Extracted text · highlighting “Jody Colley”

www.rockridge.org
THE
R ckridgeNews

VOL 37  •  NO. 11  •  ISSUE  NO. 403  •  DECEMBER 3, 2022                    CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

Holiday Shopping and Festivities
Come to Rockridge

by Jody Colley, Rockridge District Association
Home Depot Drops
Proposal for Shops at
the Ridge
Home Depot has pulled its
proposal for the Shops at
the Ridge project as a direct result
of community action that included
a rally and petition drive that gar-
nered more than 4,400 signatures.
Several neighborhood groups
came together to help make this
happen, including the Rockridge
Community Planning Council
(RCPC), Upper Broadway Advo-
cates (UBA), Piedmont Avenue
Neighborhood Improvement
League (PANIL), and the Housing
Action Coalition (HAC).
What happens next is unknown
as the landowner has not expres-
sed interest in having any housing
built on the site. However, our
local representative Dan Kalb
believes that can happen. “We
had a shopping center approved
back in 2013 for Phase Two. We
are talking about making a few
modifications to include housing
on top of the shopping center —
maybe four, five stories — while
still having a retail feel to it.”
The Rockridge News will con-
tinue to report on the project.
D
(Photo courtesy of the Rockridge District Association)
H
It’s a bustling time for College Avenue,
which invites visitors to enjoy the
holiday lights amidst award-winning
window decorations.
The Rockridge District Association
(RDA) is providing live music and
caroling to enhance the holiday
shopping experience each Saturday
and Sunday in December leading up
to Christmas. Performers will dot
College Avenue from Broadway to
Alcatraz, providing daytime enter-
tainment for shoppers. In addition to
street performances, The GRAMMY
oliday lights adorn street poles
along College Avenue and signal
the beginning of the holiday season.
Once again, Rockridge is poised to
shine by offering the Bay Area the per-
fect destination for holiday shopping,
dining, pampering, and entertain-
ing. Defying the odds, Rockridge
is bursting at the seams with retail
shops — established, new, and recently
expanded — offering exceptional gifts
for everyone in the family, especially
the kids. Foodies have seemingly end-
less choices in dining options for their
holiday meals with loved ones, whether
eating out or taking it home to share.
Holidays, see page 3


THE
page 2
DECEMBER 2022

Housing is a Hot
Topic: Let’s Dig in
Together
income people, or should we focus on
creating units at greater affordability
to house lower-income people? What
level is financially affordable to middle-
income people? Should we advocate for
greater affordability to house lower-
income people?
RCPC
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.
by Casey Farmer, Chair RCPC
M
• Without California Redevelopment
resources, what are the funds available
to subsidize affordable housing and
how is Oakland accessing them? Are
our local voter-approved tax dollars
for affordable housing working
(specifically Alameda County Measure
A1 and Oakland Measure KK /
recently renewed as Measure U)?
y fellow RCPC Board Member
Kirk Peterson wrote an article,
“A Place Called Rockridge,” in last
month’s Rockridge News about our
beloved neighborhood in which he
stated, “Change is coming. There will
be more of us here, and there’s room.”
I couldn’t agree more.
As I hear Rockridgers talk about
housing, I’ve contemplated a number
of questions:
• What are the various types of
housing we can incorporate into our
neighborhood?
• What will be the real impacts of new
housing versus fears on traffic, parking,
community safety, and support of the
local economy on College Avenue?
• How many ADUs have been built
in Rockridge and are they helping to
address the housing crisis?
• Can housing be built on vacant lots
like the triangular-shaped corner at
College and Claremont?
• What is upzoning — as some have
proposed along College Avenue — and
what changes would it bring to the
neighborhood?
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
• What are other high-need cities
like Oakland or high-resource
neighborhoods like Rockridge doing to
build affordable housing?
RCPC Board of Directors, 2022-23
Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Aly Bonde...................................................... Secretary
Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer
• In previous cycles, Oakland has built
many market-rate units surpassing our
regional housing goals in that category
while vastly underbuilding affordable
units. Does this mean we should have a
moratorium against market-rate units?
Mark Aaronson, Andrew Charman, Ben Friedman,
Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Kirk Peterson,
Ken Rich, Ronnie Spitzer, Zac Unger
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
• What questions do you have about
housing?
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.
My colleague Kirk Peterson asked,
“How can we shape change for the
best?” As Chair of our neighborhood
association, I see our greatest role as
advocacy for what the neighborhood
wants and needs. While we’ve col-
lectively and successfully fended off
Home Depot, and remain hopeful that
The Ridge site will become housing,
there are a few other sites in Rock-
ridge where housing could be built to
ensure more people can afford to live
in our neighborhood.
I think it’s time to come together
(in person or online!) to learn more
about this issue. Starting early next
year, RCPC will focus its Town Halls
on the topic of housing. We’ll bring in
experts to share data and trends, open
the conversation to your questions,
and gather feedback from Rockridge
residents so that the RCPC Board can
best represent the residents we serve.
Please continue to read the
Rockridge News for Town Hall
Announcements and drop me a line
with your thoughts or questions at
Chair@Rockridge.org. n
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.
One major element of the housing
conversation regards affordability.
Nearly 100 residents gathered in Octo-
ber for our rally against Home Depot
and for housing. The signs people held
and the cheers they shouted varied —
some urging “only affordable housing,”
and some with signs inferring “Build
Housing!” From this powerful gath-
ering of neighbors, I’ve added more
questions to my list:
• What are the economics of
affordability? How does affordable
housing get financed and built? What
role can we as a neighborhood play in
that process?
• Will “all affordable or nothing”
projects work in our neighborhood?
• Should we focus on advocating for
more units that are affordable to middle-
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 Ad Deadline for JANUARY 2023:
December 22, 2022
Advertising rates are $28/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rate available. For display ads, call Jo Ellis
at 510-653-3210 (after noon), or email joellis1@
hotmail.com. Email Susan Montauk at smontauk@
gmail.com for information regarding classified ads.
Views expressed in published articles do not
necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council.


