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VOL. 34 @ NO.4 ag ISSUE NO. 363 APRIL 6, 2019

CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

April RCPC Town Hall <f RCPC Board Elections
Thursd i
ursday, April 18, Vote: Three incumbents
7:30 p.m., Rockridge and one new candidate

Branch Library, present their interest in
5366 College Avenue. @ Board service.

AGENDA

SB 50: Housing/Transit Bill

Robert Gammon, communications
director and policy advisor for State
Senator Nancy Skinner, will discuss
SB 50 and its potential scope.

RCPC Board: Three Incumbents, One
New Candidate Stand for Election

he April RCPC Town Hall Meeting doubles as RCPC’s annual meeting and

election of members of the Board of Directors. This year, three incumbents
and one new candidate seek board positions; their photos and statements appear
on page 3. At the meeting, candidates will briefly recap their statements and
iscuss their interest and goals in serving on the Board, then take questions from
he audience. Rockridge residents will then cast their ballots.

Persons age 18 and over who live within RCPC boundaries are eligible to vote. Voter
verification in most cases will be by driver's license or DMV ID card showing a resi-
dential address within RCPC boundaries as depicted on the RCPC website: rockridge.
org. Alternatively, certain other forms of documentation can be accepted; see website
(under heading “RCPC”’) for details. In order for a quorum to be established, at least 25
residents must sign in and be verified as members eligible to vote. If a quorum is present
on Thursday evening, residents who were unable to attend the Thursday meeting may

vote on Saturday, April 20, 10 a m1 p.m., in the lobby of the Rockridge Branch Library.

Kitchens in Rockridge? Yes! Tell us About Yours

‘Oi Rockridge kitchens! Plan- submit a kitchen for this year’s Tour.
ning for this year’s Rockridge Rockridge kitchens come in a
Kitchen Tour is in full swing,and we’ve variety of styles, sizes, and budgets:
extended the deadline to April 30 to _ traditional, modern, Craftsman; range
from modest updates to large-scale
renovations; and feature green con-
struction and interesting designs.
We want to see it all.

If you have or can recommend
a kitchen to be included on the
tour, the Kitchen Tour Committee
invites you to submit it now for the
Autumn 2019 tour, set for Sunday,
September 22, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
For more information, contact

RCPC’s Kitchen Lee
Each kitchen different

and interesting. c
Sag ee : » Kitchens in Rockridge, page I!

Kitchen Tour co-Chairs at kitchen-
tour@rockridge.org

Leonora Sea or Ronnie Spitzer,

SB 50; Focus On Housing
Near Transit Stations &
Major Bus Lines —

How Would Rockridge Fare?

New Bill From State Senators

Wiener & Skinner

by Stuart Flashman, Chartr,
RCPC Land Use Committee
So may remember the panic that briefly ran

through much of Rockridge in January 2018
when State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco)
introduced SB 827, a bill that threatened to convert
much of Rockridge into 5- to 8-story buildings. The
bill, co-authored by our own State Senator, Nancy
Skinner, aimed to address California's housing crisis
by forcing the statewide upzoning of all areas within
a half-mile of any “major transit stop,” which included
all BART stations. An enormous backlash ensued,
with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the
Los Angeles City Council, among others, quickly
expressing opposition. While Senator Wiener tried
to walk back some of the more stringent provisions
of the bill, it died at its first Senate hearing.

Senator Wiener promised to bring back a bill with
goals similar to SB 827, but with more consultation
with “stakeholders” prior to its introduction. True to
his word, Senator Wiener has introduced a follow-up
bill, SB 50. The bill, again, is co-authored by Senator
Skinner, and also by recently elected Assembly
Member Buffy Wicks, as well as a number of other
urban legislators who have made housing their major
legislative focus. This time, it’s clear that Senator
Wiener has done his homework.

As with SB 827, SB 50 has the support of the

> How Would Rockridge Fare?, page 12

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: RSckrid ue News
core

John Wagers at 100 Years —

Park and Greenery Advocate Still at It

n 1919, when Rockridge resident John Wagers was

born near Shickley, Nebraska, the Nineteenth
Amendment was passed, guaranteeing women the
right to vote, a postage stamp cost $0.02, and the
Green Bay Packers were established at Green Bay,
Wisconsin.
Some things have changed since then, some have
not. As far as is known, John Wagers has not changed
a bit, at least not during his many years in and around

Rockridge. And that is a good thing because John is
an early environmentalist who remains committed to
the cause. That means, for example, he ensured that
his friends and neighbors composted garbage and yard
waste years before there were Green Bins, a practice
he still follows. It means, too, that he knew the impor- Ba |: e.,
tance of planted greenery in urban landscapes, and |. (i Ry aeemeA TAS :
that he would always welcome, or insist upon, your | John Wagers delivering &
help in developing another, local, pocket park. Pictured ‘ The Rockridge News.
below, John b john Wagers: Indefatigable, page 15 lWigmrwat

garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15

Dry Cleaning only ® Present with incoming order

5 L Garden Cleaners
EXPERT 5808 College Avenue, Oakland
SHIRT 601-1188
LAUNDERING! Mon-Fri 7-7 Sat g_— 6

Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza

——-__

ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY

Rd oe! 5366 College Avenue aS
jou at Manila | 597-5917

Library program details/hours: Calendar, Page 15

The Rockridge News, founded March 1986 by Don
Kinkead, is published monthly (except jn 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..........0+ woo Editor

Jo Ellis.......... sseseeseneeeneucnen Asst. Editor

Judith Doner Berne............ Eyes on Rockridge
O EMIS ......eccceseeeeees cuneavensevenss Advertising &

| Community Calendar
Susan Montauk... Business Manager
Don Kinkead.........::0s008 «Graphics & Layout
RCPC Board of Directors, 2018.\9
Leonora SOA... cceeeseescsees Chair

Alden Conner ou... Vice-Chair

VACANE...ocecesessseeeeencsneseeenenneee Secretary

Ronnie Spitzer... Treasurer

ashley cruz, Casey Farmer, Stuart Flashman,
M C Haug, Don Kinkead, Andrew Masalin,
Courtney Welch
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 RCPC with
“Rockridge News Subscription” on the memo
line. Mail to 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,41/ 23 Broadway,
PMB 311, Oakland, CA 9461 |

Articles submitted for publication may be
emailed to the editor or sent to the address 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 May issue is:

@ May 4, 2019.

@ Submission deadline: April 18, 2019.
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
joellis1@hotmail.com. RCPC reserves the right
to refuse any display or classified ad it deems
inappropriate. (Classified ad contact, page |4.)

