Extracted text · highlighting “Susan Strahan”

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 29      NO. 2      ISSUE NO. 308      February 8, 2014                   CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 BusInesses

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

February Meetings Continue Neighborhood Public Safety Series

#1. Thursday, November 21, 2013
7-9 p.m., Rockridge Branch Library
#2. Thursday, February 20
7-9 p.m., Rockridge Branch Library
#3. Saturday, February 22
10 a.m.-noon, Rockridge Library
Starting a Neighborhood Watch
Group on Your Block

Public Safety
Meeting Series:
Topics and Times
Completed
Oakland’s Budget Affects Public
Safety; Voters Affect the Budget
Creative Approaches to
Improvements in Public Safety
Funding Crime Reduction
Strategies: It’s Only
Money, but It’s Our Money
Is Oakland’s approach to crime reduction
and public safety paying off? Are current
strategies working? How can Rockridge
residents decide which policies to support
and which to change?
Attend the second program in the series
examining public safety in Rockridge at the
Thursday, February 20, RCPC Town Hall.
Full agenda in the box at right, below
Also, see the analysis of the private
security patrols on page 9.
Curbing Crime with Environmental Design
by Zabrae Valentne, chair, RCPC
In the third program in the series of
public safety meetings, facilitator – and
Rockridge neighbor – Gabe Kleinman
provides creative examples of how other
neighborhoods have worked together to
improve public safety. Gabe and meeting
participants will engage in a lively discussion
exploring steps we might want to try
locally. Ever thought of deploying mimes
to discourage jaywalking? They do it in
Bogotá!
We look forward to seeing you at the
Rockridge Branch Library Saturday,
February 22, 10 a.m. – noon to learn how
Rockridge residents can work together to
reduce crime. Share your thoughts on strategies
that make the most sense in Rockridge.

This series of public safety meetings was organized by RCPC, the Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), the Rockridge District Association (RDA), Councilmember Dan
Kalb’s office, the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, and a number of interested Rockridge residents.
Organizers are part of an RCPC-convened working group that seeks to provide information that helps
residents identify effective responses to crime in the Rockridge area.

Safeway on College:
Construction Redux

20
AGENDA: February 2014 RCPC Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, February 20 | 7-9 p.m. Rockridge Library
Is Oakland getting the best bang for its crime prevention
buck? How can residents influence funding decisions?
Panel discussion with city representatives and OPD.

Join your neighbors and friends for a comprehensive look at crime reduction policies
the city deploys, how well they are working, what they cost, and what the city can
afford. The purpose of the program is to offer Rockridge residents options when
deciding which policies and budget priorities to support or to consider changing as
one key part of strengthening an overall crime-reduction plan. Speakers include city
representatives Budget Director Donna Hom; Interim Human Services Director Sara
Bedford; an OPD senior official; Make Oakland Better Now boardmember Nicolas
Heidorn; and program co-host Councilmember Dan Kalb.
Back hoes and trenchers get to work
as Safeway resumes construction
on its College Avenue store project.
The city halted construction until Safeway and
RCPC and the other three neighborhood groups
that negotiated design and construction terms
reached agreement to discuss construction
progress and activities. See report from RCPC’s
Land Use Committee, page 3.

/Chuck Afflerbach
Thursday, February 20 | 7-9 p.m. Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College at Manila
The City’s Approach to Public Safety, How it is
Funded, How We Can Influence These Decisions
by Zabrae Valentine, chair, RCPC
R
CPC’s Thursday, February 20 Town
Hall presents a comprehensive look
at city-funded programs that affect crime
prevention, with expert commentary on
whether those funds are being spent wisely,
how best to target future taxpayer dollars,
and how Rockridge residents can influence
those decisions in the future.
Photo submitted by Rockridge resident Chuck
Afflerbach, who was passing by the site and noticed
the activity. The Rockridge News welcomes photo
submissions. Email editor@rockridge.org.
➧➧Funding Public Safety, page 10


2.

February 4, 2014
2.

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY

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

5366 College Avenue
597-5017
HOURS:
Mon, Tues:
Weds, Thurs, Sat:
Friday:
Sunday:
Library program details: See Calendar, page 15.
12:30 – 8 p.m.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
12 – 5:30 p.m.
CLOSED

Tue: 12:30 – 8 p.m.

Wed, Thu, Sat: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Friday: 12 – 5:30 p.m.

CLOSED Sun and Mon & 2/12 & 2/18
Soundwall Study Petition Effort In
Home Stretch: Last Chance to Choose
Petitions must be submitted
to city by March 12
by Stuart Flashman
After almost a year of contention,
Rockridge residents living near
Highway 24 have their last chance to choose
whether their area remains on a path toward
eventual soundwalls by signing a petition
in support of soundwall feasibility studies.
The studies, which would cost about $1.5
million, would identify areas that would
merit soundwalls (based on a cost-effec-
tiveness analysis), and do the preliminary
engineering needed to pave the way for their
construction. Study costs would be paid
for with funds from the Caldecott Tunnel
settlement (http://www2.oaklandnet.com/
oakca1/groups/pwa/documents/report/
oak028543.pdf).
Soundwall studies opponents argue that
the soundwalls are unnecessary and the
studies would be a waste of money. Further,
they point to other still-unfunded roadway
and soundwall projects as indications
that a Rockridge soundwall will never be
built. They also argue that soundwalls are
unsightly and will block residents’ light
and views.
Soundwall studies supporters point to a
preliminary study – which led to the petition
effort – that showed much of Rockridge next
to the freeway already suffers from noise
levels at or approaching those justifying
soundwall protection. With the added
Caldecott fourth bore, plus continued
traffic growth from Contra Costa County,
it is practically guaranteed that soundwalls
will be badly needed by the time they could
be built. Supporters note that the area has
been living with ever-increasing noise levels
since the freeway was completed in the late
1960s, and that if the study isn’t funded
now, soundwalls will almost certainly never
get built, no matter how high noise levels
continue to rise.
As for other unfunded soundwall projects,
supporters point out that some, like the
Jackson Street on-ramp to I-880, would be

enormously expensive due to engineering
problems, as well as facing community
opposition, while others, like soundwalls on
I-580 south of 98th Avenue, languish for lack
of local political support. Supporters also
note that, as a recent article in the Oakland
Tribune pointed out (http://bit.ly/MGKqar),
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, 2013-2014
Zabrae Valentine	����������������Chair
Christopher Chin	�������������Vice-Chair
Laura Schlichtmann	�����������Secretary
Bernard Baltaxe	�����������������Treasurer
Stuart Flashman	�����������������Chair Emeritus
Andrew Charman, Jennifer Daskal, Kevin Faughnan,
Virginia Hamilton, Michael Kan, William Kaufner,
Don Kinkead, Lisa McNally, Greg Pasquali
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Transparent soundwalls
on I-580 at the Estudillo
Overcrossing in East
Oakland, a roadway similar
to portions of Highway 24
in Rockridge spanning open
space below the roadway.

