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Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC)  •  4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland  94609
RockridgeNews

THE
www.rockridge.org

VOL 38   •   NO. 10   •   ISSUE  NO. 391   •   NOVEMBER 6, 2021              CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 Businesses

Redistricting —
What’s At Stake?
Map drawing courtesy of
Kirk Peterson, architect
by Leonora Sea, RCPC Chair
On October 8, 2021, the Redistrict-
ing Commission of the
City of Oakland released four pro-
posed maps for new Oakland City
Council districts, since reduced to
two, titled “B” and “D” respectively
(see drawing on right for boundaries).
Rockridge and the Rockridge Com-
munity Planning Council (RCPC)
received virtually no advance notice
from the Redistricting Commission,
and was unaware of the opportunity
to provide community input on these
maps before they were released. RCPC
has since set up a Committee on
Redistricting to put together a coher-
ent and organized response.
Under the City ballot measure estab-
lishing the Commission, a final map
must be adopted by December 31.
The last public meeting of the
The drawing above shows the two proposed maps, B and D, that are
currently under consideration. These draft maps are intended to start the
conversation on what new boundaries could look like and how they would
impact local communities.
REDISTRICTING, see page 4
Presbyterian Church
To Host Community
Thanksgiving Day Meal
by Monte McClain
Fv RCPC SURVEY REQUEST v
What Do Rockridge Neighbors Want?
The Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC) wants your input. Neighbors
are encouraged to fill out a short, five-minute
survey to share your thoughts on what you
believe should be developed on the large vacant
parcel at the Ridge Shopping Plaza, at 51st and
Broadway.
To complete the survey online, click this
hotlink: https://bit.ly/3biMFOo or copy it into
your browser; or use the camera app on your
phone to access it via the QR code on the right. n
or more than 40 years, the College
Avenue Presbyterian Church
(CAPC) Oakland community has held
a community-organized Thanksgiving
Day Community Meal. Last year,
due to the pandemic, we adapted our
annual community meal for takeout.
This year is still a hot mess, albeit a
little less hot. So, as we all struggle to
THANKSGIVING, see page 14


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page 2
NOVEMBER 2021

Photo:
Anna Marks

The Rockridge News was founded March 1986 by
Don Kinkead, and is published monthly (except
August).  It 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
Anna L. Marks ........................ Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis........................Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk................................Business Manager
Judith Doner Berne................................... Staff Writer

A recent Saturday found Shafter Avenue residents enjoying a Pop-Up Porch
Concert with jazz singer Jenna Mammina, Glenn Appell and Michael B.
Pelz (porch provider). They were accompanied by Robin Lewis on 7-string
guitar, John R. Burr on piano, and percussionist Mark Rosenthal.

RCPC Board of Directors, 2021-22
Leonora Sea..........................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Casey Farmer................................................ Secretary
Ashley Pandya.............................. Assistant Secretary
Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer

Shafter Pop-Up Porch Concerts Support
Musicians and Entertain Neighbors
by Anna L. Marks
L

Stuart Flashman, Annette Floystrup, David Garcia,
Kirk Peterson, Ronnie Spitzer
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
are not very practical these days.
My house isn’t really in shape to
accommodate it anyway. And then
I was thinking, well, my porch is
probably too small, but when I saw
my neighbor do it with a much bigger
ensemble, I thought, well, if they
could do it, I could do it.”
Peltz went into action after talking
with friend and professional jazz
singer Jenna Mammina whom he met
when she was living on James. After
so much time being stuck indoors and
not having opportunities to perform,
she agreed to help to get it going. An
ad-hoc group was formed with other
folks in the neighborhood, and each
concert was a bit more successful than
the previous one as more and more
people showed up.
“It was a lot of fun and we managed
to raise some money for the musi-
cians, which is always good, because,
you know, especially for some of
them, it’s their livelihood.”
As of now, they don’t have a sched-
ule and nothing is being planned, but,
to the delight of his neighbors, Peltz is
determined to continue hosting porch
concerts. So keep your ears open
when strolling down the Avenue. n
ive music moved outdoors during
the pandemic, and sweet tunes
have been swirling around Shafter
Avenue for months. Since May of this
year, Michael Peltz began hosting
Peltz Pop-Up Porch Productions out-
side his home for neighbors to come
and enjoy free entertainment, and has
held four concerts so far.
“I’ve always wanted to have house
concerts, and indoor house concerts
Contacting The Rockridge News
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News? Have questions
about newsletter distribution? Want to volunteer to
be a Rockridge News block captain? Want to write a
letter to the Editor? We’d love to hear from you.
All articles and letters submitted for consideration
should be emailed to: editor@rockridge.org, and
must be limited to 600 words. Please be sure to
include the author’s name, email address, and city
or neighborhood of residence. All submissions
are subject to editing for clarity and brevity.
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your
check for $20, payable to RCPC with “Rockridge
News” noted on the memo line.
Mail payment to:
RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Avenue,
PO Box 22504, Oakland, CA, 94609
Display Advertising Deadline:
December 2021 issue: November 18th
Advertising rates are $28/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rate available. For display ads, call Jo Ellis
at 510-653-3210 (after noon), or email joellis1@
hotmail.com. Email Susan Montauk at smontauk@
gmail.com for information regarding classified ads.
The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any
articles, display ads, or classified ads.
Views expressed in published articles do not
necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council.


