Extracted text

ckridgeNews

THE

www.rockridge.org

VOL. 31     NO. 1    ISSUE NO. 329    January 1, 2016                   CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 BusInesses

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

Eyes on Rockridge

by Judith
Doner Berne

Mayor’s Style is ‘Rockridge Style’
I
must admit I was a little nervous after
having lured Libby Schaaf to Rockridge
for an interview marking a year after her
election as mayor of Oakland.
“Just pretend you’re talking to me,”
advised my daughter Debbie Berne,
who lives nearby in north Oakland and
knew the mayor back when both were
20-somethings.
Indeed Schaaf, an Oakland native,
impressed me as an articulate, in-depth
steward of the city’s past and a visionary
about its future. She was also warm, funny
and down-to-earth.
She greeted me with a hug as we sat
down at a back table at the Rockridge
Café on the Saturday morning after
Thanksgiving. Joining us were her aide
Michael Hunt and Rockridge News editor

Mayor Schaaf meets for an interview
at a favorite College Avenue Café.
Special

Don Kinkead, whom she had met before.
Schaaf is well-acquainted with
Rockridge: “I spend a fair amount of time
here. This is my go-to shopping district. I
get my hair done at Right Angle.” And she
frequents Lesley Evers (she was wearing an
Evers print dress for the interview) and FIT
boutiques for her clothes. “Pretty much my
style is Rockridge style,” she said.
“I know she likes to support small
business,” Evers told me when I visited her
shop. “All of our designs are manufactured
in Oakland. She [Schaaf] wore one of our
dresses the day after she won the election.”
“I tell her ‘you’re the face of Oakland,’”
FIT owner Joyce Gardner said. According
to Gardner, Schaaf first announced she
was running for mayor at a Rockridge
➧➧Mayor Schaaf, page 10

January Town Hall: Proposed Off-Street Parking Regs

requirements for private and public new
development, its first major overhaul since
1965. The proposed changes could have
major effects on both new and existing
businesses and residences in Rockridge.
On major commercial corridors such as
College or Telegraph Avenue, and in high-
density residential areas, implementing
specific parking strategies would reduce the
better understand the proposed changes
and to provide input directly to the City
in a timely manner. The Off-Street Parking
revisions will be presented at the Planning
Commission’s February Zoning Update
Committee meeting.
Zoning Update: Off-Street
Parking Regulations Could
Bring Big Change to Rockridge
Oakland is updating its off-street parking
FOLLOW-UP Special Town Hall:
How Off-Street Parking Revisions
Could Impact Rockridge.
☛ RCPC hosts a special Town Hall,
Thursday, January 21, 7 p. m.,
featuring Oakland Strategic Planning
staffer Neil Gray  and a representative
from Dan Kalb’s office.
Come join the discussion at the Rockridge
Branch Library with your neighbors to
➧➧Off-Street Parking Changes, page 11

OUSD Extends Filing Period for Parcel Tax Rebate
Seniors, Low-Income Property Taxpayers Eligible for $120-$195 Rebates
In an article published in the Oakland Post,
Temescal resident Len Rafael noted that
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)
parcel tax measures passed in recent years
have included property tax rebates for senior
and low-income taxpayers that apparently

have not been well publicized. Rafael wrote
that Measure G, passed by voters in February
2008, and Measure N, passed in November
2014, allow exemptions and tax rebates for
qualifying low-income homeowners, and (in
the case of
➧➧Parcel Tax Rebates, page 14

Details, page 6


January 1, 2016
2.

Do You Need RCPC? RCPC Needs You!

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
                  5366 College Avenue
                   at Manila | 597-5017
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC board
member and former chair
A
comment that sometimes comes up
in conversations I have about RCPC,
especially with recently arrived Rockridge
residents, is: “RCPC may have done lots of
good things in the past, but why should I
care about it now?”
It’s a good question for all of us who live
in Rockridge.
One need only look around Rockridge to
see the many things RCPC has helped make
happen. Those accomplishments include the
Rockridge Branch Library, Frog Park, the
Rockridge BART Plaza, the new trees at
Claremont Middle School, and the Plaza at
the new College Avenue Safeway.
Less obvious but equally important,
RCPC has contributed to the thriving
retail area along College Avenue and the
comfortable, human-scaled residential areas
of Rockridge. Yet the question remains
whether RCPC is still relevant to Rockridge’s
future.
It’s a characteristic of cities and
neighborhoods that they change over time.
Sometimes they improve; sometimes they
deteriorate. Only museum-like areas such
as Colonial Williamsburg stay frozen in
time. The question is not whether Rockridge
will change in the future, but what kind of
changes will happen.
RCPC’s role in the past, and hopefully
in the future, is to help shape that change
in ways that keep Rockridge a place that
its residents are comfortable with and can
be proud of.
Of course, there is not always consensus
about how Rockridge should change. Forty-
five years ago, when BART and Highway 24
first came through Rockridge, BART and the
city felt it should be a place for high-density
housing and office buildings. The residents
disagreed, and thus was born RCPC. Over
time, the face of Rockridge has shifted, but
controversies continue.
Library program details/hours: Calendar, page 15
■
■Should higher-density housing be
built along College Avenue as is happening
along Broadway?
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
Jo Ellis	�����������������������������������Asst. Editor
Judith Doner Berne	������������Eyes on Rockridge
Jo Ellis	�����������������������������������Advertising &
Community Calendar
Susan Montauk	�������������������Business Manager
Don Kinkead	�����������������������Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2015-2016
Brendan Havenar-Daughton...Chair
Jennifer Daskal	�������������������Co-Vice-Chair
Noah Rosen	������������������������Secretary
Ronnie Spitzer	��������������������Treasurer
Kevin Faughnan, Stuart Flashman,
Don Kinkead, Greg Pasquali,
Laura Schlichtmann, Leonora Sea
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Newsletter Subscriptions
■
■Should College Avenue continue to
be a retail center or are the days of “brick
and mortar” retail over, to be replaced by
offices designing software?
■
■Should Rockridge continue to try to
reflect the cultural, ethnic, and economic
diversity of Oakland, or should gentrification
be allowed to reshape Rockridge into a
likely less-diverse, high-income community?
These questions need answers, and RCPC
can help find them, but only with your help.
RCPC Board Elections
Every year, on a rotating basis, Rockridge
residents elect half of the 12-member RCPC
board of directors. That election is held in
April: now is the time for people to decide
to run for the board.
Being an RCPC board member does take
some time – probably at least 5-10 hours a
month, more if you can spare it – but there’s
a reward in helping Rockridge residents’
voices be heard and listened to by those
who make decisions, and in being a part of
shaping Rockridge’s, and Oakland’s, future.
If you’re not ready to throw your hat
into the ring as an RCPC board candidate,
RCPC has committees that can also use
volunteers. Land use, transportation, Frog
Park, schools, public safety, housing, and
local business are all topics that RCPC
takes on, and where community members
can influence policy.
If you’re interested, email us at info@
rockridge.org, or drop us a note c/o RCPC,
4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland 94611.
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
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.
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
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Dry Cleaning only  Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
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601-1188
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Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
Newsletter Advertising/Deadline
Publication date of the February issue is:
  February 6, 2016
  February deadline is January 21.
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.)
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!


