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R ckridgeNews

THE

www.rockridge.org

VOL 37   •   NO. 8   •   ISSUE  NO. 400   •   SEPTEMBER 3, 2022               CIRCULATION: 5,800 Residences; 200 Businesses

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

Mayor Schaaf Holds
Town Hall Meeting
At Colby Park
v  Coming Sunday, October 2nd  v
The RCPC Welcomes Neighbors to the
2022 Kitchen Tour
by Judith Doner Berne
by Robin McDonnell, Kitchen Tour Chair
Wearing a bright print top from
a College Avenue boutique,
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf held a
Town Hall at Rockridge’s Colby Park
on a sunny August evening as she
entered the last several months of her
term-limited eight years in the city’s
highest office.
This stunning kitchen will be featured on the 2022 Kitchen Tour.
Photo credit: Chris Woodcock
Kitchens have a rich history in
Rockridge. Some long-time res-
idents remember their parents’ and
grandparents’ kitchens with Wedge-
wood stoves. In the oldest houses, the
original stove was most likely wood
burning, and, without refrigeration
available, perishable food was stored
in a “cooler” which consisted of a
screened cabinet open to the outdoors
on the north side of the house.
Today’s Rockridge kitchens have
come a long way — new colors,
sustainable materials, energy-saving
appliances, and ample storage and
workspaces are all features of the
kitchens on this year’s tour. And every
kitchen on the tour conveys the Rock-
ridge spirit of good food, warmth, and
hospitality.
The 2022 Tour has many interesting
and different styles of homes and
kitchens — a beautiful large historical
home, a storybook home, homes
that include a complete remodel, and
homes in which only the kitchen has
been remodeled. Some kitchens are
brightened with pops of vivid color
and unusual surfaces for counters and
backsplashes. Several use highly sus-
tainable materials. There is an English
Tudor home that incorporated vintage
structures into the design and a tiny
garden cottage — these are just a few
of what will be on view.
Challenges faced by many of the
homeowners included inefficient
use of space and placement of appli-
ances, lack of convenient storage,
and cramped work areas. Others felt
closed off from the garden or the rest
of the house and wanted the kitchen
to be more integrated into the family
living areas. A solution common to
The shortage of police forces the
city to prioritize violent crime over
property crime, Mayor Schaaf told
residents. (Photo credit: Judy Berne)
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to
be your mayor,” Schaaf told the gath-
ering of about 70 people who came
by foot, bicycle, and car to what was
billed as “a community conversation
with the mayor.”
“I live a block from here. I want to
find out what’s going on,” said Joe
Lindsay. “If the Mayor’s around the
corner from you, you gotta come,”
said Laura Mytels, with her son, Oak-
land Tech senior Max Andelman, in
tow. “We are longtime Oakland Ath-
letic fans, and we are longtime fans of
the mayor,” said George Krevsky, who
drove with his wife Doris Krevsky

Schaaf Town Hall, see page 4
Kitchen Tour, see next page


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page 2
SEPTEMBER 2022

kitchen, you’ll find the design and
construction professionals who can
make it happen for you.
The 2022 Rockridge Kitchen Tour
tickets are now available online for
$47, plus service fee (until Sept. 30).
Tickets will also be available for sale
on the day of the tour for $55, plus
service charge. n
Kitchen Tour, from front page
several houses on the tour was to
rethink the interiors — converting
the many small rooms in a typical
craftsman to larger rooms to allow for
a smoother traffic flow between the
kitchen and the rest of the house.
Not sure you’ll remember the many
amazing ideas after taking the tour?
Don’t worry — Kitchen Tour guests
will receive a copy of the compre-
hensive Tour Brochure, describing
each kitchen and listing resources
for those contemplating a remodel of
their own. Docents with knowledge
of the remodels will also be on hand
to answer questions about each own-
er’s goals and challenges. No matter
what you have in mind for your
To purchase advance tickets online,
visit RockridgeKitchenTour.org
or scan the QR Code below.
Last Call for Docents
T

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.
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
Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman,
Annette Floystrup, Kirk Peterson, Ashley Pandya,
Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger

he Rockridge Community Planning Council’s Kitchen Tour committee is
looking for a few more volunteer docents for Sunday, October 2nd, at the
RCPC Kitchen Tour. Docents have the opportunity to tour several of the houses
in advance of the event during orientation, and on the day of the event.
Plus, all docents get to tour the other houses when not on a scheduled shift.
It’s a great way to meet new friends and help your community at the same time.
To volunteer, contact docents@rockridge.org. n

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.
RCPC Notice:
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.
Board Seat Available on the
Rockridge Community Planning Council
Are you interested in serving
your neighborhood? The Rock-
ridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC) is run by a 13-member board
of directors representing the Rock-
ridge community on development,
transportation, and quality of life
issues. The board now has an open
seat, which will be filled by board
appointment until April 2023 (the
appointee could then opt to run in the
April 2023 board election).
To apply, email a short letter to
chair@rockridge.org expressing
your interest in the role, confirming
primary residence within RCPC
boundaries, and summarizing your
background. Inquiries must be sub-
mitted by Sunday, Sept. 18, 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 OCTOBER:
September 22, 2022
CORRECTION:
In the June 2022 issue of The Rockridge
News, Annette Floystrup’s article,
“Rockridge Bids Final Farewell to California
College of the Arts,” stated that Peter Selz
was a kinetic artist and sculptor. This was
incorrect; he was an art history professor
and curator. Thank you to our reader,
Aileen Frankel, for catching that mistake.
Missed an issue of
The Rockridge News?
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.
Visit rockridge.org
and download a digital copy
today — in color with hotlinks to
resources on the Internet.
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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SEPTEMBER 2022

