Extracted text · highlighting “Jody London”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 28      NO. 1      ISSUE NO. 296      January 5, 2013                    CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 BusInesses

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

City Approves Redesigned College Ave Safeway Project
Jane Brunner Mediates Settlement: Neighbors, Corporation Agree on Modifications


Below, the entry of the redesigned
and enlarged pedestrian walkway
and plaza at 63rd Street, extending
through to Claremont Avenue. It
replaces a proposed central driveway.
The "Rockridge" sign in each
view remains a point of concern for
neighborhood negotiators and former
Councilmember Jane Brunner, who
pushed for the settlement.

Architect’s drawing above shows the new Safeway store
entrance, a stairway and elevator tower to rooftop parking and
the store’s  frontage in a street level view of College Avenue. View
point is roughly from Red Hanger Cleaners. See additional views
of the revised Safeway project, page 13. Graphics/Lowney Architects
Settlement Protects
Neighborhood in
Important Ways
January 17, 2013
RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Petitions Will
Measure Soundwall
Study Support
At a public meeting held late in
September, city of Oakland and
Caltrans representatives met with more
than 60 Rockridge community members
to discuss the dynamics of freeway noise
and how soundwalls work; present a 2009
study of potential soundwall locations
in the Rockridge and Temescal districts;
and discuss the process of determining
whether Oakland will invest in further
soundwall studies at those locations.
(Material presented at the meeting is
available at www.fourthbore.org.)
Caltrans’ noise consultant discussed
the findings of the 2009 “pre-soundwall”
study, which identified two locations where
soundwalls could be effective: eastbound
17
AGENDA
Petition Process: Yea or
Nay for Soundwall Study
Whether or not to proceed with major
studies of potential soundwall benefits
on SR24 will be decided by a petition
process to be discussed in detail by city
representatives at the Town Hall meeting.
                Details begin at right 
Oakland Today: Built on
Foundations of Old
Oakland and Rockridge of today are the
result of what Oaklanders of yesterday
built or demolished, fostered or neglected.
Rockridge resident Annalee Allen discusses
the Oakland Heritage Alliance (OHA) and
“Oakland: The Story of a City,” by Beth Bag-
well, an early OHA leader. Details, page 4.
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair emeritus
It’s done! After a final five-hour session
presided over by former District One
Councilmember Jane Brunner, Safeway
and its former adversaries, Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC),
Friends and Neighbors of College Avenue
(FANS) and Berkeleyans for Pedestrian
Oriented Development (BPOD), signed a
final settlement agreement on Safeway’s
College Avenue Shopping Center project. The
next evening, December 18, the City Council
gave its blessings to and unanimously
approved the modified project that the
settlement agreement had created. While
a tentative agreement had been reached in
November, it took an additional month of
negotiating and hard bargaining to convert
Thursday, January 17 | 7:30-9 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library,
5366 College at Manila
☞
➧➧Petitions for Study Process, page 3
➧➧Settlement Benefits N’hood, page 2


2.

January 5, 2013
2.

continuing 63rd Street, and widening it into
a pedestrian plaza. Now, 63rd Street residents
and College Avenue pedestrians looking east
will see, instead of a parking garage entrance,
a lively pedestrian area and the hills beyond.
Stepping back a little, we can also ask how
the revised project fits into the Rockridge/
Elmwood community.
As noted, the new pedestrian plaza should
help energize the area as both a shopping
attraction and a gathering place. This will
be far more beneficial than the current 1960s
suburban-style surface parking area. The added
shops at the College/Claremont junction will
also be more complementary to the shopping
area than was the former Union 76 service
station. The latter, along with the Shell station
across the street, did serve a useful role in the
community. That function is now reduced,
although nearby Stauder Automotive Service
continues to provide auto service and repair,
and there are several gas stations nearby on
Telegraph Avenue and Broadway.
Parking and Traffic
Parking and traffic will continue to be
problematic. Even the revised project may
make a bad situation somewhat worse, at
least in the short run. Long term, one can
hope that Rockridge will continue to point
the way to a less auto-oriented community.
Safeway can help with that by leasing its new
retail spaces to merchants who will draw their
Settlement
Benefits N’hood
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon, Tues:
Weds, Thurs, Sat:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
from page 1
Tue: 12:30 – 8 p.m.

Wed, Thu, Sat: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 12 – 5:30 p.m.
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED
CLOSED: Sundays and Mondays.
the deal into a legally binding document.
What Does the Deal Do?
Perhaps most importantly for the
community, the settlement agreement shrinks
the project by more than 10 percent from
what the Planning Commission approved in
July. That will reduce, although probably not
eliminate, the project’s traffic impacts. It also
holds Safeway’s feet to the fire by requiring
it to ensure that the project will not outstrip
its off-street parking capacity (which has
also been reduced, from 175 to 148 spaces).
One key to that was removing the project’s
full-service restaurant, and requiring the
community groups’ approvals before one can
be installed in the future.
Another protection for the community
is adding (at Safeway’s expense) Residential
Permit Parking (RPP) on the Oakland and
Berkeley residential streets around the project
that don’t yet have it.
The revised project also preserves views
of the Oakland Hills from College Avenue.
The prior two-story project would have totally
blocked those views. Not only is the revised
project a bit lower, it shifts the earlier-proposed
pedestrian street further north, effectively
Also: Tues., January 22
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
Christopher Chin	��������������Acting Treasurer
Stuart Flashman	�����������������Chair Emeritus
Bernard Baltaxe, Michael Kan, William Kaufner,
Don Kinkead, Ronnie Spitzer, Ann Winterman
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
➧➧Settlement Benefits N’hood, pages 12, 13
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.
/Don Kinkead
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is:
  February 2, 2013
  February deadline is January 17, 2013
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.)

Rockridge and Elmwood community members negotiated with Safeway to
achieve project design changes acceptable to both sides. From left: Ronnie
Spitzer and Stuart Flashman, RCPC; Glenn Alex, BPOD; Zack Walton, FANS;
Joel Rubenzahl, BPOD, and Jerome Buttrick, FANS. Andrew Charman, RCPC,
is not pictured. Organizations participating in the negotiations are: Rockridge Community Planning
Council (RCPC); Friends and Neighbors of College Avenue (FANS); Berkeleyans for Pedestrian Oriented
Development (BPOD).