3.
January 1, 2016

store openings and closings. Perhaps the most
notable new opening was Cole Hardware,
which appears to have been wildly popular.
It should be noted that many of its employees
live locally and therefore don’t contribute to
the local traffic and parking problems. The
idea of hiring locally may be something
RCPC ought to encourage the City to
promote – perhaps by way of incentives?
RCPC has been working to bring to
the City a zoning ordinance amendment
that would cause use permits in the CN-1
commercial zones (including College
Avenue) to be extinguished if the use for
which the permit was granted has been
abandoned or replaced by another. We
have gotten buy-in from community and
commercial groups in several other CN-1
areas of the city. There will be one more
meeting in January to receive feedback
before a decision is made on requesting
formal action by the city.
In the upcoming year, the biggest item is
likely to be the Nautilus Group’s 204
unit residential/33,000 sq.ft. commercial
mixed-use project on Telegraph Avenue
The next Land Use Committee meeting
is Wednesday, January 27, 7:30 p.m.
at the Rockridge Branch Library. Check
rockridge.org for the meeting agenda.
the confusing parking and tow-away signs
on the deck. RCPC hopes to prod Safeway
to get these last issues resolved in 2016, as
well as identify any secondary impact that
might require fixing.
Construction also began on the other
Safeway project, the rebuild of the Rockridge
Shopping Center (rechristened by Terramar,
its new owner, as “Shops at the Ridge”).
Across the street, the Merrill Gardens
senior housing/mixed use project started
construction and is gradually taking shape.
There’s been some traffic disruption on
Broadway, but RCPC has received very
few construction complaints (far fewer than
for the College Avenue Safeway project).
Demolition was also completed for the third
large project on the Broadway/Pleasant
Valley/51st Street intersection, Temescal
Apartments. Actual construction on that
project may begin this month.
College Avenue had its usual share of
Land Use Update
by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use
Committee co-chair
Looking Back,
Looking Forward
It seems fitting in this first Rockridge
News issue of 2016 to look back on
what happened with Rockridge land use
in 2015, and what we can expect in 2016.
The big news in 2015 was new construction
projects. Construction work finished on
Safeway’s College Avenue store, and on
the neighboring 10,500 sq. ft. retail building;
both opened for business early in the year
(although the “point” space in the retail
building remains unleased). There were,
of course, rough edges on the project, most
of which have gradually been ironed out.
However, the parking deck’s available space
counter/display remains problematic, as do
➧➧Land Use Committee, page 13

Report on Special Town Hall Meeting on
Secondary Units and Off-Street Parking
by Stuart Flashman and Ronnie Spitzer,
RCPC boardmembers
There was a full house of more than 70
people who came to the Rockridge
Branch Library the evening of December 9
to hear Oakland city staff explain proposed
changes to the city’s provisions for adding
secondary units and providing off-street
parking spaces for new development projects.
Because of the parking demand generated
by BART and College Avenue businesses,
much of lower Rockridge is already covered

in My Back Yard,” indicated that reducing
the zoning requirements for secondary units
could help alleviate the current Easy Bay
housing shortage. Oakland’s Mayor, Libby
Schaaf, has made such changes a priority
goal for her administration.
The proposed changes include decreasing
minimum setbacks from the property line
to four feet, decreasing the maximum unit
site from 900 to 750 sq.ft. (with the actual
allowed size dependent on the size of the
main house) and allowing existing structures
not meeting setback requirements to be
converted to secondary units as long as the
zoning nonconformity is not increased. The
by Oakland’s Residential Permit Parking
(RPP) program, and anything affecting
parking availability is of great interest.
Darin Ranelletti, Deputy Director
of Oakland’s Planning and Building
Department, explained the proposed changes
in the requirements for secondary units.
A secondary unit is a small, accessory
housing unit that is placed on a lot containing
a single-family home. State law requires that
each city provide for allowing secondary
units. A recent U.C. Berkeley study, “Yes
➧➧Report: Special Town Hall, page 13






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Lic. 691894


 
	
Martin Coyle       510-655-8717     Mike Tracy
     5221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618
w w w . c o y l e h o m e r e m o d e l . c o m


January 1, 2016
4.

Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council Year-End News Notes

by Karen Ivy, secretary
Th e
G r e a t e r
R o c k r i d g e
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
( NCPC) rem inds
residents that we are
changing our meeting
frequency. Effective
January 1, 2016, we
will meet on the
second Thursday of every even-numbered
month. Our 2016 dates will be: February
11, April 14, June 9, August 11, October 13,
and December 8.
We’ll meet as usual in the Rockridge
Library upstairs meeting room in February.
The April meeting may have to be somewhere
else, depending on the library’s remodeling
schedule. Watch our web site, http://
rockridgencpc.com, for changes in the
meeting site.
NCPC Needs a Treasurer
Our treasurer, Molly Singer, is resigning her
post. The NCPC needs a new treasurer. Our
bylaws say this about the treasurer’s duties:
Treasurer: The treasurer will collect
and record money due and received by
the organization, and will be custodian
of its funds. If necessary, the Treasurer
will maintain a bank account associated
with the Council.
In practice, this means managing our
small bank account, and potentially working
with the city of Oakland as it decides how to
distribute the funding for NCPCs which was
recently re-authorized. CPA certification is
not required for this position, but you should
feel comfortable being responsible for money
and preparing occasional reports.
If you’re interested in becoming an NCPC
officer (including attending meetings), please
email us at chair@rockridgencpc.com.