(This photo first appeared in
the May 5, 2012, issue of The
Rockridge News.)
soundwalls have become more aesthetically
pleasing in recent years, and that, with the
freeway being elevated through most of
Rockridge, the only type of soundwall that
would be feasible would be transparent
plastic ones that don’t block light or views,
as pictured above on a portion of I-580.
The soundwall petition and information
about soundwalls and the petition process
are posted as PDF documents on the Fourth
Bore Coalition website at http://www.
fourthbore.org/documents-2/. (See QR
codes at end of article. Find the free Adobe
Acrobat PDF Reader at http://get.adobe.
com/reader/.)
If you are not sure you are in an eligible
area, a map showing the streets involved is
also posted. If you are in an eligible area but
haven’t been contacted about the petition, or
are interested in helping to circulate it on your
street before the March 12 deadline, email
the author at stuflash@aol.com to obtain
additional information and materials or to
arrange to submit signed petitions.
If you are not sure you are in an eligible
area, a map showing the streets involved is
also posted. If you are in an eligible area but
haven’t been contacted about the petition, or
are interested in helping to circulate it on your
street before the March 12 deadline, email
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
Contacting The Rockridge News
	 Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News?
	 Do you have questions about newsletter
distribution?
	 Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News
block captain?
	 Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org
www.rockridge.org
The Rockridge News, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94611
RCPC Voice-mail: 510/869-4200
Articles submitted for publication may be e-mailed
to the above address. Submissions are limited to
600 words; must include the author’s name, phone
number, e-mail address, and city or neighborhood
of residence; and are subject to editing. To reprint
a Rockridge News article, please contact the editor.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadline
Publication date of the next issue is:
  March 8, 2014
  March deadline is February 20, 2014
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.)
➧➧Soundwall Study Petitions Due, page 7


February 8, 2014

3.

3.
FROG: Donate, Spread
the Word, Volunteer
The RCPC Land Use Com-
mittee meets Wednesday,
February 26, 7:30 p.m,
Rockridge Library meeting
room. Topics will include updates
on the Rockridge Safeway project.
Agendas: Please check with commit-
tee chair Stuart Flashman, 652-5373,
or e-mail stuflash@aol.com the week
before for an updated agenda.
by FROG (Friends of the Rockridge-
Temescal Greenbelt)
Major Fundraising Campaign
Underway for Frog Park Swings,
Play Structures;
Call for Volunteers, Donations
F
ROG is embarking on a fundraising
drive to realize the community’s vision
of new swings and play features at Frog Park.
Plans are being finalized with the city, with
the preferred design including additional
swings (regular swings and infant bucket
swings), a see-saw and a merry-go-round
climbing structure.
Our new and ambitious goal is to raise
$50,000 from community members and
local companies. We met our $5,000 match
from a generous anonymous donor, so to
date we’ve raised more than $11,000. Thank
you to all who have donated; $39,000 to go!
Contributions at or above $250 (including
aggregate donations of $250 or more building
on previous donations) will be recognized in
park signage.
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee chair
■
■Rockridge Shopping Center
Rebuild Project
Broadway and Pleasant Valley
Avenue
As predicted in December, the lawsuit
challenging this project has been dismissed,
and work is moving forward on construction
plans for the project. According to Safeway,
closure and demolition of the CVS store
(and the building to its southwest that holds
a collection of shops) will probably begin
early this summer. Construction of Phase
I of the project, including the new Safeway
and nursery as well as the new Chase Bank
building and a new Boston Market restaurant
next to the quarry pond, will start later in the
summer. The eastern half of the site will be
closed off once demolition and construction
start. Watch for further updates.
■
■College Avenue Safeway
Project, College & Claremont
Those who live near the Safeway
on College site are already aware that
construction has begun on the foundation
for the new Safeway building. RCPC and
the other three community groups that
negotiated building and construction plans
with the company will meet monthly with
Safeway to discuss construction progress and
any issues involving construction activities.
If you live near the store and see or hear
anything you think Safeway needs to know
about (and perhaps do something about),
please contact RCPC at 869-4200 or info@
rockridge.org and let us know. We will try
to include a monthly update on construction
activities in The Rockridge News and on the
RCPC website at rockridge.org.
■
■Merrill Gardens at Rockridge
West side of Broadway North
of 51st Street
The formal application for this senior
housing and commercial mixed-use project
has been submitted to the city. Planner Mike
Rivera (mrivera@oaklandnet.com, 238-6417)
is assigned to the project. The environmental
review will begin once the city decides the
application is complete.
While the project has generally been
favorably received by neighbors, the first
problem has been identified. The loading
area, which includes garbage pick-up by Waste
Management, is next to a residential duplex to
the west of the project. This would create an
early morning noise nuisance, and a potential
pedestrian and bicycle safety hazard as trucks
back in or out of the loading area. It is hoped
this problem can be quickly resolved, as have
similar problems for other local projects.
Reward: Stolen Antique Burl Bowl
An American antique wooden burl bowl
was stolen from Talisman antique shop
on College Avenue in Rockridge on Saturday,
December 28. It measures about 24" in
diameter by 9" in height.
The burl bowl has been in the owner’s
family for at least eight generations. Originally
a wedding gift, through the generations
it accompanied the family from Illinois to
Southern California, to the Sierra Nevada,
and finally the East Bay. The bowl holds the
family’s history in America. Its loss has caused
immeasurable grief to the family.
Talisman is offering a $1,000 reward
for information leading to the return of the
bowl. Please contact Talisman at 510/653-7998.
/Landscape Structures
What we need right now from
the Rockridge community:
■
■Donations: Make them online
(frogpark.org) or by check to FROG,
4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland,
CA 94611.
■
■Spread the word to friends and family
who enjoy the park.
■
■Volunteers: We need volunteers
with experience and expertise in
➧➧FROG: Fundraising, Volunteers, page 12


4.

February 4, 2014
4.

Kathy Walsh, ninth chair of RCPC, 1991-93, passed away
December 10, 2013. Below, she is remembered by RCPC
members who worked with her in the organization helping to
create Rockridge as we know it today.

Although Kathy Walsh and I were both products of Chabot,
Claremont and Tech, she was a year younger than I (and
you know there was not a lot of mingling between students
of different ages at that time) so we hadn’t known each
other well. But we were both members of RCPC
and lovers of libraries and when “our” library*
had its rent raised from $500 per month to
$5,000, it was time to go to work.
Thus began the Dutcher/Walsh crusade
to get our new Rockridge Branch Library.
Over the 10-year life of the campaign, many
people gave many hours to the project. At
one point, a garage sale to cover expenses
was held, with Kathy storing most of the
contributions in her garage.
She stayed on the library crusade with a
group through all phases until the final colors
were chosen, the carpet was laid, and the furniture
was in place.
Kathy became chair of RCPC and we continued to
be friends, sharing walks with our dogs and chats over tea.
She led the organization well, and was a joy to know and
work with. I miss her.
 — Nancy Dutcher, Chair, RCPC Library Committee
Kathy Walsh was a hard-working, effective,
articulate, and, at times, tough chair of RCPC.
She was a good organizer. She worked on many significant
projects, including the Dreyer’s expansion, the proposal
to add a second layer of parking to the Rockridge
BART station, and the Medical Insurance Exchange
of California’s (MIEC) expansion proposal for its
office building on Claremont Avenue.
She was also interesting to talk with, and
I will always remember her wonderful laugh.
— Mary E. MacDonald, Chair,
RCPC, 1993-96
m
b
e
e
m
r
i
e
n
Rg
Dear RCPC: We are writing with
the sad news that our mother,
Kathy Walsh, died Tuesday, December
10. She had been suffering from Alzheimer’s
disease for several years. She had lived in Tualatin,
Oregon, since 2007.
It was gratifying to see the schedule of events
for the Rockridge Branch Library in a recent issue of
The Rockridge News. Our mother was a significant player in
making the new library happen in the mid-1990s. We thought you
should know that in her obituary, published in the Oakland Tribune
and the Oregonian, we requested that anyone interested in making a
charitable donation in her name do so by making a gift to the RCPC.
It was such a meaningful part of our mother’s life.
— Mark Walsh and Pat Walsh, Kathy’s sons
K
H
A
S
T
L
H
A
Y
W
* The library was then located in the building at the northwest corner of
College and Miles in the space now housing Bica Coffee House, Oriental
Nails II and Cool Tops – Editor
a
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5808 College Avenue, Oakland
601-1188
Mon – Fri  7 – 7 • Sat  8 – 6
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
EXPERT
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5951 College Avenue, Oakland  510 658-3665
Sunday worShip 10:30 aM • Visit: capcchurch.org
our wonderful community meal, fridays, 6-7pm
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Still here for you!
While we await the return to normal parking conditions,
your support means more than ever.
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5.
February 8, 2014

5.