3.
January 5, 2013

3.

settlement. This work included a series of
public meetings and comment periods that
resulted in a list of 21 potential projects to
respond to community concerns about the
addition of a fourth bore to the Caldecott
Tunnel. This list includes studies, not
construction, of potential soundwalls in
Rockridge and Temescal neighborhoods.
Known as Noise Barrier Scope Study Reports
(NBSSRs), the studies are prerequisites for
funding any future soundwall construction.
These costly studies are only conducted
if neighborhood support for soundwall
construction is assured (see article, left-
hand column).
At the January 17 RCPC Town Hall
meeting, city officials will present the next
steps in determining how neighborhood
support will be measured and whether or not
Oakland will go forward with the NBSSRs.
Petitions for
Study Process
More: Soundwall Town Hall Topic
The Soundwall
Study Process
Soundwall studies are on the agenda of
RCPC’s January 17, 2013 Town Hall
meeting, to follow up on the community
meeting Oakland held this past September
(see accompanying article, page 1).
A 2009 noise study showed that 135
properties in close proximity to SR24
between Broadway and Telegraph meet state
and local agencies’ criteria for soundwall
construction funding. To move forward with
the studies, Oakland must receive petitions
of support from the owners of at least 90 of
the properties (a 2/3 super-majority).
City representatives will present the
petition process at the January 17 RCPC
Town Hall meeting. On January 18, the
petitions will be available for downloading
and distribution. City staff will provide
a contact to answer questions about the
petitions; it will be up to study supporters
to obtain the needed signatures.
Signed petitions will be accepted for
one year. Signatures will then be counted.
If at least 90 signatures meeting the support
requirements above are received, they will
be verified via County Assessor records.
If 90 valid signatures are received, staff
will prepare a request for proposals (RFP)
to conduct soundwall studies at the two
locations.
For more information, come to the
January 17 meeting or contact city of Oakland
Caldecott project consultant Victoria Eisen at
victoria@eisenletunic.com or 510/525-0220.
from page 1
and westbound along SR 24 between
approximately Broadway and Telegraph
Avenue (see map, below). Furthermore,
more in-depth studies would be necessary
to determine the likely benefits of soundwall
construction and prepare the projects to
compete for construction funding. Such
potential soundwall studies are estimated
to cost a total of just over $1 million,
funding available from the Caldecott Tunnel
Settlement Agreement between Caltrans
and Oakland over the fourth bore project,
which awarded $8 million to the city. (See
Rockridge News issues of April, June,
September, October and December, 2012,
for more details.)
Since 2010, city officials have worked
with residents in the North Oakland
Hills, Rockridge, and Temescal
neighborhoods to identify
p roje ct s t o b e
funded by the
Broadway end
Proposed Soundwall Study Area: Hwy24,
Between Broadway and Telegraph
A re a s  p ro p o s e d  f o r
potential soundwall study
along SR24.
Telegraph end


January 5, 2013
4.

4.

Claremont Staff and Students Prepare for Science Night
Oakland: History
as Close as Your
Neighborhood
Are you curious about Oakland’s history?
Do you want to know where to get
more information about the city’s origins,
and how you can
get involved with
other residents who
want to preserve
Oakland’s unique
heritage?
M a r k  yo u r
calendars now
for the Thursday,
January 17 RCPC
meeting at the Rockridge Library, 7:30
p.m, when long-time Rockridge resident
Annalee Allen will present a program
about the origins of the Oakland Heritage
Alliance (OHA), a non-profit organization
well-known for guided neighborhood walks,
programs featuring the city’s history and
architectural landmarks, citizen advocacy,
and award-winning publications.
Allen will speak about one of OHA’s key
early leaders, a Rockridge resident when the
group first formed in the early 1980s. At
that time, Beth Bagwell was living on Miles
Avenue and wrote a weekly Oakland history
column for the Montclarion newspaper. She
also wrote and published “Oakland: The
Story of a City,” in 1981.
As OHA’s first board president, Bagwell
was asked to sum up the organization’s
mission in its first newsletter. She wrote:
“OHA cares about the Oakland of yesterday
because we care about the Oakland of
tomorrow. The environment we live in
today has been given to us from the past:
the buildings that remain, the layout of
the streets, the ethnic character of our
neighborhoods, the forgotten creeks, and
the lake that still forms the centerpiece of
our city. The Oakland of today is the result
of what Oaklanders of yesterday built or
demolished, fostered or neglected. This
is our inheritance. What we do with it is
our choice.”
This is a program for non-history buffs
and history buffs alike; you won’t want to
miss it.
A new edition of Bagwell’s book has
recently been released and is available in
local stores. It will also be for sale at the
meeting.

/Annalee Allen
Annalee Allen

8th graders
Malcolm
Bissell (l.),
Kaylen Scott,
and Nicole
Winston-
Sandefur use
chemicals to
demonstrate
how humans
exhale carbon
dioxide.
Photo/Malia
Lehman
Space, Robots, Science! Claremont School
Presents Hands-on/Minds-on Learning Night
Come learn from the young scientists
researching nature’s laws at Claremont
Middle School on College Avenue, across
from Trader Joe’s. See and touch the
mysterious non-Newtonian behavior of
Oobleck. Help students launch a gravity-
defying hovercraft. Visit 10 scientific
learning stations. Meet guest speakers
and scientists; learn about their jobs and
participate in student-led science activities.
A special “Earth Sciences Dinner”
starts Thursday, January 17 at 5:45 p.m.; an
“Atomic Physics Dessert” (liquid nitrogen ice
cream!) will be served at 7 p.m. In between,
enjoy the show, an event especially well
suited for families with 3rd, 4th and 5th
graders with curious minds. The fun, food
and excitement are free for all earthlings.
Join the students of Claremont Middle
School for this night of hands on, minds
on science fun.
Bring the whole family. The Claremont
students are eager to show you what they
have learned in their science classes.
Studio One Is Creating a Strategic
Plan; You’re Invited to Join In
Studio One Art Center is looking
for arts-minded members of the
community to join the Studio One
Advisory Council. You can be a voice
in developing Studio One’s adult
programming, community profile, and
more.
Meetings are held the fourth
Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8
p.m. at Studio One, 365-45th Street
between Broadway and Shafter Avenue.
The Wednesday, January 23, 2013 meeting
is the kick-off to creating the Studio One
Strategic Plan. Please join us: Get a taste
of what we’re all about and how you can
support the arts in North Oakland.
Studio One, a city-run, state of the
art studio facility, has been a valuable
part of the Oakland community for over
60 years and offers classes in ceramics,
jewelry, photography, painting, and much
more, for both children and adults.
Visit our web sites:
■
■Classes and information –
http://www.studiooneartcenter.net/
■
■City of Oakland – http://www2.
oaklandnet.com/Government/o/opr/s/
caprograms/OAK029784
■
■Join the Google Group for e-mail
updates: https://groups.google.com/d/
forum/studio-one-council
For more information: Alethia Walker,
Program Designer, 510/597-5027.