Rock-N-Hunt — for
Scavengers of All Ages
by Jody Colley
The Rockridge District invites clue
sleuths, trivia lovers, and anyone
looking for a fun way to spend a day
to join the annual Rock-N-Hunt on
Saturday, September 10, from 11am
to 7pm. The event is free for all ages.
The scavenger hunt will take place
during Rockridge Rock-N-Stroll
— a monthly event that brings
free outdoor live music, sidewalk
sales, popup vendors, kids’ crafts,
art shows, and other fun activities
for the whole family every Second
Saturday. Participants can enjoy
browsing the local wares, fine
dining, sweet and savory treats, and
delicious drinks as they canvas the
neighborhood during the hunt.
Each individual, team, or family,
will get a list of clues (items, chal-
lenges, or riddles) that must be found
during the allotted time. All clues
can be found along College Avenue,
between Broadway and Alcatraz
Avenue, at public-serving businesses

— Dogs of Rockridge —
This is Boots. She is
a 6-month-old Whippet
that is full of energy and
loves meeting anyone.
You can find her most
mornings outside Cole
Coffee or Boichik Bagels
on walks with her family,
Andrew and Shelby.

In this new feature, Dogs of Rockridge, we will highlight some of the many canine
companions that live in our neighborhood. Does your pup live in Rockridge? If so, send
a photo of your four-legged friend, with a little commentary, to: editor@rockridge.org.

including retail shops, restaurants,
bars, gyms, cafés, churches, and
libraries.
The goal is to find as many items
as possible. Anyone who finds at least
one clue has a chance to win a prize
because each correct discovery counts
as a raffle entry into a drawing for
1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize packages —
ranging from $400 to $100 in gift
cards. Participants will need a digital
camera or camera phone to capture
their discoveries.
Take BART or the AC Transit #51
bus line to the Rockridge Station and
you’re at the center of the event. Public
bike racks are located throughout
the district. More information on
Rock-N-Stroll can be found at www.
RockridgeDistrict.com/rocknstroll. n
Last month’s Rock-N-Stroll featured a “pup promenade,” and
Market Hall hosted a Barking Lot where shoppers could park
their pups while shopping. Rocket Dog Rescue was on hand to
find new homes for abandoned animals.
Buying ?  Selling?
Let me help you!
Anne D. Brandon
Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@corcorangl.com
AnneDBrandon.com

(Left to right) Sarah Han, Marketing Manager at Market Hall Foods; Caitlin O’Neill, Olympia
Provisions representative; and Juliana Uruburu, Retail Director of Market Hall Foods.

Lic# 01877719
© 2020 Corcoran Global Living. All rights reserved.
Each franchise is independently owned and operated.


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SEPTEMBER 2022

An Open Letter to the
Rockridge Community
From Stuart Flashman
time for people to get back to work
and pay their rent.” While thanking
him for housing others, Schaaf wasn’t
entirely sympathetic. “We are in a
moment where we need extreme
compassion,” she said. “California
housing is completely broken. As
the mayor of Oakland, I see it as our
most pressing problem. Homeless
camps are our most soul-scathing
challenge. We have tripled our shelter
beds but it’s not enough.”
Heather Dodge, who described
herself as a cyclist and parent of two
public school students, asked for the
Slow Streets program to be revived.
Schaaf said some slow streets may be
reinstated.
“I’m very much opposed to the
Home Depot” that is proposed for the
years-long vacant corner of Broadway
and Pleasant Valley, said Jan Klingel-
hofer. “It’s not needed or wanted” and
asked for help from the city. Schaaf
said that it is a zoning issue and
advised “a little political pressure.”
The mayor urged residents to volun-
teer, donate, or join an organization
dedicated to Oakland’s progress.
To help Oakland thrive, visit https://
www.oaklandca.gov/projects/how-you-
can-help-oakland-thrive. n
Schaaf Town Hall, from front page
from Upper Rockridge. Karen Marker
and Andy Wolpert biked over, hoping
to alert City officials to the dangers of
crossing Claremont Avenue at Chabot
Road without a traffic light.
After an introduction by RCPC
Chair Casey Farmer, Schaaf praised
City workers for going beyond their
usual duties during the pandemic, and
noted, “We resisted a president who
wanted to come for our immigrant
community.”
Anticipating that the bulk of the
questions would center around crime
and homelessness, and following a
weekend of three murders in Oakland,
she readily acknowledged, “Things are
not as good as they should be.”
In answer to questions on speed-
limit enforcement and late responses
to break-ins, Schaaf said: “Keeping
our police department staffed is one of
the hardest tasks. We have the fewest
police per crime than any other city in
the country.” OPD currently has 683
officers. “I have tried to get to 800,” she
said, citing difficulties in hiring and
competition with San Francisco.
“I feel like everyone’s gunning for
me,” said a single-unit landlord. “It’s
After 15 years of service with
the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC), I am sub-
mitting my resignation from both the
Board of Directors and the Land Use
Committee. I feel that the Rockridge
Community deserves an explanation
of why I am doing this.
When I joined RCPC’s Board of
Directors in 2007, I was (and still
am) a community-oriented land use
and environmental attorney. I saw
that Rockridge was facing challenges,
including the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth
Bore Project, two major Safeway
projects, and many other development
proposals. I felt I could help RCPC deal
with these issues. As a resident who
valued Rockridge’s community,
I offered my help.
Over the past 15 years, I think I have
helped advance RCPC’s goal of pre-
serving and enhancing the Rockridge
community. For the past three years, I
have focused on a Rockridge Housing
Study. It looked at how Rockridge
might help address the pressing need
for more affordable housing (there is
already a surplus of market-rate units).
In this year’s RCPC board election,
a “slate” of candidates, running under
the title “Inclusive Rockridge,” nar-
rowly succeeded in gaining a majority
on the board. Since taking office, that
majority has charted a very different
direction for RCPC — a direction nei-
ther mentioned in the campaign nor
discussed with the community.
The housing study had shown that
building new affordable housing in
Rockridge would be challenging.
Unconventional approaches would
be needed. Instead, the new board’s
philosophy seems to be “all housing
is good housing.” As an example, the
board is supporting the proposed CCA
project, which would add 500 units
of high-density market-rate housing
with only a thin (50 units) veneer of
moderate-income units. It also wants
high-density, primarily market rate,
Open Letter, see next page