April 6, 2019

Rdckridge News

SF

® RCPC Election 2019: Board Candidates Introduced

Mia Ashleigh
Broadway

y husband and |
moved to Rock-
ridge last December,
returning to the Bay
Area after many years
overseas. We have al-
ways loved Rockridge.
Our values and our experiences make us
a great fit to this vibrant, diverse, and wel-
coming Community, and we are delighted
to make our home here.

| have a passion for the environment
and for community service. These two life-
long interests have had a profound impact
on my life choices, starting with my deci-
sion to study and then to pursue a career
in civil and environmental engineering. |
believe that a clean and healthy environ-
ment is fundamental to our quality of life
and that community service is a corner-
tone of a healthy and functioning society.
Since my student days at Cal, | have en-
joyed participating in activities to give back
to the communities | live in.

| would be honored to have the op-
portunity to serve our community in a
meaningful way and make a positive impact
on the quality of life of its residents as an
RCPC Board member.

Alden Conner
Hillegass Ave.

Incumbent

| have been a Rock-
ridge resident for al-
most ten years, and
| was elected to my
first term on the
board in 2017.1 would
like another term to continue my work with
the board, especially in the area of transpor-
tation. Just last month, we re-launched the
Transportation Committee to help address
residents’ concerns about a number of re-
cent changes to our roads. Going forward,
the committee will continue to monitor
new city projects and keep the community

informed.

Outside of transportation, I’m looking
forward to this year’s Kitchen Tour, and I’m
closely following land-use proposals and
legislative changes that are affecting Rock-
ridge. | think the next two years will be
an exciting time for the RCPC and Rock-
ridge, and | hope to continue representing
the community to shape the future of our

neighborhood going forward.

RCPC Board Election: Vote

—ai

The April Land Use Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, April
24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Rockridge Branch Library. The agenda includes an
update on the housing study. Please check at https://rockridge.org the

previous week to confirm meeting date, time, and place.

by Stuart Flashman, Chair
he Land Use Committee met on

March 27 with a quorum present.

510.653.6677

Advanced Preventi

ockridge Dental.

rockdent.com

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

ve, Restorative, Periodontal Gum Care, and Dental Implants.

RCPC Land Use Committee Report - April 2019

Rockridge Housing Study: While our
efforts to analyze the effects of the altern-
wative scenarios suffered a setback when

Land Use Committee, page I!

3rd Floor
Market Hall

Ste. 312

Stuart Flashman
Ocean View Dr.

Incumbent

et idee ta eg
to Rockridge in

1992, and | run my law
practice (environmental
and land use law) from
our house on Ocean
View Drive. In 2007 | was appointed to the
RCPC Board, and in 2008 became chair
of its land use committee, a position | still
hold. I’ve served four full terms on the
board, including six years as board chair.
While the board has many responsibil-
ities, right now | feel my most important
duty is spearheading the Land Use Com-
mittee’s Rockridge Housing Study, which
seeks to analyze how we can add more
housing to Rockridge and increase its
affordability, while maintaining its desirable
qualities. | hope to bring that study to a
close in my coming term, so residents can

make an informed decision about what
they want for Rockridge’s future.

Ronnie Spitzer
Kales Avenue |

Incumbent

| joined the RCPC
board to help pre-
serve and enhance
Rockridge’s unique
neighborhood char-

acter.
| have served as vice-chair, chair and cur-

rently Treasurer of the board; Fourth Bore
Coalition representative and Vice Chair;
Halloween Parade organizer; Kitchen Tour
co-chair; and past chair and current vice-
chair of the RCPC’s Transportation Com-
mittee, which addresses issues concerning
traffic, transit and pedestrian and bicycle

safety.

lf re-elected, | would work to continue my
efforts with the RCPC board to best serve

our community. Thank you.

RCPC Board Election: Vote
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: Rdckridge News

FROG and DMV Neighbors Invite You
to Join Earth Day Fun Saturdy,

“IT he available. As
by Fay Gordon the tables, and water will be a‘ ul

fter a long winter cooped up indoors, always, remember your Suns¢ bg Epa

most families are counting down the Taking care of and Le pT: company
days to warm weather and afternoons inthe _ is truly acommunity event. ny a, canon
sunshine. For our Rockridge community, or employer supports ee ‘ apes Earth
FROG Park is a special gathering place for mend the Greenbelt and par a “and oi
families and neighbors, and the beautiful Day project. There s plenty to pelernlihy
trees, green-space and playground are the and your co-workers will vem t Leono-
backdrop of many happy memories. For more information, ee rk.org

To celebrate spring park days, join your raSea@comcast.net or info@frogpa pts

neighbors for Earth Day, the annual cele- Remember: April 20. Remember too: e
bration of community care for the park and __ official Earth Day is Monday, April 22.
greenbelt. The DMV Neighbors Association
and FROG committee ae jointly sponsoring Leonora Sea, RC PC Chair rhedytih
the 2019 Earth Day cleanup event Saturday, Neighbors leader, pivbheste a a da
April 20 from 9 a.m. — 12 noon. Cleanup Park for a lively spring spruce-"P

activities will happen throughout the
park and greenbelt. To work on the creek,
greenbelt and “Little Frog” (the tot park at
Redondo and Clarke), sign in at the table at
Cavour and Redondo. There will also be a
sign-in at the play structure at “Big Frog”
to work on the pond, play areas, and path.

Tools and gloves will be provided, or
bring your own, marked well as yours.
Many tasks are kid-friendly. We’ll be raking salt eh lS

Yoko;
redwood duff out of the pond; sweeping the at oe =e

greenbelt path; trimming ivy; turning over JASON KALDIS Jasmine tunes OD
the fibar (the soft material under the play

structures); pruning overgrown shrubs and ARCHITECT

trees; weeding the creek bed; and cutting INCORPORATED

3321 College Ave., Oakland
back willow roots. Parents or guardians

must sign for volunteers under 18. Snacks, 1 0.549.3584 (57 0)655-3797

coffee, and drinks for volunteers will be at WWW.JKALDISARCHITECT.COM rockridgeoptometry.com

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New Listing: 1716 Dwight Way
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near vibrant Downtown Berkeley.

» 18+ Years of Real Estate Experience

» lop producer & member of TAN
(Top Agent Network)

» East Bay Native, Cal Alum
» Longtime Rockridge Resident

» Proud Chabot Hementary &
Claremont Middle School Parent

RUTN Goldstone
510.418.7191 cell/text

eastbayprop@gmail.com
DRE# 01300164

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Réckridge News

=F

gfakland Public
Library Expands
Hours

by Alona Rivord
Friends of the Rockridge Library
s of April 1, all Oakland Public Library
locations have expanded their days and
hours of service as a result of Measure D.
a parcel tax that passed with 76.9 percent
of the vote on the June 2018 ballot. The
library system last increased operating
hours 15 years ago in 2004.