5.
January 5, 2013

5.

Survey Nears End: FROG Park Wants Your Opinion
f

rog wants your opinion on park
planning and improvements, and time is
running out for you to chime in. Remember,
you can help guide Frog Park improvements
and FROG decisions, by completing our brief
survey now. The survey closes January 31.
There are two ways to take the survey:
information.
— Carol Behr, FROG Chair
FROG Continues Monthly
‘First Sunday’ Cleanups
F
ROG’s monthly, family-friendly,
cleanups are usually held the first
Sunday of each month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
However, the next monthly workday has
been re-scheduled to Sunday, January 13,
after winter vacation time.
Join your friends and bring your kids
to rake, plant and tackle child-sized tasks.
The Oakland Tech BuildOn service club
partners with FROG on these events.
Meet at Big Frog Park at the Hardy Street
cul-de-sac. The park remains open during the
cleanup. Rain cancels. The FROG calendar
of events is posted at: www.frogpark.org.
The RCPC Land Use Committee meets
the fourth Wednesday of the month
at the Rockridge Branch Library,
Upstairs Meeting Room, 7:30 p.m.
Next meeting: Wednesday, January 23.
Topics include updates on the Rockridge
Shopping Center Project, a possible
multistory eldercare facility at Broadway
and 51st Street (northwest corner), and
the second phase of the citywide rezoning.
(Subject to change. Check www.rockridge.org
for updates.)
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee chair
■
■Visit www.frogpark.org and click on
the survey link;
■
■OR, enter this link into your browser:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/FrogPark-
2013Priorities-Survey
Be sure to remind your community
of friends and neighbors to complete the
survey, too. Results will guide Frog Park
decisions and improvements and will help
make planning, funding and purchasing
decisions for the park, consisting of the
Redondo and Hardy areas and the Greenbelt
connecting them. Results will be available
early February 2013.
E-mail info@frogpark.org for more
■
■1 Life Healthcare
5377 College Avenue (part of
former Brass & Glass store)
This is a proposal to operate a primary
care medical facility out of a storefront
location almost directly across the street
from the Rockridge Branch Library. The
project would require a minor use permit
for professional offices on the ground floor
in College Avenue’s CN-1 zoning. (Planner:
Mike Rivera [mrivera@oaklandnet.com,
Next FROG Meeting: E-mail info@frogpark.
org for meeting details.

Become a Rockridge News Volunteer
Thanks to 150 volunteers, some of whom
have been working to get the newsletter
to you since it was established in 1986, we
are able to deliver The Rockridge News
door-to-door for everyone’s reading pleasure.
We can all agree that the newsletter is the
glue that makes us a cohesive community and
that it is important to fill in the delivery gaps.
Occasionally, volunteers move on or move
out and – in a few cases when we have had
trouble finding replacements – their block
or area goes without newsletter delivery.
Please look at the routes listed in the box
at right and let us know if you can help out
with delivery, just once a month for about
half an hour or so.
Contact Susan at smontauk@gmail.com

➧➧Land Use Committee, page 12
Design, Installation and Maintenance
Native Plant Gardens & Stonework
Andrea Hurd, Horticulturist and Stonemason
License #883905 h tel. 510.558.8429
www.mariposagardening.com
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed
(510) 654-3339

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

or 547-3855 and name your preferred route.
It’s yours for the asking.
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WWW.KYLEMJOHNSTON.COM


January 5, 2013
6.
Chabot Elementary School Prepares to Set Spring Auction in Bloom
Community Support and
Donations Make
All the Difference
by Jennifer James Alper, Chabot parent
Even though we’ve barely packed
away the holiday decorations, Chabot
Elementary School is already hard at work
putting together its best annual on-line
auction and Gala ever. These are Chabot
PTA’s biggest and most important spring
fundraising events.
Our goal this year is to raise $150,000 so
we can continue investing in our dynamic
enrichment programs — music, science, art,
media, library, gardening, P.E. and Spanish
— and ensure that they thrive. But reaching
our goal depends on the generosity of the
friends of Chabot Elementary: families,
faculty and staff, businesses and community
members alike. We can’t do this without
your help… and we can’t do it without your
donations!

6.

promote your business to Chabot families
and friends. Are you a business owner who
can donate a special item or service? Would
you like to see your company’s name in
lights as an official sponsor of the auction?
Visit our Chabot auction page at http://
www.chabotelementary.org/calendar/
auction for more details. Sarah Drekmeier
is happy to help you shape a great auction
item and Natalie Mehta is coordinating
sponsorships. You can e-mail them both
at auction@chabotelementary.org. Our
auction donation deadline is February 1,
so act now.
The on-line auction runs February 27
through March 7; the Gala, live auction and
silent auction are on Saturday, March 9 at
the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. The
event kicks off at 6 p.m. Festivities will
continue well into the evening hours. Please
mark your calendars and plan to join us.
Also be sure to check out the Chabot
website in February for the link to our
on-line auction and bid on the many fabulous
offerings from our local merchants.
Chabot relies on the generosity of its
school and local communities to make the
auction a success.
There are many ways to contribute:
time and effort; actual donations; and, of
course, enthusiastic bidding on-line and
on the big night.
Please help out however you can, and
mark your calendars to join us at the Scottish
Rite Center on March 9 to celebrate our
amazing school community.
We look forward to seeing you there.

School Dis’t Town Hall Topic: Academic Programs
Oakland Unified School District’s
Academic Programs headline
a school district Town Hall meeting
Thursday, January 24, from 7-8:30 p.m.
The special guest is Maria Santos, Deputy
Superintendent for Curriculum, Leadership,
and Equity in Action. Come learn more
about the Oakland school district’s
strategies and programs to increase student
achievement.
Learn more about how Oakland is:

■
■Focusing on literacy, for every stu-
dent, in every grade.
Learn all this and more at the meeting
to be held at Sankofa Academy, 581 61st
Street.
For more information, contact
Jody London, Oakland Unified School
Boardmember for North Oakland, 510/459-
0667, jody.london@ousd.k12.ca.us.
— Jody London
Do you have a talent or specialize in
a trade and can you offer a few hours of
your services? Do you have access to a
vacation home that could be donated for
a weekend getaway (and a tax write-off)?
Can you knit, sew or do woodworking?
Can you offer to tutor a student, help set up
a home office, help a kid hone his soccer
skills, or make a fabulous birthday cake?
It’s the donations, big and small, from the
Rockridge community that make the Chabot
Auction special every year.
A number of local merchants, including
Hawthorne, Maison d’Etre and the Brow
Lounge, have already contributed to the
Chabot auction. It is a terrific way to
■
■Requiring all students to meet the
Cal State and UC entrance requirements
in order to graduate from high school
■
■Moving ahead with new academic
standards that will go into effect in 2014,
the “Common Core State Standards”
D A N I E L’ S  R O C K R I D G E  L I S T I N G S !
Coming
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15 Offers!
367 60th Street
5486 Kales
432 McAuley
358 Cavour
Daniel Stea
Rockridge
Broker/Owner/
Attorney
and beyond
since 1997
510.867.4094


7.
January 5, 2013

7.

