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www.rockridge.org
R ckridgeNews

THE

VOL 38   •   NO. 9   •   ISSUE  NO. 412   •   OCTOBER 2023                    CIRCULATION: 5,800 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

TOWN HALL:
Sustainability at Home
Thursday, October 19
7 to 9pm
Rockridge Library
Raffle prizes from Re-Up Refill Shop
Light snacks provided
Panelists include:
Amy Hansen, Trees for Oakland
Geneva Gondak, EBMUD
Adam Klaus, QuitCarbon.com
Jeffrey Wong, City of Oakland
The panel will be recorded and
posted to Rockridge.org soon after
the event. Please send your questions
in advance to Chair@Rockridge.org.
Rockridge:
Let’s Reduce Our
Carbon Footprint
by Casey Farmer, RCPC Chair
As the impacts of climate change
become more severe, we must
acknowledge how our actions may
contribute to these impacts. More
importantly, we should take action
and make changes in our own homes

and communities. RCPC is putting
out a call for Rockridge to step up
and to do so collectively. On October
19, RCPC will bring three expert
panelists to provide residents with real
solutions they can use to help reduce
their carbon footprint at home.
Trees for Oakland
is a volunteer orga-
nization dedicated
to planting and caring for trees
throughout the City. Their vision is to
create “an Oakland that is lusher, and
more beautiful, with better air quality
that would lead to the improved
well-being of people who live, work,
and visit the city.” Amy Hansen, lead
volunteer, is responsible for planting
hundreds of trees in Oakland and is
an expert in the entire process. At the
Town Hall, she will speak about the
benefits of tree planting, the types of
recommended trees, and the process
for planting trees on Oakland side-
walks, as well as answer questions.
RCPC is calling upon eligible Rock-
ridge residents to plant City-approved
trees in their sidewalk tree wells and
contribute to Trees for Oakland in
order to simplify the process. Prepa-
ration meetings will be conducted in
November/December with the aim to
plant the trees early next year.
Rockridge’s Halloween
Parade: The Freaky
Tradition Continues
by Jody Colley, Marketing,
Rockridge District Association
Bay Area kids and Rockridge’s
merchants agree, the annual
Halloween Parade is the most exhili-
rating day of the year to be on College
Avenue. On Sunday, October 29,
between 11am and 2pm, free Hal-
loween festivities will stretch along
College Avenue — from Alcatraz to
Broadway — for families to enjoy.
The Rockridge Library parking
lot (5366 College) will be the main
gathering place for kids' crafts with
MOCHA (Museum of Children's Art),
librarian Storytime, sing-along with
"MissSalneous" and her accordion,
book giveaways, Magic Show by
Germar, whimsical balloon twisters,
bubbles, puppets, and more.
Town Hall, see page 4

Frog Park Flourishes at Creek-to-Bay Day
by Theresa Nelson, Co-Founder, Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt
T

event had the largest turnout since the
play structures were first built during
“Big Build” in 2001.
We are grateful to the many groups
who showed up to make this day such
a success, including the 60+ students
from Bishop O’Dowd High School and
hanks go out to the more than
120 volunteers who turned out on
Saturday the 23rd of September for
Creek-to-Bay Day. FROG (Friends of
the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt)
sponsors this major park clean-up
every September in cooperation with
the City of Oakland, and this year’s
Halloween, see page 7
Frog Park, see page 6


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OCTOBER 2023

Rock-N-Stroll’s 2023 “Fall Fest” Features
A Musical Showcase
By Jody Colley, Marketing, Rockridge District Association
R

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.
ock-N-Stroll’s annual summer
series will be going out with a
bang and a bite along College Avenue,
culminating with the final event,
“Fall Fest,” on October 14.
The showcase continues to high-
light local wares, fine dining, savory
sweets, and delicious drinks only
found in Oakland’s Rockridge District
while featuring free outdoor live
music, pop-up vendors, kids’ crafts,
art shows, and fun activities for the
whole family. Experience fall tastings
and special menus — and all that
makes this series a shoppers’ delight.
Enjoy the sweet sounds of music
as you stroll along the avenue. This
year’s music lineup is the biggest
yet (see schedule on next page), and
includes Rock-N-Stroll veterans as
well as new bands to the series. Fran-
ces Anchata is a singer/songwriter
offering thoughtful, electric acoustic
folk, indie, pop/rock, and tropical
new wave folk. With three albums
released, her music has garnered
international independent and inter-
net radio airplay in the US, Canada,
the UK, and Spain. Frances performs
both original and cover songs with
her own interpretation. 
John Vicino started his musical
journey as a San Francisco street
performer at age 16. It was from this
raw form that John began to delve
more deeply into musicianship and
understanding his audience. He has
come a long way from the days of
filling coffee cans with coins and
currently has residencies at Cavallo
Point Lodge, Andaz Napa, and Hotel
Zeppelin, among other locations
throughout the Bay Area. Powell, his
first album (in reverence to where it
all started), is currently in the record-
ing process.
New to Rock-N-Stroll, the Belinda
Salvidge Minstrels play fast and
fiercely with high energy. They per-
form traditional and modern Irish
tunes in pubs, microbreweries, and
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks .........................Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis......................... Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk......Business & Distribution Manager
Judith Doner Berne......... Senior Contributing Writer
RCPC Board of Directors, 2023-24
Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair
Robin McDonnell..................................... Vice-Chair
Ben Friedman................................................ Secretary
Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer
Mark Aaronson, Aly Bonde, Andrew Charman,
Annette Floystrup, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini,
Kirk Peterson, Ken Rich, Zac Unger
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Rockridge Community
Planning Council’s
Land Use Committee Meeting
Contacting the Rockidge 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? We’d love to
hear from you.
Want to write a letter to the Editor? Lletters
are limited to 450 words and are published at
the editors discretion. Send letters to: editor@
rockridge.org. Please be sure to include your
name, email address, city and street of residence.
All submissions accepted for publication are
subject to editing for clarity and brevity.
RCPC’s Land Use Committee
Meeting will be held:
Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023,
at 7:30pm, via Zoom.
The meeting is open to the public.
Use Zoom link: bit.ly/3c0r6X0
or email: landuse@rockridge.org.
Rock-N-Stroll, see next page
The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any
articles, letters, or advertisements.
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 NOVEMBER 2023:
October 19, 2023
Advertising rates are $28/column inch. Six-month
pre-pay rates available. For display ads, call Jo Ellis
at 510-653-3210 (after noon), or email joellis1@
hotmail.com. Email Susan Montauk at smontauk@
gmail.com for information regarding classified ads.
Views expressed in published articles do not
necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors of
the Rockridge Community Planning Council.


