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VOL. 27       NO. 5       ISSUE NO. 289        May 5, 2012                       CIRCULATION: 5, 800 Residences; 200 BusInesses

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

On the Nature and Likelihood of Soundwalls Coming to Rockridge

Soundwalls: What are they? What
can (and can’t) they do? Do we
want them? If so, how do we get
them? If not, what should we do?
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair
emeritus, and Ronnie Spitzer,
Fourth Bore Coalition vice-chair
The possibility of the construction of
soundwalls along Highway 24 through
parts of the Rockridge-Temescal area has

/D. Kinkead

Transparent soundwalls installed on
I-580 at the Estudillo Overcrossing in
East Oakland. Similar to Rockridge
area Highway 24 sections that span
open space below the roadway.
raised many questions. This fourth article
on soundwalls (following up on those in
the May, June and July 2011 issues of The
Rockridge News) will consider the nuts-and-
bolts of soundwalls, some “urban legends”
➧➧On Soundwalls, page 12

Peralta in Bloom: a Feast of Spring Fun on May 12
Cakes and Spiders and a DJ, Oh My!

by Michelle Quinn, Peralta parent
Mark your calendar for Peralta Elemen-
tary School’s 10th annual spring
festival, Peralta in Bloom on Saturday, May
12, noon to 4. The free event is open to all.
Peralta in Bloom is a celebration of the
wider Peralta community, the school gardens
and the school’s students who will need to
blow off some steam after two weeks of
testing. As well as a barbecue and other
great things to eat, there will be a climbing
wall; free bouncy house; arts and crafts; free
face painting; carnival games and animals
to visit at the petting zoo. Don’t forget to
bring an old shirt for the silkscreen station.
/Ian Martin
Last year’s selection of cakes. You
could win one like them this year.
➧➧Peralta in Bloom, page 10
Ride for a Reason: Be There With Us in
the Home Stretch— May 12
17
May 2012 RCPC Town Hall Meeting
AGENDA
by Mike Napolitano, ride co-organizer
Now in its fourth year, Ride for a Reason is a bike ride from
Oakland to Sacramento to draw attention to the funding crisis
for California schools, and to raise critical funds for enrichment
programs in several local
n Cycling in the Urban World: Tips for
Bicycle Maintenance and Riding Safety
May is National Bicycle Month. Spring is here and
people not yet out cycling are getting ready to do
so. Is your bike up to mechanical snuff? Got all your
road safety tips in mind? The RCPC May Town Hall
program will provide you with helpful maintenance
and safety tips for an enjoyable biking season.
➧➧Ride for a Reason, page 10
BRT: Downt’n Oakland  San Leandro
While RCPC has long been a supporter of public transit, the
RCPC board has had reservations about AC Transit’s plan
to convert two lanes of Telegraph Avenue into exclusive bus lanes
for a bus rapid transit (BRT) route from San Leandro to Berkeley.
The plan threatened to divert traffic from the displaced lanes onto
local Rockridge streets. Berkeley rejected the proposal.
At the AC Transit board’s public hearing held April 25, RCPC
board member Alex Naughton delivered the organization’s formal
opposition to the plan. At the end of the meeting, the transit board
voted unanimously to pursue BRT between downtown Oakland and
San Leandro. Details in the June newsletter.  — Stuart Flashman
n	City Moves to Improve Cycling Safety
Also on the agenda is a presentation by a city
representative describing planned bike lane
improvements in Rockridge for cyclist, pedestrian
and motorist safety.Rockridge.
RCPC Town Hall Meeting:
Thursday, May 17 | 7:30-9 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College at Manila


May 5, 2012
2.

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY

Essays on matters of local interest are invited for consideration
as Op-Ed pieces for The Rockridge News. Please limit length to
450 words and submit to editor@rockridge.org.
Views expressed in Op-Ed essays do not necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge News,
its editor, or the board of directors of the Rockridge Community Planning Council.

5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon, Tues:
Weds, Thurs, Sat:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.

Tue: 12:30 – 8 p.m.

Wed, Thu, Sat: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 12 – 5:30 p.m.
Peralta Colleges Parcel Tax
Opens Doors, adds Support
for Community Students

12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
CLOSED: Sundays and Mondays.
and Tuesday, May 29, Memorial Day.
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, 2012-2013
Andrew Charman	��������������Chair
Christopher Chin	�������������Vice-Chair
Laura Schlichtmann	�����������Secretary
Cesar Angobaldo	���������������Treasurer
Stuart Flashman	�����������������Chair Emeritus
Bernard Baltaxe, James Kachelmeyer, Michael Kan,
William Kaufner, Don Kinkead, Alex Naughton,
Douglas Oliver, Ronnie Spitzer, Ann Winterman
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
an independent
Citizen’s Over-
sight Committee.”
In addition, the
district would be
obligated to file an annual report every
January with the board of trustees that
contains the amount of funds collected and
expended, and the status of projects.
The resolution also requires that every
dollar raised by Measure B go directly to
support core educational programs in Eng-
lish, math and science, essential disciplines
for acquiring new job skills, training for
new careers or transferring to a four-year
college or university. Approximately $8
million in revenue for the academic year
2012-2013 alone would help restore nearly
500 classes and create space for as many
as 1,500 full-time students. The revenue
would also provide academic support for
students and preserve quality instruction.
“When the state can’t support our stu-
dents, we have a duty to appeal to our local
community for help,” said Chancellor Wise
E. Allen, Ph.D. The Peralta Colleges, which
have seen
by Cy Gulassa, president, Peralta
Community College District board of
trustees
Rather than cut hundreds of classes and
turn away thousands more students,
the board of trustees of the Peralta Col-
leges – Berkeley City College, College of
Alameda, and Laney and Merritt Colleges
in Oakland – recently voted to place a local
parcel tax, Measure B, on the June ballot.
Measure B, if approved by a two-thirds
majority, would provide for a $48 per year
tax on each parcel in the college district,
raising $8 million annually to help open
doors for more community students. The
new revenue, which expires in 2020, would
help offset the massive reductions in state
apportionments that have already forced our
community colleges to slash courses and
deny access to thousands of local students
at a time when demand is soaring.
In its binding resolution, Peralta’s board
made clear that the funds would “stay in
our community and could not be taken
away by the state, no funds would be used
for administrator salaries, or benefits, and
all expenditures would be monitored by
Cy Gulassa
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
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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
➧➧Peralta Colleges, page 10
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
  June 2, 2012
  June deadline is May 17, 2012.
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.)


May 5, 2012

3.

