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www.rockridge.org

VOL. 26    NO. 9     ISSUE NO. 282    October 8, 2011                           CIRCULATION: 5, 500 Residences; 200 BusInesses

Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council • 4123 Broadway, PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94611 • 869-4200

RCPC and the Two Rockridge Safeway Projects
The Planning Department is
studying two simultaneous
construction proposals that could
result in radically different Safeway
stores for College Avenue and for
the Rockridge Plaza at Broadway
and Pleasant Valley. For different
reasons, neither proposal in its
present form is suitable for its
proposed site.

Store” model. That model calls for
minimum 50,000 sq. ft. stores with
departments, such as a full florist,
deli, bakery, and butcher shop, that
go well beyond a traditional super-
market. Safeway wants its stores,
regardless of location and local
conditions, to each be the grocery
equivalent of a Walmart “superstore.”
Nor are Safeway’s Rockridge
projects limited to larger supermar-
kets. Each is part of an even bigger
shopping center project. The Broadway/
Pleasant Valley store would be part of a
rebuild-expansion that would add 119,000
Rockridge Shopping Center? Yes!
College Avenue? No!
“View from Coffee Shop.” Plan rendering,
©Lowney Architecture/Safeway on College Avenue.
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair
Rockridge is unique, perhaps among
all neighborhoods in America, in
simultaneously having two proposals for
expanded Safeway stores.
But these projects are not happening
in isolation, and their simultaneity is far
from random: Safeway has nationwide
plans to expand stores to fit its “Lifestyle
➧➧RCPC & Safeway, page 10
20
Grab YOur Kids and your Costume:
Halloween Parade Sunday, October 30
AGENDA
October RCPC
Town Hall Meeting
☞
Cont i nu i ng ou r
neighborhood’s
great, ghoulish tradition, the Rockridge Dis-
trict Association (RDA) and the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC)
invite you to celebrate Halloween on Col-
lege Avenue. From noon to 2 p.m. Sunday,
October 30, participating merchants will
host trick-or-treating along both sides of
College Avenue, from Alcatraz to Broadway.
To join the costumed procession, meet
at Halloween Central in front of the Col-
lege Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951
College Avenue, at 11:45 a.m. At precisely
■
■ Oakland School Board
President Jody London
reports on the school district’s
strategic planning process,
entitled “Thriving Students.”
Strategic planning now under
consideration for the Oakland Unified
School District (OUSD)will set the
stage for the future of public education
in Oakland. Board President London
will discuss what that could mean for
Rockridge schools, among others. She
will also report on the current school
closure plan.
noon, we’ll kick off
trick-or-treating,
leading the first
group along the
avenue. Then, at
1 p.m., return to Hal-
loween Central for
spooky storytelling
and silly, scary sing-
alongs. Storytellers
will spin yarns in front of the Presbyterian
church.
A happy Halloween
parader from a
past event. /RN file
Thursday, October 20 | 7:30-9 p.m.
Don’t miss this holiday fun for kids of
all ages.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College at Manila

Pros and Cons: LWV and RCPC Present a Special Election Forum

League of Women
Voters© of Oakland

Oakland Sets Special Vote-by-Mail Election
Early in October, Oakland
voters will receive a
ballot for the city of Oakland
Special Vote by Mail Elec-
tion. The ballot will include
information about the three

RCPC
&
Thursday, October 27,  7:30 – 9 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library

measures on the ballot.
To help Rockridge
residents be as informed as
possible, RCPC is sponsoring
an election forum to be
presented Thursday, October
27, 7:30–9 p.m. at the
Rockridge Branch Library
by the League of Women
Voters of Oakland (LWVO).
LWVO will conduct an
➧➧Pros & Cons, page 5


October 8, 2011
2.

Pillars of Community
Rebuild Community Pillars
Before Rockridge was a neighborhood, two hand-hewn
stone pillars flanked the entrance to Regent Street at
Alcatraz Avenue, a part of the area known then as Fairview
Park. Over time, one pillar crumbled and the other was
destroyed by a car. Late in 2010, neighbors, led by Jim
Morgan and Emily Stoper, began a community fund drive
to restore the pillars. Unforeseen obstacles were overcome
with the assistance of Councilwoman Jane Brunner, her staff
and the Department of Public Works. Last month, the new
pillars were joyfully dedicated at a neighborhood ceremony.
Read the full story at http://oaklandnorth.net/2011/09/19/
fairview-park-residents-rally-to-restore-stone-pillar/, an
on-line Cal Berkeley School of Journalism publication.
Below, Emily Stoper addresses neighbors at the dedication
ceremony. Center right, Chuy, stonemason with Hans
Thiering Masonry of Alameda, works on the pillar. Lower
right, Jane Brunner who helped move the project along.
Photos courtesy of Alexander Hauptman and Carole Howard
RCPC Announces Board Vacancies
Due to the recent resignation of a board
member (Ashley Etling), the RCPC
Board of Directors has a vacancy it seeks
to fill. If you are interested, send an e-mail
to chair@rockridge.org, or leave a messge
with your contact information at 869-
4200. RCPC is also looking for additional
members for its land use committee. Again,
send an e-mail or leave a message if you
are interested.
Wonderful, ongoing,
weekday classes for
babies or toddlers
A
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Drop-ins or sign ups
for ALL families: songs,
slides, tunnels, parachute play,
bubbles, a fab ball pit, rocking
horses & more!
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For 9 months up to 3 years with an adult
Dawn Margolin  |  510.547.7726
Temple Beth Abraham
327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
(near the Grand Lake Theatre)
.
Shopping? Find it in Oakland!
w w w . t b a o a k l a n d . o r g / k i n d e r g y m

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, also Sat, 10/8.
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, 2011-2012
Stuart Flashman	�����������������Chair
Vacant	�����������������������������������Vice-Chair
Michael Kan	������������������������Secretary
Cesar Angobaldo	���������������Treasurer
Andrew Charman	��������������At-Large Exec Comm.
Christopher Chin, Annette Floystrup,
Jonathan Gabel, James Kachelmeyer,
William Kaufner, Don Kinkead, Alex Naughton,
Ronnie Spitzer, Ann Winterman
Contact the Board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
Contacting The Rockridge News
	 Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
	 Do you have questions about newsletter
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, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94611
RCPC Voice-mail: 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
  November 5, 2011
  November deadline is October 20, 2011.
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.)


October 8, 2011

3.

