penelopecalef.com. Call for an appointment.
510/594-1552.
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
Car Cosmetologist
I can fix the paint chips and scratches on your
car using a patented process. Call for a free
estimate. Ed 510/282-2731.
Repairs
Carpentry, electrical, kitchen, bath, decks,
fences, drainage, tile, windows, walls, dry rot,
termite damage, foundation. Lic# 458473. Don
510/812-0310.
Serious About Your
Writing?
We are too. Benefit from a 23-year-old
method developed by Pulitzer-Prize winner,
Philip Schultz. 10-week workshops in fiction
& poetry. Rockridge, Oakland. Mark Peterson:
415/321-9728. mark@writerstudio.com www.
writerstudio.com
Chair Massage
Just $1/minute! Every Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, 2-6pm at Pharmaca, 5729 Col-
lege Ave (next door to Trader Joe’s). Licensed
massage therapist Joseph Walker also has local
private practice. 510/717-3353.
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.
Houses for Sale!
Piedmont (upper) 3+bdrms, San Francisco
views, formal dining, large, expandable, level
lot, hardwood floors, new double pane Marvin
windows. $1,399,888. North Oakland 2-bdrms,
large expandable lot, many upgrades. $529,888.
Agent. 510/658-8896.
Summer Cooking Camps
Give your kids a head start in eating right. Using
organic, seasonal, unrefined ingredients, students
will learn to cook creatively and instinctually in
our weeklong summer sessions beginning July 12.
www.smallstepscooking.com. 415/420-5413.
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.
WINSTON’S PLUMBING
HEATING & ELECTRICAL
lic.# 537739/554406
Since 1979
• Trenchless Sewers
• Earthquake Protection
Restring Necklaces
Pearls, stones, beads. Your necklaces will have
brand-new beautiful look with knots, silk thread,
French wire by Well-Experienced Professionals
at Fine Jewelry Stores. From $25/choker. Pearl
Lounge Jewelry Design. 510/282-3276. www.
pearllounge.vpweb.com
• Tankless Water Heaters
• Remodel & Repair
510-652-8014
www.winstonsplumbing.com
“”May your toilet never runneth over!”

15.
June 5, 2010

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

Public Schools Through the Arts and Poetry. Sun.,
■
■6/13, 3pm. Book Launch Party for local journalist and
author Laura Fraser: All Over the Map.
■
■Mon., 6/14, 7pm. Amnesty International Meeting

Community Calendar

(2nd Monday each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
■
■Wed., 6/16, 7pm. Bill Morgan: The Typewriter is
Holy: The Complete, Uncensored History of the Beat
Generation.
Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
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: chair@rockridgencpc.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
ages 11 to 16 needed for the Summer Reading Pro-
gram which starts on June 12. Orientations will take
place in early June. Contact Erica at 597-5017 or drop
by to fill out a volunteer application.
FOR TEENS:
■
■Sunday, 6/27, 3pm. Aimee Bender: The Particular
Sadness of Lemon Cake.
■
■Thurs., 7/8, 6pm. Bay Area Writers’ Project Young
■
■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 room.
Writers’ Camp will share their work.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. 653-9965 or
www.dieselbookstore.com.
Christensen Heller Gallery
Exhibit of watercolors by local artist Christina Schneck.
Show runs through August 15. Galley hrs: Wed—Sat.,
11am to 6pm; Sun. noon to 5pm. 5829 College Ave. Info:
655-5952 or www.christensenheller.com.
Edible Art
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN:
Toddler Story Time: Every Sat., 10:30am.
■
■Teen Summer Program: Pick up your Teen Summer
Passport and get it stamped as you explore Bay Area
Hot Spots. Enter raffles to win great prizes.
■
■Pre-School Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wed.,
10:30am.
■
■Book Buddies: Ages 12 to 18 volunteer to read to
kids on Wednesdays during the summer. Pick up an
application.
■
■Baby and Toddler Story Time: 1st and 3rd Wed.,
10:30am, upstairs.
Special Events:
The Women’s Cancer Resource Center and Edible East
Bay (food magazine) present 12 local artists whose work
has appeared in the magazine. Show runs through June
25. JanRae Community Art Gallery, 5741 Teleg. Ave.
Info: Margo, 601-4040 ext 111 or margo@wcrc.org.
Oakland Open Studios
Work of 11 local artists: paintings, prints, ceramics,
jewelry, quilts and more. Sat. and Sun. 6/5, 6/6 and 6/12,
6/13, 11am to 6pm. Live jazz by Shades of Gray, Sat.,
June 12, 1 to 3pm. Alba Sudios & Gallery, 4219 MLK
Way. Info: jen@jidowney.com or event website http://
sites.google.com/site/albastudiosebos2010/ .
Girls High School Basketball Clinic
Open to girls of all skill levels entering grades 9 thru 12.
June 21 – 23, noon to 3pm. College Preparatory School,
6100 B’way. More info for this and other summer sports
clinics: Linda at 652-0111 ext 243 or linda_desimone@
college-prep.org.
North Oakland Senior Center
FOR ADULTS:
■
■Writers’ Support/Critique Group: All writers welcome.
Bring at least 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). 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.
■
■“Make a Splash, Read!” Summer Reading Program
begins on Saturday, June 12 for kids up to age 13.
Sign up, read or listen to another reader; get prizes
for completed hours.
■
■First Splash Reading Night: Read with other readers
and make a bookmark. Tues., 6/15, 7pm.
■
■Bubble Lady: Giant bubbles, bubble stories and
more. Tues., 6/22, 7pm.
■
■Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice and
referrals. First Tues. each month, 6 to 8pm (call to
confirm). Advance sign-up starts 5pm.
ART EXHIBITS: (call to confirm)
Gallery:
■
■Jean Valjean: Magic, juggling, comedy; variety show
for all ages. Tues., 6/29, 7pm.
■
■NOTE: Pick up a flyer for events in July and
August
✫✫CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Library enthusiasts
yy June: Aya Harashima: oil paintings
yy July: Lori Fisher: handmade dolls
Lobby Display Case:
yy June: Barry Paul: colored pencil drawings
yy July: TBA
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues., 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat., 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Diesel Book & Poetry Events
Rockridge
Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level
Entry on Shafter Avenue
510-655-8808
Program Highlights: Computer classes; health Insur-
ance counseling and advocacy program; exercise
classes; trips, tours and theater outings; Alzheimer’s
Caregivers Support Groups and more.
www.curvesrockridge.com
Free Parking!
Across from BART
All events are FREE and open to the public.
Open 7 Days
Mon- Fri 6:00 -7:30
Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon
n Free Money Management Workshops: Avoiding
scams and identity theft; living on a fixed income; impor-
tant papers and more. Refreshments served. Tuesdays,
6/8, 6/15, 6/22 from 10:30am to noon.
■
■Thurs., 6/10, 7pm.Local author Bettina Rotenberg:
I Dare to Stop the Wind: Challenging Children in the
Hrs: Mon.–Fri., 8:45am to 4:45pm. Note: closed Mon-
day, 7/5. 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Subscribe to
“The North Oakland Senior Times,” for a full schedule of
classes/events, monthly lunch menu, membership, and
opportunities to become a volunteer: 597-5085.

