Extracted text · highlighting “Property Develop-”

RockridgeNews

THE

www.rockridge.org

Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council • 4123 Broadway, PMB 311 • Oakland, CA 94611 • 869-4200
VOL. 30    NO. 2      ISSUE  NO. 319        February 7, 2015                   CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 BusInesses

Well, it’s done. The College Avenue Safeway building project
first presented at an RCPC Town Hall in June, 2007, opened
for business January 15. Opened to mixed opinions, it must be said,
but that can’t be surprising, given the scope and scale of the project.
Another project opened on College in January, and found an almost
giddy community reception: Cole Hardware. “Eyes on Rockridge”
writer Judith Doner Berne visited each opening, querying customers
and staff for their impressions. Read her findings, beginning on page 6.
Knowing what Rockridge
residents value most
about our corner of Oakland
and what they see as priorities
for the future can help the
neighborhood meet the
challenges of change.
RCPC has been convening
conversations and collecting
data from residents over the
past couple of years about how
Capturing Lost Revenue with
Your Kitchen Remodel
Results: Rockridge
Vision Survey
Comparing
Rockridge
Today to ‘Ideal’
Urban Setting
by Zabrae Valentine,
 chair, RCPC
Rockridge Kitchens
Brendan Havenar-Daughton, RCPC board
For many of us, kitchens represent a
major hub of activity in our homes.
Not only do kitchens offer the
potential for endless nourishment,
they also have a way of becoming
the epicenter of social interaction.
Kitchens draw us in with their aromas,
edible resources and technological
utility. It’s no surprise that kitchens are
the single most energy-intensive room in
our homes, often representing as
Coming in 2015
O F  R O C K R I D G E  K I T C H E N S
A  T A S T E F U L  T O U R
Rockridge
Kitchens
2015
P L A N N I N G  C O U N C I L
ROCKRIDGE COMMUNIT Y
To a Kitchen
➧➧Vision Survey, page 3
Near You
Your Neighborhood Is
On the Line: Answer the Call
‘F
ind a need and fill it” was
the slogan an Oakland
cement company once painted
on the sides of its mixer trucks.
The trucks are gone but
the echo of the slogan infuses
the spirit sustaining Rockridge
today.
Over the years, residents
have found local needs and
rallied others to join in and fill
them. It was volunteers who
➧➧Energy Savings, page 2
a
s
n
e
d
g
a
s
r
o
19
February 2015
RCPC Town Hall
e
f
v
t
e
d
Cole
Hardware
6:30-7:45
b
r
i
rallied neighbors and the city
government to build on the
Rockridge that already existed.
It was volunteers who conceived
of and created Frog Park, the
Rockridge Branch Library, and
other of today’s local amenities.
There are needs today that
need filling, and there is help
available for the filling. One way
to join the tradition of service
t
n
l
u
k
d
s
Aw
p.m.
i
l
l
b
e
a
.
e
v
l
a
b
i
RCPC Town Hall, Thursday, February 19
Special Location: Cole Hardware, 5533 College Avenue
Special Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Agenda: Volunteerism, the RCPC, the community.
Community volunteers are both the warp and the weft of
the Rockridge fabric as community needs are found and
filled. What unravelling skeins have you seen? RCPC can help
you work on them. Or, you may find working with the RCPC
board more to your liking. Either way,
a
l
➧➧Answer the Call, page 2
➧➧Town Hall, page 12


2.

February 7, 2015
2.
Answer the Call

from page 1

that will be filled by appointment within the
next few months.
No specific experience is required, but an
accounting or bookkeeping background in
particular, and knowledge of and experience
with land use planning or property
development, non-profit management, event
planning, and local government operations
are a plus.
If you are at least 18 years of age, live
within the RCPC boundaries (http://www.
rockridge.org/boundaries), and want to
serve your community, submit your interest
in candidacy for election to the board now.
Write info@rockridge.org for more details.
The deadline for submitting a statement of
interest is February 26, 2015.
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
                  5366 College Avenue
                   at Manila | 597-5017

Library program details/hours: Calendar, page 15
Programs/Events/Hours:
is to serve on the board of the Rockridge
Community Planning Council.
Service on the board allows people to be
part of ensuring that a range of views informs
local transportation and land use decisions,
and that the city understands the priorities
and concerns of the community generally.
It’s also an opportunity to actively support
Frog Park, Scenic Streets and other local
volunteer efforts, and support the work of
The Rockridge News.
The board has two open, two-year term
seats, plus two additional seats being vacated

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
Barry Kaufman	�������������������Rockridge Cornucopia
Judith Doner Berne	������������Eyes on Rockridge
Jo Ellis	�����������������������������������Advertising &
Community Calendar
Susan Montauk	�������������������Business Manager
Don Kinkead	�����������������������Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2014-2015
Zabrae Valentine	����������������Chair
Virginia Hamilton 	��������������Co-Vice-Chair
Lisa McNally	������������������������Co-Vice-Chair
Michael Kan	������������������������Secretary
Jennifer Daskal	�������������������Treasurer
Andrew Charman, Brendan Havenar-Daughton,
Kevin Faughnan, William Kaufner, Gabe Kleinman,
Don Kinkead, Greg Pasquali,
Laura Schlichtmann, Samantha Weaver
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Newsletter Subscriptions
Energy Savings
now at www.RockridgeKitchenTour.org.
Here are some more fun facts and energy
tips you can share with your friends
and family:
from page 1
much as 15 percent of our home energy use.
This is good news for those of us
considering a kitchen remodel, whether
large project or smaller renovation. Updating
your kitchen offers the opportunity to
eliminate unnecessary energy use and reduce
your utility costs without compromising
the functionality of your appliances and
workspace. Many newer kitchen appliances
use two-thirds less energy than products
purchased within the last decade. Higher
up-front costs on ENERGY STAR appliances
are generally offset by the lower cost of
operation during the first few years of use.
Incorporating energy efficiency strategies
into your kitchen remodel helps the planet,
and reduces the overall cost of operating
your kitchen for years to come. Be sure to
think about energy use when considering
the purchase of new appliances and light
bulbs. Consider that new ENERGY STAR
refrigerators use less than a 60 watt light bulb
(run continuously) and 60 watts of traditional
incandescent light can be produced by an
LED light bulb for a mere 6 watts!
The moral of the story: leverage energy
efficient technologies to help alleviate the
overall cost of your kitchen remodel. Even if
the savings seem incremental on first glance,
remember that energy costs are not fixed and
that these expenses add up quickly over time.
If you have any questions or want to learn
more about how to maximize the efficiency
of your kitchen project, join your neighbors
at RCPC’s biennial Rockridge Kitchen Tour
in September. Early Bird tickets are on sale
■
■A 6" pot on an 8" burner wastes over
40 percent of the burner’s heat. Using the
right size pot can save about $36 annually
(electric range), or $18 (gas).
■
■Blue flames mean good combustion;
yellow flames mean service may be needed
to ensure gas is burning efficiently.
■
■Hot water leaking at a rate of 1 drip
per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons
of water over the course of a year, costing
up to $35 in electricity or in natural gas.
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.
■
■ENERGY STAR qualified lighting
provides bright, warm light while using 75
percent less energy, lasting up to 10 times
longer than standard lighting.
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
■
■Eighty percent of the energy used by
dishwashers is used to heat the wash water.
Choose the model that is energy-efficient
and has low water consumption.*
Remember: buy your Rockridge
Kitchen Tour Tickets Early: www.
RockridgeKitchenTour.org
Articles submitted for publication may
be e-mailed or mailed to the above addresses.
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. Views expressed in articles accepted for
publication do not necessarily reflect those of The
Rockridge News, its editor, or the board of directors of
the Rockridge Community Planning Council. To reprint
a Rockridge News article, please contact the editor.
*Sources: www.Energy.gov; http://www.
resnet.us/; www.Cree.com
a
cross-cultural congregation
striving to partner with
         the Rockridge community
   in lifestyle and service.
Newsletter Advertising/Deadline
Publication date of the next issue is:
  March 7, 2015
  March deadline is February 19, 2015
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.)
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


