Extracted text · highlighting “FROG Park”

KINKEAD

Voting on the GoBike relocation.

.GoBike Rider Warns: ‘Check

Your Bike for Damage’

ockridge resident Wendy Wheeler
ecently posted this report on Nextdoor:
i his morning I jumped on the Ford GoBike

b Check Your Bike, page 8

RCPC Board
Election Set for
April Town Hall

CPC will hold elections for new Board
members at its April town hall and
-RCPC annual meeting. At that time,
candidates will address the audience about
their interest in being elected to the Board
and will take questions. The April Rockridge
News will contain candidate statements
and photos in advance of the meeting.
Incumbents running are:
Leonora Sea, M.C. Haug, Courtney
Welch [appointed].
New Candidates: Sally Smyth; Ashley Cruz

One elected seat and the appointed

merchant seat remain vacant.

Thus, five candidates are running for six
ted seats. After the election, up to three
ts will be filled by Board appointment,
including two seats normally filled by
candidates standing for election, together
with the always-appointed “merchant” seat.

> April Town Hall: Elections, page 16

www.rockridge.org

Ford GoBike Redux and More.

Dba close of January’s Town Hall
eeting, City representatives
promised to revisit the decision to
locate a Ford GoBike bikeshare sta-
tion in front of the Oakland Firestorm
Memorial tile mural at the Rockridge
BART station. On February 22, the City,
true to its word, held a walk-through
of three alternative sites for the bike-
share station. The City collected public
responses and comments, both at the

tour and through a Google online poll.
(Photo, left.)

At the March Town Hall meeting,

City, BART and Motivate (the bikeshare
provider) representatives will present

AGENDA: RCPC Town Hall Meeting
March 15, 7:30 — 9 p.m.
Rockridge Branch Library Upstairs Meeting Room

aa

the results of the walk-through and
polling, and their tentative decision on
a final site for the bikeshare station. If
you're interested in this topic, you will
want to be there.

7

n addition, staff from the Oakland

Transportation Department
(OakDOT) will also discuss and hear
feedback on other topics of interest to
Rockridge residents, including planned
changes in enforcement of
Residential Permit Parking and
more general issues around the City’s
bikeshare program, as well as other
steps the City is taking to improve
Oakland’s streets for drivers, bicyclists,
and pedestrians.

Why I Joined the RCPC Board

— Eduardo Gutentag —

have been living in Rockridge since the
early 1980s, initially in a rental for a
couple of years on Boyd Avenue, then for
a short while in San Francisco, and then
uninterruptedly in Rockridge since 1986,
first in a rental on Claremont Avenue and
then, since 1991, in the house we own on
Hudson Street, with my wife and daughter.
Although I’m a formally almost-trained
linguist, having first studied abroad and then
through an aborted (because the 70s) PhD at
UC Berkeley, like many others I joined the
IT industry in the mid-80s and worked in it
until 2012 (principally at Sun Microsystems
from 1988 to 2010, then Oracle for a couple
of years) and have been consulting since
then (most notably Adobe in 2015-2016). My
areas of specialization are standardization,
policy setting, organizational processes, and
corporate intellectual property rights in the
context of the IT industry. I have participated
in many standards organizations’ boards, as
an elected member, as chair and president,

and even as a special advisor (notably the
UN/CEFACT Bureau).

And now, not having to deal anymore with
the insane hours and impossible schedules
of the IT industry, and having mulled over
the RCPC Board’s call for participation, I
decided it was time to become more involved
in the doings of the neighborhood and to
contribute to it to the best of my ability by
bringing in my extensive experience in board
activities and practices, as well as my interest
in communications and neighborhood
betterment. |

Having spent so many hours, days,
sometimes weeks, with so many people that
I would have otherwise never encountered,
let alone be friendly with, I have learned
some pretty good lessons as to what’s best
when participating at meetings, how and
what to contribute, how to work for the
common good, how to be patient, and how

to be effective. [hope to be of value to RCPC
and its Board.

Rdckridge News

Resident New to Rockridge Finds
Local Weather a Librely program details/hours: Calendar,

‘Magic Trick of Mother Nature’ Rockridge News

° , m holidays ‘doe News, founded March 1986 by Don
by Ben Frie fiancée’s family gave me over the The Rockridge News, :
y dman tells me Rockridge got more than four and —_Kinkead, is published monthly (except in August)

kridge Communi
en I moved to Rockridge on a half inches of rain in January. It was still and is sponsored by the Rockridg unity

fit publi
Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprotit public
October | of last year,the unoccupied _ green out there in mid-February, despite the homie crasabaatiiie ccindad 06: prateres kas

March 3, 2018

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY

triangle of land on the southern end of the _ recent bone-dry weather. enhance the unique character of the Rockridge
College and Claremont six-way intersection This is how I’ve been schooled tO neighborhood; promote Oe each tee
appeared dead. Its state of abandonment —_California’s wet and Gry seasons, ob stole Sa ead a Naichimncsad prod leadership fee
was strikingly incongruous with the rest of } Nature’s Magic, page 14 ccanearkation of neighborhood interests.
the bustling neighborhood. Rockridge News Production
Yes, the stately redwood Don Kinkead ee tara rena? <
trees along its southern edge sch Oba Berne once Eyes on Rockridge
stood tall and healthy, but the es EB gc iehmencaton Advertising &
grass in the lot was sunbaked | Community Calendar
straw — fried by the heat sea RT saSeonseesopemeonia crates Ppp
of summer and early fall, ON KRINKCAG....ccccceeereeseeereee ’
including the astonishing asco rele ae a
record-breaking 100-plus Leomora Sea ..-sssessssseseeesssen Vice-Chair
degree heat of Friday, Sep- Jesse se i scasieconseoons nese
tember 1. October, of course, Porinar is on Eduardo Gutentag, M C Haug,
was dry too, setting the stage | a ae See : Don Kinkead, Andrew Masalin,
for the tragic Northern Cali- 3 al t ei ee Laura Schlichtmann, Courtney Welch
fornia fires. . SS iE, — PO Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
November was different. | + & / 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 Oakland airport recorded
three inches of rain during
the month, and I remember
rejoicing at the first of
our blustery nights. Rain
in California is a magical
thing; the air becomes full of
earthy fragrance, as if water
is literally injecting life into
the exhaling soils.
Seemingly overnight,
the Claremont-College
intersection triangle changed.
Fresh grasses appeared and SEIS Spe GOR ROME TE OTL AOE Neha
lively green. Our wet spell in Rockridge newcomer Ben Friedman would like — the author's name, phone number, email address, and
mid-January provided more to see the neglected greensward at College and city or neighborhood of residence, and are subject