OPD and NCPCs Honor Anthony Hutzol,
Rockridge’s Community Resource Officer

/Michael Ubell

Margitta Gardner, left, Chris Jackson, CRO Anthony Hutzol, Capt Darren
Allison,  Carolyn Burgess, Mary Boergers, and Olga Bolotina. Gardner is NCPC
chair for Beat 9X, Piedmont Avenue neighborhood; Burgess  is NCPC Crime
Prevention Council chair, area 13Y and Public Safety Committee Chair, North
Hills Community Association; Boergers is NCPC chair for Beat 14, Adams Point;
Bolotina is chief of staff for District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb.
To honor its members for their achievements and service in 2015, the Oakland Police
Department (OPD) held its annual awards ceremony for sworn officers and civilian
staff alike in mid-December. Among the many who were recognized in the festivities at
the Police Administration Building (PAB), our own Community Resource Officer (CRO)
Anthony Hutzol was presented the Area 2 Citizens’ Advisory Committee Outstanding Police
Officer award. The award, presented by Michael Ubell, chair of the Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (GRNCPC), was given in recognition of CRO
Hutzol’s outstanding work in reducing crime in police beat 12Y, which encompasses much
of Rockridge. CRO Hutzol worked diligently over the past year to reduce the number of
auto and home burglaries as well as addressing the quality-of-life issues that emerge in the
area from time to time, thus helping improve the safety and comfort of residents and visitors
throughout our neighborhood on a daily basis.
CRO Hutzol and members of the Area 2 Advisory Committee are pictured above with.
Darren Allison, Captain of Police, Area 2 Commander. Award presenter Ubell was called
away from the ceremony before the photograph was taken. Rockridge District Association
(RDA) operations manager Chris Jackson nominated CRO Hutzol for the award.

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5.
January 1, 2016

Winter Greenbelt Cleanup, and Farewell to Another Tree

by Leonora Sea, DMV Neighbors
organizer and RCPC boardmember
Yay! It’s raining, and our parched Greenbelt
is soaking up all the lovely water. Sadly,
the rains have come too late for at least one
of the trees. The alder on the lawn at Cavour
and Redondo died last summer from lack of
water and damage sustained from a couple
of falling eucalyptus branches. Alders are
stream-side trees and need plenty of water.
In previous summers, there was enough
pumped into the creek to sustain this tree
through drought conditions. This year, the
pump at Hardy Circle was shut off early
in the summer as a precaution, in response
to a toxic algae bloom in Lake Temescal,
primary source of Temescal Creek. Deprived
of its usual water supply, the alder, already
stressed, died. It will be missed.
Other plants in the Greenbelt are
thriving with the rains. Unfortunately,
this includes the usual noxious invaders:
nutsedge, ivy, Kikuyu grass, broom, and
many annual weeds.
To bring some of this stuff under
control, the DMV Neighbors Association
is sponsoring a work morning this month.
We’ll concentrate on the section of Temescal
Creek between Cavour and Clarke Streets to
remove weeds and trash from the creekbed,
and cut back overgrown shrubbery.
Join us on Saturday, January 23 between
10 a.m. and noon. Meet at Chuck Fecher’s
memorial bench on Redondo Avenue, and
pick up some hot coffee and pastry to start
the morning. Tools provided, or bring your
own. Wear footgear that can get wet and
muddy. Heavy rain cancels.
Photos/Leonora Sea
Nutsedge in the creek channel:
public enemy number 1; a non-
native, and depressingly hard to
get rid of. Planting California native
sedges instead would be nice.
Leaf litter and tree
debris clogging
the creek. We will
clean it out.
C re e k  c h a n n e l
seriously in need
of weeding and ivy
removal to come.
FMS
FMS
Inc.
Inc.
Readying for El Niño
The city of Oakland is preparing for
heavy winter rains and storms in antic-
ipation of this year’s El Niño, a weather
pattern expected to bring strong storms
to the Bay Area this winter. To encourage
timely preparation, the City offers several
web sites listing steps to take and resources
for safety, including the following:
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/ElNino/
index.htm#Updates.
The City’s main web site, http://www2.
oaklandnet.com/, has additional informa-
tion and the Department of Public Works
(DPW) offers a flyer detailing storm
preparation steps to take and emergency
response resources: http://www2.oak-
landnet.com/w/oak056240.
5429 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
NAT-53556-1
Ofc: (510) 547-6111
Cell: (415) 722-9805
Email: fmsprojects@icloud.com


January 1, 2016
6.

Chabot Elementary School Prepares for Spring Auction
Community Donations
Develop Educated Citizens
by Natalie Mehta, Chabot parent and
auction co-chair
The Chabot Elementary School
community is now planning one of our
biggest fundraisers: the Spring Auction. This
year, our hard work is focused on meeting (or
beating!) our $160,000 goal, which supports
the dynamic enrichment programs that serve
nearly 600 Chabot students in Kindergarten
through 5th grade. Music, science, art, media,
library, gardening, P.E. and Spanish, as well
as counseling, intervention, and small group
specialists all require funding not provided
by OUSD.
How can you help? There are many
ways: Can you donate a few hours sharing
your specialized talent or trade?; Do you
have access to a vacation home that could
be donated for a weekend retreat?; Can you
knit, sew or do woodworking?; Can you
offer to tutor a student, help set up a home
office, provide technology support, coach a