3.
February 7, 2015

3.

The February Land Use Committee meeting is Wednesday, February 25, 7:30 p.m. The meeting
agenda will be posted on rockridge.org by the preceding Sunday. The meeting will likely be
held in an upstairs meeting room of the Rockridge Branch library, 5366 College Avenue, but
check at rockridge.org to confirm. (Front door will be unlocked; pull doors apart to enter.)
Meetings are open to the public.

project to landuse@rockridge.org.
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee co-chair
■
■College Avenue Retail Zoning
Working Group
At its January meeting, the Land
Use Committee unanimously approved
recommending to the RCPC board that
RCPC proceed to establish a working group
that will discuss and make recommendations
to the city about CN-1 zoning revisions.
That zoning applies to College Avenue and
other neighborhood commercial areas such
as Montclair Village, Piedmont Avenue
and the Laurel District. The central item is
expected to be how to deal with discontinued
or abandoned conditional uses. Currently,
conditional use
■
■Rockridge Shopping Center
and Merrill Gardens Senior
Housing Project – Broadway
and Pleasant Valley/51st Street
■
■College Avenue Safeway Project
Although the College Avenue Safeway
has opened, there are a number of items that
do not yet comply with either the use permit
conditions or the settlement agreement
with community groups. The groups are
submitting a list of uncompleted items to
Safeway and Terramar (the new owner of the
retail building), as is the city. The groups plan
to meet with Safeway in February to resolve
those items not yet completed. Please e-mail
information about issues you have with the
Demolition of the buildings at the Merrill
Gardens site should have started by the time
you read this, and demolition of the CVS
building at the Rockridge Shopping Center
should also begin soon. Get updates on the
projects at:
■
■Safeway (Rockridge Center)
	 http://www.theshopsattheridge.com/
■
■Merrill Gardens: http://www.
	 srmdevelopment.com/rockridge
➧➧Land Use, page 7
information from a wide range of people
demographically providing reasonably
consistent results, which may suggest a
degree of representativeness.
The survey asked resident’s views
of Rockridge, and also how they would
characterize “the perfect neighborhood.” The
intent was to learn how Rockridge compared
to this idealized standard, and included the
classification of more than 2,000 terms and
phrases provided by survey respondents.
Respondents’ descriptions of Rockridge
settled into four broad areas, which were,
in order of frequency: 1) Community
Spirit; 2) Mobility/Accessibility/
Transit; 3) Commercial/Retail Options
and Characteristics; and 4) Housing and
Neighborhood Aesthetic.
The broad topics people identified as
most important in an ideal setting (“the
perfect neighborhood”) turned out to be
largely the same, based on the number of
mentions of particular words and phrases,
as in their description of the Rockridge
neighborhood – although with some notable
variations.
Priority 1: Community Spirit
By far, the most frequently named traits
of an ideal setting included “a sense of
community,” “neighbors who interact and
look out for each other” and are “engaged,”
“inclusive,” “friendly,” and “open and
welcoming.” There were also multiple
variations of “village-like.” Comparing this
response to the terms most frequently used to
describe Rockridge itself, the specific terms
and proportional frequency were similar.
Clearly, respondents placed a high value
on neighborliness and community activism
and a majority also viewed Rockridge as
embodying these same characteristics.
The next priority in an ideal setting was
“safe for all” and “low crime.” Safety in
Rockridge was mentioned but it came up less
frequently, suggesting that people would like
to feel safer than they do.
The next priority in this area for the
idealist view included terms such as “open/
public space,” “trees/ green space for
people with
➧➧Vision Survey, page 9
Vision Survey
from page 1
they describe aspects of the neighborhood,
their vision for the future, and their
communication practices. Most recently,
RCPC circulated the Rockridge Vision
Survey, to which 360 people responded.
(The survey closed in November 2014).
Although the survey did not use a random
sample of the community, it collected
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4.

February 7, 2015
4.