The Rockridge Branch is now open six
days a week, including Mondays, and is open
until 8 p.m. Wednesday nights. Prior to the
change, Tuesday was the only evening of ser-
vice. Sundays and Friday mornings remain

at 7

Oakland Public Library

OF BOOK STORE

**SPRING BOOK SALE**
April 11-14, 2019
Thurs 4/11 - Members’ Preview - 50% off.
And for all book lovers:
30% off — Friday 4/12
40% off — Saturday 4/13
50% off — Sunday 4/14
Special sale hours: 10:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Proceeds benefit Oakland Public Library

COMPLETE TREE CARE
Proudly serving Rockridge since 1965!

(510) 562-4000

www.treesculpture.com

Fully Insured | Certified Arborists | Lic #655977

closed at the Rockridge branch, although
the Main Library downtown is open at those
times. See the Community Calendar, page
15, for the new Rockridge Branch hours.

“We are truly excited to increase access
to libraries across Oakland,’ said Director
of Library Services Jamie Turbak in a press
release. ‘““We hope that everyone will take
advantage of our evening hours, extra days
of service, and additional programs and
resources.”

More hours mean more employees in
order to staff the added hours of service and
increased programming for children, teens
and adults. Expect to see some new faces
behind the counter on your spring visits to
the branch.

The Friends of the Rockridge Library,
a volunteer nonprofit organization that sup-
ports the library, and continues to collabo-
rate with staff to assist with materials and
activities not covered under the city budget.

“Several board members of the Friends
of the Rockridge Library were very active in
the Measure D campaign and worked really
hard for this. We are so excited that less than
a year later we are seeing such a big impact,”
said Elizabeth Falkner, Friends president.

“Through generous donations from the
community, the Friends of the Rockridge
Library has been able to support many ideas
and programs formulated by branch librari-
ans and staff. More open hours means having
more opportunities to expand activities and
see the materials that we fund get even more

use,” she said.

For a full list of new Oakland Public Library hours,
pick up a flyer at the Rockridge Branch or visit

oaklandlibrary.org/morelibrary.

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E Claremont Middle
School: Take a Bow

laremont is one of 162 schools — and

the only one in Oakland — named as a
California Distinguished School in 2019 by
the state Department of Education.

[t is the first time Claremont has received
the honor for “outstanding education pro-
grams and practices,” the state Department
of Education reported. “Schools are awarded
for achieving exceptional student perfor-
mance for two consecutive school years or
closing the achievement gap between two
school years.”

“It’s been a long journey, we have been
working hard,” Principal Jonathan Mayer
told KPIX-5 citing improvement in math
and English scores over the past two years.
“Our teachers have done an amazing job,
and over the last five years we’ve had a tre-
mendous turnaround. So we were honored
for especially the work of the last two-and-
a-half years.”

Awardee schools hold the title for two
years. Some Claremont teachers will be
honored with the other schools at an April
event at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

Way to go, Knights!

Claremont Music Teacher Scores Grant

At the beginning of the year, music
teacher Ari Brown applied for a Grammy
Foundation grant. “I had to do some writing
as well as submit a sample of my teaching.
I hadn’t thought of it since then and the
other day got a call that said I was given
the grant of $5,000 to spend on the band
program. Super cool, right?”

Oakland Tech and Oakland High also

received similar grants.

Morning wake-up calls

Social network modeling

Curling up with a good book

Gardening together

Making lots of biscuits

Local caregivers wno want

to helo make great memories.

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RBckridge News

MucH To QUESTION IN MARCH
CCA Park PERSONAL STATEMENT

EpiTor:

As a group of concerned Rockridge neigh-
bors, we found much to question in ashley
cruz’s personal statement in the Rockridge
News March edition.

|. The statement posits that we will begin
to accept a 19-story residential building
that bears no relation to the surrounding
community. What causes the writer to
think that we will soften our view of this
extremely outsized building?

2. If The Glade is to be a privately
owned public place, who will oversee its
maintenance? Has there been any thought
about how this could become a homeless
encampment or a loud hangout site on
weekends? Additionally, the size of The
Glade itself is tiny in proportion to the
buildings around it and completely isolated.

3. How will this open space “thrive” in
the shaded footprint of the buildings around
it?

4.How will this development
accommodate all the cars generated by
renters and their visitors? They can’t all be
walkers, bikers and BARTers. Moreover,
the traffic at that intersection is already
causing major gridlock — not to mention
poor air quality resulting from idling cars.

5. We question the theory stated in the
article that this space on a very busy and
noisy street — not to mention the expanding
shopping center — will be a place that
“relieves symptoms of depression and

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

er, Letters may

4 brevity at the
essed

appear with your lett

be edited for clarity an et
editor's discretion. Views exp

, and
in any letter are the writer s os xe
may not necessarily be shared DY

editor or by RCPC.

ances well-being.”
6. We already have Merrill Gardens

and The Baxter at this ‘ntersection, with
more development to come. Moreover, a
Baxter, as of this writing, has only 62 0

160 apartments rented. Plus, one needs only
to drive down Broadway to see multiple,
very large condo/apartment developments
(although not one is 19 stories tall). How
many highrises does Oakland need? The
real need in Oakland is for truly affordable
housing.

We agree that Rockridge needs some
additional open space and parkland. But you
don’t accomplish that by installing a postage
stamp green space, surrounded by buildings
that are radically tall for the environment.

We don’t find the current zoning laws
offensive and are not sure why the developers
can’t simply stick to them. Land is worth a
lot of money, and there’s an opportunity for
a lot of housing to go on it without asking

for a single variance.

Finally, we would like to see comments
from the RCPC Land Use Committee
regarding the general progress of this pro-

posed project.
Along with the overall welfare of our

neighborhood, we have other questions and
concerns:

@ As part of the design review and appli-
cation process, has there been a request to
the City of Oakland for any preferential,
special zoning approval in the way of a
Conditional Use Permit or an amended
approved Planning Permit? Has any such

anxiety and enh

ieee es ie Le ht lg

zoning request been granted and

what grounds?
s Has an Environmental Impact Stud
been conducted? If so, by whom?

not, are there any plans for neighborhood
‘nclusion either by the RCPC or the City

of Oakland?