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page 5
SEPTEMBER 2022

Rockridge home in a new two-bedroom
apartment as compared to those who
could buy one of our single-family
houses. For the math on this, please
see my earlier article in The Rockridge
News (bit.ly/3zZbL0G).
Third, despite a lot of mythology
to the contrary, building market-rate
housing does bring down overall rents.
There is more and more research
available on this, including a recent
study from UCLA that finds, in general,
that new “market-rate housing makes
nearby housing more affordable across
the income distribution of rental units”
(bit.ly/3AtfYuY).
Fourth, no housing policy we pro-
mote in Rockridge is even remotely
likely to result in our craftsman houses
being largely subdivided or demolished
in favor of condos. The economics
don’t, and probably never will, work
that way. If you don’t believe me, please
see Stu’s article on page 12 of the July
2021 Rockridge News (bit.ly/3AuT6LO).
For these reasons and others, I believe
that many on the RCPC Board agree
that we have a moral imperative to wel-
come new housing at all income levels
to our neighborhood. I certainly do. But
I, for one, also believe we should always
be working to increase the number of
units that are deeply affordable.
Stu forgot to mention that the RCPC
Board has not yet taken a position on
the CCA proposal; however, they have
written a letter (bit.ly/RCPC_CCA_
LTR) to the developer telling them that
we want to work together to increase
the number of affordable units and also
to deepen their affordability. Similarly,
as we embark on the long road toward
bringing housing, and not Home Depot,
to the Ridge site, we will have the
chance to seek the resources to make
that project as affordable as possible. n
Open Letter, from previous page

RCPC Land Use Update — Ken Rich, Chair
Wwant Rockridge to be an inclusive,
welcoming place for all kinds of folks,
from all kinds of backgrounds with
all kinds of income levels. But facts,
details, and finances do matter and
that is where I and several of my
fellow board members are taking a
little bit of a different road than Stu
does in his letter.
Here are a few examples:
First, there is, unfortunately, no
“unconventional” approach to creat-
ing affordable housing that has any
record of success in California. Why?
Because affordable is astronomically
expensive to build. Most affordable
housing that we see in the Bay Area
is already under “communal non-
profit ownership” as Stu terms it; in
fact, this is the conventional model.
Even so, it costs at least $400,000 in
public subsidies to build each unit of
affordable housing. At those prices,
it would take a hundred years just to
build housing on the few sites cur-
rently available in Rockridge. Well,
why not wait a hundred years then?
Because we are in a housing crisis that
is directly connected to our climate
crisis and directly connected to the
history of racism in this country.
Second, as I have written before in
The Rockridge News and discussed at
the RCPC Land Use Committee, mar-
ket-rate apartments, while certainly
not inexpensive, are far more afford-
able than our craftsman houses. A lot
more families, reflecting a much more
diverse population, could afford to call
e are following the Calif. College
of the Arts (CCA) development
proposal, the Home Depot proposal
at the Ridge, the Jewish Community
Center (JCC) proposal at the Dreyer’s
site, and the progress of the City’s Hous-
ing Element (see update on page 10).
Regarding Home Depot, back in
April, RCPC wrote a strongly worded
letter to our City and state represen-
tatives expressing our severe concern
about the proposal. We continue to
monitor its progress and will remain
in communication with the City. The
application is currently in a queue wait-
ing to be assigned to a planner.
We plan to invite JCC representatives
to a town hall in the coming months.
As always, to keep abreast of devel-
opments, watch this space and attend
the RCPC Land Use Committee, every
fourth Wednesday of the month at
7:30pm, on Zoom, for now. Please go to
bit.ly/3c0r6X0 for Zoom link.
Additionally, I would like to reflect
on Stu Flashman’s letter (printed in
this issue). I refer readers to Annette
Floystrup’s comprehensive summary of
his notable contributions to our neigh-
borhood in the July 2022 issue of The
Rockridge News.
When Stu handed the baton to me
as Land Use Chair earlier this year, he
mentioned to me that he thought his
views on housing in Rockridge were
not that different from those of the
majority of newer board members,
and I believe that is true on the large
strokes. I think we all agree that we
will be subdivided into condos and
then replaced by higher-density
condo buildings. Rockridge would
become a mini-San Francisco. A less
conventional approach, emphasizing
communal nonprofit ownership of
existing and future housing, as has
been done elsewhere, would promote
permanently affordable homes. That
would be much harder, but better for
the community. I will not be a party
to the new board’s unilateral choice —
hence, my resignation. n
housing on other available sites in
Rockridge. With no community
input, it seeks to have Oakland’s new
housing element push to up-zone
Rockridge to higher density, espe-
cially near the BART station.
Rockridge is at a crossroads. The
new board’s direction of following
the market will push home prices
ever higher. Eventually, it seems likely
that, driven by speculation, homes
Land Use Committee
Meeting Notice
RCPC LUC meeting will be held on
Wednesday, September 28, 2022,
at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
The meeting is open to the public. To
attend, check rockridge.org for Zoom
link, or email: landuse@rockridge.org.