College Avenue: The Past Morphs to the Future

College Avenue Commerce : Decades of Service

Art on the Avenue:
Bosko’s Framing Gallery

Merchants’ Years of Service: Part 6
Following is the sixth in our series on businesses in business on College Avenue at
least 25 years. We are nearing the end of our series and don’t want to miss anyone.
If you have been “on the Avenue” and haven’t seen your name yet, drop us an email at
editor@rockridge.org. We want readers of The Rockridge News to know about you
and to stop in to see what you offer.

by Carl Schmitz
Bosko’s Framing Gallery is starting its
70th year in business at the southeast
corner of College and Armanino Court.
Currently in the display windows at Bosko’s
are a colorful variety of objets d’art: paintings
by Lynne Bostick, Jason Schoner, and Rip
Matteson, watercolors by Wendy Yoshimura,
giclée prints by Lois Wachner-Solomon, and
vintage pottery.
Peter Bosko, a CCAC (California College
of Arts and Crafts, now California College
of the Arts, or CCA) graduate and WWII
veteran, opened Bosko’s in 1945. At a time
when many other vets in the Bay Area were
using the GI Bill to attend art school, Bosko
used his benefits for a business loan. In the
late ’40s and throughout the ’50s, Bosko’s
held a number of special exhibitions that
featured paintings by instructors from the
Art League of California as well as shows
of watercolors by artists like Jade Fon and
George Post. Louis Siegriest and Maurice
Logan, plein air painters who were part of
the Rockridge-based Society of Six, also
showed at Bosko’s.
In addition to being an adept framer,
Peter Bosko was an award-winning painter
and printmaker. Many of his works can
still be seen inside the shop, hung high on
the walls. Bosko was active in the East Bay
Artists Association and participated in their
Claremont Rug Company, 6087 Claremont
Avenue, in 1980. His grandmother was an
active collector, as were some of her friends.
They would gather at her New York home
and trade stories, rugs and knowledge while
the young Winitz absorbed everything he
could. There is no limit when you pair a
good teacher with a curious and interested
mind. After moving west and attending UC
Berkeley, he began the business with his wife
Christine, also a collector. Over the years
the business grew steadily as Silicon Valley
provided a great source of able collectors who
could see the beauty of these “art level” rugs
but needed expert guidance in the selection
process. These rugs, made before 1900 with
natural dyes by expert tribal weavers, were
usually commissioned by an important
family or for a special event. An average
price in the five-figure range might sound
incredible to some, but what is the value
of something you will enjoy every day you
look at it for the rest of your life? That’s what
Claremont Rug can provide.
n Barney’s, 5819 College Avenue, opened
at that location in 1988. After five years on
by Kevin Faughnan, RCPC boardmember
n Transports was started by Kei Kodani
in 1982 in a small space above Barclay’s
Pub. Kei began the business selling camping
and hiking equipment, and it seemed to
complement the adjacent store that focused
on running shoes. However, when that store
went out of business, the salesmen providing
that inventory convinced Kei, himself a
runner, to carry their lines. Shortly thereafter,
Kei moved a few doors up the street and
next to the then-location of the Sierra Club
bookstore where he remained for 20 years.
When the Sierra Club closed the store in
2003, Kei took the opportunity to expand
into the space, now his current quarters at
6014 College Avenue. Richie Boulet, one of
the current owners, said that the business now
caters to runners and swimmers, both entry
level and serious athletes, including local
high schools. Richie says that 90 percent of
their clients are beginners who need help in
picking out the right equipment, something
the store specializes in. Transports also
helps sponsor many races, including the East
Bay Triple Crown. Stop in and get fitted.
n Jan David Winitz opened the doors of
➧➧Bosko’s Framing Gallery, page 13
➧➧Merchants, page 12
“Hi! Jenner and Erin here with mommy reminding
you to take good care of your teeth!”


5.
February 7, 2015

5.

Chabot Elementary School Spring Auction
Community Donations Help
Bridge the Funding Gap
by Natalie Mehta, Chabot Parent
Gone are the days of the school PTA when
bake sales funded “bells and whistles”
for our schools. As OUSD budgets continue
their downward trend, more community
resources are needed to bridge the public
funding shortfall.
At Chabot Elementary, the PTA funds
enrichment programs including Art, Library,
Media, Music, Science, and Spanish. The
PTA funds school psychologists to address
emotional issues, intervention specialists
focused on closing the achievement gap,
and yard duty supervisors who lead games
and activities that promote a positive school
environment. The Chabot PTA raises more
than $400,000 annually to fund these vital
programs and services. The benefits of this
support are clear; Chabot is an award-winning
public school where students have access
to programs and resources to ensure their
academic and social success.
Our largest spring fundraiser, the annual
Spring Auction, is being planned, and we need
your help! Do you have a special talent or

Oakland Tech 2015
Auction Celebrates
Centennial Year
Oakland Tech is Oakland’s top-scoring
public high school, and this year is extra
special because it’s our centennial year.
Tech’s annual auction, our largest
fundraiser, will be held March 14 at
Uptown Body and Fender. Proceeds from
the auction are used for textbooks, laptops
and sports uniforms, and to support groups
and career development programs. With
the help of our local community, Tech
continues to offer its students highly
regarded science academies in engineering,
biotech, computers and health, as well as
a rigorous Paideia humanities program, a
dynamic drama program, a fashion and
design academy and a broad range of sports,
arts and other engaging activities. Tech
graduates go on to universities all over the
country, including schools such as Harvard,
Yale, MIT, Penn, Columbia, Stanford and
UC Berkeley.
The Oakland Tech PTSA is committed
to building our students’ achievements, and
you can help. Please donate to our auction
by responding to the donation request letter
we’ve mailed out, or by going to the auction
website, http://oaklandtech.schoolauction.
net/auction2015, and submitting a donation
online. Then, get ready to bid on other
exciting items. Bidding begins February
26, and ends March 6. See more details on
the web site.
Thank you!
trade? Could you donate a weekend getaway
or a handcrafted item? Would you like to be
an event sponsor and raise your visibility in
our community? Donations big and small
make the Spring Auction special. Contact
auction@chabotelementary.org for more
information or http://events.readysetauction.
com/chabotelementarypta/bobcats to
arrange a donation..
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601-1188
Mon – Fri  7 – 7 • Sat  8 – 6
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
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6.

February 7, 2015
6.

