← Home All issuesFebruary 2013Issue 2013_02 · 16 pp‹ Prev Next ›Download PDF

The Rockridge News, February 2013, page 13

‹Page 13 / 16›

Extracted text

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 28  NO. 2  ISSUE NO. 297  February 2, 2013  CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 BusInesses

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

A Break in the Crime Clouds?

Shell Station at College and
Claremont Removed —
But What’s Next?
If you follow any of the local online com-
munity forums, you might feel that if you
have not been held up, burgled, or beat down
on the streets of Rockridge, you soon will
be. Postings such as: Two auto break-ins in
the last three hours on College; Just wanted to
report our house was broken into; The man was
shot in the leg and then staggered back into [a
business]; are enough to give you whiplash
from watching your back so closely.
But then, this, e-mailed to The Rockridge
News: “I was visiting with a friend in Rockridge
last week and I lost my wallet. Imagine my
delighted surprise when it arrived in the mail
this morning with everything – cash, bank
card, driver's license, Trader Joe’s gift card,
and library card all still there. Some honest
person anonymously took the trouble to
mail this with no return address at their
own expense.”
The bad and the good. The ugly may soon
be receding if the expectations we hold for
the Highway Patrol, the Alameda County
Sheriff’s officers, and Commissioner Bratton
pan out. At least until the PD is staffed again.
On page 2, a Rockridge resident writes to
our new City Councilmember of her concerns
and hopes about crime and public safety. –Ed.
/D. Kinkead
Excavator John Speelman does some
shovel work while digging out the Shell
station gas tanks. Next, hazardous materials
workers will scrub the tank interiors before final
removal. What’s planned for the site? The Planning
Department says nothing is on file. County
Assessor records show the property owner
is Montrose Investment Co., Houston, TX. A
commercial/residential building is rumored. E-mail
editor_rn@mindspring.com with your thoughts.

RCPC Sets April Elections, Appoints a Board Member
The recent appointment of Benvenue
Avenue resident Zabrae Valentine to
the RCPC board leaves the board with
two vacancies to be filled by election. The
Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC)
will hold its annual
election for membership
on the board of directors

at the Town Hall meeting Thursday, April 18.
The deadline for applications is Thursday,
February 21, 2013.
What would you like to work on as a
board member? Send your letter of interest
to: RCPC, 5245 College Avenue, PMB
311, Oakland, CA 94618, or e-mail chair@
rockridge.org.
Valentine was appointed to the position
vacated when James Kachelmeyer moved out
of the area. She will serve the remaining year-
and-a-half of
Planning begins for the
2013 Rockridge Kitchen
Tour. See page 2 for
details and contacts.
Rockridge
Kitchens
2013
New RCPC board
member Zabrae
Valentine.
➧➧Board Elections, page 7
SR-24 in Rockridge. Funding for the study would come from the
$8 million Settlement Agreement with Caltrans over the Fourth
Bore of the Caldecott Tunnel, which is paying for a long list
of pedestrian, bicycle and
➧➧Soundwall Petitions, page 8
Jan Town Hall: Soundwall Study Decision Process
At the January RCPC Town Hall meeting, 55 interested residents
listened as city representatives discussed the potential for
further study of soundwalls along eastbound and westbound
21 February 2013 RCPC
Town Hall Meeting
AGENDA
Topic 1: The city of Oakland presents
preliminary designs of two Caldecott Settlement
Agreement-funded projects:
the Town Hall meeting, participants will hear
a brief overview of the process that led to this
➧➧Caldecott Projects, page 13
y
y Broadway/Keith Intersection
Improvements
y
y Broadway/Brookside/SR 24 On-ramp
Intersection Improvements
Funded via the $8 million settlement agree-
ment with Caltrans over the Caldecott Tunnel
Fourth Bore, these two projects are being
designed together based on comments the com-
munity provided in public meetings last year. At
Topic 2: The environmental impact report
for Safeway’s second project (Broadway and
Pleasant Valley) has now come out. RCPC
Land Use Committee chair Stu Flashman and
Transportation Committee co-chair Ronnie
Spitzer will discuss what the EIR says and how
we, as a community, can respond. Details:
Land Use Committee Update, page 3.
1. Discussion: Caldecott
settlement-funded intersection
improvements
2. Rockridge Shopping Center
draft EIR has been issued.
Discussion, analysis
and response
☞
Note time
change

Thursday, February 21 | 7-9 p.m. Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College at Manila

February 2, 2013
2.

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.
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon, Tues:
Weds, Thurs, Sat:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
Crime in Oakland: ‘Dear Councilmember Kalb’
A Rockridge Resident Shares
Her Concerns and Hopes
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;
Also Sat, 2/9 and Tuesdays, 2/12 and 2/19
City Council meetings. When longtime
community activists are verbally abused
by anti-police forces at meetings, you may
only hear one point of view.
Third, you’ve probably been monitoring
the various Yahoo Groups on crime in
Oakland. More and more I see people
posting that others should contact you
about public safety. I hope that you are
indeed hearing from these folks, and I
hope you are able to develop some ways
that individuals and neighborhood groups
can take action. It seems that the word is
truly out that Oakland is an easy touch for
burglars and robbers because of the lack of
police coverage. For those of us who have a
good block organization, are registered with
neighborhood watch, have alarms and good
locks and do all the things we’ve been told
to do, the usual OPD “organize your block
and get a good lock” just sounds ridiculous.
When you do all the “right” crime prevention
actions and people are robbed in front of
your house and homes are broken into during
the daytime when someone is obviously at
home, the old ways clearly don’t work and
it’s time to make some changes. This is far
from the best we can do, and is no longer
even adequate.
Finally, while for years the Council was
divided in its actions about public safety,
this is a new Council, and can organize to
counter Mayor Quan’s inconsistency and
ineffectiveness on this issue. I hope that
some of the issues that divided the Council
in the past are indeed past, and that perhaps
you and some of the other newer members
are ready to form coalitions to take action.
Sincerely,
Theresa Nelson
Dear Councilmember Kalb:
I am glad to see that you are making
public safety and crime prevention a top
priority. Having lived in Rockridge since
1985 – when some of College Avenue was
still boarded up, there was a lot of crime and
graffiti and only a few upscale restaurants
or shops – I know well how neighborhoods,
and even cities, can change over time
because of public safety, or the lack of it.
A few thoughts:
First, Oakland’s leadership on this issue
for several years has been far less than
adequate, closer to abysmal. For years, the
Council has been divided and ineffective
with Mayors who did almost nothing, while
our police force shrank, crime soared and
children and adults died on our streets.
Almost every time Chief Jordan quotes a
statistic (90 percent of crimes related to
gang or 100 blocks accounting for most
crime) it’s quickly disavowed by police
staff; this cannot inspire confidence. Our
current Mayor, who has time and time again
demonstrated by actions her desire to limit
police effectiveness as a Councilmember
and as Mayor, consistently votes to reduce
police staffing, repel innovation and reforms,
and panders to anti-police groups.
Second, it’s good to see that you support
hiring William Bratton, and are withstanding
what is an onslaught from the anti-police
groups in Oakland. Sadly, they have
become so intimidating that those who
want to support effective, community-based
policing (like me and many others I know)
no longer feel comfortable speaking up at
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
Bernard Baltaxe �����������������Treasurer
Stuart Flashman �����������������Chair Emeritus
Michael Kan, William Kaufner,
Don Kinkead, Ronnie Spitzer,
Zabrae Valentine, Ann Winterman
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
Contacting The Rockridge News
 Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
 Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
 Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News
block captain?
 Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94611
RCPC Voice-mail: 510/869-4200
Articles submitted for publication may be e-mailed
to the above address. Submissions are limited to
600 words; must include the author’s name, phone
number, e-mail address, and city or neighborhood
of residence; and are subject to editing. To reprint
a Rockridge News article, please contact the editor.