Report: September RCPC Town Hall Meeting; Considerations in Renovation

Experienced
Renovators Offer
Project Advice
T o w n
H a l l
pa nelists Ron
Kriss, left, Michelle
Medeiros, Al Flor,
Sharon Flor, and
Burt Alper discuss
considerations
for successf ul
kitchen and home
renovations.
by Natalie Mehta, RCPC Kitchen Tour chair
Thanks to a knowledgeable panel of
experienced renovators, those that
attended the September RCPC Town Hall
meeting walked away with some great
advice for their next renovation project. If
you missed the event in person, here are
some of the key insights:
Be a steward of the house
Think twice before embarking on a
project that doesn’t consider your home’s
character. Al and Sharon Flor, owners of a
home on this year’s kitchen tour, consider
themselves “stewards” of their house. It has
been standing longer than they have, and
will continue after they are gone, so their
renovation projects are guided by a desire to
preserve and enhance their home. While their
project incorporated modern conveniences,
their finish selections complement the
original elements of the home, making it
appear seamless.
Stay away from the “edges” of
design
While shelter magazines are filled with
inspiring ideas and the latest styles, it’s
important to realize that many elements of
a kitchen are fixed and difficult to change
once installed. Ron Kriss, owner of Lawton
Associates and a seasoned developer,
reminds us that today’s current style could
be tomorrow’s avocado/harvest gold reno-
Photo: S. Flashman
vation candidate.If current styles and color
palettes are important to you, incorporate
them into your project through more easily
changeable elements such as light fixtures,
accessories, and wall paint. By keeping the
basic elements timeless, you’ll ensure the
renovation will stand the test of time.
Plan ahead
The easiest way to cut down the time
span of a renovation is to have a specific
plan in place before demolition starts, and
to have all the materials on site. Michelle
Medeiros, of Integrity Remodeling, counsels
clients to invest the time up front to have a
thorough and complete plan so that every-
one is working towards a common goal.
The straight path is always faster than the
meandering one, so if your heart is set on
having a pot-filler above the stove, don’t
wait until the counters are in and the tile
is up to mention it. While it still may be
possible to install, it will most certainly be
time-consuming and much more expensive
to put it in during a late stage in the project.
By planning ahead, you ensure that your
heart’s desires are incorporated in the most
timely and cost-effective manner.
Work only with professionals you
trust
You know to ask friends for referrals
and to check at least three references before
hiring a contractor. And for safety and
liability purposes, it’s important to work
only with licensed, insured, and bonded
contractors who will get permits for your
work. But you should also do a “gut-check”
to see if you have a good personality fit
with your contractor. This is someone you
may be seeing first thing in the morning,
before your shower and coffee, so make
sure you feel comfortable with them being
in your house, among your private posses-
sions, and with your family. It’s a complex
and intense relationship, and one in which
trust is a necessary element.
Schedule a major event
To avoid the “7 Stages of Done” where
your project is always “just a few” weeks
away from being complete, Ron Kriss sug-
gests planning a big party or event in your
home close to the deadline. There’s noth-
ing like a looming and definite deadline
to keep a sense of urgency among all the
parties involved.

Preliminary Report: The Rockridge Kitchen Tour a Total Success
Early indications are the 2011 Kitchen
Tour was a great success. Creating a
page for a
fundraising
cookbook,

2011 Rockridge Kitchen Tour
Green Cluster
Blue Cluster
Red Cluster
6016 Harwood Avenue
6169 Harwood Avenue
5820 Presley Way
5538 Taft Avenue
5529 Kales Avenue
364 Hudson Street
5437 Shafter Avenue
396 62nd Street
6486 Benvenue Avenue
Rockridge Community Planning Council
Sunday, October 2, 2011  n  12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

this recipe was mixed with one sunny Bay
Area Sunday sprinkled with cooling zephyrs
out of the west. With 500 or so good-humored
Tour guests strolling through Rockridge
neighborhoods stirred in, the event rose to
the occaision, leavened by the organizing
skills of Tour Chair Natalie Mehta.
Congratulations and thanks to all the
dedicated volunteers who gave so generously
of their time and talent.
 Tour guests enter a
Harwood Avenue home.
 G u e s t s  d i s c u s s
kitchen improvements
and renovation ideas
w i t h  P re s l e y  Wa y
homeowner Jill Foley.
Photos: D. Kinkead


October 8, 2011
4.

Letters to the Editor
a more detailed and accurate study of the
existing and future noise levels in the area
is prepared, the technical justification for
such walls is demonstrated and potential
funding identified.
We stand by our report prepared in 2009
and encourage careful review of the assump-
tions and conclusions with the understanding
that this was a very conservative study, to
identify all areas where soundwalls can be
justified based on the criteria specified by
AACMA and Caltrans.
Wilson, Ihrig & Associates, Inc.
Steven L. Wolfe President and
Principal Consultant
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 at the editor’s discretion. Views expressed in any letter are the
writer’s own, and may not necessarily be shared by the editor, or by RCPC.
regarding the basic purpose and particularly
the results of the study. First, WIA has no
interest whatsoever regarding the outcome
of such a study. Second, we did not develop
the methodology of the study nor provide
input on the accuracy of studies using the
methodology prescribed by AACMA or
Caltrans. It should be understood that a Pre-
NBSSR study is just a preliminary study
to determine if soundwalls have any merit.
Further study is certainly warranted and
that is understood or should be understood
by all involved parties.
The study basically entailed reviewing
previous Caltrans studies from the Caldecott
Tunnel to I-580, obtaining existing noise
levels at a number of locations along SR
24, locating affected receptors, projecting
peak hour noise levels to these receptors to
determine the potential need for noise miti-
gation, estimating soundwall effectiveness
(where warranted), estimating preliminary
soundwall costs using Caltrans developed
spreadsheets, and preparation of a report
presenting the results of the study.
Our understanding is that there are
both those who are in favor and those who
oppose soundwalls adjacent to SR 24 in
the Rockridge neighborhood. Ultimately,
it is the community that will decide if such
soundwalls are actually implemented after
Noise Level Findings in Soundwall
Feasibility Study are Flawed
Editor:
You may have read my comments in the
article “Sound Walls Bound for Rockridge?”
in the August 3 East Bay Express, or heard
them on the August 5 KPIX-5 6 O’Clock
News. I now have a website that highlights
some of the issues that the Rockridge News
has not addressed in its series of articles on
soundwalls. For example, your readers might
be interested to know that the measured
noise levels in most of Rockridge are
below the threshold required for soundwall
construction.
For details on this and links to lots of
relevant sources of information, please visit
www.RockridgeSoundwalls.org.
— Jon Gabel, Rockridge resident
Ed. Note: The Oakland settlement money
[The Rockridge News: May, 2011, page 5]
provides funds for the more detailed and
accurate soundwall studies mentioned in
Wolfe’s response.
LUCY ARMENTROUT
Editor’s Note:
On his web site, reader Jon Gabel
questions the methodology and findings
of the study of sound levels along Highway
24 completed in 2009 by acoustical and
vibration consultants Wilson, Ihrig &
Associates for Caltrans. RCPC Chair Stuart
Flashman invited study author Steven Wolfe
to comment on the assertions appearing on
Gabel’s web site. Wolfe’s reply:
G
Please review my blog at
FineEastBayHomes.com
510.339.0400/349
The GRUBB Company
Dear Mr. Flashman:
This letter is to go on the record as far as
Wilson, Ihrig & Associates’s (WIA) position
regarding soundwalls in the Rockridge area
adjacent to SR 24 and on our Pre-NBSSR
(Noise Barrier Scope Summary Report)
Study that we completed for Caltrans in 2009.
There seems to be confusion by some
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


