Extracted text · highlighting “Kaitlyn Johnke”

PLS BUR, LANG.

SSG ASTUTE? CHP OEY Me...

ee

we Yt

2 W “re Co G8 * Bre

> ee

e@

ck

VOL. 33

a NO. 1m ISSUE NO. 350

] www.rockridge.org

m January 6, 2018

ridge

CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council * 4123 Broadway, PMB 311 * Oakland, CA 9461 |

by Don Kinkead
Aree to fill an open position

on the RCPC board in June 2016,
Jesse Humberto Ortega ran for and was
elected to a full term in the June 2017
board elections. In addition to norma]
board duties, he has served as the board
secretary since his election.

Born and raised in San Francisco.
Jesse made the move to Rockridge in
2010 with his engagement to his wife-
to-be, a Rockridge native. In a happy
turn of events, the couple then lived
for two-and-a-half years in China and
then Kazakhstan, when his wife was

Why I Joined the RCPC Board

— Jesse Humberto Ortega —

placed on overseas assignments. While
living abroad, Jesse used his computer
expertise to support fellow expats in those
countries.

apartment, the couple bought a home near
the expanded College Avenue Safeway.
They are so close that they refer to it as
their pantry.

on the RCPC board as follows:

part of a group that helped raise money
for orphanages and sponsored special

After many years living in a Rockridge

Jesse explained his interest in serving

“While living abroad, I was briefly

} Why I Joined RCPC, page 16

CPC Board Positions Available: Joining the RCPC board of directors can
ea straightforward process: Rockridge residents 18 years of age or older and living
within RCPC boundaries (http://rockridge.org/content/rcpc-boundaries-map-view)

can take the first step by contacting board chair Stuart Flashman at chair@rockridge.
org to announce their interest. It’s time to take that step.

recent article in the San Francisco
Chronicle told of Oakland’s Picardy
Drive and that neighborhood’s penchant
for elaborate annual Christmas lighting
installations. Did Rockridge share this
type of high-wattage displays in its

neighborhoods? The article was silent on
that point. However, a couple of quick
windshield surveys made on Rockridge
streets during several nights before and
after Christmas found pockets of displays
largely north of Clifton and south of

RCPC Town Hall

Thursday, January 18, 2018

7:30 p.m.

Rockridge Library, 5366 College

Topics:

|. BART station tree removal/replacement.
2. City plans traffic circles on Shafter.

3. Claremont Hotel neighbors discuss pro-
posed condominium project.

Details below.

|. BART: Rockridge Station Tree
Replacement. BART reports a Rockridge
Station Hazard Tree Assessment was completed
by an International Society of Arboriculture
Certified Arborist in 2017. The results require
BART to replace hazardous trees adjacent to
the parking lots inside the station. The identified
tree hazards include one dead coast redwood at
the corner of Forest Street and Shafter Avenue,

> Town Hall Topics, page 9

Christmas Lights Brighten Rockridge, Here and There

Hudson and around Shafter, Cavour, and
Locksley. Lighting installations east of
College and north of Forest were scant.

More photos of the displays selected
for ingenuity and creativity can be found
on page 14.

ORtrE

Rdckridge News

The Imperiled Future of
“Transit-Rich” Rockridge

by Dakin Ferris, Rockridge resident

n March of 2017, the Oakland City

Council approved a major variance to
existing Temescal zoning. The variance
gave the green light to construction of a
25-story, 402-unit apartment tower next
to MacArthur BART. My first reaction —
selfishly — was “OK, better them than us.”
[ love the family-oriented, small-village
feel of Rockridge just as it is, thank you
very much. Still, it made me ponder. How
easily could this sort of thing happen in
Rockridge? I’ve subsequently concluded,
it’s more a matter of “when” and not “if.”

“Transit-rich” is the term used by
YIMBYs (the “Yes In My Backyard” pro-
development forces) when referring to
Rockridge. If you haven’t heard of them,
YIMBYs in California are organized,
very active and gaining momentum in
finding ways to provide a rapid response to
California’s housing crisis. While | support
their general objective, I have bristled at
some of their aggressive means. Now, more
immediately, I believe they and the pro-
development forces, spawned by legitimate
need, pose a direct threat to the future of
Rockridge as we know it.

In the past few years, YIMBYs have
achieved impressive results. They have
successfully sued numerous cities that had
blocked housing projects. They have also
been involved in championing substantial
state and local legislation that favors pro-
growth and fast-tracking of development
projects. In recent months, I was surprised
to learn that one of the YIMBYs’ prize

ft A R [ E H $5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15

Dry Cleaning only ® Present with incoming order

_ SHIRT _
LAUNDERING!
4 Ser

a

5808 College Avenue, Oakland

Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza

objectives is to bring higher density housing
(high-rises, condos) to “transit-rich”
Rockridge. In short, because Rockridge 1s
home to a BART station, they see it as a
natural and even appropriate target.

My initial (albeit naive) reaction to this
conclusion was that we need to organize
to oppose this. As the forces at play are
significantly bigger than our tiny village,
that won’t be easy. Although RCPC, a public
benefit nonprofit organization, has earned
respect from City decision-makers over the
years of representing the neighborhood,
Rockridge lacks independent authority in
dealings with the City. Legitimate regional
needs could overwhelm the neighborhood.

My second thought was more measured.
The current housing crisis was born of the
Silicon Valley jobs gold rush which caught
the historically more measured development
process by surprise. That has resulted in the
birth of the YIMBYs and significant focus
and pressure on the political process.

The concern, then, is that as with any
swing in society, the rush to solve one
problem — in this case the housing crisis
— will come at the expense of a more
thoughtful, planned development process.

The micro-battle over the bike stations
that recently took place in our village and
on Nextdoor.com was an apt example of the
approach used by the YIMBYs, and I think
presages a much more heated discussion
that’s headed in our direction when more
substantial development is inevitably
proposed.

> imperiled Future, page 13

Garden Cleaners

601-1188
Mon - Fri 7—7* Sat 8-6

January 6, 2018

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY

Library program details/hours: Calendar, page 15

RoéckridgeNews

The Rockridge News, 153 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
community involvement; and provide leadership and
representation of neighborhood interests.

Rockridge News Production

Don Kinkead.........cssssesees Editor

JO Ellis .....c.sssssessessessneesneensesses Asst. Editor

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

JO Ellis..........ccerreccersessesrsscessess Advertising &

Community Calendar

Susan Montauk........0-c-s+ Business Manager
Don Kinkead.........-0cccsseseees Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2017-18

Stuart Flashman .........---0++ Chair

Leonora S24 ....-cccecrcecerereees Vice-Chair

Jesse Ortega ......-crersereereeves Secretary

Ronnie Spitzer... Treasurer

Alden Conner, M C Haug, Don Kinkead,
Andrew Masalin, Laura Schlichtmann

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?
* Would you like to write a letter to the Editor?
Contact us at one of the following:
Editor: editor@rockridge.org;
www.rockridge.org;
The Rockridge News,

4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, CA 9461 |

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
reprint a Rockridge News article, contact the editor.

Newsletter Advertising/Deadline
Publication date of the February issue Is:

—@ February 3, 2018.