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page 6
SEPTEMBER 2022

Broadway where they are limited to 65
feet limit. While much has changed in
the design, but the buildings still appear
rather industrial, monolithic, and boxy.
Rockridge has a consistent residential
style that should be respected.
The CCA owners said they wanted to
honor the school’s arts legacy. However,
this legacy will exist mostly as a few
artifacts from the old campus, and the
ground floor of one historic building
for public arts usage. The other historic
building is slated for commercial use.
How can there be a significant arts pro-
gram without adequate space?
The traffic, of course, will increase, as
it will for any project. There is only one
narrow exit on Clifton (used by Oak-
land Tech students); three traffic lights
between Clifton and Pleasant Valley;
and no way for vehicles to head north
due to current road configurations.
Should the City consider roundabouts as
a way of keeping the traffic flowing? Is
there adequate fire engine access?
The proposed park acreage keeps
shrinking. Will the 97 trees slated for
removal be replaced as stated? Will the
park still function as a green oasis for
the neighborhood as it has for more
than 100 years? Remember, the MacAr-
thur BART apartments were approved
for eight stories, but 25 stories were
built. This was possible in part because
the EIR included the higher alterna-
tive. The CCA’s EIR also includes an
alternative — for 21 stories. The EIR
and hearings by City commissions are
expected in the fall.
Letter to the Editor
Questions Remain at CCA
Has it really been five years that
Rockridge has been debating
residential development on the former
Calif. College of the Arts (CCA)
campus? The first proposal in 2017
evolved from six stories to 19 stories,
market-rate units only. Following
heated community opposition, Emerald
Fund, the developer, redesigned the
site. This latest iteration is a significant
improvement (see 5212Broadway.com),
but key questions remain for the devel-
oper, the landowner, the City, and CCA.
Only ten percent of the 510 units
would be “affordable,” and only for
moderate-income persons (i.e., family
of four earning $157,075). No units
would be available for lower-income
residents. The price CCA will reap
from the sale is unknown. CCA ben-
efitted from more than 100 years of
tax exemptions because it provided
community service to Oakland. If it
lowered the land price, could there be
more lower-priced units?
The plan for building up to 90 feet
(eight stories) exceeds all neighboring
multiunit apartment buildings, even on
YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
[ B U L K ]  [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
Myrna Walton,
Upper Broadway Advocates
ReUpRefills.org
The views expressed in the Letters to the Editor
do not necessarily reflect the views of RCPC.
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND
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environment, Holy Names students develop
strong voices, deep compassion, and the
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hnhsoakland.org


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SEPTEMBER 2022

To Build a Farm,
Start with an ACRE
to each menu, there will also be a bit of
a crossover.
The downstairs café will focus
on wood-fired pizzas, a “classics-
inspired” cocktail list, and wine bar.
Upstairs will focus on the rotisserie,
and, in the popular Oliveto tradition,
seasonal favorites will make annual
repeat appearances alongside year-
round staples. But Tolsma insists that if
you want to order pizza in the upstairs
dining room, go ahead and order it.
“We want to bring the downstairs
and the upstairs a little closer together.
Downstairs will serve raw seafood —
ceviches, crudos, and fresh oysters
on the half shell. Upstairs will be a
little bit grander, but playful and fun.
We’ll play around with porchetta, for
instance, in the rotisserie, the earth
oven that we have upstairs. We want
you to feel as comfortable on a Tuesday
when you just feel like some wine and
Photo credit:
Anna L. Marks
by Anna L. Marks
Alice Waters is generally credited
with originating “California Cui-
sine,” and it was her protégés that went
on to solidify the “foodie” trend of
local restaurants creating menus that
integrate seasonal organic produce
delivered daily from local farms.
Within a short, 15-year period after
Chez Panisse first opened, legions
of chefs and restaurateurs embraced
this concept in the bourgeoning Bay
Area food scene. This notable group
included Maggie and Bob Klein, who
launched Oliveto in Market Hall on
the corner of College Avenue and
Shafter in 1986.
“We were there for 35 years, we grew
up with the neighborhood, and we also
grew up with what was a significant
food movement. It really started in
Northern California. We spent a lot of
effort making that part of what Oliveto
was all about,” said owner Bob Klein.
Recently, the Kleins realized their
Rockridge restaurant had become an
institution that needed a fresh start
and decided to relinquish the reins to
the next generation. The couple deter-
mined chef Dirk Tolsma to be the best
person to continue bringing the strong
relationships they had forged with
farmers and growers to the table.
“The thing about institutions is,
they’re dusty, and they’re not a place
of innovation. We always tried to be
innovative, but we were stuck with that
model. I like seeing some new energy,
some new ideas coming in — and the
roots are there,” said Bob Klein.
A native Californian from the
Central Valley, and now an Oakland
resident, Tolsma learned his craft at
the Napa Valley Cooking School. He
worked in various locations in Sonoma
and Healdsburg, and at Sebastopol’s
Eloise where he found “the food was
rustic, but beautiful.”
“It was squab, it was bone marrow, it
was tarts. This is the restaurant where
I really learned how to act in a kitchen,
how to cut things, how to simply cook,
Chef Dirk Tolsma says
ACRE Restaurant will be
“a front row seat to Rockridge.”
thinking about the flavors of each
element. At that point, I started to see
it as a lifestyle and something that
I wanted to dig into. That was a big
turning point for me,” said Tolsma.
He continued honing his skills at San
Francisco’s Grand Café, which had
“one of the grandest and most beauti-
ful dining rooms in the city.”
ACRE Restaurant co-owners
Tolsma and managing partner Pete
Sittnick (Land and Sea Restaurant
Group) plan to honor Oliveto’s legacy
by maintaining its familiarity and
relationship with Rockridge neighbors,
and by continuing to serve upstairs
and downstairs — but with a bit of a
twist. While some items will be unique
ACRE, see page 14