; to editing. Vi
rain, and the grasses grew = Claremont avenues become available for public °° “CNS: VIEWS expressed in articles accepted for

publication do not necessarily reflect those of The
lusher. The weather station my use. /D. KINKEAD Rockridge News, its editor, or the board of directors

of the Rockridge Community Planning Council. To

4uk

+
=

reprint a Rockridge News article, contact the editor.
ith garment orders over
G A R U E N $5 FREE pees OER Phcesioe $15 nore eae Newsletter Advertising/Deadline
Dry Cleaning only ® Present with incoming order Publication date of the April issue is:
w@ April 7, 2018.
Garden Cleaners ™@ Submission deadline: March 22.
5808 College Avenue, Oakland Advertising rates are $26/column inch.

6 0 1- 1 1 8 8 month pre-pay rate available. For display ads,
call Jo Ellis at 653-3210 (after noon), or email
Mon — Fri 7-7? Sat 8-6 joellisi@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

inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page 14.)

— OO rr See ee ae an a De ee ear eet ere www = Sears ee, 2 RR a a a 8 ae oe oo =

Rockridge News 3.

ditor’s note: The February 28 Land Use Committee meeting was scheduled to be held

on a date subsequent to the publicaton of the March issue of The Rockridge News.
That meeting will be reported in the April issue of the newsletter, due to be ready for
distribution on April 7.

looming white truck with loose soil in the back and
wheelbarrows and motorized blowers nearby and at the ready

in front of the College Avenue Safeway drew the interested attention
late in February of shoppers and passers-by. Could it be that the
long-neglected and parched planting areas facing the sidewalk were
soon to realize their destiny? Two gardeners returning from lunch
confirmed the the answer: they were cleaning up the flower beds
and landscaping the area. Asked why the beds might have been left
fallow for so long, the gardeners had no information. For a long time,
Rockridge residents and the Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC) had no answer from Safeway, either. Perhaps the concerns
and complaints finally paid off. Or, perhaps a new manager had
something to do with it. Either way, call it progress. — Don Kinkead

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Darin J. Worm
BROKER
510.504.4960

djworm@centurioninsurance.net

TREE SGUERTLURE

Centurion Insurance Agency
Commercial + Personal + Life + Health

COMPLETE TREE CARE
Proudly serving Rockridge since 1965!

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Rockridge Community

Planning Council

2017 Financial Statement
Fiscal Year January | - Dec 31

RCPC General Fund

Scenic Streets

Nee of Oakland

a Wea

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Hands-On Community

March 3, 2018

Hwy 24 on- and off-ramps. Current volunteers
all report that a genuine sense of satisfac

is gained from the community improve )
accomplished through their efforts with
Scenic Streets of Oakland. It’s also a great

way to get to know your neighbors through

face-to-face contact,
Income Off teamwork and actual : |
Contributions 1637 improve ment es If that sounds like something youd be
Rockrige News «« Immediate Reward interested in, contact Lee ernie at lee.
Interest Income 25 ; : soakland@gmail.com.
Kitchen Tour 444d f you want to get involved in community io of Oakland is now affiliated
Merchandise Sales 83 service and beautification you're in luck. ae Oakland Parks and Recreation
Total Income 67795 | Rockridge volunteer organization Scenic Foundation. For more information, see www.
Expenses Streets of Oakland needs additional ar Eas
Rockridge News 36719 Volunteers to maintain sidewalk plantings as oaKlandparne.9"
Contractors 4939 ~~ ~Wellas the foliage on the Claremont Avenue/
Insurance, Permits, Sales Tax 1777
Misc Administrative & Program Expenses 1987 Cnn he NCPC has no
Events 505 meeting in March.
Total Expenses 45927 Spe Our next meeting Is
Net Receipts (RCPC) 71868 anes | oursday, April 12.
= NCPC Email the NCPC at
hai kridgencpc.
Friends of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt (FROG) fie A he iy 9 fi ee of our new
Income ae Downtown Oakland office
Contrbutons 6182 you'd like to add to the
Interest, FROG 18 NCPC agenda.
Total Income 6200
Expenses
Playground New Construction & Planning 17982
Miscellaneous Expenses 835
Total Expenses 18817 PIMERY.
Net Receipts (FROG) 12617 Bites i oo
Scenic Streets j - ae
Income soe |OO Grand Avenu
Total Income 1023 ra
. The USPS makes a close-to-final visit |
mere fetes i as Cole Coffee Beans readies for a a ROE
great helt ton sles two-month closing for retrofitting
Total Expenses 78 beginning February 28. /D. KINKEAD bco. com
Net Receipts (Scenic Streets) 245
Locksley Gardens No activity in 2016
BALANCE SHEET piedmont dental | sy vesicn
Assets Secs OOS BER OroJil A Martenson, DDS
RCPC Assets, Savings/Checking 102404 :
Locksley Gardens Assets, Checking 749
FROG SavingsiChecking 78544
Total Assets (1) 181697
Equity & Liability “i NEW PATIENT £
KF Community Improvements Prgm 9640 E Pk —XAM
Legal Fund Reserve 55000 ae $350 VALUE! 4a
Equity 111564
Net Income 9496 ae)
181697 |
Total Equity & Liability 181697

-) 1321 GRAND AVENUE. PIEDMONT CA o46io

t 510.652 2911: f 510652 o77>

(1) Excludes $100,000 of Fourth Bore Coalition settlement funds
towards FROG's playground improvements

Ptedmontdentalibydesign.com

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March 3, 2018

he 2018 “Peralta at the Disco” auction is
on Saturday, March 10, 6-10 p.m., at the
Humanist Hall in Oakland, 390 27th Street.