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page 3
NOVEMBER 2021

Oakland Releases Draft of Five-Year Paving
Plan for Public Comment
by Ronnie Spitzer, RCPC boardmember
T

RCPC Land Use Committee Meeting
The next Land Use Committee
meeting will be held on Wednesday,
November 24, at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
To attend, email landuse@rockridge.org,
or call (510) 652-5373.
The meeting is open to the public.
Check www.Rockridge.org for details.
increased transportation investments
and traffic calming design.
AB 1238 would have authorized
jaywalking and prohibit any related
fines or criminal penalties for
pedestrians entering a roadway when
no cars are present, until January
1, 2029. While Newsom agrees that
people of color are unfairly targeted
for this type of enforcement, he is
concerned about California’s high
rate of pedestrian deaths. In the
end, in order not to add further risk
to pedestrian safety, the Governor
witheld his signature. n
he Oakland Department of Trans-
portation (OakDOT) has released
a draft 2022 Five-Year Paving Plan
(5YP), to continue the City’s invest-
ment in the care and maintenance of
Oakland’s streets (bit.ly/oakdot5yp).
The 5YP proposes pavement rehabil-
itation and preventive maintenance
treatments on more than 350 miles of
Oakland streets. The majority of the
financing is dedicated to local streets
while keeping major thoroughfares in
good condition.
Want input? The December 9, 2021,
Greater Rockridge NCPC meeting
is where you can speak directly to
City staff (see rockridgencpc.com for
meeting information). A draft map of
proposed streets can be found online
at bit.ly/draftmap5yp.
YOUR LOCAL BIKE-POWERED
REFILL SHOP
[ B U L K ]  [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
ReUpRef i l l s .o rg
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND
Transportation-Related Bills Signed
Into Law by Gov. Gavin Newsom
AB 43 provides Oakland greater
flexibility to set speed limits on streets
with high injuries and fatalities. Cur-
rently, the speed limits are set using
the 85th percentile of the prevailing
vehicle speed, which can often be too
fast to be safe, particularly around
schools and senior centers.
AB 917 authorizes transit opera-
tors statewide to use camera-based
enforcement for transit stops and
transit-only lanes where it is already
illegal to park. After the devastating
impact the pandemic had on public
transit ridership, the bill enables
transit agencies to improve service
reliability and rider safety.
Transportation-Related Bills Gov. Gavin
Newsom Did Not Sign
AB 122 would have allowed bike
riders to treat stop signs as yield
signs until January 1, 2028, increas-
ing bicyclist safety. Newsom cited
his concerns that “children may not
know how to judge vehicle speeds
or exercise the necessary caution to
yield to traffic when appropriate.” He
prefers a safe-system approach, with


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NOVEMBER 2021

our common understanding has
allowed us to successfully tackle
many issues.
Splitting Rockridge between two
Council districts would introduce
artificial boundaries and impact the
community’s ability to work towards
future common goals, especially in
the areas of housing and transpor-
tation. The political power of our
neighborhood would be divided and
weakened. One council member may
deflect responsibility for an issue
to the representative of the adjacent
district. However, our issues are
neighborhood-wide and effective
government should ensure that a
cohesive community is cohesively
represented.
The Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council works to represent the
whole of Rockridge. We have a long
history of working collaboratively on
many various issues with previous
City council members (informational
issues, emergencies, major develop-
ments). Having split representation
would complicate this relationship
and make the RCPC much less
effective.
REDISTRICTING, from front page
Commission will be on December 8.
We, as a neighborhood, must speak up
now with a strong and unified voice,
especially since the proposed Map D
threatens to tear Rockridge apart.
What’s at Stake?
Map B adjusts the existing district
boundaries to reflect changes in
population since the 2010 census. It
leaves Rockridge substantially intact,
splitting off a small triangle of terri-
tory containing Lake Temescal and
the immediately adjacent streets to
the south and west.
Map D is deeply problematic to
Rockridge. Our neighborhood is an
exemplar of a Community of Inter-
est, as defined by the Oakland City
Charter. Article II, Sec. 220 (E) (4) on
redistricting City Council districts
states in part:
“The geographic integrity of any
local neighborhood or local com-
munity of interest shall be respected
in a manner that minimizes their
division to the extent possible... A
Community of Interest is a contigu-
ous population that shares common
social and economic interests that
should be included within a single
district for purposes of its effective
and fair representation.”
Map D ignores established
neighborhoods and current council
district boundaries. South of the
BART station, it divides Rockridge
at College Avenue, with everyone on
the east side of College (including
merchants) placed into a new district
covering the entire Oakland Hills.
North of the BART station, all of
College Avenue up to the Berkeley
border would be in this new hill
district, as would a few residential
blocks west of College. If Map D
is adopted, a cohesive community
represented by a single city council
member would be split.
Our issues are neighborhood-wide,
and effective government should
ensure that a unified community is
equally represented. Rockridge has
functioned as a single geographical
unit for more than 100 years, and
What Can We Do?
Speak up. Attend the Zoom Redis-
tricting Commission meeting on
November 10 (https://us02web.zoom.
us/j/86447943502). Each member of
the public is allotted two minutes of
speaking time. Written comments
on the proposed maps may be sub-
mitted to Deputy City Administrator
Richard Luna, rluna@oaklandca.gov
(please cc info@rockridge.org).
Make your concerns known to the
RCPC Committee on Redistricting.
This is an ad hoc RCPC Board
committee formed to put together
a coherent, thoughtful, and firm
response to the threat of a divided
Rockridge (email info@rockridge.
org).
There is an excellent article by Casey
Farmer and Louise Rothman-Reimer
explaining the process in the October
Rockridge News. The Redistricting
Commission website is: https://www.
oaklandca.gov/boards-commissions/
redistricting-commission n


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NOVEMBER 2021

Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
Discusses Local Crime and Fireworks
by Karen Ivy, Secretary, Greater Rockridge NCPC
O