kid’s soccer skills, or make a fabulous
birthday cake? Are you a business
owner who can donate a special item
or service?
It’s the donations, big and small,
that make the Chabot Auction special
every year. Contact Mari Morrish
(auction@chabotelementary.org) to
make your donation. Our auction
donation deadline is January 25, so
don’t delay. This year’s auction will
again feature three fabulous raffles: a
PUBLIC bike, an Instant Wine Cellar,
and a Beer Cave.
The Bike Raffle winner will
be turning heads, riding one of Bay
Area-based PUBLIC Bike’s European-
styled bicycles that have been featured
in Vogue, ELLE Decor and Sunset
magazines. Picture yourself enjoying
your spring and summer on a new cruiser
around town.
world - hand-picked from various retailers
and beer loving Chabot parents, teachers,
and neighbors.
The Instant Wine Cellar is a Chabot
tradition that promises an abundance of
bottles for just one valuable winning ticket.
A limited number of tickets for each raffle
will be available for purchase from Chabot
families in the neighborhood and on campus.
Check the website at chabotelementary.org
for more details.
The online auction will run from
February 24 through March 2, and is open
to the entire community. Your donations
will help ensure we generate the funds so
vital for supplementing the tight budgets of
the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).
We know that the Rockridge community
appreciates the benefit of developing
educated citizens; here is your opportunity
to help propel these efforts.
Chabot relies on the generosity of its
school and local communities to make the
auction a success. There are many ways to
contribute—time and effort, auction items,
and even your enthusiastic bidding during the
online auction or purchase of raffle tickets.
Please help out any way you can.
The Beer Cave goes beyond Bud-
weiser and includes a wide range of
interesting and unique beers from around the
The auctioneer at
the 2015 Chabot
S c h o o l  S p r i n g
Auction declares
a winner of the
PUBLIC bicycle
prize. The popular
cycles are on the
block again – along
with other enticing
items – in this year’s
school fundraising
event. Prizes and
how to get them, as
well as how to help
support the auction,
are detailed in the
article above.
/Andrew Floor.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
WILLS, TRUSTS & PROBATE?
KYLE M. JOHNSTON
ESTATE ATTORNEY
5315 COLLEGE AVE.
OAKLAND, CALIF.
510.527.1880
FREE CONSULTATION
Serving Rockridge
since 1992
PLANNING, TRUST ADMIN & PROBATE
WWW.KYLEMJOHNSTON.COM
5400 College Avenue at Manila


7.
January 1, 2016

Social Security: Maximizing Your Retirement Income

by Rick Prime
To support your retirement, you can
maximize what you will receive from
Social Security by choosing a strategy that
considers your expected health in coming
years as well as other choices that affect the
timing of starting your benefits, such as, in
certain circumstances, electing a spousal
benefit – if it is available to you – rather than
the benefit based on your own work history.
Social Security applies a formula based
on your earnings history to arrive at your
monthly benefit, which remains the same
— with annual cost-of-living adjustments
— from the time you file until you die. The
average amount in 2015 was $16,020 a year.
The maximum benefit depends on when
you retire (i.e., file for Social Security).
Full retirement age (FRA) is 66 or 67 for
those born after 1942, but benefits may be
claimed as early as age 62.
For example, if you retire at full
retirement age in 2015, your maximum
benefit would be $31,956 per year. However,
if you retire at age 62 in 2015, your
maximum benefit would be $24,300 per
year. If you retire at age 70 in 2015, your
maximum benefit would be $42,012 per
year. (Note: All figures are in today’s dollars
and before tax; the actual benefit would be
now unmarried, all the strategy scenarios
for married couples could very well apply
to you and your ex-spouse.
Budget Act May Change Strategy
You may need to take action if you are
in one of certain age brackets to preserve
benefits that are going away due to changes
in the recent Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015
enacted by Congress. One change concerns
a spouse’s right to file and voluntarily
suspend a Social Security application.
Under the old rules, using a file-and-
suspend strategy, one spouse could collect
a spousal benefit at FRA, then switch at
age 70 to a (now maximized) benefit based
on his or her own work record. Under the
new rules, this strategy will no longer be
available.
For a limited time, some individuals
can still take advantage of the old file-
and-suspend rules. If you were born May
1, 1950 or earlier you should get advice
immediately to determine how the new
Social Security rules affect you and your
spouse.
Congress also changed the rules for
filing a restricted application, another filing
strategy involving spousal benefits. For a
limited time, those born January 1, 1954
or earlier are still eligible to file a restricted
application and should review their options
carefully. The file-and-suspend option and
restricted application are available if you
are in the above age categories for only a
few more months.
It is important to understand how to
maximize your Social Security benefits in
order to get what is rightfully yours.
adjusted for inflation and would possibly
be subject to income tax.)
One of the biggest mistakes people often
make is starting Social Security too early.
Americans are living longer; many will
receive Social Security for 20 or 30 years.
For many, it will be their only or highest
source of income. A great majority claim
Social Security the month after turning
62. What they don’t realize is that if they
wait until full retirement age, benefits
could increase as much as 32 percent.
Wait until age 70, and the monthly benefit
could increase to as much as 74 percent
more than what would have been paid at
age 62. Thus, for those with above-average
life expectancy, there may be a significant
advantage, in total lifetime benefits, in
waiting to file until FRA, or even until
age 70.
A second mistake is not maximizing
strategies for married couples. If married,
you may have a choice between taking the
higher of your own Social Security or 50
percent of your spouse’s. If both are in poor
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January 1, 2016
8.

nor how these secondary units would be
protected from becoming untaxed hotel
rooms, Airbnb style. There are already quite
a number of Airbnbs in the neighborhood
and some of them are entire houses. Building
more units devoted to this type of use
obviously doesn’t help increase housing
stock.
Here is the letter I wrote to the Council
and city officials after the December 9
meeting at Rockridge Library:
“I urge the City Council to postpone
their vote on changing zoning and parking
requirements regarding construction of
secondary units.
“The City Council needs to slow this
down. I think 90 percent of Oakland
homeowners are totally unaware of these
proposed zoning changes and how these
changes might affect them.
“I first learned of the issues from the
December issue of The Rockridge News. On
December 9, I attended the RCPC meeting at
the Rockridge Branch Library and learned
Letters to the Editor
The Rockridge News welcomes
posted letters and e-mails to the
editor. Your name, address, phone
number, e-mail address and city/neigh-
borhood must be included in either
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.
owners living in the main house.
5. Apparently, there are many basement,
attic, and garage conversions, which
already exist and which were built without
permits. It is expected that many such
existing  undocumented units shall become
documented and brought up to code, which
would promote health and safety concerns.
In view of the estimated small number
of additional units per block and per
neighborhood, and other data, it appears
these code amendments will have no
significant adverse impact on Rockridge or
other Oakland neighborhoods, and should
be supported.
— Donatas  Januta
Secondary Units: Meeting
Provided Perspective
Editor:
The RCPC Town Hall meeting held
December 9 provided some perspective
on the city of Oakland’s proposed zoning
changes to more easily allow secondary
units, i.e., “in-law units”  to be built or
converted from existing structures.
1. Making it easier to allow secondary
units is part of Oakland’s response to the
state’s allocation to Oakland of its share of
needed housing.
2. It is estimated that over time, this
zoning change will result in approximately
500 new housing units citywide, which is
perhaps one new “in-law” unit for every
third or fourth city block, if that much.
3. A number of people, at least one of
whom spoke at the meeting, desire to have
one of these small units to help them with
living expenses when they retire on a small
fixed income, so that they can continue to
afford to live in the Rockridge neighborhood,
where they have lived for many years.
4. A University of California study of
existing secondary units, legal and illegal,
in Oakland, Berkeley, El Cerrito and Albany
found that 51 percent of them are occupied
by family members or others related to the
➧➧Letters, page 9
Not Enough Time in Advance of
Hearing on Complicated Issue
Editor:
I’m dismayed that I learned of these
proposals less than three weeks before they
will be voted upon by the City Council. In my
opinion, these proposals dwarf any other land
use issue of the last 20 years regarding their
direct effects on every current Rockridge
resident.
The city doesn’t appear to have a plan
about how they would regulate or cap the
number of units, coordinate the parking,
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9.
January 1, 2016

