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RockridgeNews

THE

www.rockridge.org

VOL 39   •   NO. 2   •   ISSUE  NO. 394   •   FEBRUARY 5, 2022                 CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

RCPC Board Elections
Planned for April 2022
by Leonora Sea, RCPC Chair
The 2022 Rockridge Community
Planning Council Board election
is scheduled for April 15 and 17,
2022. Now is the time to think about
whether you may be interested in
running for a seat on the RCPC
Board. Six seats are up for election,
each for a two-year term. Board
members are elected at large by the
entire community. Board membership
is an excellent way to gain a deep
understanding of our neighborhood
and our city. Much of the work of the
Board occurs in standing committees
and programs.
The Land Use Committee is at the
forefront, working on issues of devel-
opment, inclusion, and community
enhancement. The Transportation
Committee tackles traffic and transit,
as well as pedestrian and bicycle
safety improvements. The Parks
Committee looks after our precious
green space — collaborating with
the FROG Park Committee — and
also working on pocket-parks like
Ayala and small neighborhood parks
like Colby Park. Through the Kevin
Faughnan Memorial Grants Program,
RCPC distributes small grants to
groups and individual community
members to carry out projects for
the improvement of their immediate
neighborhoods.
Membership on the RCPC Board
involves a significant commitment
of time and effort. Among the most
basic activities are board meetings
(held monthly), Town Hall meetings,
and committee meetings. All meet-
ings are currently held by Zoom.
Board members are expected to
RCPC Elections, see next page

Volunteers, Young
and Old, Make Door-
to-Door Delivery in
Rockridge Newsworthy
by Judith Doner Berne
It’s plunked on your doorstep every
month. It doesn’t get there by magic.
It takes upwards of 150 of your
neighbors to make sure The Rockridge
News, founded in April 1986 by
long-time resident Don Kinkead, is
dispersed throughout our communi-
ty’s more than 5,800 residences and
200 businesses.
It’s time you, our readers, met some
of our longest-serving, newest, oldest,
and youngest distributors — starting
Six-month-old Hayes is his mom’s
companion as she delivers the news.
RN Delivery, see page 6
Wanted: Kitchens &
Docents for RCPC
Kitchen Tour
by Leonora Sea, RCPC Chair
Rockridge
Kitchen
Tour
Returns
An old and dear friend is return-
ing! After a hiatus in 2021, the
Rockridge Kitchen Tour (KT) is
happening in 2022. The Tour is the
Rockridge Community Planning
Council’s major fundraiser, and it
provides RCPC with the financial
resources to support the Kevin
Faughnan Memorial Grants program,
the Town Halls, the Halloween
Parade, and many other neighbor-
hood enhancements. However, the
KT is more than a fundraiser; it’s a
community-builder. Neighbors volun-
teer on the KT Committee and as
docents; and the tour showcases
local architects, contractors,
and craftspeople — it truly is a
delightful Rockridge block party
writ large.
Kitchen Tour, see next page


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page 2
FEBRUARY 2022

RCPC Election, from front page
for membership in RCPC (18 years of
age or older, and maintain a principal
residence within RCPC boundaries).
For more information about service
on the Board, contact RCPC at elec-
tion@rockridge.org. In order to run
for election, prospective candidates
must submit a statement announc-
ing an intent to run, no later than
Wednesday, March 2, 2022, by email
to chair@rockridge.org. n

participate in at least one committee,
and in planning and organizing Town
Halls and community events, includ-
ing the biennial Rockridge Kitchen
Tour fundraiser. For an individual
Board member, the typical time com-
mitment is about 10 to 12 hours per
month, varying with circumstances.
Candidates must meet the criteria
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
Kitchen Tour, from front page
Volunteer for the
Kitchen Tour
But there can be no Kitchen Tour
without kitchens! The Tour Commit-
tee invites homeowners, architects,
designers, and builders to submit
kitchens to be considered for the 2022
Tour. A kitchen does not have to be
finished to qualify, but should be
finished by the beginning of August.
The Committee isn’t looking for a
single design theme, but themes often
appear serendipitously. In 2019, two
inspiring accessory dwellings — one
a new build, and one a remodel of an
early 20th-century backyard cottage
— were volunteered coincidentally.
Kitchens can be large or small,
traditional, Mid-Century Modern or
Post-modern, open-plan or separate.
Tour guests are always interested in
unusual designs, clever layouts, and,
increasingly, sustainable materials.
You get the idea; the Tour is always
The Kitchen Tour can’t happen
without volunteers. The Tour
needs Committee members to
visit kitchens, find sponsors and
advertisers, recruit and train docents,
manage publicity, create the Tour
Brochure, and all the other tasks that
make it run smoothly.
If you are interested in volunteering
as a Kitchen Tour Committee
member, the first meeting is planned
for March 7, 2022, the first Monday.
Sign up via email at:
kitchentour@rockridge.org.
RCPC Board of Directors, 2021-22
Leonora Sea..........................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Casey Farmer................................................ Secretary
Ashley Pandya.............................. Assistant Secretary
Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer
Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Stuart
Flashman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson,
Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
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 letters must be limited to 350 words and are
published at the discretion of the Editor. Send
them to: editor@rockridge.org. Please be sure
to include your name, email address, and city and
street of residence. All submissions accepted
for publication are subject to editing for clarity
and brevity.
eclectic with something for every
budget and taste. Tour guests come
to admire and to be inspired by
Rockridge’s beautiful kitchens, and to
meet the professionals whose artistry,
design genius, and craftsmanship
fashioned the amazing results.
It’s been the custom for the Tour to
feature one whole house on display.
If the idea of showing off all the
great features of your home as well
as your kitchen intrigues you, please
let the Committee know. Over the
past few tours, the whole-house tours
have showcased historic properties,
sustainable home builds, ADUs, and
spectacular modern designs.
The Tour Committee is accepting
submissions through March 15, 2022,
at kitchentour@rockridge.org. Works
in progress are welcome, although
expected completion should be no
later than August 1, 2022. n
The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any
articles, letters, display ads, or classified ads.
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 for March:
February 17, 2022
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.
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
FEBRUARY 2022