Eyes on Rockridge
I liked it. Moving here several years
ago from the suburbs of Detroit where our
supermarkets were sparkling and well-
stocked (even if the produce and poultry
couldn’t begin to stand up to California’s
homegrown quality), I never understood
why both Rockridge-area Safeways were
so dilapidated. And it certainly provides a
window into what the Rockridge Shopping
Center Safeway, about to break ground at 51st
and Broadway – nearer my house – will look
like. Same architect, I am told.
It’s obvious that after the rancor with
the immediate neighborhood over size and
construction, Safeway officials are out to
create community. They started by donating
$2,500 each to Friends of the Rockridge
Greenbelt (FROG), which maintains Frog
Park, and to Peralta Elementary School.
Peralta students, under artist-in-residence
Ellen Oppenheimer, worked with Safeway to
create a series of 45 tiles depicting vegetables
and fruits. Those tiles are now firmly
embedded in the new store’s façade. Sweet.
“We’re required to be local,” Steve Bernet,
vice president of real estate, told me as he
ticked off some of the retailers that will lease
commercial space. They include Cream, a
Berkeley-based ice cream sandwich shop;
the previously-mentioned Philz Coffee, out of
San Francisco; and Great Clips barber shop
and United Services Credit Union, formerly
at the Rockridge Shopping Center.
It was nice to see that the managers of both
the new stores are women barely into their
30s. When Daryl Winnick was introduced
at the Safeway grand opening, staff members
gave her an ovation. As Winnick told me
Cole Hardware, Completed Safeway
Add New Life to College Avenue
by Judith Doner Berne
The January openings of Cole Hardware,
just south of BART, and the new version
of Safeway at Claremont and College
definitely cut the post-holiday gloom.
It was hard to miss the smiles on the faces
of Cole Hardware shoppers who thronged
to the store on its opening days. After all,
Rockridge “voted” that a hardware store
was the foremost missing ingredient in the
mixture of retail and restaurants that is
College Avenue. And it already seems that
this family-owned enterprise has been there
forever, although its formal “Grand Opening”
is Saturday, February 21.
“I love this store,” enthused Rockridge
resident Manny Blackman, who was a Cole
Hardware customer when he lived in San
Francisco. “I’m excited to see it here.”
Even before Cole opened, I wrote down
a comment I heard on the street: “We are
finally getting a store on College that everyone
can use.”
Everyone can use the new Safeway, as
well, but some more grudgingly than others.
Inside, it is beautiful and bright and certainly
a vast improvement in depth of product and
environment over the old Sixties-era store and
its featureless parking lot.
Critics predicted traffic mayhem, but I
haven’t seen that. However, the building does
loom over College Avenue, blocking sun and
view. Plus, I don’t quite get how its in-store
Starbucks and expected tenant, Philz Coffee,
are assets to a neighborhood that already has
a slew of independent coffee houses, two
directly across the street.
Peet’s Coffee, down the block, handled it
subtly and creatively with a sign welcoming
back Safeway employees and offering them
20 percent off on purchases. And two women
I spoke to sipping Cole Coffee (no relation
to the hardware store) across the street said
the coffee is so good they would never go
anywhere else. They also mentioned it was
easier to park and “you can still see the sky.”
Of those I randomly interviewed at
Safeway, most were positive although none
happened to be Rockridge residents. Anne
Janks, from another area of Oakland, told
me enthusiastically, “It looks like a Whole
Foods.” “I think it’s glorious,” Virginia
Stough of Piedmont said. “I like it – how neat
everything looks. It’s really pretty to look at,”
echoed Becky Lee, from Berkeley.
An elderly Berkeley couple, who didn’t
want to give their names but apparently lived
nearby, weren’t as happy. “We always shopped
at the old Safeway. But this is too big and
really disrupts the neighborhood,” the woman
said, as a live rock band entertained at the
store opening. “They should have had a string
quartet playing Vivaldi,” she added. “They’re
obviously not after the Berkeley crowd.”
➧➧Added Life, page 7
January Sales Dry Up

Closing date BR BA Address
Original price List price  DOM
Selling price
1/6/15   2
1
5242 Miles Avenue
$495,000
$495,000
15
$620,000

Lic. #0670129

1/9/15   3
2
5947 Keith Avenue
$649,000
$649,000
0
$750,000
1/23/15 2
2
5405 Carleton Street
$695,000
$695,000
54
$657,000
· Currently 1 month supply of inventory ·
Median sold price is $657,000 · Average price per square foot is $565
·January historically slow – January 2014 had only 2 sales·


7.
February 7, 2015

7.

small, five years ago, as a cashier. She most
recently was assistant manager at the Cole
Street store in San Francisco.
People I talked to worried about
competition with smaller College Avenue
stores. When I asked Riley how Cole is
handling merchandise that the boutique
Rockridge home-oriented stores also stock,
she said: “There’s a couple of lines we aren’t
carrying out of respect for the stores that have
been here.”
“I’m hoping that Yasai’s hangs in there,”
said Julie Tanenbaum, a Berkeley resident,
as she toured Safeway for the first time. “I
love Yasai’s and Ver Brugge,” said Monica
Scott, an Oakland resident, while hovering
over Safeway’s organic bulk food counter.
As I walked into Yasai’s Produce Market
and Ver Brugge Meat-Fish Poultry, directly
across the street from Safeway, both shops
were as busy as you might expect for a
weekday afternoon. The Trader Joe’s lot was
perhaps a little less crowded than usual.
“I’m very pleased to see the Safeway
project coming to a finish,” said Rockridge
District Association (RDA) operations
manager Chris Jackson. “It’s nice to see the
foot traffic back, which is good for all. The
feedback I have received has been positive
thus far. They still have a few things to work
out but it’s open with more to come. Folks
are saying we have the best Safeway around.
“And Cole Hardware is a great fit for
Rockridge and our neighborhood,” added
Jackson, a strong supporter of getting them to
consider opening their first store in the East
Bay. “It’s so good to see the vibrancy they
bring to the Avenue.”
Added Life
from page 6
later, “I came from the bottom.” She started
as a bagger at age 16 and worked her way up
over 13 years. She was previously manager of
Judy Berne welcomes your comments and
suggestions for future columns. Contact her at
judyberne@att.net.
Peralta School artist in
residence Ellen Oppenheimer
and Peralta students display a
facsimile check for a donation
Safeway made to the school.
The students created ceramic
tiles that were mounted on
the storefront walls and
depict a variety of vegetables.
Safeway also presented a
similar check to Frog Park
re p re s e n t a t i v e s .  T h a t
donation will be more fully
reported in the March issue.
/D. Kinkead
Peet’s Coffee, at College and Alcatraz,
welcomes Safeway employees back to
the neighborhood with a special offer.
(“What, me worry?”)
Berkeley’s Shattuck Avenue Safeway, before
it was renovated, and then of its Albany
sister store.
I met Cole Hardware’s Rockridge manager
Tessa Riley as she was bagging fresh popcorn
near the store entryway. Riley also started
/D. Kinkead
thresholds for requiring a use permit for
retail use and dealing with older large spaces
built before the use permit requirement
size thresholds were established, may also
be considered. RCPC will contact other
stakeholders in CN-1 zoned areas across
Oakland to establish the working group. We
would expect there will also be community
meetings in the CN-1 areas to gather input.
Land Use
from page 3
permits (for business uses that are only
conditionally consistent with CN-1’s general
street level retail preference) persist even if
the use has been abandoned. Other topics,
including reviewing existing square footage
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


8.

