Extracted text · highlighting “Ken Rich”

www.rockridge.org
THE
R ckridgeNews

VOL 38   •   NO. 2   •   ISSUE  NO. 405   •   FEBRUARY 4, 2023                CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

RCPC Board Elections Planned for April
by Ben Friedman, RCPC Election Officer
j  SAVE THE DATES  j
RCPC / JCC East Bay
JOINT TOWN HALL
Are you a resident of Rockridge
wondering how to help serve
our community? Six seats are up for
election to the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) Board,
scheduled for Thursday, April 20 and
Saturday, April 22. Now is the time
to think about whether you may be
interested in running for a seat on the
board for a two-year term.
Board members are
elected at large by our
entire community.
Board membership is
an excellent way to gain
a deep understanding of social, civic,
and economic issues relevant to our
neighborhood and our city.
Join the Rockridge Community
Planning Council and the Jewish
Community Center on February 7,
at 6pm for a Town Hall Meeting
at the Rockridge Branch Library.
You can also join via livestream;
however, there will not be an
opportunity to ask questions online.
Registration is required: https://
us02web.zoom.us/j/87277077537.
For more details, visit https://
jcceastbay.org/communitycampus/.
Board Elections, see next page
coffee, specialty brewing equipment,
wine, and to-go house-made snacks.
For him, every product should be
“approachable” while offering some-
thing special to the customer.
His years in service jobs, which
included a stint at the Bartavelle
Café in Berkeley, prepared him for
the hard work of running a retail
brick-and-mortar establishment —
non-stop hard work if one intends to
A Double-Shot of
Attention Makes for a
Proper Cuppa’ Coffee
March Town Hall (Date TBD)
Learn from experts how we can
make sure that new housing built in
Rockridge includes units affordable
to a wide range of Oakland residents.
by Carol Kasparek
Upon entering Ain’t Normal Cafe,
customers find a space filled
with super-local and international
creations. Owner Faunus Lucas has
carefully chosen the made-to-order
drink menu, the array of bagged
Did you miss the Jan. Town Hall:
Community Input on The Ridge?
See video and more at rockridge.org.
Ain’t Normal, see page 4

Illustration above by Alex Theodoropulos. Lettering and graphic of the espresso machine by Bud Snow.


THE
page 2
FEBRUARY 2023

may be resuming in person. Board
members are expected to participate
in at least one committee, and in
planning and organizing Town Halls
and community events — including
the biennial Rockridge Kitchen Tour
fundraiser. For an individual Board
member, the typical time commit-
ment is about 10 to 12 hours per
month, varying with circumstances.
The RCPC needs your help as we
strive to help our community thrive
as an inclusive and vibrant neighbor-
hood. If you love Rockridge and wish
to promote the health, safety, and
quality of life of our neighbors while
providing leadership and representa-
tion of neighborhood interests, this
spring’s election is a great opportunity
to get involved.
RCPC
Board Elections in April
continued from front page
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.
Much of the work of the board
occurs in standing committees and
programs. The Land Use Committee
is at the forefront, working on issues
of local planning, housing develop-
ment and affordability, inclusion,
and community enhancement. The
Transportation Committee tackles
traffic and transit, as well as pedes-
trian and bicycle safety improvements.
The Parks Committee looks after our
precious green space, collaborating
with the FROG Park Committee, and
working to steward our pocket parks
like Ayala and small neighborhood
parks like Colby Park. Through the
Kevin Faughnan Memorial Grants
Program, RCPC distributes small
grants to groups and individual com-
munity members to carry out projects
for the improvement of their immedi-
ate neighborhoods.
Membership on the RCPC Board
involves a significant commitment
of time and effort. Among the most
basic activities are board meetings
(held monthly), Town Hall meetings,
and committee meetings. Meetings
are currently held via Zoom but
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
Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer
To run for election, prospective
candidates must submit a statement
announcing an intent to run no later
than Wednesday, March 1, 2023, by
email to chair@rockridge.org.
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
Candidates must meet the criteria
for membership (at least 18 years of
age and maintain a principal resi-
dence within Rockridge boundaries as
defined by the RCPC bylaws, available
at www.rockridge.org/boundaries/).
For info about board service, email
RCPC at election@rockridge.org. n
Contacting The Rockridge News
Are there community issues you’d like to see
covered in The Rockridge News? Have questions
about newsletter distribution? Want to volunteer to
be a Rockridge News block captain? Want to write a
letter to the Editor? We’d love to hear from you.
All letters must be limited to 650 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.

Rockridge News Has Two Volunteer Opportunities

Don Kinkead, founder of The
Rockridge News and delivery
Marshal in Lower Rockridge for
many years, needs a rest and he
hopes that someone will pick up his
route. Here’s what’s entailed: You
pick up your box at the bundling
venue (always at a convenient house
in lower Rockridge) the first Friday
or Saturday of the month, and deliver
the bundles to your district or block
captains. Route details as follows:
so we are looking for a volunteer to
take over her route. We will find a
substitute for February but, after
that, if no one signs up Birch Court
residents will not get The News, and
what a shame that would be. Block
Captains deliver newsletters door-to-
door. The bundle will be delivered to
the Block Captain’s front porch. Let
us know if you are able to sign up to
be Block Captain for this route:
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 MARCH 2023:
February 16, 2023
Route 05A: From 5850 Birch Court
to College Avenue
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.
MARSHAL: 8 drops to 5200 Blocks
We’re still looking for someone to
replace Ellen Koch as Block Captain
of Route 05A/Birch Court. Ellen will
be spending a good part of the year in
Chicago to be with her new grandson,
Newsletters are delivered to front
porches on the first weekend of each
month, except August. To volunteer,
contact Susan at (510) 547-3855;
smontauk@gmail.com.
Views expressed in published articles do not
necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council.


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page 3
FEBRUARY 2023

College Preparatory
School Used Book Sale
Returns to Campus
The College Preparatory School’s
renowned used book sale is
returning to campus. Join fellow Bay
Area book lovers on Saturday, March
25 and Sunday, March 26 to find out
why this is a not-to-be-missed event.
Thousands of used books for
adults, teens, and children will be on
sale — including many recent and
popular titles in excellent condition.
Various media, vinyl, puzzles, and
a small selection of vintage/antique
books will also be for sale. Most
books are priced from $1 to $3, with
some special books priced slightly
higher. Sale hours are Saturday, 10am
to 4pm; and Sunday (featuring $5
bags) from 10am to 2pm.
The event takes place at The
College Preparatory School’s Buttner
Auditorium, 6100 Broadway. For more
information, call (510) 652-0111, or
email Bookfair@college-prep.org. n
Nuthouse at The
Golden Squirrel —
Now Twice the Fun

Dogs of
Rockridge —
Sampson is a 10-year-old pug.
He lives on Keith. He loves food
and walking to Frog Park with
his one-and-a-half-year-old
human sister, Grace. He’s never
forgotten a store on College
Avenue that’s given him treats,
and reluctantly puts up with
dressing in funny costumes.
Does your pup live in Rockridge?
If so, send a photo of your four-legged
friend with a short commentary to:
editor@rockridge.org.
CollegePrep
A private high school in Oakland

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

Nuthouse at the Golden Squirrel
(5940 College Avenue), a comedy
show in the heart of Rockridge, is now
hosting shows twice a week: Wednes-
days at 8:30pm and Saturdays at 8pm.
Nuthouse hosts a rotating lineup of
some of the best comics from aroud
the Bay Area and beyond — and tick-
ets are always free.
The show is produced and hosted by
internationally unknown comedian
Clara Bijl (Edinburgh Fringe Festival,
SF Sketchfest, Cobbs, Punchline)
along with Oakland resident and
cheese sandwiches enthusiast, Daniel
Lewis (2022 East Bay Comedy Com-
petition, Alameda Comedy Club).
For information and to purchase
advance tickets, visit to https://
nuthouse.eventbrite.com/. n

6100 Broadway    Oakland CA 94618   510.652.4364   college-prep.org


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FEBRUARY 2023

Ain’t Normal, from front page
be opened every day, as he is now. “I’ve
always wanted to have a retail shop,”
says Lucas. “When you say you want
to do something, you get pushed into
whatever direction that takes you.”
Initially, he served drinks and food
at his partner’s art exhibit opening
at Growelry, in San Francisco. Lucas
showed up at the next event with an
espresso machine in hand. “We served
third-wave coffee drinks (meaning
paying attention to the origins of the
coffee with sustainability and fairness
in mind) in the same vein as we do
now at the cafe.” The catering busi-
ness was dubbed “Ain’t Normal” after
a friend’s nickname took off.
When the pandemic hit, his
corporate event catering business
evaporated, and the landlord of the
space at the corner of Miles and Col-
lege contacted him when the previous
tenant left. Lucas quickly launched
into a six-month remodel. He knew
to prepare exclusively for take-out as
pandemic restrictions increased.
When the doors opened to the
public in October 2020, Caltrans
work on the adjacent parklet began.
“We didn’t know anything about
the construction,” he remembers, as
the sledgehammering ensued. Now
complete, Lucas uses this new outdoor
space for additional customer seating.
Library Archives
Historical note: The building currently occupied by Ain’t Normal Cafe
is the original site of the Rockridge Library, pictured here c. 1930.
in every region has a characteristic
flavor profile and rest time. Their goal
is to make the “proper cup, or fit,”
for each customer. “We work to teach
the customer how to talk to us about
coffee. We need to have a conversation
about the flavor you want: smoky,
chocolatey, full-bodied, high acid
or low acid. We have something for
everybody.”
The cafe has developed a distinctive
wine selection as well, available by
glass and bottle. He seeks out local,
small-production wineries. Again, any
selection is preceded by a discussion
of what the customer wants and
the characteristics of each offering,
because, he says, “I want people to
drink wine here.”
Food options were recently added
to the café menu. Self-taught as a
cook, Lucas began with a friend’s
scone recipe and then added the
dishes he enjoys to a daily menu. The
catering business has returned in
force. The name Ain’t Normal now
seems prescient.
“I don’t know what it would have
been like to open in normal times,”
Lucas reflected.  “We’re always more
optimistic when we start things ….
I have more empathy for people who
start things because it’s really hard.”
With his crew of 13, Ain’t Normal
works to be consistent and find out
what each customer wants. “We need
to be there for them.” n
On a recent rainy afternoon, Lucas
gave an impromptu tutorial on the
roasting differences throughout
the world, the optimal selection of
multi-roasts, the variety of roasting
styles for a brick and mortar, and the
importance of “resting” the roasted
beans for optimal flavor. Every coffee
requires a different level of care. FYI:
Barn Coffee roasted in Berlin is at
peak potency two to three weeks after
roasting — perfect timing for the
Ain’t Normal shelf where coffees
that come from single-person-run
roasteries share space with established
global companies.
According to Lucas, every roaster
Buying ?  Selling?
Let me help you!
Anne D. Brandon
Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@corcoranicon.com
AnneDBrandon.com
Lic# 01877719
© 2022 Corcoran Icon Properties. All rights reserved.
Each franchise is independently owned and operated.


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page 5
FEBRUARY 2023

As previously noted in The Rockridge
News (see article “What Is Land Cost?
Why Should I Care,” by Stu Flashman,
June 2021) conventional development
practices cannot provide such housing.
Therefore, we need unconventional
approaches to reduce costs and risks.
What might some of these be? Devel-
opment costs are made up of hard costs
(actual labor and materials needed to
build the building), soft costs (permits,
legal, marketing and insurance, design,
engineering, and developer fees, etc.),
and land cost. While technological
improvements hold some promise to
reducing hard costs, it’s not going to be
by an order of magnitude.
Reductions in soft costs are also
limited. And as we know, land costs,
particularly in Rockridge, are high.
But what if we can reduce land costs
by essentially eliminating the sale of
the land and finding alternate ways to
incent property owners to team with
developers to re-develop or add to their
properties by exchanging up-front
profits for long-term payments?
neer/developer teams could assess
under-developed property along
College Avenue. Promising properties
could then be shopped to developers.
But instead of selling, owners would
place their properties in a trust and
receive monthly lease payments. Hun-
dreds of units could be added this way.
Portland, OR, has used this approach.
Social-Purpose Real Estate Invest-
ment Trusts could provide financing
for such projects. Neighbors invest in
developing the property, and owner
and investors receive modest dividends
from lease payments. Here in Oakland,
a form of this is already happening to
provide housing for teachers. Social
REITs have also been formed locally.
New requirements for the State
Housing Element will put pressure on
Rockridge to develop affordable and
moderate housing. All the more reason
that our large opportunity sites (CCA,
BART, and The Ridge) provide their
fair share of affordable and moderate
housing. The current CCA proposal
currently does not — but switching
to a trust-based project just might.
Together, the three main sites offer
the possibility of hundreds of units of
moderate-income housing.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Unconventional Options for
Development
The Rockridge community should
be lauded for advocating for
affordable housing. But what is
“affordable”? The U.S. Housing and
Urban Development Department
(HUD) defines that as paying no more
than 30 percent of household income
on housing — including utilities. Any
percentage above that is considered
being “rent burdened.” Market rate
housing in Rockridge does not pro-
vide affordable housing. The table
below shows October’s average rents
for apartments in four recently built
apartments (the Logan, Baxter, Idora,
and 47Hundred) as compared to the
City of Oakland Area Median Income
(AMI). Clearly, an AMI household is
significantly over-burdened in these
buildings — and adding utilities
makes the burden even greater.
Other Financing Options
Land Trusts, and modification of
the trust idea, are promising. With
Land Trusts, the Trust controls the
land. Residents own a share of the
building and pay monthly on a long-
term ground lease, thus building some
equity. Development costs are financed
through conventional mortgages and
possibly some subsidy.
Local volunteer architect/engi-
Larry Mayers
Coronado Avenue
But who earns AMI? Certainly not
a teacher in Oakland public schools,
whose salary is under $5,750/month
— 70 percent of AMI. A teacher
living alone in a 1BR unit in one of
these buildings would have a “severe”
rent burden of 58 percent, and even
more once utilities are included.
But a teacher also makes too high
an income to qualify for subsidized
(“affordable”) housing, which is
mostly restricted to households earn-
ing less than 60 percent AMI.
The amount of such housing we
build is constrained by the public
funding available. Because of this, in
the recent eight-year Housing Element
cycle, Oakland met only 35 percent of
its affordable goals. But at the same
time, we developed 174 percent of our
market rate goals. Critically, we only
met three percent of our moderate
goals — the housing we most need.
How do we build this housing?
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.
Reflecting on another year gone by, I have immense appreciation for our local community, friends and clients! I've
been fortunate to enjoy managing 172 real estate transactions in 94618 & 94609 out of 389 total East Bay transactions.
I'm grateful to have 97% of business coming from referral based only sources. Thank you!
COMING SOON:
4 Bed 2 Bath ~2400 sqft, 1 block off College, brown shingle, large level yard, Price TBD
February is awareness month for: The Heart, Donors, Cancer Prevention, Black History, Social Justice, Random
Kindness, Library Lovers, Chocolate, Being Laugh-Friendly
HAPPY VALENTINES!


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FEBRUARY 2023
Rockridge Resident
Opens Bagel Shop with
a California Twist

Claremont Middle School Pancake Breakfast
Fundraiser Returns to Rockridge
by Diedre Poletiek
T

by Susie Wyshak
he Rockridge Community is
invited to attend the Claremont
Middle School’s 13th annual Pancake
Breakfast, hosted by the Masons at the
Masonic Temple on Saturday, Feb-
ruary 25. The hearty menu includes
a full breakfast of
pancakes, eggs, sausage,
bacon, fruit, coffee,
and tea. It’s also a rare
opportunity to tour the
interior of the historic
Masonic Lodge in the
heart of Rockridge.
The lodge is located
a few blocks from of
Rockridge BART, at
5449 College Avenue
(between Forest and
Hudson). With three
seating options (8am,
9:15am and 10:30am),
there’s room for every-
one — but get your
tickets early for your
desired seating. Amaz-
ing raffle prizes will be
offered at each seating.
All are welcome to
enjoy this fun commu-
nity event. Advance
tickets are $12 each (no
service charge for online reserva-
tions); free for children under five (no
ticket required). Tickets purchased at
the door cost $13 (on a space-available
basis) and can be made using cash,
check, or credit card. n
Toppings on both sides of a bagel?
“Why not?,” muses Poppy Bagels
owner Reesa Kashuk. This twist
on the traditional bagel reflects
Kashuk’s eclectic approach to baking
at her newly opened shop in the
former Doña Tomas location at 5004
Telegraph. And it solves the age-old
conundrum of split-bagel eaters —
finally, toppings everywhere.
Growing up in Manhattan,
bagels were a part of the Kashuk
family culture. Weekends kicked
off at Bagel Bob’s, Bagel Buffet, or
Murray’s Bagels. After college in
Maine, Kashuk explored a career in
psychology, leading to hostess work
at a Michelin-starred restaurant, then
world travel including a nine-month
stay in Argentina.
In 2015, a bagel yearning took
hold. Kashuk decided to try her
hand at her perfect bagel: chewy (but
not too doughy), a bit crusty with
micro-bubbles on top, and savory
with an undertone of maltiness. Most
importantly, according to her parents,
“bagels should not be too big.”
The batch was terrible. In the
coming months, Kashuk kept trying.
“Through trial and error, I got to
know the dough,” she says. Her
friends tried the bagels. They began
to place orders. “They started think-
ing of me as the bagel person.”
Artwork by Emma Cofod
Credit card or PayPal payments are accepted for online purchases.
Visit www.ClaremontMS.org/Pancake for tickets and details.
Note: If you buy your ticket online, you’ll have the option of printing it out,
but no need, your name will be on a guest list when you check in on site.
The Road to Bagel Bliss
While working full-time as an
account exec at Goodby, Silverstein
& Partners (creators of “Got Milk?”),
Kashuk would wake up early, bake
bagels at home, then deliver orders
to people who ordered via Instagram
or sell at pop-ups in cafes around the
City. First 50 bagels. Then 80 bagels.
All boiled, one bagel at a time. Orders
streamed in from people she hadn’t
heard of, so Kashuk launched an
Poppy Bagels, see next page


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FEBRUARY 2023

Poppy Bagels, from previous page
Photo by Anna Marks
online store to help her pandemic-era
business thrive.
In 2020, she quit her job, moved
to Rockridge, got into an hourly
commercial kitchen, and continued
with local deliveries — and the busi-
ness kept growing. Then, the Grand
Lake Farmers Market accepted Poppy
Bagels in March of 2021. Customers
lined up for bagel sandwiches made
to order on the spot.
“With four people we were still
understaffed. It was fun but not sus-
tainable,” she recalls, noting her time
at the shared kitchen often began at
2:45am. “It was a lot of schlepping”
like building a restaurant every time
they set up for the farmers market.
Kashuk’s vision for Poppy is
“authentic bagels with a California
twist.” Local and seasonal ingredients
such as beet and poppy seed cream
cheese might top a hand-rolled, salt
and cracked black pepper bagel.
The summer lineup includes combos
such as local heirloom tomato, Jala-
peno serrano cream cheese topped
with local honey, and salmon roe
with cucumber. Organic flour and
award-winning Sierra Nevada cream
cheese reflect Poppy’s dedication to
sustainability.
A brick-and-mortar bagel shop
would allow for more baking flex-
ibility and week-long community
connections. With coaching from
the S.F. Renaissance Center and a
business plan, Kashuk raised enough
funding from several sources:
$150,000 via SMBX; friends, family,
Owner Reesa Kashuk adds a California flair to New York style bagels.
her own savings; a grant; and a no-
interest loan through the Hebrew Free
loan program.
More important than local,
organic, seasonal, or even expansion,
is Kashuk’s goal to be part of the
fabric of the community. Think
farmer’s market vibe in a bagel shop
experience. She looks forward to
seeing regulars and knowing their
“usual” order.
Beverages include ethically-sourced
medium-roast drip coffee from
Kashuk’s friend at Superlost in New
York, teas, a spicy oat milk chai, and
fresh squeezed OJ. Indoor seating
includes 16 stools.
Follow @poppy_bagels on Instagram
for hours and updates. Mention
Rockridge News to get a free coffee
with a $10 purchase during February.
Susie Wyshak is a local real estate
agent and nationwide bagel obsessive;
she recalls the day Noah’s opened. n


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page 8
FEBRUARY 2023

Rockridge Has its Own ‘Kennedy Compound’
by Judith Doner Berne
T
At the time, Norma recalls, her
daughter was appalled at the state of
the house’s interior. “Luckily, Laurie
has a lot of creative imagination, and
her father-in-law was a builder.”
Granddaughter Rebecca Zabel,
now a Kaiser pediatrician, and her
husband, Tim Mulshine, bought the
house on the other side of Norma
seven years ago where they are raising
Kieran, age 6, and Emmett, age 2, two
of Norma’s three great-grandchildren.
“I was pretty young when my
grandmother moved next door,”
Rebecca said. “So, I grew up with a
multigenerational family among a lot
of supportive adults. I wanted that for
my kids.” A bonus is that her in-laws
live only a mile away.
Another granddaughter, Naomi
Zabel, and her husband lived down
the block for a time but needed
more space. That house is now a

he Kennedy Compound, made
famous during the Camelot Era,
consists of three houses on six acres of
waterfront property in Hyannis Port,
Massachusetts. But, perhaps, three
consecutive houses along Auburn
Street and one down the block, owned
by Norma Wynn and her family, can
be viewed as Rockridge’s version of
the Kennedys’ campus.
“It’s all the relationship with the
neighbors” and a willingness to make
major changes to the interiors that
allowed us to live next to each other,
explained Wynn. “Each house had
serious issues.”
Wynn, who turned 92 on January
17, and her husband Jimmy Wynn
moved into the house next door to
her daughter and son-in-law, Laurie
Williams and Allan Zabel, and their
three daughters, Rebecca, Naomi, and
Hawa, 20 years ago.
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rental. And Hawa Zabel, her adopted
granddaughter from Sierra Leone, is
currently living in the ADU in back of
Wynn’s house.
“They (all three families) are all
great neighbors,” said Judy Weiss,
who with her husband, Stuart
Swiedler, has lived across the street
for 30 years. “Norma’s remarkable.
She’s physically very active, has always
got projects going on… and is such a
good cook.”
Wynn, a native New Yorker, was
born in the Bronx and grew up in
Manhattan where her dad had a candy
store in the days when “he didn’t want
my mother to work.” After graduating
from Hunter College, she married
and had two children, Laurie (as men-
tioned above) and Gary Williams,
who are both attorneys. She divorced
and remarried Jimmy Wynn, who
died in 2012.
While getting her master’s in educa-
tion at Hofstra College, she lived and
worked as a full-time reading teacher
on Long Island. She tells a sweet story
involving Jimmy, who liked to fish,
coming home with more mackerel
than they could possibly eat.
“Take them to school,” she
recounted him saying. “Give every-
body a fish.” Each of her 20 fellow
teachers went home that day with a
newspaper-wrapped fish.
The couple first retired to Orlando,
Florida, but then followed her chil-
dren to the Bay Area (Gary and his
family now live in Palo Alto). Norma
joined the Claremont and then the
Eyes on Rockridge, see next page


THE

page 9
FEBRUARY 2023

Eyes on Rockridge, from previous page
Photo by Judy Berne
Chabot Canyon Racquet Club, where
she plays tennis twice a week. She has
been playing tennis since she took it
as an undergraduate physical educa-
tion class in college.
“We call her the captain of the
Monday game,” said George Krevsky,
a Rockridge resident who regularly
plays doubles with and against
Norma. Not only does she organize
the game, but “she’s certainly the
best player on the court,” he said.
As someone who is 92, “she sets the
bar very high.”
Norma’s routine also includes reg-
ular Canasta games, hour-long walks
at least twice a week, often at Lake
Temescal, and shorter neighborhood
walks — sometimes with a family
member and the family dog, a Jack
Russell mix named Luci. She has a
weekly appointment with a personal
trainer and an after-school (Chabot
Elementary) date with Kieran Mon-
days and Thursdays, where “we do
puzzles, we play cards.”
Norma Wynn (front right), daughter Laurie Williams (front left),
and granddaughters Hawa Zabel (back left) and Rebecca Zabel live within
an arm’s reach of one another.
to this day. “We share the cooking.”
And Norma re-equipped her pristine
backyard with extra umbrellas, heat-
ers, and a fire pit so family, and even
her Canasta group, could comfortably
gather out-of-doors. “We did a lot of
outside entertaining.”
Even when Laurie and Allan travel,
as they did to Patagonia in December,
“she calls daily, and a grandchild is
assigned to me every day. I’m getting
a lot of attention.” And not content
with front door access, a future
project is to connect all three of their
backyards.
“Her family really does take care of
her,” said Elaine, who was a caregiver
for Norma’s husband for several years.
The two became “life-long friends”
and walking buddies. “Norma is an
amazing, wonderful person,” Elaine
said. “She’s taught me so much about
life, giving, and generosity.”
“It’s hard to believe that so
many people aren’t paying
attention. The possibility
of losing your democracy is
something you really have to
think about.”
To comment or suggest future topics,
please email judyberne@att.net. n
Yet, she is forthright about the fact
that “old age is difficult. I can’t believe
I got this old,” she said with a wistful
smile. She finds the world “more
frightening now than even during
World War II when my brother went
off to war. It’s hard to believe that so
many people aren’t paying attention.
The possibility of losing your democ-
racy is something you really have to
think about.”
Her New Year’s wish was for good
health as she continues to take many
precautions to evade Covid. Indeed,
the Covid lockdown further cemented
their family ties. “My daughter and
her husband began eating dinner with
me every night,” which continues

 
		

		
   
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THE
page 10
FEBRUARY 2023

Chabot Elementary
Annual Auction & Gala
LOOK AROUND
Sycamores
by Lily Martins & Shaudi Bazzaz
Nby Kirk Peterson
Sew Year’s is over but don’t put
away the sequins and glitter.
Chabot Elementary is holding its
annual Auction & Gala on Saturday,
March 25, at The Bridge Yard in
Oakland, where we will teleport to
the glamorous ’70s. 
It’s donations big and small from
the community that make the Auc-
tion & Gala special every year — and
this event is Chabot’s biggest spring
fundraiser. All money raised supports
enrichment education including art,
music, media, and the library, as well
as student support for small group
specialists and equity and inclusion
programming. This year, they antic-
ipate district-wide budget cuts that
make the generosity of the commu-
nity particularly essential.
How can you help? Do you have a
talent or trade like sewing or wood-
working that you’re willing to offer
up for the Auction? Do you have
access to a vacation home or Airbnb
that could be donated for a weekend
getaway? Many local merchants have
already contributed as it’s a great way
to promote your business while sup-
porting local public schools. 
Are you a business owner who
can donate a special item or service?
Visit chabotelementary.org/pta/
auction_gala/ or email auction@
chabotelementary.org to have your
company highlighted as an official
sponsor of the auction. n
ycamore trees (also called “plane
trees”) grow across North America
and Eurasia. In 17th c. England a nat-
ural hybrid between Platanus acerifolia
(eastern US and Canada) and Platanus
orientalis (Balkans to Iran) produced
the world’s most commonly planted
street tree; the London Plane. There’s
one in front of my office near College
Avenue and Broadway, and they are all
over town.
The California sycamore, P. race-
mosa (see below), grows mostly in our
coast range canyons and bottomlands,
from here into Baja. Old specimens
can have a very picturesque broad
form, like one located on Stanford
University’s campus that measures
over 10 feet in circumference. There
are two young ones located on the west
side of the 5100 block of Telegraph.
Drawings/
Kirk Peterson
Sycamores can live for centuries and
tolerate urban pollution, heat, and
heavy pruning. Weathered or soot-
stained bark flakes off continuously to
reveal cream-colored new bark.
Sycamore leaves are
large and have five
lobes, rather like maple
(acer) leaves, and turn
yellow, orange, or
brown before drop-
ping in the fall. The
large round seeds
hang from branches, two
or three to a stem. As the climate
get warmer, the sycamore will help
keep us cool. n
Event Announcement:
Rockridge resident
Collin Pine will be
reading from his book,
The Garden Next Door,
at the Ruth Bancroft
Garden & Nursery
during the annual
Pollinator and Friends Day festivities
on Saturday, April 8th. To hear more
about Pine’s upcoming events, follow
him on Instagram @collin.pine. n


THE

page 11
FEBRUARY 2023

Sign Up Now: Ride for a Reason Supports Public
Schools in Oakland and Alameda
The 15th Annual Event Takes Place on April 22, 2023

Despite recent increases in
state funding, our public schools
still face critical budgetary chal-
lenges, not only for enrichment
programs but also to support
basic needs. All our participating
schools serve students from
economically disadvantaged
backgrounds, and many have
very limited fundraising capa-
bilities. Beneficiary schools
include local schools Emerson
Elementary, Claremont Middle,
and Oakland Tech and Oakland
International High Schools. The
schools use funds for library books,
sports equipment, after-school pro-
grams, science equipment, and staff
salaries for counselors, librarians, and
reading specialists.
The event is staffed by close to 75
volunteers, and after expenses are
covered, 100 percent of the proceeds
go directly to the schools. Riders
can choose fully supported rides of
distances of 45, 68 or 109 miles (for
the shorter rides, cyclists take a bus
to the starting point). For additional
information or to sign up, please visit:
https://rideforareason.weebly.com/.
To join the course, volunteer, or for
more info, please email Jessica de Jesus
at R4RSchools1@gmail.com. n
Emerson PTA President Edward Frank
with a check from last year’s ride.
Since 2009, parents, students, teach-
ers and community members have
ridden from Oakland Technical High
School to the State Capitol building
in Sacramento to support public
education. The bike ride began as a
protest against the deep budget cuts to
Oakland Unified School District and
all California public schools during
the Great Recession.
Ride for a Reason has since grown
to include hundreds of riders and
has raised close to $1.5 million for
12 public schools in Oakland and
Alameda. Last year’s ride was a
record-breaking event with more than
350 riders participating and raising
close to $230,000.

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


THE
page 12
FEBRUARY 2023

Rockridge Library Needs Teens, Now
Red Cross Blood Donation
Center Now Open
by Carol Kasparek
T
Lhe Red Cross Blood and Platelet
Donation Center opened on
Tuesday, January 10, at 5450 College
Avenue in Oakland. The existing
Oakland Red Cross Blood, Platelet,
and Plasma Donation Center located
at 6230 Claremont Avenue will remain
open on a modified schedule until
later this year when blood collections
will cease and additional days of
operation will be added to the College
Avenue location.
The Red Cross is following FDA
blood donation eligibility guidance
for those who’ve received a Covid-19
vaccination. If you’ve received one or
more of these vaccines, bring the
vaccine card to your next donation. 
A blood donor card or driver’s license
or two other forms of identification
are also required at check-in. Individ-
uals who are 17 years of age in most
states (16 with parental consent where
allowed by state law), weigh at least
110 pounds, and are in generally
good health may be eligible to donate
blood. High school students and other
donors 18 years of age and younger
also must meet certain height and
weight requirements. 
The Red Cross is a not-for-profit
organization. For additional
information, visit redcross.org or
cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on
Twitter at @RedCross. n
ibrarians are so smart, they know
that to make the public library
more welcoming to teenagers, their
best move is to ask teenagers what
would make them feel welcome —
behold the Teen Advisory Board.
Every Oakland Public Library
(OPL) location has a designated
space for teens. Larger branches,
like the Rockridge branch, have a
Teen Librarian and formal process
for teens to regularly contribute to
library operations. The Rockridge
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) meets
monthly to bring people together to
support each other in their learning,
plan programs for other teens, and
advise leadership on the needs and
interests of younger visitors.
Sharon McKellar is the Supervisor
for Teen Services for the OPL system.
The teen focus began 18 years ago for
the purpose of “supporting teens in
their own development,” according to
McKellar. Participation in the TAB
“enhances leadership skills as well as
skills for success in work and college.”
Each location creates events and
programs for its community. The
OPL website lists special events and
programs throughout the system.
Some groups have made bracelets for
a nonprofit while others have formed
activist groups for civic engagement.
TABs are not directly involved in
the selection process, however their
recommendations “are taken very
seriously” by professional librarians.
The Rockridge Branch TAB has
created digital content on its website
specifically for teens. With Rockridge
Teen Librarian Liz Soskin, the group
has helped design the teen space and
developed proficiency in resumé and
grant writing. Board games and card
games happen on weekdays in the
teen space — and watch for craft pop-
ups, as well. n
Rockridge Library’s
Teen Advisory Board
has opening for 2023
The Teen Advisory Board meets
every second Wednesday of the
month at 4pm in the TeenZone at
the Rockridge Library, located at
5366 College Avenue.
See the Rockridge Library
Facebook page or OPL website
 for application information at
https://oaklandlibrary.org/teens/
teen-leadership/.


THE

page 13
FEBRUARY 2023

Learn the Basics at
the Junior Carpenters’
Club Workshops
by Jack Soares, Friends of the
Oakland Tool Lending Library
Wcomplex project: a birdhouse. Partic-
ipants will be given the parts, pre-cut
by FOTLL volunteers. Some may
decide to stick with the basic design,
while others may decide to use their
imagination to customize the project,
perhaps adding a multi-colored coat
of water-based paint.
In the third workshop, participants
will construct wooden toys. Inspi-
ration will be drawn from samples
shared by FOTLL, and the Junior
Carpenters can choose from bins full
of wooden blocks, dowels, wooden
wheels, nails, screws, and miscella-
neous bits and bobs to make cars,
boats, airplanes, tops, animals, and all
sorts of other things. And then comes
the paint option.
During the fourth and final work-
shop of the Rockridge series, the
Junior Carpenters will make their
own wooden toolboxes. The concepts
taught reveal how interesting and
useful things can be made from sal-
vaged and recycled material.“ Pallets
and fence boards that might otherwise
have been headed to the landfill
are cleaned and cut into parts for
toolboxes, birdhouses, wooden toys,
and other projects,” says a FOTLL
volunteer.
FOTLL is recruiting volunteers to
help with the Junior Carpenters’ Club
workshops, and for its first and third
Saturdays of the month Tool Sales.
Email FriendsoftheOaklandTLL@
gmail.com. n
Rockridge Branch Library
February Events
For Children
Storytime:
Every Thursday and Saturday; 10:30 am
Read to a Dog:
Every Thursday at 4pm
ant to learn Basic carpentry
skills and make a hanging
planter, birdhouse, or toolbox in
the process? Well, if you’re between
the ages of 6 and 14, you’re in luck.
Thanks to the Friends of the Rock-
ridge Library (FORL) and the Friends
of the Oakland Tool Lending Library
(FOTLL), the Junior Carpenters’ Club
workshops will be presented on four
successive Tuesdays in March, 4pm to
5:30 pm, at the Rockridge Library.
Up to 24 Junior Carpenters will
learn a bit about the history of tools
(fun fact: Homo Habilis, Latin for
“handyman,” inhabited parts of
sub-Saharan Africa from about 1.5 to
2.5 million years ago). The group will
also be introduced to some basic hand
tools and tool safety.
During the first session, under the
watchful eyes of experienced volun-
teers, budding carpenters will practice
using tools by building “Tool Trolls,”
which are made of corks, with bits of
wire as arms and legs, bottle caps may
become hats, or crowns and thumb
tack eyes may complete the look.
In the second workshop, Junior
Carpenters try their hands at a more
Chess Club:
Every Wednesday at 4pm
Valentines Making Drop-In:
Tuesday; 2/7, 3:30-5pm
Intergenerational Origami Drop-In
Workshop: 
Tuesday, 2/21, 3/21; 6:30pm, &
Tuesday, 3/7; 4pm
For Adults
Rockridge Book Club:
Saturday, 2/11; 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Join the Rockridge Book Club every
2nd Saturday for a lively discussion.
February’s book is Crying in H Mart
by Michelle Zauner. Call (510) 597-
5017 for info and a copy of the book.
Check out our new Seed Library.
Seed packets are ready and waiting
for you to take them home. Bring
your extra seeds to share. Ques-
tions? Contact us at (510) 597-5017.
Intergenerational Origami. All ages
are welcome (see description above).
For Teens
Teen Advisory Board:
Wednesday, 2/8 & 3/8; 4-5pm
Coming in March:
Junior Carpentry Workshp Series
Join the Rockridge Library Teen Advi-
sory Board (see story on previous
page). Every 2nd Wednesday in the
TeenZone. New members welcome.
Four consecutive Tuesdays;
4pm–5:30 pm; 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, & 3/28.
After school, on weekdays:
Pop-up crafts, card games, and board
games happen in the TeenZone.
Sign up at the Library’s Children’s
Desk; call (510) 597-5017; or send
an email message to esiskind@
oaklandlibrary.org.
Note: All Oakland libraries closed on
Monday, 2/20 for Presidents Day. n
Class is limited to 24 children,
ages 6-14.
Adult partners/volunteers are
welcome, and are required for kids
under eight years old.


THE
page 14
FEBRUARY 2023

The Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention
Council Meeting Notice:
The next meeting will be held
at the Rockridge Library:
February 9, 2023, at 7pm,
(pending further notice)
7:10pm to 7:30pm:
Oakland Police Dept. (OPD) Status
Reports, beats 12Y and 13X
7:30pm to 8pm:
Neighborhood discussion and Q & A,
including new priorities
Zoom link (if Owl App works out):
https://tinyurl.com/y7r5qmbz
To suggest meeting topics,
send an email to:
chair@rockridgencpc.com.

How to Find Homicide
Numbers for Oakland
‘official’ numbers, but one thing to
consider is that crime reports and
data can change, so these numbers
reflect homicide statistics when they
were submitted to the FBI for that
year.” The UCR system was recently
replaced and details on the issues
this caused are explained in this
Time Magazine article: https://time.
com/6159812/fbi-crime-stats-data/
A Google search for “Oakland
homicide statistics” doesn’t even
find the City webpage listing weekly
crime reports, but it can be found at:
OPD Police Citywide Weekly Crime
Reports (https://bit.ly/3XJDk8t) This
site is handled for Oakland by box.
com, which wants you to sign up, but
you don’t have to do so. The latest
citywide weekly crime report I got
from Nixle was dated 1/9, but as of
January 12, the folder for 2023 was
empty.
As reported in the November 2022
Rockridge News, since mid-2021 there
have been serious delays in making
crime reports publicly available. This
just looks like more of the same. If
you want daily reports on homicides
in Oakland, you probably need to
compile them yourself from local
news reports: try the East Bay Times,
or the S.F. Chronicle. Or subscribe
to Nixle.com for OPD and they will
mail them out promptly.
For meeting details and information,
visit the Greater Rockridge NCPC at
www.rockridgencpc.com. n
by Karen Ivy, Secretary, Greater
Rockridge NCPC
Early in January, a local resident
asked me where he could find
a daily record of homicides in Oak-
land, year to date. I suggested he
subscribe to the city’s Nixle account
and get the weekly crime report, but
he said he’d had trouble with that and
wanted a daily listing. So, I searched
Google for homicides in Oakland and
got a lot of news articles.
I found a blog that claims to do
this, https://oaklandmofo.com/blog/
oakland-homicide-count-is-rising.
The site flashed a popup asking if
I wanted to get emails every time
there’s a new homicide, and they
claim to update it two or three times
a week. On January 8, it said 2023
had one homicide (which I think
was low as a week later it stated there
were two). When the resident tried to
subscribe to the blog, he got an error
message saying the link was broken.
Oakland Wiki’s entry on homicides
is not current; the latest annual
numbers are for 2021. It says, “The
following homicide statistics come
from the FBI Uniform Crime Report.
Each city is required to submit
official crime statistics to the FBI
annually. It is often recognized as the


THE

page 15
FEBRUARY 2023

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 March is Feb. 16
(available Feb 4). Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504,
Oakland, 94609-20131. For info, email Susan at smontauk@gmail.com.
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.
RN
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;
www.blwfloors.com.
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.
HIRING: BRAIN GAMES
INSTRUCTORS
For seniors in the East Bay.  Assisted
Living and Memory Care. $25-$50/hour. 
Visit: www.californiagamegirls.com and
click yellow box “WE ARE HIRING,”
upper right on homepage for details.
Email: cagamegirls@gmail.com. n
Valentine’s Day Special!
Penelope’s Aesthetics 
is offering an Express Facial for the month
of February! Only $90! Gift certificates
available for use any time. Please call for
an appointment. 510 594-1552; www.
penelopecalef.com.
Handyman for Hire
Multifaceted and well experienced.
Hauling and towing available. No job
too small. Reasonably priced. Lee Self.
707/223-1298-call and text.
ShopRockridge
law office of
dave karlinsky
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.
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
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.
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
      schedule an appointment.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
It’s Valentine’s Day! Shower some love on
your home. I’ve been doing electrical work
in Oakland and Berkeley for over 35 years.
Sutorik & Company.  www.sutorikandco.
com. Lic #397149. 510/655-3677.
DRE 01265873 | 01798658

January Sales Dry Up
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
1/6/2023
3
1.5

5918 Taft Ave                           $1,449,000         $1,449,000
99
$1,400,000

         1/11/2023
3
1

5223 Coronado Ave                $1,049,000         $1,049,000
79
 $1,340,000
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 at 510/692-6399 or
email. jbahena.info@gmail.com.
• Average price per square foot is $1,042.98
• Currently 30 day supply of inventory
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.


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

THE

6960 Paso Robles Dr | Montclair
6960pasorobles.com
SALE PENDING! Located in one of
Oakland’s most popular neighborhoods, this
beautiful two-story Montclair home with
approximately 1,681 square feet of living space
combines mid-century architecture with many
modern updates and features wonderful indoor
and outdoor living spaces.
3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 1,681sf
Kevin Brown, Broker
Better Homes Realty, Rockridge
510.593.4780 | dre# 00644175