October 8, 2011

5.
Pros & Cons

The RCPC Land Use Committee meets on
the fourth Wednesday of the month at the
Rockridge Branch Library, Upstairs Meeting
Room, 7:30 p.m. Next meeting: October 26;
it will include further discussion of the two
Safeway projects. Subject to change. Check rockridge.
org the preceding week for the full meeting agenda.
from page 1
impartial pros and cons review of the ballot
measures to be voted upon in the election
on November 15. As described on the city’s
web site, the measures are:
floor outdoor seating area overlooking the
Claremont/College intersection, and whether
having a grocery store on the second floor
really makes sense.
Land Use Update
• Measure H: Shall the Oakland City
Charter be amended to return the City
Attorney to an appointed position?
• Measure I: Shall the City of Oakland
establish a five year temporary fiscal emer-
gency parcel tax to preserve essential city
services, including fire, police services,
and police technology, youth violence
prevention, library, services, parks and
recreation, and street repair, by establishing
an $80 parcel tax for single-family homes
and specified amounts for multi-family and
commercial properties with an exemption
for low-income households?
• Measure J: Shall the Charter be
amended to allow the City of Oakland to
change the deadline for fully funding its
Police and Fire Retirement Plan to a new
financially responsible deadline?
The city’s web site states that the registrar
of voters will begin opening and counting
ballots on November 4; ballots must be
received by November 15.
Voters may register to vote in this elec-
tion through October 31.
Additional topics the speakers will cover
include information related to the state
election next June, specifically the new top
two primary system, and how redistricting
will affect Oakland.
The LWVO speakers are Megan
Chenoweth and Katherine Gavzy, LWVO
President.
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee chair
■
■College Avenue Safeway
Shopping Center; (Corner of
College and Claremont Avenues)
The Planning Commission’s design
review committee has scheduled a public
hearing on this project Wednesday, October
12, starting at 5 p.m. in hearing room #1 at
Oakland City Hall. The three members of
the design review committee are Madeleine
Zayas-Mart (chair), Chris Patillo (vice-
chair), and Michael Colbruno. This design
review hearing is the time to talk about how
Safeway’s proposed project would look and
function, not about how it doesn’t fit the
zoning or about the traffic it will generate.
However, it is an appropriate time to talk
about, for example, how it fits in (or doesn’t)
to the surrounding area, the wide driveway
breaking up the College Avenue sidewalk, the
blind wall and parking lot along Claremont
Avenue, the (non)functionality of the second
■
■Rockridge Shopping Center
Reconstruction Project; (Corner
of Broadway and Pleasant Valley)
This project is also proposed by Safe-
way, but by a different division than the
one doing the College Avenue shopping
center. It would rebuild the entire shopping
center and add 119,000 sq. ft. of developed
space. Release of the draft Environmental
impact report for the project has again
been delayed, probably at least until the
end of October. We suspect that the cause
may be problems with the traffic analysis,
which was done by the same firm that did
the traffic section on the College Avenue
Safeway DEIR. Check the RCPC web site
at http://rockridge.org for the latest update,
or sign up for the RCPC e-newsletter for
more immediate notification.
The Oakland planner is Daren Ranelletti;
238-3663; e-mail DRanelletti@oaklandnet.com).
Design, Installation and Maintenance
Native Plant Gardens & Stonework
The city’s web site with election details is at
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/OAK030369.
The LWVO web site address is: http://www.
lwvoakland.org/VOTER-October-2011.html.
Andrea Hurd, Horticulturist and Stonemason
License #883905 h tel. 510.558.8429
www.mariposagardening.com
Regency Antique Restoration
Professional and Experienced
ALL Furniture Repairs
In-Home Services
New finishes & waxing
FREE ESTIMATES
Pickup & Delivery
517-6280
Bruce Wagg
bruce@bayareaantiques.com


October 8, 2011
6.

Chabot Elementary Annual Fall Carnival
Creates Lasting Memories, Raises Funds

Claremont Middle
School Auction
Helps Pay for School
Programs
by Lyn Hikida, Chabot PTA
The Chabot Elementary Fall Carnival
has been a Rockridge tradition for
years, and the tradition continues this year
Sunday, October 30, starting at 11 a.m. and
carrying on to 4 p.m.
Excitement is building ahead of the event,
which will be held on the Chabot campus
amidst the recently remodeled school yards
for the community to enjoy, complete with
new play structures.
Traditionally, the carnival is viewed as
the community event kicking off the school
year. Each year, new families with school-age
children enter the school and are greeted
by this fun-filled day. Little brothers and
sisters enjoy participating; there are games
for all ages.
Back by popular demand are the rock
climbing wall and dunking booth. Come
dunk Principal Mayer or your favorite (or
not-so-favorite) teacher.
As always, entrance is free. Enjoy a
by Michelle Bilensky, Claremont PTA
Scarin’ Up Some Change at Claremont
Middle School!, Claremont’s annual
party and auction, will be held Saturday,
October 29, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Uptown
Body and Fender, 401 26th Street, Oakland.
Everyone is welcome to come support
our event to raise funds for the school. There
are many school programs that need your
support, including our band and orchestra,
digital media and film animation courses,
our garden, our art courses, and our library.
This will be our 5th annual auction. It
is an adults only, Halloween-themed event.
Last year we raised $35,000; our 2011 goal
is to top that. Tickets are $20 in advance
and $25 at the door.
Contact parent Michelle Bilensky, mdb.
pta.oakland@gmail.com, or visit the Cla-
remont website, www.clarmontms.org for
ticket information.
As always, a special thank you to our
local Rockridge merchants for their loyal
support over the years.
Photo: Morris Dye
family lunch from one of the food trucks,
and play games to win prizes.

Dancing was a popular way to pass the
time last year, and there will again be a live
DJ all day and a cake walk hourly.
Remember to bring your best Halloween
costume: Also back by popular demand, the
kids’ costume contest will be held at 1 p.m.
All proceeds benefit the Chabot Elemen-
tary PTA to fund enrichment programs like
music, art, computers, the library and the
garden; to coordinate numerous after-school
programs; and to help in the classrooms.
Back to School for Chabot Bobcats

by Lyn Hikida, Chabot PTA
The school year at Chabot Elementary is
back in full swing, and students return-
ing from summer vacations discovered a
number of campus improvements finished
up at the tail end of the major construction
project that began in 2008.
the school year.
Chabot is proud to be part of the Rockridge
community, and the PTA encourages neigh-
bors to support our school every time you
shop. Visit eScrip (www.escrip.com) to sign
up and choose Anthony Chabot Elementary
(ID # 118422370) as your group. Merchants
such as Safeway, Andronico’s, Piedmont
Grocery, Village Market, Khana Peena, La
Note, Pican, and Extreme Pizza all participate
and help us raise more than $4,000 annually
by donations of a portion of each purchase.
In less than five minutes you could be sup-
porting us all year long!
For more info, visit www.chabotele-
mentary.org.
According to Chabot PTA Construction
Liaison Shelly Fierston, the Cal Fire Air
Quality Grant (part of the Caltrans Fourth
Bore mitigation settlement) provided new
plants between all major buildings, new
ground cover throughout the lower yard,
and a variety of fruit trees in the rejuvenated
garden, all done during the summer.
Thanks to additional grant funding,
a stepped seating/sculpture garden was
constructed on the upper yard. The seat-
ing—which includes concrete pads of various
heights and depths surrounded by native,
drought-tolerant plants—accommodates
outdoor learning as well as lunchtime and
community gatherings.
On the lower yard, in an area that con-
tinually struggled with the effects of poor
drainage, artificial turf was installed, cour-
tesy of generous community support from
the Chabot PTA. Students can now enjoy
unrestricted play in this area throughout










 
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October 8, 2011

7.