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SEPTEMBER 2022

Vintage Eyewear
Frame Shop Looks
To the Future
by Judith Doner Berne
in grad school”) and challenged to
find a way to lighten the weight of
the proposed Renaissance Center —
the pet project of Henry Ford II that
he hoped would, but didn’t, revive
Detroit’s economy.
“They relied on the design that
their architect John Portman used for
Atlanta’s Peachtree Center,” Ascher
said, “but they didn’t take into
account that the concrete used in
that structure was too heavy for a site
on the Detroit River. I developed a
system that significantly reduced the
weight of the building.”
Next, the Egyptian government
came calling, with a similar problem
as they planned a new hotel (Sher-
aton) along the Nile River in Cairo.
“They told me I could go to medical
school there,” as his polymer system
Detroit office building where they
sold eyeglasses of their own design.
“But I had no interest in being in that
industry.”
“They were pioneers, said Ascher.
“They made glasses into a fashion
accessory, manufacturing them in
France,” where he still has many of
his frames made today.
As a teenager, when his mother
created new designs, he persuaded her
not to toss out the frames that were no
longer in style. Those vintage frames
are now the models for the eyewear
that he designs, manufactures abroad,
and sells to his customers and to com-
panies worldwide today.
Ray Ascher, who has owned Phoe-
nix Optical located for 20 years
at 5519 College Avenue (after 20
years in Berkeley), has followed in his
family’s footsteps. But his path has
been anything but straight.
“They put me to work every
summer, starting when I was 11 years
old,” the now 79-year-old said of his
mother and aunt who, in 1931, opened
Fine Arts Optical in a downtown
“We basically manufacture every single style
back to the 1930s.”
was implemented, Ascher said. He,
his then-wife, and their children
moved to Cairo.
Once enrolled, Ascher gravitated
toward eye surgery. Although he
performed several operations, his
training was interrupted after three
years when his mother died. Return-
ing to Detroit, he joined his aunt
in running their optical store. That
included filling prescriptions for the
Kresge Eye Institute and working
with them on low-vision patients.
Then he branched out.
Phoenix Optical is the last of a net-
work of 38 Fine Arts Optical stores
that Ascher purchased or opened, ran
for years, then either sold or closed.
“We basically manufacture every
single style back to the 1930s,” he
said. That includes cat’s eyes, shadow
boxes, and his most expensive prod-
uct — genuine horn-rimmed frames
made from water buffalo and yak.
For years, Ascher traveled to both
Inner Mongolia and Africa to hand-
pick the multi-colored and white
horns. Now, health problems restrict
But let’s follow Ascher’s winding
path to Rockridge. He spent a year
at UCLA before transferring to
Michigan State hoping to become
a veterinarian. When he didn’t get
into veterinary school, he switched
to pre-med, studying chemistry at
the graduate level and worked with
polymers.
He was plucked out of his chemical
engineering class (“I had a reputation
Ray Ascher, see next page


THE

page 9
SEPTEMBER 2022

long-time customer Daniel Boyarin,
a religion historian and professor
emeritus at UC Berkeley. “I have had
a commitment not to wear plastic on
my body,” he said. “He has an appre-
ciation of my aesthetic values.”
[Full disclosure: As a result of
my interview, I discovered that Ray
Ascher and I graduated from the
same Detroit public high school four
years apart, and that his uncle was my
chemistry teacher.]
Questions or suggestions? Email
judyberne@att.net. n
quantity. “I’m on borrowed time,”
Ascher said. “I bought my last sports
car. And on my bucket list is to take
my kids — two daughters, a son, and
four grandchildren — to Maine for a
lobster fest.”
Ascher continues to have eyeglass
frames manufactured, although he
has an inventory of thousands because
he hopes a daughter will take over the
shop. “I want to make sure she has
enough stock.” And, he is bequeathing
to his daughter their store manager
Tina Sullivan. “Tina was a lucky find
for me,” Ascher said. Sullivan agrees:
“Ray and I are a match. I want to be
here for the rest of my life.”
“There’s no place like it,” said
Helen Herzberg, who drove in from
Castro Valley to pick out a new
frame. “I used to go to their Berkeley
store.”
“This was a great move,” Ascher
said. “Rockridge is a fantastic place,
although I am disappointed in the
amount of crime.” He eats at Belotti,
thinks Cole Hardware “is a great
addition,” and has his hair cut at
Right Angle.
“He’s the sweetest guy, just a really
caring person,” said Francisco Spi-
nelli, Ascher’s barber, who directs
clients who admire his glasses to
Phoenix Optical. “They go beyond,
and really take care of their clients.”
“What I love is his (Ascher’s) real
sense that glasses are as important a
part of what you wear as a suit,” said
Rockridge News:
College Avenue
Delivery Route Available
Photo credit: Judy Berne
Phoenix Optical owner Ray Ascher
traveled to Africa and Inner Mongolia
to get the horn for the glasses he
manufactures and sells.
Thanks to Kathleen
Winzeler for her
service as Block
Captain and
delivering The Rockridge
News to businesses along College
Avenue. Winzeler has to give up
her route but it should be easy to
fill as it offers the opportunity to
window shop while you walk the
route.  Please let us know if you
will be able to sign up to be Block
Captain for the route below.
Ray Ascher, from previous page
his travel, so an agent does the
buying. An animal lover (remember,
he wanted to be a veterinarian), he
said the horns come from food stock.
“We would never use an endangered
species.”
He once had a ranch in Clayton,
California, but now settles for two
dogs and a horse, Buck, that he rides
with some difficulty. He thought that
after heart surgery he would never
ride again. But he is determined
to live a life of quality, rather than
Route CAv1: Businesses and
apartments along College Avenue,
from Claremont Avenue to BART.
Block Captains deliver news-
letters door-to-door. The bundles
are delivered to their front porch
the first weekend of each month
(except August). To volunteer, call
(510) 547-3855, or email Susan at
smontauk@gmail. n


