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R ckridgeNews

THE

www.rockridge.org

VOL 37   •   NO. 5   •   ISSUE  NO. 397   •   MAY 7, 2022                         CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

More Than 200 Rockridge Residents
Cast Ballots Over Two Days of Voting
Four Incumbents Return to RCPC Board; Two New Members Elected

by Stuart Flashman, RCPC 2022 Election Officer
Rockridge residents cast their bal-
lots last month in the Rockridge
Community Planning Council’s
Annual Election for positions on
its Board of Directors. Candidate
statements appeared in The Rockridge
News and on rockridge.org. The
candidates presented their views to
the community in the moderated
Candidates’ Forum Zoom Webinar on
April 18, which was also streamed and
posted to RCPC’s YouTube channel.
Voters turned out to cast their bal-
lots on April 21 outside of and in the
outer lobby of the Rockridge Branch
Library (with doors wide open) and
continued on April 23 in the Rock-
ridge Library parking lot. The
open-air outdoor sites were chosen
to ensure a safe voting experience.
Six candidates, four of them incum-
bents, were elected to fill two-year
board terms. In all, 214 ballots were
cast for nine candidates in this con-
tested election.
Incumbents (with vote counts):
Robin McDonnell (176), Casey
Farmer (146), Annette Floystrup
(128), and Kirk Peterson (124)
retained their seats.  Two new mem-
bers joined the board: Ben Friedman
(123), and Alysoun Bonde (118).
The vote tallies for the rest of the
2022 candidates were as follows:
Diana Mitchell-Chavez (114), Brett
Moyer (103), Eric Neville (72) votes.
RCPC board member
Ronnie Spitzer assists neighbors
with the voting process.
Congratulations to the new and
returning board members, and thank
you to all the candidates in the 2022
RCPC Board election.
The Board would also like to thank
the board members who volunteered
to help run the election:  Elections
officer Stuart Flashman, board
members Ronnie Spitzer, Ken Rich,
Andrew Charman and Zach Unger,
retiring board chair Leonora Sea, and
legal advisor John Gussman. n
LAST CALL FOR KITCHENS
Rockridge Wants to
Know: What’s the
Plan for the JCC
East Bay?
by Robin McDonnell, RCPC Kitchen Tour Co-Chair
Thomes,” commented Myrna Walton,
who participated in the last kitchen
tour and thoroughly enjoyed the
experience.
Walton continued: “In 2019, I
volunteered my newly built home, a
tiny additional dwelling unit, to be
included on the tour. While I was not
required to be present, it was great
fun to be there in person. Visitors
asked lots of questions about how
I made my choices, the problems I
encountered, and the suppliers and
craftspeople I recommended. And of
course, I loved the compliments.
“I did have some qualms about
he 2022 Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC)
Kitchen Tour is coming this fall,
currently scheduled for Sunday,
October 2. If you’ve modernized your
kitchen in the last few years and are
willing to share a peek at it with your
neighbors, we’d love to include you
on the tour. We’re looking for kitch-
ens of all sizes and styles.
“You have a wonderful kitchen that
you love to show off. You spent hours
agonizing over the selection of each
piece of hardware, tile, and appliance.
It’s the kitchen of your dreams. Here’s
an opportunity for your Rockridge
neighbors to admire your creation
and gather some ideas for their own
by Anna L. Marks
The recent announcement regard-
ing the Jewish Community
Center’s (JCC) expansion into the
Dreyer’s campus on College Avenue
has been met with absolute excitement
here in Rockridge. It has also raised
many questions about how it will
impact the surrounding neighbor-
hood. This is a large-scale project that
will require lots of input from local
residents, as well as permits from the
Kitchen Tour, see page 2
JCC East Bay, see page 2


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page 2
MAY 2022

we’re occupying about 4,000 square
feet. There will be another organiza-
tion moving in next to Moishe House
this summer, a nonprofit residence, as
an extension of Moishe House (subsi-
dized housing for post-college youth
serving the local community).
JCC East Bay, from front page
City, before a final design is complete.
In the meantime, the JCC is actively
seeking community feedback. They
intend to have a series of community
meetings over the summer where
they will relay their vision, and where
residents can express specific desires
and concerns.
While some activities will be
starting up soon on a small scale,
the community center won’t be fully
active until Dreyer’s, the current
tenant, has completely moved out
(their lease has been extended to
December 2024). Until then, The
Rockridge News spoke with Melissa
Chapman, Chief Executive Officer
of the JCC East Bay, to answer some
questions about their potential plans.
The Rockridge News was founded in 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.
Who else will be occupying the campus
and the existing office building?
The primary use for the existing
building is office space. The JCC
will maintain the most significant
footprint of the Jewish and other
nonprofits on the campus. We will
likely have 20-plus organizations
occupying the main building,
which may include a service-based
social service organization, and
serve as offices for organizations
headquartered in San Francisco —
a full-service campus.
And, it’s a Jewish community
campus. We first reached out to local
Jewish community organizations, and
then, after we understand the areas of
interest, and depending on available
space, we would then reach out to
other values-based nonprofits because
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks ........................ Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis........................Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk................................Business Manager
Judith Doner Berne.......................Senior Staff Writer
RCPC Board of Directors, 2022-23
Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary
Ken Rich........................................................Treasurer
RRNews: How long will the project
take? When will the JCC Move In?
Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Stuart Flash-
man, Ben Friedman, Annette Floystrup, Kirk
Peterson, Ashley Pandya, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger
JCC: We’re looking at many years
for this project to come together —
what’s there and what’s being built
will be dependent on zoning with the
understanding that in two years cer-
tain things could also change.
We have a small footprint right now,
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.
JCC East Bay, see next page
I felt quite safe, and the visitors were
respectful and interested. We all had
a good time.”
The tour isn’t only about kitchens,
it’s also the primary fundraiser for
the RCPC. Funds raised have gone to
support a variety of projects includ-
ing a community grants program.
Take the leap and volunteer your
home for the next tour: Contact
kitchentour@rockridge.org. You’ll have
a wonderful experience and so will
your neighbors. n
Kitchen Tour, from front page
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.
letting strangers walk through
my home, but RCPC meticulously
organized the visit to prevent any
mishaps. They assigned volunteer
docents who accompanied visitors
and enforced the ‘no smoking, eating,
or drinking’ rules. They provided
plastic booties to protect the floors
(high heels, pets, and strollers are not
permitted). They limited the number
of visitors at any one time.
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
At Holy Names, students thrive. In our
supportive and academically-challenging
environment, Holy Names students develop
strong voices, deep compassion, and the
Display Advertising Deadline for JUNE:
May 19, 2022
skills and confidence they need to have a powerful impact
on the world.  We are proud to be the most diverse all-girls
school in the Bay Area, and our diversity includes the full
socio-economic spectrum, race and a multitude of cultures
that reflect our local community.
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.
Holy Names High School
4660 Harbord Drive, Oakland, CA 94618
hnhsoakland.org


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JCC East Bay, from previous page
being integrated and partnering with
the broader community is a core prin-
ciple of a lot of the work that we do.
How will you include the Rockridge
neighborhood in the design process?
We want to have an active dialog
about what’s being planned and make
sure we’re sharing the process. If
folks have concerns about what we’re
planning, we want to be there to listen
and respond in the best way possible,
including town hall meetings.
This artistic rendering depicts a conceptual use of the outdoor area as a
large, shared open space that can be enjoyed by the whole community.
turn into a magnificent celebration
center for weddings, bar mitzvahs
— any sort of celebratory event or
community gathering. The general
public is welcomed and encouraged
to use any of these beautiful rental
spaces as well as any of our services.
More information can be found on
their recently re-designed website at
https://jcceastbay.org/. n
that on the main floor to make it
more accessible and welcoming.
Will the plans be environmentally friendly?
That is certainly our intention.
Creating additional green spaces,
adding solar, making sure that there’s
great access for bikes and pedestrians
— the idea is to condense and stream-
line the current parking footprint
into one that’s partially underground,
has a soccer field on top, and also has
enough parking so residential streets
don’t become burdened.
What sort of community spaces do you
expect to have?
Most of the community spaces are
going to be outdoor, and any type of
new structure that would be built.
The soccer field will be available
for any community event — middle
school leagues, preschool, afterschool
programming, summer camp, classes
in yoga, meditation, dance, and won-
derful cultural opportunities… music,
theater, and art.
Will you be removing any rental
housing from the property?
Land Use Committee
Meeting Notice
We may reconfigure some of the
existing buildings on the campus.
There are four residential units,
three of which haven’t been used as
residences in over 20 years. We’re
looking for other places that we can
add housing too. At 6050 Claremont,
where the JCC administrative offices
are right now, we’re looking at turning
that back into a residential building.
We know that housing in the Bay
Area is a significant issue, so that is
something we’re being very sensitive
about in all of our considerations.
Editor’s note: Libitzky Property
Company purchased the campus
in 2019 with the intention of trans-
forming it into a Jewish community
campus. They recently sought to buy
a private home on Chabot Road.
“We could use just a little more space
to make the plans work,” said Pres-
ident Moses Libitzky, who clarified
that no other houses were being con-
sidered for purchase.
The next meeting of the
RCPC Land Use Committee
will be held on
Wednesday, May 25, 2022,
at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
Email landuse@rockridge.org,
or call (510) 652-5373 to attend.
The meeting is open to the public.
Check Rockridge.org for details.
What about a commercial demonstra-
tion kitchen?
You’ve got to have some sort of
commercial kitchen capabilities.
We think that that’s something the
community would want both from a
learning opportunity and knowing
that we’re going to host events.
What other sorts of rental spaces can
people look forward to?
Flexible spaces. It will have a
gymnasium floor, probably with
retractable bleachers, which can also
Red Cross Remodel:
Update
Work has resumed at 5450 College
Ave. (formerly The Levant Rug) to
serve as the East Bay Red Cross blood
donor center. Although the City gave
approval well over a year ago, the work
had been stalled since last year.
Will you make any changes to the main
building fronting College Avenue?
A workman at the site said he expected
the center to open late summer.
There’s a grand staircase when you
enter the lobby and the only signifi-
cant construction would be putting


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MAY 2022

Letters to The News

Rockridge Community Planning Council Reacts
to Home Depot Application
A Disturbing Trend —
Disappearing Rentals

When the Rockridge community first learned about Home Depot’s application to
open a store on the empty lot at Broadway and 51st (see East Bay Times, April 6,
2022), many residents were not pleased.

About me: When I was born at
Alta Bates, my parents were
living in Temescal. My whole family
was involved with the Oakland Rec-
reational Department, namely Studio
One. We used to eat at the Pancake
Queen on Telegraph as a Sunday treat.
I have lived on and off in Rockridge
over the years. At first, during the
1970s, I rented next to the College
Bowling Alley (now East Bay Book-
sellers). My sister has had a home here
in Rockridge since before BART was
operational. I have occupied my cur-
rent apartment for the past 32 years. I
have just turned 70 years old. Needless
to say, Rockridge has been my home
for the vast majority of my life.
It is now certain that I will need to
leave this beautiful area for good. I
am in shock. I have been evicted as
have all the tenants of this seven-unit
building, all because of a speculator.
And yes, it is capitalism at its best
until it happens to you.
By way of hearsay, I learned that it
has already occurred in at least two
other locations nearby. How many
other older apartment complexes
might be targeted? Why? Because of
how amazing this Rockridge area is to
live, play and work. But no longer to
grow old! Without naming names for
fear of retribution, it is known these
speculators originate from the Napa
Valley area with a $1 billion bankroll
behind them.
Are we protected by Oakland’s
Housing Authority Rental Ordinances?
Well, I thought so, and when I spoke to
the Housing Authority they reassured
me that due to my advanced age and
health issues I was protected from
eviction. What I was not told was that
all that changes when the Ellis Act is
invoked. This State law circumvents
Oakland’s Ordinances — the imple-
mentation of which, I am sure, is
profitable for speculators.