parks is becoming as scarce as hens’ teeth.
Small areas of greenery can provide a
welcome respite and can help relieve
sidewalk congestion. However, there are a
number of things to keep in mind:
1) The city does not have the resources
to maintain the many parklets proposed.
Consequently, local groups or neighboring
property owners must ensure they are
maintained. The support (both moral and
monetary) of neighboring property owners
and the surrounding community is critical.
2) Without proper maintenance and
clean-up, a parklet could easily become
an eyesore. Again, commitment of money
and resources from the owners of Market
Hall and the Rockridge District Association
(RDA), the local Business Improvement
District for College Avenue, would make
the parklet’s approval more likely.
Rockridge News readers can email their
opinions to info@rockridge.org.
— Stuart Flashman, co-chair,
RCPC land use committee
professionals or people who, in the past, had
interest in building secondary units. While
they seemed conversant with zoning and
building regulations, this is new territory
for many of us.
“Residents need time to understand the
issues; they will have to live with the changes
permanently.”
— Penny Thompson
Letters
from page 8
the Council was to vote January 5 on this
proposal.
“The time elapsed since I first read
about the proposal to that vote is only 17
working days! Many people are busy with
family and travel during the holidays. If the
Council has any desire to receive feedback
from informed residents, the vote couldn’t
be scheduled for a worse time.
“I learned at the library meeting that
the issues surrounding construction of
secondary units and parking requirements
are both complicated and far-reaching. A
number of people asked questions and made
comments. Some of them were real estate
College Avenue Needs Parklets
Editor:
I am writing to ask if the community
would support a streetside parklet in front
of Market Hall. The sidewalks there are
very crowded and the seating and tables
seriously restrict pedestrians. A parklet
could fix that. Other College Avenue sites
could also be considered.
— Donald Swetlick
Rockridge
RCPC L and Use Committee
Co-chair Responds:
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January 1, 2016
10.
Mayor Schaaf

A communal effort is also happening
within city governance, Schaaf says.
“Oakland has a tremendous alignment of all
the leadership positions,” meaning the mayor,
the chief of police and new Oakland Unified
School District (OUSD) Superintendent
Antwan Wilson are on the same page.
Education is Schaaf’s passion, the OUSD
in particular. Her two children attend Joaquin
Miller Elementary as she did before them.
Her goal: “For every child in Oakland to
have a college degree. Nothing could be
more transformative for this city. We as a
community have the experience, skills and
resources” to make sure Oakland students
finish high school and college. “It’s not just
the job of the schools,” she said.
As a result, the mayor will unveil “The
Oakland Promise,” a “cradle-to-career
strategy,” at the end of January. Over
the summer, she appointed a director of
education to work with the schools and
community on policy (funded by the
Oakland Public Education Fund) and a
director of equity and strategic partnerships
(funded through the Mayor’s Office and
grants from philanthropic centers and
foundations) to work with foundations,
corporations, non-profits and the community
for fund-raising and implementation.
“This city is a very compassionate city,”
Schaaf said. “I think there are a lot of people
out there who really want to help. I just love
raising money for Oakland.”
was held at the Rockridge Branch Library
December 9. (See related story, page 3.) The
city will take the proposed regulations under
consideration beginning this month.
from page 1
Business Improvement District annual
Holiday Breakfast.
The mayor also chose Millennium
restaurant, recently moved to Rockridge, for
a private observance of her 50th birthday in
November. Schaaf told us that she had often
marked her birthday at Millennium’s long-
time location in San Francisco. Smiling, she
added: “Now we can keep our tradition and
do it in Oakland.”
She had a public celebration as well – a
“50 Years of Oakland Love” fundraiser that
also honored her as Oakland’s 50th mayor.
She asked that contributions go to fund 50
college scholarships for Oakland students.
“We raised $1 million in four weeks.”
“In some ways Rockridge has now caught
up with itself,” Schaaf said, apparently
speaking to the clamor for homes and the
bustle of the area’s stores and restaurants.
“People like the convenience of being
next to an authentic shopping district and
transportation.”
In her mind, the building boom at the
southern end of Rockridge that will add
approximately 465 living units to the city’s
housing supply as well as remodeled and
new retail space, “is long overdue. The
intersection of 51st and Broadway is one of
the major intersections in the city,” Schaaf
said. “When I was growing up in Oakland,
everyone went to Long’s Drugs” which
preceded the now-demolished CVS in the
former Rockridge Shopping Center — soon
to be known as The Ridge.
Confronted with the fact that almost all
of the new living units will command market
rates, she said: “We need more housing at
every income level. Income diversity is hard
to achieve. The power of the government
can’t always overcome the strength of the
marketplace.”
So, in addition to new developer-initiated
housing, “we are looking to relax the
regulations on granny units,” Schaaf said.
She sees the added secondary units that
then could be permitted as a quick way to
create added, variably priced housing stock
in the city.
This centers on the city’s easing
restrictions on auxiliary structures, setbacks
and off-street parking. A special town hall
on how these secondary unit and off-street
parking revisions could impact Rockridge
Despite the overall increase during
2015 in crime against persons, as well as
general property and auto-related crime in
Rockridge and throughout Oakland, Schaaf
still says, “We do feel what we’re doing is
working.” Although homicides, home, and
car burglaries are up, “We’ve had three
consecutive years of double-digit decreases
in shootings, and home invasion robberies
are way down,” she said.
More police, the mayor promises, are
in the pipeline – with a special emphasis
on attracting local and diverse candidates
through a high school cadet program and a
partnership with Samuel Merritt University’s
criminal justice program. In addition, the
Oakland Police Department’s (OPD) crime
analysis unit, shuttered during the recession,
is up and running. Also, a federal grant
will partially fund 15 walking officers for
commercial areas although Oakland will
bear 85 percent of the cost.
“Will they be on College Avenue?” we
queried. Schaaf sent a quick text message
to OPD Chief Sean Whent. Moments later,
she told us: The chief has confirmed that
Rockridge will be included. “Walking
officers are good for relationships,” she
added. “We as a city can’t just go from 911
call to 911 call.”
Asked her feelings about the private
patrols that Rockridge and other Oakland
neighborhoods are funding, the mayor said:
“I always start out by apologizing to residents
that they feel the city is not adequately
protecting them, because that is our job.” At
the same time, “I appreciate that people are
willing to band together to enhance safety for
one another. That is what I like about private
patrols. It represents a communal effort. We
all chip in to take care of each other.”
To comment on or suggest future topics for this
column, email judyberne@att.net
Part two of the interview will be published in the
February issue of The Rockridge News.