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OCTOBER 2023

be on display with free tastings and
meals offered by local restaurants,
specialty markets, and bottle shops.
Rockridge Market Hall (5655 College),
Love + Chocolate (6309 College), Belly
Restaurant (5634 College), Starter
Bakery (5804 College), and ACRE
Restaurant’s free brunch for kids
(5655 College), are just a few examples
of where attendees can sample sea-
sonal flavors and regular menu items.
And don’t miss the Sip-and-Shop
event happening at The DG Collec-
tive (5540 College) where you’ll find
scrumptious snacks and a raffle.
Bach and Vivaldi to jazz standards,
Brazilian “choro,” and even video
game soundtracks.
Rockridge’s Open Mind Music
(5521 College), and Beer Baron (5900
College), will showcase local legends
and up-and-coming stars in front of
their venues. Enjoy local craft beers
and sunshine on the Beer Baron patio,
or swing by the Open Mind Music
sidewalk show for which they have
become renowned. Bring a lawn chair
to enjoy the shows or meander by
while taking in all the other activities
happening along College Avenue.
In addition to the rhythmic beats,
the bounty of the fall harvest will
Rock-N-Stroll, from previous page
elsewhere. Belinda Salvidge is
a professional musician with over 25
years of experience touring the UK
and the United States, and as a studio
musician. She is an accredited teacher
of cello, violin, viola, piano, and
mandolin.
Dan DeWitt performs as Dan
Do Mandolin. He is a San Francis-
co-based mandolinist and guitarist
who specializes in music that evokes
a nostalgic time before the sounds
of traffic, television, and Tik-Tok
dominated our lives. His repertoire
ranges from the Baroque master’s
The October Rock-N-Stroll is the
last chance to meander down College
Avenue, take in live music, and enjoy
the season’s offerings before the holiday
bustle and winter season begins.
For more information, visit www.
RockridgeDistrict.com. n
Oct 14: FALL FEST
Musical Performances
Events at
Market Hall Foods
5655 College Avenue
Noon-1:45pm
John Vicino, College Avenue
Presbyterian Church,
5951 College Ave.
Noon-3pm
Taste of Italy featuring Italian special-
ties and tastings.
1:30pm: Book Signings
ACRE Café will be hosting Italian food
expert and cooking instructor Viola
Buitoni who will be signing copies of her
debut cookbook Italy by Ingredient. Market
Hall Foods’ kitchen and bakery will be
making recipes from Viola’s book that will
be offered on their Weekend Menu.
2pm-4pm
Frances Anchata (photo below)
Cole Coffee, 6255 College Ave.
2pm: Paul Marcus Wines
Join A16 restaurant owner and wine expert
Shelley Lindgren, who will be signing copies
of her new book Italian Wines.
(After the signings, Viola and Shelley will
speak in conversation about Italian food
and wine.)
Belinda Salvidge Minstrels, College
Avenue Presbyterian Church,
5951 College Ave.
12:30pm: Crucolo Parade
and Tastings
An annual tradition that pays homage to
Crucolo, a favorite Italian cheese from the
Trentino-Alto Adige region. Their expert
cheesemongers, dressed in Italian garb,
will ceremoniously roll a 400 lb. wheel
of Crucolo down Shafter Avenue to the
parklet where they’ll cut into this gigantic
creamy cow’s milk cheese and hand out
samples along with prosciutto and other
Italian delights.
Dan Do Mandolin, McNally’s Irish Pub,
5352 College Ave.
2pm-5pm
TBA, Beer Baron, 5900 College Ave.
Noon-5pm
Open Mind Music Showcase,
5521 College Ave.
MeloDious
Mare Island “Dock of the Bay”
Fest Face Urchins
Diabolical Pool Party
Noon-3pm:
Italian Wine Tasting at Paul Marcus
Wines
Anchovy Tasting at Hapuku Fish Shop


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OCTOBER 2023

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.

contribute $150 to plant trees in front
of Rockridge businesses (email Chair@
Rockridge.org to sponsor).
Town Hall, from front page
With help from RCPC contribu-
tions, Trees for Oakland will provide
free technical assistance for home-
owners throughout the process.
Geneva Gondak, Supervisor of Water
Conservation for East Bay
Municipal Utility District
(EBMUD, the water and
wastewater for Rockridge and other
parts of the East Bay) will provide tips
on how to reduce water consumption
in your home and garden.
EBMUD has related upcoming
webinars about water-efficient gar-
dening:
1) Biodiversity, Water Conservation,
and Yards, October 20, 12pm to
1:30pm.
Here are the steps:
1) Site evaluation: Is your tree well
suitable for a tree? Are there utilities
that prevent you from carving out a
tree well to your front sidewalk?
2) If your site is eligable and City
approved, identify an approved tree
on the City of Oakland’s tree list.
3) Trees for Oakland will lend sup-
port to the City’s permitting process
for official approval.
4) Purchase your tree for $150.
(Homeowners are responsible for this
expense, but at a large savings due to
the scale of the purchase.)
5) Prepping the Site: Pre-watering
the tree well will make planting much
easier.
6) Plant the Trees: Volunteers will
be available to help and homeowners
are encouraged to support the plant-
ing process.
7) Receive details and instructions
on how to maintain your street tree.
Can’t plant a tree? Volunteer or
sponsor a tree instead. Volunteers
are needed for weeding, digging, and
planting — here in Rockridge and
throughout Oakland. To sign up,
email hansena49@gmail.com. No
experience needed. We’re also looking
for five sponsors to individually
2) Virtual Landscape Rebate Office
Hours: Tuesdays, 12pm to 1pm.
Learn more at https://www.ebmud.
com/water/conservation-and-rebates.
Adam Klaus of QuitCarbon.com
will provide a presentation on how
homeowners can reduce their home’s
carbon footprint by eliminating the
devices that produce greenhouse gas
emissions by replacing them with
electric alternatives.
QuitCarbon provides free
personalized Home Electrification
Plans, explains rebate programs, and
offers technical assistance support.
Jeffrey Ja Wong will speak about
the City's Electrification Ordinance,
EV's, battery storage, and more. The
City of Oakland's Climate Action
Fellows will be available to answer
questions and share information.  n


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page 5
OCTOBER 2023

General Plan Updates Continue, RCPC Weighs In

by Aly Bonde, RCPC Board Member
L

Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council
Meeting: October 12, 7pm
Rockridge Library Conference Room

ast month, the Oakland City Council considered elements of the General
Plan 2045 Update, giving preliminary approval to many of the housing
components. Councilmember Dan Kalb, representing Rockridge and North
Oakland, introduced an amendment to the proposed height limit for potential
future development at Rockridge BART, from a height of 175 feet to 100 feet
(~ten stories tall), while increasing height limits in other nearby areas.
The Board of the Rockridge Community Planning Council analyzed the
priority development sites and code changes included in the update in order
to provide the below comment letter. Additional details of the General Plan
Update appeared in the September 2023 edition of the Rockridge News. The
City Council will vote on final approval of the updates early this month, with
additional pieces of the General Plan 2045 Update coming during 2024 (see
www.oaklandca.gov/topics/general-plan-update). n

September 12, 2023
Dear Members of the Community and Economic Development Committee,
As Rockridge residents, we are well-aware of the painful history of exclu-
sionary zoning practices that took place here over decades past — as they
did in many neighborhoods in California. We believe that on the whole, this
package of code amendments takes important steps to reverse those previous
wrongs while balancing the desire of existing residents to see the neighbor-
hood develop thoughtfully.
Additionally, we believe key implementation steps are necessary in order to
see these code amendments successfully realize their intended outcomes:
• Conduct an extensive public feedback process in developing the Objective
Design Guidelines that will shape projects eligible for by-right approval,
ensuring that the resulting guidelines are consistent with the Housing Ele-
ment policy objectives.
• Prioritize creating an online portal for residents to track projects eligible
for by-right approval for the sake of transparency and public information.
• Consider the effects on feasibility that impact fees will have on missing
middle small-scale construction types.
• For larger parcels likely not subject to by-right approval (such as the Rock-
ridge BART and The Ridge), devote additional staff capacity to ensure timely
consideration of these projects.
• As to development on the Rockridge BART site, we believe the evidentiary
record needs to be augmented with further analysis of the financial and
market feasibility as well as neighborhood views regarding different height
and density limits before adoption of any zoning changes.
The RCPC welcomes the reversal of our neighborhood’s previous exclusion-
ary practices. Throughout the development of the Housing Element, RCPC
successfully advocated for the inclusion of additional priority housing sites in
Rockridge including “The Ridge” site at 5050 Broadway, which was previously
proposed for a Home Depot and is now required to be majority housing. View
our previous letters on the Housing Element at www.rockridge.org.
The Rockridge Community Planning Council is supportive of the General
Plan’s proposed code amendments to implement the Housing Element and
build much-needed housing in Rockridge, provided the above implementation
steps are prioritized.
Sincerely, Casey Farmer
Chair, Rockridge Community Planning Council

Speaker: Damon Manni
The Lighthouse Project
(see article on next page)
This will be a hybrid meeting for those
who prefer to attend remotely.
For Zoom link, visit:
https://www.rockridgencpc.com/
:
October Events at
the Rockridge Library
5366 College Ave.
at Manila
510-597-5017
For Children
Storytime: Thursdays and Saturdays; 10:30am
Chess Club: Wednesdays, Sept-Nov; 4pm
Read to a Dog: Thursdays at 4pm
Intergenerational Origami: Third Tuesday at
6:30pm; 10/17
Día de los Muertos Take-&-Make Craft:
Saturday, 10/28, pick up after storytime.
Halloween Events: Sunday, Oct 29, 11am to
2pm – Stories, Songs, & Crafts for kids of all
ages (parking lot in back). See you there!
For Teens
Pumpkin Painting and Snacks: Wednesday
10/11; 2pm, presented by the Rockridge Teen
Advisory Board.
Teen Advisory Board: Wednesday, 10/11; 4-5
pm. Join the Rockridge Branch Library Teen
Advisory Board (TAB) and take an active
role in creating, planning, and implementing
programs and services you want to see at your
local library. Every 2nd Wednesday in the
TeenZone. New members welcome.
For Adults
Rockridge Book Club: Every 2nd Saturday.
Please call (510) 597-5017 for more informa-
tion, and for a copy of the book.
Please also check the library’s calendar online
at www.oaklandlibrary.org/events for events
throughout the city.
Hours:
Mon, Thurs, Sat 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday - 10am to 8pm
Closed on Sundays
Find more information at 
www.oaklandlibrary.org/events.


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OCTOBER 2023

The Lighthouse Project
Website is Now Live
by Damon Manni
Frog Park, from front page
Bentley High School, btc The Oaks
League boys charity, a local Girl Scout
troop, the many families and friends
who care about the park, and the City
of Oakland for providing tools and
equipment.
The Lighthouse Project (TLP) was
formed by Rockridge neighbors
who became tired of waiting for the
City to act on the recent increase in
crime and want to take action them-
selves (see July/Aug Rockridge News).
TLP's new website is rich with articles,
information, and crime data, and
includes TLP's Charter that sets forth
its mission and purpose.
The site makes it very simple to
submit a crime report and handle
abandoned vehicles. Don’t waste
your time hunting around the City’s
website, TLP solves these problems
as well as answers questions asked
by neighbors at the project’s first
meeting earlier this year. Plus, it’s easy
to sign up for orientation sessions
and become a volunteer — there are
several options available.
New features are coming soon,
including a library of books on how
the justice ecosystem functions; an
expanded safety products page offer-
ing solutions recommended and tested
by your neighbors; guest speaker
articles; crime mapping of reports
committed close to your home; inci-
dent reports; and a dashboard.
Another great way to be part of the
solution is to donate safety accessories
that you may have in your junk draw-
ers at home… gather them up and hit
the donate page today.
For information, visit https://www.
thelighthouseproject.xyz/ or email
info@TheLighthouseProject.xyz. n
Much was accomplished:
• Fully cleaning and sealing the wood
at the Little Frog play structure.
• Clearing the creek of weeds for
future water flows (we’re working on
that now).
• Sweeping and re-leveling the surface
at the dog park.
• Picking up trash, leaves, and euca-
lyptus bark all along the path.
• Sweeping and cleaning the Big Frog
play structure.
• Doing massive trimming of ivy and
overgrown greenery.
• Preparing the area for the “climates-
caping” planting project.
up by someone) now has beautiful
new plants. Neighbors John Kamp,
a landscape and urban designer
(http://www.prairieform.com/), and
his partner, designer James Rojas,
worked with FROG to envision a new
approach to the concrete-bounded
area near Hudson. He came up with
a design based on “climatescaping,”
using drought-tolerant, native, and
Mediterranean plants that also serve
as pollinators. The young plants are
now in, and they will firmly establish
during the winter rains. Future sig-
nage will reveal more of the story.
We also thank the neighborhood
businesses who support this event
with their gracious contributions:
fresh coffee from Ain’t Normal Café;
tasty bagels and cream cheese from
Poppy Bagels; and yummy scones and
chocolate chip cookies from Bakesale
Betty. We appreciate their ongoing
contributions.
If you’d like to join FROG as we
look to new projects, including finding
a way to run the creek year-round,
please contact chair@frogpark.org. n
New “Climatescape” Garden
You may notice that the area which
had been a rose garden (and was torn


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page 7
OCTOBER 2023

THANK YOU Maxine Heiliger
The Rockridge News is looking for
a replacement for Maxine Heiliger's
delivery route:
• Route 20A: Up Claremont Ave from
5900 to former site of Shell station.
To volunteer, call 510/547-3855 or
email Susan at smontauk@gmail.
Halloween, from front page
Outside of College Avenue Presby-
terian Church, 5951 College, you will
find, DJ Danny Santos spinning Hal-
loween classics; crafts for kids; and
dancing for all ages. Rockridge mer-
chants will be passing out candy to
the kids as they Trick-and-Treat down
the avenue. The RDA will award
prizes for best costumes for kids and
pets. In addition to passing out treats,
Rockridge merchants will offer special
Halloween-themed activities. Look
for the posters displayed outside busi-
nesses indicating their participation.
The event is co-produced by the
Rockridge Community Planning
Council, Rockridge Library, and the
Rockridge District Association. See
the full schedule and participating
businesses at RockridgeDistrict.com. n
Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council
(NCPC) Seeks New Vice Chair
N
CPC is looking for a new Vice
Chair. The Vice Chair assists
with meetings and other responsibili-
ties as requested by the Chair.
The meetings include a community
meeting held at 7pm on the second
Thursday of each even-numbered
month, and regular meetings of the
Steering Committee. All meetings are
hybrid (both in person and Zoom),
which necessitates that someone be
physically present to run the meeting
(typically, 90 minutes to 2 hours).
If you are interested in serving on
this committee, which has been oper-
ating continuously since 2002 when
Oakland first established its Commu-
nity Policing Program, email chair@
rockridgencpc.com. n

Dogs of
Rockridge
Meet Marley, a three-year-
old rescue adopted by
Theresa and Barney, who live
on Hudson. From his perch
on the window seat, he keeps
an eye on the many pedes-
trians, cyclists, and of course
dogs, who walk by. He’s very
friendly and energetic, and
has already made new friends
at the Hardy Dog Park where
you’ll see him midday playing
with his new buddies.
Rigby is a two-year-old
labradoodle and lives on
Lawton. She is known for
her fabulous mustache and
loves getting treats from her
Auntie, fellow Rockridge local
Felicia. Her favorite activities
are going on walks with her
furry friend Vinny and playing
basketball at Hardy park. You
may have seen her awesome
Warriors-like quality defense
on a sunny afternoon.
Does your pup live in Rockridge?
If so, send a photo of your four-legged
friend with a short commentary to:
editor@rockridge.org.


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page 8
OCTOBER 2023

Local Author Sets Novel ‘Where We Live’
by Judith Doner Berne

on Telegraph, and the Sunday Farm-
er’s Market at the DMV. “It’s worth
looking closely at where you are,”
Zaid said. “We need books that are
set where we live.”
Those are not idle words. Her first
novel, Paper is White, “is very much
set in Rockridge.” The novel she’s
working on now, as yet untitled, takes
place around Lake Merritt. All her
work has “some topical subject matter,
but not a ‘cause,’ because pedantic
writing is dull,” she said. That third
novel “will take on issues, but it’s a
comedy. With everything that’s going
on in the world, I can’t write a novel
that feels grim.”
Forget I Told You This defies genre.
Its timeless elements include mys-
tery, science fiction, family loyalty,
love, sex, and remembrance. But the
modern-day backdrop is data privacy
and the artist in the age of AI. In
our society, Zaid told her audience,
“People who write code have value.
People who make art are not valued in
the same way.”
So, Amy, a queer, single, middle-
aged mother who practices
calligraphy, tries to make technol-
ogy work for her by applying for an
artist’s residency at Q, the world’s
largest social media company. Mys-
terious things happen in her search
for a love letter’s recipient. In a blurb
on the back cover, Brooklyn author
Erin Swan writes: “The prose is gor-
geous, the plot tense, and Amy is a
wonderfully flawed and sympathetic
character…”
Zaid’s own experiences mirror
Amy’s. Both are queer, have children
who have left the nest, witnessed
a father’s decline, and are devoted
to the written word. “Hopefully, a
book is centered on its characters,”
Zaid said. She differentiates heroines
from heroes, as Amy must reconcile
family obligations with her various
quests. For instance, “You never see
James Bond taking care of his elderly
parents.”
Born in Los Angeles, Zaid holds a
bachelor's degree from Harvard, and
a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, both in
English. A web developer, she heads
content creation and strategy at Poly-
technic Marketing in Berkeley. Her
volunteer activities include Friends
of the Rockridge Library and the
Oakland Tech College Essay Mentor
Program, which focuses on helping
minority and LGBTQ seniors frame
their college essays.
Winner of the 2018 Independent
Publishers’ Book Award (IPPY)
in LGBT+ Fiction, Zaid considers
writing a privilege. When working
on a book, “I set the bar really low.”
As she approaches her computer, she
thinks: “I just want to open the file;
I want to write five words; and then
maybe a little bit more. I want to
invite the unconscious in. Ironically,
the pandemic was a good time for me
to focus on the book. It was kind of a
cocooning situation.”
Zaid is married to Lauren
Augusta. Their younger son Gil’i, 19,
designed the book’s cover. It depicts
a mammoth with its bones expressed
through squibs of ink, a nod to the
novel’s focus on calligraphy. “Gil’i
had produced the ink squib-like
shapes,” his mother said, “and I
suggested that they wanted to be
something recognizable, and then
“But at the mouth of
Temescal Alley, a smart
blue postbox shone wetly
in the gathering dusk.
I didn’t know why the
U.S. Postal Service had
decided to take its last
stand in that enclave of
digital hipsters.”    Page 1.
The month of Halloween and
Temescal, including its alley, are
the primary settings for Hilary Zaid’s
second novel, Forget I Told You This.
It’s a book she began writing in 2015
while seated at her dining room table
in the Rockridge home where she and
her family lived for 25 years before a
recent move to East Oakland.
“There’s something about that little
alley,” she told an audience of 120
people who had gathered for her late
summer book launch at the Jewish
Community Center in Berkely. “It
struck my imagination.”
Indeed, a myriad of neighborhood
places pervade her Oakland-based
story, like the ghost bike on 51st at
Rockridge’s southern border, a power
black-out in the Oakland Hills, a
meeting above the Tip Top Bike Shop


THE

page 9
OCTOBER 2023

suggested the mam-
moth, which to me is an
overarching symbol of
the overweening desire
of tech billionaires to
take over the world.
“I found collaborating
with him such a joy,”
Zaid said, “to have my
work combined with
his.” Rockridge born
and bred, Gil’i and his
brother Ro’e, 22, are
both Oakland Tech
graduates. Gil’i is a
sophomore at Harvard,
majoring in mathe-
matics. Ro’e teaches
kindergarten at OUSD’s
Emerson Elementary in
Temescal.
“It’s a very carefully
written book,” said
Pamela Waxman, who
has known Zaid since
their kids attended the
same summer camp.
“The plot and characters
seem very nimble to
me. The characters are
just unusual.” A scene in which Amy
climbs out her bedroom window at
night to avoid her parents who have
moved in with her temporarily, is
memorable to Waxman, a graphic
designer who lives in nearby Fairview
Park. “I’m a middle-aged mother of
two, and we don’t get that very often.”
“I knew how it was going to end, but
Author Hilary Zaid and son Gil’i, who did
the book cover as represented on the cake,
at the launch of her new book.
I didn’t know how it was going to get
there,” Zaid said. “You have to have
faith that the story is there. No one
is waiting for us to hand them our
book.”
Zaid’s new novel is available
through East Bay Booksellers. If you
have an idea for a local story, please
email judyberne@att.net. n

YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
[ B U L K ]  [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
grocery shopping without the waste
ReUpRefills.org
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND

Market talk: Soft landing economic recession predicted by many economists. Our East Bay housing market hasn't always
responded in sync with national economics. Inventory of homes in Rockridge was up as usual post Labor Day. That spread
out buyers creating less competition for homes at the end of September. Home values are up from 2019, but down from peak
Spring '22. It's all perspective over time. Mortgage industry analysts expect small rate drops heading into 2024.

Sold: 5588Taft.com 4BD 3BA + bonus rms listed @$1,995,000, sold w/multiple offers well over asking.
Listed: 5978Margarido.com 3BD+ 3BA 2,200sqft+ view home, remodeled, updated systems $1,995,000

October Awareness: ADHD, Breast Cancer, Kindness to Animals, Teachers, Hunger, Play Outdoors, Make a Difference,
Mother-in-Laws, Native Americans
ENJOY FALL FOLIAGE!


THE
page 10
OCTOBER 2023
New City Council
Resolution Prioritizes
Public Safety
by Dan Kalb, District 1
Councilmember

We’ve seen a dramatic increase in
serious crime throughout our
city, including Rockridge. Total crime
has increased in Oakland by more than
25 percent from last year, reminiscent
of the high-crime period we had back
in 2012/2013 when armed robberies
and homicides were all too common.
The current increase is an extremely
worrying trend to say the least, which
the city must address. The disturbingly
violent nature of some of the robberies
has added to the understandable fear
and frustration.  
 On September 19, the City Council
approved my resolution that prioritizes
adopted safety and directs the City
Administrator to focus on key public
safety actions.
shootings and homicides.  
Violence Prevention and Inter-
vention: Directs City Administrator
to analyze the expansion of CeaseFire,
our data-driven, gun violence inter-
vention program. Urgently asks our
federal and State officials to allocate
additional funds for reentry services
in Alameda County. Also promotes
trainings on conflict resolution. 
Getting Guns Off Our Streets:
Directs City Administrator to seek
collaboration with federal law
enforcement agencies in stepping up
coordinated operations to confiscate
illegal guns.
Lateral Academy: Moves process
forward for a lateral police academy to
hire experienced officers on top of the
six new recruit academies already in
the budget.
MACRO: Requires analysis of
Mobile Assistance Community
Responders of Oakland (MACRO)
performance, comparing our program
to other jurisdictions, and proposes
ways to increase the number and
types of appropriate calls referred to
MACRO, allowing OPD to focus on
serious criminal activity.
Regional Collaboration: Directs
City Administrator to contact County
and regional governments, NGOs,
and law enforcement agencies seeking
collaboration on regional prevention
and intervention strategies.
While not meant to be an exhaus-
tive list of public safety efforts, these
actions prioritize the City’s efforts in
ways that will tangibly improve the
safety of the people who live or work
in, or visit, Oakland.
For additional information, visit
https://www.oaklandca.gov/officials/
councilmember-dan-kalb. n
Here is what it does:
911 Dispatch: Following up on
our 911 Budget directive, the new
legislation requires the City Admin-
istration to increase recruitment of
911 dispatchers, develop a workable
retention plan, address recent Grand
Jury recommendations and prioritize
reducing 911 hold time.  
Security Cameras: Directs City
Administrator to create a grant
program for merchant associations,
business improvement districts (such
as the Rockridge District Association)
and the like to purchase and install
high-quality security cameras on
private property along retail corridors.
Also directs the City to work with Cal-
Trans to place security cameras
on freeway on-ramps.
Walking Beat Officers/Ambas-
sadors: Asks for a permanent
walking beat officer deployment plan
to increase visibility of OPD officers,
as well as exploration of a community
ambassador plan
Federal Assistance: Directs City
Administrator to request an increase
in the number of FBI investigators
assigned to OPD to assist in solving


THE

page 11
OCTOBER 2023

A Pipe Organ Aficionado in Rockridge
by Gary Sponholtz
I
’ve had a fascination with refurbish-
ing pipe organs since I was 8 years
old… my career as a church organist
began 54 years ago. The beast cur-
rently in my garage in Rockridge was
assembled in 2008 for the home of a
retired organist in Connecticut. When
the woman passed away, her chil-
dren had the organ put up for sale. I
acquired it in 2020 amid the pandemic
when it was rejected by my congrega-
tion. My garage became Plan B.
I also have a 1920s 915 Pipe Theater
Organ in my family’s garage in Wis-
consin. My third organ can be found
at the San Damiano retreat chapel in
Danville that I acquired when it was
discarded from SF’s Cal State music
department.
It’s not due to a lack of interest
that these organs become homeless,
as does much else in our consumer-
oriented lifestyle in America. Believe
it or not, the pipe organ business is
booming. There are dozens of pipe
organ companies in the Bay Area ser-
viced by hundreds of technicians, and
many suitable used organs are still
around as well.
There are cheap imitations (like the
one my congregation chose) with only
one or two technicians who know how
to service them, so too often they get
discarded and sent to landfills. The
Hydraulis organ in the Greek
museum was dug out of a
landfill dated 1000 BC, which
goes to show, if it’s built well,
it will last.
To listen to my organ,
please come by my home
on Boyd Ave (at Hudson)
on Halloween night, from
6-9pm. This will be our third
year of hosting special per-
formances by our neighbors,
including the Phantom of
the Opera and more. You
will learn about more perfor-
mances throughout the year
from the schedule that will
be on display. n

Gary plays a Pipe Organ from the ’40s
located at the first Congregation church on
27th and Harrison.
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.

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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
Please contact me during regular business hours to
      schedule an appointment.


THE
page 12
OCTOBER 2023

Weed Warriors
Step Forward
by Jennie Gerard
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Edible Garden
Expansion
Community Effort Led
to Success
Dear Editor: I would like to suggest
enlarging the community garden
affiliated with Claremont Middle
School as an alternative use for the
excess lower-level BART parking area.
North Berkeley’s MLK Jr. Middle
School has had the Edible Schoolyard
Community Garden for a long time,
and it appears to be quite educational
and successful. Maybe the Claremont
Middle School could strike a deal with
the Market Hall shops to sell the pro-
duce? BART/Caltrans could lease the
land to the school for a nominal cost.
There are approximately two acres
of land north and south of the ele-
vated highway extending out towards
the landscaped areas along the side-
walks. The entrances from Miles and
Shafter Avenues would be maintained
to access the remaining parking under
the highway and the BART tracks.
Think of all the beneficial ground-
water recharging that would occur
with so much hardscape removed. n
Dear Editor: A recent Letter to the
Editor thanked RCPC for “lobbying
hard against, and defeating, Home
Depot at the Ridge on the corner of
Broadway and Pleasant Valley.” As a
matter of record, there were actually
four community groups involved
in defeating this very poor use of
that vacant lot: Upper Broadway
Advocates (UBA); Piedmont Avenue
Neighborhood Improvement League
(PANIL); Housing Action Coalition;
and RCPC.
UBA kickstarted the effort by using
a change.org petition that garnered
over 2,000 signatures. With that
strong support, all four groups rallied
their members to talk to their neigh-
bors, sign the petition, write letters,
and show up for a rally and media
event at the site. The petition even-
tually received over 4,500 signatures
and the Home Depot proposal was
rescinded.
Let’s give proper credit to the many
volunteers from all four groups who
worked hard to make it happen. We
continue to promote affordable hous-
ing on the site and look forward to
collaborating with other community
groups there and throughout North
Oakland. n
Weed Warriors Leigh Anderson
and Galen Quarring
Rockridge residents Galen Quar-
ing and Leigh Anderson have
generously stepped forward to serve
as the next generation of leaders of
the Lake Merritt Weed Warriors, a
13-year, all-volunteer effort to tend the
planting beds around Lake Merritt.
They responded to a recent Rockridge
News story about how the founders,
Jennie Gerard and Joel Peter, were
planning to retire, and will assume
leadership at the end of this month.
The two men have lived in Rock-
ridge for 23 years, and both worked
for the passage of Measure DD, the
2002 bond measure that has funded
the significant improvements around
Lake Merritt. Quaring has a back-
ground in park making, including
working for the Trust for Public
Land, Save the Redwoods League, and
NatureBridge, where he served as a
senior finance officer. Anderson was
a professor in the dental schools at
Emory University, the University of
Washington, and the University of the
Pacific in San Francisco.
Together they bring enthusiasm,
gardening know-how, and a keen
interest in enabling volunteers to
beautify the Lake Merritt surrounds.
John Dal Pino
Florio Street
Janis Brewer, member of Upper
Broadway Advocates
vvvvvvvvvvvv
If you would like to welcome or
assist Quaring and Anderson in
their new roles as Lake Merritt Weed
Warrior leaders, please subscribe for
announcements of work locations at
www.lakemerrittweedwarriors.org. n


THE

page 13
OCTOBER 2023

From Graphic Designer to Assemblage Artist

By Molly Porter
My husband Dare and I bought our
house on Hudson Street in
1984. Five years later, Dare gave up his
graphic design studio in San Francisco
and moved his office into our newly
constructed upstairs. That meant he
was around the house when our sons
Aaron and Max were growing up, as I
set out for my office at Kaiser Perma-
nente most days.
Dare has been a freelance graphic
designer since 1980 and has worked
out of our home since 1989. But ten
years ago, something magical hap-
pened. We finished paying for our
sons’ college educations and Dare
started collecting Social Security. Sud-
denly, the pressure to constantly attract
new clients was off and Dare turned
his attention to the assemblage art he
had been dreaming about for years.
Dare has a close friend Dennis, a
fellow graphic designer who used
to have a studio across from Dare
in San Francisco’s South of Market
district, back when that area was still
affordable. Dennis moved to New
Jersey years ago but stayed in touch via
Zoom. They committed to giving each
other monthly deadlines to complete
their art projects — paintings for
Dennis and assemblages for Dare. And
these projects were inspired by words
they came up with, such as “Claptrap,”
“Imbroglio,” and “Dogmatic.”
Imbroglio: “I used a favorite source,
comics, for the dust-up and made
Krazy Kat's Officer Pup the observer.”
I have been thrilled to decorate our
home with Dare’s colorful assem-
blages along with a few paintings left
by his illustrator father George Porter,
and newer works by our son Aaron
Damon Porter (damonartsnola.com),
an artist in Austin, Texas.
Dare still designs occasional books
for extra income and especially likes
doing family history books. While he
is not actively selling his assemblages,
if you see something you like on his
website, www.dareporter.studio, con-
tact him there to view, or for prices.
Molly Porter retired from Kaiser
in 2018 where she worked in Public
Affairs. She is currently involved in
Commit to Democracy. She can be
reached by email at mollyporter55@
gmail.com. n

 
		

		
   
   
      ­€ ‚   
 ƒ „ …† 
 
 ‡ … ˆ  
 ‰  … ƒ „‚  †

Claptrap: An attempt to capture
the sideshow craziness of someone
speaking endless nonsense.
SOLD
IN ROCKRIDGE
5332 SHAFTER AVENUE, OAKLAND
· Received 4 offers
 · Closed 34% over list price
 · Happy sellers!
Contact me if you’re thinking about
listing your home  ~Maxi
MAXI LILLEY
510.919.8997
maxi@redoakrealty.com
The Rockridge Realtor® with a Designer’s Eye
DRE#1919653


THE
page 14
OCTOBER 2023

Chocolate Shop Officially
Opens for Business
A Look Back at Colby
Street
by Cliff Stoll
W
On September 9th, Love +
Chocolate finally opened
its doors at 6309 College Avenue
and lots of Rockridge folks
stopped by to greet the owners
Kent and Kristy Lincoln (pictured
above), and welcomed them to the
neighborhood. The beautifully
remodeled shop has an appropri-
ately European feel and features a
counter loaded with fresh Belgian
chocolates.
Follow them on Instagram 
@loveandchocolateshop, or sign
up for their monthly newsletter at
www.loveandchocolateshop.com to
learn about their events. n
hat happens to a house across
the years? After the great 1906
earthquake, thousands of families fled
San Francisco to the East Bay, result-
ing in many Rockridge homes being
built. Ours was one of them.
In 1909, William and Marcia Reed
(photo on left) began planning a
Craftsman Bungalow at 6270 Colby
Street and finally finished it in 1916.
Five rooms with wood paneling, a
wood burning kitchen stove, and an
ice-box — yep, with weekly ice deliver-
ies. For water, the backyard windmill
filled their wood storage tank. Con-
struction cost? $2,500. And yes, that’s
a 1914 Model-T Ford (photo above). n
The Yoni Love Salon
Yoni Temple invites all to attend
a Love Salon on Saturday,
Oct 21st 5-7pm, at their shop at
5831 College Avenue. They will be
teaching a mini workshop on yoni
steaming and yoni eggs as they
unveil their new yoni steam treat-
ment room.
The event features art by Oak-
land artist Holiday Black and
Tarot and Numerology readings
by Oakland based Geneva Elise of
Pop Culture Healing.
Complimentary drinks and
chocolate from HOUSE kombucha
and Love + Chocolate. This event
is free and open to the public. n


THE

page 15
OCTOBER 2023

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 November
is Oct 19 (available Nov. 4). Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO
Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131. For more information, email Susan
at smontauk@gmail.com.
HIRING BRAIN GAMES
INSTRUCTORS
For Seniors throughout the Bay Area
Assisted Living and Memory Care, $25-
$50 a hour.  Visit: www.californiagamegirls.
com and click yellow box WE ARE
HIRING, upper right on homepage
for details. Email cagamegirls@gmail.
com; 925/212-4642.
Classifieds
RN
Penelope’s Aesthetics Fall
Special! Halloween can be
ghoulish
Explore the masks. After a ghoulish mask,
receive a rejuvenating mask. Enjoy an
express anti-aging facial and experience
the results! Call for an appointment!
510/594-1552; www.penelopecalef.com.
665 Alcatraz Ave 8 Oakland
2899/first, 2899/last, 1500 sec-
Available Oct 15th.  Vintage two-story
home. Close to Sf, UC Berkeley/
Bart. Contact Parker @ 415/527-
7647, or melissabparker@yahoo.com.
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. n
Would you like to learn to play
the piano by ear?
Beginners to pros are welcome.
This little YouTube video shows my
approach: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=ariYdl6nlyk Marty Nemko:
510/655-2777,  mnemko@comcast.net.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Does your apartment building need
electrical work?  I can help with that.
I’ve been doing electrical work in Oakland
and Berkeley for over 35 years. Sutorik &
Company. www.sutorikandco.com.
Lic #397149. 510/655-3677.
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.
Fine Custom Furniture 
Unique, sculptural, heirloom quality
pieces for your home.  Alison is a Master
woodworker and a Rockridge resident;
www.ajm-furniture.com; ajmfurniture@
gmail.com.
Plan for 2024 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.
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.
vvvvvvvvvvv
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.
DRE 01265873 | 01798658

Competition Drives Price in September
Closing date
BR
BA

Address                                Original price         List price
DOM
Selling price
9/1/2022
3
2

5929 Colby St                          $1,100,000         $1,100,000
13
$1,312,000
9/6/2022
4
2.5

6140 Margarido Dr                 $1,049,000         $1,049,000
41
$1,375,000
9/6/2022
3
2
         6026 Auburn Ave                    $1,895,000         $1,695,000
29
$1,785,000
9/6/2022
4
2

6237 Rockwell St                     $1,795,000         $1,795,000
14
$2,380,000
BUT WHERE WOULD I MOVE? 
Thinking of selling your house but
overwhelmed? As a REALTOR® &
Rockridge home owner, I’d love to trade
ideas & strategize. No pressure! Susie
Wyshak 510/269-7051; hi@agentsusie.
com; (DRE 02144226 KW 02029039).
9/12/2022
3
1

5332 Shafter Ave                     $1,450,000         $1,450,000
13
$1,950,000
9/15/2022
4
3

5588 Taft Ave                           $1,995,000         $1,995,000
14
$2,300,000
9/15/2022
2
2

6115 N. Rockridge Blvd.         $1,295,000         $1,295,000
13
$1,575,000
Homes sold in September closed 20% over the asking price on average.
Specializing in Rockridge | 510.501.3764 | 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

THE
For Lease
3 Bed 2 Bath
House w/Garage & Sunny Garden
Fantastic Location
Heart of Rockridge
L A W T O N
A S S O C I A T E S
R E A L   E S T A T E
B R O K E R A G E
“I know Rockridge”