2013 Rockridge Kitchen Tour Planning at Hand
This fall marks the coming of the tenth
biennial Rockridge Kitchen Tour.
First held in 1995, the tour is the
primary fundraising event of the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC), and
showcases remarkably renovated, restored
or remodeled Rockridge residential kitchens
that homeowners open for a day of viewing
by tour guests.

As returning tour chair, Rockridge
resident Natalie Mehta will supervise the
selection of nine kitchens homeowners offer
for viewing, and coordinate a small army of
volunteer docents and writers and a host of
advertisers, food providers and tour guests.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadlines
Publication date of the next issue is:
 March 2, 2013
 March deadline is February 14, 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.)
Do you know of a kitchen that should
be on the tour? Contact Natalie at natalie.
mehta@yahoo.com or call 415/279-5148.

3.
February 2, 2013

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, February 27. February topics
will include an update on the Rockridge Shopping Center
Project. (Subject to change. Check www.rockridge.org for updates.)
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.
appealed. The Land Use Committee heard
from both sides at its January meeting and
decided to recommend a compromise to
the RCPC board: approve expansion to
360, not 375, students; place a penalty on
exceeding that enrollment cap; require the
school to continue its traffic and parking
demand management program; and require
the school to improve how it deals with
noise “leakage” into the neighborhood.
The board will take the matter up at its
February meeting. An appeal hearing before
the Planning Commission has not yet been
scheduled.
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee chair
Use your smart phone, iPad or tablet to
download a copy of the DEIR. Scan the
QR code at right. At the
Planning and Building web
site, find project no. 22 in the
list: Current Environmental
Review Documents. Start
your download.
■
■Rockridge Montessori School
Expansion Project
5610 Broadway
This project would expand the current
school such that it might eventually
house up to 200 students. It requires a minor
conditional use permit for a school in a
residential zone. RCPC expressed concerns
about its traffic and other impacts. The use
permit was approved administratively, and
neighbors of the project appealed to the
Planning Commission. In November, with
a bare quorum present, the Commission
preliminarily voted 3-1 to grant the appeal
and deny the use permit. The matter is
scheduled to come back to the Commission
for formal findings. In the meantime, the
neighbors and the school are attempting
to reach a compromise agreement, which
RCPC would encourage.
Planning and Zoning Division, at 250 Frank
Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor Zoning Counter,
next door to City Hall, 14th and Washington
streets. (Open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays). The
document can also be downloaded as a pdf
file from the city’s website at http://www2.
oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PBN/
OurServices/Application/DOWD009157.
In addition, the Planning Commission will
hold a public hearing February 20 to receive
comments on the DEIR. Comments can be
sent to the planner handling the project,
Darin Ranelletti, via e-mail to DRanelletti@
oaklandnet.com or via U.S. mail at the
address shown above.
In addition to a number of impacts that
can be dealt with by mitigation, the DEIR
identifies several significant and unavoidable
traffic impacts, notably impacts at the
Broadway/Pleasant Valley intersection and at
the Pleasant Valley/Howe Street intersection.
The DEIR discussed, in addition to Safeway’s
■
■Draft Environmental Impact
Report Issued for Rockridge
Shopping Center Rebuild/
Expansion at Broadway &
Pleasant Valley Road
The long-awaited Draft Environmental
Impact Report (DEIR) for Safeway’s
proposed rebuild/expansion of the Rockridge
Shopping Center was released by the city on
December 26 for public review and comment.
The DEIR will be discussed and analyzed
at the RCPC Town Hall meeting, February
21, at the Rockridge Library. See Agenda,
page 1, for new meeting start time.
Comments will be accepted for 60 days,
until February 25. Free copies of the EIR are
available from the Department of Planning,
Building, and Community Preservation,
■
■College Preparatory School
Expansion Project
6100 Broadway
The project would expand this private
high school from 340 (approved in 2009)
to 375 students. The minor conditional use
permit (school in a residential zone) was
administratively approved, and the neighbors
➧➧Land Use Cmte., page 6

February 2, 2013
4.

Chabot Elementary
Spring Auction
Gets into Full Swing
Exciting Items and Unique
Experiences Up for Bid
Back in the Saddle, Again
Pictured at the north side of the State Capitol last year are the 155
cyclists who pedaled to Sacramento and ride volunteers and supporters.
by Jennifer James Alper, Chabot parent
The Chabot Elementary community is
readying our biggest event of the year
– the Gala spring auction, a school-wide
effort that is the Chabot PTA’s biggest and
most important fundraiser. We are focused
on meeting (or beating!) our $150,000 goal
so we can continue to support our dynamic
enrichment programs — music, science, art,
media, library, gardening, P.E. and Spanish
— and ensure that they thrive.
We’ve been thrilled with the community
support we’ve received this year – including
generous donations from parents, teachers,
relatives and our neighborhood merchants.
The Online Auction, going “live”
February 27 through March 7, features
350-400 items, including gift certificates
to local restaurants, grocery stores, retailers
and services; professional services, including
photography sessions and architectural
consultations; tickets to museums, movies,
the theater and other cultural happenings;
passes to fitness and dance classes; seats at
many local sporting events, including Cal
Football, the Oakland A’s and San Francisco
Giants; and more.
At our silent and live auctions at the
March 9 Gala, we will auction off a range
of exciting experiences, including individual
tickets to a party for 50 at Rockridge’s
own Toast; a private tour of Pixar Studios;
getaways to Carmel, Catalina, Portland, or
Mexico; Club Level seats at a San Francisco
Giants game, and more!
Chabot Elementary is especially grateful
to our early sponsors who demonstrated
their commitment with generous financial
donations: the Grubb Company, our lead
sponsor; MPR Financial; Marvin Gardens
Real Estate; Red Oak Realty; Bank of
Commerce Mortgage; Adventure Time
Extended Day Care; Hot Studio; and Amato
Architecture.
Visit the Chabot web site at http://www.
chabotelementary.org/calendar/auction for
the latest information, links to the online
auction, and to buy tickets to the Gala event
March 9 at the Scottish Rite Center, 1547
Lakeside Drive, across from Lake Merritt..
/Sarah Mages
Ride for a Reason 2013
Take a stand – or a bicycle seat – for public education;
help raise funds for enrichment programs in Oakland schools
Join us Saturday, May 11, for the fifth
annual bike ride from Oakland to the
State Capitol to support public education and
raise essential funds for Oakland schools.
Last year, more than 150 students,
teachers, parents and community members
pedaled to Sacramento to protest the
massive cuts in education funding. We
raised awareness of the crisis in our schools
and the need for public support for the
passage of Proposition 30. But after years
of disinvestment, we must demonstrate
to Sacramento that Prop 30 is only the
beginning; more funding, resources and
support are required. We once had the best
schools in the nation. Working together,
we can proudly restore public education
in California.
To do this, we need your support.
Whether you plan to ride or not, you can
help register 200 riders by sponsoring a
rider (one or more), making a business or
corporate donation or volunteering to help
with the ride.
Our goal is to raise $80,000. Every
dollar raised is shared equally by Emerson
Elementary School, Claremont Middle
School, Oakland Technical High School,
and Oakland International High School.
Choose a fully supported 45-, 65-, or 100-
mile ride. We provide SAG wagon support,
rest stops, lunch, and bus transportation home
from Sacramento and to the starting lines
for the 45- and 65-mile rides (which are in
Vacaville and Suisun). As in previous years,
everyone rides to the State Capitol steps for
our call to action and rally for education.
For more information, to register to
ride, or to make a donation, go to: http://
rideforareason.dojiggy.com or contact
Mike Napolitano at 510/459-4342 or e-mail
mikenapolitano5@gmail.com.
Claremont Middle School Sets Centennial Celebration
‘T
h i s
school
has been here
since 1913.”
P e r h a p s
yo u h ave
noticed this
s t a t e m e n t
painted on the side of Claremont
Middle School and thought to
yourself, “One hundred years. Wow!
They should really have some sort of
celebration to mark the occasion of
the 100th anniversary.” And, that’s
the plan.
Note the date: June 1, 2013. All
alumni, neighbors, current and former
‘This School Has Been
Here Since 1913’
/D. Kinkead
staff, students, families, and friends
are invited to a centennial celebration
of Claremont Middle School. More
details to come as they develop.
Alumni are urged to contact
Michelle Bilensky of the Claremont
PTA at mdb.pta.oakland@gmail.com
or Claremont PTA, 5750 College
Avenue, Oakland CA 94618.