11.
January 1, 2016

Off-Street
Parking Changes

units to opt out of purchasing or renting
off-street parking for their vehicles and
instead purchase a residential permit sticker,
probably at a much lower cost.
Current regulations require one or
more off-street parking space for each new
residential unit, with a possible waiver of up
to 50 percent of the required spaces through
a conditional use permit, based on specific
findings. For example, the Nautilus Project
on Telegraph Avenue at 51st Street has asked
for a 50 percent reduction to its required off-
street parking under this procedure, based on
its being a very bicycle-friendly project that
is relatively near to public transit.
Other proposals include:
■
■Allowing the off-street parking
requirement to be satisfied by offsite remote
location parking spaces (in a separate
parking lot or structure, for example). The
aim is to make it easier for new residences
and commercial businesses to satisfy the
city’s requirement if they encourage “car-
free” living.
The City seeks public comment from the
Rockridge community on the draft proposals
(see: bit.ly/OffStreet). A revised proposal
incorporating that feedback could be
considered by the Zoning Update Committee
during February.
Learn more at the RCPC Special Town
Hall Meeting, Thursday, January 21, 7 p.m.,
Rockridge Branch Library, upstairs meeting
room. Be sure to make your opinion count:
email Councilmember Dan Kalb (dkalb@
oaklandnet.com) and City planner Neil Gray
(ngray@oaklandnet.com).
from page 1
parking requirements to 50 percent of the
normally required amount for new residential
housing construction. The reductions would
be “by right,” i.e., the reductions would be
automatic. Strategies include: unbundled
parking (i.e., charging for parking spaces
separately from apartment rent), onsite car-
sharing, incorporating affordable housing,
and location within one-half mile from
BART or other public transit hubs. The
ultimate goal is to have residents own fewer
cars. However, as of now, the proposed
regulations would allow residents of new
■
■Reducing the number of required
off-street spaces for residential zones close
to College Avenue, for senior housing, and
for large restaurants.
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January 1, 2016
12.

Council Resolution Recognizes Yasai
Market’s Years of Service in Rockridge

Letters: Chabot
Road Parking
Hazard Concerns
Garner Response
Rockridge resident Ron Sipherd has
written two letters to the editor relating
his concerns for pedestrians who are often
blocked by cars parked on the shoulder of
Chabot Road between Roanoke Road and
Golden Gate Avenue, and must walk in the
street to get around them. He has also written
to the Public Works Department.
The matter has come to the attention of
Councilmember Dan Kalb, who sent Mr.
Sipherd the following note, copied to The
Rockridge News:
“Hi Ron,
“I was following up again with our Public
Works Department on some yet to be resolved
Public Works related requests from earlier
this year and was just informed that there
was some back-and-forth email traffic on
a matter you wrote to The Rockridge News
about between late August and early October
[‘Cars regularly park across the entire width
of the sidewalk on the south side of Chabot
Road between Roanoke Road and Golden
Gate Avenue. There is no sidewalk on the
north side of Chabot Road, so pedestrians
are forced to walk in traffic.’ Ed.].
“My office had previously inquired with
staff about this earlier this year and I'm glad
to see that they will be following up.
“We will continue to monitor this with
staff, and will make sure our Public Works
staff receives any related communications
from other neighbors on this matter.
“Please copy Olga on my staff on any
future correspondence with city staff.
“Thanks very much and merry holidays
to you.
“Dan Kalb, Councilmember, District 1”
I

n joint celebration of National Small Business Week and of the 34 years
of serving the produce needs of the Rockridge community – 23 years
under ownership of sisters Youza Pak, center, and Bo Pak – the city
of Oakland passed a resolution recognizing the sisters and their business –
College Avenue’s Yasai Market – for “providing the community with quality
selections while maintaining a low carbon footprint.” Presenting the City
resolution to the Paks, District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb noted that it
called upon residents of Oakland to “patronize existing small businesses
in Oakland and to encourage the development of new small businesses
throughout the year.”                                                                  /Olga Bolotina