For those new to the Peralta Auction, it
is an adults only party featuring a live DJ,
delicious food, cocktails, beer and wine,
and, of course, a silent and live auction,
all under the light of a disco ball. It is
your chance to bid on fantastic and one-
of-a-kind items, including vacations, meals
out, art, and tickets and camps (and that’s
just a small sample). You get a night out, a
chance to mingle, to have fun and to wear
your best ’70s duds (leisure suit, anyone?),
and Peralta gets the cash that helps to keep
supporting so many of the things we value
about our community: music, art, physical

education and teachers’ aides).
Tickets can be purchased at https://
peralta2018.auction-bid.org/microsite.

&

In Rockridge since 1997

What's shakin?

Yes we do offer:

Earthquake
Insurance

Susan Bernosky
510-450-9050

INSURANCE SERVICES, INC
CA License 0D34069

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Rdckridge News

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Peralta School Annual Auction Heralds

www.strahaninsurance.com

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You'd like to donate to the auction? Yes,
please. We'd love your talents/stuff for the
auction, All donations are tax-deductible.

And last, but not least, to make this event

= \, Questions About
“ Wills, Trusts,
and Probate?

yi Kyle M. Johnston

Estate Attorney

5315 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
510.527.1880

un, Variety, Chance

a success, we need volunteers to help set up
and break down and staff various areas of
the auction for the event. We promise you'll
still have time to have fun.

To make donations or be a volunteer or
if you have any other questions about the
event, email auction@peraltaschool.org.

Peralta is a small diverse arts demonstration school
within the Oakland Unified School District. We
work to create a welcoming environment where
every child develops the confidence to succeed.
For more information about Peralta School and tts
programs, visit https://www.peraltaschool.org

Free Community
Plant Exchange

\ \ Jant an instant new garden? Bring
your plants and pick up new ones. All

types and sizes of healthy plants welcome,
small cuttings to full size. No time to repot
donations? Bags and newspaper will do.

The Plant Exchange encourages resource
sharing, reuse, and recycling. The premier
program is a free, one-day event where
gardeners, landscapers, urban farmers,
educators, and enthusiasts come together
to exchange plants, equipment, tools, and
information.

The event also features gardening demos,
food trucks, a live band, silent auction, and
more. Ample free parking.

Saturday, March 31, noon to 4 p.m., 4500
Lincoln Avenue (just down hill from the
Mormon Temple). More information at 866-
8482 or http://theplantexchange.org.

Experience * Knowledge * Performance

Market nuggets

* interest rates have been edging up, but demand still far exceeds supply.
* Tax deductions for property have changed, with little impact on market.
* Parcel tax increases proposed for library and school funding measures

Coming for sale next month:

>Gorgeous +/- 3,000 sqft of living space 3 blocks to Rockridge BART
>Brown shingle home plus two legal income units 1 block from College Ave.

Happy Spring!

Perry Riani, Senior Associate

“2016 Realtor of the Year”

1900 Mountain Bivd Oakland, CA 94611
1625 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA 94709

PACIFIC
UNION

INTERNATIONAL

C: 510.813.3799 perry@pacunion.com
License # 01402540

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A Community-Minded Rockridge Resident
Presides Over Games People Play

by Judith Doner Berne
f your kid or grandkid plays the game
Magic: The Gathering, he or she likely
has spent time and money at It’s Your
Move, the game store just over the Rock-
ridge border on Telegraph in Temescal.

Co-owned by Rockridge resident Chris
Specker, mom to a sixth-grade girl, and
Temescal resident Will Kreber, dad to four
sons, the 15-year-old store embodies its
motto: “Locally owned, gamer operated.”

Ona gray Wednesday late afternoon, the
brightly-lit, game-lined store is occupied
only by Specker, tucked into a sheltered
corner behind the counter, and 14-year-
old Sam Mossberg, who sits at a long
rectangular game table surrounded by piles
of Magic cards.

Magic, first published in 1993, was
the first trading card game, according
to Wikipedia. Each game represents
a battle between wizards who employ
spells, artifacts and creatures depicted on
individual cards to defeat their opponents.

Until Specker and I sit down for an
interview, the lone sound is the slap, slap,
slap of the Magic cards that Sam is sorting.
“He comes after school, sorts cards and in
return searches for cards that he wants for
his deck,” she tells me. “The kids come
and play games here. Some help out. They
have to have an interest in hanging out.”

Their reward is getting to pick the cards

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they want, she explained, and as they get
older and gain experience, “We teach
them about the cash register and they can
run games for other kids. We’re basically
volunteer-run and an incubator for these
young kids’ first jobs.”

Indeed, Sam is soon joined by 12-year-
old Isiah Goldstein and his brother Julian,
9. Although the two boys live in Rockridge,
they had started playing Magic at another
game store. ““We slowly found our way here
because it’s closer,” Isiah said. “I personally
like this community more.”

Specker, who is pretty much the face of
It’s Your Move, is a true gamer herself. “I
was playing games here for many years,”
before she put her money where her
interests lay to join Kreber as an owner six
years ago. “We do a little of everything,”
she said. “That’s how we survive.”

While I was there, for example, two
people came in with ready-to-send packages
— the store is a UPS pick-up and drop-off
site. “We started out taking in mail for
the tenants who live on the building’s
second story,” Specker said. “It just kind
of evolved.”

“One of our big messages,” she said, “is
to be as much of a community place as we
can. We promote local game artists, local
art and we have local comedians (Critical
Hit Comedy Club) on Saturday night,”
she said. For the comedy club, they have

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Bay Area built, Bay Area focused.

Visit us at College & Claremont Avenues.
6300 College Avenue, Suite 160
(510) 851-7741

March 3, 2018

the ability to quickly fold up the tables to
transform the back end of the store int
mini-theater. Other outside groups that
the facilities include an adult Scrabble club
and the Oakland Green Party, which holds
its monthly meetings there. |

“We love this place, said Sylvia
Pughsley, the Oakland resident in charge of
the venerable Scrabble club. After having to
relocate twice, the group has been meeting
at It’s Your Move every other Saturday for

15 years. “Chris puts up with us,” said Terry
Veevers, who drives in from San Mateo to

join as many as 20 players. |

But drop-in, communal game playing —
whether Magic, chess, board or role-playing
games — is where it’s at, with much of the
space taken up by the long, white, metal
game tables and matching chairs. Each
player pays from $2 to $15, depending
on what’s involved and ability to play, to
participate in daytime or evening sessions.

On Friday’s Open Game Night, a mix
of teens and adults streams into the store,
many arranging themselves at the front
tables for board and table top games.
The rest settle in at the back of the store,
geared up for several hours of Magic: T,
Gathering play.

“I always hostess on Friday nights,”
Specker said. “It’s the night to come with
an open mind, to teach or learn a new
game.” She makes it a point to master them
herself, since “There’s rarely a Friday night
that we don’t have at least one or two game
designers testing new products.”

“Chris does a great job of making this a
friendly space and getting people to try new
games,” said Eric B. Vogel, pointing to the

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March 3, 2018

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Shelves devoted to his and other local game
designers’ inventions. “She also makes it
comfortable for women to join us geeky
guys,” he said, with a smile,

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“We have more women playing Magic
here, probably, than anywhere in the Bay
Area,” Specker proudly said. “Half the
adults have come here since they were
little. And our Magic community is giant
with kids as young as eight years old and
adults, most of whom stay until midnight.”

“The community is very support-
ive of us. Most
of our games are
donated.” In return,
Specker and Kreber
do what they can to
support Oakland
schools, which
their own children
as well as many of
their young players
attend.

At Claremont
Middle School’s
winter fundraising
auction, a number
of parents suc-
cessfully bid to
have their children
attend a Magic:
The Gathering

FO rea

fs

party, sponsored by two families.

“Chris not only provided the cards at
cost, she also arranged to have two experts
of the game run the event for free,” said
Laura Mytels, who co-hosted the party
at her Rockridge home. “It was a super
successful event and the helpers that Chris
recruited volunteered for over five hours.
The kids had a great time.”

In 2014, the Oakland City Council
recognized It’s Your Move during National
Small Business Week. The council’s
resolution read, in part: “The owners,
Chris Specker and William Kreber, take
extra measures to provide a friendly space
for low-income families, under-socialized
youth and the LGBT community. Both
believe that providing service to the
community should come before profit and
we are pleased that no one is turned away,
thanks to their sliding scale policy.”

“The object is to have fun,’ Specker
emphasizes. That’s what playing games is
all about. This is what we love.”

To comment on this column or to suggest subjects
for future columns on your Rockridge fnends,
neighbors or neighborhood, email judyberne@
att.net.

4 Chris Specker, center, joins in the fun as Isiah and Julian
Goldstein and Sam Mossberg (left to right) sort Magic cards
at it’s Your Move game store in Temescal.

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Claremont Middle School Science
Night and Pi Day Extravaganza

Includes pizza pie dinner, and dessert pies, too!
Science, Technology, Fingineering, Arts, and Math! Oh my!

Come see Claremont Middle School’s

amazing science program in action at
the annual STEAM Night and Pi Day
Extravaganza.

Wednesday, March 14, 5 -7:30 p.m.
5 p.m.: Pizza dinner sponsored by the PTA
5:30 p.m.: Pi contest for Claremont students
6-7 p.m.: Hands-on science activities in the
classrooms and throughout the school
7 p.m.: Dessert pies

Where? Claremont Middle School,
5750 College Avenue, Oakland

his is a fun, free event for families.
Great for Sth graders who will be
attending Claremont next year. And,
4th grade families who are considering
Claremont can come see all the excit-
ing science that is happening there.

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Réckridge News

March 3, 2018

a

*

()" of Chabot Elementary’s
primary fundraisers, the
Spring Auction and Gala, is
being held this month in a school-
wide effort to help Chabot raise
$175,000 of the $400,000 needed
annually to support vital programs
not paid for by the school district.

Fundraising proceeds pay for Chabot
students to have access to art, library, music,
science, Spanish, and media/technology
courses, as well as intervention programs
that focus on closing the achievement gap.
Because state and local budgets continue
to restrict funding for the school’s nearly
600 K-5 students, reaching the annual
fundraising goal is critical to supporting
the continuity of these programs and
maintaining an excellent and vibrant

Reminder: Chabot Sc

b> of tans ,

*

neighborhood school.

The Online Auction

Anyone in the community can support
this neighborhood school by bidding in
the online auction, making a monetary
or business donation, or volunteering
at the March 17 event. Check out the
Chabot auction website at http://www.
chabotelementary.org/pta/auction or email
us at auction@chabotelementry.org.

The online auction runs from March 7

Check Your Bike

from page |

on Shafter. I went towards the intersection
and a car ran through the stop sign. I grabbed
the right brake and... nothing. Almost
got hit. When I got off the bike, I found
the brakes were damaged. I went back to
the docking station to find all the bikes

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had damaged brakes and flat back tires.

“I know many do not like the bike
station on Shafter, but please watch out
for vandalism because someone could get
killed.”

Jean Walsh, Ford GoBike Director of
External Relations, reports vandalism has
diminished at the Shafter/Cavour kiosk.
Also, a field team member visits the station
every morning to ensure bike safety, she said.

Reckridge Dental.

310.653.6677

rockdent.com

>
tion and Gala
through March 14 and featur

more than 400 items, including
jewelry, gift certificates from
local merchants and restaurants, .
tickets to sporting events, and lots
of great activities for the family,
Again, everyone is welcome to
participate and bid on the many
items available. The more bidders, the better.
The Gala Event

The Gala event will be held the evening of
March 17 at the Greek Orthodox Ascension
Community Center, 4700 Lincoln Avenue,
Oakland. The Gala will include a photo
booth, generously donated by Tomfoolery,
and dancing with DJ services provided by
Chabot parents. Dress is black tie optional.
The facility is wheelchair-accessible, and
handicapped-accessible parking is available.
Note: Tuesday, March 6, is the LAST DAY

to buy gala tickets.