—@ Submission deadline: January 18, 2018.
Advertising rates are $26/column inch. Six
month pre-pay rate available. For display ads,
call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or email
joellisi@hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right
to refuse any display or classified ad that it deems
inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page 14.)

ed ia : =~ Orins iS. bod As Se

Réckridge News

ae wi - oe | fe »* - a = oo - . 7 Ad
- 3 - _ — — = . Gwe . 47 ao “ ~ oe
ad . . . coher 2081 fe v >, ;

3.

may change! Please check the rockridge,
org website the week before to confirm
meeting and agenda. Meetings are generally
open to the public.

—

Tt next Land Use Committee meeting
will be Wednesday, January 24, 7:30 p.m.,

at the Rockridge Branch Library upstairs
meeting room. Meeting details or plans

RCPC Land Use Committee
Update - January 2018

The Land Use Committe
00,2017, but no foneann © met December
al actions Were taken for

lack of a quorum. However, as detailed below

committee members present discussed one
item, and another land use item isc

at the December meeting felt it would be

appropriate for RCPC to comment on the
license transfer. The issue is now pending

before the RCPC Board.

@ College Avenue Safeway Use
Permit noncompliance
(6310 College Ave.)
| When this project, the rebuild and
pending before the RCPC Board. expansion of an oxisting Safeway, was
m@ Bourbon & Beef liquor license approved by the City in December 2012,
transfer; 5634 College Avenue a long list of conditions was attached to
The Bourbon & Beef restaurant and bar _— the use permit. In addition, RCPC, along
closed Its doors last month under apparently with two other local community groups,
inauspicious Circumstances. (There was reached a settlement agreement with Safeway
broken glassware scattered onthetablesand that committed Safeway to additional
floor near the College Avenue window, and _‘ 'equirements to mitigate the project’s effects
that window had been cracked, apparently on the community.
by an impact.) A sign has now been posted
announcing the pending transfer of the liquor
license [full bar] to new ownership, for what
seems to be a hamburger-oriented restaurant
and bar.
Land Use Committee members had
heard from neighbors that Bourbon & Beef

Over time, RCPC and the other groups
have attempted to get both the City and
Safeway to enforce/live up to the requirements
Safeway committed to, with only partial
success. Most recently, the groups, assisted
by Peterson Vollmann, the Oakland planner
who has been assigned to the project, sent a
letter to Safeway’s offices in Boise, Idaho,
pointing out numerous long-standing
problems of noncompliance. Safeway has
responded, promising to fix some problems
and asserting other problems have already
been addressed. The groups, while happy
to get any kind of response, disagree with
some of Safeway’s claims of compliance.
Further follow-up with Safeway and the City
is In progress.

urrently

RDA Successes, Rockridge’s Direction
RDAPleased with Reflections at the

-_ gpening a new location!

had a poor record of addressing neighbors’
complaints about late-night noise and
garbage problems. The committee members

The G B Co,

of our new
Downtown Oakland off!

100 Grand Ave
Mid-November 201 7
Celebrating our 50th year and ie

grubbco.com

2017 Achievements

by Chris Jackson, general manager of
the Rockridge District Association

he Rockridge District Association (RDA)
was invited by The Rockridge News to
present a few highlights of our work in 2017.
Let me start by saying that the Rockridge
District continues to be one of the largest tax
revenue generators for the City of Oakland
for a district of this kind. That in itself in
this tumultuous time is an accomplishment.
Following is a list of other specific
accomplishments in 2017:

> RDA Successes, page 12

~ », Questions About
Sn Wills, Trusts,
and Probate?

x Kyle M. Johnston

Estate Attorney

5315 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
510.527.1880

Cusp of the Year
Looking Back & Looking Ahead:
My Personal View

by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Board
Chair, writing as a Rockridge resident
W:: 2017 ending and 2018 looming,
it seems appropriate to take
stock of where things are in Rockridge,
and where they may be heading.
Certainly 2017 has been an eventful
year. While President Trump wasn’t named
“Man of the Year” by Time Magazine,
his administration has had a large impact,

> Cusp of the Year, page 12

EAST BAY RENTAL SPECIALIST

ROCKRIDGE J PIEDMONT BMONTCLAIR

Caldecott

Ppa

Property Owners, for a consultation on leasing
your home contact a local expert:

Julie Keys, Director of Leasing
BRE#01945588
510.225.9244

Julie@caldecott.com

CALDECOTT.COM

4 Rockridge News January 6, 2018

Reset for Old Chase Bank
Building Demolition Date

by Don Kinkead

ate in November 2017, Carlos Palafox of SVP Development,
be of the “Shops at the Ridge” development at
Broadway and Pleasant Valley Avenue, wrote to the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC) and other interested
(read: concerned) local groups to report a planned start date
and demolition procedures for the mouldering Chase Bank
building located on the northeast corner of the intersection.

Now, in early January 2018, there has been no evident activity at
the site since the letter was received. While the neighborhood awaits
a new start date, plans for managing the demolition, minimizing
the release of asbestos and other hazardous materials, and ensuring
street traffic safety were detailed as follows in Mr. Palafox’s letter:

I want to provide an update on the demolition of the former Chase
Bank building. Our anticipated start date is between December
11-14, 2017, and continuing through February 2018. Please see the
additional bulleted information below:

@ Work will be conducted in accordance with a site-specific
health and safety plan, City of Oakland demolition permit, and
Bay Area Air Quality Management District regulations.

m All work will be overseen by the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District and an environmental consultant, TetraTech.

m™ A licensed contractor will safely remove hazardous mate-
rials, such as asbestos, in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations.

CAPC Continues
Centennial
Celebration

Jo us for an evening with Julia Morgan
as portrayed by Oakland historian

ae
7 .
Ww
i
i
y -

e4 é

} a. 4
° / y fi
/.
ore ‘
, o} / ’
we
- — .
Str
« ; 7 } vs

Once asbestos problems are resolved, demolition of the

former Chase Bank building is expected to resume.
/D. KINKEAD

es Some of the building materials will be recycled, but any
material that cannot be recycled will be disposed of at an off-
site facility.

= Measures to minimize potential dust, noise and other
impacts will be used throughout the project.

m You may notice crews wearing personal protective equip-
ment, as well as minor truck traffic, as materials are transported

for off-site recycling or disposal.
= Flaggers will be present to safely manage truck, car and

pedestrian traffic, when needed.
— Carlos Palafox, SVP Development

Is College Avenue parking
going to the dogs?

This trio of faithful pooches was
spotted recently, waiting — more or
less patiently — outside a College
Avenue restaurant, their guardians
having made creative use of the bicycle
stanchions. |

Betty Marvin. Learn about her work, local

buildings, life, travels, relationships and her
impact upon Rockridge, specifically through
the building of College Avenue Presbyterian
Church (CAPC) in 1917. This is a free,
community event that is part of the CAPC
continuing centennial celebrations: Saturday,
January 13, 5-6:30 p.m. More info at
http://www.capcoakland.org/centennial.

