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VOL. 32 m NO.3 m ISSUE NO. 342 @ March 4, 2017

RCPC Set for April Board Elections

he Rockridge

Community Planning
Council (RCPC) holds its
annual election meeting
at the April 20 town hall,
when Rockridge residents
will vote to fill six of the
I3 voting seats on the

5

organization’s board of on various topics to

directors. The RCPC
board is the organization's
governing body. Although
committees and
community volunteers
help out with everything
from advising the board

helping to edit and
distribute The Rockridge
News, it is the board of
directors that takes on
the major work of making
decisions and directing
b RCPC Election, page 3

Neighbors’ Cleanup Initiative Starts

Poca, Finds RCPC an

%

| Clover Neighborhood volunteers: Peggy Phillips
at left, Jim Lisy, Norton Tooby, Sharon Jay, Ed Jay,
Carolyn Hendsch and Peter D'Angelo.

ee rvs SS

Props to the cleanup crew, looking sharp in their vests.

by Christine Garofoli

alking down Miles Avenue to

BART, it’s hard not to notice
the plastic bags, bottles and wrappers
littering the sidewalk and street.

mai B

——#
Ee

/Joz GAROFOLI

It’s not only an eyesore in our

otherwise beautiful neighborhood,
it’s especially frustrating to know that
garbage tossed into the street flows

p Cleanup Initiative, page 12

CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

NCPC Invites You to Meet
Oakland’s Chief of Police

he North Hills area NCPC (Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council 13Y), through its
chair Carolyn Burgess and with the assistance of
Councilmember Annie Campbell-Washington, has

arranged a community meet- Z
Fin,
ee

and-greet with Oakland’s new
police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick. Spr
Rockridge residents are invited city for
to attend. The meeting starts at ee

6 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at NCPC
Montera Middle School, 5555
Ascot Drive in Montclair.

The OakTalk blog had the

following to say about Chief
Kirkpatrick: “Kirkpatrick is the former chief of

Ellensburg, Federal Way and Spokane, Washington,
having served as chief for five years or more in each
(the average tenure fora chief in a major American city
is less than three years). She most recently worked for
the Chicago Police Department, where she was hired
in June to oversee police reform efforts. She will also
be OPD’s first female chief, although she downplayed
that, observing that the qualities of character needed
to make a good chief (e.g., integrity, character,

decisiveness, etc.) are all gender neutral.”

m Directions: Hwy |3 to Park Boulevard exit; turn left
over the freeway, then right on Mountain Boulevard to
5555 Ascot Drive. There is some parking in front of
Montera Middle School and more in the adjacent parking
lot of Joaquin Miller elementary school.

No March Rockridge NCPC Meeting;
Next Meeting: April 13

Greater Rockrid9e

Lockdown On Valentine’s Day

Berkeley Police

Go to Work in Rockridge

by Chuck Afflerbach
[ was Valentine’s Day, but other than that
it was a typical Tuesday evening on Oak

Grove Avenue. All the girls were chattering
@:: their homework, the wife was cooking

dinner in the kitchen, outside the commuters
were rushing home from BART, and the

sound of sirens filled the air.

When the second police car raced down
our street with lights flashing, I decided I
should step outside to investigate. Down at
the corner, three houses away, the street was
choked with cop cars and ablaze with red
lights. I spotted a black BMW sedan up on
the sidewalk against a tree. Then an officer
approached and said, “He’s got a gun. Go
back inside and lock your doors.”

What I didn’t know until the next day
was that the incident began in Berkeley’s

Elmwood neighborhood about a mile or two
away. An armed robbery attempt on that
city’s Piedmont Avenue led to a car chase
through 6 o'clock traffic that somehow ended
up on Forest Street below College Avenue.
There the car jumped the curb, and, traveling
on the sidewalk, took out a picket fence,
sideswiped two cars parked in a driveway,
and crushed flower beds and sprinklers.
At the corner of Oak Grove it turned right,
spun around and hit a tree. That’s when
two armed suspects jumped out and fled.

Lockdown, page I!

2 Ridckridge News March 4, 2017

~ Could the ‘Tallest Tower’ be Built
at the MacArthur BART Station?

at Manila | 597-5017

ibrary p ils/hours: Calendar, page 15
Library program data fhours: Calend page's @
Roéckr idge N CWS

The Rockridge News, founded March 1986 by Don
Kinkead, is published monthly (except in August)
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
t x community involvement; and provide leadership and
| ~U representation of neighborhood interests.
Rockridge News Production

Don Kinkead........-cccesseereee Editor
JO Ellis .....cessseessesnesssersnennesnees Asst. Editor

Judith Doner Berne............ Eyes on Rockridge

© Ellis.........rcccsserersesseseonssereee Advertising &
: Community Calendar
Susan Montauk......-csceeees Business Manager
Don Kinkead.........essseeeree Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2017-18
Stuart Flashman .........++0+ Chair
Kevin Faughnan .........ss-0 Vice-Chair
Rekha Raod.....scessserccesesnreees Secretary

Ronnie SpitZer.......-sreeee Treasurer
M C Haug, Don Kinkead,

Christina Wong Masalin, Jesse Ortega,
Laura Schlichtmann, Leonora Sea

Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS

To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send
your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News
Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at
the address below.

Contacting The Rockridge News
Are there community issues you'd like to see
covered in The Rockridge News? * Do you have
questions about newsletter distribution? * Want to
volunteer to be a Rockridge News block captain?
=k. * Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
. D¥F« | # Contact us at one of the following:
2 www.rockridge.org;
tment Tower Feared Set for City Approval The Rockridge News,

4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 9461 |

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he City Council will consider a 260-foot, 24 story, 402-unit apartment tower— making it the
second tallest building in Oakland and a possible precedent for others — for the MacArthur Articles submitted for publication may be

. emailed to the editor or mailed to the addresses above.
BART station at their meetings March 7 and March 21. Dist. 1 Councilperson Dan Kalb —_ Submissions are limited to 600 words, must include

(dkalb@oaklandnet.com) has implied support for the project, but with more “community —_ the author's name, phone number, email address, and
benefits.” The proposal by McGrath Properties and Boston Properties is a dramatic change ‘"” ° neighborhood of residence, and are subject

; to editing. Views expressed in articles accepted for
from the earlier plans for a 4-6 story residential } MacArthur Tower Project, page 16 publication do not necessarily reflect chose’ of Tit

Rockridge News, its editor, or the board of directors

of the Rockridge Community Planning Council. To
GARDE H $5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28 reprint a Rockridge News article, contact the editor.
or $3 OFF orders over $15 Newsletter Advertising/Deadline
Dry Cleaning only ® Present with incoming order Publication date of the April issue is:
7 ae Garden Cleaners od Prieta nih
Ses pril deadline is March 23, 2017.
EXPERT 5808 College Avenue, Oakland Advertising rates are $26/column inch. Six-
SHIRT 601-1188 month pre-pay rate available. For display “®
: call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or em
LAUNDERING! Mon — Fri 7 a °Sat 8-6 joellisi@hotmail.com. Scere niscoeae the right
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza to refuse any display or classified ad that it deems

inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page !4.)

March 4, 2017

Réckridge News

J

/RCPC Land Use

a

Committee Notes:
@ Land Use Committee

Continues Work on Rockridge

Housing Policy

In its second meeting discussing
the development of housing policies for
Rockridge, the Land Use Committee
addressed some potentially contentious
issues, including affordability, the application
of density bonuses, on-street and off-street
parking, and a second look at whether
upzoning to higher densities should be
considered.

