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a SS, eee by Leonora Sea, Kitchen Tour committee Ko come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s especially true for the kitchens on the coming Rockridge Kitchen Tour to be held on September 24. Architects, contractors, designers, and homeowners have found creative and clever solutions to make very small kitchens work like large ones, to turn awkward spaces into supremely functional ones, to enhance and respect historic houses while bringing the kitchens into the 21st century, and to inspire the rest of us by designing with useful ideas for everyone. This year, the Rockridge Kitchen Tour invites guests to take a peek at nine beautiful Oi On display throughout the tour will be the latest trends in color, surfaces, appliances, and use of space; and classic designs that look as fresh and modern today as they did when first completed. Tour-goers will find much to enjoy, including a NARI (National Association of the Remodeling ck ride VOL. 32 mg NO.7 wm ISSUENO. 346 go July 8, 2017 Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council « 4123 Broadway, PMB 3II ° Not to Be Missed - 2017 Rockridge Kitchen Tour and Expo: Tickets on Sale Now; Tour Date is September 24 each kitchen and listing resources for those contemplating a remodel of their own “Shops at the Ridge” Phase Il Placed on Hold Industry) award-winning kitchen; a full house tour of the Roll-Up House, fea- tured on the 2013 American Institute of Architects East Bay Chapter tour; and a tour of the main rooms and kitchen of the Guy Hyde Chick house, an historic Rockridge home designed by Ber- nard Maybeck, dean of early twentieth century California architects. At the Kitchen Tour houses, guests will have the oppor- tunity to meet some of the architects and contractors who worked with the home- owners, and will receive a copy of the comprehensive tour brochure, describing Ri org LT CIRCULATION: 5, 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES Oakland, CA 94611 kitchen. In addition to the tour on Sunday, September 24, plan to attend the Kitchen Tour Expo on Saturday, September 23. The > RCPC Kitchen Tour, page 2 RCPC-NCPC Annual Meeting by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair n the evening of June 29, RCPC and the Greater Rockridge Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) co-sponsored what has become an annual joint Town Hall meeting on public safety and related concerns. Although the City’s new police chief, Anne Kirkpatrick, Me . . . > aad ~ ; Kens Sra igo Suopwenee compe. = es anne arandscane mightrendurelforaby.eat. | ama by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair hose walking, biking, or driving past the corner of Pleasant Valley Avenue and Broadway in the last month or two may have noticed the lack of change in the half-demolished @Orrvcn Chase Bank building. More ecently, it appeared that all work had stopped on construction of the Phase II project planned to include several two- and three-story buildings housing retail and restaurants as well as additional structured parking. Inquiries to TRC Retail (formerly Terramar Retail Centers) resulted in this response from Bruce Walton, TRC’s V.P. for development: “We have received a number of inquiries from the community » Ridge Shops on Hold, page 10 was out of state and unable to attend, the co-sponsoring groups were pleased to host the City’s new Director of Public Safety, Ms. Venus Johnson, as well as Deputy Chief Darren Allison and other command staff. The meeting opened with a brief presentation by Theresa Nelson on behalf of the FROG Park Committee, outlining plans for installing new swings and other play equipment at the Hardy area Frog Park. (See page 14, “In Addition,” for more details.) After that, Ms. Johnson discussed the City’s plans to do more to help former prisoners released from jail or prison have opportunities to “turn over a new leaf,” continuing efforts with “Operation Ceasefire,” a program focused on those > RCPC-NCPC, page 12 9. Rockridge News July 8, 2037 © Fs RN aN rer emcee = ree errr eT mai ga ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY RCPC Kitchen Docents Wanted.... Pe, 5366 College Avenue Tour loin the Fun YT the Wee at Manila | 597-5017 from page | 2017 Rockridge Library program details/hours: ~ em once's @ dckridge News Expo, well-received in 2015 by tour guests is Roc l ue C W'S and vendors alike, expands this year to fea- Kitchen Tour The Rockridge News, founded March 1986 by Don ture more architects, designers, contractors, Kinkead, is published monthly (except in August) and craftspeople. Expo admission is free to and is sponsored by the Rockridge Community olunteer to be a docent on the 2017 itchen Tour, and get | : | all ticket holders, or $10 at the door without Rockridge Kitch 7 Planning Council (RCPC) ; nonprofit public a Tour ticket the inside scoop on some remarkable benefit organization founded to: preserve anq our icket. | ; Rockridce kitchens enhance the unique character of the Rockridge Kitchen Tour tickets are available online OCKTIGg fre ee. neighborhood; promote the health, safety and now through midnight, September 22, at Docents, who guide guests ” quality of life of its residents; furnish a forum for rockridgekitchentour.org. Tickets will also tour’s featured kitchens, receive a pre- community involvement; and provide leadership and be for sale at the Expo and on the day of the tour that offers a behind-the-scenes look representation of neighborhood interests. tour. Advance purchase tickets are $40 plus at the elements and stories that impressed ae a News Saisie a small service charge. Tickets purchased at our selection committee. In addition, 6p URS wisciciscazacoscorsptesensscoseni Asst. Editor the Expo or on the day of the tour are $45 docents receive a complimentary ticket Judith Doner Berne........... ae — _ : JO Ellis.........sccersscsonsssconsssensens vertising plus ser ee charge. 7 3 to visit the other kitchens on the ony Comeniinity Calender The kitchen tour is RCPC’s primary of the event. If you enjoy “back-stage Susan Montauk... Business Manager fundraiser. Past tour proceeds have helped access and have a few hours to contribute Donn Kinkead........scccssssssssee Graphics & Layout fund the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt/ | 4, your community on September 24, Te ase of ee 2017-18 Sree ran Rockriige sae a See contact Laura Schlichtmann, Docent Leonora Sea ....ssessssessssseseen Vice-Chair Shey sborosorse. and. will ‘now also neip Chair, at laura.schlichtmann@gmail.com Jesse Ortega ...-ss--evssorereer Secretary fund the Kevin Faughnan Memorial Grant Ronnie SpitZer’.......c.scsscecse Treasurer for more information about volunteering. Program. Alden Conner, M C Haug, Jennifer Jong, Don Kinkead, Andrew Masalin, Laura Schlichtmann Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org For information: info@rockridge.org A Changing of the Guard: New Resource Officer for Rockridge NewsueTTen SuascriPTions To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send . : your check for $20, payable to Rockridge News nthony Hutzol, Community Resource Officer (CRO) Subscriptions, to: Rockridge News Subscriptions at for police beats 12Y (Rockridge), and 13X (parts the address below. of Rockridge) recently announced his reassignment, and Contacting The Rockridge News introduced Officer David Mac, his replacement, in a notice Are there community issues you'd like to see ted on Nextdoor: “Af derful 2 d4 h covered in The Rockridge News? « Do you have treet aie nor: cc psa eatin y anaes ares Ss» questions about newsletter distribution? * Want to | am heading to a new assignment, and in my place will be volunteer to be a Rockridge News block captain? OFC David Mac, dmac@oaklandnet.com, (photo at right). * Would you like to write a letter to