April Town Hall
Meeting: Elections
and Land Use

The RCPC Land Use Committee generally
meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month
at the Rockridge Branch Library, Upstairs
Meeting Room, 7:30 p.m. Next meeting: May
23. Subject to change. Check rockridge.org the preceding week
for the full meeting agenda.
Committee Notes: This month’s meeting is Wednesday, May 23. Agenda topics include
updates on the Rockridge Shopping Center and College Avenue Safeway projects. Contact Stu
Flashman, 652-5373 or chair@rockridge.org, for a copy of the agenda. Land use committee
meetings are generally open to the public.

by Stuart Flashman, Land Use chair
The April Town Hall Meeting, which
doubled as RCPC’s annual member-
ship meeting, focused on two traditional
RCPC activities – elections for the board of
directors and discussion of land use issues.
The meeting began with a candidates’
forum, with six of the seven board candi-
dates providing a short statement of their
qualifications and interests, followed by a
lively question-and-answer period.
After that there was a break in the meet-
ing so that the 32 RCPC members present
could vote for the candidates of their choice.
The six elected candidates, in alphabetical
order, were Bernard Baltaxe, Christopher
Chin, Stuart Flashman, James Kachelmeyer,
Alex Naughton, and Laura Schlichtmann.
(The seventh candidate, Douglas Oliver,
was appointed to the one-year appointed
board seat at a special board meeting the
following Sunday.)
After the break, Land Use Committee
chair Stuart Flashman presented a short
update on the land use issues facing RCPC,
focusing on the two Safeway projects –
the College/Claremont Safeway and the
Rockridge Shopping Center. (See Land Use
Committee Update, at right, for details.)
Also mentioned was the city’s upcoming
reconsideration of off-street parking require-
ments as part of its citywide rezoning process
and AC Transit’s pending consideration of
the Bus Rapid Transit Project (BRT) on
Telegraph Avenue. (See initial report, page
1. A fuller report will be presented in the
June issue of the newsletter.)
ten issues that we hope the revised plans
will address. It seems likely that the draft
Environmental Impact Report for this project
will be published some time this summer.
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee chair
■
■College Avenue Safeway
Shopping Center Project:
College & Claremont Avenues
RCPC has retained an attorney who
specializes in California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) issues, Michael Graf,
to advise it during the remaining portion of
the administrative process for this project,
which would replace the current 22,500 sq.ft.
store with a 62,000 sq.ft. shopping center.
Peterson Vollman (pvollman@oaklandnet.
com, 238-6167), the city planner assigned
to the project, is still reviewing the 2000-
page administrative draft of the city’s EIR
consultant’s responses to comments on the
Draft EIR (circulated for public comment
last summer). At the moment, he expects the
final EIR will be released to the public and
submitted to the Planning Commission for
certification some time this summer. (Just
in time to conflict with people’s vacation
plans!) We hope, given the document’s size
and the inconvenient time, that the city can
be persuaded to wait until September to
consider whether to certify the document.
■
■Rockridge Montessori School
Expansion Project,
5610 Broadway
■
■College Preparatory School
Expansion Project,
6100 Broadway
Decisions are pending on these two
minor conditional use permit applications
for expansions of Rockridge private schools.
See the April, 2012 Rockridge News (online
at www.rockridge.org) for more details on
the two projects and RCPC’s concerns.
The city planner for the Montessori
project is Ulla-Britt Jonsson (ujonsson@
oaklandnet.com, 238-3322); for the Col-
lege Preparatory school it is Aubrey Rose
(arose@oaklandnet.com, 238-2071).
■
■21st Amendment Beer
Emporium (name subject to
change), 5330 College Avenue
At its April meeting, the RCPC board of
directors voted unanimously not to oppose
this project for a store that would include sale
of bottled/canned microbrewery and exotic
beers as well as facilities for onsite beer tast-
ing. The board asked that the owner meet
with neighboring businesses and residents
to assure that any concerns are addressed
before a use permit is granted.
Interestingly, a similar proposal has sur-
faced at the north end of College Avenue, in
the block of stores across from the College
Avenue Safeway. The land use committee
expects to discuss this project with the
applicant soon, perhaps at its May meeting.
■
■Rockridge Shopping Center
Rebuild Project: Broadway &
Pleasant Valley
According to Daren Ranelletti (DRanel-
letti@oaklandnet.com, 238-3663), the
planner handling this project, Safeway’s
shopping center division expects to submit
revised plans for the major expansion of this
retail center very shortly. RCPC, in coopera-
tion with other North Oakland neighborhood
groups, has submitted to Safeway a list of
Claremont School Principal
Recommendation
Committee Makes Progress
Selecting a permanent principal for Clare-
mont Middle School is moving forward
consistent with the hiring plan outlined by
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)
Regional Executive Officer Mia Settles
and Kyla Johnson-Trammell, the district’s
Director of Talent Development, at public
meetings held in February and March.
OUSD policy calls for the creation of
recommendations to the district and the
board of directors. At the public meetings,
Settles and Johnson-Trammell said the
goal of the process is to select a principal
who is well qualified for the job, and who
a Principal Recommendation Committee
(PRC) that includes teachers, school staff,
parents or guardians, and one community
representative. The role of the PRC is to
interview a short list of qualified candidates
proposed by the district, and to make hiring
➧➧Claremont Principal Process, page 5


May 5, 2012
4.

Many Thanks to
Clean Up Crews
by Carol Behr, FROG chair
A
beautiful, sunny Earth Day saw an
impressive turnout at Frog Park for a
morning cleanup and a fun 10th anniversary
celebration in the afternoon as more than
100 volunteers — adults and children —
joined in to clean the park, play structures,
the creek, and pathway and planted areas.
When children see adults volunteering
for an Earth Day cleanup, they see adults
as role models making the effort to steward
the earth and community resources. A huge
amount of work was accomplished, thanks
to Rockridge and Temescal neighbors and
friends. Our thanks to Mara Gendell for
the festive graphics, and the dedicated
captains who supervised: Howard Ferrier;
Barney Smits; Jimmy Pedersen; and Daniel
Orenstein.
Our thanks to Bakesale Betty’s for
the banana bread, Jean Littlejohn for ably
staffing our registration table, and Ronnie
Spitzer for acting as our “gofer.”
A special thanks to Rockridge’s Girl
Scout Troop #32619, Cub Scout Troop
#274 and the DMV Neighbors Association
for their hard work all morning. We are
also grateful to local businesses and the
Rockridge Library for posting flyers and
announcing the events.

Earth Day Volunteers Make Frog Park
Shine for Anniversay Celebration
Construction Crews Recall Park’s Early Days
Pictured at left are some of
the Big Build captains and
committee leaders. Front row,
from left: Barney Smits, Theresa
Nelson, Gail Durkin, Kyle
Faulkner, Eileen Fitz-Faulkner,
Steve Costa, Carroll Moore.
Back row: David J acobs,
Ken Cluff, Tony Kay, Peter
Hollingsworth, Jimmy Pedersen.
Photography:
www.kenricephotopeople.com

Volunteers Celebrate 10 years of FROG Park
Over 200 adults and kids participated in the 10th Anniversary Celebration, com-
memorating FROG Park’s founding a decade ago. While kids played games on the
grass, entertainers enthralled the crowd with magic tricks, juggling feats, and whirling
ropes. People instrumental in nurturing and bringing the park to fruition recollected the
past and contemplated the park’s next 10 years.
“When I started a group of young parents to build a children’s park in Rockridge in
1992, none of us dreamed that less than 10 years later, we would have this incredible
park and two magnificent hand-built play structures in the midst of our community.
After raising about a half-million dollars from our community, plus over $2 million of
public funds, together – with more than 1,300 volunteers – we built the park, and now
maintain and continue to improve it. Everyone we invited here today to speak played
an important role in building this park, and they will tell you this extraordinary story
of partnership and the people who made this dream a reality.”
— Theresa Nelson, FROG Park co-founder
“There are few moments in one’s life or in the life of a neighborhood when you
are offered an opportunity to create and taste the spirit of community. For me and
for this neighborhood, what we did here 10 years ago was such a moment. Each of
us brought to this place our unique skills or learned new skills – hammering, auger-
ing, tiling, sawing, staining, cooking. For me, it all added up to be the most meaningful
community experience in my 35 years working in Oakland.”
—Steve Costa, FROG Chair, Big Build
Special Thanks:
10th Anniversary Program: Theresa Nelson, former FROG committee chair and
Mistress of Ceremonies; Jane Brunner, Oakland City Councilmember; Eileen Fitz-Faulkner,
Big Build general coordinator; Steve Costa, former FROG committee chair; David
Stein, former president, Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation; Kristen Zaremba, city
of Oakland Public Art Coordinator; Brian Carthan, city of Oakland Park Supervisor II,
Public Works; Assemblymember Nancy Skinner and Mark Chekal-Bain, district director
for Nancy Skinner; Howard Ferrier, FROG Committee Maintenance Coordinator; Carol
Behr, FROG Chair and Ronnie Spitzer, event co-organizer; Al Hussian, sound system;
Studio One, face painting and crafts; Dana Smith, juggler; Adrian Ehlman (Ace Magic),
magician; Karen Quest, cowgirl tricks; stage, Oakland Technical High School; donor
signs, Lisa Ferrier and Kappy Sugawara.
FROG Committee Members: Carol Behr, current FROG committee chair; Theresa
Nelson; Jimmy Pedersen, construction projects; Barney Smits, creek project; Ronnie
Spitzer, Treasurer and website; Alex Naughton, RCPC liaison to FROG.
Other Important Contributors: Annual Fall Maintenance, College Preparatory
High School freshman class; Jennifer Cooper, former FROG committee chair and Phase
Two coordinator; Mike MacDonald, bathroom project; Kate Runyan, Oceanus Mural
restoration project; Phase Two steering committee; Big Build captains, committee leaders
and volunteers; City and County staff: Ignacio de la Fuente and staff; Jim Ryugo, Parks
Facilities Manager; Zac Wald, Nila Kim and Kate Whitlow; Gene Mazza, Alameda County
Public Works Agency; Luciano Cortes, FROG gardener; Rockridge Community Planning
Council; Friends of Oakland Parks & Recreation; community maintenance volunteers.

Next FROG
Meeting: May 10
Rockridge Library,
Thursday, May 10, 7,30 p.m.
Join with neighbors
who care about FROG.


May 5, 2012

5.

Oakland Tech: 9th Grade Pre-Registration Night; Auction Success

Pre-Registration, 2012-13
Tech hosts a Pre-Registration Night on
Friday, May 11, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. in the
Girls’ Gym, to help each incoming 9th
grade family receive information about
school programs and electives and to select
courses for the next school year. Students
must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Note: Meeting time is by student last name:
Students with last name beginning with
R – Z: 4 p.m.; I – Q: 5 p.m.; A – H: 6 p.m.
Important: Pre-Registration Night
attendance is crucial. The school has space
for 550 freshmen in August 2012, but a
much higher number of incoming freshmen
are assigned to Tech for the 2012-13 school
year. Your attendance on May 11 is critical
so the administration will know you are
serious about becoming an Oakland Tech
student in August.
This is only pre-registration. You
still need to attend registration and
orientation in August.
2012 Tech Auction a
Smashing Success
Thank you to the Oakland community for
supporting the 2012 “This Is It” auction,
our school’s most significant fundraiser.
We are pleased to report that we grossed
more than $65,000, a new record. The total
includes almost 300 ticket sales, plus online,
silent and live auctions.
We appreciate the generous donations
from Rockridge businesses and residents to
our auction. Your special items, food, and
generous gift certificates enabled us to offer
a tantalizing array of dinners, clothing, food,
wine and outings to the Tech community.
Funds raised at our annual auction touch
all areas of the school, from classroom
support to grounds beautification, from
athletics to music, and from lab supplies
to technology.
— Collected and reported by
Tech parent Ronnie Spitzer
If you are unable to attend, it is essential
that you contact our two 9th grade counsel-
ors, Mr. Shawn Raeke (shawn.raeke@ousd.
k12.ca.us), or Ms. Teresa Williams (teresa.
williams@ousd.k12.ca.us) by e-mail or
phone (510/450-5400). If you fail to attend
pre-registration or to contact the school,
you risk losing your spot at Tech.
More information on Pre-Registration is
available on the Oakland Tech website: http://
oaklandtech.com/staff/blog/2012/04/05/
pre-registration-for-2012-13-school-year.
Claremont
Principal Process
Coming in June
Rockridge
Optometry’s Summer
from page 3
is also a good match for the particular
needs of Claremont students and the school
community.
The PRC has met weekly since early
April to develop interview questions for
the candidates, who are prescreened by
OUSD. Parent and community surveys
were tabulated this week. The results will
influence questions the PRC develops over
the next two weeks.
Trunk Show
Featuring Men’s and
Women’s EyeWear

Call (510)655-3797 or “Like” us
on Facebook for more
information
From the Claremont Middle School News on the
school web site: http://www.claremontms.org/.
Sign up online for regular bulletins.






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24


 
	


May 5, 2012
6.

Join Bike to Work Day: Thursday, May 10
Why Bike to Work?
Bike-to-Work Day is held annually
statewide to encourage bicycling as a
non-polluting and healthy commute option.
In Oakland, Bike-to-Work Day is part of
the City’s strategy to promote cycling as
affordable transportation, to improve public
health, and to stop global warming.
By cycling, you can:
Reduce air pollution: In the Bay Area,
43 percent of all car trips are two miles
or shorter. For short trips, bicycling is an
important tool to reduce air pollution: up
to 70 percent of emissions from a 10-mile
trip occur within the first mile.
Stay healthy and fit: Bicycling to work
is a great way to get exercise every day.
COLLINS ROOFING
Family Owned & Operated
Save money: With gas prices rising,
bicycling makes more financial sense
than ever; a bike’s annual operating cost
is estimated to be $120 (as opposed to.
$5,000-12,000 for a car).
Ease street congestion: 12 bicycles can
fit in the space needed to park a single car.
Traditionally, the biggest Energizer Sta-
tion in the East Bay is the annual pancake
breakfast in front of City Hall.
Ed. Note: Hank and Frank Bicycles will
host an energizer Station at the Rockridge
BART station from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
482-2227  Seamus
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work  •  Free Estimates
Lic # 695711
a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
Source: Oakland Web site: http://www2.oaklandnet.
com/Government/o/PWA/o/EC/s/BicycleandPe-
destrianProgram/OAK024651. Also see the East
Bay Bicycle Coalition at: http://www.ebbc.org/
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
Letters to the Editor
The Rockridge News welcomes letters to the editor. Your name, address, phone
number, e-mail address and city/neighborhood must be included for verification.
Only your name will appear with your letter. Letters may be edited for clarity
and brevity 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.
free review
Do you have the right
investments in place
to help you meet your
financial goals?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) — Why?
Editor:
Rockridge News CORE Article
Hits the Mark
Dear Ms Berne:
I drive daily along Telegraph Avenue
between Alcatraz and Bancroft at various
times, both peak commute and mid-day.
While the 1R articulated buses on that route
are often full (but hardly standing room
only) in the morning, they are nearly empty
during the rest of the day. Who exactly is
supposed to flock to these buses if AC gets
its way with BRT? Commuters from Contra
Costa? Right. Commuters from Rockridge,
Piedmont and Montclair, who won’t have
frequent bus connections with Telegraph
Avenue and no place to park if they drive
down? The current level of ridership hardly
justifies the extra-large buses now much less
a complete revamp of Telegraph and resulting
destruction of business and bike lanes.
Additionally, even at peak hours,
Telegraph Avenue traffic is busy but
seldom acutely congested, except around
Ashby — which is caused by Highway 13
cross traffic and wouldn’t be alleviated by
changes on Telegraph.
There is no justification for these
proposed drastic changes.
— Claire Lomax
At Edward Jones, our
business is to help people
find solutions for their
long-term financial goals.
Thank you very much for the outstand-
ing article on Oakland CORE in the April
6 issue of The Rockridge News. I taught a
CORE class in the Rockridge area last week
and one of the attendees was kind enough
to bring me a copy.
The importance of disaster preparedness
is a story that can be told in such a way that
people just throw up their hands and decide
that there is no point in preparing for an
apocalypse. You told the story accurately,
that is, in a way that emphasized the posi-
tive return on careful preparation. Simply
put, you got it right, and we who work in
the CORE program are grateful.
You mentioned the complete series of
CORE classes at the Rockridge Library
in May; I will be teaching CORE II on
Wednesday, May 9. I do hope to see you there.
— Jim Leeper, Oakland CORE
If you would like a free review of
your IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k) or
any of your other investments to
see if they are appropriate for
your long-term goals, please
call or stop by today.
Tyler Schenk-Wasson
Financial Advisor
.
490 Grand Avenue Suite 100
Oakland, CA 94610
510-663-0196
www.edwardjones.com  Member SIPC
What’s Wrong?
Get it off your chest.
E-mail: editor@rockridge.org


May 5, 2012

7.

20 New Trees Planned for Claremont Avenue Planting this Spring

by Valerie Thompson, Scenic Streets
volunteer
Twenty new sidewalk trees will be planted
along the 5200-5400 blocks of southern
Claremont Avenue this month. The project
is coordinated by Scenic Streets, the local
volunteer group who landscaped the nearby
highway ramps last year.
The Pyrus Aristocrat (Flowering Pear)
trees are a favorite species for the East Bay
and recommended by the city. They are
hearty, drought tolerant and grow quickly
up to 35 feet tall. This attractive species is
prized for its small white flowers in spring
and brilliant red-orange leaves in autumn.
“We are thrilled to see more trees along
our street,” says Anna Lawrence, one of
the property owners who gave permission
for two trees to be planted in front of the
well-manicured buildings that have belonged
to her family for four generations. “These
recent landscaping improvements will make
a lasting impact on the neighborhood.”
The new trees will be provided a steady
supply of water from a sophisticated aque-
ous gel donated by Dri-Water
Corporation of Santa Rosa.
Scenic Streets volunteers
will periodically fill upright
underground pipes with the
company’s biodegradable
goo which slowly releases
water to the tree’s root system
over a period of weeks. The
product is ideal for sites
where using a garden hose
isn’t convenient.
The trees will be sup-
plied and installed by Urban
Releaf, an Oakland-based
nonprofit authorized by the city to install
sidewalk trees. The group puts local youth
to work installing free trees for willing
property owners throughout Oakland. More
information can be found on its web site
www.urbanreleaf.org
This latest Claremont Avenue project
is part of Scenic Streets’ drive to improve
what its supporters refer to as the Rockridge-
Temescal Gateway. Although one of the
Claremont Avenue gets new street trees between
Clifton and Telegraph Avenue in a project
initiated and coordinated by Scenic Streets.
most popular routes serving these upscale
neighborhoods, this section of roadway has
looked forlorn for years.
Scenic Streets has set its sights on the
highway underpass area near the Dog Run
as its next renovation project. It intends to
improve both the beauty and safety of the
dark and dingy roadway. Ideas for potential
improvements are solicited by the group on
its web site: www.scenicstreeets.org.

RDA Presents a College Avenue Spring Jazz & Wine Stroll
Join Us for “A Taste of Rockridge”
The Rockridge District Association
(RDA) has another Spring Jazz and
Wine Stroll on tap, another fun-filled eve-
ning on College Avenue, for the third spring
celebration in a row.
Last year’s spring event was well
received, with over 12 musical venues and

the opportunity for great shopping and
dining experiences. Come support your
local merchants as you stroll from 5 to 8
p.m. with a little wine, samplings of food
and entertaining street music. Spend some
time in one of our wonderful restaurants;
many will have in-house music as well as
offering specials to patrons.
And now for the who, what and where:
Who: that would be “you,” your family
and friends;
What: come for the Jazz, come for the
wine, come for the shopping, come for
the food and special offers.
Where: College Avenue, from Alcatraz
to Broadway;
When: Friday, May 11, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. for
your shopping and dining pleasure.
Spring
Rockridge design
firm providing
creative, livable
design solutions
•  Residential Remodels
•  Kitchens + Baths
•  Green Building Design
•  Color Consulting
May 11, 2012
             5-8 pm
W e ’ re  In  The   
neIghborhood
Jennifer Cooper, owner
5275 James Avenue
Oakland, CA  94618
5 1 0 . 6 5 2 . 5 0 3 6
pumpkinhousestudio.com
watch for the many special offers
available during your evening stroll


May 5, 2012
8.

Do-it-yourselfer develops
tool  library into Oakland hub

by Judith Doner Berne
Itaken from them.
And, “I owe a lot of credit to the (longer
established) Berkeley Tool Library,” he says.
“I pummeled them with questions – what
is most popular, what breaks down, what
should I buy?”
Born in Oakland, raised in Hayward, and
a Rockridge resident since 1973, Yurgelevic
kind of backed into a job he obviously loves.
Neither his degree in medieval history
from San Francisco State nor 30 years in
accounting with the Southern Pacific Rail-
road were his most important credentials,
he says.
“I told them that I’ve liked working on
my house all these years and I think I know
what people want,” Yurgelevic says.
In retrospect, “We do have some medieval
tools,” he jokes.
And that accounting experience proved
a serious asset as the library, which serves
Oakland, Piedmont and Emeryville resi-
dents, grew as a hub of free tools and advice.
“We had 325 tools when we opened and
tons of room,” Yurgelevic says. Now, he
catalogues more than 10 times that number
in the same ever more crowded space.
“Our very first month in January 2000,
we lent 51 tools.” Now, he records 4,000 or
so per month in spring and summer.
He was first a half-time employee. Now,
he works full-time, has a permanent part-
time assistant three days a week and three
part-time aides.
“So much gets done in Oakland due
to the tool library,” says David Rosen, a
Lake Merritt resident. “So many trees get
trimmed and lawns get taken care of. Just
check out the line snaking out the door at
opening time.”
To Rosen, who often stops in several
times a week, “It’s amazing that Ty and
the staff keep it all so well organized and
somehow manage to create a personable
and helpful environment.”
“One of our emphases is encouraging
people to do their own retrofitting and bolt-
ing,” Yurgelevic says. Although their normal
borrowing period is three days, retrofitting
tools can be kept for three weeks if the work
is done with a permit.
Rockridge resident Matt Duplessis bor-
rowed tools to secure his home around the
time that the tool library opened.
“I really appreciate having all those tools
as a resource,” Duplessis says. Just the other
day, “I was in the middle of a project and
n our move from metro-Detroit to
Rockridge, we may have gone overboard
in our desire to pare down to essentials
in the hammer and nail department.
Putting together the grill our children
gave us for a house present – oops, no
electric screw driver.
Mounting that corkboard on my hus-
band’s home office wall – oops, no electric
drill.
Cutting the Christmas tree trunk into
haul-away sizes – oops, no Sawzall.
Fortunately, Ty Yurgelevic has 3,600
tools he is willing to lend, from the tiniest
screwdrivers and files to demolition ham-
mers and multi-use ladders.
The long-time Rockridge resident has
lovingly presided over the Tool Lending
Library at the Oakland Public Library’s
Temescal branch since he was hired to start
it 12 years ago.
“I’m a real believer in this place. I would
come to this place even if I didn’t work
here,” says Yurgelevic, whose unofficial
title is “tool-lending specialist.”
He credits local residents who fought
for a tool lending library to help rebuild
and secure what fire and earthquake had
➧➧Community Tools, page 9
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May 5, 2012

9.

Community Tools
“I don’t get tired of talking about
the tool library,” says Rockridge
resident Ty Yurgelevic, who was
hired to launch it 12 years ago.
from page 8
my circular saw broke down. I was able to
run right over.”
‘‘We’ve had a tremendous number of
generous people who have donated expensive
tools,” Yurgelevic says. Still, 80 percent are
purchased through his annual $18,000 tool
budget that includes repairs, replacements
and additions.
He’s proud that a ready supply of weed
eaters – the library’s most popular tool
– “has kept a fair number of our patrons
employed. These aren’t big contractors,”
he says. “They depend on us.”
It’s also not unusual to see neighbor-
hood kids working on their bikes at the tool
library’s entrance. “If we’re not too busy,
we’ll help them,” Yurgelevic says.
So it was not surprising that members
of the community raised their voices when
the city’s financial difficulties threatened
the tool library’s continued growth.
“We needed to galvanize our support,”
says Brian Laczko, an architect and a driving
force behind the Friends of the Tool Library
group that formed in 2010. “We showed
up at one city budget meeting wielding all
kinds of tools” – successfully.
In addition, the Friends group, which
meets at 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of
Temescal Branch Tool
Lending Library
5205 Telegraph Avenue at 52nd
Street; 510/597-5089
http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/
Branches/temtll.htm
Hours:
Tuesday: 12:30 – 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday: Noon – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
/Judy Berne
“There always seems to be things to
fix in the back yard where the children do
most of their outside play,” Yurgelevic says.
And, oh yes, like you and me, he knows
a good place to borrow tools.
the month at the Kingfish Pub, has taken
over responsibility for the free classes the
tool library offers several times a year.
In his spare time, Yurgelevic continues to
work on many aspects of his 1911 Craftsman
home – also the site of wife Lauren Larson’s
day care center, “Home Away From Home.”
In addition to the outdoor furniture he
recently built from salvaged redwood, the
yard features a Yurgelevic-constructed swing
set and portable sand box surrounded by
the synthetic turf he substituted for grass.
Their adult children, Jacob and Kate,
work alongside Larson at the center where
new granddaughter Zaira, four months, is
a built-in participant.
The tool library is free to residents of
Oakland, Piedmont and Emeryville. First
time borrowers will need an Oakland Library
card – tool library staff can issue one on
the spot – a photo ID, and a piece of mail
addressed to them at their local address.
Judy Berne was a writer, columnist and editor for
local newspapers in metro-Detroit. Since moving
here in 2011, she is learning about Rockridge through
its residents. Her e-mail is judyberne@att.net.
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May 5, 2012
10.

cuts to community college budgets. “The
strategic goal of Measure B,” he said, “is to
ask the community to help us end rationing
and assure all students in our district a fair
chance to fulfill their educational goals.”
The Peralta Colleges Trustees and faculty
and staff strongly support the proposal.
Measure B is endorsed by an array of
political and civic figures, labor unions,
the Oakland Chamber of Commerce,
the Oakland Tribune, Berkeley Mayor
Tom Bates, State Assembly Members
Loni Hancock and Nancy Skinner, and
Congresswoman Barbara Lee, among many
others. There is no formal opposition.
Ride for a Reason
Peralta Colleges
from page 1
from page 2
Oakland public schools. California funds
its schools at 25 percent below the national
average. The future of our state is at stake.
The ride takes place Saturday, May 12.
We are in the home stretch. There are many
ways to show your support:
their budgets cut by some $20 million by
the Legislature over the last several years,
serve the 800,000 residents of Alameda,
Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland and
Piedmont. The community has a history
of strong support for the Peralta Colleges.
Since taking office in 2010, Chancel-
lor Allen has reorganized management,
overhauled finances, implemented all the
recommendations of the accrediting commis-
sion and instituted many reforms that have
invigorated morale and brought acclaim for
the Peralta Colleges throughout the state.
Chancellor Allen believes Measure B
is key to reversing the downward spiral in
service to students forced by relentless state
■
■Pledge at www.rideforareason.
dojiggy.com. One hundred percent of every
dollar raised goes to enrichment programs
at Claremont MS, Oakland Tech, Emerson
School and Oakland International High.
Donations are tax deductible.
Trustee Cy Gulassa, a resident of Rockridge,
represents Peralta Board Area Six, which includes
North Oakland and the Berkeley hills. He is a
former editor of The Rockridge News.
■
■Come to the rally at Claremont
Middle School Friday, May 11, from 9:30
to 10:30 a.m. in the gym to hear speakers
including Assemblymember Nancy Skinner
and Oakland Board of Education President
Jody London.
■
■Whether you bike or drive, join the
rally at the California State Capitol building,
1400 Tenth Street, Sacramento, Saturday,
May 12, from 4 to 5 p.m., to hear keynote
speaker Patricia Rucker of the state Board
of Education.
With your support, we will make a
difference.
Peralta in Bloom
from page 1
This year’s theme is Cultivating the
Local. The barbecue will feature locally
pastured pork and tofu burgers made from
organic soy in Oakland. The festival will
include a veggie rolls station for kids to make
and explore new tastes of locally grown
vegetables and grains from organic farms.
There will be a smoothie station of locally
grown fruits from farms near Watsonville.
Not to be missed is the cake walk, where
you can win one of dozens of delightful and
colorful cakes. It is Peralta’s version of musi-
cal chairs with a DJ spinning the records.
Many local non-profits will be at the
festival as well, including Studio One and
the East Bay Depot for Creative Re-Use.
Our basket raffle will feature a range of
prizes from local businesses, museums, and
community supported agriculture.
While the event is free, Peralta in Bloom
is a fundraiser; proceeds support the school’s
many programs, such as arts and sports.
Think of the day as a way to have fun and
help the school at the same time.
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
CCA EXTENSION / SUMMER 2012
CERAMICS
DRAWING
Offerings range from one-session workshops
to more comprehensive courses. Register early
to ensure your place in class.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
ILLUSTRATION
INTERIOR DESIGN
San Francisco campus / 1111 Eighth Street
(at 16th and Wisconsin)
JEWELRY / METAL ARTS
Oakland campus / 5212 Broadway
PAINTING
(at College Avenue, near Rockridge BART)
PHOTOGRAPHY
cca.edu/extension
SOFTWARE COURSES


May 5, 2012

11.
Checking In On the
Status of the Arts

on auditions and coming performances.
Jason Hoffman, a recent Rockridge
newcomer, has similar visions for budding
musicians in our public schools. He
is collaborating with Yoshi Akiba,
co-owner of Yoshi’s Oakland/SF, to
bring professional musicians into the
schools and our talented kids to the
stage at Yoshi’s, strengthening music
and the arts in public school education.
The program is in its beginning stages
and can use a lot of help. Learn how to
participate at the program’s web site,
http://51oakland.org/.
Storytelling
Storytelling is close to the heart of
the Rockridge community, being that we
have several famous performers living
right here among us. Who has not thrilled
to the stories of Gay Ducey and Diane
Ferlatte? The 26th Bay Area Storytelling
Festival is Saturday and Sunday, May
18 and 19 at the historic Craneway
Pavilion, Marina Bay, Richmond. There
will be master storytellers from across
the nation; workshops on developing
stories for children; music; good food;
arts and crafts and more. On Saturday,
1:30-3:30, join the first ever Story Slam
and win a prize, maybe. Go to www.
bayareastorytelling.org for all the details.
If you go, take your bike to get there.
It’s a great ride.
The
Rockridge
Muse
In Our Schools
Times are definitely changing. Recently
there has been discussion nationwide
about the need to bring the arts back
into schools. It’s none other than the
corporate world that is leading the charge.
It appears the near-surgical excision
of the arts from our children’s school
curriculum is producing robots instead
of the creative, innovative work force
needed to help build a sustainable future
for our country. This comes after school
boards and government decried for years
the “wasteful spending” for crayons and
paint brushes, causing virtually every public
school to rely on their PTAs to support
any kind of art program at all. Thank
you, parents and teachers at Chabot and
Peralta for never giving up your fight.
Peralta in Bloom Spring Festival will be
held Saturday, May 12, from noon to 4
p.m. at the school grounds, 460 63rd
Street. Join the fun and help support a
good cause.
In Our City
Come check out the happenings
Downtown where the arts are driving
an economic revival. Did you know condo
vacancies have dwindled to a paltry few?
Galleries are opening up; restaurants,
music and theater are flourishing. Earlier
this month, the historic presentation
of the silent film classic “Napoleon,”
accompanied by the Oakland Symphony
at the Paramount Theater, drew over
3,000 attendees from across the nation.
The Fox Theater is drawing mega-crowds
as well.
Additionally, First Fridays is taking on
gargantuan proportions, with thousands of
visitors strolling up and down Telegraph
by Ortrun Niesar
Avenue, hungry for the unique creative
energy Oakland’s diverse community
has to offer.
Open Studios
The opening salvo for East Bay Open
Studios took place on First Friday, May 4,
with a preview gala and artists’ reception
at Pro Arts Gallery in City Center, 150
Frank Ogawa Plaza. It was a great way
introduce the East Bay Open Studios
weekends coming June 2-3 and 9-10.
Several Rockridge artists, including Marsha
Balian, Linda Lemon, Alec MacLeod, Liz
Maxwell and Dodie Shoemaker, will be
participating again this year. Visit www.
porartsgallery.org or call 510/763-4361.
At the web site you will find the online
gallery featuring the work of nearly
1,000 member artists.
Music
Bookending the month, BACH (Bay
Area Classical Harmonies) Last Friday
Concert Series brings classical works
to the public every last Friday of the
month at Pro Arts Gallery. Billed as
the “most versatile classical music
organization in the Bay Area,” this fine
group of vocal and instrumental ensembles
uses classical music to reach across
generational and cultural lines. Under
the direction of Andrew Chung, BACH
gives young musicians the opportunity
to work alongside seasoned artists. Go
to www.bayareabach.org for information
Ortrun Niesar can be reached at oneiser@
sbcglobal.net or 510/652-6664.
Rockridge: 5400 College Avenue
Elmwood: 2930 College Avenue
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April 5, Holy Thursday 7:00p.m.
April 6, Good Friday, noon – 3:00 and 7:00p.m.
April 7, The Great Vigil, 8:30p.m.
April 8, 8:00a.m. and 10:30a.m.,
followed by Kenya Orphanage Fundraiser
Artisan Faire and Easter egg hunt.


May 5, 2012
12.

On Soundwalls
A street-level view of the
Estudillo Overcrossing shown on
page 1. The transparent panels
are lighter than the more usual
concrete soundwall construction
along Bay Area freeways.
from page 1
surrounding them, and the processes by
which they are or are not constructed.
Sources of Freeway Noise
Freeway noise comes from many sources:
tires on pavement, including noise as they hit
bumps, potholes, and cracks; engine noise,
which varies with the type of engine— cars
make some noise, diesel trucks and motor-
cycles make much more. While the noise
originates in the engine, most of it comes out
from the exhaust pipe, reduced somewhat by
the muffler; and the noise of air displaced by
cars and trucks as they travel. Trucks create
a distinctive and particular sound when
the driver applies engine braking or Jake’s
Brakes, a compression release mechanism
that releases a mechanical gargling sound.
All of this noise increases with the
number of cars and their speed. However,
as the number of vehicles nears the free-
way’s capacity, speed diminishes, as does
noise. Thus, a traffic jam produces far less
noise than free-flowing traffic. Weather
also affects noise levels, with perhaps the
biggest effect being increased noise from
tires moving on wet pavement.
What Can Soundwalls Do?
A soundwall’s basic act is to block or
deflect freeway traffic sound. Sound travels
as waves, but often behaves as if it were a
series of little balls. When the soundwave
balls hit a soundwall barrier, they bounce
off the wall in an organized manner (reflec-
tion); they bounce off the wall in random
directions (diffusion); or they stick to the
wall (absorption). A small amount of
sound will pass through the wall.
Because sound generally travels
in straight lines, placement of a soundwall
blocking the straight-line path between
the noise source and the listener serves to
deaden the noise. Conversely, if the line-
of-sight isn’t blocked, neither is the sound.
Soundwalls usually don’t help people living
on the upper stories of buildings.
People often worry whether the sound
reflected off a soundwall will increase
noise on the opposite side of the freeway.
The answer is: generally, no.
First, sound dissipates over distance. A
truck’s diesel exhaust noise, for example,
drops by five decibels (dB) with each
doubling of the distance from the truck.
[A decibel is a unit of “loudness.” A 10 dB
noise difference will make a noise sound
half as loud.] The truck noise that travels
across the freeway, hits a soundwall and
bounces back, will be five dB softer when
it gets back to where it started
The second factor is diffusion. If the
soundwall has a rough surface (as do most,
by design), a lot of the sound will bounce
back in random directions, spreading out
and dissipating its energy and noise level.
Even when sound bounces back the way
it came in, it is reflected back, like light
hitting a mirror, at the same angle that it
/D. Kinkead
came in. Most freeway noise starts near the
roadway surface. When it hits the sound
wall, it’s going up. When it bounces off the
soundwall, it keeps going up. By the time
it gets to the other side of the freeway, it’s
many feet above the freeway. That reflected
sound generally dissipates harmlessly.
➧➧On Soundwalls, page 13

Demand is High in Rockridge

Closing date BR BA
Address
Original price
List price DOM
Selling price

3/30/12 2
1
5463 Broadway Avenue
$599,000
$579,000
32
$565,000
            4/3/12 3
2
5223 Boyd Avenue
$799,000
$799,000
14
$880,000
          4/10/12 2 1.5
5321 Miles Avenue
$519,000
$419,000
231
$414,000
            4/17/12 2
1
400 Avon Street #3
$365,000
$365,000
0
$350,000

4/18/12 2
2
5405 Carlton Street
$399,000
$399,000
15
$395,000

4/27/12 4 3.5
206 Hermosa Avenue
$969,800
$950,400
60
$906,000

Average original list price to sales price is currently 96% vs 103% last year ·
There is currently a 1 month supply of inventory

Shopping? Shop Oakland, First


May 5, 2012

13.
On Soundwalls

roadway’s openness.
Building Soundwalls, or Not
The Alameda County Congestion
Management Agency (ACCMA*) Freeway
Soundwall Policy adopted in 2002 and later
revised, defined a review and ranking system
for retrofit soundwall projects. The policy
defines four criteria for determining if a
soundwall is warranted:
accepted by the ACCMA, is available at
http://tinyurl.com/6oejbee.
The next step is evaluating support in
the neighborhood for soundwalls through
property owners’ petitions.
A petition favoring construction of a
soundwall must be signed by a property
owner from 100 percent of the households
with a property line immediately facing
the proposed soundwall and 75 percent
of the households with a property line not
immediately facing the proposed soundwall,
but experiencing a minimum 5 dB in noise
reduction (typically 200-300 feet from the
roadway). If the required quotas of peti-
tion signatures aren’t submitted, the city
can appeal to the ACTC, if it feels public
support is nonetheless strong.
If enough qualifying signatures are
gathered and the city of Oakland supports
moving forward, a Noise Barrier Scope
Summary Report (NBSSR) process is
initiated. It must include:
from page 12
A Legacy of the Past
If Highway 24 were built today, sound-
walls would most likely be installed. Federal
and California regulations mandate sound
protection when new freeways are con-
structed. However, Highway 24 was built
before these regulations were in effect.
Therefore, soundwalls, if built, would be a
retrofit. That complicates matters. Not only
was the roadway not designed to accommo-
date soundwalls, but the surrounding area
comes very close to the freeway, leaving
little room to put them up.
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
A plus for soundwalls is the protection
they can offer to people living next to the
freeway. This is important in Rockridge
where the homes and the freeway are old.
Most Rockridge homes are not equipped
with double-paned windows and newer
insulating materials that could reduce noise
in the home. It is possible that soundwalls
could reduce freeway noise by 5 to 10 dB
for homes near the freeway.
However, the esthetics of Caltrans’
concrete block soundwalls are stark, at best.
Happily, that type of soundwall is not likely
to be built in Rockridge since Highway
24’s elevated structures weren’t built for
the extra weight of heavy concrete walls.
Caltrans has recently installed transparent
soundwalls on some nearby overpasses, as
shown in the accompanying photos. While
somewhat less effective in blocking noise,
they preserve views and a sense of the
■
■The existing or future predicted
exterior noise level is 65 dB.
■
■A reduction of at least 5 dB resulting
from the installation of a soundwall can
be achieved.
■
■The projected cost will not exceed
$45,000 per dwelling unit (based on year
2002 costs) affected by the soundwall.
■
■The residences were developed prior
to opening the freeway to traffic.
The process for implementing sound
walls is twofold: 1. the initial screening
process; and, 2. the Noise Barrier Scope
Summary Report (NBSSR) process, a
detailed noise study analysizing the four
criteria above.
The screening process starts with a
request for a soundwall. The jurisdiction,
in this case the city of Oakland, agrees to
sponsor the request and take responsibility
for coordinating public input. As one ele-
ment of the city’s settlement agreement with
Caltrans, an initial screening, or pre-NBSSR
study, was conducted by Caltrans’ consultant
along Highway 24 between Highway 13 and
I-580 to determine whether soundwalls were
warranted. The pre-NBSSR study identi-
fied four areas along SR 24 that meet the
criteria of the ACCMA soundwall policy
and are considered cost-effective.The study,
■
■A detailed cost estimate.
■
■Life cycle of the soundwall.
■
■Consideration of the environmental
impacts such as blocking residents’ views
or scenic vistas.
■
■Engineering feasibility.
Upon completion of the report, the city
of Oakland must hold a public meeting and
adopt a City Council resolution in support
of the proposed soundwall. The final step is
funding the actual soundwall construction.
The Oakland Settlement Agreement
provides Caltrans funding for Highway
24 NBSSRstudies, should they progress
to this stage, significantly shortening the
development process. Two soundwall
sections, eastbound from Vicente Way to
Broadway and westbound from Ross Street
to Telegraph Avenue, would receive $554,000
and $628,000 respectively for the studies.
If the NBSSR studies will not be pursued,
the agreement’s $8 million funding line will
be moved down to projects lower on the
final list (see http://tinyurl.com/7na7jhj).
An informational meeting on soundwalls
and the process of having them studied,
approved, funded and constructed will be
held in the near future. Check the RCPC
website at rockridge.org for more informa-
tion or contact info@rockridge.org.
Coming
Just
Sold!
Call
Me!
10
Offers!
Soon!
Shafter
Woolsey
Boyd
Ross
Daniel Stea
Rockridge
Broker/Owner/
Attorney
and beyond
since 1997
* The ACCMA has since been replaced by the
Alameda County Transportation Commission
(ACTC). Same job, different name.
510.867.4094
2907 Claremont Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705  N  DRE #01452156
         



May 5, 2012
14.

Licensed General Contractor
Craftsman Rehabs, Remodels: Kitchens,
baths, gates, fences, decks, doors, win-
dows. Professional and courteous. Fully
insured. Many local references. See www.
catconstruction.biz Craig 510/232-5978.
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.
June deadline is May 17, 2012.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
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.
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.
Learn Basic Bridge Skills
A great card game. Reasonable rates. Call
evenings. Josie 510/653-2141.
QUALITY GARDENING
Skilled Maintenance, Clean-ups, Aesthetic
Pruning, Real Estate Prep, Irrigation, Design
and Installation. Local refs. Ecologically
minded since 1995. Personal Attention,
Small Local Business. Free Estimates. Green’s
Gardens 510/593-3490.
Spring Special! Penelope’s
Aesthetics SkinCare Salon
25% off waxing and facial services. Come
visit my salon in a serene garden setting
and receive excellent, relaxing services
with a gentle and personalized treatment.
www.penelopecalef.com.By appointment:
510/594-1552.
RX APPLIANCE REPAIR
Washers, dryers, refrigerators, ovens, stoves,
dishwashers, etc. Over 20 years experience.
Thousands of appliances. Repaired right in
one visit. Call today for fast service. 510/689-
7188. rxappliancerepair@gmail.com
TAI CHI AND QIGONG
New and returning students welcome.
Cultivate your health through breathing and
awareness of this ancient gentle exercise.
Rockridge Methodist Church, Thursdays,
9:30 am. Saturdays, 9 am. For details please
visit www.harmonytaiji.com
HOUSE CLEANING
By Rockridge resident. Anna 510/326-3263.
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.
Spectacular Service
Housekeeping
We provide excellent housecleaning ser-
vice with greatest attention to detail. Local
recommendations. *Let us create free time
for you* www.spectacularhousekeeping.
com 510/228-5704. Free estimate.

Norman H. Burg, DDS
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
A Prevention Oriented Practice
Lic. #0670129
Your lovely home
deserves a lovely
landscape
Kathleen Carson-Asher
Designer,
Landscape Contractor
www.LANDesignBuild.us
510/531-4905
lic 960326


May 5, 2012

15.

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.
Lee: A Million Tiny Things: A Mother’s Urgent Search
for Hope in a Changing Climate.
■
■Mon, 5/14, 7:30pm. Amnesty International Meeting
Compiled by Jo Ellis
(2nd Mon. each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
Community Calendar
■
■Fri, 5/18, 7pm. Annual event for Students in UC
Berkeley Extension’s Post- Baccalaureate Writing
Program: poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
Treats from historic recipes. RSVP to reserve a spot;
Erica at 597-5017 or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org.
FOR TEENS
■
■Sun, 5/20, 3pm. Poetry Flash with Julie Bruck and
Sunnylyn Thibodeaux.
Residents and business members of NCPC’s 12Y
and 13X areas address crime and public safety. 2nd
Thursday each month, 7pm. Rockridge Library, upstairs
meeting room, 5366 College Ave. Confirm mtg. date at
www.rockridgencpc.com or chair@rockridgencpc.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
■
■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, 1 to 2pm.
■
■Wed, 5/23, 7pm. Poet Dana Gioia: Pity the Beautiful.
■
■Thurs, 5/31, 7pm. Local author and retired judge Lise
Pearlman: The Sky’s the Limit: People v. Newton, the
REAL Trial of the 20th Century?
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. More info
(and other events and discussion groups): 653-9965
or events@dieselbookstore.com.
Jazz at the Chimes
■
■Rockridge Ninjas Anime Club: Watch and talk
about anime (Japanese animation). Second Tues.
each month, 5 to 6:30pm.
FOR ADULTS
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN
■
■Pre-School Story Time: (ages 2 to 5) Every Thurs,
10:30am.
■
■Writers Support/Critique Group: All writers welcome.
Bring 17 copies of up to 5 pgs. (double-spaced, MS
margins) of any prose for on-site reading/discussion
(also welcome to come empty-handed). Note: date
change for May; 4th Saturday, 5/26, 1 to 5pm.
John Santos Latin Jazz Sextet. Sunday, 5/20, 2pm,
followed by artist’s reception and refreshments. Tickets:
$15 ($10 srs.60+ and students). Cash only at the door
starting at 12:30pm. A concert series featuring Bay
Area jazz musicians in a beautiful Julia Morgan venue.
Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Wheelchair
accessible. Free parking. More info at 654-0123 or
chimesjazz@gmail.com.
Wisteria Ways House Concert
■
■Toddler Story Time: (up to age 2) Every Thurs,
10:30am, upstairs (followed by Playtime).
■
■Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (to age
5). Every Saturday, 10:30am.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
■
■Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice and
referrals. First Tues. each month, 5 to 7pm (advance
sign-up starts 4:45pm at adult reference desk). Note:
volunteer lawyer leaves before 7pm if no more people
present.
■
■Origami for Mother’s Day projects: cards and
other decorations. Tues 5/8, 7 to 8pm and/or Thurs,
5/10, 3:30 to 5:30pm. All ages welcome; kids under
8 come with an adult.
■
■East Bay Chronic Pain Group: 1st and 3rd Tues.
each month from 3pm to 5 pm. Free. Susan Malley:
655-3278 or susanmalley@yahoo.com.
Claudia Schmidt: folk, blues and jazz with guitar and
dulcimer. Sat., June 2, 3pm; doors open 2pm (outside
venue; wheelchair accessible). $15-20 donation for
musicians (cash only at the door). 383 61st Street. Res-
ervations: RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.org or 655-2771.
Living Arts Playback Theater Ensemble
■
■Historical Fiction Book Clubs: 5/5 and 5/19
yy Ages 7 to 9: 11:30am to 12:30pm. Book discussion
followed by a craft.
yy Ages 10 to 13: 1:30 to 2:30pm.
■
■Social Security and Retirement Planning: Tuesdays,
5/15 and 6/12, 7 to 8pm. Presented by West Coast
Financial and Insurance Services. Info: Joseph
Karni, 869-9990.
ART EXHIBITS (call to confirm)
Gallery:
May: Sherry Qwint-Cattoche; Merritt College figure
drawing.
June: Oakland Art Assn.; Paintings
Lobby Display Case:
May and June: Rob Anderson Atelier; student work.
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 Tues, 5/29 for
Memorial Day.
Diesel Book, Poetry and Events
Benefit performance for the St. Augustine Kenya
Orphanage Project. Fri, 5/18, 7:30pm. St. Augustine
Church, 400 Alcatraz Ave. Read about the project at
www.staugustineoakland.com; more info or tickets:
Carol, 654-9709 or amaesing19@yahoo.com.
North Oakland Senior Center
Design, Installation and Maintenance
Native Plant Gardens & Stonework
Giant Community Flea Market: Sat, June 2nd, 8an to
3pm. Purchase vendor space $15 (Sr. Center members
$10). Open Mon. – Fri., 9am to 3pm. 5714 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Way. Subscribe to “The North Oakland Senior
Times” for full schedule of classes/events, lunch menus,
and volunteer opportunities. Info: 597-5085.
Andrea Hurd, Horticulturist and Stonemason
License #883905 h tel. 510.558.8429
www.mariposagardening.com
G
Studio One Art Center
Wanted: community members to participate
in an Advisory Council open to the public at
large. Meetings 4th Wednesday each month
(5/23), 7 -8pm, 365 45th St. For more info:
Director Karis Griffin, 597-5096.
All events FREE and open to the public.
■
■Thurs, 5/10, 7pm. Oakland author Tupelo Hassman:
Girlchild.
■
■Fri, 5/11, 4:30 – 6:30pm. Rockridge Jazz and Wine
Stroll with live music by the Fineberg-Seeling Quintet.
■
■Fri, 5/11, 7pm. Publication Party for local author Kenna
GRUBBCO.COM
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland


May 5, 2012
16.

JUST LISTED
BROWN SHINGLE FLAT IN ELMWOOD
Located just one block from the heart of Elmwood, this
spacious 3 bedroom 1 bath flat in a 2 unit building is
waiting for you to give it the TLC it needs to make it shine.
Listed at $490,000
Call Today! (510) 682-5917
RockridgeHomeSales@Gmail.com
www.Rockridge-RealEstate.com
Over 400 homes sold -
Experience Counts
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
Rockridge
Located on Market Hall’s Lower Level
Entry on Shafter Avenue
510-655-8808
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients
 For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

OProperty Management
www.curvesrockridge.com
Free Parking!
Across from BART
Open 7 Days
Mon- Fri  6:00 -7:30
Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon
31
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
Living? Love it in Oakland!
ROCKRIDGE
5327 College Ave
510.622.8300
ELMWOOD
2991 College Ave
510.883.7000
www.mcguire.com

aboutface&body
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serving you since 1981
AVEDA PRODUCTS
Now offering men’s waxing
3190 college avenue
at alcatraz
berkeley, ca 94705
p 510.428.2600
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sun-tues 10:30-5:30
wed-sat 10:30-8:00
FOR SALE – ROCKRIDGE
5925 Keith Ave    $575,000
3 Beds / 2 Baths
Charming Craftsman w/Unique Detailing,
Big Sunny Deck w/Hot Tub
Award Winning Chabot Elementary School
www.5925Keith.com
PENDING – ROCKRIDGE
5678 Ocean View Dr.    $925,000
3+ Beds / 1+ Baths      2-Story Home
Amazing Art’s & Craft’s Showplace.
Great Architectural Detailing Intact.
Detached Studio Space – Many possible uses.
Award Winning Chabot Elementary School
www.5678-OceanView.com
PENDING
5866 Birch Court      $1,275,000
3+ Beds / 2+ Baths
2,500+/-sqft 2-Story Home
Perfectly Redone Classic Home.
Recently Remodeled from the ground up.
Big Backyard, Amazing Spaces inside & Out.
Award Winning Chabot Elementary School
www.5866Birch.com
PENDING
COMING IN MAY
Miles Ave (not priced at time of publication)
3 Beds/ 2 Baths
Almost a New Home. An Extensive
Renovation just Completed.
All the Charm we Love but w/ the New
Systems we Crave.
MULTIPLE OFFERS ARE BACK!
Call or email for more market info.
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
L A W T O N
510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@jps.net
“#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
A S S O C I A T E S
Over 100 Homes Sold in Rockridge
www.LawtonAssoc.com
R E A L   E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
Playing? Start in Oakland!