CAPC Explores the Future

As we enter our 10Ist year of living and
serving the greater good from our location
on College Avenue in Oakland, the College
Avenue Presbyterian Church community
is considering how we can best serve the
greater good of 21st century Oakland. Help
us develop and paint a new picture of how we
will be a church. See our website at http://
www.capcoakland.org/paint-the-picture.

DANIEL STEA

510-867-4094

January 6, 2018

Réckridge News

Report: December 2017 NCPC Meeting
glary Prevention —

— Bur

by Karen Ivy, NCPC Secretary

QO: December meeting beean With
presentation from SaferRockridge.

Paul Liu of the SaferRock ridge board brief]
outlined the history of the group and their
current status, running Premiere Protective
Services (PPS) private patrol cars in an area
which generally conforms to Oakland police
beat 12Y (Rockridge below Broadway).
These patrol officers are not armed. They
currently operate on monthly and one- time
donations from residents. Patro] hours
vary based on recent donation amounts.
SaferRockridge worked with Rik Belew of
OpenOakland to analyze Rockridge crime
records; the data show a 30 percent decline in
robberies and burglaries, coinciding with the
beginning of patrol activities, However, this
doesn’t prove Cause; it’s merely observation.

Gordon Jacobs of the Upper Rockridge
Neighborhood Association (URNA)
explained that they have contracted with
Bay Alarm for patrol duties in their
neighborhood (Rockridge above Broadway,
roughly beat 13Y). Bay Alarm was already
patrolling at least part of their area. URNA
charges residents monthly dues of $30, and
membership includes discounts on Bay
Alarm products.

Both patrol providers offer vacation
coverage and night-time escort services.

Lia Duncan of Bay Alarm explained
how their patrols work. They mainly patrol

Piedmont dental

Dr, Jit as Mertensott:

during the day since that is when most

burglaries happen, backing up OPD. She

then emphasized the following safety points:

@ Owners have to protect their houses —
get to know the neighbors, so you know
who should be around.

m Keep shrubbery and hedges trimmed

back.

Keep drapes closed.

Don’t make it obvious that no one

is home — use timer lights indoors,

motion-activated lights outdoors, leave

a radio on.

m If you travel, have mail held or arrange
for a neighbor to get it.

w Patrols, security cameras, and lighting
don’t prevent burglary, but they deter it.
Make sure you have solid locks.

m= Security cameras are a big help as video
footage can help OPD identify suspects,
and may possibly be used in court.

Next Meeting: February 8

he NCPC has no meeting in January
2018. Our next meeting on Thursday,
February 8, atthe Rockridge Branch library
will include a presentation from Neighbors
for Racial Justice entitled “Creating
Safe and Welcome Neighborhoods.”
It will cover issues of implicit racial
bias. Neighbors for Racial Justice
Operates out of the Dimond district and
is giving this presentation around the city.

BY DESIGN
pps

1331 GRAND AYENUE
t-510 652 2911
piedmontdentalbydesign.com

PIEDMONT CA
f- $10 652.0772

NEW PATIENT EXAM
umm § S350 VALUE! mz,

94610

Scenic Streets

of Oakland

Scenic Streets Oakland
Begins Anew

olunteer organization Scenic Streets

Oakland is almost all the way through
a transition period that’s been ongoing for
over a year. Formerly operating under the
auspices of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC), we are now
sponsored by another 501(c)(3), the Oakland
Parks and Recreation Foundation (OPRF).

We are continuing to maintain Rockridge
area sidewalk plantings and the Claremont
Avenue/Highway 24 on- and off-ramp
plantings.

We still need volunteers. If you're inter-
ested in keeping the area looking cared for,
please contact Lee Patterson: lee.scenic-
streetsoakland@gmail.com.

Volunteering to improve your own neigh-
borhood is a great New Year’s resolution.

PAINTING & WATERPROOFING Inc.
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL
INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation. Many local
references. All work Guaranteed. |

(510) 654-3339

-BUTTRICK PROJECT Hi ih
_ARCHITECTURESDESI |

~

Os 5 . é 5

www. buttrickprojects.com

Delaying College: ‘No Longer a Stigma
Or Taboo Topic’ - Says Abby Falik

by Judith Doner Berne

y New Year’s resolution is to create
a book using past Eyes on Rockridge
columns that highlight the residents
and neighborhoods that are Rockridge.

Whether that will actually happen — or
go the way of many of my resolutions — I
don’t know. But in reading through the six-
plus years of monthly columns, I found one
from April 2013 that cried out to be updated,
sooner — not later — and for sure — not
maybe.

My memory was jogged by a recent
announcement that Rockridge resident
Abby Falik, founder and CEO of Global
Citizen Year, was named as one of the 100
Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2017
by Goldman Sachs at this year’s Builders
+ Innovators Summit. Her nonprofit
organization offers a global “bridge year”
between high school and college.

When last I had written about Falik,
Global Citizen Year was in its fourth year;
100 students (up from the 11 who began the
program) had been selected to go to rural
villages in Brazil, Ecuador and Senegal
to live with families and work with other
nonprofits to support local projects; and one
of those was Kaitlyn Johnke, an Oakland
Tech graduate and the program’s first
student from Rockridge.

Now in its ninth year, the organization
has 50 full-time employees; increased the
number of “bridge year” students to this
year’s 150; strengthened its leadership
training; and added India to its itinerary.
A year ago, 500 applicants from across

510.653.6677

Reckridge Dental.

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

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

rockdent.com

the country vied for 140 spots. And ‘ne
more than four years since Johnke took part,

participants include graduates of Oaklan’
Tech, Berkeley High, Bishop O pow
College Prep and Head-Royce high schools.

“It’s quite selective,” Falik told me, as
we sat overlooking uptown Oakland from
Global Citizen Year's fourth floor, colort ul,
light-filled offices. “We are looking ha
leadership potential rather than grades, for
the go-getters not just the do-gooders. Part
of the ‘secret sauce’ is to bring together
teens from different backgrounds.”

She reminded me that 80 percent of
those chosen receive financial aid and a
third are on full scholarship. “This is not
just another privilege for privileged kids.
Indeed, much of her focus 1s on fundraising,
since full tuition is $30,000. |

By combining deep community
immersion in the developing world with
intensive leadership training, Falik explained
in our original interview, the program seeks
to give participants the critical skills and
global awareness necessary to become
transformative, social impact leaders in
college — and beyond.

“We use the term ‘bridge year’ instead
of the more traditional ‘gap year’ because
the gap year is often perceived as a luxury
reserved for privileged kids, or those
who are somehow ‘off track,” she said.
“The notion of a bridge year conveys an
intentional transition from one life stage
to the next. The goal is to give young
people, regardless of income, a deeper
understanding of the world and their role

3rd Floor
Market Hall

Ste. 312

January 6, 2018
ee

al oN
2: es ke PSE ok
: aa a4 ' of oa 9
; x 4 , 7

——_

;
y,. ay
. .

mat PARES y :

experienced a Global Citizen Year
are the centerpiece of Abby Falik’s

Oakland offices. Jupity Done BERNE
within it.”

“I think the biggest thing that has
changed is that taking a year to do something
else between high school and college is no
longer a stigma or taboo topic,” Falik tol
me. “hat convention has shifted faster than
I thought it would.”