Fire!
On that fateful day of October 20,
1991, the noonday fire rose like a
monster in the Oakland-Berkeley Hills
above the Caldecott Tunnel. Fierce Diablo
winds sweeping over the ridge and into
the canyon created an instant firestorm
that moved so fast, hill dwellers were
taken completely by surprise.
Soon, flames jumped from tree to
tree, lighting them like giant candles
every 11 seconds; bounced from rooftop
to rooftop until the hillside was lit up
by thousands of little fires glittering,
diamond-like, in the dark. Three days
later 3,400 homes had been destroyed,
25 people were dead and another 150
injured. Sixteen hundred acres had been
reduced to ashes. Damage was estimated
at $1.5 billion. The Claremont Hotel
was saved.
The Aftermath
The
Rockridge
 Muse
Margaretta Mitchell
by Ortrun Niesar
remember, how this seminal event affected
their lives. I learned that it depends on
where you stood physically and emotionally
in relation to this disaster, whether you
watched or were directly affected by
the maelstrom.
Those who did not live in the fire
zone tell anecdotal stories, point to all
those new huge, pink houses on the hills
and perhaps remember that there was
once a different, more rural kind of life
up there. My teen age son remembers
packing the things he wanted to save
only to find to his amazement that his
young life barely filled a shoe box of
mementos. Further, those who have
moved into the area since the fire are
hard-pressed to know what it was all
about and whether it has anything to
do with them.
As I talked to people who lived in
the hills at the time of the fire, I got
either short, pained responses or longer,
talk-it-out replies. The emotions are still
raw, and the anger, the loss, the sense
of helplessness in the face of disaster
are palpable. Yet, one could also sense a
real pride of achievement, determination,
and of discovery of inner strength you
Time Heals All
Wounds
Natural and man-made disasters
seem an unavoidable part of the human
condition. Almost always unpredictable
or unimagined, when they happen, our
lives are put on hold as our trajectory
is recalibrated. Then, after a while, it’s
everybody back to work! Time heals all
wounds after all. But how much time?
This fall we commemorate the 20th
anniversary of the Oakland Fire of 1991.
Is 20 years enough for healing? In the
hills above Rockridge, the debris has
been cleared away, houses and trees
have sprouted where there was nothing
but ruin and ashes.
I randomly asked people what they
Don Kinkead
didn’t know you had.
Up on the Hill, there is still an occasional
empty lot, a lonely foundation, but most
people have rebuilt out of sheer defiance
or, as Margaretta Mitchell did, out of a
refusal to let dreams and things of meaning
and great beauty, reminders of the past,
just die. Vallery Feldman and a host of
North Hill dwellers found consolation
in banding together to make a difference
through active community involvement
as the neighborhood rose anew from
the ashes, focusing on creating a wildfire
prevention district, undergrounding of
utilities and opening Fire Station #7.
Their stories can be followed at www.
Northhillscommunity.org.
Some people, though, simply left,
never to return. Others moved closer
to College Avenue to feel safer, to be
among people. Some lost their pets and
never dared own another one. Many still
never fail to say goodbye and silently
ask for forgiveness of anyone leaving
the house. To round out the picture,
illness and disease frequently set in at
➧➧Fire!, page 11


October 8, 2011
8.

Uproar Over Unannounced Tree Cutting
Leads DMV to Cooperate on Replanting

In the aftermath of
its unannounced
tree removal and
brush trimming in
the DMV parking
l o t s ,  l e a v i n g
debris that caused
Temescal Creek
to overflow, the
DMV now plans
to work with
the community
t o  d e ve lo p  a
replanting design.
Photo: Misti Groves
Photo: Peter Lund
DaVita is drafting site improvements.
DaVita Joins
Claremont Avenue
Landscaping Efforts
by Theresa Nelson, FROG chair
Many Rockridge residents were startled
when, in mid-August, 14 trees and
several native plant shrubs in the DMV
(Department of Motor Vehicles) parking
lots at Claremont, Cavour and Miles avenues
and traversed by Temescal Creek, were cut
down or trimmed without prior notice.
The work – and the extent of it – surprised
residents living nearby. Clumps of chipped
eucalyptus the loggers left along Temescal
Creek blew into the water and blocked the
grating, causing backups and some flooding.
The tree felling and severe bush pruning
drew a flurry of concerned phone calls and
e-mails from DMV neighbors, Farmer’s
Market patrons and Frog Park users who
expressed their concerns to Councilmember
Jane Brunner, Assemblymember Nancy
Skinner, and to the DMV.
The DMV heard the concerns, and
hired Arborist Steve Batchelder to develop
a planting plan that will be presented at a
community meeting, date to be determined.
A second meeting date to finalize the plan
will be held, setting the stage for re-planting
in November in time for the rainy season.
Planting will be in the DMV parking lot,
some near the Farmer’s Market area, and
some in the Frog Park and Temescal Creek
areas.
Check the FROG website – www.
frogpark.org – for the dates and locations
of the community meetings. You may also
contact Jane Brunner’s staff member, Elinor
Buchen, at 510/238-7240, or e-mail EBuchen@
oaklandnet.com.
Provide your input for the plan by leaving
a comment on the FROG web site and/or by
e-mailing your comments to DMVreplant-
ing@frogpark.org.
by Diana Thomas, Scenic Streets
Scenic Streets, the volunteer group lead-
ing the renovation of Claremont Avenue
near Highway 24, has announced that DaVita
Dialysis Corporation recently pledged to join
the campaign. DaVita occupies the former
supermarket at 5354 Claremont Avenue,
across the street from the group’s recent
landscaping along the highway 24 off-ramp.
“We are very pleased that DaVita is
joining with its neighbors to improve the
appearance of this important gateway to
Rockridge and Temescal,” says Scenic
Streets founder Peter Lund. The group
contacted DaVita’s Denver headquarters
last spring, asking the company to spruce
up its property.
Scenic Streets requested that DaVita
remove unused signage remnants from
the northwest corner of its parking lot and
add landscaping along Claremont Avenue
and Clifton Street to improve the facility’s
street view. DaVita spokesperson, Mollie
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• Tankless Water Heaters
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➧➧Scenic Streets, page 14
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October 8, 2011