the Editor? I have spent some time ensuring he is up to speed on current Contact us at one of the following: : P dwillh | e P f P : Editor: editor@rockridge.org; projects and wil ave a seamless transition from his previous www.rockridge.org: post to our great unit and area. Thank you everyone. And The Rockridge News, as always, be safe and take care of one another.” And our 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 9461 | thanks to you, Officer Hutzol. Introduced at the RCPC-NCPC joint meeting (see page 1), Officer Mac said he has been an officer for two years, following his initial year’s training. Born and raised in Oakland, he attended Westlake Middle School and Oakland Technical High. He is 29 years old. — Don Kinkead Articles submitted for publication may be emailed to the editor or mailed to the addresses above. Submissions are limited to 600 words, must include the author’s name, phone number, email 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 f A R [ [ iH $5 FREE pry CLEANING with garment orders over $28 reprint a Rockridge News article, contact the editor. or $3 OFF orders over $15 Dry Cleaning only ® Present with incoming order Newsletter Advertising/Deadline Publication date of the September issue is: ae ™@ September 2, 2017. (No August issue.) re E whe Garden Cleaners ™@ Submission deadline is August 17, 2017. XPERT. : 5808 College Avenue, Oakland Advertising rates are $26/column inch. Six- SHIRT _ 601-1188 month pre-pay rate available. For display ads L ! call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or emai fe RUNDE RINGH Mon — Fri 7-7 Sat 8-6 joellis1@hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza to refuse any display or classified ad that it deems esses inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page 14.) July 8, 2017 by Rev. Monte McClain ome November 4, College Avenue Presbyterian Church celebrates its 100th year on College Avenue. The Church community began downtown in 1890, but purchased new land as Oakland expanded northward and eastward in the busy year of 1913. The congregation moved from the downtown location to the present facility on September 23, 1917, eventually followed by a Service of Dedication on November 4, 1917. CAPC Oakland is celebrating this building anniversary, recognizing the space that continues, a century later, to serve the greater good of Oakland. Duncan MacMillan, the building contractor who worked with Julia Morgan, was a church member. Because Réckridge News e College Avenue rreeny tara Church: 100 Years on nCollege Avene _--—“ Church, c. 1955. of their relationship, Julia Morgan did the architectural design of the building, which Mr. MacMillan then implemented. Things have changed tremendously in the past 100 years: Rockridge came to be, grew, struggled, College Avenue Presbyterian /CourtTesy CAPC) and has now fully regained its balance, after the enormous dislocation caused by the building of BART and Highway 24 in the late twentieth century. Our Church community i) 100 Years, page 13 RCPC Land Se . 3" “ r 4 ey; Se oe - : SA Cs 7 4 , : wy \ - a sn iy Y Tren next Land Use Committee meeting will be Wednesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. at the Rockridge Branch Library upstairs meeting room. Please check the rockridge.org website for updates on future meetings and agendas. Meetings are generally c open to > the public. Iternatives range from wholesale pzoning to changes focused on affordability to leaving Rockridge as-is by Stuart Flashman, RCPC chair ile there was not a quorum of members present, the June RCPC Land Use Committee meeting nevertheless served as an opportunity to unveil five alternative scenarios for meeting Rockridge’s future housing needs. The scenarios follow up on RCPC’s April Town Hall meeting, which focused on the future of housing in Rockridge. At that meeting three alternative futures had been presented and discussed: one for maximum growth; one with a focus on encouraging REALTY muita ADVOCATES Five Rockridge Housing Scenarios Unveiled Realty Advocates opened its office i in Rockridge. ' With several hundred sales in the area to our credit, one thing has not changed over time: our consistent deliv- ery of top-notch service, highest market prices, and as a bonus: the lowest commissions! brett@realtyadvocates.com 510-428-0757 HIGHEST SALES PRICES + LOWEST COMMISSIONS affordable housing; and one that would leave the area’s zoning more or less as it is now. Comments from the meeting audience expressed a desire to have more options to consider, and more detailed analysis of the implications of each option. The five alternative scenarios presented at the June Land Use Committee meeting are intended to expand the range of alternatives. The meeting also included some discussion of what should be considered in the analysis of options. The five options, like the three presented in April, range from radical change to leaving Rockridge’s zoning as it is (the “base case” scenario). A Power Point presentation of the Brett Weinstein, Broker five options, along with photographs showing examples of the different residential densities involved, is available for download at http:// tinyurl.com/ydzyjrhx. Two of the options emphasize a market- driven approach to housing, with upzonings intended to encourage higher density development. One option would upzone almost all of Rockridge while the other, in line with the Oakland General Plan’s overall development policy, would focus the upzoning in areas around the Rockridge BART station and AC Transit bus lines. The other two scenarios involving change would focus on further encouraging affordable housing. Both would involve providing additional incentives for projects including affordable units. One would apply those incentives throughout Rockridge, while the other would create a new affordable housing zoning overlay district that would apply to sites identified as “Opportunity Sites” for new housing in the General Plan > Rockridge Housing Scenarios, page 13 , Questions About Wills, Trusts, and Probate? i Kyle M. Johnston Estate Attorney 5315 College Ave. Oakland, CA 94618 510.527.1880 - — ——— — = —- RdckridgeNews July 8, 2017 . es > ’ rd - , Te Helo improve your community. " sam Volunteers needed! « _ . » ww &. enicsWeets.org ees vi v ~~ . dA x s '=e . . . - ~.> ¥ ae’ % ie « ‘, . . 7 : YY : . . . ° > . / we «~< 4 ~ ' . a cet oor beet Rag tery for"'r 6 -m « a ring Cleaning akland Ramps Up Sp Scenic Streets of 0 : “These Shovels and Rakes Are Waiting for You!” “- by Lee Patterson, Scenic Streets hearty thank you to the sixe | . Streets’ forces on Saturday, June 10, for a spring Scenic Streets Gardening Day. Special thank a”! participants. time or people power to isi lishe Visit Scenic Streets’ website — www.scenicstreets.org— for more about what we have accomp nergetic volunteers who joined Scepj s to Charlene, Ky and Leah, first-time We collected and bagged lots of litter off the notorious on-ramp “motor speedway” (the acce sure to be clean for at least a few days.... A load of free mulch was delivered as well, but there was not the get to it. We’ve saved it for the next Gardening Day, likely to be in September. Dramatically illustrated by the scope of the work was the need for more volunteers. If you have a free couple of hours every once in a while to help keep an important part of your community looking good. contact Lee Patterson (510/923-1084). We need you. ss to Hwy 24 from Claremont Avenue), [t’s dand our plans for the future. a Furry Friends at the Library Are So Much More by Sarah Washburn, Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL) board member f you were lucky enough to visit the Rockridge Library on the morning of Saturday, June 24, you likely saw lots of furry friends in the parking lot and even more happy young children’s faces. Funded by the Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL), the library organized a popular petting zoo where some of our littlest neighbors had an opportunity to get up close and personal to animals they never see on the streets of Oakland. Supplied by Barnyard Pals, there were bunnies, ducks, a mama goat, a baby goat, chickens, and two baby pigs. At one point there were more than 40 people in a line winding around the fenced enclosure. Children waiting in line were helped to be patient by Erica, the Children’s Librarian, who supplied coloring supplies and activities to fill the time before young hands met fur and feathers. Why animals at the library, you ask? Well, libraries bring the world to our communities. Sometimes you fill your imag- ination with new adventures; other times the library provides those new experiences for you. One parent shared that this was the first time her child had ever touched an animal other than a dog or a cat. Events like these encourage families to become more deeply connected to the library. Librar- 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 * L. J 4 f . ,» 7 7 - : a e : 4 2 <> ra nd ,- _ ’ “<4 by F o 4 a . ‘ + “ o “ - se ° _ : ia f Ye a FF. BN OR ao, 4 —— » + aes = ~ 7 wee *%, “¢ 4 . 7 ~ ~ . . J . 7 y - , +a Ps ey “de 4 | oka : s 7 Za - - + s ~ 7 - . Fo “a 74 4, , wd “o> | ta , 4% ; x 0 ef 8 My Oe i Oe a ~ . m5 ; x op Fe ee FS Py STF ° 7 . ¢ + ' - - > + a ee we * ~ _ > . 7 eT Se aN ~ < ne he, . y ye + ¢ a at ‘ - OD ad 7 . : ad . ~ 2 fa, : P yaa) ed me i eg ‘ ‘ Pa 4, ; a PRA A ee mee ; “és rs . wo. vo x - \ wt ZS s< . a - . _ J. Y. a. ‘ ty —_ PS ae Ae we ed IP kD : Nil ESRD TD AN ERE ne a ies are a reflection of those whom they serve. As libraries organize more imag- inative activities that provide exposure to the staff, to the build-ing, and to what th library offers, the library can develop a greater community of lifelong learners, > Furry Friends at the Library, page 14 MULTIPLE OFFERS REPRESENTED THE BUYERS @ 321 63 STREET—UNITA — THE ROCKRIDGE REALTOR® WITH A ded es td Ry DO)aK maxi@redoakrealty.com - -—- © —@» ap July 8, 2017 aDOnated Dog Park News by Linda Zunas ‘ a you to everyone who responded for our calls to restock our park last month. We received hundreds of donated poop bags and are grateful now not to be running out. Please do continue to drop clean, empty newspaper bags off at our park. You can drop them off in the black mailbox at the FROG Park entrance, or the green shopping bag at the Hudson entrance. Thank you also to those who donated old patio chairs. We now have enough seating for everyone and we appreciate it. We continue to need tennis balls. If you have old tennis balls, please drop them over the fence; all YOGA + WELLNESS 5 CLASS PASS + 60-MINUTE MASSAGE $179 * Limit one per person. Other restrictions apply. ————— BERKELEY | GRAND LAKE | ROCKRIDGE WWW.ILOVENAMASTE.COM ‘i a ¢ ~ f° ww eee & ~~ —_— A + °*ePeonm- u™ ee ~ 8 are oe... =. Qe f°? °2s .~» fF. vse 6 Rédckridge News seating; 3 Sokcanines and}their, car — ae | + @ « . EST. 1967 GRUBBCO.COM _—— —————— -_ rere. 2 wf _— ee Ee=P® BS. our dogs will thank you. Meanwhile, the Hardy Dog Park Group has been busy: ge We built and installed three new leash racks last month; sw We continue monthly cleanups, and encourage you to come by on the first Satur- day of each month from 9-10:30 to join us; gs We are kicking off the final fund- raising push. We are applying for a grant and some community sponsorships, and have gotten letters of support from Coun- cilmember Dan Kalb, Oakland Parks and Rec, and the City Administrator. Renova- tion fundraising will pick up again over the summer as we launch a personalized brick campaign. Look for more news in the coming months. If you have not done so already, please join our email list. Simply send a note to HardyDogPark@yahoo.com We look forward to seeing you and your dogs out at the park this summer. Rockridge Optometry Your neighborhood family eyecare providers since 1947 Dr. Donald Sarver Dr. Larry Sarver Dr. Scott Yokoi Dr. Cindy Sakai 5321 College Avenue, Oakland 510-655-3797 www.rockridgeoptometry.com ~~." -o. OTE, ee ee ee ee oe eee oe = ee ee -—- OP EE a Ss Fi OO Ye Ve. 6. Byes O:8 120C): by Judith Doner Berne ‘We talk of our love of Oakland and our wives...’ ? ahah aves calls him Mac. You may have seen him, at age 97, on his early morning walks from Piedmont Gardens Senior Living Community up to the highest fountain in Mountain View Cemetery. But for the many years he lived in Rockridge, he was more widely known as Judge Winton McKibben of the Alameda County Superior Court, later a Visiting Judge, who presided over several historic trials. There was the 1980 trial of Eldridge Cleaver, writer and an early leader of the Black Panthers, for shootings of Oakland Police officers in 1968. There was the 1989 trial of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panthers, for embezzling state aid funds that had been designated for the Panther-founded Oakland Community School in 1982. And in 1999, as a visiting judge, there was Kevin “Big Kev” Robinson who pled no contest to dynamiting the Vallejo Courthouse in 1997. Mac, who grew up in Belvedere, Illinois, made a pact with his high school buddies § Judge Winton (Mac) McKibben (second from left) and walking buddies George Krevsky (left), Harry Fish and Foster Goldstrom begin their Monday morning trek through Mountain View Cemetery. JUDITH DONER BERNE Darin J. Worm BROKER 510.504.4960 djworm@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 ~Y eee ee ee owen = Rdckridge News “that we all would become attorneys and clean up the state of Illinois.” They dispersed to different colleges; World War I] interfered; he served as a weather observer on an alr transport base in Ireland. (They all did become attorneys but Illinois still has its problems.) Se After the war, Mac went on to finish the undergraduate education he had begun at Northern Teacher’s College (now Northern Illinois University) at UC Berkeley. He then - - Ft a : ‘4 > . x iS Pa <r, x 4} aN o - el ‘“g >.) ae i> a one . Ke! > ta oom, . : . - Pa e es vy ee we \e » > + ’ > A ‘ ke 7 a eS ee SY Se. —— ¥ #3 - i’ ~ \ a . - we ~ ‘3 ‘ ‘ . f » : < 4 « _ July 8, 2017 earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. In 1976, he was appointed to the bench by Goy, Jerry Brown during his first gubernatorial stint “He’s areal prince,’ Joe Roberts, a retire federal district probation officer, who also lives at Piedmont Gardens, told me. “He's awfully well thought of by everybody within the legal system. He’s also a very humorous 99 man. | But, to Mac, his most important accomplishment is “the lasting” of hig 75-year-long marriage to his wife, Margaret, > Everyone Calls Him Mac, Page 7 yi we ee a. hw. et &xsS ~ ; : Pits ree = SOF. J A Martenson, DDS : - "3 eee ee tN mw, we. . 4 - “iy “e a. Arn, VK @ - ‘ fA ners. sone ‘% PIEDMONT NEW -XAM GA 94610 _ Pledmontdentaipy design.com — a July 8, 2017 Everyone Calls Him Mac irom page 6 whom he met in college. “My wife was my most steady pillar. Without her, I don’t know if | would have been as reliable and steady as I turned out to be.” In what he termed “my first retirement,” he stepped down from the Superior Court bench in 1989. “We had a cabin at Clear. Lake. and I wanted to drink martinis and read poetry with my wife.” And before he had an opportunity to tell her that he also wanted to serve a stint in the Peace Corps in Africa, they found themselves raising their only grandson, from the age of four until he graduated high school. During that time, he became a Visiting Judge, retiring for a second time in 2008. That was the same year Margaret took a fall that left her with a brain injury and symptoms of dementia. When Mac could no longer care for her at home, he moved her to a skilled nursing facility. Four years ago, so they could once again be under the same roof, he sold the art- and music-filled contemporary home that they had rebuilt after the 1991 Oakland Hills firestorm. He took an apartment in the residential living section of Piedmont Gardens in Oakland and brought Margaret to its skilled nursing unit where he has dinner with her most nights. “Originally, we had a classic Maybeck- style redwood house, designed by Warren Perry when he was dean of architecture at Cal,” Mac told me. Margaret smelled smoke that morning (Saturday, October 19, 1991, the day before the fire rekindled) and called Shopping? Find it in Rockridge! 