February 7, 2015
8.

Whether for canning, pickling, or simple
water glasses, nothing beats a Ball jar.
My big surprise on my walk through
Cole’s was a full display of OXO Good Grips
gadgets. Whether it’s a simple garlic press,
vegetable peeler, or fancy mandoline, OXO
Good Grips make over 500 quality kitchen
products for the home chef. In my experience
they never wear out or break. Need a spatula?
OXO offers several different varieties. Next
time you make a run to Cole’s, check out the
great housewares department. You won’t be
disappointed.
Rock  ridge
Cornucopia
Cornucopia
Barry A. Kaufman
Finally we have a hardware store on
College! For more than 30 years, when
friends would comment how lucky we
were to live near so many great restaurants
and shops, my response was always the
same: “But we don’t have a neighborhood
hardware store.”
When people think about a hardware
store, the first thing that often comes to
mind is tools and building materials. Tools
and materials indeed, but for me, a well-
equipped contemporary hardware store
is the go-to resource for all things related
to cooking. I’m not disparaging upmarket
stores like Sur La Table or Williams-
Sonoma, but for the home chef, give me a
well-stocked hardware store anytime.
Cole Hardware has a complete selection
of kitchen and cooking resources. And what
is available is of high quality and includes
contemporary designs.
At one time, the small family-owned
hardware store was the center of community
life. Not only could you get the usual tools
and building supplies, but they often also
offered a variety of handyman services. As
a direct-line descendant from the frontier
general store, hardware stores always carried
basic cooking and kitchen housewares for
home cooks. Many traditional hardware
stores also sold work clothes for each of
the building trades. Today’s hardware store
also caters to the more suburban backyard-
entertaining crowd with a good selection
of Weber and other grilling products and
BBQ gadgets.
As I strolled though Cole, my eye caught
some wonderful cooking and kitchen
household items. The first thing I noticed
was that the store carries a full line of Zeal
products from Great Britain. Zeal has been
in the gourmet kitchen business for nearly 40
years and sells only to professional kitchen
retailers. They have been offering silicone
since it started to become more mainstream
around 15 years ago. I have a collection of
Zeal multi-colored paring knives that are
lovely to offer guests with fresh fruit and
cheese.
Another long-standing cooking item
found in Cole is an assortment of Lodge
cast iron pots and pans. Founded in 1896 by
Joseph Lodge, Lodge is the only American
manufacturer of cast iron cookware.
Keeping up with the times, the company now
makes pre-seasoned cast iron cookware. If
properly maintained, a Lodge cast iron pan
will last for generations. You are not buying
just a fry pan; you’re buying an heirloom.
You can buy All-Clad or Le Creuset at an
upscale houseware store, but nothing beats
a Lodge cast iron pan.
At Cole you will also find a full line of
Ball canning jars. Ball is another American
company over 100 years old. You may have
noticed that several Oakland Uptown hipster
restaurants and bars use Ball jars for water
glasses and specialized cocktails. There
is a reason some products never grow old.
Cast Iron Curried Carrots
(4-servings)
Ingredients
3 tbs coconut oil (Trader Joe’s)
2 pounds carrots, peeled, halved
lengthwise, sliced on a bias (1-inch
pieces)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp curry powder
¼ cup roughly chopped cilantro
Preparation
Heat a medium size cast iron skillet
over medium-high heat and add coconut
oil. When hot, add carrots in a single layer.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper and sauté the
carrots, turning every 3-4 minutes until
they show dark caramelized brown spots,
about 8-10 minutes. Add the curry powder
and mix to combine. Scatter cilantro over
the top and serve.
Barry Kaufman is a graduate of the California
Culinary Academy. Barry is available for cook-
ing classes and tours of East Bay ethnic markets.
Contact: kaufman42@comcast.net
Have a ♥ Time on Valentine’s Day
Cole Hardware invites you to a
Valentine’s Day mixer for singles,
couples, even handy-men/women
looking for clients. It will be a fun
evening where nuts can meet bolts,
have a glass of Cole’s wine, a taste of
chocolate, get sweetheart deals, and
meet other locals whether for friends,
community, or who knows what else
may bloom!
Cole Hardware
5533 College, Oakland
February 14, 5-8 p.m.
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.


9.
February 7, 2015

9.