9.
Celebrate 10 Years
of Frog Park!

Peralta Elementary
Recognized as a
Blue Ribbon School
by Theresa Nelson, FROG Chair
It was only 10 years ago, in mid-October,
2011, that community volunteers finished
building the two custom play structures at
Frog Park.
The park has become a central feature
of the neighborhood, but prior to 2001,
the area was mostly a fenced and heavily-
weeded place with no play structures, no
swings, no water fountain, no bathroom, no
pathways, no plantings, no ADA-accessible
play features, dilapidated basketball courts,
and of course, the dog park, popular since
the mid-1990s.
More than 1,300 local volunteers
came for 10 days to work from dawn until
after dark to build the custom-designed
play structures. Every bit of wood and
ChoiceDec, every screw and nail, the mosaic
turtle and walls, every painted wooden
butterfly, flower or leaf, and all the fencing
was built by community volunteers who
gave their time and energy to make this
park a reality. More than 1,000 tools were
lent for the Big Build; we offered childcare
so parents could participate in the build;
and we fed everyone lunch, dinner and
snacks from a field kitchen set up in the
park. People took off from work to serve
as captains for the entire build, working
with groups of volunteers from throughout
Oakland, as well as local corporations,
garden clubs, U.C. Berkeley and high
school students, the Junior League, Oakland
Firefighters, and many more.
by Heather Ashcroft, Peralta PTA
Students and staff at Peralta Elementary
are bursting with pride this week after
Peralta, a public school in North Oakland,
was recognized as a 2011 National Blue
Ribbon School. Peralta is one of just two
schools in Alameda County, and one of
21 in California, to be honored this year.
The U.S. Department of Education
presented the award to 305 public and
private schools nationwide for their overall
academic excellence or for their success
in closing achievement gaps. Peralta is
categorized as an Improving School, where
at least 40 percent of the student popula-
tion from disadvanaged backgrounds has
improved reading and math performance
to high levels.
Principal Rosette Costello attributes
part of that success to a focus on art. Per-
alta’s artists-in-residence collaborate with
teachers to incorporate art into all areas of
study. An example of the children’s art can
be seen at the Días de los Muertos (Days of
the Dead) exhibit at the Oakland Museum,
October 12 through December 11. Peralta
is one of three community groups invited
to create a traditional altar, or ofrenda, to
be on display at the museum.
With continued cuts to public school
budgets, Peralta relies increasingly on
grants and fundraising events such as a
walkathon and auction to support student
enrichment programs.
For the Peralta community, the addition
of a National Blue Ribbon flag against
that colorful backdrop will symbolize the
school’s use of art to inspire each child’s
success.
2001: Hardy Park Big Build participants
celebrate their playground construction
progress.                             Photo: Bill Caldwell
A few years later, more volunteers con-
tinued to improve the park. They helped
ensure that the mural on Claremont was
restored, they guided the plans for Phase
two (2006) to complete the path, add
swings, re-do the basketball courts and
secured funding to build the long-awaited
bathroom at Hardy Park. The Frog Park
volunteers created an enduring legacy for
future users. It’s a delight to see the new
generation of families who appreciate the
park as an important part of community life.
Now you can do something to help sus-
tain Frog Park for the next 10 years! Please
consider making a special 10th anniversary
gift to support park improvements and
maintenance. You can go to the park’s web
site to donate online at www.frogpark.org,
or send a contribution to: Frog Park, 4123
Broadway PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611.
The builders of Frog Park from 2001 and
beyond thank you for your support for the
park and the community.
For more photos, go to Frogpark.org and check
out the flickrfeed
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


October 8, 2011
10.

traffic impacts, still found those impacts
“significant and unavoidable.” RCPC agrees
that the impacts would be highly significant,
leading to near-gridlock on College Avenue
at key hours and also creating potential
safety and local air quality impacts, but
they are not unavoidable.
While full mitigation isn’t feasible, there
are project alternatives: A smaller project
with a Safeway more on the scale of the
company’s recently-rebuilt stores on Grand
Avenue and in the Fruitvale District would
diminish or even eliminate the traffic and
other problems the proposal creates, while
still providing an attractive and functional
store more in keeping with College Avenue’s
situation and zoning.
RCPC hopes that Oakland, in its approval
process, will avoid unnecessarily damag-
ing a successful retail area and, instead,
tell Safeway to rethink its plans so they fit
into, rather than overpower and destroy,
Rockridge.
Rockridge Center Project:
Different Circumstances
Safeway’s Rockridge Shopping Center
Project at Broadway and Pleasant Valley
is an entirely different story. The shopping
center, on the edge of Rockridge and at the
intersection of two major streets, is zoned
for larger-scale commercial activity. It has
been identified by Oakland as a “node” for
new development. RCPC believes, as do
other surrounding neighborhood groups, that
this site is appropriate for – and merits – a
major, urban, transit-oriented development
effort. While Safeway’s revised project
proposal at that site has moved in the right
direction, RCPC believes it still suffers
from major flaws:
RCPC & Safeway
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
IS THE PRICE!
from page 1
sq.ft. and some structured parking to the
Rockridge Shopping Center. The College
Avenue Safeway project would also include
eight “small shops” totaling about 12,000
sq. ft. of added retail and restaurant space,
plus a 175-space enclosed garage.
RCPC’s attitude towards these projects
tries to reflect that of the Rockridge com-
munity, and, unlike Safeway, to take into
account local conditions and what makes
most sense for the community. Our positions
reflect input from community meetings,
discussions by RCPC’s land use committee
and board of directors, and other commu-
nity groups.
There is little question the existing 22,500
sq.ft. 1960s-era College Avenue Safeway
store could use updating. Most other East
Bay supermarkets from that era have either
been refurbished, replaced, or re-used for
other purposes. For example, the former
Safeway store on Claremont Avenue – also
in Rockridge – is now a dialysis center.
However, College Avenue’s general plan
designation and zoning (neighborhood
center mixed-use and CN-1, respectively)
reflect an understanding that College
Avenue, as a two-lane street with little
potential for expansion, is not a good place
for large-scale development. Its focus is on
pedestrian-oriented comparison shopping,
with an emphasis on small, locally owned
specialty retail shops. That approach has
been spectacularly successful, and College
Avenue is widely recognized as one of
Oakland’s most lucrative neighborhood
retail venues.
Kill Goose Laying Golden Eggs?
Safeway’s proposed 62,000 sq.ft. shop-
ping center threatens to kill the goose that
has been laying golden eggs for Oakland.
The recently-released draft environ-
mental impact report for the project, even
though grossly understating the project’s
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510.428-9500
5940 College Avenue
www.cartridgeworldusa.com/Store197
■
■Its proposed “shopping street” simply
doesn’t work well, either as a street or as a
shopping area;
CHEF’S STAGE    57TH STREET GALLERY JAZZ
■
■The project turns a blind side to Pleas-
ant Valley Road, leaving that streetscape
dead and isolated;
KID’S COURT          PICNIC IN THE STREET
OAKLANDISH HARVEST HOEDOWN
■
■The project still has far too much
WELLNESS AREA                   ARTISAN ALLEY
➧➧RCPC & Safeway, page 11
SPONSORED BY
SOLD!
OAKLANDISH
www.rockridgeoutandabout.com
5222 Shafter, Rockridge
Shopping? Shop Oakland, First
since 1997