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 Email: fmsprojects@icloud.com Réckridge News the fire department, he recalled. “They said, ‘If there is a problem, we'll let you know.’ Well there was a problem and they didn’t. “I was on a ladder cleaning leaves out of the rain gutters and a couple drove by and said, ‘you should get out of here.” We each took a car. Margaret had the foresight to take the bank records. I didn’t think to take anything. I was dressed in cutoffs and tennis shoes with holes. I was due in court on Monday so [ had to go out and buy a suit and shoes.” Selling the land and buying another house was not in the picture, he said. “We wanted to stay where we were. It is such an ideal spot where we could walk to shopping, the BART, and the university.” A Cété and Marica Seafood Restaurant were their dining favorites. Both were tennis players, so an added attraction was the private Chabot Canyon Racquet Club and the public courts, both just down the street. Margaret played at the club (to which they loaned money for contruction) and he on the public courts. In rebuilding their home, they worked with Rockridge architect Bill Dutcher. “We wanted a place where we could hang art and a living room that was acceptable for playing music. We hosted little ensemble groups.” Margaret, who played piano and was a member of the Berkeley Community Chorus, often held rehearsals of her alto section. One of their two sons, Brian, is a retired Berkeley music teacher, educator and administrator. Mac used to run or play tennis — all well before 8 a.m. “We were called ‘The Dawn Patrol’ on the tennis courts,” he said. “No matter what time the sun came up, we were there.” He still arises around 5:30 a.m. “Every morning I argue with myself; ‘Am I the master of my soul, or just another deadbeat,” he confided with a smile. A half hour of calisthenics and he is L i - Lor" ™, , N , fi Niu M G VEGAN CUISINE —— off to walk either with his weekly walking buddies, including former Rockridge neighbors George Krevsky and Foster Goldstrom, or with his longtime running partner, Susan Sawyer, retired Alameda County public defender. “All the public defenders appreciated that he treated our clients very well,’ she said. “We started running in 1982,” Sawyer told me. “It was five miles, then four, then three... He would walk and talk and that would keep me going. And now we walk and finally I’m faster than he is.” “Judge Mac is one of the most unforgettable characters I've met,’ Krevsky emailed me. “He’s worthy of a Reader’s Digest special. His passion for the democratic process and his commitment to social justice are inspirational. | have been charmed by his storytelling and reminiscence of his years on the bench. “When he first asked us to join him on his walks five years ago,” Krevsky said, “I was intimidated by the thought of walking in the cemetery. Judge Mac wasn’t and before you know it we were inspired to join him as we trudged just up the hill past the beautiful fountains and talked of our love of Oakland and our wives.” He continues to attend “the things we always did” — Berkeley Rep and Aurora theatre productions and concerts of the Oakland and Berkeley Symphonies. Although fully involved in the activities at Piedmont Gardens, serving as chairman of both the library and finance committees, “I still wish I were home in many respects,’ he said wistfully. “There are a lot of activities here. But it isn’t home.” To comment on this column or to suggest stories about you, your neighbor or your Rockridge neighborhood, email judyberne@att.net. Happy hour with seasonal cocktails & small plates Sunday brunch with live music Wine dinners & special events Visit MillenniumRestaurant.com for menu, reservations & gift certificates 5912 College Ave 510-735-9459 Rédckridge News “SHOPS ON THE RIDGE” DEVELOPMENT Raises TRAFFIC, PLANNING PROBLEMS Epiror: [am a Rockridge resident and have just become aware of the plans for the Shops at the Ridge. The following website was recently posted on Nextdoor Rockridge: http://www. jrdv.com/work/rockridge/. While I understand the desire to reduce leakage of retail from Oakland to adjacent areas, the project seems out of scale to the neighborhood. It is like a mini Bay Street, a retail development built in an old industrial area, not in the midst of a residential area. [had not seen anything in The Rockridge News during the planning phase. There was quite a bit of coverage during the planning of the Claremont/College Safeway replacement, which I recall was downsized based on community input. Did the RCPC have any involvement in this project? It may be slightly out of the area the RCPC usually deals with, but it will substantially impact Rockridge residents. My biggest concern is the traffic. There are two other large developments on the corners of Broadway and S5lst/Pleasant Valley Avenue; a large senior residence and another big project on the northwest corner (details unknown to me but apparently www.buttrickprojects.com he 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 Letters to the Editor 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. residential). To add serious insult to injury, I understand the section of Broadway between Broadway Terrace and Keith is being reduced to one lane in each direction. I presume the decision to allow bicycle lanes was based on current traffic volume, not predicted volumes based on the three substantial new developments which will feed a large volume of traffic onto Broadway. Does the City of Oakland Planning Department’s left hand know what the right hand is doing? Was there community input into these decisions, and if so was there full disclosure on the planned developments when the “lane diet” decision was made? Does the RCPC or anyone else have similar concerns? — Mark Goldsmith RCPC Chair Stuart Flashman Replies: Thank you for your letter. Iam responding both as chair of the RCPC board of directors and chair of RCPC’s Land Use Committee. RCPC was involved heavily in commenting on the planning of all the projects you mentioned, with RCPC participating (and notifying the community through The Rockridge News and our e-newsletter) in numerous community meetings, along with representatives of Piedmont Avenue and Temescal community organizations. July 8, 2017 We commented heavily, specifically on the traffic impacts of all these projects, and the City did a major traffic study for the Rockridge Shopping Center redevelopment project, as well as further studies for the senior housing project (Merrill Gardens), the Temescal Apartment projects, and the Broadway “lane diet.” While the Broadway/Pleasant Valley/51 st Street intersection will definitely be impacted by the first three, Safeway has paid for improvements, including added turn lanes and an upgraded traffic signal and controller. to partially mitigate the impacts. The City nevertheless was required to acknowledge significant and unavoidable traffic delay impacts at that intersection [the Legislature abolished considering such traffic delay impacts as environmental impacts two years ago], and adopted a statement of overriding considerations finding that revitalizing that shopping center was important enough to justify those impacts. As part of the project approval, Safeway was required to set aside $500,000 for additional traffic mitigation measures once the project is completed. That was insisted upon by all the community groups. Because both the Temescal Apartments and Merrill Gardens are “infill” residential projects, the Legislature has exempted them (and all similar projects) from environmental review. The traffic study of the Broadway lane diet found there would be a maximum of five minutes of additional delay at the peak PM commute hour in the northbound direction, but no other significant traffic delays. ) Letters to the Editor, page 9 BRE #01452156 510-867-4094 9. July 8, 2017 Letters to the Editor from page 8 OP vcrins that were increased pedestrian and cyclist safety on Broadway. (That section of Broadway has experienced a high number of pedestrians and cyclists being hit by cars while attempting to cross at crosswalks, for the most part the result of speeding by drivers. The lane diet is expected to reduce traffic speed and thus improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.) Visit RCPC’s website at Rockridge.org., search for “Rockridge Shopping Center,” and you will find numerous articles, all of which originally appeared in The Rockridge News, beginning in 2007. There are also articles discussing the Merrill Gardens, Temescal Apartments, and Broadway lane diet projects, all of which also originally appeared in The Rockridge News. I appreciate both your letter and your concerns. | am sure there were many others who also missed the articles in the Rockridge News, and may have been surprised when the new project started taking shape on the ground. Part of the reason for my long sponse is that the issues involved were th important and complex. RCPC has only a limited ability to influence the City, and even less in changing a private developer’s : 2” Mimi's \ ‘eLandscaping ) Design . | Installation Consultation Construction Rockridge Resident 510.595.9090 Quality service wma) ORTRUN NIESAR * 82) Realtor® | CalBRE #01161032 Rdckridge News direction. As this issue’s front page article explains, the community may yet get a second chance the influence Phase II of this large project. We encourage you and the entire Rockridge community to speak up. — Stuart Flashman stuflash2@gmail.com | Support Our CuRRENT, COMMUNITY-ORIENTED ZONING REGULATIONS EpIToR: [ am writing to express my thanks to Carol Behr for her eloquent and well- reasoned letter (The Rockridge News, May 6). | share her concern about the direction Oakland leaders appear to be taking us. Our neighborhoods and the city at large have become victims of an irreverent pursuit of money and a willful denial of the environmental values so closely linked to our daily lives. Wherever I go, I see the proliferation of towering condominiums. There is no green space between outer walls and sidewalk; and there is no parking for future tenants even though there is no public transportation immediate to these structures. Wherever I go, I also see bumper-to-bumper traffic. The air is thick with carbon pollution, and I look in vain for the trees that would help combat this pollution. Most important is the fact that none of the new “housing” I see is affordable to teachers, artists, writers, musicians, or the elderly — the very people \ CYDNEY O AIZOW Interior © Exterior Lead-Certified Painters For a free estimate call Cydney 510°652* 4034 EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUE "9 ortrun.niesar@sothebysrealty.com = baysir.com S~ Local with Global Reach. “ Specializing in the East Bay. Discreet and Professional. INTERNATIONAL REALTY who have, in fact, “created” a vibrant and just Oakland, have made it a desirable place to live. I urge RCPC and Mayor Schaaf to examine the values pushing us into ever more density and despair. I, along with Carol Behr, urge support of our current, community- oriented zoning regulations. — Sharon Osmond TRASH AND TRANSIENTS IN FROG Park EpiTor: I have noticed that an unusually large quantity of trash is piling up in Frog Park between Clifton and Cavour and around the DMV parking lot in the area. There is also a green tent pitched there nearly every day. Some of the benches have also been commandeered by sleeping bodies. Cooking is also going on using hibachi which could create a fire hazard. | have seen someone defecating or doing similar activity near where animal models are displayed. This could be the new normal for urban life but why should children have to experience it so early in their lives? Can something be done, such as, asking people to camp away from areas which children frequent. — Name withheld by request Reply: FROG Stewardship First: Continue using Frog Park. People who are homeless have as much right as the rest of us to enjoy the greenbelt and Frog Park during the daytime, as long as posted rules are observed. This means no alcohol, no open flames, no dumping, no loud music, no vandalism, no disorderly conduct. Outside of City-established park hours — dawn to dusk — they do not have the right to camp, cook, or p Letters to the Editor, page 12 JASON KALDIS ARCHITECT INCORPORATED 910.549.3584 WWWAIKALDISARCHITECT.COM 10. Rdckridge News July 8, 2017 It’s Summer! Allergy-Free Ice Cream Tours local food tour company is expanding its weekend tours of Rockridge ice cream and gelato shops to accommodate those with food allergies. “It’s always pained me to hear parents say that they or their child felt like they couldn’t come and enjoy our Ice Cream & Gelato Tour because of an allergy,” Lauren McCabe Herpich, owner of Local Food Adventures, says. “All kids should feel included and be able to enjoy this sweet treat with family and friends.” The one-hour tour, which takes guests to three sweet spots along College Avenue, features sorbets, ice cream flavors free of nuts, and soy-based ice creams, as well as a scoop of ice cream history. The allergy-free tours will be held Sunday, July 16; Saturday, August 19; and Sunday, September 10. Email info@localfoodadventures. com, call 510/604-6546 or visit www. localfoodadventures.com. — Judith Doner Berne Ridge Shops on Hold from page | regarding the status of the Phase IT development of the Ridge. While we understand the neighborhood’s desire to see a completed project, the rapidly changing retail environment has caused us to reevaluate our leasing strategy and the site layout. Add to that the spiraling cost of construction in the Bay Area, TRC is having to revisit the economics of our Phase II Plan. Finally, recently discovered (undisclosed) environmental issues (asbestos embedded in concrete) have caused us to stop the demolition of the bank building as we explore options for the safe removal of the hazardous material. Councilmember Kalb’s office continues to monitor the situation, and updates will follow as new information becomes available.” SO, it appears that Phase II of the project is on hold for an indefinite period while TRC 7a ‘ . oo yi > "4 . oi “as be 7 - £m . ¥, 2 vans*Amato, AIA 510.420.0210 cst /AmatoArchitecture.com \ _a re-evaluates its options. With the major housing shortage in the Bay Area, RCPC is hopeful that the re-evaluation will include asking the parcel’s owner (a San Francisco-based family corporation) to reconsider its opposition to including housing as part of the project. Any major change in the project would likely require reopening the project’s environmental review, especially in terms of traffic impact. Poison Hemlock Growing Locally his is the time of year when volunteer plants grow in areas where small children play in the park in my neighborhood. I’m happy to see native plants thrive, but Poison Hemlock (the plant that killed Socrates) is spreading in the hills and several have started growing along the walkway between Frog Park and the DMV. It looks very similar to Queen Anne’s Lace. Learn to differentiate between the two plants: www.ravensroots. com/blog/2015/6/26/poison-hemlock-id. — From a June 10 posting on Nextdoor by Janet Winter In Rockridge since 1997 Going on a road trip soon? af ; Yes we do offer: Motorcycle Insurance Susan Bernosky 510-450-9050 INSURANCE SERVICES, INC CA License 0D34069 www.strahaninsurance.com Hoping? Find it in Rockridge! LAW OFFICE OF DAVE KARLINSKY 725 WASHINGTON ST., SUITE 313 OAKLAND, CA 94607 (S10) 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. Rdckridge News 11. ‘Coming in oenst Register by July 14 for Gifts History of National Night Out S ponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, NNO is America’s night out and a time for neighbors to get together to have a block party, ice cream social. potluck, or other outdoor event to build neighborhood spirit and unity, the first defense against crime. Registration is now open. Register by July 14 to receive giveaways for the kids, a special gift for the host, and an informational packet. Registration is not a requirement to ia ation al Night Out hold a block party, but should you choose to register by July 14, you will receive special Tuesday, August 1- material, including: Register by July 14 = Block Party Guide for special gifts = Sample Program Ideas = Getting to K Y W > can Dost 8 National Night: Out " Customizable Flyer ee party? The City of Oakland welcomes = How to Start a Neighborhood Watch the participation of any neighborhood or community group in National Night Out (NNO) activities, and encourages you to use this event to bring people together and to have fun. POLICE « COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Group. For more information, go to www2. oaklandnet.com/nno or call 510/238-3102. To register online, go to https://solar.oak- landnet.com/go/nno. LAST BAY RENTAL SPECIALIST ROCKRIDGE J PIEDMONT FMONTCLAIR MNI IE ASPET SIS AP | PAINTING & WATERPROOFING Inc. COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD CERTIFIED PAINTERS Professional preparation. Many local references. All work Guaranteed (510) 654-3339 “Caldecott PROPERTIES Property Owners, for a consultation on leasing your home contact a local expert: Julie Keys, Director of Leasing BRE#01945588 510.225.9244 Julie@caldecort.com CALDECOTT.COM S — PACTFIC UNION CHRISTIE'S MOTLEY TEAM REALTORS” TOOK, fot ‘F INS X He NaS Sisk OD ato RP + he. SS z. ’ oes A . 2 ' Sad ‘as noon va Ce te Be Sree eee ae . iy ; tau) ve ERASER Se LSE re: LTS a ty Po: : ¥ p Orfolinal price List sic DOM” Selling price $995,000 10 $1,410,000 Closing d ata BR BA Address 6/1/2016 2 1 6436 Colby St. $995,000 aarapia y omer 6286 Colby St $975,000 $975,000 14 $1,400,000 6/2/2016 eee 6452 Regent St $1,295,000 $1,295,000 17 $1,350,000 6/5/2016 2 1 463 Hudson Street $985,000 $985,000 8 $1,207,000 6/5/2016 3 1 £474 Hardy St $945,000 $945,000 14 $1,240,000 6/6/2016 2 2 °#£«5283 Broadway Ter $859,000 $859,000 16 $1,315,000 6/13/2016 1 1 321 63rd Street $585,000 $585,000 16 $715,000 6/15/2016 2 2.5 5283 Broadway Terrace #4A $1,500,000 $1,500,000 0 $1,500,000 6/16/2016 3 1 5707 Vicente Street $850,000 $850,000 15 $1,000,000 6/21/2016 2 1 5400 Claremont Ave $699,000 $699,000 12 $885,000 Homes sold in June closed 24% over the asking price on average. Specializing i in Rockridge | 510.459.4338 | MotleyTeam.com If you’re thinking of buying or selling, give us a call for a free consultation. Newsletter Seeks Two Volunteers e have two opportunities for WW Sarasoers this month. Please let us know if you can help out: 1. Once a month, pick up two boxes of bundled newsletters on 62nd Street (xColby) and deliver to Ocean View Drive just above Broadway (address to be provided to volunteer). Due to extensive travel and surgery, the current Marshals cannot pick up the boxes but can distribute the bundles. 2. Route 01B,D: Chabot Road begin- ning across from public tennis courts at 6885. Then deliver to 7037, 7045, 7IOI, 7117, 7211, to 4 houses on Marie Way and back to Chabot to 5 houses past Marie Way until dead end. 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. Martin Coyle 510-655-8717 Mike Tracy 5221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618 www.coylehomeremodel.com COMPLETE TREE CARE Proudly serving Rockridge since 1965! (510) 562-4000 www.treesculpture.com Fully Insured | Certified Arborists | Lic #655977 are —— wo ee ee ee — =m ewe OT lw Se ~~ Oem US SP lee emwee™ + Ok re, awe. sO 12: Rodckridge News Letters to the Editor RCPC-NCPC July 8, 2017 for service. “It can be 2 to 3 minutes, but that is not good enough.” He added that the department has made it a priority to hire more from page 9 use the park for sleeping or toilet activities. These activities have negative impacts on the park for all users, and are not allowed in any city of Oakland park. Second, homelessness is a problem that, as a neighborhood, we cannot solve by ourselves. There are things we can do in the near term, however: m@ Evenings and weekends, use SeeClick- Fix to report encampments. (Find the problem reporting app at: https://en.se- eclickfix.com/oakland. There is no need to risk a photo if the phone’s location service function is turned on.) You will get notifi- cations of reported issues and can add your vote to fix items others have sent in. @ Call the Oakland Public Works call center (510/615-5566) weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. They will dispatch Operation Dignity to offer services. m@ If a camper is cooking over an open flame, immediately call the fire department (911). @ Join a park cleanup (often a couple of homeless neighbors do, too). @ Quite a bit of the trash near the DMV is actually Farmer’s Market and DMV customer-related. The FROG committee is working with Oakland Public Works to add more receptacles. @ Above all, keep visiting the park with children. With a bit of watchfulness by par- ents and caregivers, it’s still a good place to run around, walk a dog, ride a scooter or bike along the greenbelt path, and have fun. from page | most heavily involved in criminal activity, which offers them support services if they want to change direction, but promises a high likelihood of jail or prison time if they don't. Also, she said, the City is continuing to train additional officers to replace those lost to attrition. (Those plans may have received a setback by the Council’s last-minute removal of one Police Academy from this year’s budget.) She also noted that the City is closing in on completing the goals it agreed to in the consent decree to improve how the police interact with Oakland citizens. Deputy Chief Allison then provided more detailed information on current police activities and priorities. “Our theme,” he said, “is to hire the best and be the best at what we do.” To that end, the department has seven top priorities: 1. Reduce homicides and shootings by 10 percent. 2. Reduce street robberies by 10 percent, and in Rockridge particularly at BART and along College Avenue. 3. Address human trafficking with a goal of stamping it out. 4. Address “side shows,” where drivers show off their cars and skills by spinning doughnuts and driving dangerously. They are increasing in rates of violence. 5. Deal with issues of homelessness. “We do not intend to and will not criminalize homelessness, but we will address criminal activity at homeless encampments.” 