5.
February 2, 2013

Join the Auction Excitement at Fiesta de Peralta
Two Auctions, Food, a DJ: School Support Made Fun and Easy

‘Huge’ College
Prep Book Fair
by College Prep staff
The 19th Annual College Preparatory
School Book Fair will be held Saturday,
March 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, March
3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a bargain bag sale
Sunday, 12 noon to 1 p.m. This huge used
book sale is held in Buttner Auditorum on
the College Prep campus, 6100 Broadway.
There is abundant free parking. A bonus
event during the Saturday sale will be a
yard sale and car wash ($10 for exterior
and $10 for interior) to benefit the school’s
intraterm travel programs.
The Book Fair is a not-to-be-missed event
for book lovers. Thousands of volumes for all
ages are offered at ultra bargain prices: $1-2
for paperback, $3 for hardcover, with a few
special or oversized books priced slightly
higher. CDs, DVDs and audio books will also
be available. Books are sorted by category and
the sale includes many nearly new and recent
works in superb condition as well as vintage
and hidden treasures.
Funds from the sale are used for student
financial aid and the school’s Faculty Wish
List. Donations are tax deductible. Books not
sold are donated to local charities.
by Michelle Quinn, Peralta parent
Peralta Elementary School’s auction
this year is on Saturday, March 2 and
promises to be a night of great food and
exciting things to bid on including a week
in a beautiful apartment in Buenos Aires as
well as an apartment in Barcelona.
The event is at Oakland’s Uptown
Body and Fender, 401-26th Street between
Broadway and Telegraph Avenue. Tickets
can be purchased for $20 in advance or $25
at the door. The theme is Fiesta de Peralta.
The school’s nearly 300 students rely
on proceeds from the auction to support
what has become to be viewed as “extras”
in public education – arts, music, physical
education and diversity training, among
many other things.
The community is invited to both the
online auction and the live event. (See box for
auction address.) The online auction, which
features more than 300 items available only
online, runs from February 18 to February
25. Among the many items to bid on are
restaurant and spa gift certificates, sporting
events, fun camps, as well as products and
services donated by local merchants.
The big event is the auction night itself,
which begins at 5 p.m. Early birds will be
offered a free drink until 5:30. The main
dish will be paella, served up by former
Chez Panisse chef Brian Espinoza. La
Farine, the sumptuous Rockridge bakery,
is an auction sponsor with a $500 donation
to the event. A live D.J. will be at work to
keep the place rocking.
The parents and teachers of Peralta
School thank you for your generous support
of the school over the years.
There is Still Time for Donations
The auction committee is taking donations
until February 13. To bid in the online auction,
go to : http://auctions.readysetauction.com/
peraltaelementarysch/. More information:
e-mail the Peralta Auction Committee at
peralta.auction@gmail.com.
This Is It! Oakland Tech
High School Auction
Wonderful food and entertainment
and the chance to bid on an enticing
array of auction items await you at “This is
It!,” Oakland Technical High School’s 2013
Auction, the school’s main fundraising event.
Sponsored by the school’s Parent Teacher
Student Association (PTSA), the auction
raises crucial funds that provide support to
all areas of the school and its students: from
classroom needs to infrastructure materials;
from athletics to music; from lab supplies
to technology, and more.
This year, we hope to raise over $65,000
and surpass last year’s total. We encourage
everyone to participate in whatever way
appeals to you. For example, local businesses
and community members can sponsor the
event, donate merchandise and services or
purchase a catalog ad.
The entire Rockridge community is
invited to the party and to participate in
Tech’s online auction this March. Plan now
to attend this exciting event on Saturday,
March 16, from 6 - 10:30 p.m., at the Uptown
Body and Fender building, 401-26th Street,
between Broadway and Telegraph Avenue.
Tickets are $25 per person until
February 28, and $35 afterwards. For
more information, to purchase advance
tickets, or to donate an item, contact
auctiondonation@oaklandtech.com or visit:
www.oaklandtech.com/ptsa/auction-2013/.
Donations of books, textbooks, CDs, and
DVDs in good condition will be accepted
through February 28. All contributions are
welcome, but especially sought are current
adult fiction, children’s and teen books, art
and cook books, and books on history and
current affairs.
Donations may be left in the collection bins under
the overhang of the building to the left as you enter
the parking lot. Bins marked “Book Fair” are near
the far end of the building, next to a large flight of
stairs. Tax donation forms are available at the bins.
Donations may be left any time, but it is advisable
to avoid peak traffic periods between 7:45 and 8:15
a.m., and 3:05 and 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Questions? Contact bookfair@college-prep.org.
Design, Installation and Maintenance
Native Plant Gardens & Stonework
Andrea Hurd, Horticulturist and Stonemason
License #883905 h tel. 510.558.8429
www.mariposagardening.com
LAW OFFICES OF
KYLE M. JOHNSTON
5315 COLLEGE AVE.
OAKLAND, CALIF.
510.527.1880
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed
(510) 654-3339
CALL FOR YOUR FREE
INITIAL CONSULTATION
PROBATE LAW ♦ WILLS & TRUSTS ♦ FAMILY LAW
WWW.KYLEMJOHNSTON.COM

February 2, 2013
6.