October 8, 2011

11.
Fire!

The Rockridge News
Needs Your Help
D
RCPC & Safeway
from page 10
from page 7
surface parking. This land is too valuable
to be used for parking lots. Other than a
small amount of short-term “in-and-out”
parking spaces, the rest of the parking
should be in parking structures;
id you know we have 150 block cap-
tains, district captains and marshals
who deliver the Rockridge News? Some of
them have been doing their jobs since the
first issue of the newsletter was delivered
in March, 1986! It is inevitable that we lose
volunteers to moves out of Rockridge, to
family responsibilities, etc., but the News
will continue to come to your doorsteps as
long as we can find replacements for those
volunteers. We hope that will be you!
Here are three routes that need block
captains. Let us know the route number when
you call or e-mail to volunteer: smontauk@
gmail.com or phone 547-3855.
a later date, claiming more apparent
victims, even though they may not have
been counted.
These are all post-traumatic stress
responses. It’s not over.
Memorials
There will be many events beginning
mid-October, including exhibits at the
Oakland Library History Room, 238-
3222; the Oakland Museum, 318-8400;
and the Berkeley Art Museum (BAM);
642-0808. Don’t miss the talks given by
photographer Richard Misrach October
12, noon, at BAM. Also, UC professors
Louise Mozingo and Richard Walker will
discuss various sociological, economic and
environmental aspects of the firestorm
at BAM on October 30, 3 p.m.
Also, Margaretta Mitchell has produced
a short film for the Institute for Historical
Study for The Phoenix Firestorm Project.
It is a film of disaster, yes, but also one
of wonderful renewal as she and her
family go about reconstructing their
unique 1925 William Raymond Yelland
Normandy Style home. The film will be
shown at the Oakland Museum as part of
the exhibit there. It is hoped that others
will be inspired to come forward and
contribute their stories to the project.
For more information and donations
to the project, contact Margaretta at
mmkm@margarettamitchell.com or give
her a call at 655-4929.
■
■The center needs at least one other
“anchor tenant” besides Safeway. Ideally
that would be something much like the
present Longs/CVS store. Alternatively,
Safeway might look at a large hardware
store, like Pastime Hardware in El Cerrito,
or an entertainment complex like that at
Bay Street in Emeryville;
■
■The center needs much better and
easier transit connections. This would be
the ideal turnaround site for AC Transit’s
51A and B lines, especially with an on-
site bus station that would also connect to
Kaiser’s MacArthur BART station shuttle
bus service.
In the long term, the site cries out for a
residential component. It would tie together
the neighboring residential areas and make
for a more vital site. That’s apparently not
possible under the current site lease, but
there ought to be provisions to add housing
in the future.
Best Opportunity for Success
RCPC is hopeful that both Safeway and
the city will recognize that there’s far more
to be gained from working with, rather than
against, the surrounding community on these
two major projects. Safeway’s two projects,
done right, could offer a tremendous boost
to North Oakland. Done wrong, they could
damage one of Oakland’s most successful
commercial and residential areas.
Route No.
Route Description
To replace Block Captain:
Rachel Rusting.
Both sides 5200 Claremont,
including apartment at 5248.
16D
To replace Block Captain
Jennifer Gregovich
Up Keith from McMillan to
5925 Broadway.
09H
To replace Jeannine Miles
& Ella Sophia Miles-Urdan.
5400 Lawton between Forest
and Hudson, and the apartment
building at the end of Lawton
next to Eddie’s Liquors.
19C
Visit the city’s web site for a detailed listing of
memorial events: http://www2.oaklandnet.com/
Residents/OAK030313
Rockridge Shows Some Improvements Over Last Year!
Closing Date BR BATH
Address
 Original Price
List Price
DOM Selling Price

8/26/11
3
2
5401 Claremont Avenue
$599,000
$599,000
69
$562,500

8/26/11
 3
2
6409 Benvenue
$1,020,000
$995,000
152
$995,000

9/2/11
6
4
6209 Colby Street
$689,000
$689,000
29
$675,000

9/7/11
2
2
458 Hudson Street
$1,250,000
$1,175,000
16
$1,155,000

9/9/11
5
2
323 Florence Avenue
$769,000
$769,000
58
$811,000

9/13/11
3
2
6008 Auburn Avenue
$1,150,000
$1,150,000
13
$1,100,000

9/16/11
2
1
5274 Manila Avenue
$649,000
$649,000
29
$650,000
  • Rockridge currently has  a 2.7 month supply of inventory • Average list to sell is currently 96%  vs 93% last year • Average
market time before a listing sells is currently 52 days in Rockridge - compared to an average of 32 days a year ago
 • Median sales price is up, currently $818,000 vs $762,500 last year • Sales are up from 6 last year to  7 this year
Shopping? Find it in Oakland!


October 8, 2011
12.

Young People’s Symphony Orchestra Plans 75th Anniversary Gala

The Young People’s Symphony Orchestra
(YPSO), the second oldest youth orches-
tra in the country and with members from
all around the Bay Area, is holding its 75th
Anniversary Gala Saturday, October 22, at
the Claremont Hotel. It will be a beautiful
evening.
YPSO has played in Carnegie Hall, toured
in China and in Australia and is touring in
2012 to Vienna, Prague and Bratislava. You
are invited to come and/or send a donation to
help raise money for scholarships, the 2012
International Tour and an endowment. One
$2,5000 to $10,000. You can underwrite a
full scholarship for $1,300, or half a scholar-
ship for $650.
For more information about the Gala and
YPSO, please go to www.YPSOmusic.net.
for viewing on the web site before the Gala:
www.YPSOmusic.net. A percentage of the
proceeds will be contributed to the American
Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Single tickets are $150; tables run from
Rockridge
Optometry
Your neighborhood 
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since 1947
Dr. Donald Sarver
Dr. Larry Sarver
Dr. Scott Yokoi
Dr. Cindy Sakai
5321 College Avenue, Oakland
510-655-3797
www.rockridgeoptometry.com
Lic. #0670129
Details: YPSO Gala
75th Anniversary
Claremont Hotel: 41 Tunnel Road,
Berkeley; Saturday, October 22
6:00 p.m.: Cocktail reception and
silent auction
7:30 p.m.: Dinner and Program
Master of Ceremonies: Sedge
Thompson, Public Radio Host and
Producer
Distinguished Alumni and
Honorees Include: Jeremy Cohen,
Phil Lesh, Bonnie Hampton, Frederica Von
Stade, and the Honorable Shirley Dean.
Live Music, including Aaron Requiro,
Jeremy Cohen
Formal Attire/Black Tie Optional.
GREG HENDSCH
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of the featured performers will be Rockridge
resident and YPSO alumnus, violinist
Aaron Requiro, nationally recognized for
his outstanding artistry.
Silent Auction items will be available

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October 8, 2011

13.

Rockridge Branch Bids Farewell to 2011 Library Summer Intern

by Jane McDermott, Treasurer, Friends
of the Rockridge Library (FORL)
Admittedly, Quinn Reedy-Schwarz had
spent “zero” time at the Rockridge
Branch of the Oakland Public Library prior
to becoming this summer’s intern. In fact,
Quinn had never been in a public library
before. He feared that working at the library
would be “geeky.” However, once he was
established at the branch, his friends were
very jealous. “They were like ‘whoa, this
is really cool.’”
Since 2005, the Friends of the Rockridge
Library (FORL) have underwritten the cost
for a summer intern who, among other things,
oversees the summer reading program
and the volunteers who come with it. The
summer reading program is an opportunity
to get kids to keep reading and keep using
the library. For reading eight hours’ worth,
participants are rewarded with
coupons for such local attrac-
tions as Fairyland and Fenton’s
Creamery. More than 1,000
local youngsters signed up for
the program this summer.
The intern is selected from
a pool of applicants comprised
of high school juniors from
Oakland Tech. The process is
coordinated by FORL board
member Tracy Weber and Oak-
land Unified School District
(OUSD) guidance counselor
Louis Thomas; the final selec-
tion is made by head librarian
Pat Lichter, and librarians Gay
Ducey and Erica Suskind.
According to Lichter, what
made Quinn stand out from
the other 12 finalists was his
experience at demanding jobs,
his innate sense of curiosity, and his comfort
in talking to people. The librarians believed
that he would be at ease talking to both
parents and kids – and he was.
For Quinn, who had done a variety of jobs
mostly involving manual labor, coordinating
volunteers was a big challenge. “Sometimes
we had a lot of volunteers, maybe too many,
and sometimes, like, one.” It was Quinn’s
job to make sure that the Summer Read-
ing Program desk was staffed and that the
2011 Library Summer Intern Quinn Reedy-
Schwartz and Summer Reading Program volunteer
Lucy Slattery-Vickness.                    Courtesy: FORL
Clean Green Mobile
volunteer knew what to do.
Quinn likes punk rock, cooking, and
people. He connected with our young-
est patrons as well as our middle school
volunteers.
& Detail Service
Eco - Friendly Car Wash
Asked what skills he learned this
summer, he replied that he learned patience,
how to be more flexible, and how to work
with volunteers. “This job has definitely
given me the opportunity to do things I want
to do in my life and will help me achieve
my goals. I really enjoyed my time here and
learned a lot. I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
www.cleangreenmobile.com
(510) 965-8683
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October 8, 2011
14.