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Zonehaven Offers Critical
Evacuation Information
them off, especially around holidays.
Sergeant Manguy noted that staff
shortages and increased activity
around holidays might make it harder
for OPD to respond to a call about
fireworks in North Oakland if they
are also responding to calls about
gunfire in another district.
The meeting minutes are available at
https://tinyurl.com/y7r5qmbz. n
n October 14, 2021, the Greater
Rockridge Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council (NCPC) held
its bimonthly meeting on Zoom.
Our Community Resource Officers,
Meeran Gichki (12Y) and Aaron
Johnson (13X) reported on crime over
the last 90 days in beats 12Y and 13X,
which was about the same as com-
pared to the same 90 days in 2020.
The only crimes that increased
substantially over last year were auto
burglaries and vehicle thefts, and, to a
lesser extent, petty theft. The officers
reminded residents that beats 12Y and
13X have had much less crime than
some other areas of Oakland.
The officers answered various
questions from people on the call, and
noted that the case of the homicide at
the barbershop on the 5200 block of
College Avenue was still open. They
reminded people that abandoned
cars should be reported to 311 (or
SeeClickFix), not 911 or the police
non-emergency number.
Sergeant Alain Manguy stood in
for Acting Captain Robert Rosin,
who couldn’t attend. He discussed
issues around fireworks in the
neighborhood. These are illegal in
Oakland, and citations carry a $1,000
fine. But, as we know, people shoot
EDITOR: Regarding last month’s
Letter to the Editor in response to the
Zonehaven emergency evacuation
system article (see September 2021),
the Oakland Firesafe Council would
like to clarify some possible miscon-
ceptions. In Oakland, zone names all
follow the format OKL-EXXX, where
XXX is a three-digit number. To know
your zone, you only need to learn the
three-digit number for the area where
you live, work and/or study.
Go to community.zonehaven.com,
enter a street address, and Zonehaven
will provide that number, which
police/fire may then reference when
ordering evacuations or sheltering in
place. Post this zone name/number by
your front door, on your emergency
go-bag, in your cell phone contact
list or anywhere else where you could
easily reference it.
Zonehaven has been endorsed by
local fire departments and was pur-
chased by Alameda County. It was
used during recent California wild-
fires to help police and fire agencies
better manage evacuations and shel-
tering. This free service also provides
the public with more information
on when and where evacuations are
taking place, along with other critical
information such as road closures
and temporary refuge areas.
The Firesafe Council highly rec-
ommends that everyone sign up for
AC Alerts (www.acgov.org/emergen-
cysite/) to be informed of emergencies
and actions to take; and “Know your
Zone” (community.zonehaven.com).
Take these preparedness steps now,
before there’s an emergency. For more
preparedness information, please visit
the Oakland Community Prepared-
ness & Response program at www.
oaklandcpandr.org. Visit the Oakland
Firesafe Council at www.oaklandfire-
safecouncil.org. n
The next meeting of the
Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council is
Thursday, December 9, at 7pm. 
The Zoom link will be published shortly
before the meeting. 
Please email subject suggestions to:
chair@rockridgencpc.com
Doug Mosher
Oakland Firesafe Council


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NOVEMBER 2021

Rockridge’s
Generosity Reaches
Libraries Across
the City
by Alona Rivord
fall that it intended to share up to
50 percent of all donations with the
broader library community, noting
that many other branches do not have
access to the same level of generosity
as Rockridge.
“We received grant requests from
eight different library ‘Friends of’
groups, covering a wide range of
projects,” said Hal Helfand, who
spearheaded the initiative for the
Friends of the Rockridge Library. “We
were delighted by the great response
and were able to fully or partially
fund each proposal we received.”
Grants were approved to support a
12-month creative writing workshop
for elementary school students at the
Elmhurst branch and a five-week
creative writing workshop for middle
school students at the African Ameri-
This year, Friends of the Rockridge
Library (FORL), a nonprofit
organization that has been supporting
our neighborhood branch since its
inception, piloted a new mini-grant
program aimed at extending the
reach of its donors’ impact by helping
to fund the needs of other Oakland
Public Library locations.
The organization announced during
its annual fundraising appeal last
Chavez Library purchased a large
canopy with their mini-grant.
can Museum and Library at Oakland.
Four chairs were purchased for the
library’s Teen Zone in West Oakland,
and shelving and bins were requested
for the Food Pantry Distribution Pro-
gram that operates on location at the
Melrose branch.
The Tool Lending Library in Temes-
cal will use grant support to run four
hands-on junior carpentry workshops
at two branch locations. Support
will also go to the Friends of Hoover
Durant Public Library, a group
seeking to establish a new branch in
Oakland. A grant was approved for
the development and hosting of a
fundraising website over a two-year
period. Additionally, the Main Library
is receiving support for an educational
monarch butterfly lifecycle exhibit,
and César Chavez for garden beautifi-
cation outside the branch.
“With the mini-grant from the
Rockridge friends group, Chavez
Library purchased a large canopy,
tool shed and garden materials to help
spruce up the patio space adjacent
to the library,” said Librarian Joshua
Alperin from the César Chavez
Branch.
“This covered, outdoor space has
been critical during the pandemic,
allowing patrons to sit comfortably,
in an open-air space surrounded by
green gardens. Our Amigos group
hopes to use some of the space and
materials to propagate and sell succu-
lents in support of the library,” said
Alperin.
Given the program’s success, the
Friends of the Rockridge Library
plans to offer mini-grants again next
year in hopes that additional branches
will take part. n