THE

page 3
DECEMBER 2022

Holidays, from front page
award-winning Pacific Boychoir Acad-
emy, carolers, and acoustic musicians
will pop into shops for short sets at
each place they visit. The December
10th Rockridge Rock-N-Stroll — a
monthly live music series that includes
sales, pop-up vendors, art shows, and
more — will include a Silly Sweater
Contest for people and pups.
Throughout the season, information
on holiday events and sales will be
posted on the RDA’s website along
with an expansive Gift Guide to
help inspire your shopping lists. The
guide will include links to buy from a
selection of hundreds of curated gifts
and gift cards, including local delivery
options when available, making it
easier than ever to shop from home
and “buy local.”
Taking advantage of the increased
foot traffic during December, the
Rockridge District Association is
distributing thousands of Rockridge
Pocket Guides. Found at shops all
along College Avenue, the Pocket
Guide introduces people to the many
shops and offerings in the neighbor-
hood. A digital edition can be found
at RockridgeDistrict.com.
The small business community
relies on the support of residents in
order to succeed, to hire and develop
employees, and to serve Rockridge by
providing goods, services, expertise,
and a unique sense of place. Opportu-
nities to give back this holiday season
will be abundant. Rockridge merchants
have a generous spirit throughout the
year, and the season of giving will be
on full display with coat, toy, food
drives, and fundraisers for local causes.
For more information about
holiday events, sales, and gift guides,
visit RockridgeDistrict.com. n
Land Use Committee Meeting
Rockridge Community Planning
Council’s LUC Meeting will be held:
Wednesday, January 25, 2023,
at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
(there is no meeting in December)
Use Zoom link: bit.ly/3c0r6X0
or email: landuse@rockridge.org.

— Dogs of Rockridge —
Magic, a Portuguese Water
Dog, has lived in Rockridge
for all of her 10 years. Her
dog friends Paula and David
have been in the same house
in Rockridge for 46 years.
Magic has many titles, the
most fun being Trick Dog.
Here she is practicing in the
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.