Rockridge LBGT Realtor7
Both “on the ground” traditional and internet
savvy marketing. Excellent detailed service.
Buy or sell transactions to “fit your life’s
schedule” not mine. Lic#01885305. www.
Medairy.net Medairy 510/517-9969.
Life Changes
Have you experienced a change in your life?
Would you like to make a change? A therapy
group is forming to offer support in your
journey. Barbara West RN, MFT. 510/917-
1828. www.bwesttherapy.com
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number
counts as one word). Mail to: RN Classifieds,
4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611.
November deadline is October 20, 2011.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
Seasonal Window Cleaning
Homes, Offices and Storefronts. Dependable,
Fast, Cheap. Large or Small, Seasonal Does
Them All. Bonded and Insured. 510/472-3861
seasonal.windowcleaning@gmail.com
Spectacular Service
Housekeeping
We provide excellent housecleaning service
with greatest attention to detail. Local
recommendations. *Let us create free time
for you* www.spectacularhousekleening.
com.510/228-5704. Free estimate.
Violin & Music Theory Lessons
Now available in Rockridge Studio. Kit Eakle
teaches all levels, ages, and styles. Special-
izing in young beginners. 35 years experience
teaching and performing. Lessons commence
late September. Call 510/237-5551 or email
kit@musickit.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.
Bayrocket Design
Websites, social integration, web video &
graphic design. Designs that sell you, your com-
pany & your brand. Visit us at www.bayrocket.
com or email info@bayrocket.com
Fall Special! Penelope’s
Aesthetics Skin Care Salon
25% Off waxing and facial services. Gift
certificates available. Receive excellent, relax-
ing services with a gentle and personalized
treatment. www.penelopecalef.com
By appointment. 510/594-1552.
its appearance makes a poor first impression
to area visitors.
“It’s a pretty stark property” says nearby
homeowner Stephanie Bianco. “And it’s the
first thing everyone sees when they come off
the highway. A little landscaping will go a
long way to improve such a prominent corner
in our neighborhood.”
Scenic Streets will post periodic updates
on its web site, www.scenicstreets.org, so
area residents can follow DaVita’s progress.
Lund says the community is also encouraged
to e mail suggestions or comments of support
that he will pass along to DaVita.
Scenic Streets
from page 8
O’Brien, says a plan should be drafted by
mid-October.
“Since we do not own the property, we
are actively working with our landlord to
establish a plan of action” says O’Brien.
“But DaVita is committed to beautifying
our exterior lot and introducing green space
to our location.”
The chain link fenced facility has been
a concern for many local residents who feel
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.
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.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
Licensed General Contractor
Craftsman rehabs, remodels, kitchens,
baths, doors, windows, gates, fences, seismic
upgrades, waterproofing. Large or small,
interior or exterior. Professional & cour-
teous, many local references, fully insured.
See catconstruction.biz Craig 510/232-5978.
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
A Prevention Oriented Practice
HELP Me Update Dentist List
ADD Listing using link at bottom of this page:
SFbay.SmarterYellowPages.com/Dentists
EDIT Listing & add Links to Reviews Photos
Facebook LinkedIn Twitter YouTube in form
at Listing bottom. Thx! psmithsr@gmail.com
All Things Maternal
Psychotherapy for Mothers and Others
Compassionate help for women and couples
facing the challenges associated with infertil-
ity, pregnancy, post-partum, and parenting.
On College Ave/Chabot. Deena Solwren,
LCSW 510/364-2864.


October 8, 2011

15.

Wisteria Ways House Concert Series

E-mail Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1@hotmail.com, phone 653-3210 (after noon), or mail to:
Rockridge News Community Calendar, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611. Deadline is the next to the last
Tuesday of the month.

Compiled by Jo Ellis

Cascada de Flores, along with guitarist Ricardo
Flores: musical traditions of Mexico and Cuba. Sat-
urday, 10/29, 8pm; doors open 7:30 (inside venue; not
wheelchair accessible). $15-20 donation for musicians
(cash only at the door). 383 61st Street. More info at:
www.cascadadeflores.com. For reservations (highly
recommended), RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.org
or 655-2771.
Young People’s Symphony Orchestra