5431 College Ave
Oakland Ca 94618
510. 652. 5431

www.elizabethh.net


16.

June 5, 2010

INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed
(510) 654-3339
aboutface&body
dayspa oaklandberkeley
serving you since 1981
Specialists in
Brazilian waxing
3190 college avenue
at alcatraz
berkeley, ca 94705
p 510.428.2600
www.aboutfaceandbody.net
sun-tues 10:30-5:30
wed-sat 10:30-8:00
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients

For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN

O
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Property Management
29
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland

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Mon – Fri 9:30 – 6:00
Sat 9:30 – 5:00
CHIMES
PHARMACY
Serving Rockridge Since 1909
3210 College Avenue
Near Alcatraz
652-1990
Remember to Support
Local Merchants.
Stroll the Avenue (and side streets)
in this (finally) spring weather.
Shop Rockridge!
For Sale – rockridge
5556 claremont ave. (price reduced) 2beds/1bath $659,000
Huge Private Lot w/Darling Craftsman Bungalow
www.5556claremont.com – chabot elementary
Sustainable Living
Starts at Home
5558 claremont ave. (price reduced) 4beds/2baths $699,000
2-story Craftsman w/full Basement
www.5558claremont.com - chabot elementary
431 clifton ave. 3beds/2baths $929,500
Redone from Ground Up – New Modern Interior
www.431clifton.com
Sustainable Building
Starts at Ashby Lumber
coming Soon – rockridge
61st Street 2+ bed & 1 bath – Price Upon Request
Beautiful Craftsman Bungalow on the Toddler Park!
Amazing wood work & original fixtures.
Fireplace, big sunny yard, decks
award Winning Peralta elementary
Looking for a Contractor?
Visit our Contractor Directory
at ashbylumber.com
dana St. 2+Beds/1+baths Price Upon Request
Amazing Craftsman Bungalow
Original Charm, Updated Eat-in Kitchen & Baths
Detached Garage-mahal Office/??
award Winning Peralta elementary
.
824 Ashby Avenue Berkeley
Ph: 510.843.4832 Fax: 510.843.3840
rockridge Blvd. 4+beds/2+baths Price Upon Request
Grand Traditional 2-Story Home – Perfect Floor Plan for
Entertaining & Family - Master Suite, Huge Living &
Dining Rooms. award Winning chabot elementary
rockridge & TemeScal
Pending
5377 locksley ave. 3beds/2baths $1,095,000
Redone blending the old & new seamlessly
www.5377locksley.com Pending Sale
4803 Webster St. Duplex $697,000
2beds/1+baths & 1+beds/1+baths
2 Charming Flats w/ Garages & Garden Pending Sale
www.4803Webster.com
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”
www.lawtonassoc.com
R E A L E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E