The widespread view is that the store is too big for the district and simply not
needed. The Emeryville Home Depot is less than a 10-minute drive away, and
there are two hardware stores and a lumber store nearby.

In response, the RCPC Board sent a letter on April 13, 2022 (see below) to the
developers, Terramar Retail Centers, stressing the importance of working with
the community when considering potential tenants.   — Anna L. Marks, editor

pre-application listed as “Accepted”
on the Oakland Planning website,
with the applicant listed as a Daniel
Zoldak, of the firm Lars Andersen,
based in Fresno. We would appre-
ciate knowing whether TRC has
any involvement in this application
and would also appreciate your
willingness to discuss TRC’s attitude
towards this application.
As you know from the aforemen-
tioned survey results, placing “big
box” retail on the site met with strong
disapproval from the community. We
believe that it is also not compliant
with the site’s current CC-2 zoning,
which prohibits building materials
sales. Thus the project would require a
zoning code amendment and perhaps
a General Plan amendment. Perhaps
needless to say, it would also require a
full environmental impact report.
We hope that TRC will continue
to maintain the site and improve its
appearance. In particular, we’d like
to see TRC put up more permanent
and code-compliant fencing around
the site if it is going to remain
unused so it is less likely to collect
debris. We’d also like to see some
effort at landscaping so that the site
does not appear blighted, resulting
in a “broken window” effect on the
surrounding area.
Dear Mr. Palafox:
We are writing to follow up with
you on our previous communications
regarding the Shops at the Ridge
site. As you are aware, this site is of
extreme importance not only to our
community but also, due to its size
and prominent location, to the City as
a whole.
Several months ago, we shared with
you the results of a survey that RCPC
sent out to all readers of our monthly
newsletter, The Rockridge News. The
survey makes clear that housing,
along with other complementary
uses, is the strong, primary desire of
our community for this site.
We have indicated in the past that
we want to work with you and the
City to see how to move toward this
goal and that we understand that for
a number of reasons it will not be
a quick or easy path for us to take.
Certainly, we’d like to see the site
developed as soon as possible, but
we would prefer to wait longer to
arrive at the best long-term use for
the site rather than lock in something
less desirable just because it can be
implemented more quickly. We want
to emphasize that we believe TRC has
similar views about the site, and we
want to work with you as a partner to
arrive at this vision.
Recent newspapers articles
announced that Home Depot had
submitted a preliminary application
to the City to build a “big box”
store on the site. We have found the
Very truly yours,
Leonora Sea, RCPC Board Chair
Stuart Flashman, RCPC Board Member &
Land Use Committee Chair n
Kit Baxter, Claremont Avenue n


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MAY 2022

Rock-N-Stroll Outdoor Live Music Event
Returns to College Avenue
by Jody Colley, Rockridge District Association Marketing Manager
T

Letters cont’d
School Closures Accelerate
Gentrification
Ihe retailers, restaurants, and
service providers that make up
the Rockridge District welcome you to
stroll, sip, sample, and save at Rock-
N-Stroll every second Saturday of
the month with art shows, merchant
and spa specials, fine dining, savory
sweets, and delicious drinks.
Beginning on Saturday, May 14,
Rockridge will host over a dozen
performers along with DJs and house
music on College Avenue between
Broadway and Alcatraz Avenue.
Merchants will offer trunk shows,
sidewalk sales, and in-store specials
while hosting local popup vendors
selling locally made goods.
Restaurants featuring unique
menus, including Cactus Taqueria’s
(5642 College Avenue) delicious street
tacos, will be available right out of
their window to enjoy while strolling
the event. Rockridge Market Hall
(5655 College Avenue) will offer
American-made cheese tastings. Craft
brews will be hosted at venues like
Ben ‘N Nick’s (5612 College Avenue)
with Line 51 Brewing spirits available
to sample and buy.
Oakland Art Gallery (5291 College
Avenue) will host live music and
a rotating art show. First Federal
’ve been following the crisis around
school closures in Oakland and can
see how several points are obscured in
the article (see April 2022 Rockridge
News) about District 1 board member
Sam Davis. Mr. Davis notes that no
schools in our District are closing
and that schools in other areas are
under-enrolled due to gentrification
and the pandemic.
The school closures are themselves
a further gentrifying move. Black and
brown people are being priced out of
Oakland. Closing these schools will
accelerate the “whitening” of Oakland
as more will leave. This reality cannot
escape the awareness of Board mem-
bers and explains the huge protest
against the board’s move.
There is a long history In Oakland
and other cities of under-resourcing
black and brown communities. Just
as the State is moving toward the
possibility of reparations for some of
these harms, the city is moving toward
continuing them.
The underlying racial realities of
school closures are glossed over by
many on the Board, including Mr.
Davis. When families leave the school
district, the Board should be concerned
with why they left rather than moving
to close their schools. Otherwise,
the Board is complicit in the sharply
changing demographics of Oakland.
I wish The Rockridge News would
look deeper into housing and the
school issues it reports on.
Photo: Anna L. Marks
Milo Nuevo perfomed in the alley
outside Oakland Art Gallery (5291
College) at last year’s event.
Savings (6058 College Avenue)
and College Avenue Presbyterian
Church (5951 College Avenue) will
have crafts available for the kids.
Children’s stores Goldenbug Shoes
(5509 College Avenue) and Bella Vita
(5511 College Avenue) will host kid-
oriented popup vendors.
Rock-N-Stroll reunites neighbors
recently isolated by the pandemic by
showcasing independent businesses,
local bands, artists, and makers in a
leisurely and spacious daytime event
for all ages. For more information, visit
RockridgeDistrict.com/rocknstroll. n
Beverly Burch, Ayala Avenue n


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MAY 2022

Meet the Man Behind
the Wheel of That
Familiar Brown Truck
by Skip Fogarty
The first time I met our favorite
UPS delivery driver was a dozen
years ago, or maybe more. Alerted by a
robust knock, I opened the front door
and immediately recognized the famil-
iar brown uniform. I didn’t recognize
the well-tanned, grinning fellow, bear-
ing the weighty parcel.
“Hey, what are all of these heavy
packages you keep receiving? I’m curi-
ous,” he asked. I told him, “It’s an old
typewriter. I know it’s an odd hobby,
but I collect them.
“Whoa, that’s cool,” he said. “You
won’t believe my hobby, but check it
out.” He wrote his name and website
right on my package.
This is how I met Marlo DiPietro.
He’s been a familiar face in the Rock-
ridge neighborhood for a long time. He
has many great stories, warm memo-
ries and longtime friends from his days
driving his route. We’ve learned he’s
also an amazing artist, outdoorsman,
and even a hero. Now, after 34 years
with UPS, DiPietro is retiring.
A native of Livermore, he lives on the
same street where he grew up. “I keep
an eye on my 92-year-old mom, who
is still in our family home,” he reports.
Asked why he didn’t seek a UPS
Photo: Skip Fogarty
Known for giving toy UPS trucks to
kids, and always stopping to pick up
dangerous screws and nails in the
street, Marlo DiPietro is retiring
after 34 years.
assignment closer to home, DiPietro
says: “I don’t like the summer heat.
Simple as that.”
Besides the cool breezes of the
Oakland Hills, DiPietro says he will
miss the neighborhood “vibe” and the
many interesting people he’s gotten to
know. Funny thing is, he often refers
to folks by their house number, rather
than their name.
Marlo, see next page

Rockridge Café Hosts New Show by Five Bay
Area Photographers
R

ockridge photographer Don Rhett
will showcase his work alongside
four other local photographers; Marsha
Kirschbaum (Oakland), Bill Johnston
(Richmond), Don Melandry, and Steve
Napoli (both from Berkeley).
The exhibit, titled “Five Photog-
raphers, Five Visions,” will open on
June 23rd and remain on display until
August 3rd. The Rockridge Café is
located at 5492 College Avenue near
the corner of Lawton. n


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MAY 2022

Marlo, from previous page

you about DiPietro. Returning from a
hunting trip near Sonora some years
back, he saved a motorist’s life. “It was
on Highway 108 north of Yosemite,”
he recalls. “We came upon an ugly,
head-on accident that had just hap-
pened.” It was around 100 degrees
and the crashed cars were sitting on
dry grass on the roadside. He saw two
individuals in a car that seemed to be
leaking gas. Both were strapped into
their seats, trapped. Then a small fire
started. In his flip-flops and shorts, he
knew he had to act quickly.
He was able to reach in and pull out
one of the men, badly lacerating his
own arm at the elbow. Fire quickly
engulfed the car and the second occu-
pant, unfortunately, perished at the
scene. It took nine months of surger-
ies and physical therapy for DiPietro
to get back to work, but he couldn’t
wait to return to his familiar route.
“Driving a delivery truck can be
long and hard at times. But the stories
and personal relationships make my
days worthwhile,” DiPietro says. “I’ve
seen young couples move into Rock-
ridge, have children, then watched
those kids grow up. It’s a measure of
time going by for me.”
DiPietro is negotiating his pension
details and expects to work a few
more months. If you see him, give
him a friendly wave or a shout-out.
He’s earned it. n

NCPC Meeting
“Once, at 5416 Broadway, I was
flagged down by a young woman.
When I pulled over, I saw she was
pregnant and barefoot.” She explained
she’d accidentally locked herself out
of her new apartment. DiPietro went
to the rescue. He pulled his truck into
the driveway, snug to the building,
climbed on top, and scaled a balcony
railing to help her get back in.
At 5776 Broadway, DiPietro
befriended a series of business owners
over the years. He knew the principals
of an acoustic engineering firm called
Wilson & Ihrig, now in Emeryville.
DiPietro even did some fly fishing
together with them. Subsequently,
he came to know the operators of
the Musically Minded Academy, and
more recently he’s connected with the
preschool staff at “5776.” He also liked
hanging out with the “record store
guys” who used to be on Claremont.
Visiting his website, www.mar-
lodipietro.com, you’ll discover an
incredible portal into DiPietro’s
artistic life. Mainly, he designs and
fabricates fly-tying vises. They are
beautiful, otherworldly tools of
sculptural beauty — part steampunk,
part baroque.
“The vises are inspired by my father,
who was an accomplished machinist,
and especially by my passion for
fly fishing,” DiPietro explains. He’s
designed over 50 vises to date, each as
unique as it is functional. Crafted of
marble, steel, and brass, they suggest a
slightly insect-like form — in keeping
with the fly itself. He also dabbles in
watercolor painting, garden sculp-
ture, fountains, and a kinetic line of
wind-powered artworks.
Ask about his retirement bucket
list and you realize that DiPietro
isn’t planning on slowing down. “My
partner Ellen and I hope to travel a
lot.” He lists Scotland, Luxembourg,
and Italy on their itinerary. Of course,
lots of fishing is ahead too. He cites
the McCloud River and Hat Creek in
Shasta County and Yellow Creek near
Lake Almanor among his favorite
destinations.
Here’s another story that sticks with

The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
 will hold its next virtual
meeting with a speaker from
County Supervisor Keith
Carson’s office on homelessness
and the unhoused.
June 9, 2022, at 7pm,
(pending further notice)
For Zoom link, visit:
https://rockridgencpc.com
To suggest meeting topics, send an
email to: chair@rockridgencpc.com.