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13.
January 1, 2016

Report: Special
Town Hall

off-street parking space would be required.
It was the latter point that drew the
most audience remarks at the meeting.
Comments focused on the potential for new
secondary units to exacerbate the existing
on-street parking shortage on Rockridge
residential streets, particularly because the
current RPP rules allow three permits per
residential address, including secondary
units. At a follow-up meeting with Ranelletti
and District One Councilmember Dan
Kalb, RCPC representatives suggested a
compromise, where new secondary units
near transit would not have the off-street
parking requirement, but would also not be
eligible for their own RPP zone permits. With
the property owner’s consent, however, the
secondary unit could share one of the three
permits allowed to the main address.
The proposed zoning changes are
scheduled to go to the City Council on
January 5. Please check the RCPC website
at Rockridge.org for updates.
City Proposes Changes in Off-
Street Parking Requirements
Oakland Strategic Planner Neil Gray
also gave a short presentation to meeting
attendees about broader changes being
proposed to off-street parking requirements
for new development.
These changes are also aimed at
encouraging more residential development,
particularly in transit-rich areas such as
Rockridge. Because these proposals are at
an earlier stage, major discussion was put
off to the January RCPC Town Hall, to
be held January 21. Please put that date on
your calendar to learn more about how these
changes would affect Rockridge.
Land Use
Committee
from page 3
from page 3
between 51st Street and Claremont Avenue.
Although the project is just outside of
RCPC’s area, it sits right on the Rockridge
border and could have major impacts on
Rockridge residents, so RCPC has been
quite involved. While this revamped project
has been brewing for several years, formal
environmental review has begun, with both
a traffic study and a shadow study that
should be publicly released shortly. RCPC
has been promised by Nautilus Group that
there will be at least one more community
meeting to hear about the final project plans
and provide feedback before it is taken to the
Planning Commission for approval. Watch
for an announcement on the rockridge.org
website, or sign up on the website to receive
updates on this and other Rockridge events.
Another major change, relating at least
as much to transportation as to land use,
is the “Safe Routes to Transit” project
being funded largely with Oakland’s
settlement money from the Caldecott 4th
bore improvement project. There will
be several intersection reconfigurations
along both College Avenue and Broadway,
as well as two new minipark areas at the
intersections of Shafter Avenue and of Miles
Avenue with College Avenue.
full set of proposed changes can be accessed
at: http://bit.ly/SUnits.
While a few audience members expressed
concern about increasing the number of
secondary units in Rockridge, most seemed
willing to entertain, and some to applaud, the
proposal because it could help supply needed
affordable rental housing and because it
could allow retiree homeowners on fixed
incomes to supplement that income with
rents. There were, however, concerns about
secondary units being used as short-term
transient rentals through accommodation
listing services such as Airbnb. Ranelletti
acknowledged that concern and said the
city intended to address it. He noted
that rentals of less than two weeks are
considered a commercial use not generally
allowed in residential areas. Enforcement,
he acknowledged, has proved problematic.
Of major concern to Rockridge residents
are changes to the off-street parking
requirements. Currently, secondary units
require an extra off-street parking space
beyond those required for the main house.
The proposal would make two changes:
■
■Tandem parking (i.e., parking one car
behind the other in a driveway), would be
allowed everywhere;
■
■Within one-half mile of a BART
station, Rapid Bus Line such as the 1R on
Telegraph Avenue, or a major bus transfer
point (there are none in Rockridge), no
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• Median sold price was $1,150,00 for 2015
• 106 total sales in 2015 v. 103 sales in 2014
• Average sold price per square foot this year was $869.75

Happy New Year!


January 1, 2016
14.

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Parcel Tax
Rebates
low-income owners must apply for the
exemptions each year.” [$120.]
Other parcel tax information is avail-
able at https://ballotpedia.org/Parcel_tax_
elections_in_California.
Information about each measure is
posted on the district’s web site: “Mea-
sure G: An exemption is authorized for
owner-occupied single-family residential
units if the combined family income (from
all sources from January 1, 2014 – Decem-
ber 31, 2014) is at or below the income
level qualifying as “very low income” for a
family of such size under section 8 of the
U.S. Housing Act (42 U.S.C.A., 1437 et
seq.). Eligible owners must apply for the
exemption each year.” [$195.]
“Measure N: The low income exemp-
tion is available for owner-­occupied of
single-­family residential units if the com-
bined family income (from all sources from
January 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014) is
at or below the income level qualifying as
“very low income” for a family of such size
under section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act
(42 U.S.C.A, 1437 et seq.). The senior citi-
zen exemption is available for single-­family
residential units owned and occupied by
senior citizens. Eligible senior citizens and
from page 1
Measure N) for seniors (age 65 and over).
In his article, Rafael noted that the school
district has agreed to extend filing dates
and has posted notice of the rebate filing
process and required forms at http://www.
ousd.org/parceltax. According to filing
forms, the deadline to submit claims for
reimbursement for 2015-16 is April 15, 2016.
Rafael reports that “OUSD is officially
accepting late filed June 30, 2015 Measure
N $120 refund claims from over-65
homeowner-occupants, one per home.
“They are unofficially accepting late
filed Measure N $120 refund claims for
low-income homeowner-occupants, one per
home, regardless of age.
“OUSD has still not announced whether
it will accept late filed Measure G $195
low-income homeowner claims. My advice
is to send in both your late Measure G and
N claims.
“You have nothing to lose and should
receive from $120 to $315 refunds.”
Find Len Rafael’s article here: http://
postnewsgroup.com/blog/2015/11/03/
oakland-homeowners-may-qualify-prop-
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15.
January 1, 2016

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

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Jazz at the Chimes
Featuring veteran jazz saxophonist/clarinetist Noel
Jewkes and his quartet with Alan Steger on piano,
Adam Gay on upright bass and Jake Shandling on
drums. Standards from the ’30s to the ’60s plus original
compositions. Sunday, Jan. 17, 2 pm. Tickets at the door
(cash only) beginning 12:30pm (doors open 1:30): $15
general; $10 srs. (60+) and students. Refreshments and
reception follows to meet the performers. Info at www.
noeljewkesjazz.com. The concert series honors the
individual stories and unique artistry of Bay Area jazz
musicians in a landmarked Julia Morgan venue: Chapel
of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Wheelchair acces-
sible. Free parking. More info: www.jazzatthechimes.
com, chimesjazz@gmail.com or 654-0123.
Wisteria Ways House Concert