6.
FORL: Rockridge Branch
Library Thrives Despite
Budget Challenges
Valentine
Take a Valentine’s Day Evening stroll along
College Avenue with your friends and neighbors.
by Jennifer James Alper, Friends of the
Rockridge Library board member
Oakland’s Public Library system has
faced many challenges recently, but
our Rockridge branch remains a bustling
and vital part of our community. We owe
thanks to our outstanding library staff,
who have worked hard and managed to do
more with less.
Branch and FORL News
‘Pancake Tuesday’
Fun at College Avenue
Presbyterian Church
February 8, 2013
Merchants 5-8 pm
Restaurants from 5 until Closing
by Monte McClain, Pastor
Celebrate Pancake Tuesday, aka Mardi
Gras, with neighbors and friends Tuesday,
February 12 from 6-7 p.m. at College Avenue
Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue.
We’ll be serving a free pancake dinner
in our gym, and leading traditional Pancake
Tuesday games and family fun. Bring your
skillet for a pancake relay race, a Shrove
Tuesday custom dating back to the English
Middle Ages. Our activities are planned for all
ages from small children to the young at heart!
We’ll also have information about ways
to get involved in community service in and
around Rockridge. Donations will be accepted
to benefit our weekly free dinner for the hungry.
More information online at www.
capcoakland.net or by phone at 510/658-3665.
Also, our crab feed fund-raiser is coming
on February 23. See details below.
■
■Rockridge Branch Children’s Librar-
ian Gay Ducey has been named manager of
the West Oakland branch. We will remember
Gay’s amazing story hours and the special
gift she has for working with children. She
will be missed.
Land Use Cmte.
■
■Erica Siskind is now the Children’s
Librarian. She is developing wonderful
programs for children and teens, and
she is always ready with great book
recommendations for kids of all ages.
from page 3
proposed project, several alternative ideas,
including one submitted by RCPC and
one proposed by ULTRA (Urbanists for
a livable Temescal-Rockridge Area). Mr.
Ranelletti encourages people to submit
their thoughts about potential impacts and
mitigation measures, and also how they feel
about possible trade-offs between reducing
traffic impacts and increasing impacts on
pedestrians or area residents.
■
■Mayor Jean Quan recently appointed
Kathryn O’Neal, co-chair of the Friends
of the Rockridge Library (FORL) to the
Library Advisory Commission (LAC).
The LAC has 15 members representing
Oakland, Piedmont and Emeryville and
makes recommendations to the City Coun-
cil on library policies, including fiscal
oversight of the voter approved Measure
Q. Ms. O’Neal is co-chair of the LAC’s
Advocacy and Outreach Committee. If you
have any questions about the commission
and/or Oakland Library policies, contact
Ms. O’Neal at onealkathryn@gmail.com
FORL thanks the community for its vital
support. FORL funds many key programs
and projects, including the children’s
summer reading program; a variety of teen
programs, including a teen advisory board
a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
the Rockridge community
in lifestyle and service.
and after school-activities; improvements to
our well-loved and well-used furniture; and
a variety of needed books, publications and
resources for our beloved branch.
To support the Rockridge branch, visit our
website at www.friendsofrockridgelibrary.
org and click the link to “Donate.”
We thank all our donors and appreciate
the support of the community to keep our
library a vibrant cornerstone of Rockridge.
All-You-Can-Eat
Crab Fest-Fundraiser
College Avenue
Presbyterian Church Gym,
5955 College Avenue, Oakland
February 23, starting at 7 p.m.
Adults $40 Children $20 Seniors $30.
This fund-raiser by the church is to start
improvements to the kitchen used for
the regular Friday Night Community
Dinners that we do on a regular basis to
allow us to better prepare those dinners
for those we serve.
➧➧continued at right
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

February 2, 2013

7.
Claremont School Finds
3 ‘Authors Among Us’
Three Claremont students were recent
successful participants in NaNoWriMo
(National Novel Writing Month). Sixth
graders Will Flattery-Vickness and Bella
Trunzo, and 8th grader Lucy Flattery-
Vickness all met the challenge of writing
a set amount every single day during the
month of November.
In addition to the glory of having
completed a novel, each student’s work
will be published as a real, physical book.
Claremont Middle School hopes to add
a copy of each Claremont author’s novel to
the school library collection.
Until then, you can learn more about
our local authors and their books at:
http://claremontlibraryblog.edublogs.
org/2012/12/20/the-authors-among-us/
— Shona Armstrong

Diesel Books Celebrates Two Rockridge Authors in February

Publication Party for “Never Look a Polar Bear
in the Eye” with Zac Unger.
Patricia Bracewell discusses and signs
copies of her book, “Shadow on the Crown.”

A Star is Born
We are about to have a fascinating
woman from another world enter
our lives. She is Emma of Normandy who,
in 1002, at age fifteen,
crosses the sea to wed
old King Aethelred the
Unready of England.
Young and alone,
Emma must fight
for her survival and
station as queen in
an unfamiliar and
treacherous world.
Centuries later,
Rockridge writer Patricia Bracewell
unearthed Emma’s story. By dint of her
devotion to this young woman, Patricia
herself is about to become the newest star
in the firmament of prominent writers who
live in and around Rockridge.
Her novel, “Shadow on the Crown,”
was just published by Viking/Penguin in
hardback and paperback. It is so good that
it is already being translated into half a
dozen languages.
Meet the author for a book reading
and signing at Diesel Books on February
8 at 7 p.m.
— Ortrun Niesar
Fire and Ice for Local Writer
Author Zac Unger is a lifelong Rockridge
resident who can often be observed
shuffling around the neighborhood with
the other lifers.
H is f i rst book,
“Working Fire,” told
of his becoming an
Oakland firefighter-
paramedic, a job he still
holds. He has written for
The Economist, Men’s
Journal, Slate, NPR, and
other media outlets.
For his latest book,
“Never Look a Polar Bear in the Eye,”
Unger demonstrated his dubious marital
and parenting skills by dragging his entire
family to the Arctic Circle and using his
children as polar bear bait. However, in
addition to his saintly wife, the three
children survived the experience and now
attend Chabot Elementary.
Unger has strong feelings about Safeway
and weak feelings about soundwalls.
Considering his writing, he says, “Looking
back at both of the books I’ve written,
‘Working Fire’ was probably one of my
two favorites.”
— Shona Armstrong
Board Elections
from page 1
Kachelmeyer’s term. Her background is in
public policy development and application.
Describing her interest in board
membership, Valentine wrote:
“I work in public policy and civic
engagement, with intermittent forays into the
legislative and initiative process. I recently
left an organization – California Forward
– which is dedicated to developing non-
partisan policies that improve government
accountability at the state level.
“As a new member of the RCPC board, I
want to explore how to continue building ever-
better tools that enable us to share information
and communicate effectively about critical
neighborhood issues. (The Rockridge News
and neighborhood websites already publicize
local issues so we have a terrific foundation
to build upon.) One area where this could
be useful is disaster preparedness. Perhaps
we’d consider setting a goal of ensuring the
entire Rockridge community is “ready to
rock” by a certain date.
“Continuing to improve our ability to
converse, problem-solve and coordinate
within the community will create other
opportunities, related, for example,
to improving public safety, providing
constructive input related to city-wide issues,
or sharing information with other Oakland
neighborhoods.”
Daniel Stea
Rockridge
Broker/Owner/
Attorney
and beyond
since 1997
510.867.4094

February 2, 2013
8.

8.
from soundwall construction.
The city will make petitions and
eligible addresses available to the public.
Proponents of the soundwall
studies will have one year
to collect signatures. If
at least two-thirds of
eligible property
owners sign the
(cont’d below)
Soundwall
Petitions
Thanks to New
Volunteers, Just
Two Routes Left
Thanks to the people who called last
month to take over for our retiring
block captains. Nerissa Read is taking both
Claremont Avenue routes and Nathalie
Jans will become a block captain for one
of our hills routes.
We have a new route to add to the list
this month. Fatima Ali (who lives on Boyd
Avenue) has been delivering the newsletter
to Locksley for close to five years and she
is ready to retire.
To get some exercise delivering The
Rockridge News door-to-door for a block
in your neighborhood, let us know which
of these routes shown below you would
like to assume. E-mail smontauk@gmail.
com or call 510/547-3855.
from page 1
Blocks to Notify About Soundwall Petition
Block faces are highlighted in RED
streetscape improvements in the North
Oakland Hills, Rockridge and Temescal
areas. Transportation Services Manager
Wladimir Wlassowsky also discussed the
petition process that the city will use to
determine whether or not to invest these
funds in the study, and the role for residents
in that process.
The next steps in that process are for the
city to identify eligible resident addresses
(see map) and to notify the property owners
of the process. The locations were identified
using the findings of a 2009
noise study which defined the
areas most likely to benefit
Please see list for reference
presley way
college ave
college ave
ave
oak grove
birch ct
miles
mcmillan st
keith ave
ocean view ave
miles ave
claremont ave
2C
6551-61 Chabot and both
sides of Chabot Crest.
forest
Delivers newsletters along
both sides of 5200 Locksley
between Clifton and Cavour.
ayala
17F
forest st
hermann
martin
petition, the city will commission a
soundwall study.
If not enough signatures are collected,
the money will be used to fund other
projects on the Caldecott list.
For more information, see www.
fourthbore.org or contact Oakland
Caldecott outreach coordinator Victoria
Eisen at victoria@eisenletunic.com or
510/525-0220.
vicente st
hudson st
hardy
telegraph ave
57th st
locksley ave
miles ave
shafter ave
Rockridge: 5400 College Avenue
Elmwood: 2930 College Avenue
Weekend Brunch in Elmwood
wy
e
t
en
vic
55th st
Specializing in Real Estate in Rockridge
As the agent with the most real estate transactions in Rockridge from 2011-2012,
allow me to use my local expert experience to guide you.