I    OAKLAND

funded, and pending implementation. The
Bicycle Facilities Program is seeking funds
to fix Shafter Avenue (Cavour Street to
Forest Street), the next priority on the list of
bikeways with the worst pavement.
Suggest a Bike Rack Location
A grant from the Transportation Fund
for Clean Air and the Alameda County
Transportation Commission (ACTC) will
enable the city to install approximately 250
bike racks over the next two years. Locations
must be in the public right-of-way (mostly
sidewalks) in commercial areas.
For program information, and to request
by Ronnie Spitzer
The world of bicycle infrastructure is
changing rapidly. People around the
United States are realizing that cycling can
be a major form of urban transportation—
if cities provide bikeways that are safe,
convenient, and comfortable.
Recently, more of Rockridge’s bikeway
network came to fruition with the completion
of bike lanes on Alcatraz; sharrow markings
on the Shafter-Forest-Colby and Cavour bike
routes; and improved wayfaring signage.
Paving the Worst Biking Streets
Since July, the city paved two streets
heavily traveled by bicyclists that were well-
known for their poor pavement: Grizzly Peak
Boulevard and Shattuck Avenue (59th Street
to the Berkeley border). Next up in 2014 is
Broadway from 38th Street to Broadway
Terrace. In 2015, look for new pavement on
Chabot Road from College Avenue to Golden
Gate Avenue. These projects are designed,
➧➧Oakland Improves Cycling, page 10
Letters
to the
Editor
community and the Trust for Public Land.” I
did participate in the planning and design of
the park and am the Oakland Park Steward
for its care.
The costs of park plantings and
maintenance are paid for by community
donations. Donations should be sent to
Natalie Van Osdol, Ayala Park Committee,
5756 Ayala Avenue, Oakland, 94609.
— John Wagers
“No Worries”: Land Use Chair
No Worries! The sign merely indicates
that there are still rental spaces available
in the retail building that is part of the new
Safeway complex. Apparently, most of the
space has been spoken for, although that
building will probably not be completed
and open until some time towards the end
of 2014 at the earliest.
While Safeway and the community
groups have not resolved all their differences
(there remains an issue with the Claremont
Avenue entrance to the retail building, which
appears not to comply with Americans With
Disabilities Act requirements), the two
sides have agreed that construction of the
Safeway store building can move forward,
and construction should be starting some
time this week.
— Stuart Flashman, chair, RCPC
Land Use Committee
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.
Why is Safeway on College
Posting an “Available” Sign?
Are They Giving Up?
Editor:
Why is there a sign at the Safeway
construction site at Claremont and College
avenues that says “available”? We have been
very excited to have the new Safeway in the
neighborhood and are worried that Safeway
may just walk away out of frustration and
increased expense.
— Sue Noyes
The Creation, Maintenance and
Support of Ayala Park
Editor:
Your photo of Ayala Park in the December
issue of The Rockridge News is captioned
with a credit to John Wagers as the park’s
creator. Actually, as noted in a sign posted
at the park, it was “created by the local
Rockridge
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since 1947
Dr. Donald Sarver
Dr. Larry Sarver
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Dr. Cindy Sakai
5321 College Avenue, Oakland
510-655-3797
www.rockridgeoptometry.com


6.

February 4, 2014
6.

Long-time Rockridge resident wants you to know:
College Avenue didn’t happen by accident.
by Judith Doner Berne
Annette Floystrup likens College Avenue
in Rockridge to the little engine that
could.
In that tale, a small engine encounters
obstacles along the way but finds a way to pull
a long train over a high mountain, maintaining
the mantra “I think I can, I think I can.”
Floystrup, who was five years old when her
family moved to Rockridge from Denmark
in 1955, has watched and participated in the
Avenue’s uphill battle to stay on track.
“I am the classic local yokel,” she details,
growing up on 63rd and Hillegass Avenue
from where she attended Peralta Elementary,
Claremont Junior High, Oakland Technical
High School and UC Berkeley.
As a member of the Class of 1967 at Tech,
Floystrup relishes the student diversity and
educational quality that it had then and has
recently regained. “It was ethnically mixed,”
she says, and drew students who lived “from
the Hills to the Bay.” It also featured an ESL
program and a school for the blind.
After her years in Berkeley she returned
to Rockridge in 1981, renting and later
purchasing the house a block off College
Avenue where she and husband, Ben Hong, a
programmer for Bank of America, live.
“We are the guardians,” she says of their
cozy, turn-of-the-20th-century house built
of old-growth redwood, the 70-to-80-year-
old camellias at its garden entrance and the
145-foot-tall, 100-plus-year-old Monterey
Pine that dominates the yard.
“The lowest limb fell about 30 years ago,
and we counted 80-plus rings then,” Floystrup
says. “We have 21 steel cables stabilizing the
limbs, and have the tree cleaned out every
other year and fertilized every year.”
That care and attention is what she saw “a
succession of generations” lavish on College
Avenue, warding off chain stores and high-
rise housing – literally picking up the pieces
of a neighborhood which saw construction
of a freeway and BART station shake its
foundation.
“What you see is not an accident,”
Floystrup says. “It reflects 40 to 50 years of
activism by the people who live here.”
“It was a booming neighborhood prior
to the construction in the 1970s,” she says.
But then, stores moved out and crime soared,
leading her parents and others to start what
was among the first Neighborhood Watch
programs in the country.
When several antique stores moved in,
lured by low rents and large square footage,
“they saved the Avenue,” Floystrup says.
“Good, small retailers followed.”
She takes pride in the fact that her parents’
generation of residents joined with the growing
population of newcomers to prevent a Taco
Bell from taking over the corner of Harwood
and College (now home to a number of
businesses including Barclay’s Restaurant and
Pub, Strahan Insurance Services, Henry C.
Levy & Co., Kenner-USA and others), a move
that would have set a completely different
pattern for the Avenue.
So it was natural that she would become
active in and, at one time, vice-chair of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC), the collaborative group of Rockridge
residents and nearby neighborhoods that
formed in 1971 to protect the area from planned
high-rise development. Incorporating in 1985
as a non-profit public-benefit organization,
RCPC continues its mission of “preserving
and enhancing” the unique character of the
Rockridge neighborhood.
Floystrup first served on the group’s board
of directors in the 1980s and again from 2006-
2012, after she retired from the last of a variety
of jobs which included Scandinavian furniture
sales, PC hardware consultant, ergonomic
products sales manager and earthquake
preparedness expert.
“The neighborhood attracts people with
remarkable skill sets and with altruistic
tendencies,” she says. “The Avenue is as much
Annette Floystrup in her wood-panelled
dining room. Born in Denmark, she
has decorated her home in ways that
reflect the Danish heritage that is so
much a part of her life. Her friend and
neighbor Joan Martin says: “She is the
best kind of American citizen anyone
could wish for.”                    /Judith Berne
a reflection of the things that haven’t happened
as those that have.”
For example:
“When I was a kid, Dreyer’s was a full-
service family restaurant – the heart of College
Avenue. It was a family place. When it closed
for the company’s expansion, it was a shock
to the Avenue. We contained Dreyer’s to a
smaller corporate building. We got them to
put retail storefronts on the ground floor and
forced them to retain at least the ice cream
store.
“We managed to keep the Cigarettes
Cheaper chain from opening a store across
from the library. We picketed like fiends.
“BART wanted to double-deck the parking
lot at Forest and Shafter. Nine-hundred
➧➧College Avenue No Accident, page 7