THE
page 10
SEPTEMBER 2022

Frog Park Celebrates
20th Anniversary at
Creek to Bay Day
Meredith Kaplan
(January 9, 1938 – June 28, 2022)
IN MEMORIAM
Where: Big Frog, near Hardy Street
When: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022,
from 9am – noon.
9am to 11am:
  Creek to Bay Day park clean up
11am to 12pm:
  Frog Park 20th Anniversary
  Celebration
Creek to Bay Day is coming up,
and everyone is invited to parti-
cipate at Frog Park. Creek to Bay Day
is a day of watershed cleanups, edu-
cation, and commitment to practices
to keep our city and water clean,
from creek, to bay, and beyond. In
addition, we are celebrating the 20th
anniversary of the park. Please bring
your family, friends, and neighbors
who enjoy Frog Park.
RSVP to chair@frogpark.org so we
know if you’ll be joining us...hope to
see you there. n
How: Games, face-painting, arts &
crafts, refreshments and more.
Who: A gathering of everyone who
helped create and continues to
maintain Frog Park, … and you!
Meredith McGovney Kaplan died
on June 28 at her home, sur-
rounded by family, following a battle
with multiple system atrophy, a degen-
erative illness.
An avid hiker who loved the natural
world, Meredith was for many years a
superintendent with the National Park
Service where she planned the Juan
Bautista de Anza National Historic
Trail in Arizona and California, and
the Ala Kahakai National Historic
Trail in Hawaii.
Meredith served on the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC)
from 1994 to 2001, wrote much of
the text for the RCPC Kitchen Tour
brochure for many years, and served
as a Marshal for The Rockridge News
distribution.
She qualified as a Master Gardener
and volunteered at the Master Gardener
plot at Lakeside Park. She was a long-
time volunteer at the Alameda County
Food Bank and the Daily Bread Project.
She was a dedicated member of the
Weekly Wanderers — a women’s hiking
group that explores the Bay Area’s
urban and wilderness trails.
Meredith is survived by her partner
Peg Henderson; her children Sarah
Kaplan, Esther Kaplan, Sharon Kaplan,
Rachel Lanham, and Kate Henderson;
her grandchildren Lilia Diaz, Dalton
Lanham, Lola Lanham, and Alma
Barreda Kaplan; and her many dear
friends, nieces, and nephews. n
plans to meet the City’s projected
housing needs (known as Regional
Housing Needs Allocation) at four
different income levels. If such plans
are not in compliance, cities are sub-
ject to penalties and loss of eligibility
for grant opportunities for housing.
Once approved, the Housing Element
will exist from 2023 to 2031.
The Planning Department will
announce proposed zoning changes
that would promote housing con-
struction by early October. RCPC will
share these changes in the The Rock-
ridge News and at www.Rockridge.org.
The Town Hall presentation and
meeting recording are posted online at
www.Rockridge.org. n
Update: August Town Hall
Oakland Housing Element
by Casey Farmer, RCPC Chair
On Thursday, August 18, Rock-
ridge Community Planning
Council (RCPC) hosted a zoom
Town Hall on the City of Oakland’s
Housing Element. Planning Depart-
ment staff gave a presentation on the
process, shared the community input
to date, answered questions, and
solicited feedback from the Rockridge
community.
As required by the State, Housing
Elements must show how the City
Coming soon:
3 Bed 1.5 Bath ~ 1800 sqft Rockridge Craftsman, period character, yard, bonus spaces,
Oak floors, formal dining w/FP,  1/2 block to College Ave/BART. $ TBD
September is awareness month for: Leukemia/Lymphoma Blood Cancers,
Alzheimer's, Better Breakfast, Self Care, Courtesy, Preparedness
HAPPY AUTUMN!