Community Calendar

Councilmember Brunner’s
Community Advisory Meeting
sign-up starts 4:45pm). Future mtgs. on 1st Tues.
each month. Note: lawyer leaves before 7pm if no
more people present.
ART EXHIBITS (call to confirm)
Gallery:
Sat., Nov 5, 10am to noon. Topic: “Growing Businesses
and Jobs in Oakland.” Speakers from the Oakland
business and finance community incl. the Women’s
Initiative for Self Employment. Peralta Elementary
School: 460 63rd St. (parking on Alcatraz Ave. Info:
238-7001or www.oaklandnet.com (the site for all
City-related information).
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
75th Anniversary Gala and fundraiser. A featured
performer is Rockridge resident and YPSO alumnus,
violinist Aaron Requiro. Sat., 10/22, 6pm. Dinner,
music, silent auction and more. Formal attire (black
tie optional). Proceeds benefit tours and scholarships.
Claremont hotel, 41 Tunnel Road. Tickets and info: www.
YPSOmusic.net.
Halloween Parade on College Ave.
y
y Oct: Watercolor and Chinese brush art by students
of Karen Legault.
y
y Nov: Drawings and paintings by Unity School
Students.
Lobby Display Case:
y
y Oct: Malonga Casquelourd, Center for the Arts:
paintings.
y
y Nov: TBD
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sundays and Mondays. Also Sat, 10/8. Note:
due to possible shut-downs, confirm all dates.
Peace Corps Recruiting in Rockridge
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y and
13X areas can voice their concerns about crime and
public safety. 2nd Thursday each month, 7pm. Rockridge
Library. Confirm mtg. date at www.rockridgencpc.
com or chair@rockridgencpc.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
Sun, 10/30, from noon to 2pm. Kids of all ages, put on
your costumes and meet at 11:45am in front of the
College Ave Presb. Church, 5951 College Ave to join
the parade. Later, come back to hear stories and songs.
Merchants will host trick-or-treating from Alcatraz Ave.
to B’way. Sponsored by the Rockridge District Assn.
(RDA) and RCPC.
Chabot Elem. School Fall Carnival
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
NOTE: Library will remain open during construction
of the new TEEN ZONE through early Nov.
FOR CHILDREN
Volunteers work in 76 countries in education, agriculture,
health, business, environment and more. No upper age
limit to join. Assignments last 27 mos. and include travel/
living expenses and health care. Information session:
Tues., 10/18, 6 to 7:30pm, Rockridge Library. More info:
800-424-8580 or www.peacecorps.gov.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings
Sunday, Oct 30, 11am to 4pm. Activities for all ages;
games and prizes; rock climbing wall; dunking booth;
live DJ and dancing; gourmet food; Halloween costume
contest (at 1pm) and more. Proceeds benefit enrichment
programs and school improvements. Chabot School,
6686 Chabot Road (cross street Patton). More info:
Hope, 967-2294 or www.chabotelementary.org.
Claremont Middle School Auction
y
y Family Story Time: Stories, songs and rhymes (kids
to age 5). Every Saturday, 10:30am.
y
y Pre-School Story Time: (ages 2 to 5) 1st and 3rd
Wed., 10:30am.
y
y Baby and Toddler Story Time: (kids to age 2) 1st
and 3rd Wed., 10:30am, upstairs.
Special Events:
All events are FREE and open to the public.
y
y Mon, 10/10, 7:30pm. Amnesty International Meet-
ing (2nd Mon. each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
yy MoChA and the City of Oakland’s annual juried
exhibit of art by Oakland students (K – 12), made
from re-used and recycled materials. Entries due
by Nov. 13. Attend the Re-Create Workshop on
Friday, Oct 14, 3:30 to 5pm to make something for
the exhibit (or to take home).
yy VHS Give-Away: Discontinued collection of used
children’s VHS tapes will be given away free on Sat,
Oct 15, 10am to 2pm. Includes some not available on
DVD, some classics and lots of non-fiction.
yy Halloween Celebration: Annual Not-Too Scary
Stories on Tues, Oct 25, 7pm. All invited to come
in costume. Also, decorate a Trick-or-Treat bag.
yy Library Tours: On Sat, Nov 5 at noon, the Teen
Advisory Board will give tours for children 6 -12 who
want to know what goes on behind the scenes at
the library. Advance sign-up now.
FOR TEENS
Sat, Oct 29, from 6 to 10pm. “Scarin’ Up Some Change”
at a festive Halloween-theme fundraiser (for adults only).
Costumes are encouraged. Freaky food, deadly drinks,
mad music and fabulous items to bid on. Tickets: $20 in
advance; $25 at the door. Proceeds support enrichment
programs: band and orchestra; digital media and film;
garden; art; library and much more. Uptown Body and
Fender, 401 26th Street. Info and to purchase tickets:
Michelle, 917-1780 or mdb.pta.oakland@gmail.com
or www.claremont.org.
Women’s Cancer Resource Center
(WCRC)
y
y Wed, 10/12, 7pm. Local author Marissa Guggiana: Off
the Menu: Staff Meals from America’s Top Restaurants.
y
y Sun, 10/16, 3pm. Adam Mansbach: Go the F**k
to Sleep.
y
y Thurs, 10/20, 7pm. Local author Adam Metz: The
Social Customer: How Brands Can Use Social CRM
to Acquire, Monetize, and Retain Fans, Friends and
Followers.
y
y Sun, 10/23, 3pm. Poetry Flash in celebration of the
publication of Kenneth Patchen: A Centennial Selec-
tion, with editor Jonathan Clark, Bart Schneider
and poet friends.
A lineup of fundraising events to celebrate the WCRC
25th Anniversary, ongoing through Feb. 2012.
y
y Thurs, 10/27, 7pm. Local author David Darlington:
An Ideal Wine: One Generation’s Pursuit of Perfec-
tion – and Profit – in California.
y
y Art show/sale celebrating the creativity of women
50 and over: painting, weaving, book art and more.
Sunday, 10/23, 1-5pm. WCRC, 5741 Teleg. Ave.
y
y Sun., 10/30, 3pm. Launch party for the 10th anniver-
sary double issue of Monday Night Magazine #10,
which publishes new writing from all over the world,
including many Oakland writers. Reading from Annam
Manthiram, Christine Choi and Patrick Duggan.
y
y Rockridge Ninjas Anime Club: Ages 13 and up,
watch and talk about anime (Japanese animation).
Second Tues. each month 5 to 6:30pm.
y
y 25th Anniversary Cabaret: an evening with the
Duck’s Breath Mystery Theater. Wed, 11/9. Reception
at 6:30pm; performance at 7:30. Julia Morgan Theater,
2640 College Ave. Tickets ($25) and more info about
other events: Pat, 601-4040 x 105 or www.wcrc.org.
East Bay Mini Maker Fair
y
y Teen Advisory Board (ages 14-18): Advise the library
how to better serve teens. Get community service
credit for school. Snacks provided. 1st Saturday
each month, 4 to 5pm. More info: Susy, 597- 5017.
FOR ADULTS
y
y Sun,11/6, 3pm. Publication party for 2 local authors:
Alvin Orloff: Why Aren’t You Smiling? and Stephen
Beachy: Boneyard.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. More info
(and other events and discussion groups): 653-9965
or events@dieselbookstore.com.
First Friday Monthly Square Dance
in North Oakland
Sunday, Oct, 16, 10am to 5pm. A family day of do-it-
yourself creativity, learning and fun for all ages to benefit
Park Day School. Make unique hand-crafts; music;
local food; DIY science and technology; educational
workshops and more. Sew your own Halloween costume.
Sponsored by the parents of Park Day School, 360 42nd
Street (at Opal). Tickets and more info: Cathy, 653-0317
or http://ebmakerfaire2011.eventbrite.com/.
y
y Writers Support/Critique Group: All writers welcome.
Bring 16 copies of up to 5 pgs. (double-spaced, MS
margins) of any prose for on-site reading/discus-
sion (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.
Music by The Squirrelly String Band. Calling by Jordan
Ruyle. Every 1st Friday of the month from 8-10pm. All
levels welcome; all dances taught on the spot. $10-5
sliding scale donation. The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501
Telegraph Ave. Info: http://squirrellystringband.com.
y
y Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice and
referrals. First Tues. each month, 5 to 7pm (advance
Shopping? Find it in Oakland!


October 8, 2011
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
FOR SALE
in ROckRidgE
5350 Bryant Street    $649,000
2 Beds/ 1 Bath in Rockridge
Sunny & Charming Craftsman Bungalow.
Remodeled Kitchen that opens to the
backyard.
Award Winning chabot Elementary School
www.5350Bryant.com
cOming SOOn
in ROckRidgE
manila Avenue
2 Beds & 1 Bath
Craftsman Bungalow on a Quite Street.
Nice Architectural Detailing
Lawton Avenue
3 Beds/2 Baths
Shingled Craftsman Bungalow Above
College.  Hardwood Floors, Formal Living
& Dining Room.
Award Winning chabot Elementary School
Needed-
Nice
Homes
with
good
Rockridge Locations continue to sell
quickly. We need more homes to
sell. Well qualified buyers are taking
advantage of the extremely low interest
rates available now. Call or email me
for more information. 510-612-2547 or
ronkriss@jps.net
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

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482-2227  Seamus
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