THE
page 4
DECEMBER 2022

Interview: Naomi Schiff Opines on Draft Design
Guidelines at CCA Development

has been submitted by Emerald
Fund, the site developer, and Schiff
questions “whether the current set
succeeds in contributing to a ‘special
sense of place or diversity of architec-
tural expression.’”
The CCA campus API has had
two “periods of significance.”
One, including the 1874 Victorian
mansion, Macky Hall, predates
the college; the second is since the
school opened in 1920. The current
proposal calls for demolishing all ten
buildings from the later CCA period.
OHA would like to see some of them
preserved in acknowledgment of this
long period of significance, including
those determined to be eligible for
the California Register.
An article from the San Francisco
Chronicle dated February 28, 2022,
noted, “the State asked Oakland to
issue permits for 6,949 low-income
and moderate units by 2023, but the
City has met only 22 percent of that
goal so far, issuing permits for 1,506
affordable units.” Under the current
design guidelines, 65 percent of the
units will be studios or one-bedroom
by Anna L. Marks
The need for new housing in the
Bay Area cannot be overstated.
Oaklanders in general agree, and
voters approved Measure U (Afford-
able Housing and Infrastructure
Bond initiative) last month, which
will eventually have a positive impact
on current housing stock.
Until then, neighborhood organiza-
tions hope to work with the developer
of the California College of the Arts
(CCA) site, currently in the design
phase, to preserve its historical value
to the community and provide much-
needed affordable housing to the area.
CCA left Rockridge this past spring
when they consolidated the campus in
San Francisco.
The Rockridge News sat down with
Naomi Schiff to discuss her views on
the proposed project and how it fits
into the current landscape.
Schiff is not new to the scene. She
was an affordable housing advocate
during the Lionel Wilson mayoral
administration and served on the
Chinatown/Central Redevelopment
Advisory Board for 12 years. She
helped save a 100-unit building from
demolition after the 1989 earthquake.
Recently, she helped lobby Alameda
County Supervisors to sell two blocks
at Broadway and 4th Street for new
housing — with one site affordable
and one market-rate.
Currently, Schiff is a board
member of the Oakland Heritage
Alliance (OHA), whose mission
is to “advocate for the protection,
preservation, and revitalization of
Oakland’s architectural, historic,
cultural, and natural resources
through publications, education,
and direct action.” They also have
a newsletter, offer guided walking
tours, and work directly with the
City on various policy matters
including zoning.
OHA has written many letters to
the Planning Commission regarding
CCA because the site is considered an
Area of Primary Importance (API),
meaning that it is likely eligible for the
National Register of Historic Places.
…any proposed demolition of structures with
such designations must be replaced by design that is
of equal or higher value.
apartments, and very few, if any,
will have three or four bedrooms to
accommodate families.
“It would be an affront to the
citizens of Oakland to demolish 83
percent of the API’s buildings, 100
percent of those constructed during
the second CCA period, including all
of those determined eligible for the
California Register, for the primary
purpose of building predominantly
market-rate units — particularly
since there is a vacant lot next door.
It is wonderful to preserve historic
landscaped open spaces and the
Broadway wall, but it is not suffi-
cient. Signage is not adequate to
mitigate losing the API’s integrity.”
Overall, Schiff believes that the
The Oakland General Plan includes
a Historic Preservation Element
that addresses Areas of Primary
Importance and Areas of Secondary
Importance, among other categories.
It states that any proposed demolition
of structures with such designations
must be replaced by design that is of
equal or higher value.
“The design guidelines should yield
a project that meets the General Plan,
including the ‘equal or higher’ stan-
dard for demolitions in an API. Once
the EIR is released, the Planning
Commission will make recommenda-
tions and the City Council would act
on approvals such as EIR certifica-
tion, a General Plan amendement,
zoning changes, and General Plan
conformity.”
An updated draft set of guidelines
OHA, see next page


THE

page 5
DECEMBER 2022

believes creative planning could have
a huge positive impact and make the
neighborhood even better.
“For those who can’t afford a $2
million bungalow, I get it, I’m sorry,
and there are a lot of those in Rock-
ridge, and I agree that we should
build more housing. But I think that
it is not true that the housing supply
has a trickle-down effect in which if
you build a whole bunch of high-end
units, this benefits people who are
living on the street. It does not. We
need some more accessible, and more
affordable housing for the people
who need it the most. And, if you
look at the statistics, we know where
the gap is. It’s in very affordable
housing. And I’m not talking about
110 percent of the median income.
I’m talking about people who make
much less than that.”
The project might go forward more
quickly with the approval of the
Landmarks Preservation Advisory
Board (LPAB), which is advisory
to the Planning Commission and
City Council on historic projects,
but currently does not support the
project as it stands. The LPAB does
not independently approve projects;
however, their recommendations
have considerable weight. The task at
hand is to see how the design guide-
lines can not only be strengthened,
but made better all around.
“Something’s going to have to
happen there, but we really want a
good design. And I think it’s not too
much to ask of a developer doing
such a major project that they do a
good design.” n
OHA, from previous page
newest set of design guidelines are too
weak, and points to the record number
of trees that are slated for removal
— 97 in total. She emphasized that
she wants this issue to be addressed
in more detail and would like to see
enough trees preserved, or replaced
with native species, to help mitigate
the impact of additional traffic
pollution and increased density. She
also expressed that too little has been
done to address the enormous traffic
burden that will be created by the new
units, and notes that Clifton Street
cannot currently sustain any increase
in traffic that would be introduced by
the size of the new development.
Schiff would like to see a plan that
feels welcoming, and expressed con-
cern specifically about the proposed
width and setback of Building B —
450 feet wide by 8 or 9 stories tall.
However, she noted that, “The pro-
posed setback of new buildings from
old buildings doesn’t seem to help.
It is only relevant if some CCA-era
buildings which are not currently in
the plans are retained — but all struc-
tures are proposed for demolition.”
The developers have promised to
make sure there is public access,
but to what degree? How will it
be monitored long term? The cur-
rent suggested setback of the new
buildings will do little to maintain
or encourage public access to an
otherwise private space. Ideally,
Schiff would like to see an area plan
that also incorporates the adjacent
vacant lot at 5050 Broadway, and she

The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
Joe DeVries, Oakland Deputy
City Administrator (above),
will join the Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council at its December meet-
ing. He will outline the direction
he expects the Neighborhood
Services Division to take in 2023
and describe any specific plans
that are in the works.
Please join the NCPC to hear
what’s in store for next year.
The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime
Prevention Council
meets on the 2nd Thursday of even
numbered months.
The next Zoom meeting
will be held on:
December 8, 2022, at 7pm,
(pending further notice)
For Zoom link, visit:
https://rockridgencpc.com
To suggest meeting topics,
send an email to:
chair@rockridgencpc.com.
Missed an issue of
The Rockridge News?
Visit rockridge.org
and download a digital copy
today — in color with hotlinks to
resources on the Internet.


THE
page 6
DECEMBER 2022

Letter to the Editor
A Bold Vision for Rockridge
part of what we hope can become an
integrated vision for both sites. 
We also hope to start developing a
true planning vision for the Broadway
corridor between Kaiser and CCA.
There are numerous vacant sites or
underutilized commercial buildings,
and we have a historic opportunity to
provide new homes to an incredibly
diverse group of Oaklanders.
Thank you to all RCPC members
who have led the charge at 51st and
Broadway, and who are paving a path
forward in housing conversations.
Affordability, ownership, density,
design, open space, and public access
are all critical components, and we
are committed to finding common
ground and building a bold and more
inclusive vision for our community.
The question is no longer whether to
build, but how.
We look forward to being your
partners as we work to transform
Broadway into a street worthy of its
name — and of the inclusive values of
this great city.
Dear Editor: As your neighbors to the
south, we wanted to write in appre-
ciation and support of the efforts
to transform 51st/Broadway into
much-needed housing. As Temescal
and Mosswood residents, we share the
Broadway corridor and the need for
new housing in the community. 
Inspired by work happening in
other neighborhoods, we’ve begun
organizing ourselves, in part so that
we can join Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) and others
in pushing for a community-driven,
housing-centric vision for that site
and others nearby. We are excited
to see new housing at the California
College of the Arts (CCA) site as well,
Happy Holidays to You
and  a
Healthy and Safe 2023
Alex Schafran, Manila Avenue, Oakland
Anna de Anguera, 37th Street, Oakland
Brian Pearson, 37th Street, Oakland
George Spies, Webster St, Oakland
The opinions represented in the
Letters to the Editor do not
necessarily reflect the views of  the
Rockridge News, the Rockridge
Community Planning Council, or the
RCPC Board of Directors.
Anne D. Brandon, Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@corcorangl.com
AnneDBrandon.com
Lic# 01877719
© 2022 Corcoran Global Living. All rights reserved.
    Each franchise is independently owned and operated.


THE

page 7
DECEMBER 2022

Rockridge Designers Cut from the Same Cloth

by Susie Wyshak
D

of regionally grown materials and
supports the enhancement and res-
toration of soil, water, and the health
of the biosphere. French terry cotton
fabric features Sally Fox’s naturally
colorful, organic Foxfibre® cotton,
grown and woven in America.
Other pieces use Climate Beneficial
Wool whose regenerative practices
have been verified. Dip-dye and
eco-print pieces get their color from
mainly Hamblin’s homegrown and
foraged plants. Hefty denim fabric
is “mill-end,” meaning it includes
remnants from large manufacturer
production runs.
Where: Visit Kosa Arts at the
Temescal Farmers Market. To shop
online and find open workshop hours,
visit KosaArts.com.

id you know that Technical Designers turn artistic concepts by fashion
illustrators into practical sewing patterns for clothing and apparel pro-
duction? Rockridge is blessed to have three such local design veterans and
entrepreneurs. Each of these artists expresses a strong passion and vision for
beautiful clothing and accessories that are built to last — and each has the
fortitude to stand alongside fashion’s mainstream purveyors.

Natalie Loftus
During the pandemic, Oaklanders
and Etsy shoppers scooped up Natalie
Loftus’ designer-quality masks in
Japanese printed fabric. Little did they
know that each mask was handcrafted
by a seasoned creative whose global
design experience includes work for
Levi’s, Stitchfix, and Old Navy. 
The mask-making progressed into a
line of beautiful, practical accessories
featuring Japanese prints and heavy,
ten-ounce denim. Hallmarks of the
line include snap-close eyeglass cases;
a reversible tote engineered to last; and
a cleverly designed wristlet that unzips
into a single-foot-long flat piece.
Where: etsy.com/shop/MasquerAide
and locally at Mimi Manning’s vintage
pop-ups, at 51st and Lawton.
Desiree Salas
at Bella Vita, 5511 College Ave; Cole
Coffee at College Avenue’s Rock-N-
Stroll; and Etsy.com/shop/desireesalas.
With a degree from the College of
Alameda fashion design program,
Salas became a technical designer
for Baby Gap (making baby dresses)
and Women’s Gap and taught at the
Academy of Art. While operating
Cole Coffee with her husband Mike,
her inspiration to start a clothing
line struck. Salas’ line of all-cotton,
retro-inspired dresses, skirts, and tops
embody her fond memories of thrift
shopping.
“Vintage dresses are great, but
they’re old and fall apart,” she
explained. Her line features playful
patterns, constructed for daily wear.
“You can live in them,” she says,
meaning her cotton creations can be
layered with shirts and sweaters, over
leggings, with boots or sneakers.
Where: Explore Desiree’s creations
Elaine Hamblin
Temescal Farmers Market goers may
have spotted a booth filled with natu-
ral-toned hoodies and smartly tailored
denim jackets. That’s Kosa Arts, a line
reflecting Elaine Hamblin’s history as
a seasoned designer with a commit-
ment to sustainable design.
Hamblin’s degree in fine arts from
California College of the Arts (CCA)
led to many years as a technical
designer with iconic Bay Area brands
including Esprit, Levi’s, Gap (where
she and Salas were co-workers), Ever-
lane, and StitchFix.
The revenue from her clothing and
home goods supports the Northern
California Fibershed, an organization
that promotes the use and production
Susie Wyshak is a local real estate
agent, food maven, and resident who
adores artisan-made clothing. n


THE
page 8
DECEMBER 2022

He Knows Rockridge
Streets “Like the Back
of My Hand”
Photo by Judy Berne
by Judith Doner Berne
Greg Brennan has come full circle.
In 2006, the now 67-year-old
Rockridge resident moved back to
the house in which he grew up. The
neighborhood “paper boy” from the
age of 10 to 16 years of age, he now
delivers the Rockridge News on his
Shafter Avenue block.
Brennan was born with detached
retinas in both eyes. His right eye
repaired itself, but surgery on his left
eye was unsuccessful, leaving him
blind in that eye. Now, he is losing
sight in his good eye.
“I’ve had a pretty good run,” Bren-
nan said, as we sat in his backyard
flanked by the lemon tree he climbed
as a kid, and an avocado tree he
recently planted. He ran a successful
hauling and salvage company until his
retirement in 2005. “I helped clean up
after the (1989) earthquake and (1991)
Oakland Hills fire.”
Brennan gave up driving at age
50, but proudly independent, says
he “can still deliver the paper” and
walk to Trader Joe’s for groceries. He
frequents Soi Four, Barney’s, Crepe-
vine, McNally’s, and Ben ‘n Nicks.
Although he sometimes relies on a
white cane and/or his dog, Lucy, for
support, “I know the streets like the
back of my hand, and every bump and
crack in the sidewalk.”
Greg Brennan, pictured with his dog
Lucy, feels “very fortunate” to be
back in his  childhood home.
He found Lucy, his third Dalma-
tian, on the Internet. He saw her
photo (think online dating) and
realized, “She’s the one. I had her
put on a plane and shipped out from
Missouri.” He trained the then-nine-
week-old puppy in English as well as
Spanish, in which he is fluent. “She’s
bilingual. It took a long time.”
Brennan’s love for the dog involved
re-purposing his garage as a living
space, including adding a tiny kitchen
and bathroom. He wanted to live
there as she recuperated from two
knee replacements and couldn’t
maneuver the steps to his century-old
Queen Anne/Craftsman home. “She
has titanium knees,” he said.
Eyes on Rockridge, see next page


THE

page 9
DECEMBER 2022

Continued from previous page
He grew up alongside his two
brothers at a time when Rockridge
“was kind of run down.” That’s when
houses were being physically moved
to make way for the new freeway and
BART, and College Avenue had lots
of empty storefronts. “We rummaged
through all those old houses.”
When he was about eight years old,
“I watched the old Chimes Theatre
burn down,” on the corner that is
now Market Hall. At that time, it
had been turned into a second-floor
roller rink above a bowling alley, he
remembered. He attended Chabot
Elementary, Claremont Middle
School, and Oakland Tech.
The three brothers had the run of
the town, including the construction
sites. His parents told them: “Go
outside and come back when the
streetlights come on.” A neighbor, Gus
Rodeen, now in his nineties, still lives
on the block, and Brennan says he
remembers him saying: “Those Bren-
nan boys, they’re trouble.” But his wife
Marion countered when we walked
across the street to talk to her: “I think
you were good kids.” For Brennan,
“Rockridge was a great place to grow
up. Today, kids have to be so guarded.”
His grandfather, Jack Brennan,
opened Brennan’s Hofbrau in Berke-
ley, in 1959. Greg’s dad was part of the
second generation to run it. He was
there for 30 years before opening the
Hotel Brennan in Baja, Mexico, which
Greg’s stepmother still operates. The
iconic Hofbrau, under Jack Brennan’s
granddaughters, closed in 2018. “I
went there many times in its last three
weeks,” Greg said.
Greg’s house is full of antiques,
some that he brought home during
his years in the salvaging business.
That includes a set of hand-painted
dishes with a pinecone motif from a
Tahoe cabin; a marble-topped walnut
console with an attached mirror;
and an oak side-by-side secretary
desk and attached glassed-in cabinet.

(Photos by Stuart Swiedler)
The Sacramento Northern rail line ran in front of Brennan’s house along
Shafter (pictured above at Forest heading west). The photo below
was taken on Shafter just east of Hudson.

(Photos by Stuart Swiedler)
“I remember these freight trains going by and they had livestock on them,”
said Brennan, who was about age 4 at the time.

uses real mesquite. “I smoke my own
salmon and make big pots of soup.”
The holidays, which he often cel-
ebrates with his nieces, usually find
him smoking a turkey and making
garlic mashed potatoes. He is also
more than ready for a disaster. “I’m
a prepper,” he said. “I have my own
desalination machine, two freezers,
and several water barrels.”
“He’s everything a neighbor should
be,” said Bernard Fox, who has lived
in the house next door for 47 years.
“He likes to barbecue and last week
he gave me a brisket half the size of a
loaf of bread. He’s always giving me
lemons off his tree.”
Divorced after 34 years of marriage,
“I’m looking,” Greg said. “But I can’t
really see anymore. So how am I going
to find anybody?”
If you have questions or suggestions
for future columns, please email
judyberne@att.net. n
He is particularly fond of a wooden
ship’s wheel from an old schooner
that a customer abandoned. It’s now
mounted on his former garage along-
side a wooden sign, designating “The
Boat House.”
“I ran whale-watching tours” out
of the Baha hotel after retiring from
his salvage business, Greg said. An
avid angler, he still fishes in Baha and
Alaska, although now he needs some-
one to travel there with him. He has
photographs of the 46-pound halibut
he caught in Alaskan waters. “We
saw that she had a dozen or two eggs,
so we threw her back. Let her make
babies,” he said.
He keeps active by walking Lucy
and working out on a stationary bike
and a full-body weight machine. “I
do all my own gardening and I enjoy
cooking. My dad was a good cook and
I picked it up from him.” He uses both
a gas grill and a smoker in which he


THE
page 10
DECEMBER 2022

Oakland Tech Auction Gala Returns in 2023

YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
[ B U L K ]  [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
ReUpRefills.org
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND

After missing the annual auction
gala for way too long, the Oak-
land Tech auction committee is
looking forward to the return of an
in-person party so Tech parents and
caregivers can gather for food, drinks,
dancing and live auction bidding to
raise money for the Parent/Teacher/
Student Association (PTSA).
The PTSA supports Tech teachers
and students by funding many enrich-
ment activities beyond the school
budget, including sports, the arts,
field trips, and improving campus life
for everyone. As always, community
members are invited to participate in
the online auction Feb. 24 through
March 8, 2023.
The gala is set for Friday, March
10, 2023, at the Humanist Hall. For
info or to donate, visit oaklandtech.
schoolauction.net/auction2023. n
Jewish Community
Campus Wants To
Hear from You
by Melissa Chapman
Possibilities for Community
Services and Use of Space:
· Preschool, afterschool for K-5 students,
summer camp, teen center
· Adult education, social services, and
activities for older adults
The Jewish Community Center
(JCC) East Bay is very excited to
be a part of the Rockridge commu-
nity. We will continue to work closely
with RCPC so we can be thoughtful
and intentional about incorporating
community feedback — and we want
to hear more from you.
We have posted a brief survey
online (see boxed item) to learn more
about what excites you, what concerns
you, and everything in between. We
also plan to host a Town Hall in late
January, jointly with RCPC, that will
be open to all Rockridge residents. n
· Health and wellness center
· Maker’s space and gallery space
· Café with indoor and outdoor space
· Arts and culture events and holiday
celebrations
· Outdoor play and recreation spaces
· Flexible co-working, meeting, and event
spaces
To share your thoughts, take the survey at
www.jcceastbay.org/communitycampus.

Available:
5685Keith.com - 3+ Bed 1.5 Bath, plus office, ~ 1900 sqft Rockridge Craftsman, period character, refinished
oak floors, spacious verdant yard, detached bonus structure, 1/2 block to College Ave/BART $1,499,000

Coming soon:
4 Bed 2 Bath ~2400 sqft, 1 block off College, brown shingle, large level yard, Price TBD

December is awareness month for: Human Rights, Learn a Foreign Language, Safe Toys, Read a New Book

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


THE

page 11
DECEMBER 2022

Rockridge Branch Library —
December Events For All Ages
Author Book Signing
at Market Hall
Saturday, Dec. 3, 12:30pm–2pm
Tanya Holland’s Tanya Holland’s California Soul
Book Signing, Conversations, Tastings
FOR CHILDREN:
FOR TEENS:
Storytime:
Every Thursday and Saturday at 10:30am;
best for ages 0 to 5.
The Rockridge Teen Advisory Board
(TAB) invites people ages 13 to 18 to join
us on Saturday, December 7, from 4pm-
5pm, for a Winter Fest with pizza, crafts,
and chats about what TAB does.
Chess Club:
Wednesday at 4pm; 12/7 and 12/14;
best for ages 8 to 14.
FOR ALL AGES:
Read to a Dog:
Thursdays at 4pm; 12/1, 12/8, 12/15;
best for ages 3 to 9.
Intergenerational Origami (See item on
left for details)
Intergenerational Origami:
Tuesday, 12/6 at 4pm and Tuesday, 12/20
at 6:30pm; all ages.
For information on all libray programs,
please visit: oaklandlibrary.org. The library
will be closed Saturday 12/24/22, Monday
12/26/22, and Monday 1/2/2023. n
Winter Bingo:
Stop by to pick up a bingo card on 12/17
or after, complete activities, fill in bingo
squares, and get a prize book! Continues
until mid-January. Best for youngsters up
to 12 years old.
Other fun activities related to Winter
Bingo will be scheduled between 12/17
and 12/31, including Paper Snowflakes,
PomPom SnowFriends, and Gingerbread
Houses.
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


THE
page 12
DECEMBER 2022

Emerging Artist,
Satya
by Carol Kasparek
“W
of notes on her phone. Satya will often
compose on the guitar or piano, and
then find poems or free-writing in her
journals to integrate into the music.
That music weaves her deeply per-
sonal lyrics with a fusion of folk, soul,
and R&B. She “reaches out to friends
who fit” a particular composition to
build on and produce the song. She
has a trusted team, which includes
musician-producers like herself, and
her manager.
With more opportunities for
women now than in the past, they
are still too often “not taken seriously
or respected” in the music industry.
Satya finds the current state “interest-
ing because of DIY.” Technology and
social media allow her to compose,
for the Arts “taught me so much.” “I
became so engaged with my music
due to their love and care,” she says.
“I was able to work on my art while
going to school.”
India Arie, Lenny Kravitz, and
Oakland artist Goapele were part of
the soundtrack to Satya’s upbringing.
Soul, Ella Fitzgerald, and Curtis
Mayfield also formed the “core” of her
inspirations. The “raw, stripped back”
quality of these artists influenced
the “authentic” focus of her work.
In describing her creative process,
collaboration is a significant factor.
“The outdoor music festivals and art
markets of the East Bay influenced
me,” by people working together, in
community.
“I’ve always liked to write.” She has
“millions of journals” and a multitude
hen I was little, I always
knew I wanted to stand on
any stage I wanted, with people I want
to be with,” says Oakland-based artist,
Satya. Satya’s mother and grandpar-
ents nurtured that vision of freedom
and community as she grew up in
Rockridge, and, where she currently
resides, on Ocean View Drive.
Her mother is a dancer, father is a
visual artist. Satya describes being
surrounded by an array of siblings
and chosen families involved in the
arts. “There was always music in the
house.” Attending Oakland School
Satya, see next page


THE

page 13
DECEMBER 2022

Satya, from previous page
mix and distribute from her living
room. “I love the way it’s changed...
you don’t have to be signed or con-
nected to a company” to produce and
distribute.
Major changes in Satya’s life will
affect her future projects. She received
a MusicForward/LiveNationLGBTQ+
grant this year. She can now “compen-
sate the people who do so much” in
her music and plan a national tour.
Working with new partners, she
opened for Smokey Robinson in his
recent gig at Mountain Winery. He
was “sweet and humble,” hugged her
band, and “hit every note and made
every move from the 1960s. He was
the soundtrack for my Mom and
uncle… so happy they were there to
hear him.”
She had her own stage at the
Hardly, Strictly Blue Grass Festival
this past summer — her first festival.
Satya dreams of performing at Red
Rocks in Colorado, and at the iconic
Fox Theater right here in her own
hometown. A dream-come-true is
her upcoming performance at SF
Jazz in February. She will also be
performing at the Oaklandside Cul-
turemakers event on December 15.
She is currently completing a variety
of projects, including a full album.
Satya recently returned from living
in New Orleans for four years. She
found many similarities between
Oakland and New Orleans. The Bay
Area has “elders with southern roots”
so her stay in the south had a famil-
iar feel. New Orleans is busier, with
live music down any street. However,
Satya missed the people and com-
munity of Oakland and her extended
family with whom she creates her
music.
Satya treasures intimate settings
where she can share space with
artists, and where the audience and
performers can “see each other up
close.” With her music, her joy, and
her family of collaborators, Satya will
be in venues everywhere.
Look for opportunities at https//
satsatmusic.com to see Satya nearby
before she takes off again. n

22 year-old singer-songwriter Satya Hawley will be performing at the
Oaklandside Culturemakers event December 15th.
(Photo: Rayno Malone)


THE
page 14
DECEMBER 2022

Where Has All the
Trash Gone?
by Robert Firehock
Not that you asked, but if you have
driven up the Hwy 24/Claremont
on-ramp at Hudson early on a Wed-
nesday afternoon, you may have
noticed it was virtually trash-free. Our
small, loyal band of neighbors assem-
bled under the rubric “Scenic Streets
of Oakland,” has been picking it up
every Wednesday morning for years —
coupled with the companion mission
of maintaining the landscaping.
As exasperated as we may become
each Wednesday morning as we start
the clean-up from a week’s worth of
littering, we actually have fun. And
we take great pride in providing our
community with a little bit of attrac-
tive local space; maybe it brings you
a smile or just the secret pleasure of
experiencing a clean, green vista as
you rocket onto the freeway. We are
certain that some drivers notice us, as
we get the occasional beep-beep and
Lee Patterson attacks the wild grasses on the Highway 24 off-ramp
with a weed wacker.
Photo by Robert Firehock
aluminum ladder. Backpacks occa-
sionally show up too, as do various
items of clothing from shoes to hats
to jackets and a few “mystery” items.
Getting these materials out of the
natural environment, including the
storm drain system, and into the
proper recycling and garbage streams
is a great source of motivation and
pride for your Scenic Streets team.
And every Wednesday when we’re
done, the on-ramp looks great.
We can always use more hands
to help, Wednesdays at 10am, for
an hour or so. If you have time to
contribute to your community, please
get in touch with Lee Patterson on his
landline at (510) 923-1084; or email
lee.scenicstreetsoakland@gmail.com.
Advance notice will allow us to give
you a safety orientation and assemble
gear and equipment for you to use.
We have tools, gloves, goggles, vests,
and construction hats. Wear your
own sturdy, closed-toe shoes and
dress for the weather.
And we could still use some help
getting our website back up. You can
find our evolving efforts at https://
www.scenicstreetsoakland.org/. n
friendly wave, which, by the way, is
very much appreciated.
We didn’t track the metrics strictly
but based on years of ramp work, the
following is a rough measure of what
trash the team removes weekly:
• One to two pounds of plastic
waste, from clamshells to straws to
tiny plastic multicolored residue of
who knows what products, Styrofoam
in all shapes and sizes, and from tiny
clusters to complete ice chests.
• Three to five pounds of paper and
paper products, from utility bills and
shopping lists to random cardboard
boxes.
• Half a shopping bag of bottles and
cans, usually including several beer or
liquor bottles.
• 50-100 cigarette butts, depending
only on how many pickers we have
and how much patience they have for
picking up butts (attention smokers)!
• A handful of masks and rubber
gloves — pretty much a Covid-
happening that, like the virus, has not
yet fully abated.
• And, a variety of unique items,
from a .38 caliber bullet to a 12-foot


THE

page 15
DECEMBER 2022

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. The deadline for January’s issue is Dec 22 (available Jan
7). Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131.
For details, email Susan Montauk at smontauk@gmail.com.
Plan for 2023 Now!
Free Home Evaluation w/Licensed
Neighborhood Realtor!
Market Value, Tax-Related Issues, Estate
Planning, Selling/Buying. Eve Levine 347-
526-1383; eve@vanguardproperties.com.
DRE#02133046. Each in-home visit this
month we donate $100 to Friends of OPL.
RN
Reward Based Dog Training
Does your adolescent pup need help
with basic obedience, leash manners
or impulse control? We offer private
training customized to help your dog
succeed! Please call 510/646-9657 or
visit dogsquaddogtraining.com for more
information and to get started.
The East Bay Depot for
Creative Reuse
offers fun weekly crafting workshops and
community events in our Re:Studio at
4696 Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal
neighborhood.  Visit www.creativereuse.
org/restudio for information and
registration.
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.
Reverse Mortgages: Let Equity
be your Pension Income to Live
Comfortably!
Monica @ 415/710-0354 CrossCountry
Mortgage, LLC 1385 Shattuck Avenue,
Suite B Berkeley, CA 94709; NMLS116494
NMLS2338848 NMLS3029. Equal
Housing Opportunity. All loans subject to
underwriting approval. n
Smart Home Done Right!
Immersive home theater, lighting,
shades, HVAC, locks, cameras & more
in one simple world. Easy retrofit into
existing homes. Rockridge-based, decades
of experience, we make the experience
fun! www.performingartsaudio.biz. Ben
Stiegler, 510/823-0850.
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat
existing. Large jobs or small. Twenty-plus
years in Piedmont Ave/Rockridge. Bruce
Williams Woodfloors. Please call or text
Bruce at 510/652-8121. CA Lic # 913727
or text 510/652-8121; www.blwfloors.
com.
law office of
dave karlinsky
Penelope’s Aesthetics!
A New Year is coming, be prepared! Put
on a new face with an age-defying
facial. Erase the stress holidays bring
with a rejuvenating treatment! Only $89!
Schedule an appointment today. 510/594-
1552 penelopecalef.com.
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
(510) 788-5700    www.davekarlinskylaw.com
Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:
• Estate planning

• Probate / trust administration

• Dispute resolution

• Special needs trusts
Garden Maintenance,
Cleanups & Design
Experienced team of two dedicated
to the art of gardening. We specialize
in garden maintenance, cleanups and
custom garden designs.  To contact us,
please email yourgreengardeners@
gmail.com. Check us out at www.
yourgreengardeners.com.
Please contact me during regular business hours to
      schedule an appointment.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
It’s the season of . . . LIGHTS! Are you
ready? I’ve been doing electrical work in
Oakland and Berkeley for over 35 years.
Sutorik & Company. www.sutorikandco.
com.  Lic #397149. 510/655-3677.
Handyman Service —
House Repairs & Remodeling
Dry rot, kitchen and bath tile refurbishing
or installation, window installation,
plumbing, fence, deck & handrail repair,
electrical wiring/fixtures, outlets. And
much more. Call Juan 510/692-6399 or
email. jbahena.info@gmail.com.


THE

COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE

At Holy Names, students thrive. In our
supportive and academically-challenging
environment, Holy Names students develop
strong voices, deep compassion, and the

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.

Holy Names High School

4660 Harbord Drive, Oakland, CA 94618
hnhsoakland.org