Tip of the month – New Year Reminder: A little basic maintenance now can save lives and/or
thousands of $ later. Change your smoke detector batteries. Make sure you have a CO detector on
each floor of your home. Have your rain gutters cleaned and down spout leads draining away from your
home. Paint and/or seal exterior surfaces that look worn, chipped or peeling. Call for a home evaluation!

Wonderful, ongoing,
weekday classes for
babies or toddlers
A
Mov
e
m

COMING

• 2BD+, 2BA on Lawton, Chabot Dist. w/ FP, large bonus room, yard, garage, $849,000. Beg. February

• 3BD++, 3BA in Chabot District, Grand 4,000 sqft estate including legal in-law, price TBD. End March

• 3BD 2BA apt for Lease @ $2,975/mo, 1BD 1BA apt for Lease @ $1,795/mo available Beg. February

e
nt
Prog
ram f
or
Drop-ins or sign ups
for ALL families: songs,
slides, tunnels, parachute play,
bubbles, a fab ball pit, rocking
horses & more!
A
L
L
Fa
mi
lie
s
For 9 months up to 3 years with an adult
Dawn Margolin | 510.547.7726
Temple Beth Abraham
327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland
(near the Grand Lake Theatre)
.
w w w . t b a o a k l a n d . o r g / k i n d e r g y m

NEEDED

• Investment properties. Multiple Buyers looking for $600K to $2.5M investment properties to buy.

• Any homes. There is a shortage of supply in all size homes!
Happy Valentine’s
Call for a real local expert opinion.
Perry Riani, Senior Real Estate Specialist
Lawton Associates DRE# 01402540
510.813.3799
priani@earthlink.net
L A W T O N
A S S O C I A T E S
R E A L E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
LAWTON ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

9.
February 2, 2013

out, for the first time in 17 years.
He indicated a couple of new trees (“I
watered them by hand for a year”) and
several spaces awaiting others. “The city has
stopped trimming trees,” Jackson adds. “The
RDA paid $18,000 to have the trees done.”
His latest gripe is the wide, uneven tree
wells which dot the sidewalks, just daring
someone to trip over one of their rims and
twist an ankle (or worse), which actually
happened to him.
Jackson is hoping to get city permission
to level them by filling each one with
decomposed granite.
And although they are not part of the
RDA, Jackson would like to see art in the
windows of the student galleries across from
the California College of the Arts campus
on Broadway. “What a waste of window
space,” he says of their often-drawn shades.
“That could be a focal point of that end of
the street.”
“I think he goes the extra mile,” says RDA
board president Susan Bernosky, of Strahan
Insurance Services, who recommended him
for the operations manager post. “It’s more
than just a job to him.”
Jackson is also the business district’s
liaison to the Police Department, City
Council, Chamber of Commerce and the
Greater Rockridge Crime Prevention Council
(NCPC) — and works to bring the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC) and
RDA into closer alignment. “We have to
function holistically,” he insists.
Another way in which he has fashioned
his job is by reaching out to Claremont
Middle School and its students. He’s been

Chris Jackson Is ‘About Having a Neighborhood’

by Judith Doner Berne
Your and my experience walking, biking,
driving, browsing, shopping, eating
along College Avenue in Rockridge is better
and safer because of Chris Jackson.
Jackson, a blunt, fast-talking, intense
kind of guy, is the eyes, ears and voice
– okay, and the face – of Rockridge’s
Business Improvement District, known as
the Rockridge District Association (RDA).
Businesses along College Avenue and
adjacent side streets from 51st Street to
Alcatraz are part of the RDA, paying an
assessment based on their tax returns.
That money, says Louise Rothman-
Riemer, RDA board member who works as
a financial consultant, “must go back into
the community.”
“We have had several operations
managers,” Rothman-Riemer told me.
“Chris is absolutely the best. He’s out on
the street. He knows everyone including
‘the second story people,’ who have offices
above street level.
“What really makes Chris so good,” she
says, “is that he has a vision of what it takes
to make this a really viable business district.”
“I’m about having a neighborhood,”
Jackson told me, as he declines having his
picture taken for this column. He feels more
comfortable if he’s not widely recognized
by the public as he does his job.
That generally means walking both
sides of College a couple of times a day,
assessing and somewhat reveling in what
is right and detecting and doing his best to
fix what is wrong.
“I do a visual inspection of the street,”
Jackson says. “I try to meet with as many
merchants as I can. I remove graffiti, pick
up litter, look for anything amiss.
“I’m charged with looking physically
at what’s going on. I do whatever needs to
be done, That includes interfacing with the
UPS and Fed Ex guys.”
On this day, it means trying to get
police help with an apperently mentally ill,
homeless man who was pestering a shop.
“I called the police at 10:30 a.m.,” Jackson
tells me as we sit down to talk at Spasso’s
Coffeehouse. “They’re just getting there at
1 p.m.” Later, as we walk to the site of the
problem, a police car is there.
“I also work with social services,” he
says. “We’re (College Avenue) not a mental
hospital. We need to get these folks help.
We actually got one person an apartment.”
As we walk, he points out the streetlight
poles. He succeeded in getting the city to
paint and to replace those that were rusted

➧➧Chris Jackson, page 12
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Avenue, Oakland
601-1188
Mon – Fri 7 – 7 • Sat 8 – 6
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza

EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!
3rd Floor
Market Hall
TM
Ste. 312
rockdent.com
510.653.6677
Bruce D. Fong, D.D.S.
Filippo Cangini, D.D.S, M.S.
Advanced Preventive, Restorative, Periodontal Gum Care, and Dental Implants.

10.

February 2, 2013
10.