 
­
24


 
	


7.
February 8, 2014

7.

and it worked,” she says.
Floystrup is the go-to person for
neighbors like Ellen Koch in their dealings
with the city of Oakland. “She’s an amazing
resource who has her finger on the pulse
of how the city works,” Koch says. “She’s
a person who you call and if she doesn’t
know the answer, she finds it and gets
back to you.”
“Annette is the first person who brought
to my mind the idea of citizenship and
participating in the community,” says her
next-door neighbor Joan Martin. That
resulted in Martin becoming active in
RCPC. “Many people are content with the
first answer,” Martin says. “She’s willing
to go to the next layer and the next — in
conversation and in politics. She keeps
digging until it makes sense to her.
“It’s people like Annette,” Martin says,
who work “to keep the Avenue quaint, but
not provincial — fresh and current.”
And on our current College Avenue,
amidst the ever-growing number of
restaurants and personal services, Floystrup
isn’t about to give up on the shopping
experience.
“We need a better mix of interesting
retail,” she says. “You have to provide an
experience that you can’t get on the Internet
— the curiosity of discovery.”
College Avenue
No Accident
lorax project
sets tree
planting date
by Rich Proulx
The Chabot Recreation Center Area
and Chabot Elementary School are
immediately adjacent to Highway 24.
Children who live near freeways experience
negative health effects due to increased
exposure to air pollution. However, a tree
barrier significantly reduces the transmission
of that pollution.
The Lorax Project is planting 90
redwood trees along Highway 24 at and near
Chabot Elementary School and the Chabot
Recreation Area.
We are looking for volunteers to help with
planting on Saturday morning, February 15.
If you can help, please contact richproulx@
lyceuminstitute.org.
Learn more about the Lorax Project at
www.lyceuminstitute.org.
from page 6
people showed up at the Oakland Tech
auditorium to challenge the plan. Only one
person spoke in favor. BART backed down.”
But what makes her most proud is “I
helped keep our firehouse open.” She’s
talking about Station 19 on Miles Avenue
east of College that the city selected for
closure 15-20 years back.
“We had tried everything without
success. I finally went to the firehouse and
asked them to tell me everything that made
the firehouse unique.” When she heard
that they were first responders for both the
Caldecott Tunnel and the BART station, she
alerted both organizations, and the city had
to honor those contracts.
“The fire guys hung a big banner up
on the station proclaiming ‘Thank you
Rockridge,’” Floystrup says. “I consider
helping keep our firehouse open my biggest
personal contribution.”
Most recently, she worked with then-
RCPC boardmember Jon Gabel to place
2,800 additional DVDs in the Rockridge
Library collection through the Rockridge
DVD Project. “We figured people would
come for the DVDs and stay for the books,
Soundwall Study
Petitions Due
from page 2
the author at stuflash@aol.com to obtain
additional information and materials or to
arrange to submit signed petitions.
Comments and ideas for future columns are
welcome by contacting judyberne@att.net.
california college of the arts
Summer 2014
QR code, Tribune
article URL
QR code, Fourth Bore
Coalition URL
Stuart Flashman is a member of the RCPC board
of directors. The views expressed in the article
are his own and not necessarily those of RCPC.
for high school students!
art
  architecture
  design
  writing
cca’s beautiful oakland
campus is walking
distance from the
rockridge bart station
scholarships available
earn 3 units of college credit
cca.edu/precollege
cca also offers:
young artist studio program for middle-school students
summer atelier for students who have just completed 9th grade


8.

February 4, 2014
8.

to use only the freshest and highest quality
fish. Market Hall’s Hapuku Fish Shop and
Ver Brugge Market carry sushi-quality fish
that is best for preparing ceviche. Avoid using
previously frozen fish. It is also critical not
to “overcook” the fish. Left in the citrus
marinade for too long, the fish will become
chewy and rubbery.
The best part of preparing ceviche is that
it comes together in about fifteen minutes.
Served with an assortment of crisp vegetable
chips, ceviche is an ideal quick appetizer for
an informal dinner party.
Rock  ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman
'Tis The Season for Citrus
February is a tough month for fresh
fruits and vegetables except for citrus.
The peak of the citrus-growing season in
California is February. Right now is the best
time to start tasting different kinds of citrus
to find your preference and learn what might
be best suited to your favorite recipes.
fruit is the Pomelo from the grapefruit family.
Originally cultivated in China, Pomelos are
now grown in California, Florida, Arizona
and Texas. They are quite large with a very
thick skin. Some unpeeled Pomelos are as
big as basketballs. California growers are
experimenting with a variety of Pomelo
hybrids. A cross between a Pomelo and
grapefruit, the Oro Blanco (golden white) is
generally seedless and slightly larger than a
grapefruit. Look for Oro Blancos in Latino
markets.
The unique chemical properties of citrus
fruits make them ideal for preparing the
popular Latin American seafood appetizer
ceviche. Pucquio, the Peruvian restaurant
at 5337 College Avenue, serves some of
the best ceviche in the Bay Area. Pucquio’s
menu includes at least five types of ceviche.
Every type of fish served is of the freshest
and highest quality. The chemical action of
the acid in lemons, limes, or Seville oranges
“cooks” the fish to a succulent perfection.
The acid from the limes and lemons change
the structure of the proteins in the fish,
essentially “cooking” the fish without using
heat. Onions, tomatoes, and avocado are
often added to the marinade.
Peruvian Ceviche
(4-5 servings)
Ingredients
2/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1	Tbs chopped cilantro
1	Serrano pepper, halved lengthwise,
seeded
1	pound of fresh high quality white flesh
fish (snapper, halibut, sole), cut into
½-inch cubes
½ small red onion, chopped to a small dice
Cilantro leaves
Preparation
With so many varieties of citrus available
this time of year, the best thing to do is grab
something new and taste, taste, taste. On the
weekends, David at Market Hall Produce (we
call him the fruit whisperer) will be happy to
let you taste any citrus variety and suggest
what you might want to purchase.
Markets this year are exploding with
all sorts of varieties of tangerines and
oranges. Tangerine varieties include:
Satsumas, Clementines (sometimes known
as Mandarin oranges), Fairchilds, Honey,
Minneloas and Tangors, a cross between
a tangerine and an orange. You can also
find Tangelos, a hybrid of grapefruit and
tangerines. At this time of the year, all of
these varieties are easy to peel, tangy, sweet
and – for the most part – seedless.
Blood oranges peak in February. I
love serving a blood orange salad with a
blood orange vinaigrette for my yearly
Valentine’s dinner. Another winter citrus
Puree the first 4 ingredients in a blender.
Place fish in a glass bowl (don’t use a
metal bowl).
Stir in red onion and cilantro leaves.
Pour in lime marinade and gently stir. Let
marinate no more than five minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, divide ceviche into
attractive small bowls or martini glasses.
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for cooking
classes and tours of local East Bay ethnic markets.
Barry’s e-mail is kaufman42@comcast.net
The key to making excellent ceviche is
Open
Pending
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Sold
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Sunday
5330 Manila
5600 Oak Grove
5370 Bryant
3 Eton Ct
Daniel Stea
Advocacy & Integrity
Since 1997
Broker / Owner /
Attorney
510.867.4094
Lic. #0670129
BRE #01452156


9.
February 8, 2014

9.