There was unanimous agreement that
if more new housing were to be placed
in Rockridge, it should have a significant
affordability component. With the influx of
new Oakland residents and the attractiveness
of Rockridge as a residential area, housing
prices — ownership and rental — have
skyrocketed. As people noted, Rockridge was
traditionally a solid middle- and working-
lass area, with schoolteachers, nurses,
accountants, and construction workers living
here. The area has transitioned into one that
is heavily professional/managerial and has
lost diversity in the process. New housing
should attempt to protect, if not enlarge, what
diversity still remains.

The vast majority of units in the large new
residential projects recently approved along
Rockridge’s borders have been market-rate.

Darin J. Worm
BROKER
510.504.4960

dj worm@)centurioninsurance.net

Centurion Insurance Agency
Commercial + Personal + Life + Health

An Independent Insurance Brokerage
providing cost effective, comprehensive

Insurance products and services
since 1947.

www.centurioninsurance.net

Interestingly, while under Oakland’s Regional
Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), set by
the Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG), the amount of new housing that the
state requires Oakland to plan for includes a
large market-rate component, almost all of it
has already been met. It’s the more affordable
categories that lag.

There was concern among committee
members that if the current trend continues,
all except the very well-to-do will be priced
out of Rockridge. Also, in the competition
for the limited number of sites for new
housing projects, affordable projects will be
outcompeted by market-rate projects unless
affordable projects are given a stronger
advantage.

That scenario brought up, again, the
question of upzoning — particularly for
the CN-l commercial area along College
Avenue. However, it was pointed out that
we have no good data either for the current
number of residential units on College
Avenue or elsewhere in Rockridge, or how
many additional units could be added within
the current zoning envelope. The committee
will try to obtain that information from the
city.

The committee recognized that parking
for residents is an important issue. If car
ownership drops, that issue may fade away,
but for now most Rockridge residents are

|

» Land Use, page I4

he next Land Use Committee meeting will | RCPC Election

be Wednesday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the
Rockridge Branch Library. (See below.) Please check |
the rockridge.org website for updates on future |
meetings and agendas.

from page !

how RCPC runs.

Six seats up for election in April are
presently filled by incumbent board members,
three of whom will seek re-election. Of the
seven other voting seats on the board, six
are elected seats not up for election until
next year. Two of those seats are vacant,
and the board is also seeking candidates to
appoint to fill the remaining term(s) of those
vacancies. Also open is one non-elected
voting position, known as the “merchant
seat,” which the board fills annually by
appointing a member of the Rockridge
business community.

One letter of interest in election to
board service was received by the March |
deadline. Rockridge residents will vote on the
continued incumbency of whichever current
board members stand for re-election and
on the single applicant. Their photos and
statements will be published in the April
issue of The Rockridge News.

If you missed the deadline for the April
ballot and are interested in a shorter term,
you may seek appointment to a vacant seat.
To be considered for appointment, email
chair@rockridge.org, or write to RCPC
Chair, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland,
CA 946I1.

Potential candidates must be at least
18 years old and reside within RCPC
boundaries. Appointment does not require
being a registered voter or U.S. citizen.

See RCPC’s boundary map at: rockridge.
org/boundaries.

Cin (Memorium | Ray Perman

Ray Perman, Rockridge businessman, early RCPC stalwart, and, later, activist
volunteer for the cities of Oakland and Piedmont, died at a time and in the manner
he chose on February 4, 2017. Diagnosed with a serious illness six years ago, his
doctors predicted he had two years to live. He was pleased to prove the prediction
to be inaccurate. Determined to be as alive as possible for the time he had, Ray
also determined to die on his own terms. When the End of Life Option legislation
was proposed, Ray campaigned for it. After its passage, he took his story to the
public, telling of his situation and speaking in support of the program in several
local radio broadcasts. A retired commercial pilot, an accomplished draftsman, a
percussionist in a band, a student of city planning and transportation policies, an
Eagle Scout counselor, a lover of all things European, a bilingual businessman,
Ray lived his passions to the fullest and enhanced the lives of those whose time he
shared on this earth. Those attending his memorial in the Piedmont Community
Church filled the large building to capacity as his friends and family spoke of their

See the February 2017 issue of The Rockridge News for more about Ray’s life in Rockridge.

love for him, the loss they will endure, and the memories they will carry forward. -

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RickridgeINEws 2-8

What Light?
What Tunnel?

by Kevin Faughnan, RCPC board
member
t the February Town Hall presentation,
BART board president Rebecca

Saltzman, who represents District 3 which
includes the Rockridge BART station and
the rest of Rockridge, offered the following
update on the System Renewal Plan that the
recently approved Measure RR will pay for
over the next 20 years. Of the $3.5 billion
in authorized bond funding, approximately
90 percent will go to system infrastructure
which includes replacing tracks, power
infrastructure (wires) and power control,
mechanical upgrades, earthquake retrofits
for tunnels and improving station access
points such as escalators, elevators, and
Stairways.
Tracks

Of BART’s 107 miles of track, 90 miles
will be replaced. The interlockings, parts of
the track allowing trains to switch from one
route to another — and that take a beating
because of this movement — will be replaced
or rebuilt.
Electrical Power

The electrical cables that deliver the
power to the rails are worn out. Think of the
knob and tube wiring in older homes, and
how it would function if left outside subject
to the elements for 40 years. There are 90
miles of that older cabling, too. Adding
the refurbishing of 62 substations that
provide the power to the rails and back-up
emergency power needed for station lighting
and operation amounts to another massive
expense.
Train Control

The current train system is 50 years old;
BART doesn’t have new cars in service yet
to add capacity. When it does, train speed
will still be slowed by an antiquated control
system needing longer distances between
trains. New, more accurate electronic controls
will permit trains to run closer together.
New Cars

The average age of today’s BART cars
is 30 years, giving the Bay Area the oldest
fleet in the U.S. Boston and New York
trains average 20 years. BART will pay for
this fleet of new trains through its annual
operating budget, not Measure RR. Capital
expenditures under the bond measure are
limited to the acquisition or improvement of

Wanted: Kitchens, Volunteers for Kitchen Toy

w kitchen? Updated classic? Is it brimming with new ideas and

9

s yours a sparkling ne
| piso Or does it
in refrigerators? The kitchen iS
culinary artist or the nerve cent

It’s not too late to apply for your

iF ‘dee Kitchen Tour, to be hel :
Council's: Rockrsdee n in the neighborhood, sparks ideas for people planning

hance to meet the architects, designers, ang
If you have or can recommend a new or classic kitchen,
onsideration for the 2017 Rockridge Kitchen Toy;

wonderful diversity of kitchen desig

their own remodel, and gives tour guests a ©

builders responsible for the kitchens.
RCPC invites you to submit it now for c

For more information, contact kitchentour@rockridge.org.