measure per square foot for a three-bedroom
home is about $501. A three-bedroom home
can be expected to sell at $975,000, but in
2012, 35 percent of our three-bedroom homes
sold in the $1,000,000-$1,300,000 range.
Four-bedroom homes sold at an overall
average of $408 per square foot, about 5
percent more than 2011. Expect a similar
increase in 2013. Homes of four bedrooms
or more tend to be larger, newer homes or
historic homes that traditionally fetch prices
well above the $1,200,000 mark, depending
upon the number of bedrooms and the overall
size and desirability of the home.
Outlook for 2013
Should You Buy?
If there is a buyer still hesitating, she
will certainly miss the boat if she fails to
make a move. Real estate is still a bargain
and should be part of anyone’s investment
portfolio. Interest rates have never been
lower.
At the same time, local rental rates are
exceeding potential monthly mortgage
payments. As the mortgage market adjusts
itself to new regulations, there are, according
to mortgage broker John Holmgren of
Holmgren Associates, words of caution to be
heeded. New qualifying guidelines include
debt-to-loan ratio limits at 43 percent, no
interest only or other “non-vanilla” loan
Rockridge Real Estate— 2012 Review
by Ortrun Niesar, Rockridge News
contributor
2012 Summary
When it comes to real estate values,
location consistently remains the most
important determinant. Recent national and
Bay Area-wide market developments have
been most exciting to read about, but they
don’t give us an accurate picture of how the
market has affected us locally. Rockridge,
like many other neighborhoods, has its own
distinct market profile; it’s worthwhile taking
a closer look at what is happening here.
Our Profile
Rockridge as a community offers much
to be thankful for. We enjoy good climate,
great walk scores, lovely well-maintained
craftsman homes – very popular – and an
excellent commute to San Francisco and UC
Berkeley. We also have good availability
of necessary services, such as hospitals,
shopping and restaurants, churches,
good public and private schools. Further,
Rockridge is lucky to have engaged residents
and an effective neighborhood organization
in RCPC. These factors contribute greatly to
the desirability of this area and thus to the
stability of home prices. Foreclosures and
short sales have been practically non-existent
here. A steady increase in real estate values
at a rate somewhat higher than what the
stock market is yielding makes Rockridge
a good investment.
Our Stats
The number of homes sold in Rockridge
in 2012 was not much greater than in 2011.
However, this is where the similarity ends.
There were no foreclosures or short sales
to speak of in the mix. Due to favorable
mortgage interest rates, anticipation of
impending tax changes and a renewed
confidence in a revitalized economy in the
Bay Area, the demand for housing grew
exponentially here as the year progressed.
Nearly every home for sale experienced
a high number of interested buyers and
multiple offers. Three-bedroom homes
were woefully unavailable for purchase.
In fact, the inventory of homes for sale
never caught up with the demand, driving
sale prices anywhere from 8 to 30 percent
over asking for almost 70 percent of the
available properties. All-cash offers were
not unusual, often generating fast closings.
Looking at the statistics we have been
keeping since 2002, we continue to show
a steady, reasonable recovery in real estate
value. There is no fear of a bubble or failure.
As a result, 2013 could finally bring us a
sane, more balanced market.
What Your Home Is Worth
Criteria for evaluating a home differ
greatly depending on the desired goal. It
is best to work with your local realtors,
appraisers and mortgage brokers to get a
proper evaluation. However, you can get
a good snapshot yourself by visiting open
houses of similar size, condition, and
amenities and applying a per square foot
measure to your property.
Today, a good measure for your well-
maintained two bedroom bungalow would be
about $545 per square foot. A good average
➧➧Real Estate, page 11

February 24th
Faith for the iPod generation!
Announcing a NEW Mass time,
Sunday at 6:00p.m.
Powerful & relevant liturgy
Saint Augustine Catholic Church
Contemporary music • A new time for busy schedules
400 Alcatraz Ave • Oakland, CA 94609
Also join us Saturdays, 5:00 p.m. Mass and
Sundays 8:00a.m. and 10:30a.m., Masses.
Food and drink to follow service
Watch us live via webcam every Sunday (8:00a.m. and 10:30a.m.)
At http://www.staugustineoakland.com

11.
February 2, 2013

11.

FROG
Reminders
Real Estate
Average Sales Price by No. of Bedrooms
Year
2BR
3BR
4+BR
No. of
Homes
Sold
from page 10
2005
$802,513
$956,722
$1,466,920
124
products, no stated-income loans, etc.
These new guidelines may seem onerous
to some, but there are many government-
insured programs available. It’s a matter of
finding a broker who can work within your
parameters. Expect a more invasive process
and a greater quantity of documentation.
Should You Sell?
Sellers have been justifiably reluctant
to make a move these past few years if
there was no pressing need. As the market
rebounds, though, it may be worthwhile to
take a closer look at your property, assess
the cost of improvements, remodeling,
energy upgrades and issues such as size
and appropriate distribution of space for
a changing life style. There are certainly
benefits to moving either into a smaller or
larger home with more fitting amenities.
Should you decide that a move is best for
you, if you purchased your home before 2005,
you can be certain that you will do well.
■
■
Last Chance to take the FROG
Survey – Extended Deadline:
February 6. Help guide Frog Park
improvements and FROG decisions, by
completing our brief survey now. Please
encourage your friends and neighbors to
complete it, too.
Go to www.frogpark.org and click on
the survey link, or copy/type the link into
your browser: www.surveymonkey.com/s/
FrogPark2013Priorities-Survey
Results will be available at our February
2013 committee meeting. E-mail info@
frogpark.org for more information.
Thank you to those who have already
shared their opinions.
2006
760,782
962,488
1,498,687
112
2007
780,268
986,895
1,330,031
127
2008
757,011
921,476
1,329,080
98
2009
711,967
840,074
1,388,314
79
2010
680, 617
876,609
1,330,676
90
2011
702,011
924,398
1,126,722
87
2012
751,185
943,017
1,325,490
88
Rockridge Home Sale Prices 2002-2011
Year
Avg.
Price
%
Chge
Median
Price
%
Chge
2002
$770,604
$691,500
2003
847,637
9.9
750,000
8.5
2004
902,000
6.4
805,000
7.3
2005
1,032,139
14.4
930,500
15.6
■
■
Frog Monthly ‘First Sunday’
Cleanups Continue: Join Oakland Tech
BuildOn students at our monthly first Sunday
cleanups to work on the Park. Meet at Big
Frog Park (Hardy Street cul-de-sac). Rain
cancels. (Calendar of events: www.frogpark.
org.) Next date: March 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
2006
1,111,317
7.6
903,500
-3.0
2007
1,106,186
-1.0
1,000,000
10.3
2008
1,029,153
-7.0
905,000
- 9.5
2009
904,954
-12.0
850,000
-6.0
2010
962,757
6.4
838,000
- .02
2011
907,628
-5.7
837,000
0.0
■
■
Next FROG Meeting: E-mail info@
frogpark.org for meeting details.
2012
975,426
7.5
905,000
8.0
This analysis covers Rockridge home sales
from the Berkeley border in the north, south
to Broadway Terrace and 51st Street, west to
Telegraph Avenue and east to Highway 13.
Information supplied by EBRD (East Bay
Regional Data) 2012 is deemed to be reliable
but not guaranteed. Ortrun Niesar is a Realtor
with East Bay Sotheby’s International Realty:
ortrun.niesar@sothebysrealty.com
RCPC Board Elections: April 18
Ready to join the RCPC board? Two seats
are open. Statements of interest must be
submitted by Thursday, February 21, to
Chair, RCPC, 4123 Broadway PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94611, or e-mail chair@
rockridge.org.
G
Rockridge Prices Continue to Rise in January
GRUBBCO.COM

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

1/23/13 2
1
6092 Hillegass Ave
$619,000
$619,000
13
$700,000

1/30/13 3
2
367 60th Street
$649,000
$649,00
15
$855,000
Current list to sales price is 122% vs. 93% last year ·
Properties are selling in an average of 14 days vs. 51 days last year · Currently a 20 day supply of
inventory

510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland

12.

February 2, 2013
12.