6. Reduce response time for priority calls CollegeP 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 510.652.4364 college-prep.org -&e rep dispatchers to ensure that emergency a non-emergency Calls are promptly answer and needs addressed.” | 7. Comply with Negotiated Settlement tasks. ““We are close on past compliance, and working on our internal affairs process. stop data, and personnel assessment database process.” The police are focusing on “precision policing,” he said, meaning developing detailed data that can be used to prevent and solve crimes. Many categories of crimes are trending downward, although murders and shootings are still up in parts of Oakland (but not in Rockridge). The majority of subsequent audience questions concerned homelessness and homeless encampments. The deputy chief emphasized that Oakland’s homeless are still Oakland citizens, and many grew up in Oakland neighborhoods. He noted that homelessness is not a crime, and that the police prefer to work with social service agencies to find permanent housing and social services, rather than simply arresting people. He said Oakland has recently initiated a mobile medical unit to '® and treat the homeless, and acknowledg that many homeless need mental health treatment that has not kept up with the need. Turning to local crime statistics, Rockridge’s new Community Resources Officer (CRO), David Mac (see photo and notes, page 2), pointed out that while crime had decreased in Rockridge, vigilance remains a watchword. He encouraged people to be aware of their surrounding, and not to bury their faces and their attention in a cell phone. Area 2 Commander Capt. Jake Bassett, also at the meeting, stressed that surveillance cameras can benefit not only the households that set them up, but the larger community as well, by furnishing evidence to support ongoing criminal investigations. Algae Closes Lake Temescal ccording to an article published June 8 on the SFGATE website, Lake Temescal has been closed since Tuesday, June 27 to swimmers and dogs after an outbreak of toxic algae was detected in a) water, park officials said. Find the article at: www.sfgate.com bayarea/article/Oakland-s-Lake-Temescal- closed-due-to-toxic-11252754.php =. =e @ s . - > - °* Se" fet yy 7} e""? a lel "ea Pa a” ~al’ wee-la ~ wr YY ©“et@«a CU wa *e . oo eo —_- 7 cS , july 8, 201 Réckridge News e LJ ' fter the 100-year-old pillar at the corner of Benvenue and Alcatraz avenues was destroyed by a careless truck driver, neighbors rallied to raise funds to combine with the aaaare settlement to ensure it was rebuilt. When the photographer supposed to record the near-com . ze reconstruction failed to show up, neighbors Sip Siperstein, left, Ned Fischer Martha Trac Davis Tussman, Sander Yu, Jeni Qian Yang, and Jeff Gillman, gathered around the new ilar for a photograph taken by neighbor Doug Berman. The final piece, a stone cap, has since paca fitted. Reckridge Dental. eae 510.653.6677 rockdent.com Ste. 312 Bruce D. Fong, D.D.S. Filippo Cangini, D.D.S, M.S. Advanced Preventive, Restorative, Periodontal Gum Care, and Dental Implants. Experience * Knowledge * Performance July insight: The Feds raised the ‘short term’ interest rates recently. This rate for which the government loans money to banks impacts the prime lending rate, consumer’s rates on credit cards and home equity lines of credit. They do not directly correlate to long term mortgage loans as is sometimes inferred. Home loans are driven by the bond and securities market. Those rates remain low. Feel free to call if you'd like to be referred to a local lender or want more information on the Rockridge real estate market. Happy Summer! Perry Riani, Senior Associate “2016 Realtor of the Year” 1900 Mountain Blvd Oakland, CA 94611 1625 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA 94709 C: 510.813.3799 perry@pacunion.com License # 01402540 100 Years from page 3 is looking to celebrate this anniversary, and the continuing use of the space as a church, throughout the Fall. Celebrations will include building tours, guest speakers, photographic displays and a celebration service on Sunday, November 5, at 10:30 a.m. You can get involved in the celebrations in many ways: sharing photos or memories, helping us with historical information and tours, and collaborating with us for special events. You can find more information on the church website at http://www.capcoakland. org/centennial. Rockridge Housing Scenarios from page 3 Housing Element. Those present at the June committee meeting felt that the wider range of options would help the community better understand what was possible. The next few months will involve fine-tuning these options with the help of housing experts and fleshing out an analysis of the impacts, both positive and negative, that each option would have on Rockridge. The hope is to have a more complete package of options ready to present to the community by this fall. a Ee ee et ae eh ne oo ees a) College Avenue Presbyterian Church 5951 College Avenue | 94618 (510) 658-3665 | www.capcoakland.org cif @ safe | open | real SS Tippos 5400 College Avenue - In Rockridge - WN gv gg ng wr 8s we 14. Réckridge News July 8, 2017 Your Message Could Be Here Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number counts as one word.) Mail to: RN Classifieds, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 94611. The Rockridge News does not publish in August. September issue deadline is August |7. September issue is out September 2. For information: smontauk@gmail.com Frame Your Face! Make your first impression perfect with great brows. Come visit me and create a beautiful brow! Penelope’s Aesthetics 510/594-1552 penelopecalef.com Your Rockridge 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. Gardener 2 Over 20 years of service to the Rockridge area. Garden Restoration. Great References. Reasonable Rates. Please call Chris. 655-0157. Looking to Refinance and Don’t Want to Speak with a Bank? Home Loans-Refinance-PreApproval. David Herrenbruck — Rockridge Resident-Call 510/981-9799; david@fishmanfinancial.net FISHMAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., NMLS#1384117 —- CA BRE#01986477. Furry Friends at the Library from page 4 Starting with our youngest neighbors. The summer reading program at the library is a prime example of this engage- ment. If you’ve ever heard of the summer slide — the time during summer break when kids’ learning is at risk of slowing down and losing some of the achievements gained during the school year — you should know that the library is a critical asset for bolstering learning during this time. A fun and engaging petting zoo may introduce a child to the library, a somewhat minor exchange with a significant impact. This is why we do what we do: the Friends of the Rockridge Library helps the library extend its reach and provide programming and services that encourage our entire community to become engaged learners for a lifetime. Adults had a fun surprise at this gather- ing, too. Members of the FORL board were at the event, sharing what we fund and why we do it. We brought a bit of excitement to the adults with a prize drawing of gift cards from Cole Hardware and Cactus Taqueria, and a gorgeous gift basket generously donated by Nathan and Co. Winners were thrilled, one sharing that this was the first time she had ever won anything. The library’s summer schedule is full of fun. Check out the list of activities on the Oakland Public Library website (www. oaklandlibrary.org), and consider supporting your library with a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of the Rockridge Library. Visit us at www.RockridgeFriends.org. There are many ways to engage children (and adults) with libraries. Pictured at left is part of a children’s petting zoo recently hosted by Friends of the Rockridge Library (FORL). For adults, FORL had prize drawings for gift cards and a gift basket donated by College Avenue merchants. /SARAH WASHBURN, FORL BOARD MEMBER Compassionate Caregiver, CFA Certified Over |5 years of experience with dementia, Parkinson’s and hospice clientele. * chauffeur to appointments, cook, and 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. 510/84/-289. Cell 510/982-9757. Handyman Services, Interior & Exterior House repairs, kitchen & bath remodel, tile, decks, dry rot, drainage, walls, termite damage, doors, windows. Professional work for affordable prices. Juan (510) 692-6399 it’s a Seller’s Market No need to pay high commission fees in a seller’s market. Professional, experienced Realtor®. Free home valuation of estimated seller proceeds. 510/517-9969. Sharon Medairy CA Bre #10885305. Real Estate Source, Inc. www.medairy.net In Addition... More on FROG Park Plans as Discussed at the Joint Town Hall dt ei steps to keep the park as relevant as possible for users, the FROG committee surveyed the community for its wishes for park equipment, learning that more swings and more public art were high on the list of desired improvements, Theresa Nelson reported. Steps are underway to add more traditional swings as well as toddler swings for younger children and bucket swings with extra support for special needs children. Later, an Apollo spinner, described by company literature as the 21st Century merry-go-round with a central pole and rope structure designed for climbing, will be added. The goal is to serve everyone in the community: adults with or without children and kids of all ages and physical abilities. Also, the committee hired Caroline Stern of Deco Art on Claremont Avenue who painted a cheerful mural featuring Frog Park. You can find this mural ot. Se® plans for other park improvements: www. frogpark.org. Pr pistrict 1 Councilman Dan Kalb prop-in Community Office Hours: Temescal! Farmers Market, 5300 Claremont Ave. (off Teleg.) at DMV parking lot. 3rd Sunday each month,10:30am-12:30pm. Times/locations of other office hrs. or more info: mmharris@ oakland.net or www.dankalb.net/contactdan. rockridge Branch Library 5366 College Avenue, 597-5017 FOR CHILDREN Summer Volunteers wanted, ages 11 to 16 to help with the Summer Reading Program and general library tasks. Contact Erica (Children’s Librarian) to reserve a spot: 597- 5017 or esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org. « 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 2 to 5); Thursdays, 10:30am. All story times followed by Play Time; parents and caregivers invited. Special Events: « Summer Reading Program: continues through August 5. Everyone to age 13 invited o listen to others read aloud or to read ndependently to win prizes. Record the days you've read to get prizes & be in the raffle. ¢ Tues. evening events at 7pm with live performers (for all ages): ¢7/11: East Bay Symphony Instrument “petting zoo.” ¢ 7/18: Puppet Company (Magic Teakettle). ¢ 7/25: Germar Magic. ¢ 8/1: Kamishibai Stories. ¢ 8/8: 90-Second Newbery Films. ¢ Wed. Workshops: craft, science, & construction sessions at 3:30pm. Stop by for a schedule of activities. ¢ 90-Second Newbery Film Makers Workshop: to make a minute-&-a-half- long group film that retells the story of a Newbery-Award-winning book. Sign up now for 8-session workshop; meets Tuesday- Friday, 3:30-5pm, 8/2-8/16. Stop by, call, or email Erica at esiskindOPL@gmail.com or 510/597-5017 to reserve a spot. Best for ages 8 to 12. FOR TEENS * Teen Summer Passport Program: now thru 8/5. Explore Bay Area Hot Spots; connect with players online by submitting reviews and creating book lists; and receive prizes thru the summer. Sign up at 597-5017 or www.oaklandlibrary.org/summer. Teen Advisory Board (ages 14-18): Help @ sv. the library how to better serve teens; get community service credit for school. 2nd Sat. each month, 1 to 2pm. * Teen ‘Scape Program: Play video & board OMMUNITY ca 45. LENDA /23, every Tues, Thurs, ; Pm; Wed 1:30 to 5pm. “i Balm Making Workshop by Rock aper Scissors Collective. 7/22 at 2pm. ° a of History T-Shirts: Workshop with Seer te Oakland Hand Made. Learn your favorite historical T-shirts. 8/23 at 2pm. denen FOR ADULTS Summer Reading Program: now thru 8/5: Write a mini review or complete three activities to enter a raffle for great gift cards to local businesses, Grand prize raffle is for an iPad Mini. Stop by the library or play online: https://playadult2017.0aklandlibrary. org/ Help downloading eBooks: Work one- On-one with a librarian to get started with our amazing collection of digital resources. Fridays, 2 -3:30pm. Make apt. online or Call 597-5017 ° Writers Support/Critique Group: Bring 15 copies of up to 5 pgs. (double-spaced, MS margins) of any prose for on-site reading/ discussion (or come empty-handed). Third Sat. each month, 1 to opm; wheelchair- accessible. Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@ aol.com. Call to confirm. * Lawyers in the Library: Free legal info and referral. 1st Tues each month; 6pm- 8pm. Sign-up for lottery starting 5pm; lottery at5:45 pm. Call day of program to confirm. Gallery Exhibits July: Oakland Art Association; Photographers Lobby Display Case. July: Summer Travel. 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, 9/5 and Sat, 9/9. Diesel Book/Poetry and Events FREE and open to the public. ¢ The Month of July- Where’s Waldo Scavenger Hunt Contest until Mon, July 31, at 5pm. Get a Find Waldo passport at DIESEL and get it stamped or signed in each neighborhood store when you spot Waldo. Then, exchange the passport for a small prize and get entered into the drawing for the Grand Prize to win Waldo books. ¢ Sun, 7/9, 3pm. Poetry Flash with Don Bogen: An Algebra and Joseph Di Prisco: Sight Lines from the Cheap Seats. e Tues, 7/11, 7pm. Publication Party for local author Shani Raviv: Being Ana: A Memoir of Anorexia Nervosa. e Tues, 7/18, 7pm. Local author Richard Rothstein: The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. and Fri 3:30 to 5 e Fri, 7/28, 6pm. Pajama Party Story Time for Kids. Come in PJs; bring teddy bear; have milk and cookies. Local author/artist Lily Williams reads bedtime stories from lf Sharks Disappeared. ¢ Sun, 7/30, 3pm. Poetry Flash with guest poets Christopher Howell, Joseph Millar and Dorianne Laux. e Thurs, 8/3, 7pm. Paul Kingsnorth: Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist and Other Essays, and Beast (anovel), in conversation with DIESEL bookseller Brad Johnson. e Sun,8/6, 3pm. Poetry Flash with guest poets Cassandra Dallett and Bruce Isaacson. e Thurs, 8/10, 7pm. Local author Yalie Kamara: When the Living Sing. e Sun, 8/13, 3pm. Publication party for Christine Evelyn Volker: Venetian Blood. ¢ Tues, 8/15, 7pm. Publication party for Margaret Wilkerson Sexton: A Kind of Freedom. e Fri, 8/25, 6pm. Special Musical Pajama Party Story Time for Kids. Come in PJs; bring teddy bear; have milk and cookies. Bay area author/musician Mike Mirabella and illustrator Amy O’Hanlon read bedtime stories from On the Luck of an Irish Sailor. e Sun, 8/27, 3pm. Poetry Flash; discussion of Heaven Was Detroit: From Jazz to Hip- Hop and Beyond with editor M.L. Liebler and contributors Greil Marcus, Al Young, Melba Joyce Boyd, Brian Jabas Smith, George “Moseley the Punk” Moseman, Joel Martin, and Pat Thomas. 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 Le Jazz Hot, the Quartet of the Hot Club of San Francisco, celebrating the music of Django Reinhardt’s pioneering Hot Club de France. More info at http://www.lejazzhot.biz/. Sun., July 16, 2pm. Advance tickets: http:// lejazzhot.brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door (cash only) beginning 12:30pm (doors open 1:30): $15. Refreshments and reception follow. Honoring 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. 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. 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. Rockridge News July 8, 20) 7 —— KEVIN BROWN Broker - COLLINS ROOFING | Family Owned & Operated License to Root Argo _ <== 654-8707 or 593-4780 @ (510) 444-2220 ) www.collinsroofing.com FROVIDING Quality Work * Free Estimates Professional, LIS O95 Te Full Service Real Estate Brokerage A — Do you have a story about Rockridge To Rockridge Clients ail , 7 License #754966 you would like to tell? Let's get in touch. 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