Oakland Heritage
Alliance Names
Preservation
Honorees

Analyzing Private Security Patrols and Crime

by Paul Liu, Ph.D.
The use of private security patrols
is increasing where traditional law
enforcement is insufficient to ensure public
safety.
On September 23, 2013, with the
support of the neighbors on my block and
the adjoining block, I launched a crowd-
funding campaign for a private security
patrol in Lower Rockridge, in an area north
of Highway 24, west of College Avenue, east
of Telegraph Avenue, and south of Woolsey
Street.
Two other campaigns subsequently
formed in immediately adjacent
neighborhoods (“Lower Rockridge South”
and “Lower Rockridge North/East”).
The data show that robberies and
burglaries in Lower Rockridge doubled from
July to September 2013, against a generally
flat to declining trend seen in other similar
neighborhoods. Trends in October were
similar.
Study Results at Three Months
The results in the three months since
the patrols started suggest that crime in
Lower Rockridge is down by a statistically
significant 46.4 percent relative to what
it would have been absent the patrols,
44.8 percent after accounting for possible
displacement of crime to other areas.
I focused my analysis on robberies
and burglaries, as these are the crimes of
greater concern to residents in the Lower
Rockridge area.
The data show that Lower Rockridge has
seen a 33.3 percent decrease in burglaries
and robberies in the three months since the
patrol started compared to the four weeks
prior, while the control group has seen an
increase of 24.3 percent. Comparing Lower
Rockridge relative to the control group
suggests that burglaries/robberies are down
46.4 percent from what they would have
been absent the patrols.
A similar result is found when comparing
the most recent four weeks to the four
weeks prior to the start of the patrol. Lower
Rockridge burglaries/robberies were down
60 percent while crime in the control group
was down by 10.8 percent. This suggests
that burglaries and robberies in the most
recent four week period were down 55.2
percent from what they would have been
absent the patrols.
Some community members have raised
the prospect that crime may have been
displaced to other areas. To estimate the
effect of displacement on the difference-
in-difference calculation (i.e., the change
in the treatment relative to the change in
the control), recall that to the extent that
criminals moved to other areas, the area
easily accessible by car in this region is
broad. An area including University Avenue
in Berkeley south to Fruitvale Avenue in
Oakland is all within a 10-minute drive
of Lower Rockridge. In the four-week
baseline period of October 7 to November
3, CrimeMapping.com shows a total of 424
burglaries and robberies in this broader area
CrimeMapping.com does not include
data from Piedmont, so the actual total
would be slightly higher. This area includes
the 25 burglaries and robberies observed
in Lower Rockridge. With a 46.4 percent
reduction in crime, I estimate there would
have been 13.4 burglaries and robberies had
the patrols been in place during the baseline
period. The difference is 11.6 burglaries and
robberies. If these burglaries and robberies
were all displaced instead of deterred and
spread evenly across the broader area, crime
in the broader area less Lower Rockridge
would have increased by less than 3 percent.
Adjusting the control area for this maximum
displacement gives similar results as before,
with an overall three month reduction of
44.8 percent and a most recent four-week
reduction of 53.8 percent.
by Annalee Allen, coordinator, Oakland
Tours Program, and Rockridge resident
The Oakland Heritage Alliance (OHA)
has announced this year’s Partners
in Preservation who will be feted at the
organization’s annual membership meeting
February 20, beginning at 7 p.m. at the
historic Rockridge Masonic Hall, 5449
College Avenue. The public is invited.
This year’s event includes local
recognition for Residential Rehabilitation
at 5806 Ross Street, Steve Rynerson, owner.
Other categories include Stewardship,
Education, Leadership, and Lifetime
Achievement with several projects in each
category. Information and event tickets
are available at http://www.eventbrite.
com/e/oha-annual-meeting-partners-in-
preservation-awards-ceremony-tickets-
9912340076?aff=eorg
OHA presents these annual awards to
individuals, organizations, agencies, and
institutions for activities and accomplishments
that promote Oakland’s historic and cultural
heritage.
The Oakland Heritage Alliance was formed in
1981 and is a non-profit organization which
advocates the protection, preservation and revi-
talization of Oakland’s architectural, historic,
cultural and natural resources.
Specializing in Rockridge Real Estate
$20 million+ in Oakland/Berkeley transactions in 2013

Demand still strong, home inventory low - yet likely to slowly increase, interest rates steady, newer restaurants on the
Avenue, what more could we ask for in Rockridge? OK, a little rain would be nice. Come visit me and/or my associate
Claudia Mills at our open house on Sunday Feb 9th 1-5p @ 6130Colby.com

For Sale: 6130Colby.com 3BD 2BA, updated, big yard, nr to College Ave/BART, award winning Peralta school $879K
Coming For Sale: 4+BD 2.5BA home, plus bonus spc, close to College Ave/BART, award winning Chabot school
Leased: 3BD 2BA home, gourmet kitchen, period built-ins, bay/city views, Chabot Dist, 3 blks fr College Ave, $4,300/mo
Coming For Lease:  3BD 2BA Craftsman, big kitchen, period liv rm, Detached garage, 2 blks fr College Ave, $3,800/mo

A proud long time supporter
of our Rockridge community and schools
Happy Valentine’s!!
Call for a real local expert opinion.
Perry Riani, Senior Real Estate Specialist
Lawton Associates BRE# 01402540
510.813.3799
priani@earthlink.net
LAWTON ASSOCIATES REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

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

View the full report with its interpretive charts and
graphs at http://goo.gl/P3aRXb.


10.

February 4, 2014
10.

Funding Public
Safety
research indicates that bicyclists think that
motorists see them much sooner than they,
in fact, do. In addition to reflective clothing
and rear reflectors, front lights are crucial
for night time crash avoidance. Get your
light today from a bike shop near you.
Oakland
Improves Cycling
from page 1
from page 5
The program is offered in partnership
with Councilmember Kalb’s office, and
with additional assistance by the Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
(NCPC), the Rockridge District Association
(RDA), and Oakland Police Department
(OPD) Area 2 Commander Captain Anthony
Toribio.
Speakers will include senior staff from
the city’s budget office, city human services
(Measure Y, Kids First), and OPD; Kalb – a
champion of preventive strategies to reduce
crime and a lead player in crafting the
2013-14 city budget; and Nicolas Heidorn,
a community leader from the public safety
budget-focused watch-dog group Make
Oakland Better Now. (See agenda box, page
1, for additional details.)
a location be evaluated, go to www.
oaklandbikes.info/cityracks.
Enlightened Self-Interest
State law requires bicycles ridden
after dark to be equipped with front lights
that are visible from 300 feet – and with
good reason. Motorists do not always
see bicyclists, especially at night. Recent
Some material in this article is based on reports
in I Bike Oakland, the twice-yearly newsletter
of Oakland’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities
Program, part of Oakland’s Office of Public
Works. Find copies and more information here:
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/
PWA/o/EC/s/BicycleandPedestrianProgram/
OAK024706
Report These Cycling Road Hazards
☞	 Be sure to report:
■
■Speeding, or to request
traffic calming or another roadway
improvement.
☞	 Report to Public Works:
• Call Center via phone: 510/615-
5566; • online at www2.oaklandnet.com/
ReportaProblem; • mobile phone: www.
seeclickfix.com/oakland.
■
■Hazards such as glass, potholes,
unsafe drainage grates, or other
obstructions
■
■Malfunctioning traffic signals
■
■Abandoned bikes that need
removal from bike racks, signposts
and/or meter poles
You’ve cleaned up
your act, now clean up
your record
MAXI
LILLEY
THE ROCKRIDGE REALTOR® WITH A
designer’s
eye
• Expungements
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• Infractions
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Criminal Defense.
www.elizabethgrossmanlaw.com
510.548.5106
FREE CONSULTATION
REALTOR® – DRE# 01919653
510.919.8997
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Lic. 691894
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     5221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618
Advanced Preventive,  Restorative,  Periodontal  Gum Care,  and Dental Implants.
w w w . c o y l e h o m e r e m o d e l . c o m


11.
February 8, 2014

11.

Rockridge Schools Gear Up for Spring Fundraising Events

✁
College
Preparatory
School
School Book
Fair/Sale:
March 1 and
March 2
Oakland
Technical High
School
Online Auction:
March 5-13;
Annual Silent/
Live Auction:
March 15
Claremont
Middle School
Ride for a Reason,
May 17
Chabot
Elementary School
Auction donation
deadline: Feb 24;
Online Auction:
March 26-April 3;
Live/Silent Auction:
April 5
Peralta
Elementary Schl
Roundup– Party,
Dancing, Auction:
March 29

Ride for a Reason:
Support Public
Schools in Oakland
by Becki Couch-Alvarado, Mike Mages,
Mike Napolitano, event organizers.
Somehow it happened. We became
accustomed to teacher wish lists; paper
drives; peeling paint; broken lockers; 20th
century technology to prepare kids for
the 21st century; extra fees to participate
in sports, music, drama; too few (if any)
student counselors; and the highest student-
to-teacher ratios in the nation. Enough!
We can do better. California is a rich state
and nothing is more important to our future
than ensuring that all our kids receive a good
education. And that’s just what we plan to do!
Join us for the sixth annual Ride for a
Reason on Saturday, May 17, a bike ride
to Sacramento to publicize the education

Wide Selection at College Prep Annual Book Sale
The 20th Annual College Preparatory
School Book Fair will be held on
Saturday March 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
Sunday March 2 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), with a
bargain bag sale on Sunday from 12 p.m.-1
p.m. (fill a grocery bag of books for $10).
The sale is held in Buttner Auditorium on
the College Prep campus, 6100 Broadway;
there is abundant free parking at the school.
The Book Fair is a not-to-be-missed
event for book lovers. Thousands of
volumes of adult and children’s items in all
genres – fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks,
classics, textbooks, political treatises, and
metaphysical musings – are offered at ultra-
bargain prices: $1-2 for paperbacks, $3 for

hardcovers, 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
buried treasures.
Well-marked bins, ready for any
donations, are located in the parking lot
of the school under the gym deck, near the
stairs. Donations are tax-deductible. Funds
raised support the school’s Faculty Wish List.
Unsold books are donated to local charities.
If you have questions about the event, or
books you would like to donate, contact us
at bookfair@college-prep.org.
Tech: It takes a
Village...
by Julie Parker and Cathy Rosenfeld,
PTSA board
Oakland Tech is so fortunate to be a part
of the Rockridge community. We are
in the heart of an area that cares about its
residents, businesses, and schools. Each year
Oakland Tech holds a night of community
building and fundraising. In 2014, that night
is March 15 and it is our annual auction.
Public funding is still not meeting
Tech’s growing needs. More than ever, our

➧➧Ride for a Reason, page 13
Chabot Elementary
School Prepares for
Spring Fling Auction
Community Support and Donations
Make All the Difference
by Amy Lemley, Chabot parent
The Chabot Elementary School
community is preparing for our biggest
annual event – the spring auction, a school-
wide effort that is Chabot’s most important
spring fundraiser. Our $150,000 goal will
support the enrichment programs that serve
600 students in grades K through 5, including
music, science, art, media, library, gardening,
fundraising efforts are crucial to the well-
being of the school. The auction brings in
a substantial amount of money, and brings
parents, staff, and the community at large
together for a night of eating, socializing,
and shopping.
The Tech auction is now the single biggest
PTSA fundraiser, raising a record $92,000
last year. All proceeds support the students
through our Mini and Maxi Grant programs,
which provide financial assistance for field
trips, the purchase of books and supplies,
athletic equipment, computers, and more.
Where did the $92,000 come from?
➧➧Oakland Tech: Auction, page 13
➧➧Chabot Elementary, page 13
Peralta Round Up
Melds Dinner,
Auctions, Excitement
Get ready for the best party of the year at
the Peralta Round Up, Saturday March
29, from 5-11 p.m. Enjoy an amazing dinner,
silent and live auctions, music and dancing.
Once again, we’ll be partying at the
Uptown Body and Fender, 401 26th Street,
have you been away from your faith for a time?
you are missed.
st. augustine catholic church
join us for mass on saturdays at 5 pm, or
sundays at 8 am, 1030 am, or 6 pm.
400 alcatraz (between college and telegraph) oakland  94609
http://staugustineoakland.com
questions? call the parish 510.653.8631
➧➧Peralta Round Up, page 15


12.

February 4, 2014
12.

FROG: Fundraising,
Volunteers
Bore Coalition. Please visit www.frogpark.
org to view the plans and to donate. Questions
or to volunteer: info@frogpark.org.
— Carol Behr, chair
“First Saturday” Cleanup, March 1
Stop by Big Frog Park for our next family
friendly park cleanup on March 1, 9 a.m.
to 12 noon. Sponsored by Oakland Tech’s
BuildOn club and FROG and community
members like you. FROG provides tools and
refreshments. Rain cancels.
— Ronnie Spitzer, maintenance co-chair
Next FROG meeting:
Tuesday, February 11. Email info@
frogpark.org for details.
It’s Your Turn to
Volunteer
Welcome to our newest block
captain, Tan Suwannukul, who
took over the Rockridge News Chabot
route for Tony Velebil. Now we need
only two more volunteers to take the
routes below and every block in the
RCPC Rockridge Area will be covered
for delivery of the Rockridge News. We
are hoping that that volunteer will be you.
from page 3
several areas:
•	 Graphic design
•	 Fundraising
•	 Publicity
■
■Help: Even an hour or two a month
is a welcome contribution. Get involved
to make our local park a better place for
our families. Email info@frogpark.org.
 — Annie Suttle, fundraising co-chair
Swings and Play Features
F
ROG continues to work with the city and
others to clarify permitting, timelines,
budgets and other requirements, including
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
provisions and easement agreements.
Many project tasks are under way;
volunteers are needed for specific areas,
including communications and outreach.
This project requires us to raise additional
funds beyond the monies donated by the 4th
Route #
Description
03C
Along Eucalyptus in
Oakland boundaries
06D
Both sides of Rockridge
Boulevard South from
6101 to 6184
FROG Save-the-Date:
Watch for April 26
Earth Day and
FROG Family Fest News
Contact Susan at 510/547-3855 or
email smontauk@gmail.com. Be sure
to name the route you are interested in.
Thank you.
LAW OFFICES OF
KYLE M. JOHNSTON
5315 COLLEGE AVE.
OAKLAND, CALIF.
510.527.1880
CALL FOR YOUR FREE
INITIAL CONSULTATION
FAMILY   ╬   BUSINESS   ╬   ESTATE
WWW.KYLEMJOHNSTON.COM
Rockridge Market Soared in 2013

Closing date BR BA Address
Original price List price   DOM
Selling price
           1/3/14
3
2
5625 Broadway
$1,285,000
$1,285,000  17
(withheld)
1/24/14
2
2
5351 Belgrave Place
$595,000
$595,000    39
$590,000

Average Days on Market in 2013 was 17 • Median Sold price was $800,000
Average Price per square foot $591.71 up from $475.24 in 2012 •
21 more sales in 2013 vs. 2012 • Currently 20 days of inventory


February 8, 2014

13.

13.
Chabot Elementary
Ride for a Reason
Oakland Tech
from page 11
from page 11
from page 11
P.E. and Spanish.
The donation deadline is February 24.
All donations, big and small, is what makes
the Chabot Auction special. Offer a few
hours sharing your talent or trade; donate
a weekend getaway (and a tax write-off)
at an out-of-town cabin; knit, sew or do
woodworking.
Business owners who can donate a special
item or service should contact Helen Taner
(auction@chabotelementary.org).
The online auction runs from March 26
through April 3. The Spring Fling gala, live
auction and silent auction take place Saturday,
April 5, 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Greek Ascension
Community Center, 4700 Lincoln Avenue.
Almost 350 people bought tickets to last
year’s auction, which brought in close to
$11,500. Some parents and alumni donated
cash amounts to the auction totaling about
$2,500. And, in a huge show of support
for our school, over 350 local businesses
donated items or services to support
Oakland Tech. Also, individuals donated
items ranging from jewelry to antiques to
crafts to dinner parties to weekend or week-
long stays in vacation houses. Another key
part of the auction is the “Raise the Paddle”
campaign, which brought in over $17,000
to buy a computer cart loaded with Mac
laptops for teachers to use in their classes.
But the auction is more than a FUNDraiser.
It really is FUN! A community-building
event, it is a time to celebrate Tech and meet
fellow parents and alumni who share the
dream of Tech as a thriving, diverse school
full of options and opportunities.
We’ll also feature an online auction
from March 5 - March 13. The link will be
posted on our website www.oaklandtech.
com/ptsa/auction.
All are welcome. Even if your children
are young, come check out the vibe of their
future high school.
funding crisis, and to raise funds to support
enrichment programs in Oakland schools.
Last year, 210 riders pedaled to Sacramento,
raising $80,000 that was split evenly among
four Oakland schools: Claremont, Emerson,
Oakland International, and Tech.
This year, our goals are to have 250 riders
and to raise $120,000 for six Oakland schools,
the four listed above, plus two new schools,
Edna Brewer and Westlake. To get there, we
need you – as a rider, volunteer, and/or a
donor.
And, there are three rides to choose from:
45-, 67-, and 109-miles. We provide all the
support you will need to prepare for, have fun,
and go the distance on May 17. We strongly
encourage all riders to raise $250 or more in
pledges, but the only real requirement for all
riders is to show up and pedal.
For more information or to register, please
go to: http://rideforareason.dojiggy.com.
Not a rider? Please consider volunteering.
Go to: http://rideforareason.dojiggy.com
and click on the volunteer button.
I LIVE, WORK & PLAY IN ROCKRIDGE
“I KNOW ROCKRIDGE”sm
SOLD
SELLING ROCKRIDGE
SINCE 1989
Multiple
Offers
L   A   W   T   O   N

5625 Broadway    3 Bedrooms & 2+ Bathrooms   Offered @ $1,285,000
Ron Kriss:  141 Homes Sold in Rockridge
for over $110 Million in Sales

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 4, 2014
14.

Game Changer Fitness
In Oakland’s Temescal Area, Game Changer
Fitness offers SENIOR STRENGTH and
BALANCE classes for people 62+. $8/class.
Monday/Wednesday/ Friday 11 a.m. Great
exercise, music, camaraderie! Contact
Kathleen Kelly: kathleen@gcfitclub.com or
510/774-1086.
Unleash Your Inner Diva!
Marcelle Dronkers, soprano. Voice Studio in
Kensington. 25 years experience ~ All Levels
~ All Ages ~ Broadway ~ Jazz ~ Classical
www.MADDIVA.com, 510/295-7868.
Personal Assistant
Life Made Simpler offers Household and
Project Management services. Highly expe-
rienced, organized, creative, and a natural
talent for multi-tasking. Allow me to make
your life simpler! Cynthia. 510/326-9985.
Cd.warren@comcast.net
Chuck Fechner, RIP
Chuck passed from this world on January 5.
He is survived by his partner Susan, Sister
Sue, extended family and community of
neighbors and dog lovers. He resided in
Rockridge since 1979. We miss you.
Career Coaching for Change!
Experienced Career Coach available to help
you develop a winning resume, practice
successful interviewing, and/or learn new job
search strategies. Develop an action plan to
stay motivated. Excellent references. Betty
Szudy. 510/292-0493.
Feather River Art Camp
For adults (and kids). www.featherriverart-
camp.com June 15-22, 2014. “a perfect joyful
blend of art, nature, creativity, camaraderie”
Painting, ceramics, watercolor, writing, book-
making, guitar, mosaics, glass beadmaking,
fused glass, nature journaling.
Personalize Your Child’s
Bedroom
Children’s Wall Mural Artist and Early
Childhood Educator Leei Leei will be in the
Bay Area 2/7 – 3/7/2014. She can transform
your child’s bedroom into a magical space.
limleei2@gmail.com for info.
Mentoring Academy
An independent, progressive, college-
preparatory high school engaging individual
learners in creating tailored instructional
programs with experienced, dedicated
teacher-mentors. Open Houses on Febru-
ary 8, March 1 and May 3 (Saturdays 1-3
pm), 5951 College Ave 510.517.6609, www.
MentoringAcademy.org
Panel Discussion:
Preparing & Caring for
Your Elderly Relatives
March 4, Rockridge Library Conference
Room, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Learn about local finan-
cial, legal, and healthcare services available.
RSVP: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/
event/552259 or 510/214-8288.
Rockridge Stress
Reduction
Stress Reduction class in Rockridge, Tuesdays,
March 4 – May 6, 9-11:30 a.m. Scientifically-
proven series includes awareness, yoga,
science, communication exercises, practice
CDs. Great for prenatal, parents, and anyone.
Register now: www.centerforstressreduction.
com, 510/594-8224.
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 issue deadline is February 20.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
Valentine’s Day Special!
Penelope’s Aesthetics
Offering a full European facial for $49 for the
month of February. Gift certificates available
for use any time. Please call for an appoint-
ment. 510/594-1552 www.penelopecalef.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.
Aesthetic Pruning
I specialize in pruning trees & shrubs under
20 feet tall. I work with trees to enhance
their natural beauty. Maple specialist, but I
prune all garden trees. Certified Aesthetic
Pruner. Bruce Thompson 510/428-4964.
House Repairs & Rehabs,
Interior & Exterior
Kitchen & bath remodel, tile, decks, dry
rot, drainage, walls, termite damage, doors,
windows. Professional work for affordable
prices. Lic#458473. Don 510/812-0310.
Gardener
Over 20 Years Serving the Rockridge Area. Highly
trained in both materials and design. Excellent
references. Please call Chris at 510/655-0157.
Old Time Sound Reinvigorated
Sundays at 10 a.m. hear new organ at St.
Peter’s Parish, 6013 Lawton at Broadway,
Oakland. Child care available during service
and fellowship follows. Bible Study Wednes-
days 11 a.m. & Thursdays 7 p.m.
For Rent: 3-BR/1-½ BA
Light, bright craftsman with modern furnish-
ings. 7 blocks from BART and 10 from UC
campus. Great alternative for visiting families/
professionals. Available weekly for $1,495.
For more Info. 510/735-7355.
Organizational, Academic,
Career Help!
For uniquely-abled students and adults, and
those “on the Spectrum.” Years of experience,
patient and kind, local person, reasonable
rates with neighborly discount. Check out
www.BrightOptionsLearningDisabled.com,
Mark 415/691-5637.
N A M A S T E
G
New to yoga?
3 CLASSES
FOR $30*
GRUBBCO.COM
*NEW STUDENTS ONLY
GOOD FOR 30 DAYS
510.652.2133
3070 Claremont Avenue • Berkeley
BERKELEY | GRAND LAKE | ROCKRIDGE
510.339.0400
1960 Mountain Boulevard • Oakland
W W W. I L O V E N A M A S T E . C O M