RCPC Town Hall:
A Smashing Success
by Anna L. Marks
the breakout groups focused on
pressing issues, like homelessness
and how the changes in economic
diversity over the years have
impacted the neighborhood.
There were many suggestions and
questions about how to address these
and other issues. Do we need a guide
to make ADUs easier to build? Can
we keep commercial rates low for
more business diversity on College?
What about offering teacher’s hous-
ing at Oakland Tech so they can
live and work in the area? Others
suggested that we offer disaster
preparedness and first-aid training
through the City’s CORE program
for our neighborhood block captains
now that it has been re-activated.
There was also a suggestion to
create a database on the RCPC web-
site of skilled neighbors who could
be called upon to volunteer to work
with students or help folks with proj-
ects. It could include those willing to
offer advice on energy efficiency and
home design, or even links to reliable
suppliers. RCPC is currently looking
at ways to increase resident partici-
pation on committees as a way to be
more responsive to these and other
concerns, and are currently consid-
ering the option to allow neighbors
to join committees by signing up
through the website.
In the past, as a direct result of
the efforts of RCPC, Rockridge was
able to establish CN1 zoning, which
Land Use Committee
Meeting
The next meeting of the
RCPC Land Use Committee will
be held on
Wednesday, February 23, 2022,
at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
Email landuse@rockridge.org,
or call (510) 652-5373 to attend.
What does Rockridge need most?
How can we put these ideas
into action? This was what local
residents came together to discuss
at January’s first virtual Town Hall
meeting of 2022.
After Board member introductions
and a summary of recent past Board
achievements by Rockridge Commu-
nity Planning Council (RCPC) Chair
Leonora Sea, attendees participated
in two rounds of breakout groups.
Subsequent facilitated conversations
culminated in thoughtful action
items to move the process forward.
High on the list were the desire to
provide more housing stock (includ-
ing more affordable housing) and
a concern for public safety. There
was much discussion regarding the
blighted undeveloped parcel at the
Pleasant Valley Shopping Center and
the circulation of a petition asking the
City and the leaseholder to clean up
the site (see article on page 5). The site
remains vacant, and the current land-
owner shows no interest in developing
housing of any kind at this time.
In addition to concerns about
housing, development, crime, pot-
holes and easing transit corridors,
The meeting is open to the public.
Check www.Rockridge.org for details.
The Land Use Committee currently has
one vacancy for a member.
If interested, please send a brief response,
including qualifications, to:
landuse@rockridge.org
or to the RCPC P.O. box (see page 2).
All members must be Rockridge
residents and must be approved by
the RCPC board.
has since been embraced by other
neighborhoods in Oakland. Nota-
bly, it was the result of this type of
RCPC’s community organizing that
led to the creation of Frog Park (see
article on page 8) and the building of
the Rockridge Library. This type of
collaborative effort also led to envi-
ronmental mitigations at our schools.
Notably, some attendees at the
meeting mentioned that they were
unaware that if you live within the
Rockridge boundaries you are auto-
matically a member of RCPC and can
vote in Board elections and partici-
pate in Town Hall meetings.
Good conversations led to great
ideas — many of which will be fur-
ther evaluated and integrated into
RCPC’s annual planning.
The Rockridge News serves as the
liaison between the RCPC Board and
our community members. Stay tuned
for more ways to become informed,
engaged, connected, and involved —
we will continue to keep our readers up
to date on these and other important
activities.
If you’re interested in reaching out
to RCPC directly about upcoming
meetings or any other issues, email
TownHall@Rockridge.org. n
Charismatic
Craftsman
with Custom
Cottage
on Cavour
362 Cavour
4 BED / 1 BATH / 1,383 SF
+ detached cottage of 275 SF
DANIEL STEA
DRE # 01452156
510.843.6400