= We would like to think that the RCPC
has our neighborhood's best interests in
mind. Where does the RCPC stand on this

proposed design?

Jody Stevens Margaret Wahlberg
Dee Stevens Chris Wahlberg

Greer Alley Laura Miller

Dale Alley David Miller

Dominic Patte Bishop
DiMento Steve Yedlin

Craig Lyall

RCPC Repties:

Dear Jody et al.: The RCPC Board wil] poy
vote to take a position on this project untij
it has been thoroughly discussed within the
Rockridge community. The RCPC Board
and the Land Use Committee, which advises

the board, will continue to solicit input a )

neighbors over the course of this project,
Ms. cruz’s and your letters are both part of
that discussion, as were comments made at
the January Town Hall meeting. Ms. cruz
was very careful to note at the beginning
of the article that she was not Speaking
on behalf of the Board. The RCPC Board
is committed to keeping the community
informed of the progress of this project from
start to finish, and the long timeline of such
a large project means that this is only the
beginning of the discussion. There will be

a full environmental impact review (EIR)
conducted by the city, and we expect it to
address all of the issues your letter raises.
The RCPC Board plans to submit “scoping”
comments on the issues the EIR needs to

If 80, on
9

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address, as well as to comment on the Draft
EIR once it is released for public review.
The developers have made clear that they
expect, and intend, a full public process for
this project. As always with major projects,
the RCPC Board will continue to keep the
community fully informed as that process
moves forward, including additional articles
and Town Halls as needed. We encourage all

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——oo©6)h —)s—

April 6, 2019
rae ry OF Orv" — -

Letters

from page 6

the neighborhood. In response to your
comments on zoning, the site js currently
zoned for an educational institution, and
any other use will require new zoning. It
would be premature for RCPC to lock itself
into a position on the project this early in
the process. As we learned with the College
Avenue Safeway project, a project can, and
often should, undergo major changes before
it is finally voted on by the City Council.

For the Rockridge Community
Planning Council:

Leonora Sea, Chair;

Alden Conner, Vice Chair:

Stuart Flashman, Chair, Land Use
Committee

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Réckridge News

New Park a Goon IpeEa; 19 Stories
is OVERWHELMING

Epiror:

The description of the new park by Ms.cruz
in the March issue of The Rockridge News
sounds very exciting and would be a boon
to the community. But the inclusion of a
19-story building overwhelms the entire
site. A huge building of that size would
cast a deep shadow on the park and also
the neighborhood. Furthermore, Ms. cruz
recommends that we all “band together in
solidarity” to bring this about. But let us
not forget that the developer at the library
meeting made it quite clear that a large
building is part and parcel if this project
is to work for him. We cannot join in any
commitment to this plan and would never
accept the presence of a building this size

in a residential neighborhood
Kathy & Bill Garcia

WHAT WAS SPRAYED ON THAT
ROCKRIDGE VACANT LoT?

EpiTor:

What was sprayed on that vacant lot?
We all know that lot; it’s the one at the
corner of College and Claremont, a literal
crossroads at the heart of our Rockridge
neighborhood. For years it has sat vacant,
but not empty. That little acre has sprouted
green grass and yellow flowers, art instal-
lations and grand ideas about public parks
and low-cost housing. But now, after the
wettest winter in more than a decade, it has
produced nothing. It’s a brown wasteland of
shriveled plants.

I asked an acquaintance if he knew
what happened. Yes, it had been sprayed

Ee

and he was a nose-witness. “It stank for
days,” he said.

So now I’m wondering.... Who sprayed
it? Was any permit needed or obtained?
Was any advance notice given or required?
How much went into the air and drains, and
how much was left behind in our Rockridge
neighborhood?

Just what was sprayed on that vacant lot?
And why? I look forward to the answer.

Chuck Afflerbach

REGARDING THE SHAFTER AVENUE
TraFFic CIRCLES: CONFUSING

EpiTor:
I am writing to express my confusion

and concern regarding the traffic circles on
Shafter Avenue, and to see if anyone can
confirm my understanding that they are
primarily intended to aid cyclists.

In the months since their appearance,
I have witnessed and experienced count-
less close calls involving cars, cyclists,
pedestrians, and scooter riders, in various
combinations. The problem may be that no
one has a clear understanding of intersection
protocol at the traffic circles. Signs warning
that cross traffic does not stop are ignored or
misunderstood by most drivers. In a car or
on foot, I now consider those intersections to
be “every man for himself” situations. God
forbid someone should attempt a left turn.

There is also the question of design and
aesthetics. Counteracting the decorative
plants at the center of the traffic circles
(which seem to too large for the spaces they
occupy), large yellow signs labeled “Traffic
Circle” and printed in black with accom-
panying arrows

) Letters, page 14

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April 6, 2019

Originators Liken Quirky Garden to ae
‘No Rules, Creative Harmony, Interesting

“Show me your garden and | shall tell you what you are.”
Alfred Austin, Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, 1 896-1913

by Judith Doner Berne
° Pee don't say they like it; they say
they love it.”

Nick Chase is talking about the eclectic
garden that he and his friend Susana England
created at England’s house on Clifton
between Boyd and Lawton in the heart of
Rockridge.

“This is one of the things about the
garden — everyone stops by,” Chase says.
“People and dogs,” England chimes in. “We
have mothers coming by with their children —
they play with some of it. A neighbor touches
the fish every day.”

She is talking about a life-size ceramic
fish, one of a number of ceramic pieces that
she inherited from her artist-aunt, and dis-

This fish, one of her late aunt’s
ceramics, is a favorite — of Susana
England and of a regular passer-by.

AGRA PARTNERS

LOUTIOUE REAL ESTATT INTTRNATIONAL IRE

BUYING?
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ANNE D. BRANDON, REALTOR
55+ YEAR ROCKRIDGE RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER
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tits

ALL PHOTOS: JUDITH DoNngrR BERNE

plays as an homage to her among 4
lush display of her own beloved flow-
ering plants and succulents. They are
intermingled with an assortment of
old and mainly rusted gadgets, tools
and objects from yesteryear, such
as oil lanterns, typewriters, sewing
machines as well as a bevy of bird-
houses. “Nick makes the birdhouses,”
England tells me.

Nothing is too small — a row of
bottle caps lines a portion of the
fence... or too large — a ladder or
chairs hanging from the front fagade
of the house... or too near — succu-
lent cuttings came from neighbor
Julianne Sherback’s garden... or too
far — rocks and found objects from
England’s and husband Roger Thomp-
son’s off-the-grid Nevada homestead
where he spends months at a time. “‘I
never outgrew Boy Scouts,” he says.