Beware BART Escalators
Editor:
Letters to the Editor
The next time you board a BART train for
San Francisco, beware of BART escalators.
Especially when going down, get a firm grip
on the railing – never mind the germs – and
stay alert. Expect the worst.
Just before Christmas, my wife and I were
returning home from a lovely day in The
City and were on the long escalator down
to the Powell street platform. Suddenly,
without warning, the escalator jerked to a
dead stop. Some people screamed, some
shouted “Earthquake!” My wife, Harriet, two
steps below me and carrying a shopping bag
full of gifts, was catapulted head first down
a half dozen stairs and slammed to a stop
against the opposite side of the escalator.
Passengers quickly helped her off the stairs
for fear they might start again.
BART police arrived followed by SF
Fire Department paramedics who treated
her badly gashed right leg, checked vital
signs, strapped her in a gurney and drove
her in an ambulance to Kaiser for X-rays
and further treatment.
When this all happened, I assumed
it was one of those rare, unpredictable
accidents. But I was deeply disturbed when
a BART official told me that the escalators
were breaking down with great frequency
due to deferred maintenance. A Google
search turned up several articles in the
San Francisco Chronicle, one as recent as
Christmas Eve, detailing BART escalator
problems.
My wife is recovering from a serious
leg injury and bruised body, but no broken
bones. She was very lucky.
Rather than be the next BART victim,
keep a firm grip on the BART escalator
railing. And let BART know that this
record of indifference to passenger safety
is, frankly, outrageous.
— Cy Gulassa
 Harriet Gulassa was treated by San
Francisco paramedics after a sudden
and dangerous BART escalator stop.
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.

Fix the Rockridge BART Station Pick-Up and Drop-Off Area
Editor:

BART has positioned a waiting bench by
the pedestrian crosswalk where passengers
wait for their ride. Often, the driver stops
right in the middle of the crosswalk to pick
them up! The parking spaces connected
to the drive-through and from which
pick-up drivers might more easily see their
passengers have been reserved for taxis. A
driver waiting at the non-taxi slots on the
Miles side of the drive-through cannot see
the waiting passengers.
BART needs to redesign this portion
of the station to create a safe drop-off and
pick-up area that does not conflict with the
pedestrian crosswalk and does not back up
traffic. Every other BART station I have
visited has a designated “kiss-and-ride” area
that does not create a traffic jam.
Pending a redesign of the area, BART
should assign a police officer to ensure that
drivers pull their vehicles out of the main
flow of traffic into the designated parking
places and that pedestrians crossing from
the parking area to the station are safe.
— Constance Young
Recently, the Rockridge BART station
received a makeover that increased its visual
appeal. However, the BART passenger
drop-off and pick-up area to the east of
the escalators is a public safety hazard in
two areas.
First, drivers dropping passengers off at
the station enter a drive-through lane from
Miles Avenue and exit on Keith Avenue. The
crosswalk at the mid-point of this lane is
situated so that pedestrians walking from
the upper parking area are obscured by
a large concrete support; drivers cannot
see them. There is a stop sign, but many
distracted drivers fail to see it.
Second, just beyond the crosswalk are
parking spaces for drop-off vehicles to pull
into and safely disgorge their passengers.
However, the majority of the drop-off drivers
stop in the middle of the drive through
lane, sometimes right in the middle of
the crosswalk. Some of these drivers take
just a few moments to disembark their
passenger or passengers. For most, there
is a conversation to finish, a goodbye kiss
to give, and belongings to retrieve from the
back seat or trunk. Meanwhile, the line of
traffic behind them backs up onto Miles
Avenue.
Ready to join the RCPC Board? A few seats
are open. Send your letter of interest to Chair,
RCPC, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland,
CA 94611, or e-mail chair@rockridge.org.
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/Cy Gulassa


8.

January 5, 2013
8.

are thrilled to have the three restaurants join
them in celebrating the culinary tradition of
College Avenue. I can’t wait for the annual
Rockridge Fall Festival with these three
restaurants out on the Avenue with our
friends and neighbors.
In the mood for a very quick Sunday
supper? Try this recipe for what Italians
call midnight pasta.
Midnight Pasta (2 servings)
½ pound spaghetti
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, peeled, roughly
chopped
4 anchovy filets, rinsed, roughly
chopped
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed, roughly
chopped
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
grated Parmesan cheese
1.	Cook spaghetti in a large pot of well-
salted, rapidly boiling water and cook
only until firmly al dente.
2.	While the pasta is cooking, warm the
olive oil in a small skillet over medium
heat. Add the garlic and cook for about
1 minute, without letting it brown. Stir
in the anchovies, capers and red pepper
and cook for a half-minute more, then
turn off the heat.
3.	Drain the pasta and return it to the
pot. Pour in the garlic mixture, add the
parsley, and toss well to coat. Serve
with grated Parmesan, if desired.
Rock  ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman
Destination College Avenue
Rockridge’s College Avenue is about
to become the new go-to destination
restaurant capital of the Bay Area. With
restaurants like Wood Tavern, À Côté and
Oliveto, College Avenue has enjoyed a long-
standing reputation as a dining destination.
But fasten your seat-belts. Our beloved
College Avenue is about to make a quantum
leap in the culinary world: World-class
chefs will soon be opening new restaurants
along the avenue to rival San Francisco’s
Valencia Street.
Michelin-star chef James Syhabout will
open his third Oakland restaurant in the
former space of Somerset. Syhabout began
his rising star chef career as sous chef at
Manresa in Los Gatos under the tutelage of
world-class chef David Kinch. Four years
ago, Syhabout opened Commis on Piedmont
Avenue. Commis was an immediate success,
winning two Michelin stars in its first year.
In a complete turn-around, Syhabout then
opened Hawker Fare in the former location
of his parents’ Thai restaurant in Oakland’s
Uptown neighborhood. Presented as a casual
Asian street food restaurant, Hawker Fare
has become the go-to place for Oakland’s
hipster crowd. The Rockridge establishment
will be named Box and Bells. As of now, the
menu is beginning to take shape. Syhabout
describes Box and Bells as a casual setting
with new twists on down home favorites.
Next up is a new venture by Shelly
Lindgren and Victoria Libin, owners of San
Francisco’s A16 and SPQR. Both restaurants
have won numerous awards as being among
the finest Italian bistros in the Bay Area.
The yet unnamed restaurant will be located
in the space recently vacated by Hudson.
Lingren and Libin will continue their Italian
slow food tradition. The menu will feature
ingredients from small local farms and
focus on simple ingredients used in southern
Italian cooking. The Rockridge menu will
feature many favorites from the two San
Francisco spots including Neapolitan pizza,
meatballs, and seasonal seafood.
Also, in the former Tachibana Japanese
restaurant space, three Chez Panisse alumni
will open a Ramen shop. Over the past few
years, New York has experienced a ramen
craze brought about by celebrity chef David
Chang. For many, slurping ramen noodles
has become an obsession. I’ve seen two
names being used for the restaurant: Ramen
Shop, and Bones and Ramen. House-made
noodles are just one of the aspects on tap
for the 60-seat restaurant. The Ramen
Shop guys will be spit-roasting pork and
perfecting their broth. Though ramen will
be the heart of the menu, you can expect a
few other dishes, perhaps a salad, gyoza or
a fish course. Bay Area food bloggers are
all a-Twitter at the prospect of the opening
of Ramen Shop/Bones and Ramen.
These three new additions will bring a
level of panache to Rockridge and its current
list of destination restaurants not found in
any other Bay Area neighborhood. Rich and
Rebekah Wood, owners of Wood Tavern,
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for cooking
classes and East Bay ethnic market tours. E-mail
kaufman42@comcast.net.