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page 4
FEBRUARY 2022

Backyard Birding —
A Crowd-Sourced
Science Event
computer through the eBird App.
GBBC is a project of The Cornell
Lab of Ornithology, The Audubon
Society, and Bird Studies Canada.
Cornell maintains a terrific website at
www.birdcount.org with all the basic
information you could ever want and
many links to listen to bird calls and
see pictures of birds and habitat as
well as distribution maps. They give
guidance on attracting more birds,
with and without bird feeders, and are
a great source for all things bird.
There’s an App for That
Cornell offers two apps for all platforms:
Merlin, where you can ID a bird by
answering five questions, snapping a
photo or recording the birdsong;
and eBird, that allows you to record
the birds you see and add them to your
eBird database with ease.
By Annette R. Floystrup
February means Valentine’s Day,
Presidents Day, and Chinese
New Year (Gung Hay Fat Choy my
fellow Tigers), but it is also a special
time for bird watchers. For four
days, February 18-21, birders all over
North America count birds in their
backyards, at feeders, and in nearby
parks and recreational areas for as
little as 15 minutes in the annual
Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).
It is one of the largest ongoing global
science projects, and impossible to
do without the tens of thousands of
ordinary people who participate. Data
submission is done on your mobile or
as the oceans cool and warm in new
patterns, and species leaving areas
where their food sources have disap-
peared. It is an indicator of changing
food sources and abundance or scar-
city based on altered weather patterns.
Why Count Birds?
GBBC is a key biologic dataset,
an indicator of species distribution,
migratory patterns, species increase
or decline and global climate change.
Climate change which can be seen
in alterations of normal distribution
patterns: warm weather birds moving
further north, certain waterfowl
moving to follow oceanic food sources
Count Feeder Birds for Science
A similar, but longer running par-
ticipation study, Project FeederWatch,
continues through April 9th. Visit
https://feederwatch.org/ to learn more.
To participate, visit https://www.
birdcount.org/participate/.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
including Rockridge, shows wide-
spread community transmission
with growing hospitalization and a
rising death rate (see graph on left,
or visit https://www.washingtonpost.
com/graphics/2020/national/coronavi-
rus-us-cases-deaths/?state=CA).
What all this means is that
requiring proof of vaccination (and
masking) for entry into indoor public
spaces is important to protect public
health. It encourages vaccination
(which should include a booster) and
helps protect others present, including
employees. It is particularly important
for protecting the elderly and the
immune impaired, who are both more
susceptible and more likely to suffer
severe disease.
Requiring proof of vaccination
may be inconvenient for businesses
and the public. It may even impair
the freedom of the unvaccinated. But
courts have long held that protecting
public health and safety overrides
minor infringements on individuals’
freedom to do whatever they wish.
Dr. Stuart Flashman
Dr. Jacqueline Richter
Ocean View Drive n
Mandates Protect Us
Dear Editor: We are responding to
Ms. Eudaley’s letter in the January
Rockridge News. Her intentions were
undoubtedly good, but, as the last
month has shown, her facts were
erroneous and/or outdated. As back-
ground, Dr. Flashman, while now
an attorney, was trained in virology
(Ph.D., Molecular Biology, Harvard
Univ.). Dr. Richter is a geriatrician
with over 30 years in practice, includ-
ing dealing with viral diseases: HIV,
influenza, and, for the past two years,
treating COVID-19 patients in Contra
Alameda County Public Health Department
Costa County nursing homes.
Research shows that the omicron
variant is very different from past
strains of SARS-CoV-2. It is much
more transmissible, including from
asymptomatic people. It also more
easily causes breakthrough infections
in immunized people, despite prior
infection or vaccination. However,
those with prior immunity, if infected,
are generally less afflicted and less
likely to transmit the disease to
others. Right now, Alameda County,
NCPC Meeting
The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
will hold a virtual meeting on
February 10, 2022, at 7pm,
(pending further notice).
For Zoom link, or to suggest
meeting topics,
email: chair@rockridgencpc.com


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page 5
FEBRUARY 2022

Neighbors
Fight Blight at
The Ridge
Rockridge Community Planning Council
2021 Financial Statement
RCPC General Fund
Income
Contributions
$930.00
Rockridge News
$42,205.00
Interest Income
$7.50
Total Income
$43,142.50
by Myrna Walton
Undeveloped lot at Broadway and
Pleasant Valley.
Expenses
Rockridge News
$37,434.49
Contractors
$4,280.25
Insurance, Permits, Sales Tax
$1,564.00
Misc Administrative & Program Expenses $3,900.00
Events
$571.86
Total Expenses
$47,750.60
Net Receipts/Loss (RCPC)
-$4,608.10
Over 200 Rockridge residents and
shoppers at the Ridge can’t be
wrong! Two years ago, those residents
signed a petition to clean up and
maintain the four-acre former Safe-
way site at the corner of Broadway
and Pleasant Valley Road. The peti-
tion cited blight, unsafe conditions,
garbage, and a rickety dangerous
fence as the primary concerns and
called on the City and the leaseholder,
TRC, to clean up the lot.
Just look at the large, vacant site
across from the Oakland Kaiser
Medical Center (Broadway and
MacArthur), and you can see what a
long-term vacant lot should look like.
It is a pleasant sight to the neighbors,
walkers, and drivers passing by.
Since Phase I of Shops at the Ridge
was completed, the developer has
completely neglected the remaining
parcel, leaving residents of Rockridge
and shoppers with this eyesore. Let’s
spark action to fix this and make sure
the City and developer fulfill their
obligations to the community.
Now, with the blessing of three
neighborhood groups, Upper Broad-
way Advocates (UBA); Rockridge
Community Planning Council
(RCPC); and Piedmont Avenue
Neighborhood Improvement League
(PANIL); neighbors are launching a
new petition. The petition specifies
the dangerous and blighted condi-
tions, including the inadequate and
in some cases dangerous sidewalks
that pedestrians must use to get to
the shopping area.
While neighbors look forward to
the lot being developed for appropri-
ate use, until then, the leaseholder
must follow City guidelines to clean
up and maintain the lot.
Public pressure is the only way we
will see an improvement. Go to https://
www.change.org/NoUglyLot51Broad-
way to read and sign the petition, and
ask your neighbors to do the same. Or
scan the QR code below to go right to
the petition. Thank you. n
BALANCE SHEET
Assets
RCPC  Assets, Savings/Checking
$83,808.52
Locksley Gardens Assets, Checking
$746.00
Total Assets
$84,554.52
Equity & Liability
KF Community Improvements Prgm
$5,618.41
Legal Fund Reserve
$55,000.00
Equity
$28,543.84
Net Income / Loss
-$4,607.73
Total Equity & Liability
$84,554.52