Oakland author, restoration authority,
and preservationist Jane Powell died
recently. But her books are still widely
available, and will be of
interest to many Rockridge
residents not already familiar
with her work.
Jane’s enduring contribu-
tion, her legacy, will rest upon
her exhaustive, informative,
stylishly written books such
as “Bungalow Bathrooms,”
“Bungalow Kitchens,” “Bun-
galow Details: Exterior,” and “Linoleum,”
and articles and essays too numerous to
list. The immensely readable yet practi-
cal books have beautiful photographs by
Linda Svendsen.
Jane’s books brought her attention, her
unique voice and wit brought her friends
and fans. She enjoyed a period of living
the privileged life in a glorious house
in Berkeley. After her divorce, needing
income, Jane began her project of buying
houses – some eleven in all – fixing,
restoring and then selling them, moving
on to the next. The “Bunga-Mansion” (as
she dubbed it) in the Fruitvale District
became her keeper house, a daunting fixer.
We met as fellow Oakland Heritage
Alliance board members, and Jane was
actively involved in the battles to save
landmarks like the Fox Theater and
the Floral Depot. But she saw worth in
more than just “A+” buildings, and as
a true conservationist, she wrote about
restoring old window sash, the trove of old
growth timber in venerable
buildings, the pleasure of
vintage bathrooms and
kitchens (even if a little
tweaking was required).
Jane’s resolve, indepen-
dence, and pluck, even as she
battled illness and foreclo-
sure, were an inspiration. Her
lymphoma didn’t prevent her
from writing her books, even the metastatic
lung cancer couldn’t keep her from her
“Restoration Comedy” blog on her “Jane
Powell – the Author, not the Actress!”
website: http://www.janepowell.org/
Jane Powell’s legacy will be the
bungalows that find loving, more
knowledgeable (thanks to her) admirers,
and people who don’t easily give up even
when “Life backs up a giant truck full
of lemons and dumps them on me,” as
Jane put it.
Jane’s recent memorial service included
testimonials by well-known authors and
artists, like Paul Duchscherer and Tom
Knechtel. Lexi Pandell wrote about Jane’s
life and work in the January 16 online
issue of OaklandNorth, available at http://
bit.ly/XEuVj3.
— Robert Brokl
Rockridge
Optometry
Rockridge design
firm providing
creative, livable
design solutions
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
• Residential Remodels
• Kitchens + Baths
• Green Building Design
• Color Consulting
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

Chris Jackson
from page 9
instrumental in pairing the Rockridge
Masonic Lodge with Claremont’s Dad’s
Club and the RDA for the annual Pancake
Breakfast school fund-raiser. (This year it’s
set for Saturday, April 6.)
“Chris comes to all the Dad’s Club
meetings,” says Paul Kagiwada, Claremont
Dad’s Club co-chair. “He always does a
report on what goes on in the neighborhood.
He does a lot to integrate the school and the
business community.”
“When we have a happy Claremont, we
have a happy Avenue,” Jackson says.
A 15-year Rockridge resident, Jackson
traces his family’s Oakland roots back to the
1930s. After attending Cal State Hayward in
adaptive physical education, he taught and
worked with learning disabled children and
adults and later turned to high-end sales.
He was active in the Rockridge
community before being hired four years
ago by the RDA, including leading a
movement to get children on his street
included in the Peralta Elementary School
district boundaries and his area adopted
offcially as part of Rockridge.
“My job is really to make Rockridge
work,” Jackson says. And that very much
includes security.
“People need to understand this is not
Mayberry,” he says. “This is a very urban
area.” He has no problem approaching a
shopper or a person sipping coffee at a café
and reminding them to secure their purse
or hi-tech device.
“It’s really all about relationship-building
with the RDA members, the property owners,
the residents and,” Jackson says, cracking
his only smile, ‘‘most of all, the dogs.”
Judy Berne welcomes your comments and column
ideas. She can be reached at judyberne@att.net.

13.
February 2, 2013

13.

Caldecott projects outreach coordinator,
Victoria Eisen at victoria@eisenletunic.com
or 510/525-0220.
Caldecott Projects

from page 1
effort and a presentation on the conceptual
designs of the two projects.
The goal of the meeting is for participants to
comment on these designs before they advance
to the pre-construction stage. To help prepare
participants for the meeting, the preliminary
conceptual designs are posted at www.fourth-
bore.org. Comments will be accepted on these
projects until Friday, March 1, at 5 p.m.
If you cannot attend the February 21 meet-
ing, you may submit comments to Mohamed
Alaoui via e-mail (aalaoui@oaklandnet.com);
phone (510/238-3469); or U.S. Mail (Transpor-
tation Services Division, City of Oakland Public
Works Agency, 250 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Suite
4344, Oakland, CA 94612). So the City knows
what neighborhood you live in, please provide
either your address or nearby intersection in
your comments.
For more information, contact the City’s
Lic. #0670129
In and Around Rockridge, There’s Only One #1
Call Ron to Find Out Why
Homes SOLD in 2012 by Ron Kriss
Sale Price $595,000
5451Broadway.com
SOLD
Sale Price $522,000
473-55thSt.com
SOLD
Sale Price $677,500
5707Ayala.com
SOLD
Sale Price $605,000
4701Manila.com
SOLD
Sale Price $1,455,000
5748Ivanhoe.com
SOLD
Sale Price $1,022,000
5256Miles.com
SOLD
Sale Price $655,000
5925Keith.com
SOLD
Sale Price $685,000
5394Bryant.com
SOLD
Sale Price $1,512,000
5866Birch.com
SOLD
Sale Price $991,750
5442 Boyd
LawtonAssoc.com
Sale Price $905,000
5678-OceanView.com
SOLD
2013 Tip - Multiple
Offers are Back!
L A W T O N

New
Ramen Shop
5812 College Avenue
510-788-6370
www.ramenshop.com
Monday, Wednesday - Sunday
4 p.m. - midnight
Owners/chefs: Jerry Jacksich, Sam White
and Rayniel DeGuzman
Closed
miam miam
5856 College Avenue
Hudson Restaurant
5356 College Avenue
Agatha Rainford Boutique
6025 College Avenue
Moved
McGuire Real Estate
5327 College Avenue

Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates

510-547-5970 Ext. 55
ronkriss@JPS.net

DRE# 00784235
www.LawtonAssoc.com

A S S O C I A T E S
R E A L E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E

14.

February 2, 2013
14.

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
Senior Help &
Babysitting for Kids
Help with driving seniors to appointments and
with chores, as needed. We are Rockridge
residents who are very caring and consider-
ate. 510/207-3711 or email buyali@aol.com.
Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number
counts as one word.) Mail to: RN Classifieds,
4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611.
March deadline is February 14. For information:
smontauk@gmail.com
Gardening Excellence
Serving Rockridge over 20 years. Friendly and
personalized maintenance; expert pruning
and care; garden restoration; makeovers to
prepare for sale. Consultations. Non-toxic,
earth-friendly practices. Reasonable rates,
excellent references, free estimates. Chris
510/655-0157.
Piano Lessons in Rockridge
Study jazz, classical piano and music theory
with jazz pianist and teacher with B.A. in
Music from UC Berkeley and over 15 years’
experience. All ages, levels. Contact Janet
at 510/653-6783, janetjazzclassicalpiano@
gmail.com.
Life Story Videos
by Eric Pomert
Dig out those old videos and celebrate loved
ones with a breathtaking, cinematic gem,
crafted by an award-winning master film
editor. 510/409-5515 www.EricPomert.com
Neighborhood Women’s
Writer’s Groups
Always wanted to write? Need help get-
ting started or guidance getting published?
Author Elizabeth Fishel (Sisters; Reunion)
leads weekly or biweekly morning groups
in Rockridge. Inspiring exercises, creative
support. www.wednesdayywriters.com or
erfishel@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.
Responsible, Returning
Rockridge Son
Married with baby, seeks rental from May
through the summer. Duration of rental
can be flexible. Call Margret or Michael.
510/655-8389.
Valentine’s Day Special!
Penelope’s Aesthetics
Is offering a full European facial for $49 for
the month of February! Gift certificates
available for use any time. Please call
for an appointment. 510/594-1552 www.
penelopecalef.com
There’s a
new broker
in town.
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.
What is Energy Healing?
Talk and demo at Rockridge Public Library
on Tuesday, February 5, 5-6 p.m. Visit
www.clearingclouds.com or e-mail Jyoti@
clearingclouds.com.
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.
Susan Bernosky
Strahan
Insurance
Services, Inc.
510-450-9051
Personal Assistant
Wish you had a Personal Assistant? I can
help with your project and household or
personal needs. Highly experienced, versa-
tile, and efficient. Allow me to make your
life simpler. Contact Cynthia 510/326-9985.
Cd.warren@comcast.net.
TAI CHI and
QIGONG CLASS
New and returning students welcome.
Cultivate health through this ancient gentle
exercise. Methodist Church, 303 Hudson at
College. Thursday 9:30 a.m. Saturday 9 a.m.
Visit www.harmonytaiji.com for schedule.
More info: gail@harmonytaiji.com
You can help! The RCPC Board has two
open seats. Send your letter of interest
to Chair, RCPC, 4123 Broadway PMB
311, Oakland, CA 94611, or e-mail chair@
rockridge.org.
Property Management and
Leasing Services
Need someone reliable, efficient and avail-
able 24/7 to manage your rental property?
Bringing landlords and good tenants together
is my job! Contact George Vassiliades at
510/710-6826. GvRealtor@gmail.com.
Tennis Anyone?
For several decades, retirees have been
playing tennis at the Montclair Park Firehouse
Court. Unfortunately, our ranks thin as old
comrades age and die off. Come join us Mon.,
Wed., Fri., 10 a.m.
Shopping? Find it in Oakland!