neighborhood and Rockridge specifically,
the majority of these traits included things
like “transit-friendly,” “pedestrian and bike
friendly,” “accessible,” and “convenient.”
Rockridge’s “convenient” location relative
to surrounding destinations was much
appreciated. A handful of respondents
wanted more parking options when a car
is needed, yet envisioned a community
designed to reduce the need for cars.
Priority 3: Commercial/Retail
Options and Characteristics
As an ideal, respondents wanted their
neighborhood to provide “essential services”
as well as “interesting specialty shops,”
“diverse shopping and eating options,” and
“great food and coffee.” They also want
shops to be “scaled to pedestrians,” and
predominantly “independently owned.”
What they have in Rockridge is pretty
close. Descriptions included “unique/small
independently owned shops,” “full service,”
“great restaurants,” “foodie destination,”
“culinary delights,” “bookstores and cafes,”
and “a coffee extravaganza.” Rockridge’s
College Avenue was also described as
“bustling,” “thriving,” “lively,” and “vibrant.”
Here, too, the main trait missing from the
Rockridge description was affordability.
Priority 4: Housing/
Neighborhood Aesthetic
The final standout cluster of traits in both
the ideal neighborhood and in Rockridge
described housing stock and residential
streets and services. Here, Rockridge
fully matched the ideal neighborhood in
“attractive homes” and “tree-lined streets”
as well as being “charming,” “peaceful,”
“pleasant” and “having character.”
The ideal neighborhood descriptions also
included a number of public services not
mentioned in the Rockridge description, such
as “well-paved streets,” “reliable garbage
pick-up,” “smooth and wide sidewalks,”
“good tree maintenance” and “well-lit
streets.”
However, several respondents expressed
a preference for medium- to low-density
development with height and design
restrictions to preserve historic architecture
and character, while a few others wanted
“environmentally responsible,” “good
density,” that is “less suburban.”
Many other observations were noted
by respondents only once or twice each
and in a wide range of other topical areas.
Nonetheless, the above provides a reasonably
complete overview of the full array of
responses.
Who Took the Survey? Highlights
The survey results may not be surprising,
and might even be predictable. Still, they
are useful. The next time RCPC or any
other group of residents wants to convey to
Vision Survey
from page 3
(and without) kids/ parks,” “places to sit,
eat, play outside,” and “gathering spaces.”
Any parallel description was conspicuously
absent from the descriptions of Rockridge,
except for a few mentions of Frog Park.
The final “ideal” priority garnering
significantly more mentions than the
remainder of terms used in this category was
“integrated diversity – in age, wealth, race and
culture, housing availability.” The Rockridge
description had many mentions of demographic
“diversity,” although these were offset by
several references to being “homogenous” and
“less diverse than it used to be.”
Other popular traits describing an
ideal neighborhood included “good
schools,” “affordability” (including housing
specifically), “family-friendly,” “home prices
and job availability allowing people to work
and live in same area,” “opportunities for
the community to gather,” “public displays
of art and music,” “courteous treatment of
neighbors,” and “connected to the broader
community of Oakland.” In addition to
“strong community,” “safety,” and “diversity,”
the Rockridge description highlighted (but
with fewer mentions) “family-friendly” and
“good” and “improving” public schools.
There were no references to “affordability”
of housing or anything else, with numerous
mentions instead of Rockridge being
“expensive” and “unaffordable.”
Priority 2: Mobility/
Accessibility/Transit
When describing both the ideal
Years living in Rockridge
10+
56%
2 – 10
29%
0 – 2
10%
Own/Rent
Homeowner
81%
Renter
19%
Kids living at home, Retired
Kids <18 at home
38.5%
Kids not at home
37.5%
Retired
23%
the city of Oakland, to a new developer, or
to a potential grantmaker what Rockridge
residents care about, they can share that
Rockridge has initiated a robust conversation
in which over 400 people participated to
date, and what the data shows. It’s not a bad
starting position in conversations that could
lead to decisions affecting the future of this
place we call home. Moreover, this input can
guide us in applying one of the strongest
values expressed in the survey: doing and
accomplishing things together as an engaged
and generous community.
Thanks to all who entered the Survey Raffle. The
eight winners have been notified, and will receive
gift certificates for the following Rockridge busi-
nesses: Diesel Books, Pegasus Books, Rockridge
Home, Maison D’Etre, Nathan & Co, SMitten
Ice Cream, Bittersweet Cafe, and Wood Tavern.


10.

February 7, 2015
10.

King Fish
Relocated
Early in January,
the venerable
Kingfish pub – in
this location since
1922 – was moved
to a vacant lot on
Telegraph Avenue
next to the Temes-
cal Branch Library.
The now-vacant
Claremont Avenue
space will be filled
with a town house
development.
/Greg Pasquali

Friends of the
Rockridge Library
Seeks Board Members
The Friends of the Rockridge Library
(FORL) is looking for candidates to fill
open seats on our board. Our all-volunteer
board collaborates with library management
and staff to fund programs and resources not
covered under the library budget.
We’re a creative and active bunch, eager
to hear your ideas on how you might lend
your time and skills to support the library we
all love. We have several seats to fill. For one,
we seek technical skills such as mail merge
proficiency and web site troubleshooting and
maintenance. The board meets 5-6 times a
year on Tuesday nights.
Contact Carol Bieri at cbieri@pacbell.
net to express your interest.

Opportunity in Claremont Avenue’s Median?
Th e  v i ew  e n t e r i n g
Rockridge is much nicer
these days for motorists exiting
Hwy 24 at Claremont Avenue:
New shrubs line the ramp; new
trees line nearby sidewalks;
the DaVita Dialysis facility on
the corner of Clifton has been
transformed.
But travel up Claremont
Avenue, as most guests approaching the
historic Claremont Hotel do, and you’ll find
the area near the highway underpass needs
sprucing up. Scenic Streets thinks the huge
median in the middle of the street would be
a smart place to start.
Nearly the length of two football fields,
its 8,000 square feet are covered by asphalt.
The southern half is the widest section (up
to 20 feet) and is exposed to sun and rainfall,

making it an ideal place for
shrubs and trees. Its gateway
location would be enhanced
by a welcoming sign, as well.
Our small team of
volunteers continues to
explore the feasibility for this
project, and no initial proposal
has been made to the city.
Our biggest hurdle will be
funding and Scenic Streets needs to be able
to visualize covering the ballpark costs. The
trees and shrubs would be inexpensive, but
removing asphalt and amending the road fill
dirt beneath more costly.
Scenic Streets is soliciting local business
leaders to fund the project in 2015, but
individual donors will be needed as well.
Visit http://www.scenicstreets.org/Donate.
html to make a pledge to get the ball rolling.
/Scenic Streets


11.
February 7, 2015

11.

Farewell to the Big Euc
by Leonora Sea,
DMV Neighbors Association
The familiar sign-off to
announcements of DMV
Neighbors Association-spon-
sored cleanup days along
Temescal Creek – “Meet at the
big eucalyptus at the corner of
Cavour and Redondo” – will
change soon. As I write, the city
is in process of removing the
venerable giant. While it’s sad
for many reasons, the tree is dis-
eased, damaged, and dangerous.
Over the past couple of years,
huge limbs have fallen on the
lawn and adjacent trees, and the
nearby sidewalk has just about
been destroyed by the tree’s roots.
So how did the tree get there in
the first place? And how did it get
so big? Eucalypts are Australian
natives, and were originally
introduced into California in the
1850s as garden ornamentals.
By the 1870s several varieties
were being imported and sold,
both for decorative plantings
and as lumber trees. Most of
the eucalypts in the East Bay
hills were planted early in the
splits, and is suitable only for
firewood. The splits, especially
where the limbs meet the tree,
collect moisture and create decay.
Eventually the limbs break away
and fall.
Last year, city staff noticed
growths called conk at the base
of the tree, indicators of rot and
decay. The tree was test-drilled,
and city arborist Mitch Thomson
found evidence of rot, meaning
the tree must be removed. Davey
Tree was hired to cut back limbs
within 10 feet of power lines
(Oakland staff may not work that
close to the lines), and city tree
services crews will finish taking
down the tree. Oakland Public
Works is herbicide-free, so will
use a stump grinder to prevent the
roots from re-sprouting. Work is
expected to be completed in early
February.
Much as the tree is a beloved
neighborhood landmark, it has
reached end of life. We’ll miss it
(although not its messy bark and
leaves that volunteers have dealt
with on past cleanup days) and
look forward to what this corner
of the Greenbelt might look like
in the future.
20th century, in some areas to
replace logged-off redwoods
and in others to take advantage
of open space.
This particular tree may
have been purposefully planted
for lumber or firewood. Or it
may have arrived via a seed pod
washed downstream from the
eucalyptus groves in Claremont
Canyon. Eucalyptus pods float,
and one could have reached a
disturbed spot by the original
Temescal Creek during winter
high water, dried out, released
its tiny seeds, and birthed our big
tree. Or it could be a sprout from
a vanished older euc.
Eucalyptus trees are
prodigious water consumers;
some varieties, if well-watered,
can grow 20 to 40 feet in a year.
In the 80 or so years since the
Cavour eucalyptus sprouted,
it’s had ample water and time to
grow into a giant. The fast growth
hasn’t necessarily been good for
the health of the tree. The people
who planted the first trees soon
discovered that California-grown
eucalyptus wood cracks and
/Leonora Sea
california college of the arts
Summer 2014
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


12.

February 7, 2015
12.
Merchants

much improved. As for repeat clients, Sue
told me of a couple married 72 years who
have been coming in for glasses more than
50 years. That couple still enjoys looking at
each other, with a little help from Rockridge
Optometry.
n Pegasus Books, 5560 College Avenue,
has been on the corner of Ocean View
and College since 1970. Amy Thomas is
the owner and another example of rising
through the ranks from employee to owner.
As an English major and with her Cal degree
in hand, she marched into her favorite
bookstore in Berkeley in 1969 and asked
for a job. She got it – and now she owns it.
The College Avenue branch opened a year
later, and recently expanded to occupy the
entire corner building, with room for a small
yet distinctive magazine section. It’s not a
good idea to look up when you are walking
along College Avenue, but stop for a minute
to enjoy the unusual parapet wall on top of
the building: molded and painted concrete
shields that complement Pegasus, the winged
horse of Zeus protecting the entrance. Asked
about the impact of Amazon.com, Amy says
on-line shopping is great for many items, but
hurts small, local businesses. She pointed
out that if a customer spends $100 locally,
$68 of those dollars stay in the community.
Spent online, only $43 stays local. That’s
a pretty big deal: shop locally and support
your community. And if you still need a 2015
calendar, look no further; Pegasus is known
for its calendar sales offerings.
from page 4
Piedmont Avenue, Albert Sarshar responded
to Rockridge customers who said they
wished he would move closer to them, and
so he did. He now has seven locations in
the East Bay with over 100 employees, but
it is still a family-owned and family-run
business. Luckily, Albert’s family is large.
And if you guessed that Albert is Persian,
you’d be right. He came to the U.S. at 16 and
went directly into the food business, working
his way up. He was always in love with
food – and especially GREAT hamburgers
– so he followed his heart. Barney’s has
received over 130 awards or citations for
Best Hamburgers in the East Bay. In addition
to daily fresh produce and meat – nothing
frozen – the generous portions (intentionally
aimed at families) make it possible to take
the kids to dinner and not have to run twice
to the ATM. Expanded seating inside and an
outdoors, under-the-stars patio option gives
diners plenty of room.
n Rockridge Optometry first opened
its doors to the community in 1946. The
initial business was a few doors up from
its current location at 5321 College, where
it has been since 1971. Dr. Morton Sarver
was then joined by both of his sons –
Don and Larry Sarver, also optometrists
and also UC graduates. More recently, Drs.
Scott Yokoi and Cindy Sakai have expanded
this optometrist “family.” Sue Dolan, office
manager and an employee since 1973, told
me that it is absolutely not true that they
make Stanford alumni go to the end of the
line, because they know those graduates need
help – and need it quickly. But it does help to
wear a Cal shirt to your appointment! I asked
Sue why glasses were so expensive when we
have had all these technological advances.
She explained that lenses now are digitally
manufactured so the entire lens is much
more functional than the older progressive
lenses. Also, coatings for lens coloration are
Town Hall
from page 1
this Town Hall presents an overview of
productive projects planned by RCPC in
2015. For example, short-term programs
such as the Kitchen Tour, Out and About, or
the Halloween Parade call for a day or two
of volunteer support. These are fun events
to help with and you’re done at the end of
the day. Please consider these opportunities
as chances to volunteer.
Working with the RCPC board is
another way to pull the threads together.
The board has term limits, and board
members rotate out periodically. Four new
openings will need to be filled via election
or appointment. Serving on the board does
take a little time each month, but when
you engage with your community, you can
make things happen and be pleased about
accomplishments. (See more on this, page
1: “Your Neighborhood Is On the Line.”)
Note the beginning and ending
times of the Town Hall meeting.
Cole Hardware closes at 8 p.m., so we will
end by 7:45 sharp. See you there.
Interior • Exterior
Lead-Certified Painters
For a free estimate
call Cydney
510•652•4034






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24


 
	


13.
February 7, 2015

13.