Community Calendar

Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
Note: No Jan. Mtg. Discuss crime and public safety with
reps of OPD. 2nd Thurs. every other month starting in
Feb. (2/11) 7:30pm. Rockridge Library, 5366 College (at
Manila). More info: www.rockridgencpc.com or chair@
rockridgencpc.com.
District 1 Councilman Dan Kalb
Drop-in Community Office Hours at the Temescal
Farmers Market, 5300 Claremont Ave. (off Tele-
graph) at DMV parking lot on the 3rd Sunday each
month,10:30am-12:30pm. For times and locations of
other Office Hours and more information from Dan Kalb:
www.dankalb.net/contactdan.
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
*Computer Tutors: Get help with basic computer skills,
email, and e-book & audio book downloads. You can
bring your own electronic devices. Drop-ins welcomed
every Saturday, 2 - 4pm.*
FOR CHILDREN
Jan. 20 at 2 pm.
FOR ADULTS
y
y eBook Help: download eBooks to your Kindle, Nook,
smartphone, or laptop. Tuesdays (by appointment),
6 - 7:30pm. Make appt. at the library or online at
www.oaklandlibrary.org. Call 597-5017 for more info.
y
y Writers Support/Critique Group: All writers wel-
come. Bring 15 copies of up to 5 pgs. (double-spaced,
MS margins) of any prose for on-site reading/discus-
sion (also welcome to come empty-handed). Third
Sat. each month, 1 to 5pm; wheelchair-accessible.
Sponsored by the Calif. Writers Club, Berkeley branch.
Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
y
y Lawyers in the Library: Free legal advice and
referrals. 1st Tues each month January,5 to 7pm.
NOTE: New times and procedures starting in
Feb: 6 to 8pm. Sessions are popular: We will use a
lottery drawing 15 minutes beforehand to determine
who may see the lawyer. (Advance sign-up starts 4
pm at adult reference desk). Call day of program to
confirm: 597-5017.
Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter: a multi-instru-
mentalist duo with Celtic Harps, Swedish Nyckelharpa,
Ukranian Bandura, Bouzouki, Cittern and more. Tradi-
tional and original music with wondrous stories and
humor entwined. Sat., Jan 23, 8pm. More info: www.
lisalynne.com and www.lionharp.com. 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.
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.
y
y Home Sweet Oakland: Are you new to Rockridge?
Meet other new residents, existing residents, local
merchants, and city government and service staff.
Have you lived in Rockridge for a while? Help us
welcome new residents. Enjoy good company, tasty
snacks, and learning all about the great neighborhood
and city we live in. Tuesday, Jan. 26, 6:30-7:30 pm.
(Home Sweet Oakland is a system wide initiative to
help newcomers integrate into Oakland. Ours is the
first of six events this spring happening in libraries
all over Oakland.)
y
y Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (to age
5); Saturdays, 10:30am.
y
y Pre-School Story Time: (ages 2 to 5); Thursdays,
10:30am.
y
y Toddler Story Time: (up to age 2); Thursdays,
10:30am, upstairs.
All story times followed by Play Time; parents and
caregivers invited.
Special Events:
WINTER BINGO: continues until Jan16. If you have
done 5 activities in a row, bring your completed bingo
card and pick up your prize book. For babies & toddlers
up through 5th graders.
y
y Senior Homeowners Free Workshop: Presented
by the City of Oakland and HERA to keep you living
safely at home. Topics include home maintenance;
pros and cons of reverse mortgages, avoiding
foreclosure, and more. Tues., 1/26, 10:30 -11:45am.
Refreshments at 10:15. RSVP
y
y Making Sense of Medicare: Workshop presented
by Denise Lombard for those eligible for Medicare,
or those caring for someone who is. Free coffee and
light refreshments. Sat., Jan. 30, 11:30am.
y
y Yosemite 2016 Trip: Bring your roommate and sign
up for our signature trip to Yosemite by Amtrak on
May 10 – 12. $399 for 3 days/ 2 nights at Yosemite
Lodge. Flyer at Center has more details.
RSVP for all programs at 597-5085.
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.
Square Dance In North Oakland
Music by The Squirrelly String Band. Calling by Jordan
Ruyle or Evie Ladin. 1st Fridays each month, 8 – 10pm.
All levels welcome; all dances taught on the spot. $5-10
sliding scale donation. The Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library,
6501 Telegraph Ave. Info: squirrellystringband.com.
Temescal Farmers’ Market
Open Sundays, 9am to 1pm (all year). Locally grown
fruits and vegetables; fresh ranch eggs; home-made
bakery items; fresh cut flowers; unique prepared
foods, fresh locally caught fish, handcrafts and more.
Sample the goods; meet the grower. Live music. Bring
reusable bags. 5300 Claremont Ave. (off Telegraph)
at DMV parking lot.
y
y ATTN. FILM MAKERS: Sun., Jan 10 is the dead-
line to submit your short film to the 90-Second
Newbery Film Festival. See details and get your
free ticket to save a spot at: http://jameskennedy.
com/90-second-newbery/. The films will be screened
and celebrated here on Sat., Feb.13 at noon. Free
for all ages.
y
y A Journey to the Heart of Cheddar: Cheese monger
Gordon Edgar will read from his new book, Cheddar:
A Journey to the Heart of America’s Most Iconic
Cheese, and provide some tasty samples. Known
as the “Barbara Mandrell of the Cheese Counter,”
Gordon has sold cheese for Rainbow Grocery co-op
since 1994. Tues., Feb., 9, 7pm.
y
y Make Valentines: Sat, Feb. 6, 3 - 4:30pm. Bring a list
of your classmates and make a valentine for everyone.
All materials provided. Ages 5 to 13 years. (Children
under 9 years old must come with an adult.)
CALLING ALL ‘TWEENS: Starting Jan.12, 6:30 - 7:45pm,
Rockridge Library will host a monthly tween-directed
writing, reading, crafts, and community volunteer group.
Each month we will plan the next 3 months of tween-choice
activities. Art supplies, snacks, and camaraderie
provided free to all participants ages 9 to 12 years.
More info: Children’s Librarian Erica Siskind, 597-5017.
FOR TEENS
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm. Wed, Thurs & Sat: 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri, 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sun and Mon; also Tues, 1/19.
Diesel Book/Poetry Readings & Events
FREE and open to the public.
y
y Sat, 1/16, 7pm. Carlos Labb: Loquela. Joined in
conversation by the translator, Will Vanderhyden.
y
y Sun, 1/17, 3pm. Leif Wenar: Blood Oil: Tyrants,
Violence, and the Rules that Run the World.
y
y Fri, 1/22, 7pm. Celebration for ZYZZYVA: The Winter
Issue. Readings by present and past contributors,
Heather Altfeld, Dan Alter, David L. Ulin, Elizabeth
Tallent, and Anthony Marra. Warm cheer and good
wine included.
y
y Teen Advisory Board (ages 14-18): Meet with other
teens, plan and organize library activities, and get
community service credit for school. 1st Sat. each
month, 1 to 2pm.
y
y Teen ‘Scape: Play video & board games; make crafts;
do homework. Snacks provided. Tues, Thurs, and
Fridays: 3:30 -5:00 pm and Wednesdays: 1:30 - 5:00 pm.
y
y Tues, 1/ 26, 7pm. Warren Zanes: Petty: The Biography.
y
y Thurs, 1/28, 7pm. Ian Rankin: Even Dogs in the Wild.
y
y Sun,1/31, 3pm. Guest poets Jewelle Gomez, Stephen
Meadows, Kurt Schweigman, and Kim Shuck will
be reading selections from Red Indian Road West:
y
y Make Fingerless Gloves: Bring your own pair of
socks to transform, or we’ll provide you with a pair,


January 1, 2016
16.

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