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NOVEMBER 2021

Scavengers Scramble
About at Rockridge’s
Rock-N-Hunt
by Jody Colley, Rockridge District
Association
O

certificate to Market Hall. The third-
place team was Robyn Gregg, Mauro
Rubina, Noelia Rubina-Gregg, age
11, and Martino Rubina-Gregg, age
6, each receiving $50 gift certificates
to Market Hall. Over 100 people par-
ticipated and many said they would
have enjoyed the game with or without
prizes.
Bree Marchman, the second-place
winner, said of the hunt, “We already
really enjoy spending time in Rock-
ridge so we knew we would enjoy this
too. It was fun learning about some
new spots we hadn’t visited before
and having an excuse to spend time
in some of our favorite places. Over-
all, a great morning, and we felt so
accomplished every time we figured
out a clue.”
For info on the RDA, visit them at
www.RockridgeDistrict.com. n
HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST

automatically entered into a raffle for
each clue they discovered.
Players could find clues in both
indoor and outdoor locations and
they consisted of a combination of
local trivia, iconic images, and specific
items to locate such as book titles, a
pumpkin patch, and murals. Rock-
ridge businesses participated by hiding
items, sometimes in plain sight, for the
scavengers to discover as they scoured
the street.
The Grand Prize “Rockridge Experi-
ence” was $100 and a gift card bundle
to use at nearly 20 Rockridge mer-
chants, valued at hundreds of dollars.
The winners were Evelyn Yuen and
William Smith. Second place went to
Bree Marchman and Patricia Legaspi,
with each of them receiving a $100 gift
n October 9, the Rockridge
District Association (RDA)
challenged neighbors to compete in
a scavenger hunt that spanned the
entire district. The hunt coincided
with Rock-N-Stroll, an event that fea-
tured live music dotted along College
Avenue as well as great discounts from
various participating retailers.
Teams and individual players were
given 42 clues and 12 hours to solve as
many as they could. Participants were

Mark and Rosi Schneider of Rockridge, and their daughters, Avery, age 6,
the Leopard, and Eva, age 4, the cheetah, participated in The Golden Squirrel
costume contest on Sunday October 31, 2021.

Photo:
Andrew Snow


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page 8
NOVEMBER 2021

Why Plant Trees?
by Cassidy Lundin
Blthough the California College of
Arts (CCA) is moving to San
Francisco, it turns out that the
Oakland campus is still operational.
There are students currently living
on campus, and 40 courses are being
taught this current semester. Their
annual Homecoming Celebration
and Holiday Fair will be taking place
on the Oakland campus again this
year on November 20, from 11am to
4pm, at 5212 Broadway.
Attendees can shop for unique,
handmade goods made by local
artisans, craftspersons, and designers
from the CCA community. There
will also be food trucks, live music
by the Delta Wires featuring CCA
alum Ernie Pinata (between 12–1:30
pm), and open studios, including a
showcase of CCA student work from
Ceramics and Jewelry & Metal Arts
programs, a casting demo in the
Jewelry & Metal Arts studio, and a
mono-print workshop by alum and
CCA Professor Emeritus Thomas
Wojak in the Printmedia studio. 
From 3pm to 5pm, join the Oakland
Campus Legacy Committee for the
Homecoming After-Party + Legacy
Print Project exhibition launch. All
attendees, regardless of vax status,
will be required to wear masks unless
actively eating or drinking. n
CCA Holds Annual
Holiday Fair and
Homecoming
Aesides their beauty and potential to
add property value, trees help to
clean the air, absorbing pollutants and
producing oxygen while also filtering
rainwater and preventing erosion.
Their shade cools overheated urban
environments, and they provide food
and habitat for a wide range of organ-
isms, from mosses to mammals. Trees
are known to reduce stress and induce
feelings of calm and connectedness to
the natural world.
When to Plant
Though trees can be planted year-
round in our mild climate, the ideal
time is in the fall, after deciduous
types drop their leaves. Planting at this
time lets roots get established during
the rainy season before the warmth of
spring stimulates new growth.
slightly to meet the roots, is partially
exposed. Unfortunately, store-pur-
chased trees often have their root
crowns buried, so take a few minutes
to rinse or brush away the extra soil so
that the trunk flare is visible.
3) Straighten the tree in the hole;
check for alignment from several angles.
4) Backfill the hole with the excavated
native soil (soil amendments are usually
not needed). Pack the soil gently around
the root ball to stabilize it. Use some of
the extra soil to create a basin (a donut-
shaped mound) slightly larger than the
diameter of the root ball.
Carefully remove the nursery stake,
which is often lashed tightly against the
trunk. Install two or three tree support
stakes outside the circumference of the
root ball, and fasten ties loosely so they
hold the tree upright but allow it to
sway in the wind.
Give your tree an initial deep soaking
by filling the basin two or three times
and letting the water soak in slowly.
Then provide approximately 20 gallons
of water per week to help it become
established.
How to Plant
1) First, call 811, the national call-
before-you-dig phone number, and find
out the exact location of nearby under-
ground utilities.
2) Once you’re sure you’ve found a
safe spot, dig a planting hole two or
three times as wide as the root ball of
the tree, and the same depth as the
nursery container in which it came.
You want your tree to sit on solid,
undisturbed soil but to be surrounded
by cultivated soil for ease of establish-
ment. Make sure the root crown, the
natural margin where the trunk flares
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Competition Drives Price in August
For a list of approved species, along
with other helpful information, please
see the City of Oakland’s Master Street
Tree List. The City also has a free, tree
planting permit application.
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
8/4/2021
4
1.5

451 62nd St                           $1,199,000
        $1,199,000
1
$1,400,000
8/5/2021
4
2

5310 Boyd Ave                       $1,795000
         $1,795000
13
 $3,075,000
8/13/2021
3
2
         5252 Lawton Ave                  $1,125,000
        $1,125,000
16
$1,400,000
8/16/2021
3
2