9.
January 5, 2013

9.

At Guest Chef, a new cook takes over
the fully equipped kitchen every two weeks
while ownership provides the wait staff and
front of the house. Each time we’ve been,
we’ve met and chatted with folks who are
often repeat customers.
The burrito shop was a pretty dingy place
to eat in before its refurbishing. It’s really
quite sweet now with bright red walls, new
graphite-topped tables and more seating.
It will be exciting when San Francisco’s
A16 opens a Rockridge branch in the
former Hudson space early this year. Think
Italian, with more seafood than its original
restaurant, according to the website – and a
pizza oven imported from Naples.
Now, when our friends and relatives
visit, mostly from the Midwest, we may well
take them to Shan Dong in Chinatown, or
Ippuku in Berkeley or Plum in Uptown or
Bocanova in Jack London Square. But we
will also try to give them the fun of walking
along College Avenue’s restaurant row and
making their choice, guided, of course, by
our commentary.
Admittedly, this year’s resolution is easy.
We’ll be enjoying all the restaurants from
the BART station north to the Rockridge/
Berkeley border.
Yes, fewer restaurants await us. And
yes, we have already been to several. (I’m
particularly excited about the bagels at the
newish Old Brooklyn Bagels and Deli.)
Plus, a couple of other newbies are getting
ready to open.
Maybe your resolution(s) will be easier
to achieve this year, as well. Happy 2013,
Rockridge!

Reconnoitering Rockridge’s Restaurant Row

by Judith Doner Berne
I
fulfilled my 2012 New Year’s resolution
– six weeks ahead of time.
I had pledged to eat my way up College
Avenue from Broadway to the BART station
– hitting every restaurant. Half-way through
November, I had done it.
It wasn’t always a resolution. When
we moved from the Motown suburbs to
Rockridge a year and a half ago, I tried to
describe to friends back home what it was
like living only a short walk to College
Avenue – where an assortment of mom
and pop shops and services beckoned our
exploration.
Even more exciting, I told them, we
can walk to sooo many restaurants. And,
jokingly, I said I was going to try them all.
Carefree statement eventually became
stubborn resolution – exactly why, I’m not
quite sure. But, as they say, it may be a
difficult job but someone has to do it.
So my husband and I, in no particular
order and sometimes in the company of new
or old friends, deliberately made our way
in and out of the 25 mostly family-owned
restaurants that give the southerly section
of College its gourmet vibe.
As we all know, whatever you want to
eat, from Asian and Italian to burgers and
burritos to fine dining, it is there for the
strolling. Obviously we like some better
than others. But, in general, we found the
quality of food and service to be quite high.
Full disclosure requires that we
acknowledge going more than once to À
Côté, Chu, Crepevine, Marika Seafood and
the Rockridge Café. And we have plans,
depending on our appetite and mood, to
return to many others. Tastes are so personal,
aren’t they?
For example, of the three Thai restaurants
available, our daughter and son-in-law are
Sabuy Sabuy fans, our down-the-street
neighbors champion Soi Four and we like
Pearl of Siam.
Since we began our quest, one restaurant
opened (Guest Chef), one remodeled (College
Avenue Burrito Shop) and one was sold
(Hudson, which closed October 30).
Guest Chef, as you probably have read –
and may have tried – is the most innovative
in concept of any on the avenue, even though
I Squared couples Italian and Iranian dishes.










 
­
24
Judy Berne welcomes your comments and column
ideas. She can be reached at judyberne@att.net.


 
	
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10.

January 5, 2013
10.

