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www.rockridge.org

VOL 39   •   NO. 6   •   ISSUE  NO. 420   •   JUNE 8, 2024                 CIRCULATION: 6,400 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

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

Message from
RCPC Chair
Photo by Judy Berne
by Casey Farmer
National Night Out 2024
is August 6
Plan Ahead for Your Block Party
Alexis Madrigal is as comfortable in the kitchen as he is co-hosting KQED’s Forum.
The first Tuesday evening in
August is known as National
Night Out. It’s a time dedicated
to bringing neighbors together at
block parties all across the country.
Whether your gathering is large
or small, or offers light bites or
a huge potluck, it’s important to
get together at least once a year
with our neighbors to build and
strengthen community.
Eyes on Rockridge:
KQED’s Forum Co-host
Highlights the Bay Area
live-radio talk show, the husband of
Sarah Rich, father of Orion, 10, and
Flora, 8, and Laszlo, his dog, Madrigal
simultaneously pursues a variety of
endeavors.
These varied interests include run-
ning marathons and swimming laps,
publishing the online Oakland Garden
Club newsletter that has 16,000-plus
subscribers; appearing in conversation
by Judith Doner Berne
Alexis Madrigal could be the ulti-
mate multitasker. As he marks
his third anniversary on June 21st as
co-host of Forum, KQED’s weekday
Take this Opportunity to:
Eyes on Rockridge, see page 10
• Meet new neighbors and introduce
them to each other.
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, October 13
• Re-learn the names of many
neighbors you may have forgotten.
Rockridge Kitchen Tour
by Star Lightner, Kitchen Tour Chair
• Build a more resilient neighbor-
hood: Begin a conversation about
emergency preparedness or training
together with the City’s CORE
program (see www.oaklandca.gov/
services/readyoakland).
Hello Rockridge, the 2024 Rock-
ridge Kitchen/ADU Tour date
has been set for Sunday, October 13.
Planning is underway and we need
your help in several areas.
First, we are seeking Kitchen Tour
volunteers interested in helping solicit
sponsors (advertisers) for the Kitchen
Tour brochure… but fear not, you will
not be working on your own… we
have volunteers already on board and
lots of historical information to guide
you. This is a great opportunity for
people who like to do sales.
• Collect emails for future
communications.
Kitchen Tour, see page 3
Chair Message, see next page


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JUNE 2024

Chair Message, from front page
How/Where to Advertise:
Last year, I helped coordinate the
Belgrave/Carlton/Thomas street party
where we hired a local band to jazz
things up — The Miles Turk Trio.
Miles is a recent alum of Oakland
School for the Arts and is now a
professional musician. For a modest
fee, his trio played great jazz thanks to
electricity provided via an extension
cord to a local home. If you’re looking
to hire a band, “Follow the Music”
(followthemusic.live) can help. The
site was created by a coalition of
industry veterans and partners who
are committed to mentoring and
supporting some of the best emerging
artists in the Bay Area and beyond.
• Flyers on doorsteps are always
the most direct way (no need to
produce anything fancy).
• Use your neighborhood or block
email list. Send a “Save the Date” a
few weeks out and a reminder a few
days prior.
• Post flyers on signposts or
telephone poles
• Put a sign in front of your own
house: “Join us for a Block Party on
Tuesday, August 6 at 6pm.”
• Word of mouth… be sure to ask
your RSVP’ed guests to help spread
the word.
This year, the event is sponsored
by the Oakland Ballers, Oakland's
newest professional baseball team.
More NNO Organizing Tips:
Register Your Block Party
1) My #1 suggestion: Supply name
tags (available at Cole Hardware)
because they help break the ice for
shy folks and make learning new
names easier for all.
If you register your block party
with the City early, you will be
mailed an NNO Host Packet that
includes prizes and give-away items
for the kids, caution tape, and bal-
loons, along with flyers with safety
information to share. The registra-
tion deadline is Monday, July 29,
and can be done online at: https://
www.oaklandca.gov/topics/national-
night-out-2024.
To keep the kids entertained, side-
walk chalk is always a hit, or maybe
create an enclosure for riding scoot-
ers, bikes, skates, etc. Take photos
and send them to editor@rockridge.
org; RCPC loves celebrating commu-
nity building and will share them on
online at Rockridge.org, and include
some of them in the September edi-
tion of the Rockridge News. n
2) Ask neighbors to bring a dish
made with their favorite summer
produce — perhaps from their
garden!
3) Have a competition: Who
makes the best sangria or soda
spritzer?
4) Need tables and chairs? Ask
your neighbors to bring them.
Land Use Committee Meeting
The Rockridge community is encouraged
to participate in LUC meetings where
elements of the General Plan is a primary
topic of conversation.
Meetings are held at 7:30pm
on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
The June meeting has been
cancelled.
The next meeting will be held on
Wednesday, July 18, on Zoom
To participate, or to request links to
this or any previous meeting,
email landuse@rockridge.org.

The Rockridge News was founded in March
1986 by Don Kinkead and is published
monthly (except August). It‘s 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, 2024-25
Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair
Ken Rich..................................................... Vice-Chair
Kim S. Smith................................................. Secretary
Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer
Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen
Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac
Unger, Zack Walton,
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Contacting the Rockidge News
Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the
Rockridge News? Have questions about newsletter
distribution? Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge
News distributor? We’d love to hear from you.
Want to write a Letter to the Editor? Letters
are limited to 450 words and are published at
the editor's discretion. Send letters to: editor@
rockridge.org. Please include your name, email,
and street of residence. Deadline is the 11th of
each month for the upcoming newsletter.
All submissions accepted for publication are
subject to editing for clarity and brevity. 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 JULY/AUG 2024:
June 20, 2024
Advertising rates are $28/column inch ($32 for
color). 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.
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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JUNE 2024

be on the tour, please email kitchen-
tour@rockridge.org.
Owners of kitchens and ADUs on
the tour are encouraged to invite their
architect, designer, and/or contractor
to be present during the tour to greet
and speak to attendees about the proj-
ect since many attendees are looking
for ideas for their project. If you loved
your architect or contractor, this is a
great way to say thank you by allow-
ing them to shine and meet potential
new clients.
I was on the tour in 2017, and I can
tell you it’s exciting to be a part of
it — and a great perk is that you get
free tickets to visit the other kitchens
while people are visiting yours.
use one more. This is a great oppor-
tunity for people who appreciate the
nuances of a story.
Also, we need people interested in
approaching business owners on Col-
lege Avenue and Piedmont Avenue,
and in Montclair, to request permis-
sion to post Kitchen Tour posters at
their businesses. This is a great gig for
someone who likes to meet business
owners and help with a great cause
at the same time. Along those lines,
we need people to hang Kitchen Tour
banners in select neighborhoods. This
is pretty straightforward and not very
time-consuming, and helps advertise
the tour in other parts of the city.
Lastly, we would like to add another
kitchen or ADU to the tour. If you
have a recently remodeled kitchen or
recently built ADU and you’d like to
Kitchen Tour, from front page
Secondly, we need a volunteer to
interview homeowners and write up a
description of their kitchen with their
narrative. We have a great volunteer
writer from the last tour, but could
For questions, submit kitchen
candidates, or to volunteer, email
kitchentour@rockridge.org. n
BOOK A 5-STAR STAY
★★★★★
the RCPC boundaries, and most of
these projects lay at its perimeter.
RCPC has consistently taken a
mediator role to improve projects for
the benefit of the community. Devel-
opers benefit from the community
input with project adaptations that
streamline the city approval process
and still allow the projects to be built
profitably.
F HISTORIAN’S CORNER F
Building High-Density
Housing in Rockridge
by Annette Floystrup
This is part one of two to examine the
recent history of high-density housing
in Rockridge. This history is exclusive to
projects submitted to the City of Oakland
Planning Department and reviewed by
RCPC. Projects that did not enter the
formal planning process are not included.
Merrill Gardens: 5238 Coronado
127 units, 4 and 5 stories, built in 2017
as senior-living units… and
The Baxter: 4901 Broadway
130 units, 4 and 5 stories, built in
2018
Both of these projects impacted
neighbors on Coronado Avenue.
In each case, the proposed project
straddled two different City Planning
Zones, with two differing height
limits. RCPC supported the efforts
of the Coronado neighbors to ensure
height limit enforcement in each
zone, which in each case resulted in
the rear of the building, abutting the
residential zone, being stepped down
one story. Additional negotiated
changes on the Merrill Gardens proj-
ect produced better parking access
and rerouted traffic onto 51st Street,
away from residential neighbors.
⟡
⟡
Sebastopol
West Sonoma County
Urban high density is defined as
ten units per acre or above,
versus the typical suburban area
with four units per acre. Historically,
Rockridge has been designated as
high-density, with 11 units per acre,
but with the proliferation of ADUs,
Rockridge now averages 12 to 13
units per acre.
TheSebastopolRetreat.com
High Density Proposals:
Submitted and Built
⟡
⟡
Since 2008, RCPC has reviewed the
creation of 556 units of high-density
housing, both new and repurposed.
RCPC has worked with residential
neighbors to mitigate any negative
impacts due to increased shadowing,
additional traffic, parking, garbage,
and noise. There have been very
few viable “opportunity sites" within
Truckee
North Lake Tahoe
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Exp. 9/2024
Historian's Corner, see next page


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JUNE 2024

15 percent) are affordable and offered
at below-market rate (BMR). These
BMR units are designated as “very-
low-income,” and made available
exclusively to applicants earning less
than 50 percent of the Area Median
Income (AMI), as defined by HUD.
(In Oakland, that’s $59,200/year for a
two-person household.)

Historian’s Corner, from previous page
Greater Rockridge Neighborhood
Crime Prevention Council

Rockridge Library’s Upstairs
Conference Room
Thursday, June 13, at 7pm
There will be a brief presentation
by Commissioner Yoana
Tchoukleva from the Safety and
Services Oversight Commission
regarding Measure Z.
A Zoom link is available to those
who wish to attend remotely.
For more details, visit
www.rockridgencpc.com
The Greater Rockridge NCPC
meets every 2nd Thursday of the even
numbered months.

Idora Apartments: 5239 Claremont
33 units, 5 stories, built in 2017
This project was first reviewed in
2008 as a co-housing development.
The final project was built after the
relocation of the historic Kingfish
Bar from the original site to its new
home around the corner on Telegraph
Avenue.
High-Density Proposal
In the Pipeline
Clifton Hall: 5276 Broadway
41 senior units, managed by Satellite
Affordable Housing Associates
21 family units, managed by the East
Oakland Community Project
Built in 2002, repurposed in 2019
The former California College of
the Arts dormitory was converted to
senior and supportive housing for for-
merly homeless families in 2019 under
the State’s Project Homekey program.
RCPC strongly supported this repur-
posing (Rockridge News, April 2021).
California College of the Arts Campus:
5212 Broadway
Emerald Fund Principal and
President Marc Babsin made a pre-
sentation to RCPC at its February
2024 board meeting where he made it
clear that construction on the project
is unlikely to happen for two to three
years, until the project is financially
viable. Current adverse market forces
include high interest rates, high
construction costs, and Oakland’s
glut of available market-rate housing
— including 10,000 market-rate units
built since 2019. Babsin indicated
that other developers are similarly
postponing projects for several years
until they can financially pencil out.
The project has been in process for
seven years due to input from a large
number of stakeholders. This process
is detailed under Community Out-
reach at www.5212Broadway.com.
The Logan: 5110 Telegraph Avenue
204 units, 5 stories, built 2020
Nautilus Group, developers of this
transit-oriented project, worked very
creatively with RCPC to ensure that
excess parking from the building
would not impact the abutting resi-
dential zone. To ensure that tenants
of the building could not obtain Res-
idential Parking Permits (RPP), the
developer recorded a restrictive deed
covenant that runs with the land.
Seventeen of the residential units (or
The comment period for the Draft
Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
has closed, and the Final EIR is not
yet available. The proposal is for 448
units, consisting of 61 percent stu-
dios and one-bedroom units, and 31
percent two-bedroom and loft/town-
house units. Forty-five units (or 10
percent) are designated as “moderate
income” units at 120 percent of AMI
(In Rockridge, that's $142,000/year
for a two-person household.).
The campus is currently closed for
security reasons, however, Emerald
Fund plans to continue over 100
years of community access by for-
mally dedicating a 1.5-acre green
space within the private development
for public use, in conjunction with
the preservation of historic Macky
Hall. n

Market talk: June will prove to be a great month to watch the local market trends. Since most inventory for
the year is in May, June sales gives us key activity and pricing data before heading deeper into the summer
of an election year! Contact me to hear more about buying or selling options in this current market!

COMING: Glen Highlands 4+ Bd 3+ Ba 3,300+ SqFt beauty across Hwy 13 from Upper Rockridge - @ $2.1M

June is Awareness Month for: Juneteenth, Pride, PTSD, Men's Health, Homeownership, Pollinators, Great
Outdoors, Oceans, Alzheimers
HAPPY SUMMER & FATHER'S DAY!


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JUNE 2024

Looking for a Ride?
Take AC Transit
stop in Temescal; turns
onto 51 Street, and
then onto Piedmont
Ave, where it deposits
riders at the Piedmont
Theater or any number
of restaurants. The
bus then jogs over to
pass through Grand
Avenue’s restaurant
district. The ride con-
tinues on Grand along
the top of Lake Merritt
before turning south
to Jack London Square.
For the adventurous,
continue your journey
via the Amtrak or
ferry terminals in Jack
London Square.
Rockridge is also
served by two Transbay bus lines,
Line E on Claremont, and Line V on
Broadway Terrace. Both run Monday
through Friday to bring commuters
into downtown San Francisco.
How to Ride: Most lines run every
10-15 minutes; Line 12 and 79 run
every 30 minutes. Standard adult
fares are $2.25, or $84 for a monthly
unlimited pass. Youth (under 18),
Senior (65 and over), Disabled and
Low-Income fares are half the cost
after registering online with AC
Transit. Riders can pay on board
with cash, Clipper Card, or via the
AC Transit mobile app.
See www.actransit.org for details. n
by Hannah Roeyer
The Rockridge BART station is
hard to miss. But, did you know
Rockridge is also home to an enviable
network of bus routes? A bus runs
through Rockridge nearly every three
minutes, connecting our neighbor-
hood to destinations throughout the
East Bay and beyond.
Going North? Line 51B starts at
Rockridge BART before heading
north along College to the UC Berke-
ley campus. The line then cuts west
across central Berkeley on University
Ave, stopping at the Berkeley Amtrak
station and ending at the Marina.
Line 79 takes a scenic path north
from Rockridge BART, first to the
UC Berkeley campus by way of Clare-
mont, then winds through the lower
Berkeley hills — with notable destina-
tions including Chez Panisse, Solano
Avenue, and El Cerrito High School
— before it terminates at El Cerrito’s
BART Plaza.
Going South? Line 51A connects
Rockridge BART to the south,
running along College and then
the length of Broadway, with stops
including the Kaiser hospital
complex, Uptown, Old Oakland,
and Chinatown. It continues onto
Alameda, serving most of the island
Bus lines 79, 51A, 51B, 6, 12, E, and V connect
Rockridge to various points around the Bay Area.
along charming Santa Clara Avenue,
and finally returns to Oakland’s
Fruitvale BART.
Passing through Rockridge: Line 6
keeps it simple, connecting passengers
along the length of Telegraph Avenue
with stops along the way from north-
ern Telegraph, through Temescal,
Koreatown, and Uptown.
Line 12 cuts an ambitious route
to carry passengers to and from
business districts across the city.
Starting near Berkeley’s Fourth Street
outdoor mall, it heads east across
North Berkeley, including a stop at
Monterey Market. It follows MLK Jr.
Way down into Oakland, with a brief
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JUNE 2024

Bike Repair Stand
Back in Business
by Jack Soares

Shop Local for a
Better Community
a local
artist. “But
keeping
the tools
safe from
thieves
means that
they’re
also not
available
for regular
people to use. Taking away the 24/7
convenience defeats the intent of
having the bike repair stand.”
“Stealing tools from this repair
stand,” said Yurgelevic, “is like steal-
ing a resource from all of the people
who use the stand.”
The nearly $400 cost of the bike
repair stand’s tools is covered by the
Friends of the Oakland Tool Lending
Library’s Tool Sales. Held on the lawn
of the Temescal Branch Library right
next to the bike repair stand from
10am until around 2pm on the first
and third Saturday of every month
(weather permitting), the Tool Sale
offers a wide array of donated tools at
bargain prices.
According to Peet who designed the
tiny nonprofit’s new “Oakland Tooli-
gans” logo, “FOTLL is always looking
for more tools, volunteers to help with
the Tool Sale and its other tool-related
projects, and finding free storage
space for the donated tools and sup-
plies for our free DIY workshops.”
See www.FOTLL.org for more info. n

by Jody Colley, Rockridge District
Association
utside the heavily used Oakland
Tool Lending Library (5205
Telegraph Avenue) with its collection
of over 5,000 tools is another popular
tool-laden destination, a bicycle repair
stand. Both of these popular resources
are available free to local residents.
Hanging from the stand’s stainless-
steel cables are wrenches, screwdrivers,
tire irons — just about everything
needed for a quick bike tuneup.
There’s even a pump for topping off
tires. The stand has padded arms so
that bikes can be hoisted to a conve-
nient height for servicing.
“Unfortunately,” said Ty Yurgelevic,
founding staff member of the Tool
Library, now retired and volunteering
with the Friends of the Oakland Tool
Lending Library (FOTLL), “as useful
as the repair stand is, it’s frequently
vandalized.” Thieves have clipped
the cables and stolen all of the tools
twice in the last three years. Most
recently, they also cut the hose off the
air pump.
Yurgelevic and Celena Peet, another
FOTLL stalwart, were at the Oakland
Tool Lending Library recently to
replace the bike stand tools. “There’s
a lock box on the stand so that the
tools can be safely tucked away when
the Tool Library is closed,” said Peet,

O
O

ur urban community has an
abundance of easily accessible
conveniences. With large distribution
centers, the Port of Oakland, railway
hubs, and multiple international
airports nearby, almost anything can
be purchased online and delivered
within a day or two — allowing for
worldwide competition for goods.
But at what cost?
Every time you choose to purchase
products and services from an
independent local business, it has a
ripple effect that reaches well beyond
that single transaction. According
to an economic impact analysis by
the American Independent Business
Alliance, 48 percent of each purchase
made at a local independent business
was recirculated locally (compared to
less than 14 percent of purchases at
chain stores) — this means that small
independent retailers return more
than three times as much money per
dollar of sales to the local economy
than chain store competitors.
Ensuring that small businesses
thrive is essential to maintaining
the soul of the community they
serve. Your neighborhood business
Shop Local, see next page
“Helping you find
your way home.”
Serving Rockridge & beyond
510-350-6419 | claudiamillsrealestateteam.com | claudia@cmret.com
DRE 02029039 | DRE 01881682 | DRE 00885925  | www.ClaudiaMillsRealEstateTeam.com


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critical role in public safety and
security. While they can’t all hire
professional security services, they are
quick to remove graffiti, fix broken
windows, light up dark sidewalks,
and keep the foot traffic flowing
day and night. They also regularly
communicate with local agencies and
organizations to report crime, find
help for unsheltered populations, and
respond to people experiencing urgent
mental health issues. Operating a
business in Rockridge means the
owner and their employees must also
become a neighborhood caretaker and
an occasional first responder.
Matt Zimbalist, co-owner of Re-Up
Refill Shop (6025 College Avenue),
depends nearly exclusively on the
local community for both practical
proximity reasons and as part of their
mission to be environmentally sus-
tainable. When asked why shopping
local matters, Zimbalist said, “Small
businesses foster a sense of identity
and community. They are powerful
local economy drivers, provide mean-
ingful jobs, reduce our dependence on
driving and shipping, and make our
streets more vibrant and safer.
"Given the rise of the convenience
of online shopping, labor shortages,
upticks in urban crime, and the
pandemic, sadly we have seen a steady
decline in traditional retail in our
community. Now is the time to double
down on supporting local businesses
before there aren’t enough left.” n
Shop Local, from previous page
uses your dollars to source their
employees, contractors, suppliers,
and vendors from the local region.
The ripple effect continues as each
business passes your dollar along to
another locally owned company or
independent operator — all because
you made a conscious investment in
your community. As acclaimed Bay
Area author Rebecca Solnit once
said, “Culture is not only beneficial to
cities; in a deeper sense, it’s what cities
are for.”
Matt Day, co-owner of Planterday
(6004 College Avenue), agrees. When
asked about why he’s passionate about
supporting independent businesses,
Day said, “Think of it this way; you’re
not going to have a clay art workshop
at Target. You’re not going to have a
terrarium workshop at Home Depot.
And, you’re certainly not going to
have a sip-and-paint night at Star-
bucks. Our local merchants often host
mini-events that bring communities
together, build culture, and create
destinations. These are the small,
yet impactful ways local merchants
become the heart of our communities.
If the only places to shop were strip
malls filled with big box stores, where
would you take friends and relatives
who come to visit? Where would you
go on a Sunday stroll to relax?”
Planterday exemplifies how local
businesses can contribute to com-
Matt Day and Yumi Look,
Co-Founders of Planterday
munity building. At its core, it could
just be a plant shop. But Planterday
offers locals and visitors so much
more — hosting workshops; trivia and
comedy nights; dinner parties; and
educational classes. They also lever-
age their brick-and-mortar shop on
bustling College Avenue as a platform
to advocate and fundraise for mental
health causes.
Residents and small business
owners alike are plagued with the
challenges and costs of theft and
vandalism that negatively impact the
experience and costs of being located
in Oakland. Small business owners
and business districts can play a


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page 8
JUNE 2024

Growing a Business
Writing Love Letters
by Skip Fogarty
The advent of genealogy services
like 23-and-Me and Ancestry
have enticed many to explore their
familial roots, but the discovery of
ancestors’ names and origins often
leads to other questions.
“Looking at a family tree, you see
branches spreading out with the leaves
bearing names and dates,” says Rock-
ridge neighbor Aviva Black. “I want to
turn the leaves over and discover who
these people really were and how they
influenced one another.”
To that end, Aviva started her
business, Family Love Letters,
interviewing mostly elderly folks to
Aviva Black delivers her finished family letter to client Temmy Millman.
generation to generation.”
A New Jersey native, Aviva earned
an M.A. in Education from Hunter
College and became an eighth-
grade teacher and vice principal in
a Brooklyn K-12 school. When she
moved to California for what she
thought was going to be a two-year
visit, she reconnected with a Uni-
versity of Vermont friend, whom she
later married. She and her husband
Michael, a KQED executive, raised
two children who attended Hillcrest
School and Oakland Tech. Both are
college-age now.
“My father’s wonderful letter
planted a seed that grew into a new
chapter in my life,” Aviva says.
Creating similar personal histories
for others was her inspiration, but
she had zero experience running
a business. She now calls herself a
“solo-preneur,” crediting the coaching
and networking opportunities pro-
vided by an agency called Revenue
Breakthrough.
Over the past few years, she’s
provided nearly 100 clients with an
invaluable family touchstone in the
form of an eight to 16-page “Love
Letter.” The creative process begins
with a personal interview and entails
“a series of guided and engaging
conversations, often conducted by
phone or over Zoom,” she says. “We
explore key people and events in the
family — their traditions, values,
and, generally speaking, the things
that truly shape our lives.” All of the
writing work is done on Aviva’s end
and the entire project typically spans
six to eight weeks.
Frequently, the project is initiated by
a grown child who gives their parent
the experience as a gift. Aviva has also
hosted workshops for target audiences
like wealth management planners,
and synagogue and church groups.
“This experience was invaluable
because it reminded my mother that
she has an important story to tell,”
said Linsey Morrison, daughter of
Temmy Millman. “We had some
really meaningful conversations along
the way,” says Linsey. “It brought a
capture and document their true-life
stories, inner wisdom, and desires.
“The letters show how the individual
became who he or she is today,” she
says. “And the client comes away with
a sense of what’s most important at
this point in their life.”
The inspiration for her business
came after her father died. While
going through his possessions, she
discovered a letter in his desk that
he’d left for her and her siblings. “He
was a rabbi and had wisdom, wit, and
a way with words. Whenever I want
to be reminded of his voice, I read the
letter,” she says. “In writing his letter,
my father honored the Hebrew tradi-
tion of ‘l’dor v’dor’ — meaning: from
law office of
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Love Letters, see next page


THE

page 9
JUNE 2024

Love Letters, from previous page
Aviva Black,
owner of Family Love Letters.
new dimension to our relationship.”
Aviva points out that even families
afflicted with tensions and rifts find
the process meaningful. She says, “It’s
not therapy, but it is therapeutic. All
my clients, even those who have had
personal struggles, speak of family as
a core value.”
Printed on beautiful stationery, the
finished letter is delivered in a keep-
sake box with multiple signed copies
for descendants. The box also has
extra room to store family documents,
clippings, and photos.
Client Gail Levy told Aviva: “You
did an incredible job of capturing who
I am and who we are as a family. I
went in thinking this would be a gift
for my children. It’s turned out to be a
gift for me as well — one I’ll treasure
forever.”
A Love Letter makes a very special
gift for birthdays and holidays. (Hint:
Father’s Day) To learn more, visit
familyloveletters.com and be sure to
download the free gift, the "Six-Step
Guide to Preserve Your Family Stories."
Skip Fogarty is a freelance writer and
has lived in and loved Rockridge for 26
years. n

Dogs of Rockridge
Lily Drekmeier lives on Hudson and her
favorite local spots are Frog Park, where
she loves to chase tennis balls, and Cole
Hardware, where she knows there are
complimentary dog treats. Lily is 7-years-old
and was adopted from the Milo Foundation.
She wears a protective bootie on her left paw
because of some puppyhood nerve damage,
but she still loves to be out and about taking
in all of the neighborhood sights and scents.
Icy is a 3-year-old husky German shepherd.
She is a very hyper dog who loves to play
with her sister Cinnamon. Icy has a skill of
jumping very high like a kangaroo. She enjoys
going on long runs and somehow six-mile
hikes are just warmups for her. We call Icy a
“foster fail” because when we fostered her,
we loved her so much we kept her.
– Nina, age 14
Fig Newton, a 12-year-old longhaired
dachshund, is his human’s little soulmate. He
is a sweet, empathic pup who loves sunbathing
at the beach, sniffing all his favorite spots
around town, and sleeping on stacked pillows.
He often receives compliments on his red and
sable fur and big curious eyes, but he doesn’t
let this inflate his ego. And he loves a good
adventure, preferring to travel everywhere
with his human.
Editor’s Note: Sadly, Fig Newton
passed away shortly before pub-
lication and is very missed by his
human companions.
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 10
JUNE 2024

and hugging Flora as she arrived
from school. All the while, he never
flagged in answering questions for
our interview.
Although born in Mexico City, Mad-
rigal describes himself as a West Coast
kid. “I have an incredible appetite for
the mix of cultures” in the Bay Area.
“That’s not how it is everywhere,” he
said as he spoke about growing up in
Ridgefield, Washington, where his
Mexican-born dad and East Coast-
raised mom still live. Back then, it was
a farming community with a popula-
tion of 2,500 (now the fastest-growing
city in the state). But that rural back-
ground fostered his love of nature.
“I’m pretty obsessed with the life
sciences. Plants are a place for me to
work things out. My dream for the
(Oakland Garden Club) newsletter is
that we will publish small books on
people’s affection for certain plants.”
A graduate of Harvard, where
he majored in English, Madrigal’s
career includes stints as a staff writer
for Wired, senior technology editor
for The Atlantic (where he is still a
contributing writer), and as a visiting
scholar at UC Berkeley’s School of
Information. He wrote Powering the
Dream — The History and Promise
of Green Technology (2011), and is
co-creator of “Containers,” an eight-
part series podcast on global trade that
he characterizes as “a love letter to the
Port of Oakland.”
He also co-founded the Covid
Tracking Project, the year-long study
launched by The Atlantic that was
ahead of the government in collecting
and publishing the country’s Covid-19
statistics.
Coincidentally, the day that the
Covid Tracking Project shut down
was the day he got the call from
KQED to audition to replace Michael
Krasny, who hosted Forum from
1993 to 2021. “Krasny embodied the
brilliant professor,” Madrigal said.
“I’m more your friend who is really
up on stuff.” That involves reading
background stories and listening to
earlier interviews with his guests.
And — unhappy that, of those who
interviewed him on his green technol-
ogy book, only one had read it — he
reads every guest author’s work. “It’s
sort of a point of pride,” he said.
KQED differentiates between the
first hour of Forum where Madrigal
“convenes the diverse voices of the
Bay Area,” while, in the second hour,
co-host Mina Kim “chronicles and
centers Californians’ experiences.”
“It’s been such an incredible match
combining my temperament and
my love for the Bay Area,” he said.
“There’s nothing like a live radio show.
Forum has a special role… Forum, the
Warriors, that’s kind of what makes
the Bay Area. The loss of sports teams
has given Forum a higher burden in
getting our Bay Area together. I like
institution building. It’s fun for me to
be part of places.”
Continued from front page
with nationally and internationally
known guests for City Arts and
Lectures; and hosting programs for
Aspen Institute’s “Ideas Festival.”
Madrigal is also finishing up a second
nonfiction book, due out next spring,
on racial justice in urban America —
highlighting West Oakland activist
Margaret Gordon and her family.
Evidenced first-hand, this reporter
witnessed him making carnitas for
dinner; welcoming an out-of-town
guest; deploying said guest to College
Avenue to buy wine; artfully arrang-
ing a tray of appetizers that included
a cabbage leaf clipped from his
garden as a backdrop his artichokes;
Eyes on Rockridge, see next page


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page 11
JUNE 2024

As for Forum, “What I appreciate
is his heartfelt listening,” she said.
“He’s always so knowledgeable, but he
doesn’t lead with his ego.”
As a fan of Forum since she moved
to Rockridge in 1990, Susan Montauk
said she was skeptical about KQED
finding an equally knowledgeable
moderator to replace Krasny. “A few
guest moderators and months later I
was introduced to Alexis Madrigal on
the air (mustn’t forget a talented Mina
Kim in the second hour), and my
skepticism turned to absolute pleasure
from the get-go.
“Madrigal’s manner and style puts
guests totally at ease,” Montauk said.
“He seems to be able to moderate any
topic, no matter how thorny, and I
always learn from his interviews. I’m
especially pleased when he features an
Oakland topic since he lives here and
knows the territory that much better.”
“I was pretty comfortable early on,”
Madrigal said, “but there are levels
to it. I like the job more with each
passing week.” His “favorite all-time
interview” was with Ada Limon,
the 24th Poet Laureate of the United
States. “She’s just the absolute best.
George Saunders (American author
of Lincoln in the Bardo among others)
was pretty great too.
“I love it when the (call-in) board’s
all lit up and we’re talking to the Bay
Area,” he said. “Listeners hear people’s
literal voices. It’s a community con-
versation and makes me happy to go
to work each day.”
Have a Rockridge story that needs
telling? Email judyberne@att.net. n
Eyes on Rockridge, from previous page
Please join us for our upcoming seminar
Bathrooms: any size, any style
Creating a space as unique as you
Photo by Judy Berne
Saturday, June 22, 10-11am
“I’ve never given a talk about
Forum,” Alexis Madrigal said earlier
this year to a Berkeley City Club
audience that included his kids,
Flora, left, and Orion.
space is limited, RSVP to Julie, 510.558.3906 or juliem@mcbuild.com
mcbuild.com | 510.558.8030 | 1280 Sixth St., Berkeley
LICENSE #528791 • AN EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY
This includes his Fairview Park
neighborhood where he first rented,
and then bought a house in 2019 on
the same street. “He’s so humble,” said
neighbor Joyce Kelley, an educational
therapist who is his children’s “fairy
godmother.” After living above them
since 2011, she laments that “when
they moved seven houses away, it
seemed too far.”
During Covid, with pre-move ren-
ovations stalled, Kelley said, “Sarah
and Alexis put together a school in
that house. Parents took turns teach-
ing. We were like a little pod. We had
outdoor gatherings. I felt normal.”
7:1 Faculty-Student Ratio | Max Class Size of 13
DARE to be DIFFERENT
DARE to be DIFFERENT
GRADES 8-12  OrindaAcademy.org
Media Advisory: Coffee with a Cop
Meet and Chat with Our Oakland Officers
Join members of the Oakland Police
Department on Thursday, June 13,
from 11am to 1pm, at McDonald’s (4514
Telegraph Avenue) for a friendly conversa-
tion with your local officers.
This is a great opportunity to ask ques-
tions, share your thoughts, and enjoy some
coffee. Getting together builds trust and
strengthens our commUNITY — see you
there! #CoffeewithaCop.


THE
page 12
JUNE 2024

Bringing the Joy of
Music to Rockridge,
and Beyond
by Carol Kasparek
I
One of the earlier members, Mad-
ison Tyler, recalls a series of casual
yet focused auditions. His extensive
singing background helped him work
through the varied repertoire of
classical, jazz, and Broadway musicals.
“Devi treats everybody the same”
making certain the group is ready
for the pieces she introduces. “She
molds us,” he noted, and has a way
of intensifying “our humanity and
commitment.”
Jameson was born in Shanghi,
where her parents had relocated from
Goa, India. Her mother practiced
medicine and her father ran a factory
and built pianos. When the Commu-
nist Party ousted non-citizens, the
family moved back to India. Jameson
grew up in Bangalore with her par-
ents and 11 siblings. She came to the
U.S. for graduate school, emigrating
to this country with her mother,
three brothers and a sister. She has
lived in Rockridge since the 1980s
with her husband, three children,
and now five grandchildren.
Venues and events span the Bay
Area and the globe. The Chorale
supports professional opera singers
and visiting soloists, and often joins
with other choruses for large-scale
performances. They frequently visit
assisted living centers, hospitals, and
retirement communities. They have
performed at Carnegie Hall and
participated in the 80th anniversary
of the Pearl Harbor attack.
This month, the Chorale will
join the celebration in Salzburg
for the anniversary of the Mozart
Coronation Mass. Performances
frequently are fundraisers, with the
latest one held on Mother’s Day that
raised thousands of dollars for Save
the Children.
n 2003, Rockridge Chorale Director
Devi Jameson made a leap of faith.
After several years as Music Director
at St. Theresa’s in Oakland, she
decided to leave that position and
form a master chorus which would
integrate a variety of musical genres
to perform in a range of settings.
Jameson asked for members through
her professional channels and by
putting up posters at her local gym.
She was a bit surprised at how quickly
a core of 20-30 people coalesced into
the Rockridge Chorale.
“Devi challenged me to do
something I never dreamed
I could do. “She’s very
forgiving, yet has high
standards.”
Nora Simmons came to the Cho-
rale with no singing experience and
doesn’t recall having an audition.
“Devi challenged me to do something
I never dreamed I could do,” said
Simmons. “She’s very forgiving, yet
has high standards.” Simmons has
begun to sight read, committed to
the two hours per week of practice
required for membership. With her
love of music, the Chorale has been a
realization of a childhood dream.
“Devi was ahead of her time in
realizing the power of music to
enliven people in memory care,”
offered Simmons. Jameson created
“Decades,” a program in which the
singers learned songs from each of
the early decades of the 20th century.
“We have less need for the 1910s as
ever fewer members of our audience
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THE

page 13
JUNE 2024

This photo was taken at a hotel in Paris before the group set out for a
performance to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day and the
Liberation of France — they sang at Normandy and placed wreaths. Following
that, they performed in Chapaize, France during their summer music series.

Rockridge Chorale, from previous page
remember songs from that period,”
she noted.
Tyler described a memorable
moment singing on the shores of the
Sea of Galilee where they sang “a
gorgeous piece” by local composer
Dan Forrest. “I have been around the
world twice, and this was one of the
most uplifting moments of my life,”
he recalled.
Devi, Madison, and Nora all
describe the Chorale as a family. The
weekly sessions are music-driven,
yet deeply social. People come early
and stay late. Many travel outside
the country twice a year for the
group’s performance schedule. The
Rockridge Chorale welcomes entire

families to come and hear them sing,
especially now with the formation of
their Children’s Chorale for ages 6-12.
“We are always looking for singers
for all sections,” Jameson emphasized.
“Singing feels good, and you double
the joy when you sing to somebody
who is a sponge taking in that joy.”
See their website for more
information and inspiration to join at
https://www.rockridgechorale.org/. n


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page 14
JUNE 2024

Larry Worth Olund
IN MEMORIAM
became Larry’s passion from an early
age. At Albuquerque High School
in New Mexico, he met and became
good friends with the Unser brothers,
Jerry, Bobby, and Al, soon thereafter
to be among the most famous of
Indy 500 racers. Larry dabbled in
car racing as a pit crewman and
mechanic, occasionally, racing him-
self, but after suffering minor burns in
an engine fire, his favorite part of car
racing became building cars rather
than driving them.
In 1955, at just 21 years old, he
became Shell Oil’s youngest service
station owner/operator at the corner
of Claremont and College Avenues.
In addition to selling gas and
providing simple repair services,
Larry innovated by selling tires
and occasionally used cars from his
high-traffic gas station. Over the
next 20 years, and long before the
enactment of equal employment
opportunity laws, Larry had one of
the most diverse employee groups
within the Shell network of stations,
employing hundreds of people during
the 20 years he owned the gas station.
Larry eventually switched from
Shell to Texaco, taking over a Rock-
ridge service station located at the
corner of Chabot and College Avenues
where the Dreyer’s corporate head-
quarters now stands.
Investing in College Avenue in the
late 1960s and early1970s was risky,
but Larry, along with a small number
of other local small business owners,
took that chance to support the
neighborhood he loved. He formed
long-term relationships with tenants
like First Federal Savings and Loan
Association of San Rafael, the Clare-
mont Rug Company, and especially
the Giovanetti family (of Rockridge
Realty). He provided a key tenant with
an unheard-of 40-year lease to anchor
a highly-visible, significant corner.
In 1987, the City of Oakland was
offered the opportunity to buy the
building at the corner of College and
Miles, where the original Rockridge
branch library was located and where
Ain’t Normal now operates. This
small library had served the commu-
nity for 63 years, but after the City
declined to buy the building, it was
purchased by the Olunds who contin-
ued renting the space to the library
at a nominal fee. When dry rot had
caused it to sink several inches, the
building had to be vacated due to
the extensive repairs needed to fix
the building’s structural integrity.
The library closed at that location in
September 1987.
The Texaco Station was Larry’s last
retail business on College Avenue, but
he continued to invest in real estate
and actively manage his properties,
often choosing tenants that benefited
our local community. He was a
familiar sight walking along College
Avenue in his signature hat.
Larry brought both his children,
Larry, Jr. and Karen Olund Powell,
into the family business, and is sur-
vived by them and his loving spouse,
Anne Hefferan Olund, along with
many extended family members and
friends in our community. n
Larry was known around town as
“the cat in the hat.”
by Annette Floystrup
Rockridge resident and business-
man, Larry Worth Olund,
89, passed away peacefully on Thurs-
day, April 18, at his home in the
company of family and caregivers.
A familiar sight on College Avenue,
Larry was one of the business and
property owners who helped stabilize
and revitalize College Avenue after
the construction of Hwy 24 and
BART devastated the business district,
displaced homeowners and renters,
and cratered local land values.
Larry’s father sold cars, and cars


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page 15
JUNE 2024

RN
Classifieds
List your 36-word message here for only
$22 (phone number counts as one word).
Make check payable to RCPC, and write
“Rockridge News Classifieds” in the memo
line. Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave., P.O.
Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131.
For more information, email Susan at
smontauk@gmail.com.
Deadline for July/Aug newsletter is: June
20, 2024 (available July 6).
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.
Handyman Service –
House Repairs & Remodeling
Dry rot, kitchen and bath tile refurbishing
or installation, window installation, plumbing,
fencing, deck & handrail repair, electrical
wiring- fixtures, outlets. And much more.
Call Juan 341/221-9200 or email 5826.jbv@
gmail.com.
Reward Based Dog Training
Does your adolescent pup need help with
basic obedience, leash manners or impulse
control? We offer private training custom-
ized to help your dog succeed! Please call
510/646-9657 or visit dogsquaddogtrain-
ing.com for more information and to get
started.
Penelope’s Aesthetics: Introducing
the Anti-Pollution Shield!
Environmental pollution stresses the
natural protective shield of our skin. Purify
and detoxify with Niacinamide and Red
Algae extract restoring your skins natural
defense with a FACIAL! 510/594-1552;
penelopecalef.com.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Want to light up your patio or deck? I can
help with that.  I’ve been doing electrical
work in Oakland and Berkeley for over 35
years. Sutorik & Company. Lic #397149.
510/655-3677; www.sutorikandco.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 your-
greengardeners@gmail.com. Check us out
at www.yourgreengardeners.com.

June Events at the Rockridge Library
ROCKRIDGE BOOK CLUB
For Children
Summer Reading Program: Read a little every
day to get prizes! Come in for special programs:
Meets every 2nd Saturday,
3:30pm to 4:30pm at the
Rockridge Library
Amber Hines Music for Littles: 6/1 , Saturday
@ 10:30am
Zany Zoey Magic & Acrobatics: 6/4, Tuesday @
6:30pm
Please call (510) 597-5017 for
info and to get a copy of the book.
June’s book is:
The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid
Fratello Marionettes: 6/11, Tuesday @ 6:30pm
East Bay Parks Intro to Wild Animals: 6/15,
Saturday @ 10:30am
Rene Y Familia Musica: 6/18, Tues @ 6:30pm
Vivarium – Reptiles and More: 6/25, Tuesday
@ 6:30pm
— Meet the Author —
Wednesday, June 26th, 6:30-7:30. Visual
Artist, Claudia Marseille, will discuss
her memoir, But You Looks So Normal:
Lost and Found in a Hearing World. The
author will sign books made available for
purchase by A Great Good Place for Books.
Storytime Thursdays and Saturdays; 10:30am.
Chess Club: Wednesdays at 4 pm. All ages and
skill-levels welcome.
Build, Make, Play CRAFTS and Read to a Dog:
Thursdays at 4 pm every week in June & July.
Intergenerational Origami: Join Ellen for amaz-
ing folding practice on Tuesday 6/4 at 4pm, &
Tuesday 6/18 at 6:30pm.
For Teens ages 12 through 18 
Learn to Carve a Rubber Stamp at Rockridge:
Wednesday 6/5; 3-4pm. An artist from Rock
Paper Scissors Collective is coming to the
library to show you how to carve your own
rubber stamp.
Henna for Teens at Rockridge: Wednesday 6/12;
3-4pm. Learn about the ancient art of henna
at the library this summer and get your own
Henna tattoo with artist Rachel Palacios.
Teen Advisory Board: Wednesday, 6/12; 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. New members welcome.
$50
Make Ice Cream: Wednesday 6/26; 3-4pm.
Yum – enough said!
For Adults
Ask Your Area Home Experts: Every 2nd Friday,
noon-2pm. Get answers and connections from a
Senior Loan Advisor and a Realtor, both Rock-
ridge locals. Have questions answered about
home ownership, maintenance, finance, invest-
ing, ADUs, downsizing, moving, and more.
BUY a $50 GIFT CARD
AND GET
A $10 GIFT CARD FREE
One for Dad  &
one for you!
Hours: Mon, Thurs, Sat 10am to 5:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 8pm
Closed on Sundays.
Free!
$10
Holiday: The library will be closed Wednesday,
June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
www.oaklandlibrary.org/events.
5366 College Avenue
at Manila
510-597-5017
valid 6/9/24-6/16/24


THE
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