Chabot is grateful to our sponsors, who demon-
strated their commitment with generous financial
donations: Adventure Time (Title Sponsor); Think

Tank Research; Stea Realty Group; Hope Broder
of The Grubb Co.; MPR Financial; Maxi Lille

Red Oak Realty; Fremont Bank; Camp Galileo;
Bakesale Betty; Piedmont Dental; Amato Archi-
tecture; Zoe Caldwell, L.Ac.; Ist United Credit
Union; and Abio Properties.

3rd Floor
Market Hall

Ste. 312

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Filippo Cangini, D.D.S, M.S.

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REALTY _
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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 910-428-0757

It’s been 30 years now since

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HIGHEST SALES PRICES + LOWEST C OMMISSIONS

March 3, 2018

ardy Dog Park

Q&A With
Hardy Dog Park

by Linda Zunas

ou’ve seen lots of articles about the

Hardy Dog Park here, but may want to
know more about us. Here are some answers:
Q: Where is the Hardy Dog Park?

A: We are on the corner of Hudson and
Claremont, under Highway 24 and adjacent
to FROG park.

Q: What is the Hardy Dog Park?
A: It was Oakland’s first public dog

CollegePrep

=_—) = os -~— => a Gar s et @ eo Oo ete eee wo

Rdckridge News

park, created in the mid-1990s on Caltrans
property that was unused after Loma Prieta
Earthquake repairs were complete.

Q: Who can use the park?

A: Everyone is welcome. We do have
a few rules from the City that have to be
followed: No more than three dogs per
person; no aggressive dogs; dogs must be
vaccinated and at least 4 months old: no
dogs in heat. Please pick up after your dog.
Q: Who runs the park?

A: While the City of Oakland is the
leaseholder and maintains the trash cans, all
other maintenance, upkeep, and upgrades
are handled by volunteers. The volunteers
are the Hardy Dog Park Group; our mission
is to improve the park and make it more
accessible and safer for everyone.

Q: What have you done to improve the
park?

2
_—__s.

A private high school for grades 9-12

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.

The College Preparatory School 6100 Broadway Oakland, CA94618 510.652.4364 college-prep.org

Nye yd THE VIEW

from your Rockridge Penthouse

510-867-4094

tee Niée dt

1) oA?
+ |.

kw oS

5400 BROADWAY TERRACE #401

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9.

A: The group was formed in Fall 2016.
Since then we have added bag dispensers,
two extra trash cans, leash racks, a water
Station, and sturdy seating. We run the
monthly cleanups, and have re-graded the
low spots of the park to eliminate winter
flooding. We are working on plans to
upgrade the footing and add a section for
small dogs to the park.

Q: What are you doing next for the park?

A: We will be fundraising this summer
for our upgrade plans, so keep an eye out
for more updates.

Q: I’m not a dog-owner but want to
support you. What can I do?

A: We have newspaper bag donation
bins at both entrances, as we always need
clean bags to pick up poop. You can also tell
your friends with dogs about our little park.
Q: How can [ help?

A: We clean up and fix our park from
9-10:30 a.m. the first Saturday of every
month. Please join us. When you are at the
park, please pick up poop and trash, and
encourage your fellow park users to do
the same. Spread the word and encourage
friends to come to the park.

Q: How can I learn more?

A: Check out our website: www.Har-
dyDogPark.org, or email HardyDogPark@
yahoo.com

See you and your dog at the park!

Martin Coyle
9221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618

www.coylehomeremodel.com

910-655-8717 Mike Tracy

10.

—

Rockridge News

Bike STATION BY FIRESTORM MURAL
Wa tt Makes SENSE

Epitor:

I think the placement of the bike station
at BART makes perfect sense. I walk under
those tracks every day; I don’t see people
spending time there in contemplation. In
fact, before the bikes, almost no one stopped
at all — it’s so loud and dirty under there it’s
more like everyone is trying to get through
a tunnel as quickly as possible. The area was
just a big, flat, dark slab of pavement.

If the memorial had been covered to put
in the bikes, I could understand the concern,
but it was not.

The bikes make the area more vibrant and
appealing, more green and eco-friendly, so
the whole area under the BART track now
seems more attractive and full of promise.

[ suggest the bike station folks offer to
put in another bench and add some lighting
for the mural at night — then expand the bike
stations to every BART station.

On the other hand, I think the bike station
at Shafter and Cavour should be removed
immediately. That was a nasty thing to do —
especially with the advertising board. I feel
so sorry for the neighbors there.

— Red Lustig

» Letters, page 13

Rockridge _
Optometry

Your neighborhood
family eyecare providers
since 1947

Dr. Donald Sarver
Ur. Larry Sarver
Dr. Scott Yokoi

Dr. Cindy Sakai

5321 College Avenue, Oakland

510-655-3797

www.rockridgeoptometry.com
eae —

ee |

Unsigned or anonymous letters will not
be published. 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.

ARTICLE IN Fes issue — “New BILL...
WouLtp TRANSFORM ROCKRIDGE AND
THE East Bay” DESERVES COMMENT

EpitTor:

The facts are that we need a significant
amount of new housing in the Bay Area and
in many other areas of California. Change
in how we zone our cities is necessary
and will happen. We need to work with
policymakers to ensure that the need for
denser housing is met while balancing the
need of our communities to be desirable
places to live. The article painted a picture
of impending doom instead of a picture of
impending change that is both beneficial
and deserving of serious consideration.
As policy, it will change with constructive
feedback from local communities. We
need to do our part to present constructive,
forward-looking feedback to help us
transition into a more dense yet highly
livable community.

— Gary Barg

dgeNews

Letters to the Editor

he Rockridge News welcomes

posted letters and emails to the
editor. Your name, address, phone
number, email address and city/
neighborhood must be included in
either for verification. Only your
name will appear with your letter.

JEISHMAN

March 3, 2018

RCPC Land Use Chair Replies:

RCPC Housinc STUDY ae
Consipers HousinG SHORTAGE

Mr. Barg is correct that change is likely
to occur in Rockridge, as well as the rest of
Oakland and indeed much of California.

There is almostuniversal acknowledgment
that California is facing a long-brewing
housing shortage due to the disparity
between how much is being built and how
many people continue to move to the state
That’s the main reason RCPC has undertaken
its housing study. Indeed, Sen. Wiener’s and
Skinner’s bill is similar to what has been
proposed as Scenario | in the housing study.

SB 827 has certainly gained notoriety.
It has been praised in editorials from as
far away as Boston and New York. On the
other hand, it has been sharply criticized by
many, including large coalitions of groups in
both the Bay Area and Southern California.
And these are not just a bunch of NIMBYs
(Not In My Back Yard). Affordable housing
advocates object that the bill will be a
windfall for builders of market-rate housing,
who can easily outbid affordable housing
developers for the sites. They point out
lower income residents of affordable nal
as much stronger users of transit, woul

derive the most benefit from living near
transit, and they are much less likely to own

» Housing Shortage, page 13

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March 3, 2018

indows to the
ast, Today

by Eric Warren

n the February 2018 issue of The Rockridge
News, I saw the photos of the dates stamped
in sidewalks around our neighborhood.
Over the years while walking my dog,
Il have had occasion to look at a lot of these
dates recorded in the sidewalk by cement
masons. The oldest one I have seen locally
is on Lawton Avenue and dated 1907.
(I didn’t even know that Lawton had been
subdivided in 1907!) I thought readers
might be interested in a photo of this old
sidewalk date, the oldest that I have seen.
I like to look for these old dates because
they remind me in a very physical way that
there were people walking this neighbor-
hood before me and that others will come
after me, so it’s best not to get overwrought
about the present. I think of these little bits
of history that are, literally, under our feet
as little windows to the past.
he next oldest date I have seen is

1910.

Ed. Note: Mr. Warren’s cement stamp
photo is at right along with two others
submitted without comment by another
reader.

There is much to learn about local
and area concrete stamps: hitps://
oaklandsidewalks.wordpress.com

:

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Rdckridge News

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Vicinity of Lawton | Photo: Chuck Afflerbach

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Margin Trowel

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

Making lots of biscuits

JASON KALDIS
ARCHITECT

INCORPORATED

910.549.3584

WWW.JKALDISARCHITECT.COM

ocal caregivers who want

to help make great memories.

Seals Ci Sas ae, st BO OR des ae ONT
Pad ee pal =e \? ‘hens Bt “A : , ; et

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March 3, 2018

12. Réckridge News

Old Chase Bank Finally Reduced to Rubble

r Hazardous Building Material Removed
( he building wag

originally known
as the Great Western
Savings and Loan
building. It had a
sister building with
similarly striking
design features at
Sist and Telegraph. A
housing development
is under construc-
tion on that site.

MARGH 25, 2018 Afte

Oakland Marathon fe.)
Seeks Volunteers

by Oakland Marathon Staff

xperience Oakland’s diversity and

beauty with a race that touches all
aspects of Oaktown, and finishes with one
hella awesome party.

Over |,000 volunteers are needed to
make the Oakland Running Festival success-
ful. Volunteer opportunities are available at
the pre-race Health and Fitness Expo and
on race day. All volunteers will receive an
event t-shirt.

Description of the
volunteer positions:
Pre-Race Volunteer Opportunities
The Health and Fitness Expo
Friday, March 23
* assist with runner distribution of bibs
and shirts to runners
* assist with runner registration
Saturday, March 24
* assist with runner distribution of bibs
and shirts to runners
* assist with runner registration

Race Day Volunteer Opportunities
Sunday, March 25

* manage people flow

* provide water

* direct finishers appropriately

* assist in recovery area (food/drink
distribution)

* medal presentation

hernobyl” was just one
of the evocative names
brought to mind by the stark
appearance of the partially
demolished Chase bank
building. The unexpected
discovery of asbestos in
the structure stalled

building’s removal unc
pesky and obsolete — and
dangerous — insulation
material could be removed

under City supervision.
/PHOTOs D. KINKEAD

Group Volunteer Opportunities:
Contact Colin Tiffey (colin@corrig-
ansports.com) if you have a group inter-
ested in volunteering together.

Note: Water Stop volunteer opportu-
nities are assigned to groups who commit
to staffing the stop’s entire need. If your
organization is interested in volunteering
as a group at a water stop or in another
capacity, please email Colin Tiffey (colin@
corrigansports.com).

March 3, 2018

RéckridgeNews

13.

allvans Amato, AIA 510. 420.0210

ByAmatoArchitecture. com
Sat

ab Va bh F a

Thank you to the local community for
helping me have another Top Rockridge
Producer Year! There's no other place I
would rather be selling than the place |
know and love so well.

_ ot

}O59 If you are thinking about a move or an
investment, ask me your questions! Long
range planning is essential, so it's never
too soon to start a conversation or get an

evaluation on your property.

MAXI'S 2017 ROCKRIDGE SALES

- 5521 Kales Avenue
* 321 63rd Street Apt A
- 5390 Bryant Avenue

- 21 Emery Lane
- 5863 Chabot Road

MAXI LILLE Y

THE ROCKRIDGE REALTOR
WITH A DESIGNER'S EYE #01919652

510.919.8997 - maxi@redoakrealty.com

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OAK

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Hoping? Find it in Rockridge!

Housing
Shortage

from page 10

and use cars than the much higher income
residents of market rate projects. Tenant
advocates also complain that the bill would
result in displacing tenants, especially in
rapidly gentrifying areas like West Oakland
and Fruitvale. (A local developer told me that

Rockridge residents are less likely to see

short-term effects, as the current already high
land costs will send developers elsewhere.)
Even the bill’s primary author, Senator
Wiener, acknowledges that his bill still
needs a lot of work, and he has said that
he is talking to various stakeholder groups
about amendments. It’s likely that if the bill
eventually passes, it will look very different
from what was just introduced, but the way
that will happen will be for people concerned
about it to speak up and be heard.
— Stuart Flashman
Chair, RCPC Land Use Committee

Letters, from page 10

| Support SB 827 anp Density
DEVELOPMENT AROUND Mass TRANSIT
EpitTor:

[am supportive of SB 827 to increase the
density of development around mass transit,
and I hope other residents of the Rockridge
neighborhood will join in support. A street of
single family detached homes would receive
the largest upzoning as a result of this bill.
As aconsequence of this bill, someone might
build a 4-8 story apartment building next
door to me. While this would not be in my
selfish interest, I would support it, because
California desperately needs more housing
and less traffic, and the way to solve both
is by building housing near existing mass
transit.

Rockridge is lovely neighborhoods with
a long-standing master plan for single-
family detached housing. But times have
changed, and the population of California
has doubled since that plan was enacted.
We must not be free riders at the cost of

9

homelessness and our kids being unable
to live anywhere near us when they are
grown. We must not cloak NIMBYism in
the guise of progressive ideals, holding out
for the perfect bill, environmental impact,
neighborhood control, or uneconomic levels
of affordable restrictions — putting on a face
of progressive moral high ground while,
preserving our status quo. It costs $250M
a mile to extend BART. It is much wiser to
build reasonable density around the existing
transit system.

The construction of market-rate housing,
even luxury housing, has a positive impact
on affordable housing. A 1,000 sqft, 2bd/Iba
condo near Rockridge BART just sold
for $1.5M. The lack of construction turns
what ought to be a starter home into an
unreachable luxury.

There will be many steps involved in
fixing this problem, and SB 827 is just a
start, but let’s get started. If you see ways to
improve the bill, speak up; the proponents
are open to input and improvement.

— Josh Hannah

LAW OFFICE OF

DAVE KARLINSKY

725 WASHINGTON ST., SUITE 3I3) OAKLAND, CA 94607
(SIO) 788-5700 WWW.DAVEKARLINSKYLAW.COM

Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:

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Please contact me during regular business hours to

schedule an appointment.

= Oe ee eee eee Eee enn Oe aS nO eel

14.

RdckridgeNews

———_—— LS

RTeiassitieds

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 newsletter’s April issue deadline
is March 22. The April issue will be out
on April 6.

For information: smontauk@gmail.com

it’s Spring at Penelope’s
Aesthetics!
Refresh, rejuvenate, renew and enrich with

an Express facial for only $49!
www.penelopecalef.com. Please call for an

appointment, 510 594-1552

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

Nature’s Magic

from page 2

in New York, and am experiencing my first
year of California here in lovely Rockridge.
It’s been extremely gratifying to arrive at the
turn of the seasons and see our landscape
change. It instills a sense of gratitude too; the
green feels like a gift. The verdant winter has
been a total surprise, a magic trick performed
by Mother Nature. “Voila!” she exclaims.
“And you thought these hills, and those little
vacant lots, were dead.”
S° this vacant lot in the heart of our
neighborhood is not dead. Since it is,
rather, very much alive and breathing with
the rhythm of the seasons, we should cherish
it. | think it should be a public park. It would
help subdue our most chaotic intersection
and make it more pedestrian-friendly. It
would surely provide financial benefits
to the businesses directly adjacent to it.
It would give our community some much
needed green space. (The plaza outside
Safeway is simply not adequate for such a
gregarious neighborhood.) Most importantly,
it would be pleasant. A flat piece of green
space for everyone to call their own. (Colby
Park is wonderful but so teeny.). It would

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.

Kirk E Peterson Architects

College Avenue firm with experience in
everything from new homes, kitchen and
bath remodels and additional units. We
create design that is compatible with the

existing character of your home. Website:
www.kpaarch.com T: 510/547-0275

Couples Workshop

Building communication and intimacy
skills in a small, safe group. Friday, March
23rd, 7-9pm, Rockridge. $50/couple.
Call Esther Lerman, MFT. 510/548-6241.
Email: estherlermanmft@gmail.com or go
to www.oaklandcouplestherapy.com for
more information.

be a central gathering place of our town.

Its ownership is, to me, a mystery. I’ve
tried to access the parcel’s ownership using
Oakland’s online map resources but haven't
gotten far. From what | can gather, it is not
owned by the city. Right before press time,
[ made an inquiry of Councilmember Dan
Kalb. Hopefully, I'll have his response to
report on soon. If itis in fact privately owned,
a campaign to acquire the land and develop a
park could be in our future, dear neighbors.

Until then, [ll continue to relish how
California’s seasons can be read in her lands.
In this, my inaugural year in Rockridge, it’s
all been a delightful surprise. As the grasses
have taken root, so have I.

OCOMNI__
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March 3, 2018

professional House Sitting,

onger Term .
eres it are abroad, or traveling, etc,

month minimum. Indoor plants, outdoos
gardens, basic home maintenance. Good
communication, trustworthy and reliable.
excellent local references and many years’
experience. Ann Clementine. 415/656-9572

(Correction from February issue).

Community
Calendar

from page [5

North Oakland Senior Center
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way: 597-5085

Mon. —- Fri., gam to 4:30pm. Programs

include: Arts/crafts; health counseling;

dancing and exercise; trips, tours and theater

outings; Alzheimer’s support groups, Computer

classes/more. 3

° AARP FREE Tax Filing: for those with
middle-and-low incomes; special attention
to those 60 and older. Thursdays, through
April 12. Make appointment now.

e Fire Prevention For Seniors: including fire
extinguishers and smoke detectors. Karen

Cox, Fire Safety Educator. Thurs, 3/8.
410 to 11am. RSVP NOSC Reception
e Hoover Elementary School’s an

Living History Museum. Wed, 3/14,
10-11:30am. Meet 4th graders portraying
famous Americans who were 1st in their
fields and support Oakland school children.

¢ Lawyer inthe Center: Third Wednesdays;
20 minute slots. Call to make appointment.

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.

JAIGI AMD, PARTNERS

BUYING?
SELLING?
LET ME HELP You

| Anne D. BRANDON, REALTOR @

BRE# 01877719 | 510.682.6644
ANNE@THEHIGHLANDPARTNERS.COM

March 3, 2018

(

a. 6483: @ _— os _ a —_

Rockridge News

a

Email Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1 @hotmail.com, phone 653-3210
fr noon), or mail to: Rockridge News Community Calendar, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland,
611. Deadline is the next to the last Tuesday of the month.

Compiled by Jo Ellis

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

District 1 Councilman Dan Kalb

Drop-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 Camp Info & Planning: Stop by the
children’s area on Sat, 3/10 or 3/24, 10-11am,
to try out InPlay software, (developed for OUSD
& City of Oakland), to choose summer camp
for your school-age 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.

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

All story times followed by Play Time;
-arents and caregivers invited.

Ps CIAL EVENTS:
¢ Saturday Crafternoon: 3/10 and 4/14,
3:30-4:30pm. March: Drop infor ahands-on

nature-based craft — a woven tree from
Russia; April: bookmaking and poetry.

e 90-Second Newbery Film Festival:
Saturday 3/17, 3:30pm. Fabulous 7th annual
video contest in which young filmmakers tell
the entire stories of Newbery-winning books
in a minute and a half. Hosted by authors
James Kennedy and Marcus Ewert. All
ages welcome. Reserve your free ticket
online at: http://90secondnewbery.com/
events - click on the Oakland screening.

Register in advance for a free, all-day
workshop on Sat, 4/21, 10am-4pm to makea
90-Second Newbery Film: learn to condense
a novel into a brief retelling, act it out, and
make a film. Ages 8 to 14 only. Contact Erica at
esiskind@oaklandlibrary.org or 510-597-5017.

e Paws to Read with BARK: Wed, 3/14 &
4/11, 2-3pm. Children ages 5 to 9 read
aloud to a certified therapy dog who loves
listening to stories, to increase reading
confidence, skill, and enjoyment. Natasha
the dog will be here the second Wednesday
of every month. Sign up at the Children’s
Reference Desk.

FOR TEENS
Learn SCRATCH at Ready, Set, Connect!
days 4-—6pm. No sign-up necessary; drop
CD: try creating a program with help from
intern. One-on-one or small group work.

¢ 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 (during school days).

¢ 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 Spm; Wed 1:30 to 5pm (during
school days).

¢ LED Button Making: To celebrate Teen
Tech Week. March 7, 2pm.

¢ Blackout Poetry Program: To celebrate
National Poetry Month, you will use a sharpie
to black out words you do not want from a

book page to create a poem. All supplies
provided, April 11, 2pm.

FOR ADULTS

e Ready, Set, Connect! One-on-One
computer help. Tuesdays 4-6 pm 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: All
Welcome. 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
opm; wheelchair-accessible. Info: 420-8775
or Writefox@aol.com. Call to confirm.

e Lawyers in the Library: Free legal info
and referral. ist Tues each month; 6pm-
8pm. Sign-up for lottery starting 5pm; lottery
at 5:45 pm. Call day of program to confirm.

¢ Knitting Meet-Up: Third Saturday each
month, 3pm. Bring your project to inspire
or get advice. Beginners can learn to knit
and crochet. All levels welcome.

e The Life and Art of Isadora Duncan: Tues,
3/13, 6:30 pm. Dancer, choreographer, and
historian, Lois Flood, performs dance and
spoken word to celebrate and inform about
the life of Isadora Duncan, whose innovative
style paved the way for modern dance,

e From Age-ing to Sage-ing: Grow whole,
not old. Janet Piggins, LCSW, will facilitate
interactive workshop with a focus on
reviewing our lives and setting hopes and
goals for a vital second half of life. Sat,
3/24, 10:30am -12pm.

e Podcast Meet-up: Tues, 3/27, 6pm.
Learn about podcasting: share ideas and
resources.

¢ Spring Refresh: Practicing Mindfulness:
Sat, 3/31, 11am. Learn and practice
Mindfulness techniques that help calm and
uplift your body and mind.

¢ Gardening Basics: Sat, 4/7, 11am.
Workshop for new and beginning gardeners
to learn the basics of successful gardening
in Oakland and the Bay Area. Taught by an
Alameda County Master Gardener.

15.

———— —

Art Exhibit; upstairs gallery

Jonathan Taylor, Lea Delson, and Julie
Cohn; photography and watercolors.
Reception: Sat, March 10, 11:30am -1:30pm,

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

East Bay Booksellers Book/Poetry
Readings and Events

FREE and open to the public.

¢ Tues, 3/13, 7pm. Patrick Nathan: Some
Hell. ln conversation with Scott Esposito.

¢ Wed, 3/14, 6:30pm. Freud’s Bar (talks
by local Bay Area psychoanalysts/
psychologists, aimed at students ages
16-25, while enjoying drinks and snacks).
Continuing this winter's theme of Tickling
the Unconscious, this meeting’s topic is:
“What Does Psychoanalysis Have to
Teach Us About the Hatred of Animals,”
presented by Lisa Buchberg, DMH.

¢ Thurs, 3/15, 7pm. Two book discussions:
Ramona Ausubel: Awayland, and Kim
O’Neil: Fever Dogs.

¢ Fri, 3/16, 7pm. Hilary Zaid: Paper is
White. In conversation with local author
Jane Mason.

¢ Sun, 3/18, 3pm. Poetry Flash: So Many
Voices, anew anthology celebrating Poetic
Matrix Press’s 20th anniversary including
selected works of their authors from 1997 to
2017. Readings by many of the contributors.

¢ Tues, 3/20, 7pm. Memoir by Lamont
“U-God” Hawkins: Raw: My Journey Into
the Wu-Tang. In conversation with Hip Hop
historian Davey D.

¢ Fri, 3/23, 7pm. David Coulter will discuss
his translation of The Novel of the Tupinamba
Indian, in conversation with Bob Ernst.

¢ Fri, 4/6, 7 pm. Curtis White: Lacking
Character.

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 guitarist Bruce Forman in a one
man show entitled “The Red Guitar.” Sun.,
Mar 18, 2pm. Tickets $15: in advance at
https://bruceforman.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://www.bruceforman.
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. ist Fridays each month, 8—-
10pm. All levels 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.

» Calendar, page I4

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16. Réckridge News March 3, 2018

—<-——

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