Thank You, Jane Brunner

Retiring District 1 Councilmember Jane
Brunner and her staff worked tirelessly
for Rockridge for 16 years. This year, she
leaves City Council office to pursue other
challenges. Her strong support for Rockridge
is reflected in the following examples of her
many accomplishments:
Brunner’s office, in collaboration with RDA
and RCPC.
■
■Bus benches on Telegraph from 56th to
the Berkeley border: Replacement benches
were funded by Jane Brunner.
■
■Scenic Streets: Three thousand dollars
of seed money arranged by Jane Brunner’s
office helped jump-start the Claremont on-
and off-ramp beautification project.
■
■Frog Park: Jane Brunner played an
instrumental role in successfully develop-
ing the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt. In
addition to directing $125,000 of her Paygo
money towards its construction, she worked
with local neighbors to ensure the prized
green space served the community’s needs.
Her Phase I mediation and formation of the
Phase II Steering Committee helped ensure
the project’s successful completion.
■
■BART Plaza: Along with RCPC and
RDA, Jane Brunner’s office secured money
toward the recent renovation.
■
■Neighborhood Livability: The consul-
tant’s neighborhood traffic study identifying
shortcutting traffic in the Rockridge Triangle
was funded by Jane Brunner. She and her
office heard neighborhood concerns and
worked with Oakland staff to obtain traffic
calming measures.
Jane Brunner
■
■Frog Park restroom: Jane Brunner and
her staff played a key role in securing the
construction money, working with Public
Works staff on the designs and with Caltrans
to secure approvals.
■
■Cigarettes Cheaper: Jane strongly sup-
ported the community’s opposition to the
wholesale cigarette store located directly
across from the Rockridge Library and was
crucial in its closure.
■
■Local Parking: Worked with Oakland’s
Transportation Services and RCPC to obtain
Claremont MS teacher permit parking.
■
■Development projects: Arranged com-
munity meetings and mediated neighborhood
challenges to proposed projects.
■
■Caldecott Tunnel 4th Bore Mitigations:
Jane worked with the community and city
staff for over 10 years to lessen the effects
of the project surrounding neighborhoods
and schools. She brokered an agreement
between Caltrans and the city that resulted
in $8 million dollars of local transportation
projects in North Oakland, including bike
lanes, walking paths and traffic calming
projects.
■
■Street trees: Jane Brunner arranged
funding for street trees and sidewalk cuts
where needed throughout District One
as part of her “1,000 trees for Oakland”
campaign, as well as through the College
Avenue bench program.
■
■Five minute parking meter grace
period: Introduced by Jane Brunner in
December 2011, the program supports
Rockridge retail establishments.
Thank you, Jane Brunner. Good luck
with your future endeavors.
— Ronnie Spitzer
■
■College Avenue benches: The wood
and aluminum pedestrian benches installed
along College Avenue were funded by Jane
■
■Schools: Chabot, Peralta and Hillcrest
Elementary Schools received funding to
help with children’s playgrounds.
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
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601-1188
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Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
■
■College Avenue Safeway: Jane Brunner
mediated between Safeway and three neigh-
borhood groups to produce a compromise
project detailed in this issue. Her support
and guidance during the negotiating period
was crucial to helping the participants
resolve their concerns.
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
■
■Teen Zone in Rockridge Branch
Library: The Zone was constructed with
funding and support from Councilmember
Brunner, improving the space for patrons
of all ages.
January 27th
Faith for the iPod generation!
Announcing a NEW Mass time,
Sunday at 6:00p.m.
Also join us Saturdays, 5:00 p.m. Mass and
Sundays 8:00a.m. and 10:30p.m., Masses.
Food and drink to follow service
■
■The popular Rockridge-Temescal
Farmer’s Market at the Claremont DMV
was launched by Jane Brunner’s office.
Saint Augustine Catholic Church
400 Alcatraz Ave • Oakland, CA 94609
Powerful & relevant liturgy
Contemporary music • A new time for busy schedules
Ready to join the RCPC Board? A few seats
are open. Send your letter of interest to Chair,
RCPC, 4123 Broadway PMB 311, Oakland,
CA 94611, or e-mail chair@rockridge.org.
Watch us live via webcam every Sunday (8:00a.m. and 10:30a.m.)
At http://www.staugustineoakland.com


11.
January 5, 2013

11.

Rockridge Merchants
Celebrate the Holidays
and Rockridge Success
Front, from right: Joyce Gardner, Owner
of FIT and RDA Board Member;
Veronica Bhonsle, Owner of Vero and
RDA Board Member.
Middle: Louise Rothman-Riemer,
Co-Owner of DHR Investments and
RDA Secretary; Mayor Jean Quan;
Susan Bernosky, Principal of Strahan
Ins. Svcs and RDA President; Dan
Kalb, newly elected Councilmember;
Rebecca  Saltzman, newly elected
BART Director, District 3.
Rear: Chris Jackson, RDA Operations
Manager, Hank Levy, Owner of Henry
C Levy, CPA and RDA Treasurer.
by Susan Bernosky, RDA president
The Rockridge District Association
(RDA), a Rockridge Business
Improvement District, held its annual
Holiday Breakfast for the merchants of
Rockridge early in December. Maggie
Klein, co-proprietor of Oliveto, hosted the
event, presenting a delicious breakfast and
a festive atmosphere.
The special guest list included Mayor
Jean Quan, newly elected District 1
Councilmember Dan Kalb and newly elected
District 3 BART Boardmember Rebecca
Saltzman. District 3 includes Rockridge.
/D. Kinkead
The event is held to celebrate a year of
successes for the businesses of the Rockridge
District. It should be noted that years of
commitment from the original Rockridge
Merchant Association, and in 2001 the newly
formed RDA, have led to these successes.
Mayor Quan provided an inspiring
State of the City report. Among many
topics, she touched upon the honors and the
challenges of serving Oakland’s population,
and discussed the city’s budget, the police
department and potential investments and
improvements in the city in the future.
The RDA board honored Chris Jackson,
RDA Operations Manager, who was hired
in November, 2008. He has been very active
and involved with the merchants, as well as
the city of Oakland and Claremont Middle
School, to name a few, to help marry the
resources of the RDA and to form a stronger
position for everyone in the community.
The RDA also reports that in 2013, it will
continue sponsorship of its several popular
community events:
Rockridge
Optometry
■
■Three Jazz & Wine events in Febru-
ary, May and July
Your neighborhood 
family eyecare providers
since 1947
Dr. Donald Sarver
Dr. Larry Sarver
Dr. Scott Yokoi
Dr. Cindy Sakai
5321 College Avenue, Oakland
510-655-3797
www.rockridgeoptometry.com
■
■The annual Masons and Claremont
Middle School Pancake breakfast fund-
raiser in April
■
■The popular Out & About Street Fair
in October
■
■The RCPC/RDA sponsored Hallow-
een Parade in late October, and
■
■Rockridge in the Snow in November,
to kick off the holiday season.
Our best wishes to you for the New Year!

Average original list price to sales price is currently 112% vs 99% last year · Median sold price is currently
$912,000 vs $620,000 last year · Properties are selling in an average of 50 days ·
Currently less than a week supply of inventory
2012 vs. 2011
63 total sales in 2011 vs. 67 total sales in 2012 · Median sold price $726,000 in 2011 vs. $707,000 in 2012
 G

Rockridge Sales Increase in 2012

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

11/30/12 2
1
5451 Broadway
$549,000
$549,000
10
$595,000
12/10/12  3
 3
5230 Shafter Avenue
$849,000
$849,000
14
$849,000
12/10/12   2
2
23-25 Armanino Court
$895,000
$895,000
8
$975,000
12/12/12 3
2
5448 Boyd Avenue
$998,000
$998,000
11
$1,280,108
12/14/12 4
2
6032 N Rockridge Blvd
$975,000
$975,000
7
$1,200,000
12/21/12 4
2
5317 Manila
$750,000
$750,000
0
$763,000

GRUBBCO.COM
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland


12.

January 5, 2013
12.
Land Use
Committee

demolition and removal of the underground
gasoline storage tank at the site. The trees
at the site have been tagged to indicate that
they are not included in the demolition. No
official application has been submitted to
the city for a replacement building. However,
unofficial sources indicate that the owner
intends to propose a three-story mixed-use
building, with residential on the upper floors
and office or commercial use at the street
level. This would generally be consistent
with the CN-1 zoning, although first floor
office use would require a use permit and
RCPC has generally opposed such uses. (See
previous project discussion for explanation.)
Meeting the required off-street parking
requirement could be a challenge.
Settlement
Benefits N’hood
from page 2
from page 5
238-6417]) The land use committee
discussed the proposal at a special meeting
on December 29 and voted unanimously
to recommend opposition. The committee
felt that placing a professional office in a
street-level storefront in the midst of a retail
area would damage the continuity of the
retail area. Patients would also compete for
the limited off-street and on-street parking
spaces and discourage retail shoppers from
using the area. It was also noted that under
Oakland’s use permit rules, a use permit,
once granted, would remain on the site in
perpetuity.
business primarily from the local community.
The requirement that it cover its own parking
needs should provide an incentive for that.
Overall
This is by no means a perfect project.
As I said, speaking for RCPC at the Council
meeting where the project was approved, “This
is not the project we would have designed,
but we’re not the ones that are building it.”
Overall, however, the project should provide a
benefit to College Avenue and Rockridge that
is superior to what is there now and to what
Safeway had previously proposed.
See more project renderings, page 13 
Land Use Meeting Agendas:
Contact Stuart Flashman (652-5373 or e-mail
stuflash@aol.com) for a copy of the current
Land Use Committee meeting agenda.
■
■College Avenue at Claremont:
Shell Station Site
6039 College Avenue
The Shell gas station at this location
has closed, apparently due to a steep rent
increase, and a permit has been issued for its
Rockridge is no accident; people
made it happen. Ready to join the RCPC
Board? A few seats are open. Send your
letter of interest to: Chair, RCPC, 4123
Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611,
or e-mail chair@rockridge.org.
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13.
January 5, 2013

13.
What's in Store for Rockridge at the New Safeway?

Exit/Entry ramp to
rooftop parking.
Exit and entry also
on Claremont side
Alcatraz Avenue/Berkeley
Claremont Avenue
COLLEGE AVENUE
College Avenue frontage:
bicycle racks, various seating. Low
windows provide greater
visual interest to pedestrians.

Safeway: College Avenue Frontage

The plaza features an arch, between elevator towers, over the main store entrance and
an exterior stair, foreground, from the roof to the plaza. Various seating arrangements
and bike parking will be featured in the plaza, along with space to mingle.

The Rockridge pedestrian has
won in several substantial
ways with this negotiated project;
the walk street is now wider and
in the right place, relative to
63rd Street, and the bulk of the
building is much reduced. These
are subtle points that eluded
our Planning Commission, but,
through the hard work of a
few volunteers, we have made
a lasting impact that will be a
benefit to the community for
years to come.
— Jerome Buttrick,
Architect and
negotiating team member.

Across College Avenue from 63rd Street:
Stairs and elevator tower to roof top
parking; entry to walk street/plaza area,
College Avenue to Claremont Avenue
Smaller retail shops organized in a single-story triangular building at
point of Claremont and College avenues. No corner restaurant.

The stair and the plaza will enhance pedestrian life on the street. The walk street beyond
the plaza will extend to Claremont Avenue.

The Claremont side of the building will feature a green planted wall to break up the
long façade, new trees and a wider sidewalk. The scale is kept low due to uncovered
roof parking.


14.

January 5, 2013
14.

Lic. #0670129
There’s a
new broker
in town.
Susan Bernosky
Strahan
Insurance
Services, Inc.
510-450-9051
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counts as one word.) Mail to: RN Classifieds,
4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611.
February deadline is January 17, 2013. For
information: smontauk@gmail.com
Property Management and
Leasing Services
Need someone reliable, efficient and avail-
able 24/7 to manage your rental property?
Brining landlords and good tenants together
is my job! Contact George Vassiliades at
510/710-6826. GvRealtor@gmail.com.
Home Repair Expert
Carpentry, remodeling. Doors and windows,
glass and locks, small electrical, plumbing jobs,
drywall, painting, fences, decks and other
odd jobs. Good rates. Rick 510/761-7168.
Traditional Anglican
Worship in Rockridge
St. Peter’s Parish, 6013 Lawton at Broadway.
Mass Sunday 8 and 10 am, Wednesday at
noon. Sunday School and Childcare Sunday
at 10. 510/597-1400. St.peters.oakland@
gmail.com (corrected address) www.saint-
petersoakland.com
New Year Special Over
50% off!
Eyebrow wax and brow tint! $14. Come visit
Penelope’s Aesthetics Skin Care salon and
enjoy excellent service. Two blocks from
Rockridge Bart. www.penelopecalef.com.
By appointment: 510/594-1552.
Retired or Retiring?
Committed to creating a new chapter as
good and meaningful as the past? Seeking
companions for leisure, learning, and creat-
ing a legacy? Explore Retirees Redefined of
Rockridge. Contact Barbara at 420-0415.
Spectacular Service
Housekeeping
We provide excellent housecleaning service
with greatest attention to detail. Local rec-
ommendations. *Let us create free time for
you* WWW.spectacularhousekeeping.com
510/228-5704. Free estimate.
You can help! The RCPC Board has a
few open seats. Send your letter of interest
to Chair, RCPC, 4123 Broadway PMB
311, Oakland, CA 94611, or e-mail chair@
rockridge.org.
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.


15.
January 5, 2013

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.

Compiled by Jo Ellis

y
y Fri, 1/25, 7pm. Release party for ZYZZYVA: The Winter
Issue with local contributors Jennifer duBois, John
W. Evans, Andy Stewart, and E.G. Willy reading from
their work. Editors Laura Cogan and Oscar Villalon
will host. Drinks and snacks provided.

Community Calendar

y
y Fri, 2/8, 7pm. Local author Patricia Bracewell:
Shadow on the Crown.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. More info (and
other events and discussion groups): 653-9965 or events@
dieselbookstore.com.
Wisteria Ways House Concert
The Real Vocal String Quartet: a mix of music from
around the world from American and Irish fiddle tunes
to Kenyan songs and Brazilian choros. Saturday, Jan
12th, 8pm (door opens 7:30pm) Inside venue; not
wheelchair accessible. $15-20 donation for musicians
(cash only at the door). 383 61st Street. Sample tunes
at: www.rvsq.com/ and www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.
aspx?epk_id=175469 For reservations (highly recom-
mended), RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.org or 655-2771.
Jazz at the Chimes
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
Residents and business members engage in discussions
about crime and public safety with representatives of
OPD. 2nd Thursday each month (Jan 10), 7pm. Rockridge
Library, upstairs meeting room, 5366 College Ave.
Confirm mtg. info at www.rockridgencpc.com or chair@
rockridgencpc.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
***Find out how your library card allows you to get
free or discounted passes to museums and cultural
institutions with the “Discover & GO” program. Some
participating partners are the Asian Art Museum, the
Aquarium, Exploratorium, Oakland Museum Cal Shake-
speare Theater, and Yerba Buena Ctr. for the Arts.***
FOR CHILDREN
NOTE: no story times on Thurs, Jan 3rd or Sat,
Jan. 5th.
y
y Lead Safety Program from the Center for Envi-
ronmental Safety: Tues, 1/15, 7:00pm; for adults
& children together. Bring household items to be
tested in the lead-testing machine — fascinating
for kids & informative for adults. Children’s activity
provided during presentation.
FOR TEENS
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 Sat. each
month, 1-2 pm. Confirm: Megan Kinney, 597-5017.
y
y Rockridge Ninjas: watch Anime. Jan. 8 and Feb.
26 from 5-6:30 pm. Contact: Lisa Harter 597-5017
y
y Teen ’Scape: Play video and board games; make
crafts; light snacks provided. Every Wed., 2:30 to
4:15pm. Info: Emily Weak, 597-5017.
FOR ADULTS
Larry Vuckovich’s “Beyond Category Quartet” with
jazz vocalist Jackie Ryan. Sunday, Jan 20, 2pm; fol-
lowed by artists’ reception and refreshments. Tickets
at the door (cash only) beginning 12:30; doors open
1:30pm: $15 general; $10 seniors (60+) and students - for
concert and reception. The concert series features Bay
Area jazz musicians in a landmark Julia Morgan venue.
Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Wheelchair
accessible. Free parking. Info: chimesjazz@gmail.
com or 654-0123.
Donations for Oakland Museum
White Elephant Sale
A van is available for free donation pick up. Drop-off days
are also scheduled at the warehouse site through Feb.
23. All items donated to the Oakland Museum White
Elephant Sale are tax deductible. Details about how to
schedule a van pick-up; where to deliver donations; what
items are/are not accepted at www.whiteelephantsale.
org/donation-general-information.
Square Dance In North Oakland
Music by The Squirrelly String Band. Calling by Jordan
Ruyle (with occasional guest performers). 1st and 3rd
Fridays each month, 8–10pm. All levels welcome; all
dances taught on the spot. $5-10 sliding scale donation.
The Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. Info:
http://squirrellystringband.com.
North Oakland Senior Center
Programs include: Arts/crafts; health counseling;
dancing and exercise; trips, tours and theater outings;
Alzheimer’s Caregivers support groups, computer
classes/more.
AARP Tax Help: Starting Thursday in Feb. Appoint-
ment sign-ups will open January 14 – Call 597-5085
to schedule your appointment.
Annual $12 membership entitles seniors 55 and older
to discounts on activities and trips. Mon. – Fri., 9am to
4:30pm. 5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. Subscribe to
“The North Oakland Senior Times” for full schedule of
classes/events, lunch menus, and volunteer opportuni-
ties. Info: 597- 5085.
Temescal Farmers’ Market
y
y 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). Third Saturday
each month; 1 to 5pm. Sponsored by the California
Writers Club, Berkeley branch. Info: 420-8775 or
Writefox@aol.com.
y
y Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (to age
5); Saturdays, 10:30am.
y
y Pre-School Story Time: (ages 2 to 5); Thursdays,
10:30am.
y
y Toddler Story Time: (up to age 2); Thursdays,
10:30am, upstairs.
All story times followed by Play Time; parents and
caregivers invited.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
y
y 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).
Volunteer lawyer leaves before 7pm if no more
people present.
ART EXHIBITS (subject to change; call to confirm)
Gallery:
Jan: Oparna Ewing, quilts by Oakland Quilt Group
Feb: Ira Lapidus, photographs
Lobby Display Case:
Jan: quilts by Oakland Quilt Group.
Feb: Photographs of the Caldecott by Rebecca
y
y Paper Snowflakes: Help us decorate our windows &
your own. Between Jan. 8th & 26th, drop in anytime
from noon to closing to cut a paper snowflake at the
Children’s Desk.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
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, 1/22.
Diesel Book/Poetry and Events
All FREE and open to the public.
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
y
y Sun., 1/13, 3pm. Local author Gar Smith: Nuclear
Roulette: The Truth about the Most Dangerous Energy
Source on Earth.
y
y Mon, 1/14, 7:30pm. Amnesty International Meeting
(2nd Mon. each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
A Prevention Oriented Practice


Now Accepting Applications for Grades K-5









Open Sundays, 9am to 1pm (all year). Locally grown
fruits and vegetables; fresh ranch eggs; home-made
bakery items; fresh cut flowers; unique prepared foods,
fresh locally caught fish, handcrafts and more. Sample
the goods; meet the grower; learn about unique food
varieties and cooking tips; and listen to live music. Bring
your own reusable bags. 5300 Claremont Ave. (off
Telegraph) at DMV parking lot. More about Certified
Farmers’ Markets at urbanvillageonline.com.


www.sttheresaschool.org    510-547-3146


16.

January 5, 2013
16.

Terry Kulka & Julie Bartlett
Number of Homes Sold: Over 400
Homes Sold in Rockridge: Over 80
Value of Working with Realtors who have
over 35 years Experience? PRICELESS
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.
www.curvesrockridge.com
Free Parking!
Across from BART
Open 7 Days
Mon- Fri  6:00 -7:30
Sat & Sun 8:00 - Noon
31
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

OProperty Management
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
Playing? Start in Oakland!
ROCKRIDGE
5327 College Ave
510.622.8300
ELMWOOD
2991 College Ave
510.883.7000
www.mcguire.com

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serving you since 1981
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3190 college avenue
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p 510.428.2600
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sun-tues 10:30-5:30
wed-sat 10:30-8:00
Happy
Holidays
and a
Happy & Prosperous
 New Year
FOR SALE ROCKRIDGE
5815 Lawton Ave   Call for pricing*
4+Beds/ 2Baths
Craftsman Bungalow on quiet tree lined street.
The perfect home for all of your remodeling
ideas!
Award Winning Chabot Elementary School
www.5815Lawton.com
PENDING
PENDING – TEMESCAL/ROCKRIDGE
473 55th Street  $525,000
3Beds/1Bath
Craftsman Bungalow w/Remodeled kitchen
and bath. Built-ins and Hrwd flrs. Charm!
www.473-55thst.com
*Note:  Because of Rockridge Newsletter lead time, all prices are not
available at print deadline
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
Living? Love it in Oakland!