15.
February 8, 2014

15.

Square Dance In North Oakland
Music by The Squirrelly String Band. Calling by Jordan
Ruyle or Evie Ladin (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 Tele-
graph Ave. Info: http://squirrellystringband.com/.
Jesse Strickman Performance
Rockridge singer/songwriter Jesse Strickman (from the
band Dear Indugu) will perform on Fri., 2/28, 9pm, at the
Starry Plough, 3101 Shattuck Ave. Berkeley, 841-2082.
$6 in advance; $8-12 sliding scale at the door. Wheelchair
accessible. Info at www.DearIndugu.com or 384-4155.
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.

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
Community Calendar
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council (NCPC)
Residents and business members engage in discussions
about crime and public safety with representatives of
OPD. 2nd Thurs. each month, 7 to 8:30pm. Rockridge
Library, upstairs meeting room, 5366 College Ave.
Confirm mtg. at www.rockridgencpc.com or chair@
rockridgencpc.com.
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
* Free computer help & tutoring (for all ages).* Ready,
Set, Connect Program: Internet, e-mail, Microsoft
office, EBook download, and more. Tuesdays 4-6pm
and Saturdays 1-3pm. See Vicky Chen.
FOR CHILDREN
■
■Covered California: Get help signing up for the
Affordable Health Care Act. Sat., 2/15, 10am to1pm.
ART EXHIBITS (subject to change; call to confirm)
Gallery:
Feb: Jeff Lichtman: Urban Photography.
Mar: Rene Bien: “In the City”, mixed media.
Lobby Display Case:
Feb: Cynthia Jacobs: handmade puppets.
Mar: TBA
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed., Thurs. and Sat. 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri., 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sundays and Mondays; also Wed., 2/12
(Lincoln’s birthday) and Tues., 2/18 (President’s Day).
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings/Events
All FREE and open to the public.
■
■UC CalFresh: Staying Healthy & Active. 6 FREE
nutrition classes to help seniors live well and reduce
the symptoms of chronic conditions. Free giveaways,
recipes and samples. First Tuesdays: through June 3.
10:30am-12 noon. Pre-register at 597-5085.
■
■Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (to age
5); Saturdays, 10:30am.
■
■BART Tickets on sale for $9 (a $24 value) for
seniors 65 and over.
Annual $12 membership entitles seniors 55 + 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 opportunities.
Info: 597-5085.
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; 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.
Fundraisers for Rockridge Schools
School budgets need help again. In the coming months,
our local schools will offer innovative and entertaining
ways to entice you to pay for providing the best for all
our students. Please see page 11 to get details on
how to make donations for sales and auctions; mark
your calendars for events; and sign up in advance to
bike to Sacramento.
■
■Pre-School Story Time: (ages 2 to 5); Thursdays,
10:30am.
■
■Tues., 2/11, 7pm. Jenny Offill: Dept. of Speculation.
■
■Mon., 2/10, 7:30pm. Amnesty International Meet-
ing (2nd Mon. each month): All invited to exchange
ideas on action.
■
■Toddler Story Time: (up to age 2); Thursdays,
10:30am, upstairs.
■
■All story times followed by Play Time; parents and
caregivers invited.
Special Event for Kids
■
■Thurs., 3/6, 7pm. Joint publication party for Sophie
Littlefield: House of Glass and Rachael Herron:
Pack Up the Moon.
■
■Origami Fun with Ellen Oppenheimer: Sat., March
1st; 3:30 - 5 pm. Free for all ages; best for children
ages 7 and older.
FOR TEENS
■
■DIESEL, A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. More info
(other events and discussion groups): 653-9965 or
events@dieselbookstore.com.
White Elephant Sale
Northern California’s biggest and best rummage
sale, featuring an extensive offering of quality used
men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, jewelry,
books, tools, furniture, household goods, sporting
equipment and more. Made possible by donations
from the public to benefit the Oakland Museum. Sat.
and Sun., March 1 and 2, 10am–4 pm, 333 Lancaster
Street (free shuttle from Fruitvale BART). Free
admission. Donations still accepted. Information
on how and where to donate, (including a list of items
that cannot be accepted): www.whiteelephantsale.org.
Wisteria Ways House Concert
Therianthrope: musical duo of guitarist Dusty Brough
and tabla artist Miles Shrewsbery, joined by special
guest Rebecca Kleinmann , flutist, singer and composer.
Flamenco, Balkan, Indian classical, jazz, Persian and
more. Sat., March 1, 8pm (house opens 7:30). Inside
venue; not wheelchair accessible. $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.
■
■Teen Advisory Board (ages 14-18): Advise the library
how to better serve teens. Get community service
credit for school. Snacks provided. 1st Saturday
each month, 1 to 2pm.
■
■Rockridge Ninjas: watch Anime, 5-6:30 pm; 2nd
Tues. each month.
■
■Teen ‘Scape: Join other teens each Wed. after school,
2- 3:30pm. Play video & board games, make crafts,
enjoy light snacks.
FOR ADULTS
■
■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.
Peralta Round Up
■
■Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice and refer-
rals. 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.
from page 11
made available by owner Giovanna Tanzillo.
The goals of this event are to raise money
for the school, have fun and build community.
We are planning a memorable party so
that amid the serious work of bidding on
auction items, there’s time for mingling…
and dancing, too. Tickets cover a dinner
presented by Peralta father and chef Brian
Espinoza. Dinner tickets are $25/adult if
purchased ahead of time or $30/adult at
the door. Visit http://www.peraltaschool.
org/news-events/peralta-roundup for
additional details and to purchase tickets.
Norman H. Burg, DDS
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed
(510) 654-3339
A Prevention Oriented Practice


16.

February 4, 2014
16.

Home Values in Rockridge
increased by 13% in 2013
Do you want to know your home’s current market value?
Go to RockridgeHomeValue.com or
call us at 510.339.4789
Terry Kulka & Julie Bartlett
510.339.4789
RockridgeRealEstate@Gmail.com
Over 400 homes sold - Experience Counts
BRE# 00875454
BRE# 01404404
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING

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Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients
 For Over 26 Years.
32
SPECIALIZING IN

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Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
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