15.
February 2, 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

erosity will be well rewarded with exciting Auctions,
Fairs, Galas, great food and entertainment. Join your
friends and neighbors and attend one or more of the
following events:

Community Calendar

y
y CHABOT Elementary Online Auction and Gala:
starts February 27, ends March 7. The gala party
is Saturday, March 9, at the Scottish Rite Temple in
Oakland. Details page 4.
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, 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
FOR ADULTS
y
y PERALTA Elementary School Auction: Fiesta de
Peralta: March 2, Uptown Body and Fender, 401-26th
St. Among bid items: a week in a beautiful Buenos Aires
apartment. Details page 5.
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 College Prep 19th Annual Book Fair and Car
Wash: Sat. and Sun., March 2 & 3 on the campus,
6100 B’way. Thousands of books for all ages at
bargain prices; also CDs and DVDs. Details page 5.
y
y Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice and
referrals. First Tues. each month (2/5, 3/5), 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:
Feb: Photographs by Ira Lapidus: Seen & Unseen:
Reflections in Store Windows.
Mar: Oakland Public Library Staff Art Show
Lobby Display Case:
Feb: Lori Fischer; Dolls 4 Artsake
Mar: Oakland Public Library Staff Art Show
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sundays and Mondays;
also Sat, 2/9 and Tuesdays, 2/12 and 2/19.
Meet the Authors
Three Bay Area authors with three recent novels – each
set in Paris. Jacqueline Luckett, Passing Love; Cara
Black, Murder at the Lanterne Rouge and Ellen Suss-
man, French Lessons. Discussion and book-signing. Sat,
2/23, 1:30pm. Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College
Ave. Info: (AAUW contact) 531-4275.
Diesel Book/Readings and Events
All FREE and open to the public.
y
y This Is It! Oakland Tech Auction/Party: Sat., March
16 at Uptown Body and Fender 401-26th St. Donations of
merchandise and services still needed. Details page 5.
All-You-Can-Eat Crab Fest
Fundraiser to provide equipment for Friday Night
Community Dinners at the College Ave. Presbyterian
Church. Feb 23, 7pm. (Adults $35; kids $20; Srs. $30).
5955 College Avenue, 658-3665.
Wisteria Ways House Concert
y
y Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (to age
5); Saturdays, 10:30am.
y
y Oakland Folkharmonic & Teslim: string ensembles
playing traditional modal music of Greece, Turkey and
the Middle East; medieval and Sephardic music on
traditional instruments; and original compositions.
Saturday, Feb 9, 8pm (door opens 7:30pm) Inside
venue; not wheelchair accessible.
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 Small Potatoes: Folk duo of Jacquie Manning
and Rich Prezioso. “Celtic to Cowboy” – from Irish,
country, blues, and swing to original songs. Sunday,
Feb 24, 3pm.
$15-20 donation for musicians (cash only at the door).
383 61st Street. For reservations (highly recommended),
RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.org or 655-2771.
Oakland Museum (OMCA)
White Elephant Sale
Northern California’s biggest and best rummage sale
to support OMCA exhibits and acquisitions. Mar 2 and
3; 10am to 4pm. 333 Lancaster St. Free admission
and free shuttle service from the Fruitvale BART
station. Info: www.whiteelephantsale.org or 536-6800.
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 Caregiver support groups, computer
classes/more.
y
y Make Valentines: Thurs, 2/7, 3:30 to 5pm. We will
provide all materials. Bring: colorful scraps of paper
that please you; a list of classmates (you can make a
hand-made valentine for everyone); a friend. All ages
welcome. Kids under 8 bring a grown-up.
y
y Celebrate African American History Month: Enjoy
and learn about the music and dance of Africa with
Bodac Cultural, an international African traditional
drumming, singing, dancing and performing arts
group that originated in West Africa. Sat, 2/3, 4pm.
All ages welcome.
FOR TEENS
y
y Thurs, 2/7, 7pm. Publication party for Rockridge
author Zac Unger: Never Look a Polar Bear in the
Eye: A Family Field Trip to the Arctic’s Edge in Search
of Adventure, Truth, and Mini-Marshmallows.1/13,
Mon, 2/11, 7:30pm.
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: 597-5017.
y
y Fri, 2/8, 7pm. Local author Patricia Bracewell:
Shadow on the Crown.
y
y Rockridge Ninjas: watch Anime. 2/ 26 and 3/12 from
5-6:30 pm. Contact: Vicky Chen, 597-5017
y
y Mon, 2/11, 7:30pm. Amnesty International Meeting
(2nd Mon. each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
y
y Teen ’Scape: Play video and board games; make
crafts; light snacks provided. Every Wed., 2 to 4pm.
Info: Vicky Chen, 597-5017.
y
y Fri, 2/15, 7pm. local author Phil Lapsley: Exploding
the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and
Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell.
y
y Mon, 2/25, 7pm. SF author Joshua Mohr: Fight Song.
Joined for this event; Oakland author Samuel Sattin,
whose debut novel, The League of Somebodies, is
forthcoming in this April.
y
y AARP Tax Help: Thursdays, February 7 – April
11. To schedule an appointment: 597-5085 or come
to the office.
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.
Temescal Farmers’ Market
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; live music. Bring your own
reusable bags. 5300 Claremont Ave. (off Telegraph) at
the DMV parking lot.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
y
y Sun., 3/3, 3pm. Publication party for Sophie Littlefield:
Garden of Stones.
DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. More info
(and other events and discussion groups): 653-9965
or events@dieselbookstore.com.
School Fundraisers
Once again, our community is being asked to give
generously to make up for the lack of public fund-
ing that would provide our local schools with art, music
language and science programs; field trips; gardens;
and many other enrichment programs. But your gen-
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
A Prevention Oriented Practice

16.

February 2, 2013
16.

Henry C. Levy & Co.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Certified Public Accountants
and Consultants
A Professional Corporation
■
• tax preparation • estate planning
• tax planning
• business valuation
5940 College Avenue, Suite C
Oakland, California 94618
510.652-1000 FAX 510.654-2363
aboutface&body
dayspa oaklandberkeley
serving you since 1981
AVEDA PRODUCTS
Now offering men’s waxing
3190 college avenue
at alcatraz
berkeley, ca 94705
p 510.428.2600
www.aboutfaceandbody.net
sun-tues 10:30-5:30
wed-sat 10:30-8:00

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
32
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

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