Extracted text · highlighting “Judith Doner Berne”

VOL 34   •   NO 11   •   ISSUE 370   •   DECEMBER 2019

www.rockridge.org
CIRCULATION: 5800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

Newcomers Work Together For A Safer Neighborhood
— by Judith Doner Berne

Snewsletter with over 1,000 subscribers.
Currently, more than 250 ongoing
contributors and a list of commercial
sponsors make it free for those who
can’t afford it.
afer Rockridge, the local nonprofit
that contracts with a licensed,
bonded and insured private security
meaningful spillover effects into
adjoining neighborhoods.”
Originally designed to patrol the
streets of lower Rockridge, Safer Rock­
ridge expanded to provide vacation
watch services, a security alarm
response service, a security escort
service (see sidebar, page 9) and
company to
promote public
safety, is in new
hands. The private patrol, initiated by
Paul Liu in November 2013 to monitor
the streets of Rockridge when crime
in Oakland was rampant, has a new
board made up of three relative
newcomers to Rockridge.
“I think they’re doing a major
service as roving neighborhood eyes,
Eyes on Rockridge, page 8
Local residents Josh Aycock, Valenti­
na Curbelo and Andrew Waterman vol­
unteered to take over from Liu, Natha­
lie Jans and Dakin Ferris (who created
Safer Rockridge), and have overseen
its neighborhood patrol and grown its
services for the past six years.
Photo: Kathleen Aycock.
Liu, a straight-talking economist,
made it a point to track and report the
patrol’s effectiveness. “Following the
initial patrols, we found that burglaries
and robberies declined in Rockridge
by 30 percent, with no statistically-
The new Safer Rockridge team of Josh Aycock (second from left),
Valentina Curbelo (center) and Andrew Waterman (far right) meet up
with their security patrol’s president Nate Cook (far left) and patrol
woman Jamila Sherman (second from right).
Lower East Side Comes to Rockridge
— by Anna L. Marks
B
Celebrate the
Holidays with Help
from Market Hall
— by Market Hall Marketing Manager,
oichik Bagels is open for business,
and this is really big news. Just ask
Emily Winston who has been planning to
open her shop for more than a year in the
original Noah’s Bagels storefront. While
enduring the lenghty permitting and
inspection process, she garnered lots of
media attention including articles in The
Mercury News, SF Chronicle, The Daily
Cal, the East Bay Express and other print
and online journals. Why all the fuss?
After all, Noah’s has been a local institu­
Marshka Kiera
Market Hall has become a com­
munity focal point for Rockridge
residents since it first opened in 1987.
This European-style food marketplace
offers up fresh coffee, baked goods,
fresh fish and meats, specialty foods,
wine, flowers, as well as a home for
our own Oliveto Café & Restaurant.
tion for 30 years, and Beauty’s
Montreal-style bagels have
been available in Temescal
since 2012. Perhaps it is the
magic of bringing youthful
experiences back to life by
recreating a real NY bagel.
Locals lined up
around the block
to get bagels on
the shop’s first day
of business.
Photo: Anna L. Marks
Many residents will swing by to
fulfill their holiday needs, and here is
a sampling of this year’s offerings:
Winston fondly remem­
bers H&H Bagels in NYC
and how devastated she felt
Lower East Side, page 10
Market Hall, page 6


December 2019
2

Rockridge Holiday Fair & Event
— Submitted by the Rockridge District Association
T
The Rockridge News, founded March 1986
by Don Kinkead, is published monthly (except
in August) and is sponsored by the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC), a non-
profit 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.
o kick off the holiday shopping
season, the Rockridge District
Association is hosting a free public cel­
ebration at the Rockridge BART Plaza
on Saturday, December 7, noon-4pm.
Santa to entertain the children. The
Dancing Christmas Trees are also
scheduled to perform along with Solid
Gold Strangers, a neighborhood group
that performed at the Rockridge
Out-and-About to rave reviews.
The event will include a visit from
Market Hall will also
host a Holiday Fair, and
Cole Hardware will be
serving up hot cider, as
they have each year since
their store opened on
the Avenue in 2015. For
more information, visit
www.rockridgedistrict.
com. n
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks	�������������������Editor
Valerie Knight Design	�������Graphics & Layout
Jo Ellis	�������������������������������Assistant Editor
Crab season is set to
open on December 15.
& Community
Calendar
Judith Doner Berne	�����������Eyes on Rockridge
Susan Montauk	������������������Business Manager
RCPC Board of Directors, 2018-19
Leonora Sea	����������������������Chair
Vacant	��������������������������������Vice-Chair
Casey Farmer	��������������������Co-Secretary
Andrew Masalin	����������������Co-Secretary
Ronnie Spitzer	�������������������Treasurer
Stuart Flashman	����������������Assistant Treasurer
Michelle Boyd, David Garcia, Mary Catherine
Haug, Anna L. Marks
Councilmember Kalb
Among Speakers at
Next NCPC Meeting
AC Transbay to
Increase Fares in
January
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
The Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
will hold its bimonthly meeting on
AC Transbay bus services will be
increasing fares by an additional 50¢
effective January 1, 2020 to a rate of
$2.50 for a single
adult ride. AC Tran­
sit has added new
double-decker buses
and additional trips
to help reduce travel
times, alleviate over­
crowding and reduce
Bay Bridge Congestion. Visit www.
actransit.org and search for “fares” for
more info. n
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.
Thursday, December
12. We’ll meet at 7:30
PM in the Rockridge
Library upstairs
conference room.
In addition to our
usual Oakland Police
presentation and discussion of neigh­
borhood crime and issues, we’ll have
two speakers. Paula Hawthorn, the new
District 1 representative to the Commu­
nity Policing Advisory Board (CPAB),
will introduce herself and speak briefly
about the CPAB. Dan Kalb (see photo
above), the city councilmember for Dis­
trict 1, will attend the meeting. He plans
to speak briefly, provide a few updates,
and answer questions on public safety
matters. Hope you’ll be able to join us. n
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 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 94611.
Articles and letters 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 for clarity
and brevity at the editor’s discretion and without
notice to the submitter.
Fire Safety Article Correction:
In November’s article on Fire
Safety, the link to a map that rates
structures in California for relative
fire risk was incorrect. The correct
link is: https://tinyurl.com/vpahxt6.
Views expressed in articles and letters 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.
$5 FREE DRYCLEANING with garment orders over $28
or $3 OFF orders over $15
Dry Cleaning only  Present with incoming order
Garden Cleaners
5808 College Avenue, Oakland
601-1188
Mon – Fri  7 – 7 • Sat  8 – 6
Across from Trader Joe’s and Zachary’s Pizza
Newsletter advertising deadline for January’s
issue is December 19.
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 14.)
EXPERT
SHIRT
LAUNDERING!


December 2019
3

being analyzed in the housing study.
It is hoped that study results will be
available for presentation at RCPC’s
Annual Meeting in April. n
The next Land Use Committee meeting will be on Wednesday,
January 22, at 7:30pm at the Rockridge Branch Library. Agenda
will include updates on CCA campus redevelopment proposal; use
of Safeway settlement funds; Shops at The Ridge Phase II; and the
Rockridge Housing Study. Please check https://rockridge.org one
week prior to confirm the meeting date, time, and place.
Rockridge Community
Planning Council
Land Use Committee
RCPC Land Use Committee Update—December 2019
Please Remember
RCPC in Your
Year-End Giving
California College of Arts—Oakland
Campus Redevelopment Proposal
(5200 block of Broadway [between College
Avenue and Broadway Terrace])
Rockridge Housing Study
The Committee discussed a meeting
that had occurred in late October in­
volving RCPC representatives, hous­
ing consultant and volunteer Darin
Smith, and Oakland City staff from the
Planning Department and the Mayor’s
office. That meeting had been arranged
by District 1 Councilmember Dan
Kalb. At the meeting, RCPC explained
the basic idea of the housing study (to
evaluate options for promoting new
housing opportunities in Rockridge),
and Smith presented the results of his
preliminary feasibility analysis.
If you live in Rockridge, the Rock­
ridge Community Planning Council
is your voice, informing City Hall
about community’s concerns and
trying to keep Rockridge the valued
community that it is. RCPC funds
are used to host public forums; co-
host the Halloween Parade with the
Rockridge merchants (RDA); produce
and distribute The Rockridge News;
support local programs including the
Paint The Town street murals, schools
and more. We work with the City and
other parties to ensure land use and
transit-related projects are designed
and implemented in ways that serve
and enhance the neighborhood.
The Committee reviewed the
Planning Commission’s public hearing
on scoping for the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) to be prepared.
The Committee voted to recommend
to the Board of Directors that RCPC
retain a traffic and transportation
consultant to become familiar with
the situation at the CCA site and to be
prepared to evaluate and critique the
EIR’s analysis of transportation issues.
Other issues that might be worth con­
sideration were historic and cultural
impacts and impacts on architecturally
significant buildings.
Those results indicate that rezon­
ing residential areas of Rockridge to
allow 4-5 story multifamily buildings
would be unlikely to trigger any new
projects because land costs are already
so high that even market-rate projects
wouldn't pencil out, making even en­
tirely market-rate projects infeasible
or unattractive to developers.
Checks may be sent to: RCPC P.O.
Box 311, Oakland, CA 94611. Do­
nations can also be made via PayPal
online at https://rockridge.org. The
annual financial statement from the
RCPC can be obtained by writing to
the treasurer at the same address. n
Shops at the Ridge Shopping
Center
(5100 Broadway)
The RCPC Board has authorized
sending a letter to the City, with copy
to TRC (the shopping center’s developer),
pointing out the blighted conditions
at the area set aside for Phase 2 of
Shops at the Ridge, and asking that
it take steps to address and remedy
that situation.
However, in the commercial areas,
and especially for larger parcels, there
may be opportunities to encourage
new residential development, depend­
ing on incentives provided. City staff
shared some of their current ideas for
incentives, which overlap with options


December 2019
4
Letters to the Editor

office space, is simply lipstick on a pig.
The proposal for one 19-story
building and five more buildings 6- to
14-stories in height, 586 apartments
in total, is dramatically out of scale for
the area. This latest eruption of sky­
scraper-itis underscores our concerns
expressed in person to BART repre­
sentatives and Councilperson Dan
Kalb at a public meeting about the
MacArthur BART 24-story building.
We suggested the BART tower would
be precedent for other high-rises
nearby. Kalb vociferously denied the
claim, saying the tower there was a
“one-off.” Of course, it wasn’t.
CCA Launches Plans to Sell
Off Oakland Campus for
High Rise Development
is an incredible waste. The loss of
this arts school, where nationally and
internationally-known artists like Viola
Frey, Robert Arneson, Manuel Neri,
Peter Voulkos, Raymond Saunders,
David Ireland, Robert Bechtel, Squeak
Carnwath, and M. Louise Stanley were
alumni, would be a devastating blow
to Oakland's cultural heritage.
Dear Editor:
The historic California College of
Arts in Rockridge, on a 4+ acre wood­
ed site, is threatened by sale to make
room for a high-rise housing devel­
opment. The CCA board, chaired by
artist Stephen Beal, is initiating an EIR
process, to gain approval for entitle­
ments for the project, prior to the sale
to Emerald Fund and Equity Commu­
nity Builders.
The proposed project is also a
terrible blow to the physical setting of
the campus, with its mature landscap­
ing, where the school has existed for
93 years. Nearly all the trees would be
removed—some oaks will be “trans­
planted,” and only historic Mackey
and Carnegie Halls, and some of the
distinctive grand staircase and portion
of the adjoining wall along Broadway,
would be saved.
A better way to approach adaptive
reuse of the campus, if an art school
cannot exist there any longer, would
be to initiate a planning process sim­
ilar to what unfolded for the Presidio
in San Francisco, after the base was
decommissioned. This process includ­
ed blue ribbon panels and a Presidio
Trust governing body with many
stakeholders, public hearings, and
an extensive visioning process. The
results have been spectacular.
The proposed project is environ­
mentally disastrous: demolishing
eminently repurposable buildings,
some of relatively recent vintage, for
a mammoth, high rise housing project
As longtime residents of North Oak­
land, we have been active in land use/
preservation efforts to redevelop and
restore such local landmarks as the Old
Merritt College Building (now UCSF
Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland
Research Institute) and the Temescal Li­
brary (both designed by noted architect
Charles Dickey). As founders of North
Oakland Voters Alliance and STAND
(Standing Together for Accountable
Neighborhood Development), we have
weighed in on land-use and neighbor­
hood issues for decades.
The same process needs to be
initiated here while it is still controlled
by CCA, before a particular developer
with his own plans for the most lucra­
tive project for the moment is selected.
We must also express our disap­
pointment that developer Oz Erickson
with Emerald Fund is the developer of
record for the project. We remember
Erickson for his brave role in promoting
adaptive reuse for the old Montgomery
Promoting a project with 24,000
square feet of “affordable art space
and live/work space,” and 6,300
square feet of “affordable” art-related
Letters, next page


December 2019
5

Letters
from previous page
Clifton is the only way in or out, and
is not wide enough to accommodate
the cars as they illustrated.
form the group. We are hopeful that
the developers will create new, more
accurate renderings, and work with us
and the City to ensure affordability and
a sensible approach to traffic, safety,
pedestrian activity, leveraging mass
transit, and historic preservation. We
want preservation of the registered
landmarks and historic styling that
honors the CCA tradition of being at
the heart of the Arts and Crafts move­
ment as well as the landmark Treadwell
Mansion and Carriage House, and
landscaping and trees.
Ward Building in the Fruitvale.
It became additionally clear that the
developer illustrations contained several
errors in scale, forced perspective, and
omissions (the featured image on their
website crops the 19-story tower off at
about 14 stories). We were concerned
that it is hard for families living next
door to CCA in single-story bungalows
to imagine the 5-8 story glass and steel
box canyon surrounding Treadwell
Mansion and a glass and steel tower
that is six stories higher than the 26-
story MacArthur BART tower. And
unfortunately, the community feedback
from their three developer-hosted
community meetings is noticeably
absent in the public records request.
Erickson proposed reusing the
seismically sound, National Register-
listed, Ward Building for housing,
only a short walking distance from the
Fruitvale BART station. It was a land-
use disaster of monstrous proportions
when that building was demolished—
its leveling done on the fly, with toxic
lead paint tossed to winds and waters,
in order to construct two low-rise ele­
mentary schools on contaminated soil
and next to a busy freeway.
The good news, for which I am
grateful, is that so many residents
attended our two truly public commu­
nity meetings at the Rockridge Library.
Each meeting had 100 attendees
who submitted over 300 concerns
and ideas. These are summarized on
the UBA website. The community
went on to submit over 80 letters to
Rebecca Lind, Dan Kalb, LPAB, and
the City Planners in response to the
NOP for the EIR. Thank you!
This was a total demolition, and
would likely be nearly repeated at
CCA — a sacrilege.
— Robert Brokl and Alfred Crofts
Being an experienced digital
designer/artist (The Sims, Diner Dash,
Star Wars, Matrix games etc.) I naturally
created visualizations to help non-
architects sense the scale and other
aspects overlooked in the developer’s
stylized watercolors. Given the lack
of new images from the developer,
I later created additional sets of images
ultimately using a simple surveying tool
to get the height right from multiple
perspectives (the tower height is an
additional two stories taller given the
rise in elevation on the site itself).
Affordable Housing Given
Low Priority
Dear Editor:
Oakland needs more housing, es­
pecially affordable housing. I started
thinking deeply about this when I first
learned about the proposed CCA
redevelopment. At first, I was encour­
aged by the developer’s portfolio
which contains examples of historic
building preservation with a sensitive
approach. However, after attending
all three public meetings I was struck
by the scale, lack of affordable units,
and a demolition hungry approach
to “preserving” cultural and historic
landmarks and surrounding landscape
and clear cutting trees.
If you would like to know more
about the UBA's mission, read up on
what other neighbors think about the
project, peruse our growing library of
links on affordability and city planning,
join our mailing list for updates as we
meet with the developers and city
officials, future community meetings,
or to simply express your thoughts
please go to UBAOakland.org and
sign up or volunteer.
— Nicole Lazzaro, Rockridge
Since the initial developer meetings,
people gathered together to form Up­
per Broadway Advocates (UBA). It was
Kirk Peterson who suggested the idea
that we team up with our neighbors to
Business Owner 27 Years
Top of mind with most neighbors
I speak with is the lack of affordable
units (only 35 affordable apartments,
with 554 luxury ones). All affordable
units would be converted student
dorms across the street. We'd like to
see a substantial increase in afford­
able housing at this site.
The developer provided no imag­
es of the 19-story tower from street
level until the third community meet­
ing. Additionally, the view from their
version of the garden is not of the Bay
and Alcatraz Island. Unless they raise
Treadwell Mansion 2 stories, clear cut­
ting the mature trees (some of which
are 100 years old) along Broadway
to give visitors a clear view of busy
Broadway. To make matters worse


December 2019
6

Market Hall
from page 1
Welcome Yule!
Christmas Revels
Return to Oakland
— by Gary Carr
tions and cultures. The journey recalls
the favorite songs and dances from the
tapestry of Christmas Revels… plus a
dragon! Rockridge resident and Revels
performer Mary Catherine Haug always
looks forward to the event: “For 33 years,
the Revels has been the way to start the
holidays. When the days get short and
the nights long, we look at how different
cultures celebrate to drive the dark away.”
Holiday menus from Market Hall
Foods and the Market Hall Bakery
are available in store as well as pre-
ordering for Chanukah, Christmas,
New Year’s Eve and any other special
holiday gathering.
Now in its 34th year, the pageantry
of the Christmas Revels will thrill
old and young alike with the joyful
music, dance, and ritual of favorite
centuries-old Yuletide traditions. Each
mid-winter, the Christmas Revels bring
to life a grand celebration of traditions
and cultures from around the world,
and will entertain Oakland audiences
for eight performances this December.
The large cast, dressed in period
costumes, generates joy and merriment
by performing the songs, dances, and
stories that are present in all cultures,
and that mark the turning of the year
in all its forms. The show will feature
top Bay Area musicians, actors, and a
50-voice chorus with old favorites re­
appearing, including the mesmerizing
“Antler Dance.” Once again, the audi­
ence can join hands and become part
of the delightful “Lord of the Dance.”
As always, children are welcome at all
performances.
Pumpkin
cheesecake
is just one of
the tempting
items offered
at Market Hall
this holiday
season.
This season’s theme, “A Solstice
Journey Through Time,” highlights the
beauty of togetherness among genera­
Tickets range in price from
$15-70 for adults, discounts are
available for those under 25, and for
groups of 10 or more. The show runs
December 13 and 15, and December
20 through 22. (there is no perfor­
mance on December 14). Show times
are Friday at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 1pm
and 4pm, Sundays at 4pm and 7:30pm.
The First Congregational Church of
Oakland is located at 2501 Harrison
Street, Oakland, 94612. For tickets or
information, call (510) 452-9334, or
visit www.californiarevels.org. n
Holiday platters for parties and events
are available from Market Hall Caterers.
Order online and pick up at the store.
Hapuku Fish offers an elegant Ha­
puku Holiday Menu available to pre­
order through December. Don’t forget
that crab season opens December 15.
Truffle season is just around the
corner. Fresh Italian truffles arrived
around late November, so call in for
your order today.
Performers inspire and
entertain for 34th year
in Oakland.
The first olio nuovos (new harvest
olive oils) have started to arrive in
store. These spectacular green and
herbaceous extra virgin olive oils are in
store within a week or two of milling,
and customers are encouraged to con­
sume them within two to three months
of purchase. Séka Hills is the first to
arrive in store, with more Californians
to arrive soon… the Italians to follow.
Our Panettone shipments have
started to arrive from Italy and some
are already in store — always a cus­
tomer favorite.
Market Hall will be participating in
the Rockridge Holiday Fair (see page
2) on Saturday, December 7. Come on
by for mulled cider, raclette and Mariage
Frères Esprit de Noël Tea tastings.
All holiday menus are available online
at https://rockridgemarkethall.com. n


December 2019
7

Not All Heroes Wear Capes: Oakland
Nonprofit Champions the Incarcerated
— by Jorja Siemons

Law client in court. Having spent over
a decade watching many young people
“be discarded into cages with little hope
for actual rehabilitation,” helping a client
reach freedom motivated Slavin to join
the firm’s team permanently.
For 13 years, Oakland’s UnCommon
Law has brought hope to the hope­
less by providing mental health and
legal counseling to men and women
serving extended sentences in Cali­
fornia prisons. The law firm especially
focuses on people serving “life with the
possibility of parole.” This means that
mon Law’s Deputy Director. Hess has
spent her career working at the inter­
section of foster care, youth mental
health, and juvenile justice — develop­
ing therapeutic wraparound services to
help children entangled in California’s
justice system.
To date, UnCommon Law has
supported 240 people in securing their
UnCommon Law, page 12
Particularly for female clients, much
of this abuse stems from years of being
sexually trafficked. In California alone
last year, the National Human Traffick­
ing Hotline received 1,315 calls from
victims and survivors, and those are
only the reported cases.
In addition to carrying emotional
burdens, many incarcerated individuals
also face financial difficulties, lacking
the extensive funds needed to propel
them through
the justice
system. That
is why Un­
Common Law
is working
towards a 100 percent pro-bono model,
meaning that services would be free.
Julie Hess, UnCommon Law Deputy
Director, and her husband Alameda
County Deputy Public Defender and
UnCommon Law Board member Satch
Slavin are Rockridge residents.
these individuals
can stand before the
California Board
of Parole Hearings
after completing an amount of time
served to work towards spending
the remainder of their sentences on
court-supervised release.
To achieve this goal, the firm holds
an annual fundraiser “UnCommon
Heroes,” as well as accepts donations
from a host of patrons. Recently, they
began receiving some larger foundation
grants as a result of Keith Wattley be­
coming an inaugural Obama Fellow for
his work developing UnCommon Law’s
method of rehabilitative justice. Though
the fellowship does not offer financial
compensation, it does offer mentorship
and access to The Obama Foundation’s
network of resources.
As a staff attorney at Berkeley’s Prison
Law Office, Keith Wattley received a
letter from a stranger who needed help
with a “lifer hearing” in 2000, and real­
ized that parole was rarely a reality for
anyone. Wattley, now UnCommon Law’s
founder and executive director, partners
with individuals to help them through
this complicated legal process.
Providing resources such as parole
hearing representation, written and
in-person consultations, and even class
action litigations representing those
with life sentences, UnCommon Law
seeks to meet each individual’s needs.
However, lawyers and staff members
also recognize the challenged back­
grounds of many clients and provide
care that is trauma-informed and
healing-centered.
With a small yet dedicated staff,
the nonprofit also relies on a board of
experts in the fields of criminal justice
and law. One such member is another
Rockridge resident Satch Slavin, a
Deputy Public Defender in the Ala­
meda County Public Defender’s Office.
After meeting at a training session
and realizing their children went to
the same school, Slavin and Wattley
became friends, prompting Slavin to
voluntarily represent an UnCommon
“Most of our clients have childhood
histories of abuse and neglect,” says
Rockridge resident Julie Hess, UnCom­


December 2019
8

Eyes on Rockridge
from page 1
Inc. (IGI) — Rockridge’s paid patrol.
meeting location.
“Oh my goodness, they’re fantastic,”
said Cook, after his interactions with
the new board. “I’ve dealt with a lot of
security committees (IGI serves at least
15 local area neighborhoods). They
really want to understand what the hot
“Unfortunately in Oakland the police
are spread thin,” Waterman said. “That’s
where Safer Rockridge as a private
patrol service is needed to fill that gap
and send a signal to would-be criminals
or troublemakers that someone in our
supplementing our understaffed police
department,” said Karen Ivy, Secretary
of the Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council (NCPC).
Aycock, Curbelo and Waterman
didn’t know one another. Each sepa­
rately answered Liu’s plea for new lead­
ership — without which, he warned,
the service would have to shut down.
“I met Valentina and Andrew at the
transition meeting,” explained Aycock.
neighborhood is watch­
ing them.”
Waterman runs a data
science/machine learn­
ing consulting firm out
of his home that allows
him to sample Rock­
ridge’s various coffee
shops nearly every day. A
soccer coach for his two
boys William and Kenny,
and a competitive tennis
player, Waterman and his
Berkeley-born wife Kris­
tin Jones have lived in
Rockridge for six years.
All three see taking on Safer Rock­
ridge as a way to both bolster the safety
and become part of the community.
They began by setting up a Safer Rock­
ridge booth at Rockridge Out & About
this past October. Although the need
for contributions to keep the patrol
going is ongoing, “It was more for us to
meet people,” Curbelo said.
“We want more community en­
gagement,” she added. “Our first 100
days, we’re out to get to know the
community,” Aycock echoed. “We want
to understand what's going well and
what's not,” Waterman said. “So far,
Safer Rockridge has been a great idea
executed well.”
“I always felt like
where I grew up — in
Maryland, close to
Washington D.C. — had
a similar urban/subur­
ban feeling to Rockridge,” Waterman
said. “But since moving to Oakland
I’ve been disappointed by the “normal”
we're supposed to live with — frequent
break-ins to our cars/garages/homes in
the middle of the night, laptop thefts at
coffee shops, phones stolen on the walk
home from BART. Having kids makes
it more apparent. Why do I have to
teach my five-year-old about the ‘bad
guys’ out there?
Area served by Safer
Rockridge patrols.
topics are for the entire community.”
Their mission “to make Safer
Rockridge stronger” continues at the
first Subscriber Appreciation Day,
scheduled Wednesday, December
11, from 6 to 8pm. There, they want
community input and suggestions on
making services more accessible and
user-friendly. To attend, visit their
website at SaferRockridge.org for
To gain further facts about crime
in Rockridge, they have also attended
NCPC meetings and met with Oak­
land Police Department Community
Resource Officer David Mac, Oakland
City Councilman Dan Kalb and Nate
Cook, who heads Intervention Group,
“On a trip abroad this summer, I
took advantage of Safer Rockridge's
Vacation Watch service for my home
and I was quite appreciative. When
they asked for help, I heeded the call.”
Curbelo, who was born in Uruguay,
moved to Rockridge in 2016 with her
husband Nate Baca, an Oakland native.
They rented, and then purchased that
home. She works in finance for an
international corporate housing com­
pany and describes herself as “an avid
kayaker and occasional triathlete who
loves long walks along Broadway with
my dog Toothpick.”
“I love Rockridge,” she said, “It’s the
Eyes on Rockridge, next page


December 2019
9

Eyes on Rockridge
from previous page
“Reducing crime needs to happen
from all angles,” Waterman said. “That
means strong locks on the doors, visible
police presence, smart habits at night,
cameras and security signage, responsive
911, and of course catching criminals.”
Safer Rockridge
Patrol Services
perfect combination of suburban peace­
fulness and a little bit of city, and being
so close to a college campus.” Nonethe­
less, she was shaken after the house next
door to her was burglarized twice after
its residents died but before it was put
up for sale. “So when I saw the email
that Safer Rockridge was possibly dis­
banding, I wanted to get involved.”
Safer Rockridge Security Patrols,
provided by Intervention Group Inc
(IGI), monitor local streets and public
spaces to deter criminal activity and
provide Oakland police with obser­
vations to assist them in law enforce­
ment. They offer additional services
for paid subscribers. For a suggest­
ed fee of $30 per month, they offer
the additional services below.
Speaking for the three of them,
Waterman said: “Take advantage of
Safer Rockridge’s service. When you'd
like an escort, when you see something
suspicious, when you go on vacation, or
when you’re afraid, we're here to help.”
To reach IGI about an incident, big
or small, call (877) 272-8765. Patrol
cars often arrive in less than five
minutes. To learn more about Safer
Rockridge’s services or to contribute,
visit SaferRockridge.com. n
Aycock is a former mid-westerner
and baseball fan who works in finance
in San Francisco. He and his wife
Kathleen have lived in Rockridge for
two years. Like Curbelo, they rented
first. And like Curbelo, they have a dog
— a bulldog mix, named Hash Brown.
“After recently buying a place on a real
cool block, I started thinking long-term
about the community,” which led him
to volunteer for Safer Rockridge.
Escort Services: Give them a call
and request an escort service if
you don’t feel comfortable walking
home alone from BART or even the
grocery store. The service can be
arranged at any time, but they pre­
fer at a least a couple hours’ notice
when possible. During patrol hours
(Monday-Friday, 3-10pm) they can
be dispatched fairly quickly, nor­
mally within the time it takes the
dispatcher to receive the request
and contact the patrol.
If you have questions about this column
or suggestions for future columns about
Rockridge, email judyberne@att.net.
Weigh in on the 2020s
for Rockridge
“How do we know we are getting
what we pay for?” Aycock posed. The
answer: “We have the ability to monitor
the service by tracking on a GPS the
routes the patrols take. They average
about 50 miles per day, and they really
do circle every street.” On the docket
are ride-alongs with the patrol staff.
Vacation Watch: Let them know
when you are going on vacation for
them to keep an extra eye on your
house. Fill out the form online to
participate.
Do you have your Eyes on Rock­
ridge for the next decade? We’d love
to hear what you wish for or project
will happen to our community for
the 2020s. Please limit your answer
to three paragraphs or allow us to
edit your response so we can get in as
many ideas as possible. Please include
your name and how long you have
lived in Rockridge. Email judyberne@
att.net by Friday, Dec. 13. We can’t
wait to hear what you think. n
Alarm Response Registration:
Add IGI as a contact for your alarm
company to call in case it goes off,
and they will in turn contact you. Fill
out the form online to participate.
Call (877) 272-8765, or visit www.
saferrockridge.org to find out more
about their services. n
“Right now,” Aycock said, “current
subscriptions are keeping the service
going, but subscribers move away. So
new members are always needed. We
shouldn’t take this (the patrol service)
for granted,” he said. “If we left it
untended, it wouldn’t last.”
DRE 01265873 | 01798658

The Times They Are A Changing
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
11/01/2019
3
1.5

6080 Ocean View Dr            $1,295,000
        $1,295,000
51
$1,230,000
11/05/2019
4
3.5

6409 Benvenue Ave             $1,695,000
        $1,595,000
26
 $1,595,000
11/06/2019
3
1.5
         5868 Ocean View Dr            $1,395,000
        $1,395,000
30
$1,590,000
11/15/2019
2
1.5

5261 Miles Ave                        $995,000
           $995,000
19
$1,375,000
While properties this month sold an average of 7% over list,
50% of them sold under asking or required a price adjustment.
Additionally, homes are taking longer to sell.
Specializing in Rockridge | 510.459.4338 | MotleyTeam.com
Want the highest possible price? Call us and we will show you how we will get it!
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01866771. All material presented herein is intended for informational
purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of
any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.


December 2019
10

Lower East Side
from page 1
nal store and that I should take it. I like
to call it a historic bagel location.”
“Our paper products distributor, it
turns out, was Noah’s paper products
guy 30 years ago,” added Winston.
Pointing to the display of photos on
the wall, Winston said, “I got those
delightfully embarrassing photos
from my bat mitzvah printed up at
The Photo Lab in Berkeley and the
owner said they had printed out the
photos for this store 30 years ago. I'm
like, this is where I’m supposed to be.
It’s beshert.
Winston firmly believes in sourcing
locally whenever possible. She is plan­
ning to use organic flour from Central
Milling in Petaluma and will be using
whole wheat flour from Community
Grains (co-owned by Oliveto founder,
Bob Klein) for her whole wheat bagel.
“It's very rare to get a 100 percent whole
wheat New York style bagel. I've actual­
ly never seen it done. It's tasty.” She sold
samples of the bagel at a pre-opening
event at Oliveto last month, and sold
out all 150 within an hour.
when they closed the shop located next
door to Zabar’s on the Upper West
Side in Manhattan. She was deter­
mined to bring that experience with
her to Oakland. “The New York Jewish
bagel experience that I grew up with,
I'm recreating out here. I've got Dr.
Brown sodas in the case already, and
I plan on bringing Joyva halvah. I'm
kind of taking memories and mixing
them with the high-end California
modern foodie culture.”
“The neighborhood has really been
so wonderful and delightful, I could
not be happier with the reception
I've gotten here from everyone, and
everyone walking by and constantly,
constantly peeping in the windows,
and very excited and very supportive.
I'm glad to be here.”
Winston has found a lot of local
fans, and nearly 20 of them have
personally invested in her vision. “It's
wonderful. A number of them were
complete strangers who just believed
in what I was setting out to do, and
tried the bagel and loved it enough to
write a large check. It's pretty cool.”
Her coffee will be brewed in a
Ground Control Cyclops coffee
machine — the world’s first full im­
mersion batch brewer — which was
invented right here in the Bay Area by
Voga (founded in San Francisco and
built in Oakland). McLaughlin is
her coffee bean supplier, and they are
local too. Turns out that McLaughlin
had been the original coffee supplier
to Noah’s.
Winston likes the neighborhood
so much that she recently took the
apartment located above the shop.
“I think that's really how it used to be.
It's old school. It's like the Lower East
Side. I'm bringing it to Rockridge.” n
One special local fan, Noah Alper,
founder of Noah’s Bagels, offered her
encouragement as well. “He tipped me
off about this space. I was introduced
to him about two years ago, and gave
him some bagels. He loved them.
Then, maybe a month later he called
me. He said corporate closed his origi­
Private Pilates Training
New Client Special:
3 Private Sessions for $195
Experience * Knowledge * Performance
(510) 658-4000
findingcenter.com
6214 Florio St, Suite 4
Oakland, CA 94618
Available: 1049Ordway.com 2,000sf+, 4 bed 2 bath, sweet block, ‘walkable’ to shops/restaurants
Pending:  1733Dwight.com 2 story brown shingle w/ Park like back yard, 9 offers
Sold:
336ForestStreet.com Gorgeous 2,000 + sqft Craftsman 3 BD 2.5BA, $1.725m
Coming:  742Cragmont.com ~3,000 sqft Tudor, 4BD 2BA + 1BD 1BA inlaw, pano views $2.1m
Broadway Terrace condo, Ocean Ave 2 homes/1 lot, Telegraph Ave mixed use property
December is awareness month for Worldwide Human Rights and Safe Food, Toys & Gifts
Thankful for family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, health, home and joy for a wonderful year!
Happy Holidays!!
Perry Riani, Senior Associate
2016 Realtor of the Year
1900 Mountain Blvd Oakland, CA 94611
1625 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA 94709
 C: 510.813.3799  Perry.Riani@Compass.com
License # 01402540


December 2019
11

Pooch Pictures
with Santa Paws
Scenic Streets Wraps It Up for the New Year
— by Lee Patterson
As we wrap up 2019, Scenic Streets
of Oakland is pleased to wel­
come several new volunteers: thanks
ized and struggling with the drought.
We welcome the rain, but still need to
resort to self-help using our awesome­
ly beautiful ‘high-tech’ water wagon
(see photo), 2-gallon jugs and many
hands.
Photo: Anna L. Marks
to Ann,
Ethan,
Kathryn
and Stephanie for joining the team.
Our current efforts continue on trash
pick-up, aesthetic pruning and trying
to get enough water to last season’s
plantings. Several are not yet natural­
If you are interested in contribut­
ing a couple hours a month to your
community, please contact Lee at lee.
scenicstreetsoakland@gmail.com. Tax
deductible donations are welcome as
well. Make out
your check to
Oakland Parks
and Recreation
Foundation
(memo: Scenic
Streets), and mail
to OPRF, PO Box
13267, Oakland,
CA 94661. n
Photo: Robert Firehock
Cole Hardware has become a valu­
able community member, and as
a way of paying it forward, the local
branch hosted “Santa Paws — Pooch
Pictures with Santa” last month to
benefit the Milo Foundation.
Neighbors were invited to visit the
College Avenue store with their furry
friends for this fun opportunity to sup­
port this worthy cause. The $10 photo
fee went directly to the local nonprofit
that offers adoption and educational
services for homeless pets.
Scenic Streets
volunteer seems
overwhelmed by
technology.
For more information, visit
milofoundation.org. n
Interior • Exterior
Lead-Certified Painters
For a free estimate
call Cydney
510•652•4034


December 2019
12

FROG PARK EXTENSION GRAND OPENING COMING SOON!
Celebrate the Frog Park Extension

Remember to
Shop Rockridge!

F

rog Park will welcome the new decade with a brand
new playground extension. After months of eager
anticipation, the finishing touches are almost complete
on the highly anticipated play center. The new extension
includes toddler swings, an ADA swing, a merry-go-round climbing spinner, a
three-person seesaw, new play surfacing, benches and rocks.

It will be a true celebration of the community effort that went into the
new playground extension. Please join us for treats, children’s games and
activities, and a hot chocolate toast.

If you are interested in being a part of the FROG Park Committee, and
supporting our treasured community park, please email info@frogpark.org.
We will announce the official opening date on the Frog Park website,
www.frogpark.org. n

Celebration Highlights
Kids’ games (Fishing, Feed-the-Frog,
painting fun and more) and play in the
new playground.
Coffee and bakery goodies to be provided.
SALE PENDING in just 24 HOURS!
REPRESENTING
THE SELLERS
UnCommon Law
from page 7
a Restorative Needs Pilot Program
would implement these themes within
the existing prison system, and would
employ those who have been through
the process to guide others..
freedom. This process takes time and
energy, as people preparing for parole
success need job offers and housing, as
well as Relapse Prevention Plans, lined
up prior to their hearings.
Additionally, the firm is excited
about the current film series titled
“UnCommon Justice: Stories of Re­
sistance, Resilience, and Redemption
from American Prisons.” Viewings are
held at The New Parkway in Oakland,
as well as the Grand Lake Theater,
The Roxie in San Francisco, and The
Lark in Larkspur. Showings are always
paired with panel discussions that
feature people from the film.
5868 CHABOT COURT
This quintessential 2-story Craftsman
on a quiet cul-de-sac received a highly
competitive offer within 24 hours of the
initial broker tour! Among its very desirable
features is a gracious 2,500 sq.ft. (per
public record) floorplan with 4 bedrooms,
2 bathrooms and a laundry closet all on the
upper floor. The open kitchen / breakfast
nook / family room combination allows for
casual family time on the main level with
easy access to the elegantly landscaped
rear garden. The detached and level-in
guest cottage (with bathroom) is the
crowning jewel of this highly sought after
property! Very happy sellers!
Even after release, challenges remain.
Many of UnCommon Law’s clients
committed crimes in their youth —
which is legally defined as 25 years old
and younger — and have spent much of
their adult lives in prison, making tran­
sitions difficult. And while UnCommon
Law is proud of its less than one percent
recidivism rate, this is one reason why
the organization views success through
a much wider lens.
Rockridge residents can support the
efforts of UnCommon Law through do­
nations and volunteering. However, Hess
emphasizes that understanding is the
key to being a better community mem­
ber. “Understand that no one is born
knowing how to commit violence; they
are taught,” she states. “Understand that
as humans we have an amazing capacity
to heal, and that when given the chance,
even those convicted of the most violent
crimes can become some of our greatest
violence disruptors.”
“We like to see our clients not only
surviving, but thriving,” Hess says.
“We believe in measures that include
an assessment of psychological health,
of love and belonging, of community
connection, and of self-esteem.”
MAXI LILLEY
510.919.8997
maxi@redoakrealty.com
This approach echoes the values
of restorative justice, which differs
from the United States’ punishment-
oriented retributive model by focusing
on accountability and individualized
needs. UnCommon Law’s vision for
For more information, visit www.
uncommonlaw.org. n
The Rockridge Realtor® with A Designer’s Eye
       DRE#1919653


December 2019
13

Animal Rescue Celebrates 1,000 Adoptions
— by Adoption Center Volunteer, Alona Rivord

and puppy adoption events throughout
the year.
M
“This is our only adoption site that
ore than 1,000 cats and kittens
have been matched with families
since the Hopalong Animal Rescue
adoption center opened at Pet Food
Express Rockridge just over three years
ago. A kitten named Chipper was the
1,000th rescued animal adopted from
the store, located at The Ridge shop­
ping plaza.
the Pet Food Express Rockridge store,"
said Dani Clark, Hopalong Director of
Volunteer Services.
is operated seven
days a week by
volunteers, and we
owe the success of
this adoption cen­
ter in large part to
the volunteers who
spend their time
caring for the kit­
tens and facilitat­
ing the adoptions,”
said Clark.
“Since we opened the adoption center
in September of 2016, our adoption
numbers at this site have far surpassed
all of our other means for adoption. One
thousand animals adopted from one place
is such a huge number and we’re happy to
be behind that number,” she said.
“Hopalong Animal Rescue’s mission
is to prevent euthanasia among adopt­
able animals in Northern California by
finding forever homes for the animals
in our program, so we’re beyond
excited that our mission is coming to
fruition with our cat adoption center in
Pet Food Express generously pro­
vides supplies for the adoption center
and for Hopalong kittens, puppies and
dogs that are in foster homes awaiting
adoption. Rockridge and other Pet
Food Express locations also host dog
Volunteers in­
terested in a weekly
two-hour shift at the adoption center
can email dani@hopalong.org. n

Changes Coming to Traffic Circles on Shafter
— by Theresa Nelson
I

Hudson, Clifton, and Cavour inter­
sections with Shafter. There will be
more details coming from the Depart­
ment of Transportation in the January
Rockridge News, including about the
timing of the work.
n August and September, more than
500 names were collected on a pe­
tition to restore the 4-way stop signs
and improve signage at the new traffic
circles installed on Shafter last year.
Many people in the area were con­
cerned about the increase in accidents
between cars, and with bicycles and
pedestrians, and the many near misses
that happened because the right-of-
way issues were not clear to drivers.
The NextDoor listserv had hundreds of
comments expressing similar concerns.
Many elderly and disabled neighbors
had found it almost impossible to cross
at these intersections because of speed­
ing cars and lack of yielding.
In early October, the group of
neighbors who collected petition names
met with the director of the Oakland
Department of Transportation, Ryan
Russo, and Lisa Jacobs, an aide to
Councilmember Dan Kalb. We learned
that the city Transportation engineers
had conducted a study of the situation,
and would offer their conclusions at the
end of October.
Thanks to all the neighbors who
signed the petition, called or emailed
the Director of Transportation and
Councilmember Kalb. Your voices
were heard and made a difference
Thanks also to the neighbors who
volunteered their time to walk the peti­
tions around the area, who shared the
community’s concerns about safety:
Chuck and Diana Chavez, Anthony
Sperber, Maureen Alano, and Eduardo
Gutentag. n
The good news is that the De­
partment of Transportation will be
re-installing the 4-way stops at the
Tool Lending Library
Lends a Hand to
Do-It-Yourself’ers
Since 2000, the Oakland Tool Lend­
ing Library has been an excellent
resource for residents and home­
owners in Oakland, Emeryville
and Piedmont. Located behind the
Temescal Library at 5208 Telegraph,
they loan power, gardening, con­
struction, and DIY tools for home
projects and home improvements.
All the tools are rented free of
charge with proof of home owner­
ship or residency. For more infor­
mation, call (510) 597-5089. n


December 2019
14

Classifieds
RN
Gardening Cleanups and
Maintenance
Experienced team of 2, dedicated to
the care and maintenance of plants
and trees. Garden design and resto­
ration, pruning and vegetable garden
installation, affordable prices, free
estimate. Chris Rausch Gardening @
(510) 655-0157.
things gift-wrapped, pickup or deliv­
ered to you on-demand & have peace
of mind.
Short Term Rental Rockridge:
Spacious Furnished Mid-Century
Modern Rockridge Home for Rent.
6mo. to 1year lease available Dec. 1.
Remodeling your house, Need a short
term rental? 5+ Bedrooms/ 4+ Baths.
Continued See next ad.
List your 36-word message here
for only $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 311, Oakland, CA, 94611.
The next deadline is December
19. The January issue will be
available January 4, 2020. For
information: Email Susan Montauk
at smontauk@gmail.com.
Handy Man for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced.
Hauling and towing available. No job
too small. Reasonably priced. Lee Self.
(707) 223-1298. Call or text.
Short Term Rental Rockridge
Continued:
All bedrooms w/bathrooms, Huge
Master Suite w/Panoramic Views, Very
private yard. Just above Broadway but
still Walkable to BART and College.
$6,500/mo. No Pets. Tours available.
Ron Kriss, Broker (510) 612-2547
Hardwood Floors
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat ex­
isting. Large jobs or small. Twenty-plus
years in Piedmont Ave/Rockridge.
Bruce Williams Woodfloors. Please
call or text Bruce at (510) 652-8121.
www.blwfloors.com
Penelope’s Aesthetics. Out with
the old and in with the new!
Bring in the New Year with a stress
reducing facial. Hand, neck and shoul­
der massage included with the treat­
ment! $69. Gift Certificates available!
(510) 594-1552 penelopecalef.com
"Date-Night Dance Class"
Surprise your sweetheart & come
dance! Dance class gift certificates
make a great holiday gift! Plan now
for 2020. Classes start 1/10/20 Oak­
land. Contact David & Chris @ (510)
530-7671 madeinca2d@earthlink.net
(subject DANCE)
This Holiday ‘Shop Local’
Online at www.iamlocal.io &
Get Things Instantly!
Shop online for unique gifts from
your local neighborhood stores, have
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
When A Crime Occurs
If you see a crime in progress, call the police. Do not
call 9-1-1 from a cell phone. Call 777-3211 which
routes directly to OPD dispatch. To report a crime
that has already happened, call the non-emergency
number at 777-3333, or fill in OPD’s Online Crime
Reporting form at www.oaklandca.gov/services/
report-a-crime-online. If you do need to call 9-1-1,
be sure to only use a landline.
Use these numbers to send
OPD an Anonymous Tip:
Crime Stoppers of Oakland:
(510) 777-8572
Homicide / Robbery Tip line:
(510) 238-7950
ROCKRIDGE BRANCH LIBRARY
                  5366 College Avenue
                   at Manila | 597-5017
OPD Sexual Assault Hotline:
(510) 637-0298
Library program details/hours: Calendar, page 15
law office of
dave karlinsky
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
(510) 788-5700    www.davekarlinskylaw.com
Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:
• Estate planning

• Probate / trust administration

• Dispute resolution
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
    schedule an appointment.
Member
www.buttrickprojects.com


December 2019
15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Book Signing, Conversations,
Tastings
John McReynolds, culinary director of Stone
Edge Farm in Sonoma, presents his new book,
Stone Edge Farm Kitchen Larder Cookbook. Taste
a few sample recipes and discuss seasonal recipes
for the pantry and table. Sun, Dec 8, 2–4pm.
Nathan & Co, 5636 College Ave. More info:
510-601-1677 or https://nathanandco.com.

Email Rockridge News Community Calendar items to: joellis1@hotmail.com, phone 653-3210
(after noon), or mail to: Rockridge News Community Calendar, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311,
Oakland, CA 94611. Deadline is the next to the last Tuesday of the month.  Compiled by Jo Ellis

Greater Rockridge N’hood Crime
Prevention Council (NCPC)
Dec 12, 7:30 pm. Discuss crime and public
safety with reps of OPD. District 1 council-
member Dan Kalb will attend, along with
the new District 1 rep for the Community
Policing Advisory Board. Meets on the 2nd
Thurs, in even-numbered months (next
meeting on the 2nd Thurs in Feb, 2020) at
the Rockridge Library, 5366 College (at Manila).
If you have items you'd like to add to the
NCPC agenda, email the NCPC at secretary@
rockridgencpc.com. Confirm mtg. at:
www.rockridgencpc.com.
FOR TEENS (Ages 12 to 18)
•	 TeenScape: play video games, table top
games, crafts, and general after-school fun.
Weekdays, 3:30–5pm (Wednesdays,
1:30–5pm).
•	 Snowflakes: Make 3-D snowflakes. All materi­
Neighborhood Square Dance
First and third Fridays of every month, 8–10 pm.
Live music and calling. All levels welcome; all
dances taught on the spot. $5-10 sliding scale
donation.
The Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501
Telegraph Ave. Info: squirrellystringband.com.
als provided. Wed, 12/11, 3pm.
•	 Magazine Bows: Make bows out of recycled
magazines to make gifts brighter. All materials
provided. Wed, 12/18, 3pm.
•	 Felt Banners: Make felt banners that speak
your truth. All materials provided. Wed, 1/8,
3pm.
North Oakland Senior Center
5714 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
Mon–Fri, 9am–4:30pm.
Programs include: Arts/crafts; health counseling;
dancing and exercise; trips, tours and theater
outings; Alzheimer’s
support groups, computer classes/more.
•	 Free Blood Pressure and Health Screenings:
FOR ADULTS
•	 2019 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award
Ceremony: we celebrate Vernon Keeve III,
James Cagney, and all of the winners of the
PEN Oakland 30th Annual Josephine Miles
Awards for Excellence. Sat, 12/7, 2pm.
•	 eBook Help: Work one-on-one with a librarian
Rockridge Branch Library
5366 College Avenue, (510) 597-5017
Hours:
Mon, Thurs & Sat: 10am–5:30pm
Tues, Wed: 10am–8pm. (see NOTE below)
Fri, 12 to 5:30pm.
Closed: Sunday; also, Tues & Wed, 12/24 and
12/25, and Wed, 1/1/2020. NOTE: will close
on Tues,12/31, New Year’s Eve, at 5:30pm.
Provided by Alameda County Public Health
Nursing. Thurs, Dec.19, 10 am–noon in the
TV lounge.
•	 Drug Collection Bin available in the Center.
to download eBooks. Fridays, 2–3:30pm. Make
appt. online or call 597-5017.
•	 Sing at the Library. Join the Rockridge Li­
brary’s community choir. For all ages and skill
levels. No auditions necessary. Selections will
include folk songs and freedom songs. Second
Wed each month, 6:30–7:45pm.
•	 Second Saturday Book Club: 2nd Sat each
Put your old medications in a plastic baggie to
dispose safely. Do not flush or pour down the
drain. Sponsored by EBMUD.
Seniors age 55+ join for $12 annual dues. Pro­
vides discounts, other benefits, and a subscription
to “The North Oakland Senior Times” with full
schedule of classes/events, lunch menus, and
volunteer opportunities. More info: 597-5085.
FOR CHILDREN
•	 Family Story Time: Stories/songs/rhymes (for
month, 3–4pm. Call 510-597-5017 for details
and book selection.
•	 Writers Support/Critique Group: Bring 15
all ages); Saturdays, 10:30am.
•	 Toddler Story Time: Songs, active rhymes and
copies of up to 5 pgs. of any prose for reading/
discussion (OK to come empty-handed). 3rd
Sat each month,1pm; wheelchair-accessible.
Info: 420-8775 or Writefox@aol.com.
Temescal Farmers’ Market
Open Sundays, 9am to 1pm (all year). Locally
grown fruits and vegetables; fresh ranch eggs;
home-made bakery items; fresh cut flowers; unique
prepared foods, fresh locally caught fish, handcrafts
and more. Sample the goods; meet the grower.
Live music. Bring reusable bags. 5300 Claremont
Ave. (off Telegraph) at DMV parking lot.
stories (for 9 months to 2 years), Thursdays,
10:30am, upstairs.
•	 Pre-School Story Time: Read-alouds, songs,
UPSTAIRS ART GALLERY
Dec: Artwork by Sarah Stricherz
and rhymes (ages 2 to 5); Thursdays, 10:30am.
All story times followed by Play Time; parents
and caregivers invited.
•	 Chess Club: Learn the basics; Instruction and
LOBBY DISPLAY CASE
Dec: Dolls from Children’s Hospital: Lori Anne
Fischer
chess sets provided. Best for ages 6 to 14 (all
ages welcome). Fridays at 3:30, except 12/27.
•	 Paws to Read: Sandy’s dog Scout loves to
listen when kids practice reading aloud. You
pick the book. All ages welcome. Every Thurs,
3:30-4:30pm.
•	 Winter Bingo: Get your Winter Bingo Card
to keep track of your indoor & outdoor
activities and get a book prize. Program runs
Dec 26 to Jan 18.
•	 Mix It Up Family Game Nights: All ages; bring
BUYING?
SELLING?
LET ME HELP YOU
your favorite game or try one of ours. Get to
know other families. 1st, 3rd, & 4th (and 5th)
Tuesdays, 6:30-7:45pm.
•	 Family Craft Night: All ages. 2nd Tues each
ANNE D. BRANDON, REALTOR
35+ YEAR ROCKRIDGE RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER
DRE# 01877719 | 510.682.6644
ANNE@THEHIGHLANDPARTNERS.COM
month. 6:30-7:45pm. 11/12; toilet paper tube
puppet creatures; 12/10: magazine bead
necklaces.
•	 World Kamishibai Day: Paper theater stories
E
V
L
U
I
T
X
I
U
S
O
R
Y
Pto celebrate the international event. Saturday,
December 7, 10:30am.
T
B
S
R
U
A
R
N
T
D
S
O
T


December 2019
16

Wishing you & your family a
Happy Holiday Season!
~Claudia Mills
#1 EAST BAY AGENT
Claudia Mills
Partner & Top Producer
510.350.6419
cmills@mcguire.com
ClaudiaMillsRealEstate.com
DRE# 01881682
Short Term Rental
Rockridge
Furnished Rockridge Home for Rent
6mo. to 1year lease available Dec. 1.
Perfect for a Remodeling Family
5+ Bedrooms/ 4+ Baths
Huge Master Suite w/Panoramic View
Just above Broadway but still
Walkable to BART and the Avenue.
$6,500 per Month No Pets
Private tours available Call Ron
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients
 For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

OProperty Management
L A W T O N
A S S O C I A T E S
R E A L   E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
(c) 510-612-2547
RonKriss@JPS.net
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland
“#1 in Rockridge Real Estate”
160+ Successful Sales in Rockridge
www.LawtonAssoc.com

INTERIOR-EXTERIOR LEAD
CERTIFIED PAINTERS
Professional preparation.
Many local references.
All work Guaranteed.
(510) 654-3339
Sewer Problems?
Pipe Spy Can Help!
Trenchless Sewer Pipe
Replacement
Camera Pipe Inspection
Sewer Diagnostics
Sewer Service & Repair
$15 off camera inspections
$
510-465-3000
www.pipespy.com
Financing Available
Lic #: 754966