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page 8
MAY 2022

Rockridge Food Star
Earns His Chops at
Bon Appetit
movement teacher, insisted on driving
him. “For me, it’s a work trip; for him,
it’s a father and son road trip. We’ve
gone everywhere together.”
Sontag doesn’t call what he does
“reviewing,” because it’s not awarding
stars for a restaurant’s particular fare,
quality of service, or price. “I want to
give people a picture of a restaurant.
What did someone (the chef and/or
owner) have to do to get to this point?
It’s always a food story, but it’s always
more than that. It’s so great to come
home and feel so much pride in what
people are doing here. It’s an immense
privilege to tell their stories.”
I first interviewed Sontag in 2016
when, as a Rockridge teenager, he and
his photographer friend Anya Ku, an
Oakland Tech, and now Cal Berkeley
and Cal Berkeley law school graduate,
self-published their cookbook, Flavors
of Oakland.
their portraits. Then they joined the
family around the dinner table.
But in a recent backyard interview
with his mom, Lorelei Sontag, she
said his interest in writing about food
might have originated with a farm-to-
table photo essay for an eighth-grade
project. The Local Butcher Shop
in Berkeley was his starting point;
he journeyed to Magruder Ranch
in Mendocino County, one of the
shop’s suppliers; and ate at Gather
Restaurant, serving Magruder meat
that night.
All this, even though his parents
are vegetarians. “I’m so lucky to have
grown up in a household where we
always had a home-cooked meal on
by Judith Doner Berne
As youngsters, Elazar Sontag and
his older brother Sam sat in the
back seat of their parents’ car, draw-
ing floor plans of the restaurant they
hoped one day to own, and composing
the menus they would serve.
“Sam probably had the biggest
impact on my love for food,” said
Sontag, who at age 24 is the new
restaurant editor for Bon Appetit Mag-
azine. His Manhattan office, “part
of the biggest offices (Conde Nast)
I’ve ever been in,” is sky-high in One
World Trade Center.
Sontag, whose family moved from
Berkeley to Rockridge when he was
14, spoke to me by phone early on an
April morning from his San Francisco
hotel room, on his first official trip
to check out restaurants beyond
New York City. “It’s been three and a
half days of four to five meals a day
between San Francisco and Oakland
— breakfast, lunch, dinner, dinner
(yes, two dinners), drinks,” he said.
“If there’s one thing I can do, it’s eat.”
“I was supposed to rent a car and
take little driving trips on my own,”
he continued, but his dad, Jerry
Sontag, a retired publisher and body

“And the fact that my parents were vegetarian meant that
if I wanted to eat meat, I had to cook it myself.”

As I wrote then: Over a six-month
period, they showed up at the doors of
home cooks in 20 Oakland neighbor-
hoods — notebook, camera, and bags
of groceries in hand — often traveling
by bus. As they watched each prepare
that night’s meal, Sontag wrote down
their recipes and stories as Ku docu-
mented the cooking process and took
the table,” Sontag told me. “And the
fact that my parents were vegetarian
meant that if I wanted to eat meat, I
had to cook it myself.” His brother,
now in law school at Columbia Uni-
versity, is the better cook, he said.
Living near one another in Brooklyn,
“We still cook together all the time.”
As a teenager, he worked after
school in Oakland’s Pizzaiolo and
Duende kitchens — thanks in part
to Samantha “Sam” Smith, who
co-directed the Emeryville food camp
“Cook!” that he started attending at
age 11. “He was more engaged both
intellectually and creatively than
many of the campers,” she told me.
“What also separated him was that he
wanted the immersive experience.”
In those days, Sontag thought he
would be a chef. That was before he
came out as gay, and though grateful
for those early kitchen experiences,
“I felt a little bit isolated.” A queer
history class at Bard College inspired
him to leave school to discover and
Elazar, see next page


THE

page 9
MAY 2022

Elazar, from previous page
write about queer kitchen culture,
first as a freelancer and more recently
on staff at the national offices of the
food website, Eater. “It was an ‘aha
moment.’ I wanted to be a part of it.”
At Bon Appetit, in addition to
writing, he supervises food writers —
including freelancers. “I try to work
with them, the way Washington Post
food editor Joe Yonan worked with
me” on Sontag’s breakthrough 2018
WAPO story. It profiled Oakland
resident and Black Lives Matter
co-founder Alicia Garcia and how she
feeds her activism through cooking.
“Joe gave me my first big break.
My first draft wasn’t perfect, but he
worked with me. It’s really hard to get
your foot in the door.”
“I’ve been a big fan of Elazar’s since
he first wrote a piece for me a few
years ago, and have been watching his
career closely,” commented Yonan. “It
was definitely one of those ‘this kid is
going places’ moments. He’s so smart,
so committed, such a hard worker,
and he displays such wonderful sen-
sitivity in his work, from his choice
of stories to the way he clearly gets
his subjects to trust him and open up.
I’m not surprised in the least to see
him rise in food media at this pace.
He deserves every accolade that comes
his way — he’s a star!”
“I always called Elazar my shining
star,” his mom, a retired psychologist
and expert witness on the death
Photo: Judy Berne
“My experience with Elazar is
I’m always running to catch up,”
said Lorelei Sontag
(pictured above with her son).
penalty, told me. “The world of food
made way for this odd-ball kid to
become who he can be. He’s such a
people person. I think he’s perfect for
journalism. He’s always had a voice.”
Will he ever have that restaurant he
once dreamed of? “I never want to say
never,” said Sontag. “Food journalism
energizes me and gives me life. I will
always be in the kitchen. Nothing
brings me more happiness than doing
the cooking myself.”
To comment on this column or to
suggest topics for Eyes on Rockridge,
please email judyberne@att.net. n


THE
page 10
MAY 2022

Scenic Streets Needs
Your Help
by Robert Firehock
One Block Captain
Route Left to Claim
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News
Distribution Manager
W
This Tree
Needs You!
Photo: Robert Firehock
The pandemic didn’t spare Scenic
Streets, your local nonprofit
that aims to keep the Highway 24 Cla-
remont on-ramp at Hudson, the De
Vita street trees, and the Claremont
off-ramp as attractive as circum-
stances permit.
After a months-long shutdown,
the nature of our outdoor, socially
distanced undertaking allowed Cal-
trans to let us get back to work. We
hope you have appreciated the trash
clearing and landscaping that helps
make our community just a little bit
brighter through these dark times.
While Wednesday morning vol-
unteers are always welcome, we now
need some specific help. We would
love to consult with an arborist who
is willing to give us a couple of hours
e had two openings last month
for Block Captains. One was
filled by Carmelle McCune, who
took on a second route delivering to
Ivanhoe, but Zach Larson still needs
someone to take his Hillegass route as
his work schedule has changed. Please
let us know if you want this route:
Lee whacks weeds near a
struggling Redwood.
to see what we might be able to do to
resuscitate that Redwood tree. And
we need someone with website design
experience to help us return our mori-
bund site to good working order.
If you are a willing volunteer with
the relevant skills but Wednesday
trash picking isn’t your thing, we’d
love to chat about the tree and the
website. If you have some time to con-
tribute to your community, please get
in touch with Lee at lee.scenicstreet-
soakland@gmail.com. And, trash
pickers are always welcome. n
• Route 24B: Woolsey, South side,
from Benvenue to Hillegass, both sides
of 6400 Hillegass, up North side of
Alcatraz to Benvenue.
Block Captains deliver newsletters
door-to-door. Bundles are delivered to
their front porches the first weekend
of each month (except August). Call
(510) 547-3855 or email Susan at
smontauk@gmail.com to volunteer. n
Storytime and More
At Rockridge Library
Oakland Public Library is happy
to announce that storytimes
have resumed at all locations in
Oakland. Rockridge Library offers
an all-ages Family Storytime on
Thursday mornings at 10:30am, out-
doors in the back parking lot. In case
of rain, we will meet upstairs inside,
where masks are still required.
Rockridge Library is accepting
Junior Volunteers to help with the
Summer Reading Program and
Drop-In Crafts. Please send an email
to Erica at esiskind@oaklandlibrary.
org, or stop by the library to sign
up. Volunteers must commit to 5 (or
more) shifts of 2.5 hours per shift,
over June and July — sign-up for
specific dates will occur in mid-May.
Also: bring your bike for BikeMo-
bile Fix-It Clinic on Tuesday, July 12,
10am-1pm, in the back parking lot.
All ages welcome, tools provided. n


THE

page 11
MAY 2022

Achieving True
Strength, Forever
Photo: Anna L. Marks
by Carol Kasparek
You can continue to build strength
forever. Got your attention? Liam
Bauer and Jesse Schmidt want this
message to be heard. They opened
TNT Strength on the Avenue to help
people “maximize their strength as
safely and efficiently as possible.” Bau-
er’s experience led him to the motto
“Truth not Trends,” and hence, TNT.
“I really want people to get that con-
cept, know what they can expect from
us”, he said. Their methods are based
on the latest science on high-intensity
training. Brief resistance exercises
(measured in minutes) twice per week
are the key. The goal is a body “func-
tional and strong for a high-quality of
life” according to Schmidt.
TNT’s location has been part of a
long history of weight lifting and body
building in Oakland. Mr. America
1956, Jack Delinger, purchased the
studio in the 1950s (Delinger had
been a student at Oakland Tech and a
member of its gymnastics team), and
the space has been continually used
as a fitness center for over 60 years.
Since Delinger’s departure, the facility
has housed Pilates and yoga classes, a
gym, and a supplements store.
Mr. America 1956 would not recog-
nize the current format at TNT. The
space is sleek with advanced equip-
ment to comfortably target specific
parts of the body. Only one person
works out a time...yes, one person at a
time. Clients range in age from teens
to folks in their 80s. Each person’s
progress is precisely tracked on TNT’s
personalized cloud software. Impor-
tantly, you get to choose your own
music for your session (a Beatles play
list accompanied my experience).
The owners bring traditional expe-
rience and innovative approaches to
their business. Bauer has coached the
three-times Women’s World Boxing
Champion, trained and consulted
with national level martial arts ath-
letes, and state and local speed skaters.
For 24 years, he taught self-defense to
Liam Bauer and Jesse Schmidt of TNT Strength continue the shop’s
historical body-building legacy on College Avenue.
After one year, TNT is already very
involved in the community. TNT
helps Oakland Tech athletes improve
performance and prevent injury. For
four years, Bauer and Schmidt have
hosted a podcast featuring leading
researchers and medical experts in the
Bay Area and throughout the world.
The coaches have found the neighbor-
hood welcoming and are grateful for a
supportive landlord.
People can subscribe for one month
at a time, for one or two sessions per
week. Sessions are available from 5am
to 8pm. Enjoy the facility to yourself,
with your music — my posture is
better already.
TNT Strength is located at 5256
College Avenue. For more information,
check out their website, TnTstrength.
com, scan the QR code on the door, or
give them a call at (510) 768-5421. n
young people through Kid Power.
Schmidt has worked in Bay Area
gyms for five years, after playing on a
club baseball team at UCLA. Both are
certified nutritionists. Taylor Jones
has recently joined their team, also
with a background in baseball and
high-intensity training.
TNT offers several pieces of
equipment unique to the Bay
Area. One piece is the 4-Way Neck
Machine, which allows a focus on
neck strength. Neck strength is
critical to optimal posture. Optimal
posture is important for athletes,
office workers, and older people. A
strong neck means more resilience to
concussions, less pain in sitting, and
lowered risk of tripping and falling.
“You cannot replicate this workout
with other traditional pieces of
equipment,” Bauer emphasized.


THE
page 12
MAY 2022

“Flex Streets” To
Continue As Is
Into 2023
LOOK AROUND:
Aesculus californica
by Kirk Peterson
“Two years ago, we launched Flex
Streets to address the urgent need of
Oakland businesses to adapt at time
when health orders severely restricted
or eliminated the ability to operate
indoors. Because of Flex Streets, many
businesses were able to stay open and
keep their workers employed,” said
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
She continued, “As we emerge from
the pandemic, continuing the Flex
Streets program gives our business
community additional time to recover
from the pandemic while their
patrons enjoy our beautiful climate.”
The California Buckeye (Aesculus
californica) lives in the coastal
ranges and foothills around the
Central Valley, among its friends, the
live oaks and bays. It grows in lush
canyons, woodlands, and also hot
open hillsides. Aesculus californica,
also called California Horse Chestnut,
is multi-trunked with a broad round
shape up to 30 feet high.
Buckeyes drop their leaves in the
summer, earlier in the hot interior,
and later near the coast. They leaf out
early in the spring and their spires of
fragrant white flowers follow in later
spring.
The Oakland City Council recently
passed a series of ordinances to
make the Flex Streets Initiative a
permanent option for businesses to
use outdoor public rights-of-way.
Since launching in June 2020,
the streamlined Flex Streets permit
processes have helped Oakland
businesses weather the pandemic by
expanding their operations outdoors
through 140 sidewalk cafes and
parklets, 14 permitted private spaces,
and more than 60 mobile food truck
permits.
The existing permit programs
will remain mostly unchanged and
free through July 2023. Businesses
interested in expanding their
operations outdoors should apply at
www.oaklandca.gov/flexstreets. n
Kirk Peterson
In the fall, the pendulous fig-shaped
seed pods open to reveal shiny brown
“buckeyes” the size of eggs, or bigger;
the largest seeds north of the tropics.
They resemble deer eyes; they could as
well be called doe eyes.
The California buckeye has cousins;
one makes Ohio “The Buckeye State,”
and “Horse Chestnuts” are common
street trees in European cities.
The large round seed, bark, stems,
and leaves all contain toxin. Native
peoples used tannin from buckeyes in
making leather, ate the buckeyes after
leaching out the toxin (when acorns
were not available), and put crushed
roots into slow-moving water to stun
fish, making them easier to catch. n
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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
MAY 2022

Flavors From Home
by Carol Kasparek and Gary Fine
Rockridge residents took in a sur-
prising sight last spring. In the
middle of the pandemic, a new
restaurant opened at the corner of
College and Lawton. While other
businesses were limiting their offer-
ings and hours, even shutting down,
the owners of Namastey Patio instead
believed the time was right for them
to open their Nepalese-North Indian
restaurant. The past year has proven
them correct.
Smriti (known as Sim) Poudyal,
Kailash Thapa, and Tej Rai drew
on their various food backgrounds
and the support of their Nepalese
community in the Bay Area for their
restaurant, Namastey Patio. Poudyal
has created and distributed food at
farmers’ markets, and Thapa and Rai
helped run family restaurants. All
three have been active in organizations
serving their community. The chefs
too, are from their close-knit group.
“Rockridge is a small, lovely town,
a good neighborhood for families,”
said Poudyal. “We wanted to bring
our authentic taste from home.”
Home meant cooking with what was
available — no processed ingredients.
“We never heard about organic
because everything we used was
organic,” she laughed.
They love the location’s expansive
patio for outdoor seating. Health con-
cerns, then and now, make the fresh
air option a draw for the community.
Connection to the customers and
avenue businesses has been critical to
their success during a difficult time.
“We know them, they know us —
we wouldn’t have survived without
their support.”
Another draw was the menu. Warm,
full flavors are part of every carefully
chosen offering. All sauces and con-
diments are made from scratch with
whole spices in the restaurant kitchen.
Indian and Nepalese dishes share
some ingredients, yet differ in their
cooking styles.
“Our version of familiar dishes may
be different than what you expect,”
Tej Rai, Kailash Thapa, and Sim Poudyal serve home-inspired
Nepalese-North Indian cuisine at Namastey Patio, 5500 College Avenue.
Your server could very likely be one
of the owners. They are present at
every shift, doing whatever needs to
be done, even cooking. Every server
will ask and answer questions to make
certain the diners get what they want
— choosing from mild to moderate to
spicy and very spicy for their orders.
Vegan options are available through-
out the menu.
The partners are looking to hold
more special events. A wine tasting
dinner for Cline Winery last October
was “a huge success.” Namastey’s take-
out business is increasing; plans may
develop for additional locations. “Once
you are in the business, you can’t get
out of it,” remarked Poudyal. n
notes Kailash. Nepalese dishes have
little to no dairy and less oil than most
Indian dishes. “You will feel better
when you get home,” predicts Tej Rai.
Traditional Nepalese Goat (Khashi)
is one of Namastey’s most popular
offerings. Momos are a distinctive ver-
sion of steamed and fried dumplings
made with homemade spices. With an
array of chutneys coming with each
momo order, guests can explore a vari-
ety of flavors with a single dish. Also
new to some diners are the Dahi puri
chaat, a very popular appetizer. The
owners always point customers to the
desserts, light yet flavorful concoctions
that include Milk Cake (Ras Malai)
with milky cream sauce and nuts.
Buying ?  Selling?
Let me help you!
Anne D. Brandon
Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@corcorangl.com
AnneDBrandon.com
Lic# 01877719
© 2020 Corcoran Global Living. All rights reserved.
Each franchise is independently owned and operated.


THE
page 14
MAY 2022

How, When and Where to Report Crime
by Karen Ivy, Secretary, Greater Rockridge NCPC

you can report online at https://www.
oaklandca.gov/resources/can-the-
crime-be-reported-online. Basically,
you must be over 18 with a working
email address, and the crime had to
happen inside Oakland city limits and
not on a freeway.
The first page of the online report-
ing site has a list of the types of crime
you can report — you’ll see it when
you click the Report Online link on
this page: https://www.oaklandca.gov/
services/report-a-crime-online.
What do you do if you have evi-
dence of a crime? What about
online reporting? Whether you are a
witness or a victim, this is an attempt
to clarify all that.
Non-Emergency Calls
If you find out that a crime has been
committed but the criminals have
left the scene (your car was broken
into), in some cases you can report it
online. Once the criminals have left,
the crime is no longer considered
an emergency, so you should call
the non-emergency number at (510)
777-3333 to make a report. You may
have to wait, and you may have to
call more than once. The dispatcher
should give you a temporary report
number — write it down and refer to
it in case you have to call back.
The police department’s website
has fairly clear instructions on what
Emergency Calls
If you see a crime being committed,
you should call 911. But, if you’re call-
ing on a cell phone, call OPD’s direct
emergency number, (510) 777-3211.
Put this number in your cell phone
so you can call it easily. Some cell
towers still route 911 to the California
Highway Patrol dispatch center in
Martinez, which then reroutes the call
to Oakland. Try to stay clear of what-
ever’s going on while you do!
There is also a list of situations where
the crime must be reported by phone:
1. You know who committed the crime
2. You have evidence related to the
crime (photographs and/or video)
3. The damage or value is over $5,000
4. The lost or stolen property includes
the loss of a firearm; or
5. The lost or stolen property includes
the loss of a vehicle license plate.
6. The lost or stolen property is a
motorized vehicle.
Most importantly, if you have evi-
dence (photos, videos) hold them until
after you file a report by phone. Dis-
patch will assign a temporary report
number and refer the case to OPD for
review. Our Community Resource
Officers confirm that they can’t
accept evidence unless it’s associated
with an open case number.
After review, the report is assigned
a case number and they email you a
PDF of the report. At that point you
should know the officer assigned to
the case and can send your evidence
to the officer, with the case number.
You can’t just attach your photo to
the online report form that the filed
online because the report doesn’t have
a temporary report number yet, much
less an official case number.
Remember, when you report a crime
you may have to go to court in person
to testify if the police arrest a suspect
and the District Attorney chooses to
press charges.
To get regular notices of NCPC
meetings and crime statistics, sign up
at RockridgeNCPC.com. n
CollegePrep
A private high school in Oakland

The College Preparatory School is a vibrant day school for grades 9-12 in Oakland’s
Rockridge neighborhood. At College Prep we believe in the foundational importance of
scholarship, the value of dialogue, and the need for academically curious young people
to belong to a kind, creative, diverse, and joyful community. We challenge our students
to engage deeply in learning, appreciate one another, and grow into adults who are
intellectually adventurous, ethically sure-footed, and generous of heart and spirit.

6100 Broadway    Oakland CA 94618   510.652.4364   college-prep.org


THE

page 15
MAY 2022

RN
Balanced Dog Training
Need help with behavior modification?
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 for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced.
Hauling and towing available. No job
too small. Reasonably priced. Lee Self.
707/223-1298-call and text.
Classifieds
List your 36-word message here for
only $22 (phone number counts as
one word). Make check payable to
RCPC, and write “Rockridge News
Classifieds” in the memo line.
ShopRockridge
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Immersive home theater, lighting,
shades, HVAC, locks, cameras & more
in one simple world. Easy retrofit into
existing homes. Rockridge-based, decades
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fun! www.performingartsaudio.biz. Ben
Stiegler 510/823-0850.
Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave.,
PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131.
The deadline for the June 2022 issue
(available June 4) is May 17, 2022.
YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
For more details, email Susan Montauk
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To share rent in my lovely commercial
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Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Is your electrical panel “nasty?” I can help
with that. I’ve been doing electrical work
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Handyman Service:
House Repairs & Remodeling
Dry rot, kitchen and bath tile refurbishing
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Please contact me during regular business hours to
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Competition Drives Price in April
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
4/4/2022
3
2

5715 Oak Grove Ave             $1,749,000
        $1,749,000
16
$2,250,000
4/6/2022
2
2

5405 Carlton St                         $679,000            $679,000
  2
   $800,000
4/13/2022
2
1
         5340 Broadway Terrace          $699,000
           $853,000
  6
   $853,000
4/14/2022
3
2.5

5739 Presley Way                  $1,695,000         $1,695,000
12
$2,470,000
Your Story, Your Legacy… Your Video
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photos and music.  An affordable video
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Call Helene for details: 510/543-6064.
Homes sold in April closed 32% over the asking price on average.
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THE
COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE

COMING SOON TEMESCAL
Craftsman Bungalow
on Manila Ave
Stunning 2 Bed/ 1 Bath
Original Charm w/ updates
Office Nook on the lower floor
Detached Casita -
Now a private office
Possible ADU
FOR SALE PIEDMONT AVE
4523 Howe St.
Amazing 4 Bed/ 3 Bath
Built New in  2016
Stunning Great room out to patio
3,226 Square feet!! + Garage
RARE ROCKRIDGE
OFFICE LEASE
5767 Broadway
1,400sqft office
Plug and Play Open Space
 for Collaborative Energy
Work Station already installed
2 Bathroom & Kitchenette
$4,000/mo
Stay Safe and Well.
Ron Kriss, Broker
Lawton Associates
(c) 510-612-2547
RonKriss@JPS.net
“#1 in Rockridge
Real Estate”
160+ Successful Sales
in Rockridge
DRE# 01417458
www.LawtonAssoc.com