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page 11
SEPTEMBER 2022

RCPC Awards Grant for Garden Project
by Robin McDonnell, RCPC Vice Chair
T

New Principal Starts at
Oakland Tech this Fall
otherwise empty space. It is now
time for the garden to benefit from
a professional assessment and rec-
ommendations for an ever-changing
environment, and to install the most
appropriate plants.
“It is exciting to allocate funds
for such a special project that will
enhance the neighborhood,” said
Casey Farmer, Chair of the RCPC.
“This is exactly how the Kevin
Faughnan Grant program is meant to
be used.”
For information on how to qualify
for RCPC’s Kevin Faughnan Grant
program, send an email Robin
McDonnell at info@rockridge.org. n
he Rockridge Community Plan-
ning Council (RCPC) has funded
a grant proposal to enhance two
pocket gardens. The funds will be
used to support the acquisition of
professional landscape consultation
and planting advice. The gardens are
located on the corner of Miles and
Hudson, and on the corner of Locksley
and Forest.
Voluntarily, Patrick Cullinane, age
79, has been developing and main-
taining the two gardens for almost a
decade. On a weekly basis, the gardens
are visited, watered, trimmed, and
updated. For the garden at Miles and
Hudson, a neighbor allows the use of
their water for the garden; water is
carried weekly to the other garden.
When the Miles and Hudson Garden
was damaged by a tree removal
effort, neighbors contributed $300 to
purchase new plantings to refresh the
garden. At the Locksley and Forest site,
the neighbor across the street contrib-
uted plants for the garden and helps
with maintenance.
When Cullinane is traveling,
neighbors help maintain the gardens.
On many occasions, a passerby will
express appreciation for the color
and beauty the gardens bring to an
Photo credit:
John Sasaki/
OUSD
District 1 welcomes Martel Price as
Oakland Tech’s new principal.
Price worked at Tech for many years
after graduating from another OUSD
school. He follows in his family’s
footsteps — his father was an assistant
principal at Tech years ago. n
CollegePrep
A private high school in Oakland
Tucked into a glen in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, College Prep’s
informal and welcoming campus provides an educational home for a lively and
talented community of students in grades 9-12. Guided by inspiring teachers
and mentors, they create a vibrant community that is rooted in shared values of
kindness, respect, and a willingness to learn from the perspectives of others.
We invite you to visit us and experience College Prep first-hand.
6100 Broadway    Oakland CA 94618   510.652.4364   college-prep.org


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page 12
SEPTEMBER 2022

ADUs and Brews: Recap of a Successful Event

by Casey Farmer, RCPC Chair
On July 24, the Rockridge Com-
munity Planning Council
(RCPC) sponsored a vendor fair for
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
architects. The Golden Squirrel,

options that often cause essential com-
munity members to be priced out of the
rental market.
Attendees left with tools and information,
and had the following to say:
located at 5940 College Avenue, gener-
ously hosted the gathering. Dozens of
residents attended, mingling with five
vendors with vast experience building
in Oakland and Rockridge.
Since 2017, State laws have been
enacted to make it easier for property
owners to build these types of units
— whether within existing structures
like converted garages, or as free-
standing cottages in your backyard.
ADUs are one way to address the
region’s housing crisis and are often
used to house elderly family members,
temporary au pairs, students, or as
multi-use home office/guest accom-
modations. ADUs are less expensive
to build and rent compared to other
“All of my neighbors have done some-
thing and I’m ready to build an ADU,”
remarked one guest.
“When it comes to idyllic walkable
neighborhoods, It was a diverse group of
attendees who discussed everything from
small garage conversions to adding multiple
backyard cottages. A young couple with
a newborn to a woman looking out for
her 102-year-old mother, we saw the full
range of old and new,” said Kevin Casey,
Founder, New Avenue Homes (newavenue-
homes.com).
“We believe ADUs are a great solution
for alleviating the East Bay’s housing
shortage and providing homeowners with
a source of rental income. It was great to
talk with homeowners about their plans to
build new units. Some of them were very
supportive of Co-ADUs, our plan to build
affordable standardized batches of ADUs
for teachers,” said Charlie Boyd, Project
Manager (www.co-adu.com).
“Amato Architecture is thrilled to be
celebrating 20 years of creating functional
beauty with the majority of our work being
in Rockridge. We love this special commu-
nity and were thrilled to educate and assist
residents in building an ADU. The Oakland
codes can be confusing, and we pride
ourselves on navigating the permitting
process and developing attractive designs
that provide solutions and good value,” said
Rebecca Ivans Amato, Principal Architect
(amatoarchitecture.com).
“Ten years before the trend caught
fire, people started hiring us to design
distinctive multipurpose, multigenerational
backyard cottages on their residential
properties.  Our motto is ‘Elevating Back-
yard Living,’” said Carrie Shores Diller,
Principal Architect at Inspired ADUs and
Member of the City of Berkeley’s ADU
Task Force  (www.inspiredadus.com).
“Some people jump right into calling con-
tractors to get bids (these notoriously go
over budget). Others start rough drawings
of their ADU only to hit roadblock after
roadblock with their local jurisdiction. We
believe there is a smarter way,” said Steve
Edrington, President, Adapt Dwellings
(adaptdwellings.com). n