Falik is an East Bay native, who grew
up in Berkeley near the Claremont Hotel in
the house where her parents, Bill Falik and
Diana Cohen, still live and where she and
her husband, Joel Segre, were married. She
graduated from Head-Royce, then got her
B.A. and M.Ed. from Stanford — where
Segre also went — but the two didn’t

> Global Citizen, page 7

Vion .
~
4 —™
eri 7

‘lvans*Amato, AIA 510.420.0210
ae “a as mn CRE ae — “ * *\
AS Gee matoArchitecture.com

- a

January 6, 2018

Réckridge News

; , ell as to
India, where support often comes from

expats living there. For now, she relies on
an au pair program — which offers young
people from other countries a home and
employment with an American family for
a year — to help care for her young sons
when she 1s at work or traveling. “There’s a
whole community of au pairs in Rockridge,”
she told me, describing it as a sort of Global
Citizen Year “in the other direction.”

“They re superstars,” she said of many
of the students who have experienced the
Global Citizen Year. “Ninety percent get
into more selective schools. Two have won
Fulbrights, others are working at Tesla,
Microsoft and the United Nations. Two
are on our board of directors, and three are

currently working for us, two inthe Oakland
office and one in India.”

And like many alumni, Kaitlyn Johnke’s

ty.
He

.

Z

4 ~*
.
‘<
bdr SO NY
> pai pes
é a J
. -
ve
eee) a
“aS a ee
- ant. »
ox

-

bridge year in Senegal continues to
impact her life. Now a senior at California
Polytechnic Institute, “my major in
anthropology and geography with a
concentration in international development
is completely inspired by my Global Citizen
Year,” she wrote in an email.

After spending the summer following
her freshman year doing a study abroad
program in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as a junior
she studied Spanish in the small agricultural
town of Jaen, Spain. There, “I found a huge
population of Senegalese immigrants,
connecting my Spain experience with my
time in Senegal.” And before returning
home, she visited her host family in Senegal.

For her senior project, Johnke will
return to Spain and Senegal and also go to
France, “to study whether or not immigrant
Senegalese women are experiencing
women’s empowerment, through factors
such as socio-cultural integration or
changing of dominating masculine norms,”
she wrote.

“By the time my kids graduate high
school,” Falik predicted, “most will not go
on to college right away.” She pictures a
new paradigm when colleges will routinely
require a year of work and/or travel before
acceptance. “My hope is that parents see
that this is the next best step for their kids
— anew path to college.”

For more information, go to globalcitizen-
year.org or call 415/963-9293. To comment
on this column or to submit ideas for future
stories on you, your neighbors or your
neighborhood, email judyberne@att.net.

‘ 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 maké great memories:

Ag Be eas i Pe Rae ee ine SPS oe OS Se VE Na RS DS) a

‘ LEA, a Ore eae ~ ~ ¥* LEO VEZ ~ me " & ‘oe a i oe 4

“ . te ee He - : ; \ ' . 4 :

* 5 OPEN T DAYS A WEEK ~

ye x. P< - * <<a ne a 4 a <" . .

a ae % ee Ne A AAR . . Le ? ge A ; vos tall’ Soe
att 7

:

> OR U EAL PCE DE mop Ay f : t x . o ae: ee te

: a ee - = 3, my ae ee ag.
a : ‘ P- , * : . : 2 ¥ Pa a
ae - ~ ONT Stet PA * a (ag a sy ba wae
a ie ” “« <8 se Pare

’ bc? ” Pr 2 OP te

a aS .
ia yo » iat . “
: Se 2a y
wer ~ br a ‘- —
ja 4 .
7 fo th iT, S407 a
hs ‘

>

a)
4
>
te a > + ~~) :
¥}>" A, ¢ < x - . - as > ed -
oa ae ee = ‘ wt . — oT ee, Wey y ate 12 ><>
ae wn ee ah te : ere Vet AO OLS oy ~ CAE yee te

Even during a rare moment at home,
Kaitlyn Johnke is focused on her senior
project which is rooted in her Global
Citizen Year in Senegal.

/JUDITH DONER BERNE

HAP-PY NEW YEAR

Thanks for a wonderful 2017, and
a fabulous 17" year in real estate!

Coming Soon Listings in N. Berkeley hills:
3+br/2ba with fabulous bay views
5+br/3ba (use also as 3/2 + sep 2/1 inlaw)

Ruth Goldstone
510.418.7191

eastbayprop@gmail.com

CalBRE# 01300164 MARVIN
1) GARDENS
REAL ESTATE

If you're thinking of selling or buying, contact me.

8 Rock idge New January 6, 2018

Park Day School 6th Grade: Frog P Cleanup ;

Dav School for their hard work, | NS 7 ay) arts A
by Theresa Nelson and thev will be coming se\ eral ate n° : iS >
()' abright,sunny,end-of-the- sre times this year. _— |

year December day in 2017, We invite any other school

the entire 6th grade class from classes or groups who would

Park Day School volunteered like to do a cleanup to contact

for a cleanup at Frog Park. us. Please email Lynn Gitomer
These 40 students swept at. igsendme@sbcglobal.net

the pathway (full of leaves and

redwood needles from the recent ————

windstorms), cleaned the play

structure, and cleared the creek ved
of debris. They even inspired othe SF
some of the toddlers at the park a

Pe , ,
Vas
- ~~ Ye =

to help. We're grateful to Park Sie, ae Soe ee tN | ae ce), | BeshN BE

\ CYDNEYO rtzow @

Interior * Exterior
Lead-Certified Painters

. My ae he >
- W “y' - x
Pas RO » 2 ~

LF

hak i ee
* TEMODE ,
At nanthhatinet cehonst ile

Award Winning Contractor |
Kitchen & Bathrooms or a free estimate

Foundations & Additions ADU projects call Cydney
Frank Silver: 415-722-9805 510*652* 4034

Experience * Knowledge * Performance

BIG, WARM THANK YOU TO
Family, friends, neighbors, clients, colleagues & vendors
for all your support in 2017!!!

Darin J. Worm
BROKER

510.504.4960
dj worm @centurioninsurance.net Wishes for a healthy and joyous coming year for all in 2018!!!

Centurion Insurance Agency

Commercial + Personal + Life + Health Happy New Year!

An Independent Insurance Brokerage

providing cost effective, comprehensive

“— VW
Insurance products and services ay 2016 Realtor of the Year” P ACI F IC
since 1947. ag 1900 Mountain Bivd Oakland, CA 94611 NION
et 1625 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA 94709 U
www.centurioninsurance.net ©: 510.813.3799 perry@pacunion.com INTERNATIONAL

PerryRiani.com
License # 01402540

Perry Riani, Senior Associate

—

9.

Rdckridge News

Thank you,
Mick Kenney

ick Kenney is the
long-time Rockridge
resident responsible for those
sparkly garlands wound
around the poles of stop
signs and parking restrictions
along Clifton Street to
brighten our holidays.
For the past several years,
Kenney said, he has been
buying them at a Dollar Store,
filling up a pack on his bike
with them and riding along
Clifton from Desmond to the
freeway, stopping to adorn
poles closest to each corner.
“It’s beautiful; I love it,”
said Clifton resident Jane
Diaz, expressing what many

neighborhood residents feel.
— Judith Doner Berne

==*| Financial Group

Incorporated

David Herrenbruck
david@fishmanfinancial.net

Cell 510-981-9799
510-528-2255

Reverse
Mortgages

Re-Fi
Pre-Approval

NMLS# 1384117

Par s wey be ”

aad -

‘
' _*
Nl gl |
Xi .
o~,¢

-
a |

PACIFIC
UNION

INTERNATIONAL

MOTLEY TEAM

REALTORS*
License #: 01265873 | 01798658

Thinking of making a move in 2018?

Town Hall Topics

from page |!

and 16 red ironbark eucalypti along Keith
and Shafter Avenues. Community mem-
bers will be invited to participate in a
selection process for replacement trees
in Spring 2018. For additional information,
contact Richard Fuentes, Principal Repre-
sentative of Government and Community
Relations, at rfuente@bart.gov.

?. Sarah Fine, City Transportation
Planner, will discuss plans for mini round-
abouts as presented in the November issue
of The Rockridge News. (See the letter
from Sarah Fine, at page I! of this issue,
responding to Laura Schlichtmann’s letter
to the editor in the December 2017 issue
of The Rockridge News.)

3. Update on the Claremont Hotel
Condominium Project from “Save
Our Claremont.” A follow-up to the OpEd
article in the December issue of the news-

letter (page 9) and further discussion.

 ] Bs 3

TD PA =%
College Avenue
Presbyterian Church

5951 College Avenue | 94618

(510) 658-3665 | www.capcoakland.org
cite safe | open | real SOG

he College Avenue Presbyterian
Church continues its 100th anniver-

sary celebration. See page 4.

TREE SCULPTURE

We know this market can be intimidating and overwhelming but it doesn't
have to be. We will guide you through the process and equip you with all

the tools to win in any market.

COMPLETE TREE CARE
Proudly serving Rockridge since 1965!

(510) 562-4000

www.treesculpture.com
Fully Insured | Certified Arborists | Lic #655977

Call us to schedule a consultation so we can help you get to where you want to go...

Specializing in Rockridge | 510.459.4338 | MotleyTeam.com

Want the highest possible price? Call us and we will show you how we will get it!

Rickridge News

10.

Let’s Have a ConVERSATION ABOUT
THE Future or ROCKRIDGE

Epitor:

With the holiday season now come and
gone, I would like to start a conversation
about the future state of the retail stores
on College Avenue. The strength of the
economy and the number of over-crowded
BART trains should equate to a boom time
for retailers, but it seems like there are far
more than the normal number of empty retail
spaces now, some stubbornly so.

It is a distinct possibility that there
are just more storefronts than the current
demographics will support in the future.
Our predominantly single-family home
community, with, I dare say, an aging
population (young people can’t afford to
buy) can only consume so much. We must
also admit that we are all complicit in retail’s
demise by participating in and fueling the
relentless growth of internet shopping (the
most powerful destroyer of small businesses
since the big box store). Who doesn’t like
one-click shopping and nearly free shipping?
We can all try to buy locally when at all
possible and avoid the local corporate stores,
but social consciousness and altruism will
only go so far.

So I am advocating a conversation
about increasing the density of housing
along College Avenue and attracting more
non-retail businesses, including some night
life. I am thinking of three- and four-story
buildings. This is necessary for two reasons.
One, we need more people to maintain a

y N
Coyle
HOME 4
REMODEL

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

your letter Letters may
r clarity and brevity at the
editor’s discretion. Views expressed
in any letter are the writer s om an
may not necessarily be shared by the

editor or by RCPC.

appear with
be edited fo

vital retail and dining/nightlife climate.
Two, College Avenue needs to compete
with Broadway and eventually Telegraph
and San Pablo Avenues, with their high-
density housing. Restaurants and retailers
will naturally gravitate to where the demand

is greatest. Sleepy College Avenue that is a
ghost town after 10 p.m. won't be attractive.

Keeping things the way they have always
been is easier, but we won’t thrive. What do

you think?
— John Dal Pino

My NEIGHBORHOOD PETITIONED FOR
RounpasBouts. WE Hope THE CITY
Can ALso Stupy A SUDDEN INCREASE

IN TRAFFIC

EpiTor:

Laura Schlichtmann’s letter to the
editor about proposed roundabout traffic
treatments on Shafter Avenue (“Has
OakDOT Considered Public Involvement?”
The Rockridge News, December 2017),
raises many questions about the City’s
process for public input about such projects.
Likewise, recent debates in the media and
social media raised similar concerns about
the installation of commercial, bike-sharing
kiosks throughout our neighborhoods.

In my neighborhood, more than 100
residents recently petitioned the City to
consider a roundabout solution at the
over-sized and hazardous intersection of
Golden Gate Avenue and Acacia Avenue.
To us, the original article about the city’s
interest in such traffic-taming projects (The

pe ORTRUN NIESAR
m 510.326.2161
, se Realtor® | CalBRE #01161032

— ___ January 6, 2018
ee

Golden Gate Avenue

is the dramatic increase In

. com
through-traffic, often at h; ne

from often-congested Hj
ghways 24
through our neighborhood. Oth 7 t

the steep rise in neighborhood traffic to the

“road diet” project alon
. th
Keith corridor B tne Broadway/

| Whatever the Case, we would like the
City DOT to Study this sudden shift in

traffic patterns, and its implications for
neighborhood safety and livability. I hope
The Rockridge News wil] follow these
issues and that the City is as responsive

to community input as they advertise
themselves to be.

—Skip Fogarty

RESIDENTIAL Permit PARKING
PROGRAM Has Bic PROBLEMS

EbIToR:

This is a copy of a letter I sent to D

Kalb. I wonder if other people in the
Rockridge neighborhood are concerned and
troubled by the way this system is managed,
and if so how to effect change:

Dear Councilmember Kalb:

Please let me draw your attention to
the Oakland Residential Permit Parking
program. (RPP)

There is no convenient unregulated
parking at areasonable distance for visitors to
the Rockridge neighborhood. This imposes
an unreasonable burden upon people who
live in the neighborhood.

The system for issuing permits is
dysfunctional and byzantine. Working

people do not have time to visit the Parking
> Letters, page II

EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUE

ee ortrun.niesar@sothebysrealty.com

es baysir.com

“~~ Local with Global Reach.
Specializing in the East Bay.
Discreet and Professional.

Martin Coyle 510-655-8717 Mike Tracy
9221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618

www.coylehomeremodel.com

Bay Sotheby’s

INTERNATIONAL REALT}

january 6, 2018
—_—

Letters

a
O oin page 10

enforcement Department even one
jess many times to obtain a Permit: n
yere is NO Convenient unregulated

€, much
Or, Since

chaotic and maddening.

| ask that someone from |
: ou
ook into this troubling failure of i =
government.
” — jeffrey Gillman

r city

Was SUFFICIENT Stupy Given To
Bike Kiosk Location?
EpITOR:

[can understand why the merchants who
made College Avenue what it js
worried the blue bikes will take
parking they feel is essential to their survival.
Was the project initiated as a tria] with
measurables to determine usage and justify
‘ts continuation? For example, were studies

i to determine the specific number of

today are

ntals and returns from a location per month

the number of available bikes between cits
of 7a.m-7p.m must be less than ‘x’, etc.? Lalso
hope the city has access to the raw data for
objective assessment. I’m not for or against
the bikes, but when I hear aims such as havi ng
bike racks within five minutes of walking
distance from one another I want to make
sure the bikes are benefiting Oakland and
not just Motivate, the organization behind
the bike program.

— Robert Teal

schedule an appointment.

Réckridge News

11.

LAW OFFICE OF

DAVE KARLINSKY

725 WASHINGTON ST., SUITE 313 OAKLAND, CA 94607
(510) 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

ditor’s Note: The December 2017 issue of The Rockridge News contained a letter
from Laura Schlichtmann to Sarah Fine, Senior Transportation Planner for the city,
raising questions about the extent of effective public involvement In the planning process
leading to the decision to install traffic-slowing mini roundabouts on Shafter Avenue. Ms.
Fine’s reply is printed below. Schlichtmann made clear in the letter that she is an RCPC
board member writing simply as a citizen and resident, not as a representative of RCPC.

Hi Laura,

Thank you for your email. We are still
very much engaged in community outreach,
and look forward to discussing the mini
roundabouts in more detail at the upcoming
RCPC town hall in January.

To your questions, the surveys were mailed
in August to residents along Shafter between
S5ist and Forest and approximately the first
|-2 houses on the cross streets. The surveys
were returned by mail or completed online.
We also understand many neighbors shared
the survey link with additional neighbors,
listservs, and Nextdoor. To date, we have
received 80 responses. We received 6]
responses before the Rockridge News piece
was published, and another 19 after. Of these
80 responses, 56 (70 percent) supported the
planted roundabouts. Additionally, we have
heard from 30 people who live along Shafter
or on cross-streets who said they would be
interested in volunteering to help maintain
the roundabouts. We’re reaching out to these
people to identify volunteer “captains” and
volunteer teams for each of the three proposed
roundabouts to become caretakers of the mini
gardens.

These types of mini roundabouts are
found in other neighborhoods in Oakland,
and we are using a standard shape to ensure
neighborhood vehicles can navigate the
circle. Generally, we anticipate some minor
traffic diversion (~S%, or about 120 vehicles

per 24-hour period) and minor delay for
emergency vehicles (both of which we'll
monitor after implementation). At the same
time. the traffic circles will likely discourage
through truck traffic, as you bring up. This is
generally seen as a benefit.

As for plants, we are working with our
partners in the environmental services and
watershed groups within Oakland’s Public
Works Agency to identify a recommended
plant palette.

Regarding cost, mini roundabouts are
approximately $20,000 each. While that is a
significant amount of money to a household, tt
is a very minor cost within a repaving project
where the major cost driver is how degraded
the pavement Is.

As reference, the Shafter project 1s
about half a mile long and is part of a
5.7 mile repaving project that we'll be
implementing this spring. These 5.7 miles will
cost approximately $8.5M. So about $60K of
that $8.5M would be the mini roundabouts
on Shafter. And yes, this repaving project
was included in the FY 17-19 budget as
part of the citywide pavement rehabilitation
program, which the infrastructure bond 1s
helping support.

We've heard a lot of great questions from
community members and are happy to keep
the conversation going. Thanks for reaching
out, and we look forward to talking more at
the January Town Hall. — Sarah Fine

JASON KALDIS
ARCHITECT

INCORPORATED

910.549.3584

WWW.JKALDISARCHITECT.COM

-_ -—__ = lL. ee ee ee es «. mT we? lied bad

12. Eau
RDA Successes

from page 3

SE

m@ We were able for the first time, after
a year and a half of negotiation with the
city, to bring lighted holiday decorations to
College Avenue. This was no small feat; the

—~——"
rockridge

istrict association

District invested approximately $45,000
of members’ funds to accomplish this.
Overall, the RDA has been working to
make College Avenue a more festive place
for holiday shoppers and all residents of
Oakland.
@ We are looking forward to the addition
of five new businesses to open soon on
the Avenue.
m@ The RDA continues our ongoing
maintenance and upkeep of the Avenue.
We have just completed another round
of tree trimming of city street trees, and
soon we will have the decomposed granite
replenished in all of the tree wells. We
continue to maintain the watering of our
newly planted trees to ensure their success,
and have replaced several trees that have
been damaged by trucks delivering goods
to our merchants.
@ The RDA has purchased 12 PVC trash
container liners. This is to help eliminate
the unsightly staining of the concrete and
odor due to the broken galvanized liners.
To further improve cleanliness, our board
has allocated funds for power washing of
the city trash containers, and we are soon
to add two new Bigbelly solar-powered
trash containers.
m We continue to work very closely with
the Oakland Police Department to help in
the reduction of crime against our members
and the community at large. We are grateful
to have been assigned a walking officer
and for the support from our Community
Resource Officer (CRO).
@ The District 1s looking forward to
another successful Out and About street
fair coming up in September 2018.

Oo summarize, as we continue to work

with one of the smallest budgets in
the City of Oakland, the RDA is proud
to be able to deliver this level of service
and improvements to our members and
community.

Rockridge News

ae January 6, 2018

Cusp of the Year

from page 3

both in what it’s done (roll-back of federal
regulations, passage of tax cut bill) and what
it’s tried to do (repeal of Obamacare, the
“Muslim Ban” immigration orders). Here in
Rockridge, those effects may not have been
as obvious as in some other communities,
but this is only the first year of the Trump
Administration. One can certainly expect
more changes to come.

What has been and continues to be a
large issue in Rockridge is the shortage of
affordable housing and the concomitant
growth in the homeless population. It’s hard
to ignore the continuing sharp increases
in housing sale and rental prices, with
Rockridge outpacing Oakland and much of
the East Bay in the rate of increase. RCPC
has begun studying what can be done — in
consultation with other neighborhoods —
both in Rockridge and in Oakland, to help
address this problem. The hope is to get that
study finished this year and then ask the
City to help implement its recommendations
for action.

In the meantime, Rockridge residents
will be continuing to deal with the
homeless population in our midst. It’s
worth remembering that the majority of
the homeless are native Oaklanders, and
that they have not always been homeless.
Many are the victims of displacement and
evictions as rental prices rise and houses
are sold and removed from the rental
market. Some are retirees attempting
to live on reduced income. We need to

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

respond with sympathy, compassion, and,

where possible, assistance. rather than wit
distaste for shabby Clothing and makesh

encampments.

Lastly, online retail businesses continue
to shake up the retail environment, on
College Avenue as well as throughout our
economy. If local retail js to survive, we
need to appreciate and patronize local
businesses, and to Keep in mind that local
businesses offer things you won't find on a
website: knowledgeable and helpful sales
people who live in our community; the
opportunity to actually look at, feel. and
try on merchandise before buying; and,
often, related services that help make the
purchase (for example, a bike) best meet the
customer’s need.

Local retailers are part of our community
and deserve our support.

NEW LISTING
COMING IN SPRING!

MODERN LIFESTYLE 7 DOORS FROM COLLEGE AVE

- 3 bedrooms + family room upstairs
- 2.5 bathrooms

attached garage + connecting mudroom
- open plan layout

high ceilings
- laundry room upstairs

Atomic Garden © =
Kast Cay SOghses © < ich hess Oakland

Belotti © = e Namaste Yoga & Wellness

Hudson Bay Cafee = ° Filippo's

x

Rockridge Library sf

Se SANG Rockridge

\
~*
S

~~

© Khana Peena

MAXI LILLEY

THE ROCKRIDGE REALTOR® WITH A

y Pip es eh

510.919.8997
maxi@redoakrealty.com "20

january 6, 2018

imperiled Future

ms

a ee
G om page 2

Oo

For those that misseq i the

oakland ceded the location of the bi
ations to Motiv

City of

ate, a prj keshare
os rivate for ,
| -prof
-ompany. Unlike San Francisco San J .

Vs Ose,

Berkeley and Emeryville, which put th

nto negotiating With Motivate and obtains
significant concessions, Oakland Si .
‘he Motivate contract without any of the

esident-focused modifications exacted b
‘hese other cities. ,
More immediately, Motivate promised
, station would not be installed in one
residential location in lower Rockridge
deceptively lulling the affected neighbor.
‘nto a false sense of safety. That promise
was broken, however, and some residents

woke up to find a new station being installed

_«—

In Rockridge since 1997

Going on a road trip soon?

Yes we do offer:

Motorcycle
Insurance

Susan Bernosky
510-450-9050

© INSURANCE SERVICES, INC
CA License 0D34069

www.strahaninsurance.com

Rdckridge News

Outside their kitchen window. When those
residents objected, they and others (myself
included) were attacked via public media
as being elitist, affluent “NIMBYs” only
concerned with property values. Many of
the people doing the attacking (a few being
Suspiciously brand-new to Nextdoor.com)
were neither interested in civil discussion
nor did they seem to care even remotely
about thoughtful urban planning. There
was only one interest to be considered and
it was theirs. Dan Kalb, the City of Oakland
and Motivate have been non-responsive to
review requests as well.

The last major upheaval in Rockridge
was in the mid-1960s when construction
of the Rockridge BART station and
Highway 24 displaced a significant number
of residents and businesses and changed

13.

the fabric of the neighborhood for years.
Current circumstances seem ripe for another
sea-change. The Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) is aware of this
and has been trying to get ahead of the curve
by spending a major portion of 2017 focused
on developing a land-use proposal for the
City, prior to the City imposing its wall on
us. I fear that, as a private nonprofit entity,
when push comes to shove, the organization
will be ignored. Still, we must try.

To have achance at even limited success,
we will need to consider ways to empower
RCPC so that it can lead the charge in
protecting our interests. We are also going
to need an active and engaged local base
working to support RCPC and smart-growth
city council and mayoral candidates. The
idea is not to stop development, but to make
sure it’s done thoughtfully.

Dakin Ferris is a Rockridge resident. The views
and opinions expressed in this article are his and
do not necessarily reflect the official policy or
position of the Rockridge Community Planning
Council (RCPC) or of The Rockndge News.

Time Flies! 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-

ws “

REALTY
ADVOCATES

==)

ery of top-notch service, highest market prices, and as
a bonus: the lowest commissions!

Brett Weinstein, Broker

brett@realtyadvocates.com 510-428-0757

HIGHEST SALES PRICES + LOWEST COMMISSIONS

SW FREMONT
Re BANK

Bay Area built,
Bay Area focused.

(510) 851-7741
6300 College Avenue, Suite 160

EQUAL HOUSING LENDER | MEMBER FDIC | NMLS #478471 | PR-0970-0118

Now Open at College &
Claremont Avenues

—

14.

RéckridgeNews

January 6, 2018

RMeiassitieds

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! 1.
The newsletter’s February issue
deadline is January 18. The February
issue will be out on February 3.

For information: smontauk@gmail.com

The Festivities Continue

With My Valentine’s Day
Special!

Penelope’s Aesthetics is offering a full Euro-
pean facial for $49 for the month of February!

Gift certificates available. 510/594-1552 www.
penelopecalef.com

Your Rockridge Specialists-jUDITH
GLASS & 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

Gardening Cleanups and

Maintenance

Experienced team of 2, dedicated to the care
and maintenance of plants and trees. Garden
design and restoration, pruning and vegetable

garden installation, affordable rates. Yelp: Chris
Rausch Gardening. Chris @ 510/655-0157.

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.

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.

CollegePrep

A private high school for grades 9-12

The College Preparatory School

6100 Broadway Oakland, CA 94618 510.652.4364

College Prep is a home for ideas, discovery, and engagement—intellectual pursuits
| that our students treasure. Led by exceptional and caring teachers, mentors, and coaches,

our students grow into their best selves.

college-prep.org

january 6, 2018

Rédckridge News

mail Rockridge News Communit
iter noon), or mail to: Rockridge N mete

6

e |

pistrict 1 Councilman Dan Kaip

, prop-in Community Offic
Temescal Farmers’ Market, 530
Ave. (off Teleg.) at DMV Dar
sunday each month,10:30am-
times/locations of other off;
more info: mmharris@oakland
gankalb.net/contactdan.

. Dan Kalb’s Annual MLK Da
_ Blood Drive; Mon, Jan 15
american Red Cross Oakland Blood Ce
6230 Claremont Ave. To sign-up for a tre
slot and for more information about the
process, contact Coordinator for the Blood

Center Geri Hernandez at Geri. Hernan
redcross.org. dez@

gockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017
FOR CHILDREN

» Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes
(for all ages); Saturdays, 10:30am; (not
on 1/6).

» 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:

» Winter Bingo: Get your Winter Bingo
Card at any Oakland Library. Complete
5 activities in a row, and get your PRIZE
BOOK. Prizes available thru 1/13. For
toddlers up to 5th graders.

* Bay Area Discovery Museum: Stretch
it, Shape it, Grow it! Tues, 1/30, 6:30pm.
Drop by for this science workshop ideal for
5- to 9-year-olds.

FOR TEENS

¢ Study Room Hours: Do your homework at
the library. A high school tutor is available
for homework questions. Tues & Thurs,
4-5pm; Wed: 3 - 4:30 pm.

* Teen Advisory Board (ages 14-18): Help
advise 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
games; make crafts. Every Tues, Thurs, and
Fri 3:30 to 5pm; Wed 1:30 to 5pm (during
school days).

© Hours:

12:30pm.
ce hrs. or
‘Netorwww,

Y Of Service
 Tpm — 4pm;

* Letter Jewelry Bracelets: Choose your
favorite letters to make bracelets. All
supplies provided. 1/17 at 2 pm.
Book Page Roses: We will use the pages
3 from discarded books to make paper roses
(can be gifts for Valentine’s Day). All supplies
provided. 2/7 at 2pm.
FOR ADULTS
* Ready, Set, Connect! One on One
computer help. Tuesdays 5:30-7:30pm

ae ee TL, Pu -

vail t ews Ga ar items to: joellist @hotmail.com, phone 653-3210
94611. Deadline is the next to the last Tieng ose cone vdeo Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland,
€ month.