But for England, her Rockridge home
and garden are her “rock.” “When I moved
in — 35 years ago — I thought I was being
exiled to Siberia,” she says. (“Market Hall
was either a pumpkin patch or Christmas
trees,” Chase interjects.) “Rockridge wasn’t
Berkeley,” she continues. “Now, it’s become

Susana England and Nick Chase take a break
garden collage: Shades of American Gothic?

7
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more than Berkeley.”

Both she and Chase are artists —~ he first
came to Rockridge 35 years ago, as a student
at the California College of Arts and Crafts
(now California College of the Arts), becom-
ing a graphic designer and art illustrator. He
lived on Locksley for 20 years before moving
to San Francisco.

» Creative Harmony, page 9

DANIEL STEA
510.843.6400

Congratulations {0 Our buyers!

Wishing you many years of love.
and happiness in your new h

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ome!

win

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¢.,

April 6, 2019

Creative
armony

from page 8

England, who studied painting and music
at UC Berkeley, is a collage painter but has
also done photography, wearable art and
handmade paper collage. Her art is displayed
in corporate collections, notably at Kaiser
Permanente in Oakland and Stanford Med-

A trio of meat grinders is juxtaposed against a lemon tree.

ical School. And she describes the garden as
“a living, changing composition depending
on the light, the weather, who’s coming by.”

She also plays harp and cello, once
appearing with Miles Davis and Gil Evans
at the Berkeley Jazz Festival, and is a former
member of the Community Women’s and the

Oakland Civic orchestras.
“We're like a jazz combo,” Chase said, in

schedule an appointment.

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725 WASHINGTON ST., SUITE 313 OAKLAND, CA 94607
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RodckridgeNews

explaining their garden partnership, formed
four years ago when Chase was still in the
neighborhood. “We are working off each
other’s inspiration. It was a very healthy
thing to do.”

It began with England’s desire for a rock
garden using rocks she carts back from the
Nevada property. “I come from a family
that loves to garden,” she tells me. “I am a
collector. I’ve always had a feeling for the
old and the ephemeral. It (the garden) grew
from one pile of rocks and a planter on top.
We found we had
an affinity for col-
lecting and collag-
ing. He would bring
things he wanted to
put in,”

“I had an old
Remington type-
writer, railroad
lamps, a lot of qual-
ity, rusting swag,
which no one saw
or would ever see
until we put it in the
garden — a perfect
‘creative re-use’
fit,’ he says. “I love
the typewriters;
they’re sculptures now.” He’s a fan of wabi-
sabi, the Japanese aesthetic that accepts
transience and imperfection. “They put
things out and they deteriorate and you see
time passing,” he says.

They divide the work, with England
supervising the planting and Chase creating
the scenarios which, in concert with the
plants, change from season to season. “We

a

both go for it,” she says. “That’s why, kind
of like jazz —no rules, creative harmony and
interesting.” Plus, they listen to music while
they’re working. “I do the classical. He does
the rock and roll and blues,”

“One of the key elements of the garden
was fun,’ Chase says. “Everything was
done with a sense of play. No formal plan
other than an off-beat sense of jazzy folk-art

harmonics.”
“TI had the spark but Nick has been

equally influential,” England says. “He was
the muscle and inspiration. The eclecticism
of the garden wouldn’t have happened with-
out him. But the daffodils wouldn't have
been there without me.” She looks forward
to warm weather, when she invites friends
over for “a paint-in” — an opportunity to
paint in her garden. “I’d like to expand it to
more people.”

“Susana is an artist both on canvas and
in nature,” says fellow gardener Sherback.
“Walking by her garden is like looking at
a piece of art. Not only are the plants and
flowers beautiful, but the sculptures and
different objects placed between the plants
make the garden very magical.”

“She’s an artist,” echoes another neigh-
bor, Jack McGuire, “and the garden is just
a very imaginative expression of what she
does every day. I see people watching it all
the time.”

“It’s my treasure of memories,’ England
says. In addition to her artist aunt’s ceram-
ics, there is a Japanese maple that stands in
memory of her father (her mom is nearing
100 and lives in the Berkeley Hills), and wis-
teria vines twist around the fence to honor

» Creative Harmony, page 10

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ARCHITECTURE
WWW .AMATOARCHITECTURE.COM
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10. R&ckridgeNews

Creative Harmony

from page 9

carried
bolted
=

Nick Chase designed and
out this collage of objects
to the front of the house-

another favorite aunt. “When the wisteria
blooms, all of a sudden, I have hope again.”

A sewing machine is perched just
back of the wooden fence, where

wisteria is waiting to bloom.

a

7 . »
_ os
. OSS ‘ th

Daffodils bloom flanked by a row of

Comments on this column and ideas 2
future columns are welcome. Please ema

judyberne @att.net.

bottle caps (“Nick is a bottle cap guy”)

and “old rusted stuff.”
We Graphic Design
@-\ digital and print
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11.

—_—

itchens in
Rockridge

TT

from page |

For those new to the neighborhood, this
autumn will mark the 13th biennial kitchen
tour since 1995 and it will feature eight
beautifully renovated, restored, or remodeled
Rockridge residential kitchens. The Kitchen
Tour is the primary fundraiser for the Rock-
ridge Community Planning Council ( RCPC),
the nonprofit community organization that
sponsors publication of The Rockridge
News; holds town hall meetings on topics
of importance to the neighborhood: and
supports community-building through pro-
grams like the Kevin Faughnan Memorial
Community Grants.

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tile = countertops = flooring

4336 Broadway
Oakland
510.547.8288

www. arttie@oakland.com

Report: Land
Use Committee

from page 3

two UC. graduate students were unable to
participate, the Committee was extremely
lucky to be able to recruit Rockridge resi-
dent Darin Smith of the Oakland planning
and consulting firm Economic & Planning
Systems, Inc. to help us with the analysis. We

hope to present a short update on the study
at the April Town Hall.

5346 College Avenue

This narrow lot is currently occupied
by a one-story bungalow that has been
converted to commercial use. The devel-
Opers met with the Land Use Committee
last fall and presented several alternative
proposals. After receiving feedback from
the committee, particularly about the need

for more affordable housing, the develop-
ers redesigned the project to include one
verylow-income rental unit. With that
unit, the project qualified to add a fourth
story. It now includes a small first-floor
retail space, six two-bedroom units, and a
first-floor one-bedroom unit with backyard
area. There would be rooftop common open
space fronting on the College Avenue side
of the building.

Under the City’s zoning regulations, the
lot is narrow enough that it is exempt from
having to provide any on-site off-street
parking for residents. The assigned plan-
ner, Jason Madani (;jmadani@oaklandca.
gov, 238-3790), has proposed exempting
the project from all off-street parking
requirements. The committee is concerned
that if, as seems likely, at least some of the
units are rented by families, they wi// have
cars; and where will they park them? It’s a
question that seems to deserve an answer.

i¢

ith good weather now

wis often enough to

dry out the streets and warm

up the outdoor chairs, can there
be many better ways to spend
time out of doors than with a
friend and a cup of coffee? Rock-
ridge residents and Cole Coffee
patrons Bill Crews, left, and
Roger Hammar take advantage
of one of the recent dry days in

Rockridge. /D. KINKEAD

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Rockridge News

April 6, 2019

12.

How Would
Rockridge Fare?

from page |!

Bay Area Council; the Silicon Valley
Leadership Group; and SPUR, the San
Francisco Planning and Urban Research
Association; as well as the Building
Industry Association and the “Yes In My
Backyard,” — or “YIMBY” — movement.
More importantly, unlike SB 827, SB 50
Starts off with support from not only some
tenant and affordable housing groups, but
also the state Building Trades Council — a
powerful ally within organized labor.

SB 50 Promotes Denser Development
Near Major Transit Centers

ike SB 827, SB 50 focuses on promoting

denser development near major transit
stops (e.g., BART, train, ferry, and light rail
line stations) and stops on “high quality bus
corridors” — that is, bus routes with service
at least every 15 minutes during peak
commute hours; at least every 20 minutes
between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. weekdays; and
at least every half-hour from 8 a.m. to 10
p.m. weekends. It adds to that, areas that are
close to jobs; have a high median income
relative to the local area; and have good
public schools. (None of these terms are
currently defined.) It appears that Rockridge
would qualify for denser development under
all of these criteria.

The bill includes protections for existing
rental properties, as well as requiring
compliance with California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) and local planning
requirements, except for projects submitted
under the previous Wiener/Skinner bill SB
35 — which could apply to many Oakland
projects — where the local government
would be required to approve a qualifying
project.

© », Questions About
s. Wills, Trusts,
%j and Probate?

yi Kyle M. Johnston

Estate Attorney

5315 College Ave.
Oakland, CA 94618
510.527.1880

Under SB 50, all qualifying projects
would be exempt from density limits (.€-;
a maximum number of units per acre), and
off-street parking requirements would be
limited to 0,5 parking spaces pet residential
unit. The projects would also be entitled
to three incentives or concessions such as

reduced setbacks and fee waivers. 7
n addition, projects with a certain
| pena: of affordable units and
located between one-quarter and one-half
mile from a major transit stop could have
heights up to 45 feet (Rockridge height
limits normally would be 30-35 feet), and
would be allowed almost full lot coverage
at 3 stories. Within one-quarter mile of the
transit stop, the height limit would be 55
feet, and almost full lot coverage up to four
stories. In either case, all off-street parking
requirements would be eliminated.

If the law sounds complicated, it 1s.
Further, some of its provisions are, as
yet, not well defined, and it is likely there
will be numerous amendments during the
legislative process. Nevertheless, given
the bill’s support by many of the major
political powers in Sacramento, and barring
a groundswell of popular opposition, most
political observers expect the measure to
pass — in one form or another.

SB 50 Presenter: Robert Gammon

Robert Gammon works for Nancy Skinner
as communications director and policy
advisor. He is the former editor & publisher
of the East Bay Express, former senior editor
and publisher of Oakland, Alameda and The
East Bay Monthly magazines.

Learn more about this major bill and
have your comments and questions heard

at the RCPC Town Hall meeting.

Rockridge

Comfort in style
5933 College Ave.

(next fo Dreyer's Ice Cream)

510.823.2290
www.shoesonsolano.com

Rockridge News
Delivery Routes
Open: Broadway and
Broadway Terrace

Routes up for Grabs

e thank Gail Giacomelli for deliy-
WV eine The Rockridge News to her
fellow Broadway Terrace residents for the
last 9 years. Other responsibilities dictate
her stepping down from her block captain
job. Thanks also to David Herrenbruck for
his service as a district captain. He is moy.
ing east. We wish them each the best and
now look for someone to fill their shoes.
Route 08B: Block Captain* neeg.
ed to deliver to Both sides of Broadway
Terrace, odd numbers from Broadway to
5409, even numbers from Broadway to
5400.
Route II: District Captain* neeg.
ed to drop seven bundles at houses along
5400 and 5500 Taft, Kales and Manila be.
tween Broadway and College.
Route 16D: Block Captain delivers
to both sides 5200 Claremont, including
apartment at 5248.
*Block Captains deliver newsletters door-
to-door; *District Captains deliver bun®
dies to the Block Captains.

The newsletter is published the first week-
end of each month except August Your bun-
dle will be delivered to your doorstep.

Call 510/547-3855 or email Susan Montauk
(smontauk@gmail.com) to volunteer.

April 6, 2019

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he Hardy Dog Park Group hosted its first

Bench Building Day March 2. Because
f the rain and wind, we were not able to get
the benches finished on that day. They are
currently being sealed and painted and will
be installed in April. When finished, the new
benches will have backs for added comfort.
Thank you to all the great volunteers who
came out to help. We even had one volunteer
who had never used a power tool and now
wants to purchase her own drill because she
had so much fun. We built new newspaper
bag collectors on our April 6 clean-up day.

We continue to have monthly clean-ups

College Prep is a home for ideas, discovery,
that our students treasure. Led by exceptional a

The College Preparatory School

our students grow into their best selves.

6100 Broadway Oakland, CA 94618 510.652.436

Hardy Dog Park

the first Saturday of every month. All volun-
teers are welcome, but the park is closed to
dogs from 8:30-10:30 for their safety.
Remember: We need your tennis balls and
clean newspaper bag donations. Leave them
at either entrance to our park at the corner of
Hudson and Claremont. Thank you for your
support. Arooooo! /DocG PARK PHOTO

A private high school for grades 9-12

and engagement—intellectual pursuits

nd caring teachers, mentors, and coaches,

4 college-prep.org

13.

Notice to Animal
Lovers and Parents

his is the beginning of Foxtail season.

This means potentially big problems for
animals and young children. You can help
protect your pet and/or child by watching for
foxtails (see picture below) when out walk-
ing. When you come across them, yank them
out by the roots, then put them in a plastic bag
and then into the trash, not into the green bin
where they can survive and later get mixed
into mulch material.

Why are Foxtails dangerous? These
barbed grasses can easily be inhaled by
animals or young children, or they can enter
the body through eyes, ears, nose, and feet.
Once they’re in, the barbed structure ensures
they stay in, and makes them extremely hard
— and very expensive — to remove. They can
cause infections, organ damage, and loss of
hearing or vision.

Questions?: Call Sari Kulberg at
510/653-6432.

Below: a typical Foxtail. There are many
varieties, often different in appearance.

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14.

Rleiassitieds

Your Message Could Be Here
Your 36-word message is $22. (Phone number
counts as one word.) Make check payable
to RCPC and write Rockridge News
Classified Ad on the memo line. Mail to:
RN Classifieds, 4123 Broadway, PMB 31,
Oakland, CA 94611. The classified ad May
issue deadline is April 18. The May issue
will be out May 3. For information: Email Susan
Montauk via smontauk@gmail.com

Tax Stress?

Penelope’s Aesthetics
Professional Skin Care Salon: offering a
deluxe stress reducing facial with massage
and eyebrow wax for $69! Gift certificates
available, Located 2 blocks from College Ave.
Call today for an appointment. 510/594-1552

www.penelopecalef.com

a—

~ i i ie ™ a

Rockridge News

Your RockKRIDGE 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

HOUSE REPAIRS &
REMODELING, INTERIOR

& EXTERIOR |
Plumbing, tile work, decks, dry rot, drainage,
walls, termite damage, doors, windows,
kitchen & bath remodel. Professional work
for affordable prices. Local references

available. Juan 510/692-6399 or Jbahena.
info@gmail.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.

Letters

from page 7

indicating their function dominate the urban
landscape on our street. In addition, white
oversized plastic buffers have appeared near
the crosswalks. I am trying to go with the
flow and adapt to our increasingly populous
and developed neighborhood and its changes,
but am having a tough time understanding
how the circles are an improvement. My
questions at this point are: What was the
rationale for installing them? Whom are
they supposed to benefit? Cyclists, drivers,
pedestrians, emergency workers? Don’t cars
and pedestrians still make up the majority
of traffic on this street? Is anyone studying
accidents at these intersections? Is there a

Martin Coyle 510-655-8717 Mike Tracy
5221 James Ave. Oakland Ca. 94618

www.coylehomeremodel.com

more effective way to educate the public
about traffic and pedestrian rights of way?
Are they meant to slow down or speed up
Shafter Avenue traffic? Are we stuck with
them forever?

Are there civil engineers, design consul-
tants, urban planners, or community activists
who could address these concerns?

Just ranting and wondering,

P. B. Covell
Rockridge resident

since 1986

Darin J. Worm
BROKER
510.504.4960

djworm@centurioninsurance.net

Centurion Insurance Agency
Commercial + Personal + Life + Health

An Independent Insurance Brokerage

providing cost effective, comprehensive
Insurance products and services
since 1947,

www.centurioninsurance.net

April 6, 2019

——

nV

BART COMMUTER?

Tired of looking for parking? Drivewa
available 2 blocks from Rockridge BART.
Call 658-6700.

Handyman for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced. Hauling
and towing available. No job too small.
Reasonably priced. Lee Self. 707/223-1298-
call and text.

Feather River Art Camp
for Adults

http://www. featherriveerartcamp.com
June 9-16, 2019. “a perfectly joyful blend of
art, nature, creativity, camaraderie.” A rich
selection of Fine Arts Painting; Crafts, and
Music classes. Family friendly.

MOVING SALE!

Every Sunday, Ilam-4pm starting Sunday,
April 7th through mid-May. Great items at
great prices. Home furnishings, odds and
ends. Manila/Cavour. See you there! leti.
aguime@gmail.com. Private showings for
furniture pieces. Priced to sell.

Spring Forward with New
Cedar Shingles!

Replace your old siding with high-quality
cedar shingles. Licensed and _——=
work by your neighbors at:

Ergowiz@yahoo.com.

/$10/654-4688

Claremont Middle School
Girls Basketball: 2019 Middle
School Champs!

(eons to Claremont’s girls bas-
ketball team, the 2019 Oakland City
Middle School Champs! This team played as
a strong unit of veteran 7th and 8th graders
with an infusion of sixth graders. Masterful-
ly coached by David Doubley, hard work by
these athletes gave them confidence. They
dominated the game against Montera in a 36
to 31 point victory. Our school and communi-
ty can be very proud of these athletes.

& balance

fee-only financial planning
wealth management
tax planning & prep

Cheryl Vesely, CFP®, EA

910.847.7432 - cheryl@balancefp.com
www.balancefp.com

;
'

i

ride

—_——-

to: joellis! @hotmail.com. phone 653-3210

i ;
mmunity Calendar, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland,

Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, 597-5017

FOR CHILDREN

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

° Toddler Story Time: Songs, active rhymes
and stories (for 9 months to 2 years), Thurs-
days, 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; parents
and caregivers invited.

SPECIAL EVENTS: all ages welcome.

e Food Allergies: presented by Children’s Hospital
of Oakland. Thurs, 4/11, 11:15-11:30am,

e Stretching for Caregivers: bring your children
to free basic stretching session for adults.
Wednesdays, 10:10am.

e Chess Club: learn the basics; Instruction and
chess sets provided. Best for ages 8 to 12.
Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm,

e Paws to Read: Sandy's dog Scout loves to help
kids practice reading. You pick the book, Scout
will sit by you and listen as you read aloud. All
ages welcome. Every Thursday, 3:30-4:30pm.

e MixitUp Family Game Night: Bring your favorite
game or try one of ours. Every Tues 6:30-7:45pm
(except for Family Craft Night).

e Family Craft Night: 2nd Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45pm.
April craft: Make your own postcards to send them
on 4/9 for International Letter Writing Month.

¢ Kamishibai Stories: from a Japanese-style
paper-theater on the back of a bicycle, while you
nibble on Japanese treats. Sat, May 4, 10:30am.

FOR TEENS

¢ Creative Writing Club: (ages 11-18). Get
prompts, share your writing. Free pizza. Tues,

4/9, 4-5pm.
® Rockridge 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 games and
make craft; every Tues, Thurs, and Fri, 3:30 -
5pm; Wed, 1:30 - 5pm (during school days).

* Peer Circle, A Healing Space for Youth:
series of youth-led Restorative Justice (Ru)
circles about relationships, racism, social
justice, and more. Safe space provides
opportunity to engage in community building
and to learn skills to become Ru leaders in
their community. Age 11 and up. (Gift cards

available for participation). Second Wednes-
days, 4-5 pm.

FOR ADULTS

* Gardening Workshop; Raised Beds: —
Advantages/disadvantages, growing medium,
plant selection, types of raised beds and
more. Taught by an Alameda County Master

Complied by Jo Ellis

Gardener. Sat. 4/13, 11am-12pm.

Gardening Workshop; Plants That Attract
Hummingbirds & Butterflies: Alameda
County Master Gardener discusses butterflies
and hummingbirds found in our region and

the best methods for growing the plants
the
need. Sat, 4/ 27, ttam-t2pm,

Urban Cycling Tips & Tricks: Learn the
basic rules of the road for a fun and Safe ride:

how to equip your bicycle, fit your helmet,
avoid bike theft, ride after dark, and prevent
common crashes. Sat, May 4, 1 to 3pm.

Book Help: Work one-on-one with a librar-
lan to download eBooks. Fridays, 2 -3:30pm.
Make appt. online or call 597-5017.

® Second Saturday Book Club: 2nd Sat each

month, 3 - 4pm. Phone for details and book
selection: 597-5017.

° Writers SupportiCritique Group: Bring
15 copies of up to 5 pgs. of any prose for
on-site reading/discussion (OK to come
empty-handed). 3rd Sat. each month,1pm;
wheelchair-accessible. Info: 420-8775 or
Writefox@aol.com.

© Lawyer in the Library: Free legal info and
referral. 1st Tues each month. Sign-up for lot-
tery before at 5:45 pm; see lawyer 6pm-8pm.

UPSTAIRS ART GALLERY
April: East Bay Landscape Painters - recent work.

Note New Library Hours. See story page 5.
Tues, Wed: 10 am to 8pm.
Mon, Thurs & Sat: 10am to 5:30pm.
Fri, 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sun

East Bay Booksellers Book/Poetry
Readings

FREE and open to the public.

e Sun, 4/7, 3pm. Poetry Flash with poets from
Sixteen Rivers Press: Maya Khosla, Barbara
Swift Brauer, and Camille Norton.

e Wed, 4/10, 6:30pm. Freud’s Bar (talks by

local Bay Area psychoanalysts/psychologists).
Drinks and snacks provided. Mtg topic: Sub-
versiveness in Adolescence. Presenter: Mary

Brady, Ph.D.

e Thurs, 4/18, 7pm. Local author Jenny Odell:
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention

Economy.

© Sun, 4/28, 3pm. Poetry Flash. (Details not
yet available).

e Tues,4/30, 7pm. Norman Fischer: The World
Could Be Otherwise: Imagination and the

Bodhisattva Path.

East Bay Booksellers, 5433 College Ave. More info
abt. the Are books and other events: 653-9965

or info@ebbooksellers.com.

Book Signing, Tastings, and

nversations é: |
vt New cookbook by Elizabeth Minchilli: The Italian

15.

Table: Creating festive meals for family and friends.
Get recipes/taste ingredients. Sat, May 4, 1 to 3pm.
Market Hall Foods at Rockridge Market Hall, 5655
College Ave. More info: 250-6005 or rockridgemar-

kethall.com.

Wisteria Ways House Concert

The Quitters: Saturday, May 4, 7pm. A guitar duo
of right-side up finger picking (Stevie Coyle) and
upside-down flat picking (Glenn Houston). Hear
examples at https://www.quittersduo.com/#new-al-
bum-section. Inside venue; not wheelchair acces-
sible. $15-20 donation for musicians (cash only at
the door). 383 61st Street. More info and reservations
(highly recommended), RSVP to info@WisteriaWays.
org or 655-2771.

North Oakland Senior Center

5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way

Mon. -Fri., 9am to 4:30pm. Programs include: Arts/
crafts; health counseling; dancing and exercise; trips,
tours and theater outings; Alzheimer's support groups,
computer classes/more.

© Free AARP Tax Preparation: Thursdays,
by appointment. Call 597-5085 to schedule

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). Sample the
goods; meet the growers. Live music. Bring reus-
able bags. 5300 Claremont Ave. (off Telegraph) at
DMV parking lot.

-2

John Wagers:
Indefatigable

from page 2

is surrounded by neighbors of Ayala Park,
a now-green oasis he resurrected many
years ago from an ignored and desolate
plot of land next to a freeway off-ramp
with help from friends and neighbors. Later,
John received a commendation from the
Oakland City Council for creating Ayala
Park and others in the neighborhood.
Today, Ayala neighbors, as others have
before them, continue to tend the park,
usually with John’s close supervision.
Throughout it all, John has been a
distributor of The Rockridge News since
the publication’s beginning. Rain or shine,
he walks his paper route each month.
Indefatigable.
Thank you, John, from everyone.
Don Kinkead, text and photos.
Information about John’s
early days prepared by
Bob Hawley, John’s nephew.

— ee orwtert fat? Bp eee a eee ee Oe ews.

16.

CLAUDIA MILLS

REAL ESTATE TEAM

Proudly launching a new website
dedicated to the understanding
and celebration of our wonderful
Rockridge neighborhood. Please
visit it at www.rockridgelife.com

Réckridge News

BO OD OS FN LOE De i Ne DF SF EFF EL OE HB PES DRE ge PATE

ee - ee Gt

April 6, 2019

FEATURING VIDEO STORIES OF:

OLIVETO « PAVE * SOBU
BELOTTI ¢ COLE COFFEE * FUTURE

WWW.ROCKRIDGELIFE.COM

Presented by ClaudiaMillsRealEstate.com

CLAUDIA MILLS

> wat Claudia Mills
510-350-6419
i _ emills@meguire.com

@EAL CSTATO Team CAL ORE eCERT42

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Presbyterian Church

9951 College Avenue | 94618
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ROCKRIDGE
MARKET UPDATE

The ist Quarter listings are
closed and ready for dissection.

In general, the market is still very
active and appears to have shaken
off the late fall/winter blues.

Almost 75% of the closed sales
received offers over asking and
one had 10 offers and sold for
a whopping 45% over asking.
Rockridge is still one of the most
desirable neighborhoods in the
East Bay.

There is still more demand for
homes than is currently available.

Please feel free to call me for a
personal market update and home

Valuation.

If your house is currently listed for sale this is not a
solicitation for that sale. The information used here was
provided by the EBRDI MLS

“I know Rockridge”

———————
.
.

e"t2*’ Ron Kriss, Broker

Lawton Associates
direct 510-612-2547

RonKriss@JPS.net

¥ rvs

“#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
ASSOCIATE $| 160+ Successful Sales

ee a

REAL ESTateE. In Rockridge ee
BROKERAGE www.LawtonAssoc.com

——
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