5863 Chabot Ct                     $1,295,000
        $1,295,000
15
$1,855,000
8/20/2021
2
2
         5340 Broadway Ter                $795,000
           $795000
 17
$835,000
Homes sold in August closed 38% over the asking price on average.
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Contact Urban Releaf (https://
californiareleaf.org/network/urban-
releaf/), which is dedicated to improving
the tree canopy in Oakland. n
ŽŵƉĂƐƐŝƐĂƌĞĂůĞƐƚĂƚĞďƌŽŬĞƌůŝĐĞŶƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞŽĨĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂĂŶĚĂďŝĚĞƐďLJƋƵĂů,ŽƵƐŝŶŐKƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJůĂǁƐ͘>ŝĐĞŶƐĞEƵŵďĞƌϬϭϴϲϲϳϳϭ͘ůůŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚŚĞƌĞŝŶŝƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚĨŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶĂů
ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐŽŶůLJĂŶĚŝƐĐŽŵƉŝůĞĚĨƌŽŵƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĚĞĞŵĞĚƌĞůŝĂďůĞďƵƚŚĂƐŶŽƚďĞĞŶǀĞƌŝĨŝĞĚ͘ŚĂŶŐĞƐŝŶƉƌŝĐĞ͕ĐŽŶĚŝƚŝŽŶ͕ƐĂůĞŽƌǁŝƚŚĚƌĂǁĂůŵĂLJďĞŵĂĚĞǁŝƚŚŽƵƚŶŽƚŝĐĞ͘EŽƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚŝƐŵĂĚĞĂƐƚŽĂĐĐƵƌĂĐLJŽĨ
ĂŶLJĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƚŝŽŶ͘ůůŵĞĂƐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚƐĂŶĚƐƋƵĂƌĞĨŽŽƚĂŐĞĂƌĞĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞ͘


THE

page 9
NOVEMBER 2021

FROG Park Committee members and founders: (Left to right)
Steve Costa, Robert Capalbo, Theresa Nelson, Barney Smits,
Will Sheldon, Alison Drury, Leonora Sea
Neighbors Clean Up at Frog Park
by Alison Drury
On Saturday, September 25, 2021,
Friends of the Rockridge Green-
belt (FROG) Park community volun-
teers participated in the Creek-to-Bay
Day cleanup.
This was the neighborhood contri-
bution to the International Coastal
Cleanup Day events — a truly global
effort to make our planet’s waterways
cleaner and healthier — and aligns
with the efforts of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals 11, 14,
and 15 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
The Temescal Creek is a pump-
controlled water feature that runs
through the park. Volunteers cleaned
up trash and debris, which not only
made the park look better, but also
keeps litter out of the creek, bay, and
ocean. A big thank you to all who
came out for the event, and a sincere
thank you to Bakesale Betty and Peet’s
Coffee for donated treats, and the City
of Oakland for the cleanup tools. n


THE
page 10
NOVEMBER 2021

RGym Knows Your
Name
by Anna L. Marks
As a result of the Covid pandemic,
Shirley Corrothers was forced to
close her franchise circuit-training
gym for months on end. She is forever
grateful to her members who contin-
ued to support the gym by keeping
their memberships active.
“The ‘R’ in RGym stands for ‘our,’
because our members supported us
for the 14 months of being closed, and
continue to, even though some aren’t
ready to come back yet. I have always
told them, ‘this isn’t my gym, it’s
ours,’ because without their support
we would have had to close a long
time ago. God bless them.”
The gym originally opened in the
basement of Market Hall in 2003,
where it operated for 16 years before
relocating to 5357 College Avenue
(near Manila). Then a year later, mid-
pandemic, they went private. To make
it all happen, Shirley and her husband
took their retirement packages and
invested in rebuilding the space from
the ground up, and purchased a vari-
ety of different brands of equipment
to suit their 400-member base.
“It was a huge risk, especially at
the advanced age of my husband and
me, and we did everything. All of the
equipment is suited for both men and

Shirley Corrothers of RGym welcomes neighbors to stop by and enjoy
live music, snacks, and lots of prizes at the grand re-opening on Sunday,
November 14, from 11am to 3pm, at 5357 College Avenue.
Photo: Anna Marks

women,” said Corrothers.
They have a full range of weights,
free-motion machines, cross-cable
trainer, cardio and a variety of
strength equipment. Corrothers
explained that this new equipment
requires only minor adjusting, which
allows for a simpler workout routine
that people can adapt to quickly.
“We are a small gym, but you’re
not going to get lost, we’re going to
know your name. We’re going to
know when it’s your birthday. We’re
going to know what your goals are
and what you want to work on. We’re
going to know what you haven’t been
trained on yet. And we encourage
all of our members when they come
in to try something new. Let’s try
another piece of equipment you hav-
en’t tried yet. Let’s test it. Let’s see if
it will work for you.”
There are no long-term contracts,
new members can sign up for a
month at a time ($89) to see if they
like it (a 30-day notice is required to
cancel), and have access anytime the
gym is open.
Effective Nov 1, the hours are 6am
to 7pm on Monday, Wednesday, and
6am to 3pm on Friday; 7am to 5pm on
Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 9am to
1pm on Saturday. They are closed on
Sundays. Vax card or current negative
Covid test along with mask-wearing
is required for all members until the
restrictions are lifted. For information,
visit https://rgym4fitness.com/. n

Seeking a Volunteer to Lighten My Load
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News Distribution Manager

Ihave been managing The Rockridge
News for about 20 years, and it has
been a fulfilling and gratifying
experience. I get to know so many
people — those who volunteer to take
over routes and those who retire from
their block captain jobs after a long
stint (sometimes since the newsletter’s
inception in 1985) — a hardy and
faithful group who show up to bundle
the newsletter once a month. Thank
you, Rockridge Community Planning
Council members who pitch in when
there’s a pinch, and the wonderful
staff of the newsletter. I love my job,
and I intend to keep on doing it as
long as possible.
Here’s the rub. In addition to man-
aging the distribution and bundling
of the newsletter, I work behind-the-
scenes to keep the paper on schedule
and in the black. In October, after
completing the bundling with my
crew, I delivered boxes and bundles

to my routes. Whew. It was just too
much. I then realized I needed to cut
back on my efforts and find someone
to take one of my delivery routes.
Here’s a description of my District
Captain route that is up for grabs:
Pick up one box of newsletters at
the bundling site (always a nearby
location) and deliver each of the
10 bundles to houses on the 5300
blocks, between Miles and Desmond.
Is there someone out there with a car
who can sign on to this 20-30 minute
task once a month? I hope so.
Call me at (510) 547-3855, or email
smontauk@gmail.com. n


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page 11
NOVEMBER 2021

Claremont Auction Is
Live Online — Now
Claremont Middle School’s annual
auction fundraiser will take place
online from November 1 to 12, and
the entire community is invited to log
in and bid on the items up for auction
including products, services, food,
beverages, gifts and more. Raffle tick-
ets for a wine cellar’s worth of wine
will also be for sale (raffle winner will
be notified on November 13).
Claremont serves Oakland families
with kids ages 11-14 (6th-8th grade).
The student body is highly diverse,
both economically and ethnically.
Thirty-three percent of students are
white, 25 percent are African Ameri-
Rasheeda Johnson and Sharon Flor,
6th grade parents and co-chairs of the
2021 auction.
Photo: Anna Marks
Flex Streets Extended to March 2022
The Oakland City Council recently
adopted a resolution to extend the
Flex Streets program in its current
form until March 2022. Through Flex
Streets, all fees have been waived,
and permitting has been streamlined
for businesses to use the sidewalk,
parking lanes, street closures, and
other public rights-of-way for addi-
tonal seating. All currently approved
permits will automatically renew on
December 31, with no need to resub-
mit applications.
Legislation now gives businesses
a one-year grace period to apply for
permanent expansion. n
Bomb Cyclone Hits The West Coast

can, and 32 percent are of other races.
Forty-two percent qualify for a free or
reduced-fee lunch.
The auction is the school’s larg-
est fundraiser of the year, and all
proceeds will be used for student
and teacher support. For example,
funds will be used for classroom
supplies (so our teachers don’t have
to use their own money) along with
enrichment activities such as athlet-
ics, science, art, music, technology
(media), the library, field trips and
celebrations. The school is also plan-
ning to build a Restorative Justice &
Community Center.
By the time this newsletter is deliv-
ered to your mailbox, the auction will
be live and ready for bidding. Log on
today to the auction website (https://
www.claremontms.org/pta/auction/)
and peruse the great items available
for bidding. And maybe even bid on
some wine, too. n
In Rockridge since 1997
What’s shakin?
Yes we do offer:
Earthquake
Insurance
Susan Bernosky
510-450-9050

On Sunday evening, October 24, an atmospheric river “bomb cyclone” brought
much needed rain to the Bay Area — shattering all previous one-day records for
the month. The deluge brought down a tree on Shafter and downed a power line
on Lawton, which kept our neighborhood in the dark for hours.

INSURANCE SERVICES,  INC
CA License 0D34069
www.strahaninsurance.com


THE
page 12
NOVEMBER 2021

Traveling Abroad
During Covid
by Judith Doner Berne
I
Photo: Judy Berne
t was a difficult decision, but my
husband, adult son, and I are now
back from a month-long trip to three
European counties — first Romania,
then France and Poland. We had
planned our journey for May 2020,
but of course, canceled when the pan-
demic hit our nation, and the world.
For those of you who may be
considering overseas travel (by
mid-October, 86.9 percent of Rock-
ridge residents over age 12 were fully
vaccinated and 90.6 percent had had
one shot), I thought that our experi-
ences might be useful. The ability to
get the booster shots two weeks ahead
of the trip was our deciding factor.
We knew that flying abroad
required proof of vaccination and,
of course, a mask to board and wear
throughout the flight. But when my
husband checked in with a well-fitting
cotton mask, he was told it must be a
KN95 or a surgical mask. So be aware.
Flying into Bucharest, we had to
fill out a form giving our address in
Romania in case of the need to quar-
antine. Although the Romanian police
looked at them as we disembarked,
they didn’t write anything down,
leaving us to wonder what actual use
they were.
We had built our trip around 10
Large peaceful protests against requiring proof of vaccination or recent
negative Covid test to eat out, travel, and attend events in Paris have
become a wekend norm, although compliance is reported as high.
days exploring Romania, which had a
low but rising number of cases during
our trip. Since then, cases have spiked
and, as I write this, are the highest
in Europe. Unlike in either France or
Poland, we did encounter two situa-
tions there that were problematic.
The Bucharest Airport required
masks and social distancing but then
jammed us BART-style at rush hour
onto a bus to drive to the plane. And,
in one small, isolated village we stayed
in a family-run guesthouse, which
included homemade breakfasts and
dinners. Our guide told them we were
vaccinated, but I’m not sure that they
were. We didn’t mix with the handful
of other guests. No one wore masks.
Otherwise, masks were almost
always required and adhered to in
indoor venues — restaurants, hotels,
shops, and museums — and on all
forms of transportation. But on the
street, unlike here in the Bay Area,
it was unusual to see someone in a
mask. We were in Paris and Warsaw
over beautiful, sunny weekends where
people thronged the pedestrian streets
and sidewalk cafes, lined up for take-
out food, and picnicked in the parks
— all unmasked.
Proof of vaccination, either the CDC
card or a photograph of it on your
phone, was required to eat indoors in
both Romania and France, but not in
Warsaw, which had a low incidence of
Covid. They also checked your status
at every indoor site be it museum or
castle in all three countries.
In France, your vaccination card
was also necessary to eat at an outdoor
table. And at another outdoor setting,
Monet’s Gardens at Givenchy, we also
needed proof of vaccination to enter,
with masks required throughout. They
even had mask patrols along the paths.
law office of
dave karlinsky
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
TRAVEL ABROAD, see next page
(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.


THE

page 13
NOVEMBER 2021

for your group of passengers only.
Two days before returning to the
United States from Warsaw, we
walked to a small Covid testing lab
recommended by our hotel. A half-
hour later we had the negative results
on our phones required to re-enter the
United States. The airports also had
Covid testing areas.
No, Romania is no place to go
right now, but both Warsaw and
the parts of France we traveled to,
are, in our minds, very doable — at
least as of this writing. Protocols
and vaccination numbers for every
country change daily, so it is advisable
to check online to verify local condi-
tions. Safe travels.
When we had sailed with this cruise
company in the past, you had a plastic
boarding card that you showed to leave
and re-enter the ship. Now, they have
facial recognition screens that don’t
entail any person-to-person exchanges.
TRAVEL ABROAD,
from previous page
We never needed the Passe Sanitaire
that the French must show to verify
vaccination or negative Covid test. We
did witness a large, peaceful protest
march through Paris against the man-
datory pass. Dozens of police in riot
gear flanked the march.
If you are thinking about a cruise,
our week on the Seine River from
Paris to Normandy might give you an
idea of what to expect.
The ship was about half full with
only 55 passengers, and the Covid
protocols were stringent. No passenger
or crewmember could board without
proof of vaccination, and masks
were mandatory in all public spaces
onboard the ship and on the busses to
points of interest.
As for the breakfast and lunch buf-
fets aboard the ship, it was no longer
do-it-yourself. Rather, you walked
through the offerings with a waiter,
pointing out what you would like as he
(they were all “he”) filled your plate.
For dinner, rather than having paper
menus, you made your choice through
a phone app; and the tables were set
For questions or column suggestions,
please email judyberne@att.net. n


THE
page 14
NOVEMBER 2021

Red Cross Seeks
Blood Donations At
Claremont Location
O
THANKSGIVING, from front page
get together in ways that are safe, we’re
again committing to a takeout meal
for those who come to eat as well as
those who come to serve.
A “To-Go” meal will be available
on Thanksgiving Day from 11am to
noon, at 5951 College Avenue. All
are invited as this is always a joint
project with diverse members of our
Rockridge community — involving
congregational members, local mer-
chants, and residents.
Currently, too many of us feel
exhausted, disempowered, and alone.
Our cultural ritual of Thanksgiving
responds to these cravings for renewal,
agency, and inter-personal connection.
This is an opportunity for neighbors
to gather together as a community
to respond to the needs of those
struggling with hunger, solitude, and
joblessness. We’re adapting the meal
to serve 200 meals, free, for anyone
who wants to come by.
Donations of money and food are
verall demand for blood prod-
ucts went down over the past
18 months as a result of many people
deciding to postpone elective surger-
ies. Fortunately, this trend is reversing
and these appointments are now being
rescheduled.
As a result of the uptick in need,
Justin Mueller, Regional Executive
Donor Services of the Red Cross, is
concerned about a nationwide short-
age of blood products. Inventories are
the lowest they’ve been in years, and
the organization has been tasked with
collecting an extra 10,000 units per
week to meet current needs.
Blood drives are still on hold, and
additional safety guidelines have been
implemented since the beginning of
the pandemic. According to Mueller,
the Red Cross is actively seeking
donors at the current location on
Claremont Avenue, regardless of an
individual’s Covid vaccine status.
“You’ve got heightened need and less
opportunities to schedule blood drives.
Its the perfect storm, which is why we
are in a severe blood shortage.”
The facility is looking forward to
moving to its new location on College
Avenue once the Conditional Use
Permit from the City of Oakland
has been approved, as the Claremont
office is “too small to accommodate
the number of folks that we really
want and need to be able to see,” says
Mueller.
They are encouraging donations
from Black and LatinX populations
to address specific health issues that
disproportionately impact these
communities. For example, blood
transfusions are an essential treatment
for those with sickle cell anemia, and
donations from individuals of the
same race, ethnicity and blood type
have a unique ability to help patients
combat this disease.
The Red Cross encourages anyone
interested to call 800-RED CROSS or
go online to redcrossblood.org. n
Volunteer serves Thanksgiving dinner.
gratefully accepted and seriously
needed. In past years, each meal costs
on average $4 with all the fixings,
totaling roughly $1,500 to make it
all happen. These costs are covered
through numerous generous dona-
tions from our friends and neighbors.
Volunteers are also needed to help
in our socially distanced, protocol-
observing effort to provide this
holiday meal. Help is needed for
cooking (at distance), preparing the
site, serving, and cleaning up — all
done with the utmost attention to
safety measures.
Visit the www.capcoakland.org/
thanksgiving-meal to volunteer for a
slot or to make a secure donation.
Contact the church at capcoakland@
gmail.com or (510) 658-3665.
Experience * Knowledge * Performance
With Over 300 Real Estate Transactions
Perry's Current Rockridge Listings
-PENDING: 2BD 2BA updated condo w/balcony, open plan, 5340BroadwayTerrace.com: List $665,000

-PENDING: 4BD++ 3.5BA stately, updated, sited on 2 Bay view lots+cottage+office+garage, play yards 5636Golden Gate.com List $1,995,000

-NEW: Impeccable, landscaped, updated 4plex, great rents, 1 vacant, 2 blocks to BART/Market Hall 578Forest.com. Listed @ $1,895,000
-NEW: 4BD 2BA Tudor, garage, level in, sweet yard, gorgeous architecture, 3 blocks to College Ave, 5809Ross.com Listed @ $1,795,000
-COMING: 3BD 2BA Bungalow nr Frog Park, updated systems, kitchen, baths, 2 garages, level yard, Price TBD
November is Awareness Month for > Adoption, Gratitude, Alzheimer's, Inspirational Role Models, Universal Kindness Day
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
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


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page 15
NOVEMBER 2021

ClassifiedAds

Rockridge Artist Maryly Snow
Hosts Open Studios, with Stocking
stuffers (local honey, potholders, and
greeting cards) along with fine art in her
West Oakland Studio. Nov. 6-Nov. 7, 2021,
11am-6 pm. 3016 Filbert St #14 at 30th
Street.  Welcome!

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” in the
memo line. Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-
20131. The deadline for the December 2021 issue is November 18
(available Dec 4). For more details, email Susan Montauk at smontauk@gmail.com.

Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Happy Thanksgiving! Is your oven
working? I can help with that. I’ve been
doing electrical work in Oakland and
Berkeley for over 35 years. Sutorik &
Company. www.sutorikandco.com.
Lic #397149. 510/655-3677.
Chabot Canyon Raquet Club
Your neighborhood Tennis Club is
accepting new membership applications.
Six new, lighted tennis courts. 7040
Chabot Road, Oakland. 510/652-6060.
www.chabotcanyon.org.
Get Coaching. Get Results. 
• Want to exponentially grow your
business? • Ready to fast-track your
corporate job? • Considering starting
a new career venture? Schedule a
complimentary session now. Call (800)
322-5610 or visit DaisukiCoaching.com.
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.
BUYING?
SELLING?
LET ME HELP YOU!
Anne D. Brandon, Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne@TheHighlandPartners.com
DRE# 01877719

Free In-Home Evaluation with
Licensed Neighborhood Realtor!
Market Value, Tax-Related Issues, Estate
Planning, Selling/Buying. Eve Levine 347-
526-1383; eve@vanguardproperties.com.
DRE#02133046. For each in-home visit
this month, we donate $100 to Alameda
County Community Food Bank.
Celebrate the Holidays! 
Penelope’s Aesthetics is offering a full
European facial w/eyebrow wax for
$84! Relax, refresh and rejuvenate for the
holidays. Gift certificates available. What
a fabulous gift! For yourself too.call 510
594-1552 penelopecalef.com.
Garden Maintenance, Cleanups
& Design
Experienced team of two dedicated
to the art of gardening. We specialize
in garden maintenance, cleanups and
custom garden designs. To contact us,
please email yourgreengardeners@
gmail.com. Check us out at www.
yourgreengardeners.com.
BOOKS PURCHASED
Single Volumes. Entire Libraries. Tavistock
Books. First Editions, Rare & Collectible.
Alameda, CA. 510/814-0480. vjz@
tavbooks.com, www.tavbooks.com.
Smart Home Done Right!
Immersive home theater, lighting,
shades, HVAC, locks, cameras & more
in one simple world.  Easy retrofit into
existing homes. Rockridge-based, decades
of experience, we make the experience
fun! www.performingartsaudio.biz. Ben
Stiegler, 510/823-0850.
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat existing.
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.
CUSTOM FURNITURE
Upgrade your furniture to works of art.
Will design to your needs. Wood, metal,
fiberglass, and more. 20 years experience.
Call Alison at 510/685-0248, or visit ajm-
furniture.com.
Dog Training
In home, private training customized
to help your dog succeed! Local
trainer with decades of experience. 
Please call 510/646-9657, or
visit dogsquaddogtraining.com for more
information and to get started.
Handyman Service
House Repairs & Remodeling
Dry rot, kitchen and bath tile refurbishing
or installation, window installation,
plumbing, fence, deck & handrail repair,
electrical wiring/fixtures, outlets. And
much more. Call Juan 510/692 -6399 or
email. jbahena.info@gmail.com.
Trophy Property For Sale
5315 College Ave $1,195,000. Rare
Victorian Office Building. Ideal for an
owner/user. Mano Acebedo / Aziz Khatri.
Macebedo@KW.com or call 707/246-
9714,  KW Commercial Oakland,
DRE#02029039, #01872979, #01050721
From the Hand to the Heart
Experienced calligrapher-designer creates
uniquely beautiful art: poems, quotations,
family trees (lineage and stories).
Inscriptions, invitations, wedding and
anniversary commissions. www.artofhand.
com. Call Jane at 707/528-3513. n
Shop
Rockridge


THE
SOLD
ROCKRIDGE
REAL ESTATE TEAM
C
• 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms
• PLUS 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom
     Backyard Cottage
• This home is a little funky, but very

livabl.  Flip your own home with your

ideas & passion
• Close to College & Telegraph
• Chabot Elementary School
is covid still a factor?
interest rates going  up?
do I need a biger home?
M
CLAUDIA MILLS
5343 Lawton Avenue
ASK $1,095,000
SOLD $1,565,000
5 OFFERS
is it a good  time to sell?
what’s the market doing?
shlould we down size?
should I repair my home before I sell it?
Claudia Mills
510.350.6419
c.mills@ggsir.com
www.5343Lawton.com
Lic.#01881682
If you have questions like these,
ask Claudia.
 She’s the one you should talk to.
COMING SOON
ROCKRIDGE
Updated 4 Plex
www.ClaudiaMillsRealEstateTeam.com
Each Franchise is Independently
Owned and Operated
1 Bed/ 1 Bath - All Units Vacant
Ocean View
3 Bed/ 3 Bath
Jaunt down to College Avenue & educate
your children at Chabot Elementary School
KEVIN BROWN
Broker
654-8707 or 593-4780
Stay Safe and Well.
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
(c) 510-612-2547
RonKriss@JPS.net
PROVIDING

Professional,

Full Service

Real Estate Brokerage

To Rockridge Clients
 For Over 26 Years.
SPECIALIZING IN

OResidential Sales

OIncome Property

OCommercial

OProperty Management
“#1 in Rockridge
Real Estate”
160+ Successful Sales
in Rockridge
DRE# 01417458
www.LawtonAssoc.com
COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE
Better Homes
Realty
5353 College Avenue
Oakland