Compiled by Jo Ellis

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

and Saturdays 11am to 1pm. Call 597-5017
for appt.

* eBook Help: Work one-on-one with
a librarian to download eBooks; get
Started using amazing collection of digital
resources. Fridays, 2-3:30pm. Make appt.
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 (OK to come empty-handed).
3rd Sat. each month,1 to 5pm; wheelchair-
accessible. Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@
aol.com. Call to confirm.

¢e Lawyers in the Library: Free legal info
and referral. 1st Tues each month; 6pm-
8pm. Sign-up for lottery starting 5pm; lottery
at 5:45 pm. Call day of program to confirm.
¢ Refresh & Renew 2018: Learn Mindfulness
techniques to relax, renew, and set positive
goals for the new year. Sat, 1/13, 11am-1pm.

¢ Knitting Workshop & Meet-Up: Learn to
knit or ask questions about your project.
All levels welcome. Supplies provided.
Sat, 1/20, 3 -4:30pm.

¢ Podcast Meetups: Tues, 1/23, 6pm.

Learn about podcasting: share ideas and
resources.

¢ Indie Writing Workshop; presented by
the Mystery Writers of America. Focuses
on the nuts and bolts of independent and
self-publishing. Sat, 1/27, 10:30 am -3:30
pom. Registration required.

¢ From Age-ing to Sage-ing: Grow whole,
not old. Janet Piggins, LCSW, introduces
the philosophy of Sage-ing, which offers
a roadmap for living a vital and engaged
second half of life. Sat, 2/3, 10:30am -12pm.

Art Exhibits; upstairs gallery
Jan and Feb: Oakland Arts Association:
painting and photography.
LIBRARY HOURS
Tues, 12:30 to 8pm.
Wed, Thurs & Sat: 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri, 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sun and Mon. Also: Tues, 1/16.

East Bay Booksellers Book/Poetry
Readings and Events

FREE and open to the public.

e Fri, 1/12, 7pm. Release Party for ZYZZYVA:
The Winter Issue: exploring the theme
of art and resistance in times of turmoil.
Contributing readers: Troy Jollimore,
Dean Rader and Ismail Muhammad, in
conversation with Managing Editor Oscar
Villalon.

e Fri, 1/19, 7pm. Alex Vitale: The End of
Policing.

e Sun, 1/20, 3pm. Poetry Flash: tribute
reading to Chana Bloch by six members of
her close- knit writing group in acelebration
of her posthumous book, The Moon Is
Almost Full.

TT Es A ae ee eee eee

15.

a

— aa

ay
|

Ss

« Tues, 1/30, 7pm. Local author Jasmine

Guillory: The Wedding Date.
° Wed, 1/31, 7pm. Colin Winnette: The
Job of the Wasp. !n conversation with

Jordan Bass.
East Bay Booksellers, 5433 College Ave.
More info abt. the authors, books and other
events: 653-9965 or info@ebbooksellers.com.

Jazz at the Chimes |
¢ Featuring vocalist Kenny Washington in
an intimate duo concert with guitarist Jeff
Massanari. Sun., Jan21, 2pm. Tickets $15:
in advance at https://kennywashington.
brownpapertickets.com/ or at the door
(cash only — depending on availability)
beginning 12:30pm (doors open 1:30).
Refreshments and reception follows.
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:
http://kennywashingtonvocalist.com, www.
jazzatthechimes.com, chimesjazz@gmail.

com or 654-0123.

Square Dance in North Oakland

Music by The Squirrelly String Band. Calling
by Jordan Ruyle. 1st Fridays each month, 8
—10pm. Alllevels welcome; all dances taught
on the spot. Come alone or bring friends. $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.

Seniors age 55+ join 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. More info at
597- 5085.

Temescal Farmers’ Market

Open Sundays, 9am to 1pm (all year).
Locally grown fruits and vegetables; fresh
ranch eggs; home-made bakery items; fresh
cut flowers; unique prepared foods; fresh
locally caught fish; handcrafts and more.
Sample the goods; meet the grower. Live
music. Bring reusable bags. 5300 Claremont
Ave. (off Telegraph) at DMV parking lot.

%

Se OR a te SPIT ear Pee. MAE OER

16. Rockridge News January 6, 2018
Why I Joined RCPC —

KEVIN BROWN

from page | Broker
events for the children throughout the year. 654-8707 or 593-4780
Upon returning to the United States, |
became inspired to get more involved in our PROVIDING
neighborhood and learn how RCPC works. I Professional,
wanted to help out with local events, create Full Service
better communication between community Real Estate Brokerage
members and city officials, and assist with To Rockridge Clients
COM PETENCE moving Rockridge in a positive direction. For Over 36 Years.
“At first, I viewed my role as a passive SPECIALIZING IN

in Action

member who shared my thoughts at meetings
and events. As time went on, I needed to put

+

* Residential Sales

| x

(54 0) 465- 3000 more thought and energy into the changing * Income Property
www.pipespy.com political and housing environment. Now, I . Commercial
try to read up on current local events and * Property Management

action items so that I am aware of not only

What do you like most about Rockridge Better Homes

that you want others to know about? | Rockridge, but the greater Oakland area. R
Contact: editor @rockridge.org. I want to be more knowledgeable about oo ealty
Oakland’s business and land-use laws so I 9353 ore avenue
I KNOW ROCKRIDGE can have a better understanding of how the =
new businesses and buildings are likely to
affect Rockridge. . Mortgage solutions tailored to |

I believe safety to be our Digees! | You and your family.

concern, next to the question of ‘where 1s i
| 19 ocal.
the next big building going up? cal. Knowledge. integrity

@

Scott Murray

Loan Advisor

NMLS #1020834

925 743.3512
smurray@rpm-mtg.com

WWW TOm- mtg.com/smu ray
3240 Stone Valley Road West

ix Alamo. CA a4507

RPM Mort tgape. inc - ~ NMLS#2472 | ensed
by the Department of Business Overssaht under

the Residential Mortgage Lé ending Act
| 6041) Equal Housing Opportunty @)

Hoping? Find itin Rockridge!

COLLINS ROOFING

Family Owned & Operated

(510) 444-2220
www.collinsroofing.com
Quality Work « Free Estimates

Lic # 695711

Mihinep, yoii ward

I KNOW ROCKRIDGE your family ZZ hifipry

5 im Zi | Ron Kriss, Broker
_ Lawton Associates

i BI | 510-547-5970 Ext. 55
A

ronkriss@jps.net

"#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
[ASSOCIATE *\ Over 100 Homes Sold in Rockridge

R E A iL ES 1 TE
BROKER jct. | www.LawtonAssoc.com

M FLAUDIA MILLS =| CLAUDIA MILLS | 510.350.6419
CM cmills@mcguire.com | Cal BRE# 01881682

MCGUIRE <UIOSTH #1 TOP PRODUCING EAST BAY AGENT 2016 & 2015