RCPC can also use volunteers with the Kitchen Tour co | :
mation, contact kitchentour@rockridge.org.

nd ongoing RCPC projects such as the Community Grants program

and on the day of the Tour. For more infor
Tour proceeds fu

(see article on page | about a grant made to a resident-

feature a mint-condition Wedgewood stove along with the late
the defining space of the home, whether it’s a studio for

er for a busy family, or both. , |
kitchen to be on the Rockridge Community Planning

__March 4, 2017

i

d September 24. The tour showcases the

mmittee leading up to the even;

organized cleanup initiative); Town

Halls, recently on homelessness; retail on College Avenue; and other projects of interest to

Rockridge residents. RCPC also contributes to Rockridge

} Think Kitchens, page 11

fixed assets. The cars are not fixed assets.
Bombardier of Canada is the supplier, but
cars are assembled in Plattsburg, New York,
with American content at over 66 percent of
the $2 million per car price tag. BART has
775 cars on order to be delivered by 2021
and projects that 600 will be in service by
then. Nevertheless, total cars in service won't
begin to increase until sometime in 2018
when the delivery rate of new cars exceeds
the retirement rate of old cars.

The new cars will be quieter, with new
wheels and doors that are better sealed;
cooler, as more air is delivered to taller
compartment ceilings; and quicker to load
and unload through an extra set of doors.
Patience Required

Implementation is going to be a slow
process. In the meantime, BART is trying

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to reduce crowding and stress by removing
seats to allow more passenger standing
room.

This plan is ambitious and will have
its share of problems. Voters and property
owners have agreed to pay more for these
essential improvements and they are placing
their trust in BART. Now itis BART’s turn to

demonstrate that trust was well placed.  )

in contact with our District 3 representativaly

at Rebecca.Saltzman@bart.gov.
Next month, we'll review what AC
Transit is planning for its buses and routes.

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Rep( AK

March 4, 2017

RéckridgeNews

2016 Financial Statement

RCPC General Fund

Rockridge Community Planning Council

em Fiscal Year January 1- December 31, 2016

Income
Contributions 984
Rockridge News 40833
interest Income 17
Monies Held for Others -1399
Merchandise Sales 594
Total Income 41030
Expenses
Rockndge News 36277
Events 1230
Contractors §279
Insurance, Permits, Sales Tax 1769
Misc Administrative & Program Expenses 2060
RCPC Grant Program 1162
Other Grants/Awards 250
Total Expenses 48026
Net Receipts (RCPC) 6997
Friends of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt (FROG)
Income
Contnbutions 7952
Interest, FROG 19
Total Income 7971
Expenses
Playground New Construction & Planning 3250
Playground Maintenance 4397
Miscellaneous Expenses 136
Total Expenses 7783
Net Receipts (FROG) __ 188
Scenic Streets
Income
Contributions 500
Total Income
Expenses
Misc Administrative Expenses 14
Total Expenses 486
Net Receipts (Scenic Streets)
Locksley Gardens No activity in 2016
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
RCPC Assets, Savings/Checking 81500
Scenic Streets Assets, Savings/Checking 41911
Locksley Gardens Assets, Checking 749
FROG Assets (1)
FROG Savings/Checking 80761
FROG CD 10401
Total FROG Assets 91161
Total Assets (1) 215322
Equity & Liability
Legal Fund Reserve §5000
Equity 166645
Net Income -§323
215322
Total Equity & Liability 215322

(1) Excludes $100,000 of Fourth Bore Coalition settlement

funds towards FROG's playground improvements.

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akland Tech’s “Steppin’ Out in
Oaktown — Show Your Oakland
Pride” annual auction and gala is getting
ready to kick up a storm (and do a lot of
good) on Saturday, March 11, from 6 to
10 p.m. at the California Ballroom, 1736
Franklin Street, Oakland.

Bring your appetite — and your desire
to support our fantastic neighborhood high
school — and dig into a scrumptious dinner
cooked up by Everett & Jones BBQ.

0
Oakland Tech Auction and Gala

This is Tech’s biggest fundraiser of the
year. Proceeds support a range of activities
from hands-on learning opportunities
to educational trips to performing arts
productions to science classroom supplies.

Tickets are $40 advance/$45 at the door.
Purchase tickets and find out everything
you need to know on the auction website:
http://oaklandtech.schoolauction.net/

auction2017.

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Frog Park Updates and Activities

Playground ‘Swings & More’ Park
Enhancement Project Progress

ROG is ready to file our design with the

city and to obtain permits and move this
project forward. We have a new landscape
architect, AWA, who revised plans to
address the city’s requirements (ADA and
Tree Department) and neighbor concerns.

To address concerns and requirements,
we shrank the playground footprint, which
resulted in:

e Eliminating spinning-poles (Spica).

¢ Reducing the Apollo size from large to
medium of (triangular climbing merry-go-
round), allowing us to keep the play value
for expanded ages.

¢ Reducing the number of new regular

swings

¢ adding a bench and boulders.
Thank you community members,
businesses and foundations for your generous

donations. The necessary design changes
increase overall costs. New contributions

will be applied to our general fund to
pay for these costs.
To support FROG and
the project, please go
to www.frogpark.org/
donate.

Visit frogpark.org
for more information
on the project. Contact
us: chair@frogpark.
org. In mid-march,
find final layout and
equipment at FROG’S site. For questions,
comments or contact: info@frogpark.org.

3rd Floor
Market Hall

Ste. 312

Bruce D. Fong, D.D.S.
Filippo Cangini, D.D.S, M.S.

Advanced Preventive, Restorative, Periodontal Gum Care, and Dental Implants.

6.

Rockridge News ‘=

Hardy Dog Park —

Improvements
Continue in 2017

by Linda Zunas
he Hardy Dog Park committee now
holds regular cleanups at 9 a.m. on the
first Saturday of every month, rain or shine.

We had eight energetic volunteers who
braved the rain and wind on February 4 as
we did more flood control work, washed the
chairs, cleaned up poop and trash, and had
some fun. With all the rains in February, the
gate areas stayed high and dry, which will
hold us until renovations can commence.
Please join us for our next clean up on
April 1 at 9 a.m.

Renovation plans are in the design
phase, as the old plans did not pass Caltrans’
permitting review. We will have community
input meetings once we complete preliminary
drawings. We are also kicking off a big final
fundraising push. Look for information
on how to buy a personalized brick to be
permanently installed at the new park.

Please consider donating to our renovation
project by following this link, and specifying
Hardy Dog Park in your donation: https://
www.scenicstreets.org/donate

Get on our mailing list for updates, or send
any questions to: HardyDogPark@yahoo.com.

\ CYDNEY ont zZOw

Interior ¢ Exterior
Lead-Certified Painters

For a free estimate
call Cydney

510 * 652° 4034

Questions About
Wills, Trusts,
and Probate?

i Kyle M. Johnston

Estate Attorney

5315 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
510.527.1880

*** -- »
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Among volunteers working on the Hardy Dog Park on arainy February 4 were

Barney Smits and his daughter Madeleine, right; Ted, in back, left, in ball cap;
Richard to his left; and Stephanie, hatless, in front of Ted. The name of the

volunteer at far left was unavailable at press time. PHOTO/LINDA ZuUNas
—q
&

To Animal Lovers:

xtail Season after __
the rains will be Nie
particularly challenging }\S
this year: this means big | = \s@ 7
problems for animals. You | CAR :

can help by watching for foxtails (pictured
below) when out walking. Yank them out b
____—s—_—s the roots and put them inW
~~ | aplastic bag and then into
7 | the trash (not green bin).
> | Questions?: Sari Kulberg
<= | 510/653-6432.

Iippos

5400 College Avenue

Presbyterian Church
5951 College Avenue | 94618
(510) 658-3665 | www.capcoakland.org
Fi es safe | open | real oS

- In Rockridge -

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March 4, 2017

Rdckridge News

=

he Spring Auction, Let’s Flamingle,
oT’. of Chabot Elementary’s primary
fundraisers. is coming this March. The
Auction is a school-wide effort to help
Chabot raise $160,000 of the $400,000
needed annually to support vital programs
that are not paid for by the Oakland
Unified School District (OUSD).
Chabot’s fundraising pays for its
students to have access to art, library,
music, science, spanish, and media/
technology classes, as well as intervention
programs that focus on closing the
achievement gap. As state and local
budgets continue to restrict funding
for Chabot’s nearly 600 K-5 students,
reaching their fundraising goal of over
$400,000 yearly is critical to supporting
the continuity of these programs and
maintaining an excellent and vibrant
neighborhood school.
The online auction will run from

March 15 through March 22 and will

Rockridge Marke

Closing date BR BA Address

02/21/2017 2 1 250 Whitmore St
02/24/2017 2 2 5834 Ayala Ave

MILLENNIUM

CONTEMPORARY, | cement & geen VEGAN CUISINE

Visit MillenniumRestaurant.com for menu, reservations & gift certificates
5912 College Ave 510-735-9459

MOTLEY TEAM

REALTORS”

tis Holding Steady. 35

Original price List price DOM Selling price
$499,000 $499,000 7 $555,000
$1,150,000 $1,150,000 7 $1,150,000

Homes sold this February closed 3.4% over the asking price on average.
There is currently a 30 day supply of inventory in Rockridge.
The Average price per square foot is $716.

Chabot’s Spring Auction Has Arrived

feature over 400 items, including jewelry,
gift certificates from local merchants and
restaurants, tickets to sporting events,
and lots of great activities for the family.
Everyone is welcome to participate and
bid on the many great items available:
The more bidders, the better.

Chabot ts especially grateful to
our sponsors, who demonstrated their
commitment with generous financial
donations: Adventure Time (Title
Sponsor); MPR Financial; Rosie Papazian,
Berkeley Hills Realty; Ist United Credit
Union; Ruth Goldstone, Marvin Gardens
Realty; Fremont Bank; Maxi Lilley, Red
Oak Realty; Amato Architecture; Hope
Broderick, Grubb Realty; Zoe Cohen
LAC; Piedmont Dental; Jeff Robarts,
Grubb Realty; Kids Overcoming LLC;
and Sweat Strength & Cycling.

Anyone in the community can support
this neighborhood school by bidding in
the online auction, making a monetary or

Happy hour with seasonal
cocktails & small plates

Sunday brunch with live music

Wine dinners & special events

PACIFIC

~ Local Retailers, Pornilee Restaurants,
Health & Beauty Services, Sporting Events,
Fabulous Getaways & More!

—~ —_———_————

yy
ZY Donations: auction@chabotelementary.org

www.ChabotElementary.org
\ ‘

business donation, or volunteering at the
March 25 event. Visit the Chabot auction
website at http://www.chabotelementary.
org/pta/auction or email us at auction@
chabotelementary.org.

The Gala will be held the evening
of Saturday, March 25, at the Greek
Orthodox Church, 4700 Lincoln Avenue,
Oakland. This year’s Gala will include
a photo booth, generously donated by
Tomfoolery, and dancing with DJ services
provided by Chabot parents.

————

City of Oakland supports 2nd unit developments.
Thinking of a 2nd unit? Contact FMSProjects
to see how to best achieve this in 2017!

5429 Telegraph Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609

Ofc: (510) 547-6111
Cell: (415) 722-9805

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Discovering New Eateries and Their Owners
Along College Avenue’s Restaurant Row

by Judith Doner Berne
y husband and I love frequenting
Rockridge’s College Avenue
restaurants — and we work diligently to
make sure we try them all.

So it was just a year ago that we walked
into Belotti Ristaurante e Bottega the very
week it opened, and got a taste of what was
to come. In a spot next to Hudson Bay Café
that has held several previous restaurants,
Michele Belotti launched what has been
reviewed as “the best pasta restaurant in the
East Bay” by the East Bay Express.

I know, you’ve tried to get into Belotti’s
for dinner at a reasonable hour — we recently
booked a month out. But between its small
confines and the large number of people
vying to sample its fresh pasta dishes and
delicious salads, it is actually busy for lunch
all the way through mid-afternoon and you
happily agree to a5 p.m. booking for dinner.

““[’m very surprised at the sophistication
of the customers,” the chef-owner says;
many of them are very familiar with the
cuisine from Northern Italy, where he grew
up. “I didn’t expect that.” I asked, given
the restaurant’s popularity, whether he was
considering expanding into one of the bigger
spaces vacated by the sudden closings of
Toast and the Pasta Pomodoro chain.

But no, “I’m very happy. I want to
keep the small restaurant. It’s very easy
to interrupt the balance,” the 30-year-old

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Michele says. But what he might do, he told
me, is open a storefront at another location
to sell his fresh pasta for home consumption.

On to The Golden Squirrel, a pub/
restaurant co-owned by Andrew Snow, 35,
and Chris Foott, 40, which seems to have
made a relatively seamless transition into
the remodeled space formerly occupied by
Barclay’s Restaurant and Pub since it opened
in December. (Chris also is an owner of Make

Westing Bar on Telegraph in Uptown.)
And although there was a

March 4, 2017

There” from Novel Brewery, 2.2 miles away,
“People always want to know where their
fish comes from,” Andrew says. “But there’s
great local beer.” The two Rockridge rative
want to both promote local breweries anq

help the environment by not transportin 9
from afar.

So, the burning question is where did they
come up with the restaurant's name, which
some find a bit unusual. Andrew told me.
but then asked me not to share it because:
“We want people to come in and ask.” Byt
trust me, there is no squirrel or anything
squirrelly on the menu, and the name actual] ly
represents quite the opposite.

Duchess Oakland, another California-
style pub also opened in December, is

> New Restaurants on College, page 9

line for bigger parties, we were
able to capture a table for two
immediately. My burger and my
husband’s mushroom shepherd’s
pie were both satisfying, and
the service was better than |
had remembered at Barclay’s.
We noticed a lot of families on
this rainy Thursday night, and
Andrew confirmed that even
more come on weekends. “On
Saturdays, all 10 of our high
chairs are often in use.”

We loved that the tap beer
menu lists how far away from
The Golden Squirrel each
brewery is, with 18 beer choices
from within a 60 mile radius and
just three that are further afield.
Closest is “There is No There

ee

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ie ntl LARS R6ckridge News 9.
N ey’ R esta uran t S Belotti Restaurant,

5403 College

@” College Avenue, page 8.

The Golden
Squirrel, right,

: 3940 Coll
owned by Chris Strieter, 28, andhis business Avenue. ege

partner, Caroline Conner, 29. She lives
around the corner from their two-floor bar OUchess Oakland,
and restaurant that occupies the former $422 College
Pizza Rustica space. They have overseen a Avenue, right,
complete exterior and interior remodeling —

and are particularly proud of the handcrafted
chairs and tables and the walnut wood wall.
A selection of books and games for patrons’
use are on shelves near the front door.

We ate there with our daughter and
grandson on a Sunday night in January. The
hamburger was good, fish and chips very
good, and the salad (I can’t remember which
one) was excellent. Chris says the salmon, the
risotto and the fried chicken sandwich have
been popular items on a new lunch/dinner
menu. For breakfast, Rock Tarts, described

as home-made pop tarts, are featured. in Rockridge,” Chris says. “Caroline
Our original idea was to open a wine likes to say that she is the heart of
shop,” Chris told me, which makes sense it and I am the brains.” He studied

since he is a winemaker —his pinot noirison mathematical economics and physics
e menu. And it makes further sense when —_at Harvey Mudd College, where he is

from page 8

you know Caroline’s back story. on its board of governors, and earned his
While she was getting her B.A. in Master’s in Finance at Claremont McKenna
archaeology and anthropology from Oxford College. According to her published bio,
rece she won “Top Taster” in the Caroline is pastry chef and “Duchess.”
arsity Bhi |
y Blind Wine Tasting Match between To comment on this column or suggest topics for

Oxford and Cambridge in 2009. She went _ future stories on your neighbors or neighborhood,
on to study food and wine, graduating from — email judyberne@att.net,

Le Cordon Bleu, London, later earning the
Wine and Spirits Education Trust Diploma.
Duchess serves all day: breakfast, —
brunch (on weekends), lunch and ae |
dinner. “I feel lucky toopenarestaurant | 4°

In Other Rockridge Restaurant News

a Christopher’s, the long-time burger spot near the College/Broadway
intersection, closed at the beginning of the year. Wingman, featuring Korean
fried chicken, is reportedly taking that spot.
m For those wondering when Enoteca Molinari will actually unveil its long-
time-in-the-works expansion, owner Joe Madison says he is aiming for late spring.
“It will double our space,” he says.
s The Claremont Diner, which closed after many years, then re-opened
only briefly under the auspices of the owner of the College Avenue Burrito Shop,
looks as if it will have yet another life. Ding Sheng United, Inc., has applied for a
beer and wine license in anticipation of opening Ding Japanese Restaurant,
according to a posted notice.
a The owners of Bourbon & Beef, near the Rockridge BART, opened a sister
restaurant B&B Kitchen and Wine Bar on Shattuck Avenue near the downtown
Berkeley BART station last spring.
= Congratulations to Wood Tavern and Millennium, winners of the 2017
Michelin Bib Gourmand Award. This award honors “excellent food at reasonable
prices.” Wood Tavern has been a constant on that list since not long after it opened
in 2007. Millennium, the gourmet vegan restaurant, is about to celebrate the second PAINTING & WATERPROOFING Inc.
anniversary of its move from San Francisco to Rockridge.
a And speaking of Wood Tavern, owners Rich and Rebekah Wood opened their
third restaurant (Southie’s is the second) in early February. Their new French-
forward California bistro, Wolf, pays homage to the iconic Bay Wolf restaurant,
@:.. occupied the same space on Piedmont Avenue for 40 years. The Woods
took it over when the Bay Wolf owners, with whom they are friends, announced
their retirement in 2015. “It seems like I’ve taken over my father’s restaurant,”
Rich told me. And, “It feels like we have a third child.” — judith Doner Berne

Of a thy

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March 4, 2017

Rédckridge News

Scenic Streets

of Oakland

ll of the plants on the ramps and the
street trees are enjoying the abundant
rain. Be on the lookout for a clean up day in
the upcoming months.

Scenic Streets is a group of neighbors
dedicated to improving the beauty and
safety of roadsides in North Oakland. Since
2013, our volunteers have made lasting
enhancements to prominent public lands.

Visit us at: www.scenicstreets.org

Give Our Council Member
a Break On His Route

orth Oakland City Council Member Dan
Kalb has been delivering The Rockridge
News to his block of Manila for over seven
years. As his wife put it: “He has a lot more on
his plate now than when he first volunteered.”
He does indeed. We thank Dan for being so
neighborly all these years. A special way
to thank him would be to volunteer to take
his route:

Delivers newsletters
along both sides of
5100 Manila starting
with house where
Cavour enters Manila
to 5Iist Street then
up to Coronado and
down to Lawton.

The newsletter is published the first
weekend of each month except August. Call
510/547-3855 or email Susan at smontauk@

gmail.com to volunteer.

JASON KALDIS
ARCHITECT

INCORPORATED

910.549.3584

WWW.JKALDISARCHITECT.COM

alk

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Quality service

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Proudly serving Rockridge since 1965!

(510) 562-4000

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CAITLIN CRAWFORD

Your Rockridge Neighbor
and Home Specialist

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

ccrawtord@grubbco.com
510.339.0400/287
Direct: 510.289.7218

Cat BRE Lic. # 01951131

Morning wake-up calls
Social network modeling
Curling up with a good book
Gardening together

Making lots of biscuits

Local caregivers who want

to help make great memories.

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March 4, 2017

Réckridge News

11.

Lockdown

om page |

Possibly into our back yards,

The man said to lock the doors, but he
never mentioned windows. It was a nice
night out, so we watched the scene unfold
from a darkened upstairs bedroom. One
officer with a rifle stood in the shadows
behind a large ash tree. Another crouched
behind his squad car. Nothing moved for a
long time.

I left the kids crouched beneath the
window sill and went to call the neighbors.
The neighbor next door was as much in the
dark as we were but was safe inside. The
neighbor across the street had slept through
it all, so she was grateful for the wake-up
call. A friend down on Forest Street had just

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arrived from work and had no trouble getting
into his house. He told the cops there were
plenty of hiding places in the woods behind
tis home but they weren’t interested. The

bolice cordon covered half of Oak Grove
but not his Street.

Inside the police lines, everything about
the evening felt surreal. There was no news
on the radio, no info on the internet. It
Was ominously quiet; even the helicopter
didn’t arrive overhead for at least an hour. I
finally sent an announcement to our block-
wide email list. One neighbor up the street
had a police scanner and reported that the
Search Was going through back yards one
at a time. But there was no word at all from
the Oakland or Berkeley police. No Nixle
notices went out. I called the non-emergency
number and got a dispatcher on the line. She
merely repeated what I already knew: search
in progress, stay inside.

More than two hours after it al] began,
we saw half a dozen officers with a German
Shepherd move into view. They knocked
on the door across the street, talked to our
neighbor, then disappeared up his driveway

Martin Coyle 910-655-8717 Mike Tracy
5221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618

www.coylehomeremodel.com

with the dog and flashlights. Several minutes
later they re-emerged and headed on down
the block. That was it. Our neighbor’s two
kids missed the whole thing; it was past
their bedtime

At nine p.m. we noticed cars driving
down our street again. Civilian cars. Noone
had sounded the “all clear,” but the street
was open at last. Now the two girls who had
come over for dinner could go back home.
What a story they would have to share! But
what story, indeed? In the end, there really
wasn’t much to see, not much to say. Time
to move along.

All in all, a very odd Valentine’s night.
Especially odd was the fact that all we saw
were Berkeley police, none from Oakland.
At one point during the siege, my neighbor
with a well-known nose for news ventured
outside to talk to the cops. He asked why
they were all from Berkeley. The officer
explained, “When you catch a fish, you have
to clean it.” They started the chase; it was
theirs to finish.

So they did their job and kept us safe,
and we did our job and stayed out of the
way. Unfortunately for us all, the fish did
his job and got away.

ns

Think Kitche

from page 4

Out and About and the annual College
Avenue Halloween Parade. RCPC works
diligently to be involved with issues affecting
Rockridge, and the Kitchen Tour helps make
it possible.

Experience * Knowledge * Performance

Rockridge Upcycle Market Comparison 2004-05 vs 2015-16 Similarities, Differences, What next?

1/04-12/05: >370 “homes” sold in 94618 @ ave $ 975K". 30yr fix rates ~ 5.45-6.25%. Unemployment 6.2-4.1%
1/15-12/16: <270 “homes” sold in 94618 @ ave $1.448M". 30yr fix rates ~ 3.75-4.25%. Unemployment 4.8-3.4%.

Similarities: Demand far exceeded supply during both periods. Double digit appreciation.

Differences: >100 fewer sales, a 25%+ drop in available homes. Loan rates ~30% lower, more employment, more sophisticated buyers
What next? Acombo of deeper reduction in supply & increased demand over prior upcycie with no current indicators of an imminent
downturn, but likely low single digit appreciation in 2017. Signs to watch for softening: slightly lower rental, condo & $2m+price range
demand in SF, further rate increases. Minor increases can spur demand, significant increases could cool demand. National & global issues
are the wild card. We know now is still a good time to sell before softening, Buying is competitive, but rates remain historically low even
if not all time lowest. Locking in a low rate is more key over long term than trying to time a possible down. cycle, especially in Rockridge

* Averages only. Each home has unique features & can perform differently.

Happy Spring!

Perry Riani, Senior Associate

“2016 Realtor of the Year”

1900 Mountain Bivd Oakland, CA 94611
1625 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA 94709
C: 510.813.3799 perry@pacunion.com

PACIFIC
UNION

CHRISTIE'S

IVTERNATIOONAL MEAL BYTATY

License # 01402540

oon mma «* $" Uo ee we —e @ © -

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12.
Cleanup Initiative

from page |

into local waterways and eventually ends up
in the Bay.

Tired of seeing the continual trash, my
neighbors and I decided to take action. Initially,
we organized monthly neighborhood cleanups.
Calling ourselves the Clover Neighborhood
Group, we met once or twice a month to
clean up Miles Avenue from the Rockridge
BART station to Chabot Elementary School,
including the Presley Way underpass area
between Miles and Keith, a magnet for
continuous litter.

With just an hour’s effort, we can collect
four to five large bags of trash. Since July 2016,
we have collected more than 50 bags, all while
having a good time chatting while we bring
together community and action.

RCPC Community Grant

With the help of a community grant from
RCPC in 2016, we received funds to pay
for materials such as garbage bags, tools
and gloves. We soon discovered Oakland’s
Adopt-a-Spot program. We adopted Miles
Avenue from College to Patton, and got
access to more materials such as litter
grabbers and yellow safety vests, as well
as collection services so Oakland Public
Works will pick up our garbage bags the
day we collect.

In this time when we’re trying to figure
out how we can change our world, it’s been
satisfying to know we can at least clean up
our local corner of the world.

Want to join the Rockridge Cleanup
Initiative? Here are some ideas:

@ Gather your neighbors for a commu-
nity cleanup; just 30 to 60 minutes is enough
to make a difference. And, a bonus: you’l!
get to catch up with your neighbors. We’re
hosting our next Miles Avenue cleanup on
March 18 if you want to join us. Meet on
Clover Drive at 9:30 a.m.

mw Take a small plastic bag with you to
pick up litter when you go out for a walk.
As long as you’re walking your dog and
picking up their debris, why not pick up
other trash? If everyone were to pick up
three pieces of litter each day, our neigh-
borhood would be cleaner.

m Jake your kids for a local cleanup
and use it as a time to teach them about the
impact litter has on the Bay. Make it like
a game to spot and pick up litter.

m Check out Oakland-based Litterati

Réckridge News March 4, 2017

4 Evangeline Miller-Schai,
left, Cecelia Garofoli and
Meta Austin display th
tools and the results &
their trash-collecting on
Miles Avenue near the
Presley Way underpass,

/CHRISTINE GAROFOL]

o— ——

Oakland’s Adopt-a-Spot for
access to materials garbage
pickup (https://tinyurl.com/

oaklandadopt).
m You can also adopt a

local drain (https://tinyurl,
com/oaklandadopt). A little
volunteer effort goes a long
way in helping Public Works
maintain over 7,500 storm
drains to reduce flooding
and prevent pollution in our
waterways.

w If you do business with a
place that is messy outside, say something
to the people working there. If residents and
business owners clean up, visitors are less

Their site has inspiring case studies about _ likely to litter. Conversely, if the people in

changing behavior and helping organiza- _ the area say “That’s not my garbage, I’m

tions find more sustainable solutions. not picking it up,” it invites more —“®
= Adopt a street to clean up through > Cleanup Initiative, page |

(www.litterati.org) and download their
easy-to-use app. Take pictures of trash and
contribute to the community identifying,
mapping and collecting the world’s litter.

o you find the success of the Clover Send to info@rockridge.org. A total of

Neighborhood Group inspiring? Do $2,500 is available for grants in 2017; $750
you have your own idea(s) for a Rock- is the maximum award available. Follow the
ridge project? “Find a need and fill it,’ a links to the handout at rockridge.org for
local cement company used to say. The morein-depth instructions before applying.
Rockridge Community Planning Council’s Find the RCPC boundary map at www.
Community Grants for Community-Led _ rockridge.org/boundaries for qualifying res-
Projects may be able to help you with funds _ idence. Further questions may be directed
and mentoring. to info@rockridge.org.

ft you ve: in Rockridge and. want The RCPC board of directors dedicates a portion
to apply, here's the date to remember: ripe proceeds from the Rockridge Kitchen Tour
April |, 2017; applications should be — to offer supportive funding for resident-inspired
received by the RCPC board by this date. _ local improvement projects.

7 Time F lies! It’s been 30 years now since

Realty Advocates opened its office in Rockridge. With
several hundred sales in the area to our credit, one

thing has not changed over time: our consistent deliv-
mn ery of top-notch service, highest market prices, and as

a bonus: the lowest commissions!
At EA LTY | Brett Weinstein, Broker
DVOCATES __ brett@realtyadvocates.com 510-428-0757

HIGHEST SALES PRICES + LOWEST COMMISSIONS

==)
TT

R&ckridgeNews

mm |S. Ret AIP ESF) Bh We ae

Cleanup Initiative

———

from page !2

& gs For bigger dumped items and issues
like graffiti, use the See Click Fix app. This
is an excellent tool that Oakland uses and
monitors regularly. You can easily report
illegal dumping (it utilizes ge0-tagging so
it knows the location) and the city is quick
to acknowledge the request and notify you
when it is complete (https://en.seeclickfix.
com/oakland/report).

ge While you may not consider throwing
cigarette butts on the ground to be littering,
it is. The filters are not biodegradable.
When Toast was Open, we were constantly
cleaning up cigarette butts on Chabot Road.
We finally suggested the management put
an ashtray outside, which helped when
employees took their breaks outside.

In Rockridge since 1997

Yes we do offer:

Pet
Insurance

e

Susan Bernosky
510-450-9050 |

INSURANCE SERVICES, INC
CA License 0D34069

www.strahaninsurance.com

13.

Epiror:

| Thank you for the
With Nikki Folett
2017 Rockridge
‘spects of Rockridge are its walkability

Nspiring interview
a published in the January
News. Some of my favorite

and rich tr

ansit Options. Our pre-W WII
Street

7 and land use patterns are part of
Prt Special sauce that gives Rockridge its
1S } . : :
tinctly Strong sense of community and
neighborliness.

Nikki’s insights j

: nto the communit
benefits of w 4

alking, cycling and transit

Letter to the Editor

5 Bas Rockridge News welcomes
posted letters and emails to the
editor. Your name, address, phone
number, email 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.

were welcome to read. Walking and
cycling increase opportunities for personal
interaction and community health. People
who arrive by foot, bike and transit to shop
in commercial districts like Rockridge
spend more per month than their car-using
counterparts. Our use of non-polluting
transport will benefit the next generation
by mitigating climate change.

Thanks again for highlighting this
inspiring Rockridge resident.
—Rachel Hollowgrass

DANIEL SIEA

BRE 701452156

510-867-4094

LAW OFFICE OF

DAVE KARLINSKY

725 WASHINGTON ST., SUITE 313. OAKLAND, CA 94607
(SIO) 788-5700 WWW.DAVEKARLINSKYLAW.COM

—

Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:

¢ Estate planning

¢ Probate / trust administration

¢ Dispute resolution

¢ Special needs trusts

Please contact me during regular business hours to
schedule an appointment.

’
;
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March 4, 2017

Land Use

from page 3

car-dependent and need parking spaces,
as do employees and customers of College
Avenue businesses. The city’s new off-street
parking requirements for new construction
may put pressure on the limited on-street
parking, as will liberalized rules for parking
for secondary (in-law) units. Limiting
residential parking permit availability may
help, but more off-street parking — even off-
site parking with shuttle service — may need
to be considered.

The committee felt it would make sense
to check in with other similar (i.e., CN-1)
areas in Oakland, like Piedmont Avenue
and the Dimond District, to see if they
had similar concerns. The committee also
felt that we should look at how other cities
around the country have addressed the
housing affordability issue. We should not
try to reinvent the wheel if there are tested,
workable solutions available.

Finally, it was noted that nothing is
permanent. Whatever policies are put in
place could be changed in five or ten years
if conditions warrant it.

The March Land Use Committee meeting
will continue the discussion of housing
policies, with the aim of preparing a
preliminary proposal to present at the
April RCPC Town Hall Meeting to get
wider community feedback before taking a

proposal to the board of directors.

m@ Note: the meeting includes the
opportunity to vote in the election of RCPC
board members. Details of the election
process will be presented in the April issue
of The Rockridge News.

——
_—__—__———
a

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 946! I,
April issue deadline is March 23. April issue

distribution begins April 8.
For information: smontauk@gmail.com

Penelope’s Aesthetics
Certified Organic

Treatments
Paraben, Silicone, and artificial coloring free

facial treatments. On special now for $49.
Experience a complete European facial with
massage using eco-cert products. www.
penelopecalef.com. Call for an appointment.
510/594-1552.

Your RoOcKRIDGE SPECIALISTS:

JupitH Grass & SHEILA SABINE -
The Grubb Company. Now may be
the right time for a move. Your home says
a lot about you and we are here to listen.
Call 510/326-5055 or email SSabine@
Grubbco.com

More: Community Calendar
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.

ia ay ; ,
4 ‘ae ‘ ; ver
: %, j ; @ : ¥ ha e - .
ide Bie Pe HD)

A private high school for grades 9-12

Our approach to learning requires collaboration, patience,
and creativity—all within a kind and joyful community.

Be inspired. Refine your thinking. Express yourself.

The College Preparatory School 6100 Broadway Oakland CA 94618 510.6 52.4364 college-prep.org

Gardener
Over 20 years of service to the Rockridge

area. Garden Restoration. Great References,
Reasonable Rates. Please call Chris. 655-0] @

Looking to Refinance and
Don’t Want to Speak with

a Bank?

Home Loans-Refinance-PreApproval. David
Herrenbruck — Rockridge Resident-Cal|
510/981-9799; david@fishmanfinancial.net
FISHMAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC...
NMLS#1384117 — CA BRE#01986477.

Compassionate Caregiver, |
CFA Certified

Over I5 years of experience with demen-
tia, Parkinson’s and hospice clientele. Can
chauffeur to appointments, cook and do
light housekeeping. Excellent references.
Available Sun-Thurs days and some nights.
Call or text Sharon, 925/705-3249.

Your Personal Driver in
My Jaguar Sedan

Shopping, doctor appointments, airport,
errands. I'll take you where you need to go
in my Jaguar. Courteous, reliable service.
Extra care for the elderly. 510/841-289}.

Cell 510/982-9757.

Community Breema!
Receive profoundly relaxing and revitalizing
Breema Bodywork ina group setting. Frid
Mar 10, 3-5pm, $10-$20 for 20 min. sessio
Drop-in welcome. 6201 Florio St., Oakland
510/428-1234 breemahealth.com

Live/work Space in

Rockridge

5767 Broadway $3,600/month. Open floor
plan w/updated kitchen, 2 baths. Poten-
tial for studio, plus living quarters. Visit

www.5/767Broadway.com or call Ron Kriss,
Broker: 510/612-2547.

Professional Office Share

College Avenue
Conference room, high-speed printer/
copier, kitchen, Plug&Play. Fun Environment,

Awesome location, up to 3-4 cubicles Ron
310/612-2547.

Moving in the Right Direction

Join us for an older adult conversation about
downsizing, family issues, where to go and
how to get your house ready to sell. Rock-

ridge Library Thursday, 3/23 1-2 PM. RSVP
310/706-5534.

Handyman Services,

interior & Exterior

House repairs, kitchen & bath remodel,
tile, decks, dry rot, drainage, walls, termi
damage, doors, windows. Professional wo
for affordable prices. Juan 510/692-6399.

g

ict 1 Councilman Dan Kalb
op-in Community Office Hours at the
Temescal Farmers Market, 5300 Claremont

ave. (off Teleg.) at DMV parking lot on the
ard Sunday each month,10:30am-12:30pm.
Times/locations of other office hours or more
information: mmharris@oakland.net or www.

jankalb.net/contactdan.

rockridge Branch Library
5466 College Avenue, 597-5017

. Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes
(for all ages); Saturdays, 10:30am.

. Toddler Story Time: Songs, active rhymes
and stories (for 9 months to 2 years),
Thursdays, 10:30am, upstairs.

. Pre-School Story Time: Read-alouds,
songs, and rhymes (ages 2to 5): Thursdays,
10:30am.

all story times followed by Play Time;
parents and caregivers invited.

SspECIAL EVENTS
» TWIG - Rockridge Tween Interests
Group: For ages 8 to 13. Creative work,
friendship, and snacks. Bring ideas of what
you & your friends would most like to do
each month. Every 2nd & 4th Tues, 6:30-
7:45pm, in the Children’s Area. In March
& April we will be making Kamishiba

(3/14, 3/28, 4/11, 4/25). More info: Erica,
597-5017.

Mad Hatter Tea Party: Sat, 3/25, 11:30am. Wear
your silliest hat to have high tea; light refreshments
inafancy setting. Proper introductions and table
manners. Ages 5 to 12. If you don’t have a silly
hat, make one when here. Please register at
the Children’s Reference Desk or email Erica
at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org.

FOR TEENS

» Wearable LED Bling: Make wearable
bling with felt and LEDs 3/8, 2pm.

« Teen Advisory Board (ages 14-18):
Help advise the library how to better serve
teens; get community service credit for
school. Note changed day: 2nd Sat. each
month, 1 to 2pm.

« Teen ‘Scape Program: Play video &
board games; make crafts; enjoy meals.
Tues, Thurs, and Fridays: 3:30 -5pm and
Wednesdays: 1:30 — 5pm.

« Homework Club: High School Tutors
Available: A quiet place to do homework.
Tues and Thurs, 4 — 5pm; Wednesdays
3 - 4:30pm.

* Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game Club: Beginners
welcome. Every Friday, 3:30 — 5 pm.

FOR ADULTS

* Lawyers in the Library: Free legal
information and referral. ist Tues each
month (3/07, 4/4), 6pm-8pm; Lottery
system to see the lawyer. Sign-up opens
at Spm; must be present for lottery drawing
at 5:45. Call day of program to confirm.

* Women Bike Book Club: Discuss the role
the bicycle played in women’s liberation:
Francis Willards memoir, Whee/ Within

pistr

COMMUNITY cat

Compiled by Jo Ellis

ENDAR

@ Whee!: How | Learned to Ride a Bicycle

S — available free at

(Note: 4/13

7 | Library.) Hosted in
P with Bike East Bay. Thurs,

Writers’ Support/Cr
writers welcome, Bri

'0 S pgs. (double-spa

itique Group: All
Ng 15 copies of up
ced, MS margins) of

, 1 to 5pm;

Calif. Write
8775 or Wri
* Spring PI
extras and
Starts, bul

rs Club of Berkeley. Info: 420-
tefox@aol.com. Call to confirm.
ant Swap: Bring your garden
take home new plants. Cuttings,

~ Ds, and full-sized plants welcome.
aster Gardeners will be here to answer your

gardening questions. Sat, 4/8, 11am- 2pm.
* U.S. Constitution Refresher: Are you

working for liberty, equality, justice, and
democracy? Retired judge John True
from the American Constitution Society
will discuss the meaning and importance
of the Constitution, with Q&A and light

refreshments. All ages welcome. Tues,
4/11, 6:30pm.

LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed, Thurs & Sat: 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri, 12 to 9:30pm.
Closed: Sun and Mon.

Diesel Book/Poetry Readings/Events
FREE and open to the public.

. Sun, 3/S, 3pm. Poetry Flash and Sixteen
Rivers Press pay tribute to Susan Herron
Sibbet for Great Blue. Participating Sixteen

Rivers Press readers will be Terry Ehret,
Steve Gilmartin, Nina Lindsay, Carolyn
Miller, and LeeAnn Pickrell.

* Tues, 3/7, 7pm. Publication party for L.A.
Kauffman: Direct Action: Protest and the
Reinvention of American Radicalism.

¢ Thurs, 3/9, 7pm. Local author Clair Brown:
Buddhist Economics: An Enlightened
Approach to the Dismal Science

¢ Wed, 3/15, 7pm. Melissa Febos: Abandon
Me.

¢ Fri, 3/17, 7pm. Deepak Unnikrishnan:
Temporary People.

¢« Tues, 3/21, 7pm. Jason Turbow: Dynastic,
Bombastic, Fantastic: Reggie, Rollie,
Catfish, and Charlie Finley’s Swingin A’s.

¢ Wed, 4/5, 6:30pm. Freud’s Bar (monthly
talks given by local Bay Area psychoanalysts,
aimed at students ages 16-25, while enjoying
drinks and snacks). Topic is Keeping on
Thinking in Difficult Times presented by
Mary Margaret McClure, DMH.

* Thurs, 4/6, 7pm. Publication party for
Meredith May: /, Who Would Not Die. John
Steven Morgan will be playing piano.

¢ Fri, 4/7, 7pm. Siel Ju: Cake Time. Joined in
conversation by fellow Red Hen Press poets
(both finalists for California Book awards)
Brynn Saito: The Palace of Contemplating

aaa aaa eee

iD.

Departure, and Andrew Lam: Birds of
Paradise Lost.

« Sun, 4/9, 3pm. Poetry Flash featuring
Martha Rhodes and Bruce Willard

« Wed, 4/12, 7pm. Contributors celebrate
the new release of Oakland Noir with
editors Jerry Thompson and Eddie
Muller and authors Dorothy Lazard,
Nick Petrulakis, and Katie Gilmartin.

DIESEL. A Bookstore, 5433 College Ave. More
info abt the authors, books and other events.
653-9965 or events @dieselbookstore.com.

Jazz at the Chimes

Featuring saxophonist/clarinetist Harvey
Wainapel and his quartet, Alegritude, presenting
a panorama of modern instrumental music from
Brazil. Sunday, Mar 19, 2pm. Advance ticket sales
at http://harveywainapel.brownpapertickets.
com or 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.harvjazz.com. The series honors the
unique artistry of Bay Area jazz musicians in
a landmarked Julia Morgan venue: Chapel of
the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave. Wheelchair
accessible. Free parking. More info: www.
jazzatthechimes.com, chimesjazz@gmail.com
or 654-0123.

Wisteria Ways House Concert
Snowapple: three multi-instrumentalists and
singers from Amsterdam perform cabaret folk
with a side of Broadway and ‘40s popular jazz.
Sat, 3/25, 8pm; house opens 7:30 (inside
venue, not wheelchair accessible). Please come
fragrance-free. $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.

Square Dance in North Oakland

Music by The Squirrelly String Band. Calling
by Jordan Ruyle. ist 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.

North Oakland Senior Center

Mon. — Fri., 9am to 4:30pm. 5714 Martin Luther
King, Jr. Way: 597-5085. Programs include: Arts/
crafts; health counseling; dancing and exercise;
trips, tours and theater outings; Alzheimer’s
support groups, computer classes/more.

« CANE DO! Classes: An exercise and self-
defense class in one. Learn how to use your
cane for more than stability! For members:
$10 for 8-session class/non-members $40.
Join now! Thursdays, 10 to 11am, starting
in March.

¢ AARP FREE TAX HELP: Now through Apr
13. Call to schedule appt at 597-5085.

« SPECTRUMLOW INCOME HOME ENERGY
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (HEAP). HEAP
applications for help with your PG&E bill
are available. Ask for Information and
Assistance Specialist Denise Vaughnes,
Mon-Fri, 9:30am to 1:30pm.

Get event details at the desk or 597- 5085. Seniors
age 55+ join the center for $12 annual dues to
get discount and other benefits. Receive “The
North Oakland Senior Times” for full schedule
of classes/events, lunch menus, and volunteer
opportunities. Info: 597-5085.

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building at the transit village, and approved

by the Planning Commission. The EIR for PROVID che

the project considered a tower for the site, but Professional,

rejected it as “infeasible.” Neighbors want Full Service

appropriate scale development for the site, Real Estate Brokerage
and are planning legal action. See: www. To Rockridge Clients
facebook.com/StopMacArthurTower, to For Over 36 Years.

help with legal expenses: www.gofundme.
com/StopMacArthurTower.
— Robert Brokl “+ Residential Sales

* Income Property
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on Locksley Avenue

Rare Live/Work Opportunity

for lease - in ROCKRIDGE
www.5/767Broadway.com

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510.547.5970 ex. 55
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Playing? Start in Gakland!

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Broker
from page 2 654-8707 or 593-4780