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page 13
SEPTEMBER 2022

Comings and Goings on the Avenue

Coming Soon
Starter Bakery will be moving into
the location vacated by Julie’s Pizza, at
5804 College Ave.
“We are very excited about becoming
a member of the Rockridge commu-
nity. We have completed our designs
and we are awaiting permits so we can
begin construction. Construction will
most likely take at least three months,
so we are still a bit away from opening
our doors,” said Frankie Whitman.
ACRE Restaurant is planning to
open mid-October at Market Hall (see
story on page 7 of this issue).
by Anna L. Marks
Stranded Records
Aflux and flitter of change is
afoot along College Avenue —
here are some recent updates.
Tacos 2 Die 4
Sad Goodbye
Rockridge is sad to say goodbye to
Hank and Frank Bicycles. They closed
the Rockridge location (6030 College
Ave) at the end of August after 36
years. The shop has been an Oakland
business since 1925. One of the owners
said the store is closing due to staffing
and financial issues, and a lack of good
police response to break-ins. Their
Lafayette location (3377 Mt. Diablo
Blvd) will remain open. n
Stranded Records has relocated
from the Piedmont Avenue neighbor-
hood to 5488 College Avenue (the site
previously occupied by Pretty Penny/
Hello Vintage, and, before that, by
Saturn Records). They also have stores
in San Francisco (Valencia Street in
the Mission) and a NYC shop located
in the East Village.
“We moved [from Piedmont] to
Rockridge because the space is much
bigger. College Avenue has more foot
traffic and we’re now two blocks
from BART. Plus, it’s close to home
for me, I’ve lived in Rockridge for the
past 10 years,” says co-owner Steve
Viaduct.
Stranded carries both new and used
records, specializing in jazz, interna-
tional, folk, and classic rock, and loves
to buy used collections. “We don’t
see a record shop as a retro business.
Music is always necessary,” Viaduct
asserted. The store is now open daily
from 11am-7pm.
Carlos Moreira Nieto, owner of
Peruvian restaurant Pucquio (5227
College Avenue), is launching Tacos
2 Die 4 at the same location. They
held a “soft opening” in August and
are now open for lunch Tuesday to
Friday, 11:30am to 2:30pm.
“This taco shop is a playful way to
show our passion for food on another
scale — more comfort, more casual,
yet still delicious,” said Nieto.
Specialty tacos include Pescado
(local rock cod, spicy aioli, slaw, cilan-
tro); Chicharron (confit of pork belly,
yam, onion); and Faux Suadero (slow
cooked beef, radish, cilantro).
“We’ve been serving Oakland for
nine years. We’ve tried many con-
cepts for lunch, but we never get the
response from our community that
we expected. This is our way to say,
“I think this is what you’d like.”


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page 14
SEPTEMBER 2022

will also be a clustered, intimate seat-
ing area for 15-20 people. Even more
exciting, however, will be the new
upstairs bar. The Shafter side of the
restaurant, overlooking BART, will be
a happening after-hour spot for those
looking to meet up with friends or to
have quick drink before going home.
“I’m thrilled to be giving this
beloved destination new life. ACRE
will be firmly rooted in Oakland,
showcasing the best of local purveyors
with simple and delicious food. It’s
going to be food you want to eat, and
eat often,” says Tolsma.
ACRE is scheduled to open mid-
October, assuming all goes well with the
last of the permit process. Downstairs
will be open all day, from 11am to
9pm (no breakfasts, at least to start);
upstairs will be open from 4:30pm to
9pm, but hours are subject to change
based on community feedback. n
ACRE, from page 7
NCPC Meeting
oysters, as much as when your friends
are visiting, or it’s your birthday.”
The menu was inspired by Tolsma’s
travels in France, Italy, and Spain,
with an emphasis on well-priced,
small plates made with locally sourced
ingredients. “We’re going to utilize a
lot of local and regional products —
Starter Bakery breads, Monterey Bay
squid, Santa Barbara spot prawns,
and Llano Seco pork (Llano Seco is
one of the last intact Mexican land-
grant properties in the state). We are
currently working on a dish I call ‘An
American in Provence,’ and it’s the fla-
vors and memory of walking along the
water and spending the day just lazily
hanging around Marseille.”
The private dining area will con-
tinue to host parties of up to 35 people
in an enclosed private space, and there
The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
meets on the 2nd Thursday of
even numbered months.
The next Zoom meeting
will be held on:
October 13, 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 15
SEPTEMBER 2022

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.
Classifieds
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Does your adolescent pup need help
with basic obedience, leash manners
or impulse control? We offer private
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The deadline for October’s issue is Sept. 22, 2022 (available Oct. 8).
Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131.
RN
For more details, email Susan Montauk at smontauk@gmail.com.
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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. n
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
College kid moved back home? Their
“cave” might need more outlets. I’ve
been doing electrical work in Oakland
and Berkeley for over 35 years. Sutorik &
Company, www.sutorikandco.com.
Lic #397149. 510/655-3677.
Plan for 2022 Now! Free
Home Evaluation w/Licensed
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Market Value, Tax-Related Issues, Estate
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month we donate $100 to Friends of OPL.
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Experienced team of two dedicated
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DRE 01265873 | 01798658

Competition Drives Price in July
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
7/5/2022
5
3.5

483 Clifton St                          $2,249,000         $1,995,000
66
$2,095,000
7/6/2022
2
1

5771 Ayala Ave                       $1,050,000         $1,050,000
27
 $1,050,000
7/7/2022
4
2
         6652 Dana St                          $1,895,000         $1,895,000
14
$2,600,000
7/13/2022
5
4

5964 Margarido Dr                $2,495,000         $2,495,000
 8
$3,500,000
7/14/2022
4
3

5244 Boyd Ave                       $1,195,000         $1,195,000
12
$1,825,000
7/18/2022
3
2

5340 Broadway Terrace          $815,000
           $815,000
 9
  $995,000
Homes sold in July closed 24% over the asking price on average.
Specializing in Rockridge | 510.459.4338 | MotleyTeam.com
Want the highest possible price? Call us and we will show you how we will get it!
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01866771. All material presented herein is intended for informational
purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of
any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.


THE

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THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE