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www.rockridge.org
R ckridgeNews
THE
VOL 39 • NO. 1 • ISSUE NO. 415 • JANUARY 2024 CIRCULATION: 6,300 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES
Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) • 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland 94609
Surviving and Thriving: College Avenue
Businesses Persevere Across the Decades
by Anna L. Marks
Rockridge businesses face many
challenges. Crime, in particular,
has created financial obstacles for
many who bootstrap their way to
success. We are grateful to these
entreprenuers who, despite the chal-
lenges, continue to add joy and value
to our community.
VOTE 2024
60-Year Anniversary
Eddie’s Liquors / 5491 College
David Shrestha (photo on right)
purchased Eddie’s last April with his
two cousins, Sachin and Brad, all of
whom are from Nepal. They spent
seven years working in the beer indus-
try before starting their own business.
The previous owner purchased the
shop in 1964 from the original Ed, Ed
Silva, who, it is rumored, bought, but
never opened the store due to finan-
cial problems — but the name stuck.
The cousins own two other stores,
one in Berkeley and one in Richmond.
Despite the limited space, Shrestha
says he is open to product recommen-
dations and wants to make it the most
Photo by Anna Marks
convenient shopping experience possi-
ble. He loves the ‘80s style and has no
plans to change the overall aesthetics,
but says they may remodel the inside
next year. “A lot of customers have
come in for 30 years, 40 years, which
is awesome, and I love it.”
Anniversaries, see page 3
Discover a New World of Apple Ciders —
Hard and Alcohol-Free
by Susie Wyshak
Liv Maki and Mike Reis discovered Redfield apples are great for making cider.
Fcider varieties, including popular
non-alcoholic options, along with 70
natural wines and small-batch beers.
ive years after opening at 5815
College Avenue, Redfield Cider
has gone from a dream to a popular
Rockridge establishment. The bar
and bottle shop now offers up to 150
Redfield Cider, see next page
THE
page 2
JANUARY 2024
tastings of club selections at Redfield,
as well as through gift memberships.
Redfield Cider, from front page
The name Redfield comes from a
variety of tart, hybrid apples that are
not great for eating, but, as owners
Mike Reis and Liv Maki discovered,
the fruit makes for a wonderful glass
of cider. Intrigued? Bring your cider
queries and friends to Redfield’s anni-
versary party on January 27, where
Reis and Maki will share their exten-
sive knowledge about flavor profiles,
the history of Bay Area cider, and the
national trends in consumption that
has taken place since Angry Orchard
first introduced cider to mainstream
America back in the 2000s.
Maki and Reis met at 18 Reasons,
a community-focused nonprofit
culinary school in San Francisco that
hosts hands-on cooking classes. They
began dating, and as the bug to start
a business hit, their complementary
skillsets seemed perfect for launching
some sort of bar. Reis had managed
sales and beer programs with Lagu-
nitas, Monk’s Kettle, and The Abbot’s
Cellar. Maki had a passion for the
food industry with extensive experi-
ence under her belt.
They agreed that beer was well-
established, and cider was starting to
trend. The Berkeley residents envi-
sioned Redfield as a cozy, dark spot
for date nights, “rubbing up against
your neighbor’s shoulders," and
landed in Rockridge.
Ciders, Wines, and Hearty Bites
Everything Redfield offers comes
from its mission to provide a healthy,
sustainable, adult beverage. They only
stock ciders that are flavored with real
fruits such as guava and passion fruit
— without extracts or concentrates
that are often found in flavored ciders
today. What’s natural? Bio-dynamic
farming. Minimal inputs. Natural
fermentation.
The rising popularity of cider has
led more small Bay Area wine produc-
ers to add ciders to their roster. “The
lines between cider and wine continue
to blur,” Reis explains. Richmond’s
Purity Wine, Buddy Buddy of San
Francisco, and North American Press
are just a few wineries bringing apples
into their wine fold. “We’re starting
to see more and more interesting pro-
ducers pop up.”
Redfield’s food menu spans a range
of house-made treats that the duo
prefer while drinking, to more hearty
fare such as empañadas from Javi’s
Cooking on Market at 35th.
The Rockridge News was founded in March
1986 by Don Kinkead and is published
monthly (except August). It is sponsored by
the Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC), a nonprofit public benefit organization
founded to: preserve and enhance the unique
character of the Rockridge neighborhood;
promote the health, safety and quality of life
of its residents; furnish a forum for community
involvement; and provide leadership and
representation of neighborhood interests.
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks .........................Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis......................... Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk......Business & 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
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.
De-Alcoholized Ciders
For those abstaining from alcohol,
Redfield features effervescent juices
made from French cider apples, and
they’ve been a huge hit. “These apples
are more earthy and tannic than fresh
supermarket apples,” says Reis.
Most popular has been Wind-
sor-based Tilted Shed’s “Ellie’s”
made by fermenting apples using the
traditional process. According to Reis,
alcohol is removed with a vacuum dis-
tillation process at low temperatures
to preserve the subtle flavors. They
welcome visitors to discover the best
blend for their palate.
Then Came the Pandemic
The business managed to evolve and
thrive during Covid by serving cider
to customers in their breezy outdoor
parklet, and their Monthly Cider
Clubs and Wine Clubs continue to
expand… members can now enjoy free
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
Redfield hosts private and corporate
events in its buzzy space. Contact them
by email info@redfieldcider.com or give
them a call at (510) 250-9058. n
YOUR LOCAL
REFILL SHOP
Display Ad Deadline for FEBRUARY 2024:
January 18th, 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.
Classifieds: Email Susan at smontauk@gmail.com.
[ B U L K ] [ Z E R O - W A S T E ]
grocery shopping without the waste
CORRECTION:
Our apologies to Lesley Evers whose
name was mistakenly mispelled in our
December 2023 newsletter. See page 6 to
read about her recent store expansion.
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.
ReUpRefills.org
6025 COLLEGE AVE. OAKLAND
THE
page 3
JANUARY 2024
bedding made in traditional Japanese
and modern western styles. During
the ’80s, the Japanese healthy, thera-
peutic, and eco-friendly bedding was
hard to find, and owner Ed Muraski
was eager to introduce these styles to
the U.S. He has a workshop in town
where he makes the futons in the tra-
ditional way. “More than 90 percent
of my customers are regulars. People
love the quality and the prices.”
His van has been broken into
several times, but Muraski keeps a
positive attitude. “Though we are
experiencing some dark times, don’t
be scared away by those crooks.
Come out to dine, shop and operate
your business. Together we can fight
through this.”
Anniversaries, from front page
45-Year Anniversary
20-Year Anniversary
Ver Brugge / 6321 College
Jerry Ver Brugge’s father owned a
butcher shop in San Francisco from
1947 to 1982, where Jerry first learned
the trade. At the age of 39, he moved
to the East Bay to open his own store
in Rockridge because he thought “it
would be an up and coming neighbor-
hood.” Now retired at age 85, the store
is managed by Ernesto (not pictured),
who has been with Ver Brugge for
the last ten years. Jerry wants his
neighbors to know that “We still have
the same fine quality and the same
friendly service, and we just want to
carry on.”
Photo by Anna Marks
CHIC / 5414 College
40-Year Anniversary
Rana Mazandarani, owner of Chic,
is a microbiologist and UC Davis
graduate, but her first love is art on
textiles. After six years of study and
eight years working in her field, Rana
and her husband Behrouz, a UC
Berkeley graduate, began their travels
around the world. Travel inspires her,
and she always returns with stylish,
durable, one-of-a-kind garments —
for men and women.
She started her business with
Nancy Owens (founder of the Freight
& Salvage) and maintains a varied,
dedicated clientele, some of whom she
has known from the start. “This store
is about establishing good friendships.
Photo by Anna Marks
Muraski’s Fine Futon Shop / 6050 College
Muraski's opened its door to the
public in early 1984. The store spe-
cializes in 100 percent handcrafted
Anniversaries, see next page
Happy Holidays to You
and a
Healthy and Safe 2024
Anne D. Brandon, Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@corcoranicon.com
AnneDBrandon.com
Lic# 01877719
© 2023 Corcoran Icon Properties. All rights reserved.
Each franchise is independently owned and operated.
THE
page 4
JANUARY 2024
Cole Hardware / 6255 College
Year’s — we are here for the neighbor-
hood. If there is something you want
and we don’t carry it, there is a good
chance we can get it, just let us know.”
Avenue Shops, from previous page
Photo by Anna Marks
I love the community here, they are
well traveled and family-oriented. It
would have been impossible to sur-
vive without them, especially during
Covid” (when she decided to open by
appointment only). “I am at the point
now where people know me, and I
look forward to 20 more years.”
See’s Candies / 5802 College
Photo by Anna Marks
10-Year Anniversaries
A16 / 5256 College
Lauren Davis, A16 manager for the
last two years, has lived in the East
Bay her entire life. She grew up in
Berkeley and remembers coming to
College Avenue as a child. She loves
the “hustle and bustle” and commu-
nity feel, yet says this establishment
is much more laid back than their
flagship restaurant in San Francisco.
“We focus on Southern Italian. Shel-
ley (owner, Shelley Lindgren) just
released her book in August, Italian
Wine. It’s fun.” During the holiday
seasons, they offer a “Feast of Seven
Dishes,” so plan early for next year.
Kelly McDonald is a friendly, ded-
icated cashier. She began working at
Cole when it first opened, thinking
she would work part-time… and she’s
still there. She loves the short com-
mute from her home on Locksley. Her
husband teaches at Oakland Tech, and
their two sons went to all three local
schools. As a result, she has come to
know many of the folks in the neigh-
borhood. She works hard to remember
people’s names, and does for the most
part, but keeps notes in case she for-
gets. She is proud of the fact that the
store is always open.
“During Covid we stayed open
every day… holidays, Christmas, New
Manager Laura Bacina has worked
the College Avenue See's location
since it opened ten years ago. She has
been with the company for 22 years,
and says they are planning something
special to celebrate the anniversary.
“I love it, its my favorite location
of all the ones I’ve worked at. I love
the atmosphere here and all the great
businesses around.” Bacina likes
to grab a pizza at Zachary’s on her
lunch break, or stop by Trader Joe’s
for last-minute shopping before going
home. “Our business is still growing
because a lot of people still don’t
know we’re here.”
5-Year Anniversary
Boichik / 3170 College
Emily Winston, owner of Boichik,
celebrates her fifth anniversary with
the opening of new stores around the
Bay — Larkspur, Palo Alto, and Santa
Clara — and says San Francisco will
be next. She is proud to announce the
growing availability of their frozen
six-packs to supermarkets and cafes.
“We will be working on growing
this distribution up and down the
West Coast in the coming year,” says
Winston. “It has been quite a ride.
Things are going really well and
moving fast, but I can be found on
College Avenue sometimes because I
still live upstairs.” n
THE
page 5
JANUARY 2024
:
January Events at
the Rockridge Library
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
DEAR EDITOR: Stu Flashman was
not the only homeowner’s insurance
policy non-renewed for what appears
to be a bogus reason (see December
2023 Rockridge News). And it appears
that the California Department of
Insurance is giving a free pass to
insurance companies to do it.
I had an Allstate homeowner’s
policy for 31 years and never made a
claim. Allstate refused to renew my
policy due to the ivy growing on the
front of my house. Supposedly, this is
a fire hazard. The ivy has been on my
house since Allstate first insured me
and the company never complained
about it previously. Well-watered ivy
is considered a fire-resistant plant.
I complained to the California
Department of Insurance, which
determined that they were “…unable
to conclude that your insurance
company’s non-renewal of your policy
violated the California Insurance
Code.” I asked them to provide the
legal basis for this decision, based on
approved filings by Allstate. They
came up with a filing reference from
2022. However, I could not find
anything in that filing which justified
Allstate’s change in their renewal
policy re: ivy (vegetation) on a house.
I asked for clarification from the State
but none came. I also asked Allstate to
cite the specific document(s) and text
in that filing which allowed them to
non-renew my policy. No response.
I believe that the regulatory process
was broken by Allstate and by the
Department of Insurance. The corre-
spondence from these parties backs
up my conclusion that the non-re-
newal was not justified under any
approved filing by Allstate. It appears
to me that there was actually no legal
basis for Allstate to non-renew my
policy and that the Calif. Department
of Insurance should have told them
not to do it. This is another example
of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo
Lara enabling insurance companies at
the expense of the public.
DEAR EDITOR: I write in response
to Stuart Flashman’s letter to the
editor, published in the December
2023 issue of the Rockridge News.
Mr. Flashman writes in reference to
the recent notice of cancellation of his
homeowner’s insurance and specu-
lates that the regrettable cancellation
of his insurance policy is somehow
related to recent City of Oakland
and State initiatives to encourage the
production of more housing through
higher density limits around the City
and the State.
A September 14, 2023 article in Cal
Matters reports the actual reasons
behind Mr. Flashman’s insurance can-
cellation: “Wildfires fueled a looming
crisis in California’s insurance market
for years. After disastrous fire seasons
in 2017 and 2018 wiped out decades
of profit, insurance companies
began dropping tens of thousands of
customers by refusing to renew their
policies.” Alas, wildfires — not wild
housing policy — are the culprit.
I suggest we stick to easily research-
able facts and not wild leaps of logic
in our correspondence. As far as I
know, the densest neighborhoods in
San Francisco, Chicago, and New
York are not losing insurance cover-
age more quickly than other places.
5366 College Ave.
at Manila
510-597-5017
For Children:
Storytime Thursdays and Saturdays; 10:30am.
Chess Club: Wednesdays at 4pm. No Chess 1/3.
All ages and skill-levels welcome.
Read to a Dog: Thursdays at 4pm. Coco &
Scout alternate weeks. They are trained to
listen to young people practice reading aloud.
Intergenerational Origami: First Tuesday at
4pm, Third Tuesday at 6:30pm. All ages and
skill-levels welcome.
Winter Bingo: Prize books for kids ages 0 to
13 who complete 5 or more BINGO activities:
through 1/27/2024.
For Teens
Jeopardy and Snacks: Wednesday, 1/10 2-3pm.
Presented by the Teen Advisory Board with
the support of the Friends of the Rockridge
Library.
Teen Advisory Board: Wednesday, 1/10;
3:30pm-4:30pm. Join the Rockridge Branch
Library Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and take
an active role in creating, planning, and imple-
menting 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 info and to
get a copy of the book. January’s book is Klara
and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Ken Rich
Manila Avenue n
NOTE: The library will be closed
Monday, January 15 in observance of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Land Use Committee
Meeting
Hours:
Mon, Thurs, Sat 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday - 10am to 8pm
Closed on Sundays
The Rockridge community
is encouraged to participate in LUC
meetings where elements of the
General Plan Update will be a primary
topic of conversation.
Please also check the online calendar at:
www.oaklandlibrary.org/events.
The next meeting will be held on
January 17, 2024, on Zoom
Meetings are now being held at 7:30pm
on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
To participate, or to request links to
this or any previous meeting, email
Jon Gabel
Ocean View Drive n
landuse@rockridge.org.
THE
page 6
JANUARY 2024
NCPC Holds Meeting
on Crime with
District Attorney
Pamela Price
by Carol Kasparek
Dthe lack of consequences for those
who do get arrested. Price countered
that the arrests themselves have been
shown to be good deterrents. She
explained that probation is favored by
the department for a number of rea-
sons, including the fact that State law
makes pursuing charges for serious
crimes difficult, and building cases
for these types of charges require
resources that OPD does not have.
According to Price, successful
crime prevention strategies requires
providing offenders with housing,
employment, and mentorship. With
this in mind, she set up new positions
and offices to focus on mentorship
for young people and improving
parole conditions. She also created the
Community Support Bureau, encom-
passing the Family Justice Center
and the Cares Navigation Center, to
further her prevention strategy.
As far as the recall effort, Price sees
it as “undemocratic at heart” and
has expanded a speaker’s bureau to
explain what her office is doing and to
answer questions. “I had no idea there
would be such a dramatic interest in
my office,” she said. She let the group
know that two new appointees are
engaging with local communities —
Esther Lemus and Austin Bruckner;
both can be reached at acgov.org.
With a great new team of Assistant
District Attorneys, Price said, “We are
working overtime for citizens of the
county. We cannot go back, we have
to go forward.” n
Photo by Carol Kasparek
istrict Attorney Pamela Price
attended the general meeting of
the Greater Rockridge Crime Preven-
tion Council, held at the Rockridge
Library on December 14, 2023. She
was joined by Captain Lisa Ausmus,
the new Oakland Police Department
(OPD) district supervisor for our area.
Attendance was light; about a dozen
showed up in person with another 17
attending via Zoom (see the website at
https://www.rockridgencpc.com/ for
transcripts and video recordings).
Captain Ausmus has had this
District Attorney Pamela Price
speaks at the Greater Rockrdge
Crime Prevention Council meeting.
assignment for seven months. She
cited statistics showing increased
home break-ins for both beats 12y and
13x and an increase in vehicle thefts
for 12y, and noted that collecting and
interpreting data is difficult when
each beat reports data differently.
The department is working to set
standards to more effectively present
evidence to the DA.
DA Price began her presentation
by stating she was the first “non-ap-
pointed, non-anointed” person to
hold the office. She has focused on
“cleaning up the mess” she found
when she took office. She explained
that without formulas for submission
and analysis, “We do not have data
transparency.” She tasked her team
with providing reliable data for reli-
able analysis and says that without
better systems, current performance
of her office should not be compared
to the past.
Attendees expressed concerns about
THE
page 7
JANUARY 2024
Get Ready to “Ride
for A Reason” — The
Annual Fundraiser for
Public Schools
by Cliff Rechtschaffen
Parents, students, teachers, and
community members will ride
from Oakland Technical High School
to the State Capitol in Sacramento
on April 20, 2024, to support public
education. The fundraiser, which
began as a protest against the deep
budget cuts to California public
schools during the Great Recession,
has grown to include hundreds of bike
riders. More than $1.62 million has
been raised for 12 public schools in
Oakland and Alameda since the ride
began in 2009.
Interested in participating? The
time to start training is now. Riders
can choose from fully-supported rides
of distances of 45, 68, or 109 miles (for
the shorter rides, cyclists take a bus to
the starting point). New this year is a
9-mile kid-friendly ride — a beautiful
loop ride starting at the State Capitol.
The event is staffed by close to 75
volunteers, and after expenses are
covered, all proceeds go directly to
schools. Funds are used for library
books, sports equipment, after-school
programs, science equipment, and
salaries for counselors, librarians, and
reading specialists. Local beneficiaries
include Emerson Elementary, Clare-
mont Middle, and Oakland Tech and
Oakland International High Schools.
For more information or to sign up,
please visit: https://rideforareason.
weebly.com. If you have questions or
would like to volunteer, please email
Nora Vargas-Dye at R4RSchools1@
gmail.com. n
Dogs of
Rockridge
Virgil is not just any ordinary dog,
he’s a four-legged superstar who
deserves all the attention he can
get. Named after the famous poet,
Virgil is a true Renaissance dog
who has a knack for playing frisbee
like a pro, indulging in ice cream
like a true connoisseur, and making
new canine companions at the dog
park (he has a discerning nose for
sniffing out new friends to share his
frisbee). He’s paws-down one of the
most playful and lovable dogs in our
neighborhood.
Teddy is a three-year-old red toy
poodle. He is the light of our lives
and always keeps us on our toes. He
loves daily walks around Rockridge
(he’s a big fan of Boyd Avenue), a
visit to Cole Hardware, or a treat
from the postal lady. Teddy has the
air of a refined French gentleman
and is no stranger to turning up his
nose at his dinner or taking up all
the space on the sofa. He tends to
get into hijinks frequently — from
getting tangled in Mom’s knitting,
to eating a wheel of Brie cheese, to
daily scuffles with his arch nemesis,
the Squirrel.
Does your furry friend live in Rockridge?
If so, send a photo of your four-legged companion
with a short commentary to: editor@rockridge.org.
THE
page 8
JANUARY 2024
Leveling the Playing Field on College Admissions
by Judith Doner Berne
“I
compelling application; how colleges
decide whom to admit; and the com-
plexities of financial aid.
For Davis parent Scott Carney, “The
resources in the book were a helpful
reminder of how to find the great
schools that not everyone is talking
about. Understanding the financing
and different types of financial awards
also made a difference. For our kids,
the book offered some real perspective
that it is not all about them, and many
factors influence admissions.”
Springer is frank about the chal-
lenges of writing a book on college
admissions while so much is in flux.
Topics that will play a significant
role in the future (noted in the book
without detail) include AI and how
admissions offices will adapt to its
use; how colleges will diversify their
student bodies in the wake of the
June Supreme Court ruling banning
affirmative action; and the experiment
with the “flipped” model of college
admissions in which students receive
admission offers without first complet-
ing applications.
The authors will update these and
other topics on an ongoing basis at
www.admissionmatters.com as well as
on the Admission Matters Facebook
page and X account. Information spe-
cifically directed to LGBTQ students is
in doing the research,” she said, “so
I just decided to learn all I could.”
After reading what was out there for
students and their parents, she found
“some were out of date, some were
wrong, and some were cynical.”
“I decided to write the book I and
my son would want to read,” Springer
said. It was first published in 2005
when Hop was at Stanford. The next
year, daughter Mollie matriculated
at Scripps College, part of The Clare-
mont Colleges.
She also wanted “to help level the
playing field. For the price of a book
students can get information that you
would have to pay someone for — and
high school counselors are stretched
so thin.” And whether using a private
or school counselor, she said, stu-
dents can ask better questions. “The
book is multilevel. If you don’t know
anything, you can learn. If you know
something, you can get the nuance.”
The latest version, issued last fall,
has received high praise from college
admission directors and high school
counselors and serves as a textbook
for college advisor courses such as
the UCLA Extension Certificate Pro-
gram in College Counseling. What it
covers includes: building a balanced
college list; whether to take the SAT
and/or ACT and submit scores; when
to apply; steps toward crafting a
t’s all about fit,” Sally Springer,
said, referring to the process
of identifying schools that are good
matches for college-bound students.
Springer, who moved to Rock-
ridge two years ago, is the driving
force behind Admission Matters, a
guidebook to “What Students and
Parents Need to Know About Getting
into College,” now in its fifth edition.
Written with three other authors who
each bring different perspectives, the
book is dedicated to “our children and
grandchildren.”
“It’s been a labor of love,” she said
of the book she began writing when
her son Erik Hop was a junior in high
school. “He wasn’t that interested
Eyes on Rockridge, see next page
Market talk: General inflation rate is down to near 3%, so FEDs are likely reversing course and will hold and or reduce short
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now. A 1% reduction in rates can mean $100K more in buying power for a Buyer so great time to get in before the spring surge!
Coming soon:
-Gorgeous 2200sf 5978Margarido.com Rockridge view home will re-emerge late January. $2,095,000
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THE
page 9
JANUARY 2024
she moved in,” said Marilyn Citron,
who with her husband Kevin Flynn
live next door. “Sally and I have a bit
of shared history as we both earned
our undergraduate degrees at Brook-
lyn College. Our neighborhood is
extremely cohesive, with low turnover,
and all of us welcomed Sally, who was
immediately embraced by our neigh-
bors at our block parties and events.”
“Sally and I have been meeting for
weekly walks through Rockridge for
about a year now,” said Susan Putney.
“She is kind, caring, supportive, and
super smart. I recommend Sally and
her book to my friends with high
schoolers,” Putney said. “I wish all
kids had someone like Sally for college
guidance. It’s definitely one of life’s
most important decisions.”
Eyes on Rockridge, from previous page
Photo by Judy Berne
also not included in the book, but they
plan to address that on the website as
well in any future editions of the book.
Springer also co-authored Left Brain,
Right Brain which was honored by the
American Psychological Foundation for
contributing to the public’s understand-
ing of psychology. It’s been translated
into seven languages and has appeared
in five editions. Her second book, How
to Succeed in College, is a guidebook
for college freshmen.
“I wrote these books when I decided
a book needed to be written,” said
Springer, who received her B.S. summa
cum laude from Brooklyn College and
her Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford.
She drew on 25 years of experience as a
professor and university administrator,
retiring as Associate Chancellor Emer-
ita from UC Davis in 2007.
That was also the year Springer
started her college admission coun-
seling service when a friend of her
daughter asked for guidance. “I found
that I very much enjoyed helping stu-
dents find good educational matches”
presented in the form of a college list
to reflect their needs and wishes. She
refers them to other professionals if
they want help with college essays.
“Sometimes I just see a family once;
others I work with more closely.”
Her move to Rockridge was driven
by the fact that her son and his family,
now including a first grandchild, had
bid on a few houses here before finally
Sally Springer’s book is now in its
fifth edition.
settling in Elmwood. Before then,
“I had never really heard of Rock-
ridge. It was during the pandemic and
this little house was just coming on
the market. I thought why am I sitting
in Davis in this big house? It just gets
hotter and hotter.”
“I’m thrilled to be here,” Springer
said. “I love it. I’m close to my chil-
dren and grandchildren. You can get
around without a car.” She traveled
between her two residences until
the Davis house sold. “I considered
my move official when I brought my
cats.” And for the first time since
she was a child, she has a dog, Daisy,
courtesy of the Contra Costa Animal
Shelter — although her cats aren’t
quite as happy about it.
“We introduced ourselves before
To suggest ideas for Eyes on
Rockridge, email judyberne@att.net. n
THE
page 10
JANUARY 2024
Best Bites & Beverages on College Avenue
The Invincible Drink: Ginger-Limeade Cocktail
Marica Restaurant
5301 College Ave
The concoction is served cold.
Since 2020, in the early pandemic,
cocktails have been available to Mar-
ica’s take-out customers in charming
small mason jars, for enjoyment
at home. Sealed up in this fashion,
the Ginger-Limeade cocktail keeps
nicely (and easily until tomorrow’s
cocktail hour).
New libations continue to flow
forth. The latest addition to the
cocktail list is the “Violet 75,” a
mixture of Bombay gin and prosecco
infused with butterfly pea flowers.
These indigo flowers were originally
native to a single island in the East
Indies, but are now more widely cul-
tivated. In various Asian countries,
dried pea flowers are combined with
lemongrass to brew a kind of tea,
served hot or cold with honey and
lemon. Now, at Marica, they will
appear in a new incarnation. n
Marica Restaurant, named for a
Roman water nymph, is now in its
third decade serving its signature
dishes, with main courses centered
on seafood. To whet the diners’ appe-
tites, the menu presents an inviting
list of cocktails. One of these, the
Ginger-Limeade cocktail, has been a
staple since Marica opened in 2000.
Within the world of cocktails, there
is naturally a tension between inven-
tion and stability. But sometimes
the one ripens into the other — the
Ginger-Limeade cocktail being a case
in point. The drink’s durability will
not surprise anyone who has tasted it.
The ingredients are in perfect balance,
with a good citrusy tartness; the result
is both piquant and satisfying. Nedda
Cheung (see photo), who owns and
operates Marica with her husband
Christopher, had the original inspi-
ration for the cocktail and refined it
with the help of their son Austin.
Photo by Anna Marks
Much of the effort in preparing a
Ginger-Limeade cocktail precedes
the actual mixing of liquids. First,
fresh ginger root has to be peeled
and cut up. Then the ginger flesh is
“muddled” (mashed) with a cocktail
muddler (basically, a small pestle).
Next, the preparer pours vodka —
nowadays, always Tito’s — over the
ginger pulp and allows it to sit. Then
the infusion is strained to remove
any remnants of ginger pulp. At the
end of the process, lime juice and
unflavored syrup are stirred in.
— Submitted by John Gussman
Send your favorite bite or beverage in
Rockridge to editor@rockridge.org.
Expanding the Fabric
of Community
by Anna Marks
Finteract with our customers and be
an integral part of the community
was incredibly exciting. It wasn’t just
about selling clothes; it was about
creating a local hub for fashion lovers
and becoming a part of the daily
fabric of our neighborhood.”
The shop has since relocated to
5709 College Avenue. Last month,
they expanded the store’s footprint by
taking over the space next door that
had been recently vacated by the home
goods shop, Mignonne Decor, allow-
ing her to showcase a much larger
selection. “This expansion isn’t just
about having more space; it’s about
enhancing the way our customers
engage with our products. It’s a trans-
formation from a crowded store to a
delightful shopping sanctuary.”
Evers’ clothing line is a vibrant
homage to the spirited, fun, active
styles of the ’60s and ’70s, infused
ashion designer Lesley Evers (see
photo) opened her retail clothing
shop by the same name on College
Avenue in 2012, at the corner of
Forest Street and Lawton. Although
the shop was modest in size, an influx
of natural light created an inviting,
warm atmosphere.
Evers was inspired to open her store
in Rockridge as a result of a long-held
dream to broaden her brand. Having
served 200 boutiques nationwide since
2008, she had plenty of surplus inven-
tory on hand, so she and her husband
took the leap to open their first brick-
and-mortar location.
“The idea of having a physical
space where we could directly
with a modern twist. Eager to cater to
those who adore wearing audacious
prints, the store offers a range of
garments that are not just clothes,
but conversation starters. Evers has
a newly designed array of artful
pieces with playful patterns that are
comfortable and stylish. “My goal is to
create pieces that bring joy and add a
splash of color to everyday life.” n
THE
page 11
JANUARY 2024
Somm Demand:
A Fast-Track to Wine
Appreciation
by Carol Kasparek
a supermarket, Somm Demand is
there for you. “We want to make sure
you’re covered,” says James, even if this
means simply answering what might
taste best with pork chops.
Recently, Somm Demand held a
tasting at Planterday (a plant nursery
at 6004 College) where Roby guided
attendees through a series of wine tast-
ings — from sparkling to deep reds.
He asked each person questions to
reveal their personal taste preferences.
“Sensation is so important,” says Roby,
noting that “you need to use your nose
to fully experience the wine.”
When you want to buy a bottle of
wine, do you sometimes wish
you could chat extensively with the
waiter to help guide you through a
voluminous wine list? Even better,
how about if that person already
knew what you liked? The founders of
Somm Demand give you that better
experience by providing the expertise
of a sommelier or “somm” so that
anyone can learn to overcome the
mysteries around wine selection.
“I learned about wine from my best
friend, David Roby,” says co-founder
Nick James. James grew up with Roby
who went on to become a sommelier
at several high-end restaurants in San
Francisco. Their discussions and tast-
ings were informal and often included
the history and culture of wines. They
loved the experience and thought
about bringing this type of exposure
to wine to others, wondering, “What
if everyone had a wine buddy?”
During the height of the pandemic
when no one was dining in restau-
rants, James and Roby tested the
concept of a “sommelier on demand,”
focusing on Roby’s knowledge.
Gianpaolo Paterlini, the sommelier at
Acquerello (a Northern Italian restau-
Nick James looks on as Gianpaolo
Paterlini pours a glass for tasting.
Photo by Carol Kasparek
rant in San Francisco) joined the
group, allowing them to more fully
develop the concept of a deep and
broad service provided by friendly
experts. James, a data engineer, used
his coding skills to build a platform to
make their services easily accessible
and instructive.
To begin the service (free for now),
clients fill out an online form and
then reserve a consultation with a
somm who will ask questions and
make suggestions, online or by phone.
The company offers a variety of selec-
tions from their online inventory of
wines that can be shipped, delivered,
or picked up locally in Rockridge —
by the case or by the bottle. Purchases
are added to their profile so they can
track what they like, or they can allow
the somm to make recommendations.
From the wine lover who wants
to add to their cellar, to the person
baffled in front of the wine wall at
To learn more, go to Somm Demand
at https://www.sommdemand.com. n
THE
page 12
JANUARY 2024
From Civic Good to Drag Shows, The RIC
Has Served North Oakland for 112 Years
By Edward Guthmann
Hut, “They were immediately ready to
sell,” he said.
Today, Ye Olde Hut is gone. The
façade at 5515 College Avenue is the
same, but the bar is now the Rock-
ridge Improvement Club, or RIC for
short. It’s a tongue-in-cheek reference
to the civic organization that built
the structure in 1911 on a block that
became the heart of the Rockridge
commercial district.
The RIC opened in June 2016 with
Ayers as manager and an almost
nightly presence, and Saltzman as
co-owner. Business was slow at first,
and, in March 2000, the bar closed for
a year due to Covid. Today, the RIC is
a blooming success. There’s a younger
clientele, a variety of weekly events,
and a congenial, informal vibe.
Ayers, 48, brought creativity and
youthful enthusiasm to the job. He
had a hunch that live entertainment
would fly and slowly built a weekly
schedule: a Skee-ball tournament
every Tuesday, Trivia Night each
Wednesday (Ayers writes the ques-
tions and also hosts), a drag show on
Thursdays, karaoke on Fridays, and
deejays and live bands on weekends.
“I just wanted to bring something to
the neighborhood that’s super-fun and
different,” he said. “A little bit weird.
A little bit David Lynch. A little bit
Roy Orbison. A little bit queer. And
just throw it all in this one thing and
mix it up and see what happens.”
“Scott turned it around,” said Eric
McNiel, a products director at a
marijuana dispensary, who deejays a
reggae vinyl night at the RIC. “He and
Jeff made it a fun spot — especially
post-Covid.”
This East Bay Nosh story was first published, in slightly different form, by
Oaklandside and Berkeleyside on June 23, 2023, and is reprinted here with
permission. This is the first in a two-part series; the second part will run in
next month’s Rockridge News.
Sbarflies slumped like question marks
on barstools.
“It was a sinking ship,” said Ayers,
a musician from Burlington, VT, who
moved to Oakland in 1997 to make it
in the music business. In the 2000s he
fronted a band called the Lovemak-
ers and went by the moniker Scott
Blonde. When iTunes, Spotify, and
other streaming services ate away at
musicians’ royalties in the early 2010s,
Ayers proposed to his friend, record
producer, and music lawyer Jeff Saltz-
man, that they buy a bar.
“Jeff was like, ‘Well, if you find
a bar, let’s buy it.’” When Ayers
approached the owners of Ye Olde
even years ago, Scott Ayers bought
a bar in Rockridge. The joint was
divey, dispirited. The clientele was
dying off. The bar was called Ye Olde
Hut, but for many decades prior it
was simply known as The Hut. Guests
entered through a Tudor-style façade
that promised folksy comforts, only
to find a dismal interior going to seed.
An enormous brick fireplace, the
stench of stale beer, and a few random
RIC, see next page
THE
page 13
JANUARY 2024
the bar opened, he and Ayers got
static for the new name, the irony
of which escaped most people. “It
seemed so snotty, you know? People
were like, ‘Oh, you think you’re gonna
improve Rockridge, huh?’ ”
SF Eater ran a piece lamenting
the demise of another dive bar, and
mischaracterized the RIC as “dedi-
cated to craft cocktails.” The Ye Olde
Hut diehards perceived a stench of
bourgeois, pinkie-finger-in-the-air
elitism. “We actually had people
shoot through the windows with BB
guns and put bags of garbage in front
of the door,” said Saltzman.
Founded in 1910,
the Vernon-Rockridge
Hall has always been a
local gathering place.
Photo by Anna Marks
Photo courtesy of the
Oakland Public Library,
Oakland History Center
RIC owner Scott Ayers (left) and bartender Nathan Gale (right). Gale worked
a ten-year stint at the Hudson Bay Cafe before mixing cocktails at the bar.
Part Two will look back to the early
history of the RIC and describe the
massive changes that The Hut survived
in the 1960s when hundreds of local
homes and businesses were leveled
and construction began on BART and
Highway 24. n
not a sports game to watch.
Behind the bar, there’s a glossy
photo of a young Christopher Walken
— seemingly the bar’s patron saint
or spirit animal. And, in the tiny
storefront next door, where Open
Mind Music used to be located, Ayers
installed a game room/arcade.
All those changes are paying off.
The RIC is far more popular than
the Ye Olde Hut was in its dying
days. Ayers said that when the bar
reopened in March 2021, after the
pandemic shutdown, business went
up by nearly 50 percent. Saltzman
credits Ayers with that success:
“Scott’s just a super-friendly and
super-nice guy. When he goes away,
we don’t do as well,” he said.
Not everyone is thrilled with the
RIC. Saltzman remembers that when
RIC, from previous page
Drag was the initial entertain-
ment offering — “which is funny
considering they’re two very straight
rocker dudes,” said Ava LaShay, who
commutes from Livermore to host the
show each week. “Scott and Jeff are
so supportive. At our very first show,
one of the bartenders came in drag
to support us, which was really cute.
They want us to feel safe there.”
Stripping off the grit and muck that
accrued during The Hut and Ye Olde
Hut eras took two months. The bar’s
interior went from dank and dour to
quirky and kitschy, with velvet paint-
ings of cougars and unicorns, and two
Christmas trees that stay up all year.
Bob Ross’s “The Joy of Painting,” usu-
ally muted, plays on TV when there’s
THE
page 14
JANUARY 2024
Meet the Authors
in 2024 at the
Rockridge Library
by Alona Rivord
the accomplishments of our local
authors,” says Guenther.
The following talks will take place
on Wednesdays in the upstairs meet-
ing room at the Rockridge branch
from 6:30pm-7:30pm. Additional
author events will be announced on
the events section of the Oakland
Public Library website.
March 20, 2024
Most Delicious Poison: The Story of
Nature’s Toxins, from Spices to Vices
— by Dr. Noah Whiteman
Dr. Whiteman is Professor of
Genetics, Genomics, Evolution
and Development and Director of
the Essig Museum of Entomology
Research at UC-Berkeley. The book
explores how nature’s toxins evolved
and why we use and abuse them.
The Rockridge branch of the Oak-
land Public Library is hosting
local writers throughout 2024 as part
of a "Meet the Author" series. Branch
Manager Brian Guenther is orga-
nizing the talks, which will feature
readings from new works and discus-
sions with their authors.
“With this series and others in
the works, I hope to confirm the
Rockridge Library’s reputation as a
cultural centerpiece of the Oakland
community, all while celebrating
February 21, 2024
White Supremacy is All Around: Notes
from a Black Disabled Woman in a
White World — by Dr. Akilah Cadet
Dr. Cadet is the founder and CEO
of Change Cadet, which prepares
people and companies to be agents of
change in the workforce. The book is
the author’s first collection of essays
and addresses the actions needed to
dismantle white supremacy.
May 1, 2024
When You Care: The Unexpected
Magic of Caring for Others
— by Elissa Strauss
Strauss is the Artistic Director
of the Bay Area hub of LABA: A
Laboratory for Jewish Culture and
a journalist, essayist, and opinion
writer. The book combines research
about care with stories from parents
and caregivers as a way to examine
the role caring plays in society.
June 26, 2024
But You Look So Normal: Lost and
Found in a Hearing World
— by Claudia Marseille
Marseille is a full-time painter and
former fine art portrait photographer.
The book is a memoir chronicling the
author’s severe hearing loss, child-
hood, education, family relationships,
and life journey.
DRE 01798658 | 02130935
Winter Doldrums Bring Hopes For A Great Spring!
Closing date
BR
BA
Address Original price List price
DOM
Selling price
12/6/2022
4
3.5
6125 Broadway $1,180,000 $1,180,000
45
$1,200,000
12/6/2022
2
1
400 Avon St $499,000
$499,000
15
$550,000
12/21/2022
1
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2005 Pleasant Valley Ave $429,000
$379,000
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$380,000
12/21/2022
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5648 Oak Grove Ave $1,295,000
$1,295,000
34
$1,525,000
“When seeking authors to invite to
join the series, my primary conditions
were that they reside in Oakland, and
that their book be newly released and
compelling enough to warrant a dis-
cussion. I’m proud that this group
of authors reflects Oakland’s diverse
community and that each will be
speaking on topics that are unique
and provocative. Community mem-
bers will come away from each event
feeling inspired and intellectually
stimulated,” says Guenther.
Homes sold in December closed 6% over the asking price on average.
Specializing in Rockridge | 510.501.3764 | MotleyHopkinsTeam.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
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statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footage are approximate.
law office of
dave karlinsky
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
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• Dispute resolution
The author series is co-sponsored
by Friends of the Rockridge Library
and A Great Good Place for Books, an
independent bookstore in Montclair
Village where copies of the featured
book available for purchase and
signing at each talk. The series is made
possible in part thanks to generous
donations to the Friends. Learn more
at www.rockridgefriends.org. n
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
schedule an appointment.
THE
page 15
JANUARY 2024
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 February is
January 18, 2004 (available Jan 6). Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck
Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131. For more information,
email Susan at smontauk@gmail.com.
Classifieds
RN
Reward Based Dog Training
Does your adolescent pup need help
with basic obedience, leash manners
or impulse control? We offer private
training customized to help your dog
succeed! Please call 510/646-9657 or
visit dogsquaddogtraining.com for more
information and to get started.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Resolving to fix up your home this year?
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.
HIRING BRAIN GAMES
INSTRUCTORS For Seniors
throughout the Bay Area
Assisted Living and Memory
Care/$25-$50 an hour Visit: www.
californiagamegirls.com and click
yellow box WE ARE HIRING, upper
right on homepage for details. www.
californiabraingames.com; 925/212-4642.
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.
Space and Stuff Organizing
Feeling overwhelmed in your home,
garage, or office? Stuff taking up too much
valuable real estate? Let me help! $35/
hour, free consults. Vanessa @ 510/917-
0783 or Vvpratt2@gmail.com
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.
Piano teacher for students of all
ages and levels.
I have decades of teaching experience,
and offer a comprehensive approach
to learning the piano, which includes
technique, sight-reading, theory,
learning piano pieces, and more. Please
contact phyllisplotkin@att.net. n
Penelope’s Aesthetics Out with
the old and in with the new!
Bring in the New Year with a stress
reducing facial. Neck and shoulder
massage included with the treatment! $89.
Gift Certificates available! 510/594-1552
penelopecalef.com.
Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council
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.
The Greater Rockridge NCPC
meets on the 2nd Thursday of even
numbered months.
The next meeting will be held on:
February 8, at 7pm,
Rockridge Library Conference Room
There will be brief presentations by
the Community Resource Officers and
discussion of crime and safety issues.
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.
For details, visit
www.rockridgencpc.com
THE
COME VISIT US AT
THE CORNER OF
LIFE & CHANGE