Martinez, longtime CCAC instructor,
and Patsy English, an early colleague
of Ansel Adams.
Bosko’s Framing
Gallery
Bosko’s Framing Gallery at 6038 College
Avenue is open Monday through Friday
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays
from 10 a.m. to 5 .p.m.
from page 4
exhibitions during the ’50s when the
group had a gallery at the Claremont
Hotel.
In 2000, the business passed to Peter
Bosko’s son John and daughter Lynne.
While framing work keeps them busy,
Lynne also makes ceramics, and John
is a “photo-archeologist,” collecting
original vintage negatives (available online at
http://tinyurl.com/flickr-jbpics). Prints from
his collection have been shown across the
Carl Schmitz is Art Research Librarian at the
Richard Diebenkorn Foundation. He has had
art by June Felter and Mikhail Karasik framed
on College Avenue at a store that was the El
Capitan antique shop in the early ’40s, and
can be reached at cschmitz@diebenkorn.org.
street at Spasso Coffee House and in Hayward
at PhotoCentral’s gallery. Among the historical
prints available at Bosko’s are portraits of Xavier
New Path for Rockridge Food Tour
The Rockridge Heritage and Walking
Food Tour, run by Lauren Herpich, has
a new heart-of-Rockridge focus.
When the tours began in June of last year,
they started in Berkeley by the Claremont
Hotel and included a stop at Amphora Nueva,
an artisan olive oil shop on Domingo.
It was quite a hike to the next stop – the
cheese counter at Market Hall – and then
on to Rockridge icons such as Zachary’s
Chicago Pizza, Dreyer’s Ice Cream and Ver
Brugge Foods.
Now, the tour convenes at the Rockridge
Creek, Pleasanton, San Francisco and the
Peninsula. On the docket is a tour for culinary
arts students from Cosumnes Oaks High
School in Elk Grove.
Guests receive discount coupons from
the merchants visited, Herpich explained,
and evidence shows a number return to
Rockridge to use them.
The three-hour tours are at 11 a.m.
Sundays and 2 p.m. Thursdays and cost $49
per person. For more information, go to
RockridgeFoodTour.com or call 510/604-
6546.                        — Judith Doner Berne
Branch Library, closer to BART and to its
newly added first stop, A16. Herpich told
me that A16 representatives contacted her,
seeking to be included on the tour. She, in
turn, was looking to add a higher-end dining
experience, more representative of the range
of Rockridge restaurants.
It still lacks an Asian element – there
are 11 Asian restaurants along College – but
Herpich says: “The tour is ever-evolving.”
The majority of people on the twice-a-
week tours come from outside the area, the
tour founder reports, predominantly Walnut
Judith Doner Berne profiled the food and heritage
tour in The Rockridge News July 2014 issue.


14.

February 7, 2015
14.

House Repairs & Rehabs,
Interior & Exterior
Kitchen & bath remodel, tile, decks, dry
rot, drainage, walls, termite damage,
doors, windows. Professional work for
affordable prices. Local References Available.
Lic#458473. Don 510/812-0310.
Need Affordable Legal Advice?
Legal shield is an attorney network that can
help you solve legal matters. Traffic tickets,
family law, civil and criminal matters. Call
512/703-6148. Press 2 to listen to recorded
message. Melissa Parker 415/706-7888.
Meliasabparker@gmail.com
Your Rockridge Specialists
JUDITH GLASS & SHEILA SABINE– The
Grubb Company. Now may be the right
time for a move. Call 510/326-5055 or email
SSabine@Grubbco.com
Professional Math Tutor
Effective, consistent, and reliable help
for middle/high school, college/university
students (all levels, test preparations).
Former university lecturer, LBNL post-doc
and researcher with 20+ years teaching
experience. Andreas 510/734-9189
andreaszyx@yahoo.com
Come See the Art of
Gregory Manchess!
Arte Verissima at 4432 Piedmont Avenue.
“Weightless” showcasing the innovative
paintings of award-winning illustrator
Gregory Manchess runs through March 8.
Friday – Sunday 12-6. www.arteverissima.com
Property Management
Need help managing your property? Attention
to detail. Great rates! Bringing tenants and
landlords together is what I do. Contact
George GvRealtor@gmail.com or 510/710-
6826.
The Perfect
Valentine’s Day Gift
Searching for the perfect gift for your sweetie?
Try a “Date-Night Dance Class” gift cer-
tificate. Next session starts Friday, 3/27, in
Glenview. Interested? Contact David & Chris,
Phone: 510/530-7671; e-mail: madeinca2d@
earthlink.net
For Lease, Rockridge House
2BD/1BA, 5543 Lawton Avenue, $3,950/per
month. Off-street parking, Shared yard &
laundry. Contact: Ron Kriss, Broker, Lawton
Associates, 510/547-5970 ext. 55.
Rockridge Acupuncturist
5664 Broadway. Family owned since 1978.
Gentle, effective treatments to relieve
stress and difficult pain (arthritis, back pain,
sports injuries, etc.). For appointment or
free consultation with Alex Chung, L.Ac,
contact: 510/882-8900,alexchunglac@gmail.
com, www.chungacupuncturecenter.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 issue deadline is February 19.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com
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
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.
Rockridge
Optometry
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
Lic. 691894
law office of
dave karlinsky
Martin Coyle       510-655-8717     Mike Tracy
     5221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
w w w . c o y l e h o m e r e m o d e l . c o m
(510) 788-5700    www.davekarlinskylaw.com
Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:
Norman H. Burg, DDS
• Estate planning

• Probate / trust administration

• Dispute resolution
General Dentistry
(510) 652-1517
5700 Broadway, Oakland
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
      schedule an appointment.
A Prevention Oriented Practice


15.
February 7, 2015

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

Community Calendar

INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed
(510) 654-3339
As a Realtor® at East Bay Sotheby’s International Realty, my goal is to provide
your home with relevant points of exposure designed to connect you with
potential buyers. Contact me today for a complimentary market analysis.
Ortrun Niesar
Realtor®, BRE #01161032
510.326.2161
ortrun.niesar@sothebysrealty.com
sothebysrealty.com
Each office is independently owned and  operated

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


16.

February 7, 2015
16.

aboutface&body
dayspa      oaklandberkeley
Is there a move in your future?
With over 350 homes sold why not benefit from
serving you since 1981
my experience selling fine homes.
Eyebrow waxes 90K to date
Brazillian waxes 24K to date
Terry Kulka – Experience Counts!
Now offering men’s waxing
510.682.5917
terrykulka@att.net
CALBRE#00875454
3190 college avenue
at alcatraz
berkeley, ca 94705
510.428.2600
www.aboutfaceandbody.net
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
fri-tues
10:30-5:30

wed-thurs 10:30-8:00
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients
 For Over 26 Years.
Playing? Start in Oakland!
There’s a
new broker
in town.
32
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

OProperty Management
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
Susan Bernosky
Strahan
Insurance
Services, Inc.
510-450-9051
Living? Love it in Oakland!
“...what Claudia does with her listings is

nothing short of magic.”
- Olga B, Staging Professional
Claudia Mills
Realtor
Local Expertise • Cutting Edge Marketing
Buyer/Seller Representation
510.350.6419  |  cmills@mcguire.com
ClaudiaMillsRealEstate.com