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page 6
FEBRUARY 2022

tradition, in addition to the value of
walking :-)” His route is Broadway
Terrace between Buena Vista and
Golden Gate; Hill Street between
Broadway Terrace and Golden Gate;
Buena Vista between Broadway Ter-
race and Acacia; and Acacia between
Buena Vista and Golden Gate.
Jimmy Pedersen: I’m not sure when
I started delivering. It was around
1993 when I moved to Avon Street.
I’m 76-years-old now and planning on
getting older. I have had to let go of
my involvement with the FROG Park
committee. I just couldn’t do it any-
more. I am retired and living out my
time on Avon, the farm-belt of North
Oakland.” His route is both sides of
Avon between Shafter and Miles.
of Becky’s Chinese Restaurant was
an ESL student of mine when her
Chinese family moved from Vietnam
to Oakland. My first husband and I
bought a house on Oak Grove Avenue
in 1965 when ordinary people could
afford to buy a home here. My very
fine and brave husband of 41 years
who married me when I had four
teenagers, Chuck Afflerbach, also
delivers The Rockridge News.” Her
route is 5600 Miles and 5700 to 5711
College. His is both sides of Lawton
between Clifton and Cavour.
Carolyn Hendsch: “I deliver the
paper for Clover Drive. I’m age 82
and have done it for maybe 5-7 years.
I like it because it helps me know my
neighbors, but I know them already.
Clover Drive is a short block and very
friendly.”
RN Delivery, from front page
with the eldest and ending with the
young‘uns.
Edward Jay:
“I am now
90-years-old
and have been
delivering the
newsletter
from when
it started. I
am a retired
professor of
anthropology,
Cal State East
Bay.” His route is Chabot Road from
Ivanhoe to Chabolyn Terrace.
EDWARD JAY
CHUCK AND CAROLINA
STEVE PARMELEE
Steve Parmelee: “Bobbie Kinkead
recruited me back when The Rock-
ridge News first started. I can’t
remember the exact date, but I believe
I started delivering the newsletter
sometime in 1986 and am still doing
it. I have lived in Rockridge since
early 1975 and will be 76-years-old
this year. My route is even-numbered
properties on Broadway between
Manila and Lawton avenues.”
Dare Porter:
“I started
delivering The
Rockridge News
in 1986. I am
now 75.” His
route is on both
sides of Hudson
between Boyd
and College.
Marcy Whitebook: “I’m not sure
whether I’m the oldest one delivering
The Rockridge News, but I will be 74
at the end of the month. I have been
Carolina Juárez: “I really don’t
know when I began delivering The
Rockridge News, but since Don
Kinkead is our immediate neigh-
bor, I suspect as long as it has been
published. I am 84-years-old, taught
English, Spanish, and Drama in the
Bay Area since 1969, until last year
when I had hip surgery and did not
like teaching virtually! Dear Becky
CHARLES FELTMAN
Charles Feltman: “I may be the
oldest at age 79, and I never had a
paper route as a kid. That’s because
I grew up in Manhattan, that main
island in New York City. For a while,
my father had a newsstand and also
delivered papers to a local hospital.
So I come by my interest via a family
DARE PORTER
RN Delivery, see next page


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page 7
FEBRUARY 2022

Stroll the Avenue and Deliver the News
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News Distribution Manager
J

newspapers and she takes each one
to deliver to each house. It’s ironic
and sweet to me that my first job was
delivering the Hibbing Daily Tribune
(northern Minnesota) when I was
about 10, and now I get to share this
with my daughter. It’s a highlight of
the month for her — she loves it.”
Their route includes both sides of
Chabot between College and Clare-
mont and merchants along College.

oy Kummer is giving up her College Avenue delivery route. We thank her
for her years of service as block captain to businesses along her route,
and invite an interested neighbor to take her place. Says Joy, “You get to pop
in, say hello, and share the news — all while serving your neighbors.” Busi-
nesses are now open and eager to get the newsletter. Who will step up and
deliver to the route described below? (Shopping is permitted and encouraged.)

Route Cav1: Businesses and apartments along College Avenue from Claremont Ave
to BART. Stacks at Zachary’s and Crossroads (sharing stands with East Bay Express),
1951, Supercuts, and the Golden Squirrel Block

The newsletter is published the first weekend of each month except August and
your bundle will be dropped off on your doorstep. Call (510) 547-3855 or email
Susan at smontauk@gmail.com and mention the route number when you do. n

where I left off — delivering my paper
route for The Rockridge News. I love it
here and hope to continue my routes
with my big yellow lab, Teague.” She
delivers to the odd numbers along
Manila between Broadway and Ada
and odd numbers along Claremont.
RN Delivery, from previous page
delivering the paper for many years
though I cannot remember exactly
when I began. I have two routes,
having taken on the second when
my neighbor Jim couldn’t deliver
anymore, and I know he had the route
from the beginning. I moved to my
home on 63rd Street in 1977.” Her
routes are both sides of 63rd Street
between Colby and Hillegass and the
even-numbered addresses along Colby
between 63rd and Alcatraz.
Gary Lippmann: “My wife Cath-
erine Gray and I have been delivering
The Rockridge News since ‘the begin-
ning’ on our block of Taft Avenue and
Broadway around the corner. We’re
devoted deliverers and devoted read-
ers. We also paste ‘Street Sweeping
Warnings’ to its front page so that
our neighbors can avoid receiving
parking tickets. The Rockridge News
is a truly outstanding neighborhood
newspaper, and the advertisements are
informative and useful. It’s a real gift
to residents.”
Candy Vernetti: “My daughter
Amy Vernetti moved to Boyd Avenue
in Rockridge in 2001. I was working
at the Pentagon in D.C., and she
convinced me that Rockridge is the
perfect spot for me. She found a house
on Shafter that she said was ‘my house.’
I quit my job and sight unseen moved
here in 2006 and started delivering the
paper. After moving away in 2013 and
back to Rockridge in 2020, I picked up
JAN HOWLAND
Kali and Reina Parmar
Koonal “KP” Parmar: “I would
like to nominate Kali and Reina
Parmar. They just turned four years
old yesterday and have been delivering
The Rockridge News since they were
two. Cheers.” Their route is on both
sides of Mystic Street.
Jen Milley: “It’s a pleasure to be
a part of this neighborhood effort.
Hayes, my six-month-old son (see
photo on front page), must be the
youngest delivery person. He keeps
trying to eat the papers, but we still
manage to get them out :)” Their route
is the 500 blocks of Forest and Martin.
(The author thanks Rockridge News
business manager Susan Montauk for
soliciting these responses, which have
been slightly edited, and for the work
she does keeping track of all of us [yes,
me too] who deliver the News.) n
Jan Howland: “I think I started
delivering The Rockridge News soon
after I moved to Buena Vista Ave, so
that would be 1987 or so. I took a few
years off after the fire and started
up again in the fall of 1994, and still
deliver it today. I am glad we have a
neighborhood newsletter/paper, and I
am happy to help. I have had the same
route for all these years. Many of my
neighbors have moved away but there
are still some from before the fire on
my route.” Her route is Buena Vista
Avenue from Contra Costa Road to
Belap Path plus one block of Acacia
Avenue.
Mark Coyle: “Not sure where we
fit in, but my daughter Skyler (eight
years old, at Chabot Elementary) and
I (58 years old) have been delivering
since just this last summer. I carry the


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page 8
FEBRUARY 2022

Community-Built Greenspace, Frog Park, Marks 20th Anniversary Year
by Theresa Nelson, Frog Park Co-Founder

Aa park was even needed and where
it should be, a terrific opportunity
arose.
Two neighbors, Peter Hollings-
worth and Tom Dolan, came up
with a master plan that imagined a
greenbelt centered along the historical
path of Temescal Creek that has
flowed on this land for millennia. The
plan reclaimed the right-of-way that
resulted from culverting the creek in
the 1970s.
This fenced-off area of tall weeds
between Hardy and Clifton was to be
anchored at both ends by play struc-
tures, with a pond created from creek
water pumped to the surface. Much of
the community came together around
this idea and a committee was formed
to develop plans — the core of this
group later became the Friends of the

It seemed a shame that in this most
walkable neighborhood, there was
nowhere for children over the age of
5-years-old to play.
This same group had helped to
guide the renovation of Colby Park
in 1995, tailored for toddler and pre-
school-age children under 5-years-old
with small-sized equipment, which
my own daughter had outgrown while
the renovation was planned and built.
Around this time, a citywide survey
identified Rockridge, Temescal, and
the Fruitvale neighborhoods as the
three areas most lacking in open
space.
lmost any time of day, you can
hear the laughter of children
playing on the swings and the two
Frog Park play structures; see folks
strolling along the paths; watch kids
of all ages playing basketball; and see
happy dogs chasing balls and each
other in the dog park. All of these are
important elements of Frog Park, the
central open space in the lower Rock-
ridge-Temescal area. However, more
than 20 years ago, most of the park’s
amenities didn’t exist, and a com-
munity came together to create this
new park — and with the park’s 20th
anniversary comes an opportunity to
share its story.
Back in the mid-1990s, I co-led
a group of parents who had been
searching for a place to build a small
children’s park in lower Rockridge, as
the nearest play areas were in south
Berkeley, Montclair, and Piedmont.
Early Planning
Various sites were reviewed, but
finding a space was difficult, as this
neighborhood was built up circa
1910-1930, and was densely developed.
After much community discussion,
and some disagreement about whether
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Each franchise is independently owned and operated.

FROG, see next page


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page 9
FEBRUARY 2022

Redondo and Clarke Streets for chil-
dren 5 years old and younger.
Steve Costa became the first
chair of FROG, and noted, “As the
FROG Park co-chair to witness the
extraordinary power of a community
coming together to creatively design,
fundraise, build, and maintain this
amazing and most valuable neighbor-
hood asset, this has been one of the
most inspirational community actions
of my life.”
FROG sponsored semi-annual
clean-up events over the next two
decades with dozens of volunteers
turning out on Earth Day (April)
and Creek-to-Bay Day (September)
Celebrating the opening of Phase Two, 2006.
More than $1.4 million was raised
for the project, including public
bond funds, a large donation from
then-Councilmember Jane Brunner,
private donations from residents and
local businesses, and significant dona-
tions of food, tools, and equipment.
To get approvals and finalize plans,
the Committee also had to work
closely with the City of Oakland, Cal-
trans, and the Alameda County Flood
Control District — all of which owned
various parts of the Greenbelt.
BBI Construction did the concrete
work and paths, and all the wood play
structures were built by volunteers
(see photos). The core of the park
opened in November of 2001, in what
we now call Phase One, with Big Frog
the name for the play area near Hardy
Street, suitable for all ages under 12
years; and Little Frog for the area near
FROG, from previous page
FROG, see next page
Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt Park,
lovingly referred to as FROG.
FROG worked with the City of
Oakland and the State Department of
Parks and Recreation to identify some
available bond funding, and a com-
mittee was formed to raise awareness
and private funds for the new park.
Around this time, in the year 2000,
several Oakland parks were being
renovated with safer, more up-to-date
equipment that was ordered from big-
play equipment catalog companies.
But, building two play structures at
Frog Park was going to be cost-pro-
hibitive. In other places, some of us
had experienced the unique wooden
play structures designed by Robert
Leathers & Associates and built by
the communities where they were
sited, and we ultimately decided to go
this route.
The Big Build, Phase One, 2001
The community-built approach is
based on the idea of asking children
what they want in a play area, bring-
ing together hundreds of volunteers to
build the structure, raising the funds,
doing PR, providing food, tools,
and even childcare for the volunteer
workers. Thanks to the leadership of
the original “Big Build” Committee,
chaired by Eileen Fitz-Faulkner,
FROG was able to recruit more than
1,300 volunteers to build these two
unique play structures over the course
of 10 days in October 2001.


THE
page 10
FEBRUARY 2022

population of young children. Carol
Behr became the next FROG Chair
in 2012 and launched a community
survey process to find out what
people wanted.
Toddler swings, public art, and
noise reduction were the top requests,
and FROG began another planning
and fundraising phase. More than
$250,000 was raised and plans were
finalized in 2017, again involving
multiple public agencies. New toddler
swings, new regular swings, and a
new ADA swing were to be added,
along with a see-saw and conical
spinner that allowed for children of
various ages to play together.
Construction finished and ribbon
cutting took place in February 2020,
just before Covid-19 closed down
parks citywide (the park re-opened
later that fall). In early 2021, Alison
Drury and Dr. Will Sheldon became
the new Co-Chairs of FROG.
Nearly $1 million was raised for
creating the tables and seating of the
Lily Pad Plaza at Big Frog, renovating
the basketball courts, adding a water
fountain, adding wildlife public art
along the path, installing regular
swings, a tire swing, and ADA play
panels. The funds also helped com-
plete the path and creek restoration
from Clifton to Cavour.
A year later, the popular Sunday
morning farmers’ market opened at
the front parking lot of the DMV, and
the whole length of Frog Park became
a popular stroll and play option, and I
became FROG Chair for a time.
In 2011, we celebrated the 10th
anniversary of the Big Build and
worked with the City of Oakland and
Caltrans to build a small bathroom at
Big Frog (the area near Hardy Street).
A local artist, Caroline Stern, later
painted a frog-themed mural on the
sidewall. The unique story of Frog
Park was highlighted in Landscape
Architecture Magazine in February
2014.
from previous page
each year to help maintain and clean
the park, including many local high
school students from Oakland Tech
and College Prep.
Park Build-Out Phase Two, 2006
As often happens, even with enor-
mous volunteer commitment and lots
of fundraising, not everything could
be built with the available funds.
Jennifer Cooper became the next
Chair of FROG, and she helped to
guide Phase Two (which included
another smaller effort to restore the
historic 120-foot-long “Oceanus”
mural opposite the park, under the
guidance of the original artist).
20th Anniversary
November of 2021 marked the 20th
anniversary of the grand opening of
Phase One of Frog Park. At the time,
with the uncertainty around Covid,
it seemed wisest to postpone the cele-
bration until the spring of 2022; we’ll
announce that date soon.
Swings and More: Phase Three, 2019
While semi-annual maintenance
work continued, parents in the com-
munity had been asking for more
swings to accommodate the growing
FROG will be hosting an Earth Day
clean-up event on the morning of 23rd
of April 2022. Save the date, and watch
this newsletter and the FROG website
(www.frogpark.org) for details. n


THE

page 11
FEBRUARY 2022

Oakland Tech
Fundraiser Lays
Groundwork for
Future Success
a donation of merchandise, a pro-
fessional service, an experience, or a
gift certificate. We would be happy
to pick up items in person. We also
have an online donation form avail-
able online at: https://oaklandtech.
schoolauction.net/2022techauction/
donate_items/new.
If you’d like to promote your busi-
ness while supporting Oakland Tech
at the same time, we have several tiers
of sponsorship available beginning
at $100. Your logo will be featured at
our live event, on our auction website,
and in the school newsletter. Contact
auctionsponsors@oaklandtech.com
for more information. 
If you have questions or would
like to help, please email auction
chairs Shelly Cox and Leslie Ayers at
auction@oaklandtech.com or call/text
(415) 260-1490. n
by Linda Tafur, Oakland Tech
Auction Committee
The annual spring auction is
Oakland Technical High School’s
biggest parent-run fundraiser. Its
success relies on the generosity of the
wider community to help fill the gap
in public education funding so our
2,200-plus students can continue to
participate in the clubs, field trips,
sports, and learning opportunities
that make Tech a place that lays the
groundwork for our kids’ future
success. 
It has been a challenging year for
the school along with the larger world
— we have had students, teachers,
and staff infected with Covid, and
we have also seen people protect each
other by getting tested, vaccinated,
and boosted on campus, including
working together to distribute
high-quality masks and home test
kits. Now is the time to bring our
community together to benefit our
wonderful public school. 
We welcome everyone to bid in our
online auction starting on March 13
and running through March 23 at
https://oaklandtech.schoolauction.
net/2022techauction — it includes
a raffle for an Instant Wine Cellar
and perhaps another large prize. We
remain hopeful that we can have our
live event on March 26 in-person, but
will go virtual again if health con-
cerns dictate. 
Proceeds will benefit the Tech PTSA
that funds a wide range of activities
and support services for students and
teachers through their regular budget-
ary process as well as special projects
through their mini-grant program.
Donations are due by Feb. 14, and
are tax-deductible to the full extent
allowed by law (Tax ID #94-6174624).
Local neighborhood merchants
are encouraged to consider making

Photo: Karina Tafur


THE
page 12
FEBRUARY 2022

One Hundred Years
Young!
Locksley Avenue residents gathered
together to celebrate beloved neigh-
bor Victor Silva‘s 100th birthday. A cake
and gift basket from our own Market
Hall were delivered outside on a beauti-
ful sunny day. Victor turned 100 years
young on New Year’s Eve 2021.
A Rockridge resident since the 1960s,
and ever the gentleman and storyteller,
Victor can’t resist offering his guest
something to drink and an insight or
two from the past. n
Happy birthday Victor!
From left to right: Jay Constable, Amy Draizen, Caitlin Lang,
Larry Wornian , Victor Silva, Anthony Mason, Mary Lanier,
Kelly Hall, Ellen Fenichel.
Mary Lanier & Amy Draizen
Locksley Ave
Masons’ Annual
Pancake Breakfast
Fundraiser
You have passed it many times.
The Masonic Lodge at 5449
College Avenue (between Forest and
Hudson) is normally closed to the
public. But once a year, the members
of the Oakland-Durant-Rockridge
Masonic Lodge open their doors, don
aprons, and serve breakfast to the
neighborhood as part of a fundraiser
for Claremont Middle School. This
year, the 12th Annual Claremont
Middle School Pancake Breakfast is
being held Saturday, Feb. 26, and all
are welcome.
The menu offers pancakes, sau-
sages, bacon, soufflé, orange slices,
and coffee. Tickets are $12 with three
seatings: 8am, 9:15am and 10:30am.
A raffle will also be held with fantas-
tic prizes donated by the community.
Special thanks to the Masons and
community support — with their
help, the fundraiser has raised $4,000
annually for the Claremont PTA. For
tickets and information, go to www.
claremontms.org/. n
Experience * Knowledge * Performance
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* Upper Rockridge elegant contemporary, 4000sf, pano views, level yard, garage $ TBD
February awareness month: Cancer prevention, Creative Romance, Black & LGBT History
HAPPY VALENTINES!!!
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


THE

page 13
FEBRUARY 2022

College Preparatory
School Used Book
Sale Returns, in New
Location
A
Black Culture Fest:
A Celebration of the
African Diaspora
by Kelsey Fredriksen
Tfter a Covid-required pause in
2021, the College Preparatory
School’s renowned used book sale
is back. Join fellow Bay Area book
lovers to find out why this is a not-
to-be-missed event. Sale hours are
Saturday, February 26, 10am-4pm;
and Sunday, February 27, 10am-2pm.
Thousands of used books will be on
offer for adults, teens, and children,
including many recent and popular
titles in excellent condition. There will
also be some media, vinyl, puzzles,
and a small selection of vintage/
antique books — something for book
lovers of every age. Most books are
priced $1-3, with some special books
priced slightly higher. On Sunday,
there will be a bag sale all day — $5/
bag from 10am to 1pm, and $5 for 2
bags from 1pm to 2pm.
Please note this year’s new location
at the former Seneca Center, 6925
Chabot Road, at Golden Gate Ave.
There is limited parking at Seneca
Center, and street parking on Chabot
and Golden Gate.
Please note, payment is by cash or
check only. Contact Bookfair@col-
lege-prep.org with any questions. n
he Oakland Public Library (OPL)
welcomes everyone to the 3rd
Annual Black Cuture Fest. This
month, OPL’s dedicated staff of Afri-
can American heritage are excited
to present a variety of dynamic pro-
grams (virtual and in-person), curated
book and music lists online, and other
media celebrating various aspects of
Black Culture.
Focusing on joy and celebrating
Black lives, the Rockridge branch
will have a front lobby display with a
variety of books and media near the
express check-out machines to take
home or enjoy with friends and family
inside the branch.
Local Rockridge resident, Yohan
Smith, has created a four-panel
collage with works by African Amer-
ican painters, collage artists, and
abstract artworks by those who have
inspired him creatively. This is the
4th year of exhibiting Yohan’s collage
process, and it will be on display this
month near the entrance lobby of the
Rockridge Branch Library. A com-
ment book soon will be available.
Complementing the exhibit will
be a blog post of eight of his favor-
ite artists’ works, including Jacob
Rockridge resident, Yohan Smith
Lawrence, Elizabeth Catlett, and
Romare Bearden, among others. “I
am excited and inspired to play a role
in OPL toward the continuity and the
ongoing commitment of the Black
Cultural Fest/African Diaspora.”
For more information and to save
your seat for these wonderful pro-
grams, please visit: oaklandlibrary.
org/black-culture-fest. n
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6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND


THE
page 14
FEBRUARY 2022

Neighbors Donate Time, Money and
Gifts to Clifton Hall Residents

by Judith Doner Berne
“I
’m into building community.”
That’s why Nancy Morton showed
up a few days before Thanksgiving at
Clifton Hall, the former California
College of the Arts building that
currently serves as a temporary shelter
for homeless families who need per-
manent housing; and as a permanent
residence for seniors experiencing
homelessness and who are highly
susceptible to Covid-19.
Although Morton wanted to volun-
teer her services, maybe teach cooking
or help children with their homework,
Covid restrictions, even then, made
that impossible. Undeterred, she took
on Christmas.
With the aid of Elizabeth Woods,
the Family Front Door housing
advocate and fundraiser who is based
at Clifton Hall, Morton got a list of
“wishes” from the 25 children and
13 families currently housed there.
“Elizabeth didn’t make promises,
she just asked, ‘What’s your wish,’”
Morton said. Nonetheless, with
contributions from her friends and
neighbors, Morton raised about
$2,500 to provide gifts for each child
— ranging from a set of earbuds to a
A group of area children made and
baked ornaments using Morton’s
kitchen as their studio.
Barbie doll (contributions were also
made separtely by members of the
RCPC Board who provided gift cards
redeemable at College Avenue stores).
When Cole Hardware donated a
Christmas tree, and a friend, Robin
Avant, contributed lights, Morton’s
neighbor Venessa Hasten mobilized
a group of area children to make
and bake ornaments using Morton’s
kitchen as their studio. They included
12-year-olds Violet Hasten, Stella
McCombs, McKenzie Miller, Ava
Ting, and 11-year-old Pria Gularte, as
well as advocate Woods who brought
along Mia, age 12, from Clifton Hall.
Morton is quick to give credit to
Hasten. “She rounded up the girls,
she brought supplies, and she wrote
a check at the end.” As for Hasten,
she said, “Nancy is just one of those
people who wants to find out what
they can do to help.”
Woods said of Morton’s efforts to
make Clifton Hall part of Rockridge,
which included introducing Woods to
College Avenue business owners, “We
now have this bridge across.” n
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:
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Competition Drives Price in November
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
11/01/2021
4
2

5676 Oak Grove Ave            $1,795,000
        $1,795,000
7
$2,900,000
11/05/2021
3
1

5862 Chabot Ct                     $1,249,000
        $1,249,000
12
$1,500,000
11/09/2021
4
2
         5841 Colby St                         $1,375,000         $1,375,000
12
$2,570,000
11/12/2021
4
3

5327 Shafter Ave                   $1,595,000         $1,595,000
14
$2,630,000
11/15/2021
4
2
         6449 Chabot Rd                     $1,895,000         $1,895,000
15
$2,450,000
11/18/2021
2
2

5340 Broadway Ter                 $665,000
          $665,000
35
$675,000
Homes sold in November closed 48% over the asking price on average.
^ƉĞĐŝĂůŝnjŝŶŐŝŶZŽĐŬƌŝĚŐĞͮϱϭϬ͘ϰϱϵ͘ϰϯϯϴͮDŽƚůĞLJdĞĂŵ͘ĐŽŵ
tĂŶƚƚŚĞŚŝŐŚĞƐƚƉŽƐƐŝďůĞƉƌŝĐĞ͍ĂůůƵƐĂŶĚǁĞǁŝůůƐŚŽǁLJŽƵŚŽǁǁĞǁŝůůŐĞƚŝƚ͊
ŽŵƉĂƐƐŝƐĂƌĞĂůĞƐƚĂƚĞďƌŽŬĞƌůŝĐĞŶƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞ^ƚĂƚĞŽĨĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂĂŶĚĂďŝĚĞƐďLJƋƵĂů,ŽƵƐŝŶŐKƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJůĂǁƐ͘>ŝĐĞŶƐĞEƵŵďĞƌϬϭϴϲϲϳϳϭ͘ůůŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚŚĞƌĞŝŶŝƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚĨŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶĂů
ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐŽŶůLJĂŶĚŝƐĐŽŵƉŝůĞĚĨƌŽŵƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĚĞĞŵĞĚƌĞůŝĂďůĞďƵƚŚĂƐŶŽƚďĞĞŶǀĞƌŝĨŝĞĚ͘ŚĂŶŐĞƐŝŶƉƌŝĐĞ͕ĐŽŶĚŝƚŝŽŶ͕ƐĂůĞŽƌǁŝƚŚĚƌĂǁĂůŵĂLJďĞŵĂĚĞǁŝƚŚŽƵƚŶŽƚŝĐĞ͘EŽƐƚĂƚĞŵĞŶƚŝƐŵĂĚĞĂƐƚŽĂĐĐƵƌĂĐLJŽĨ
ĂŶLJĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƚŝŽŶ͘ůůŵĞĂƐƵƌĞŵĞŶƚƐĂŶĚƐƋƵĂƌĞĨŽŽƚĂŐĞĂƌĞĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞ͘


RN

THE

page 15
FEBRUARY 2022

ClassifiedAds

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 March 2022 issue is February 17, 2022 (available March 5).
For more details, email Susan Montauk at smontauk@gmail.com.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
It’s a New Year! Planning a remodel? I
can help with your electrical needs. I’ve
been doing electrical work in Oakland
and Berkeley for over 35 years. Sutorik
& Company.  www.sutorikandco.com. Lic
#397149. 510/655-3677. (The Rockridge
News apologizes for running the wrong ad
in January).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Plan for 2022 Now!
Free Home Evaluation w/
Licensed Neighborhood Realtor!
Market Value, Tax-Related Issues, Estate
Planning, Selling/Buying. Eve Levine 347-
526 1383 eve@vanguardproperties.
com; DRE#02133046. Each in-home visit
this month we donate $100 to Friends
of OPL.
Valentine’s Day Special!
Penelope’s Aesthetics is offering an
Express Facial for the month of February!
Only $70! Gift certificates available
for use any time.  Please call for an
appointment. 510/594-1552; www.
penelopecalef.com.
Handyman for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced.
Hauling and towing available. No job
too small. Reasonably priced. Lee Self.
707/223-1298-call or text. n
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.
Shop
Rockridge


THE

COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE