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Rockridge News

THE

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rockridge.org

VOL 40
VOL 40    •    NO. 11
NO. 11    •    ISSUE  NO. 436
ISSUE  NO. 436    •    DECEMBER 6, 2025
DECEMBER 6, 2025
                 CIRCULATION:
CIRCULATION: 6,700 R
6,700 RESIDENCES
ESIDENCES; 200 B
; 200 BUSINESSES
USINESSES

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

Rockridge News "O" illustration by Laura Serra

Danspace: Rockridge's 50-year Legacy of Dance Inclusivity
by Madeleine Turner, senior at Oakland Tech
“Less forcing, straining… more pos-
itive feedback and encouragement,”
Hoge said. “It might take a while to
catch on, but I felt the need was there.
So I began.”
Founded in 1976—and, in 1985,
relocated a stone’s throw from Frog
Park on Hudson Street—Danspace
created a legacy in Rockridge through
its inclusivity and authenticity.
I should know; I’ve been here at
Danspace as both a student and a
teacher-in-training. I have seen stu-
dents come in upset over the struggles
of childhood, and leave with the
biggest smile on their faces. Dans-
pace is able to intertwine the joys of
movement, music and creativity with
classical ballet training.
 I’m 17 years old now, but began
my ballet training at age nine. I went
through two studios over the course

Beth Hoge, owner and founder
of Danspace, recently found an
old notebook where she wrote down
her goals for her dream ballet school,
which she had yet to start.
“I wanted it to be a space where
people could experience themselves
dancing—where they could learn
the basics without judgement; only

Photo provided by Danspace
guidance and support,” Hoge said. “I
wanted there to be no particular body
image or expectations.”
Hoge is a Juilliard alumni and fol-
lowing her 10-year professional career
in New York City, she began to feel a
calling towards teaching, looking to
popularize a newer, kinder style of
ballet training.

Danspace contintued next page

Meet the Firehouse 19 A-Squad Protecting You This Holiday Season

by Liam Pierce
Captain Michael Worthington
wears his grandfather’s fire-
fighter belt buckle every day he’s at
Rockridge’s Firehouse 19. It reminds
him of his visits to his grandfather’s
station as a kid in Cleveland.
“We spend so much time away from
our families that they come to the
firehouse instead,” Worthington said
of his own family, noting that
it’s particularly true during the
holidays. “Sometimes we do Secret
Santa or a white elephant—you've
got games for the kids. You make it a
memorable thing.”
Firehouse continued page 4

From Left-to-Right: Nicholas Ramirez, Ceciley Johnson, Michael Worthington and Brian Petrie | Photo by Liam Pierce


THE
page 2
DECEMBER 2025

Before the little green building
on the corner of Hudson became
Danspace, it was a meat market, a
dry cleaners and a mailroom. Hoge’s
husband, David, transformed the
building into the Danspace we know
and love today. Following her time at
Juilliard, Hoge befriended Andra and
Ernesta Corvino. After falling in love
with their musicality and strength,
Danspace is now the only school in
the Bay Area following the Corvino
approach. In 1980, four years after its
inception, Hoge introduced the chil-
dren's division at Danspace.
The first thing that struck me when
I joined the children’s program at
Danspace was the fact that they have
a mini fridge. It’s small, tucked away
in a closet, but it was chock-full of
yogurt, granola, cheese sticks, apple-
sauce—all the hits. They also have
cups for juice or water, in case you
forget your water bottle. It was appar-
ent that this was an environment
where health took precedent over how
far you can stretch your splits.
In fact, gentle repetition became
the signature of Danspace. The stress
isn't on the final product, but how
we got there, and if we got there in a
ballet-approved manner.
“Like a math teacher who just gives
you the answer, but doesn’t say how
they got there,” Dancespace director
KT Mower said. “You have to describe
what you’re feeling, what you’re doing
and how you should get there.”
For 40 years, Danspace has resided
in Rockridge, instilling a love for
dance into everyone that comes
through the door.
Today, I help run the front desk and
assist in a class once a week for one of
our younger levels. Seeing the behind-
the-scenes has helped me understand
all that goes into creating an environ-
ment where everyone is happy to be
there. And believe me: it’s not easy.
Building inclusivity is equal
amounts hard work and love, coming
together to ensure everyone feels
happy, comfortable and respected.
With classes for all ages, Danspace
cultivates an environment in which
anyone with the slightest inclination
to dance, will be dancing. n
Danspace, from front page
of five years, and have certainly seen
(and experienced) all sides of the ballet
world. I can recall my elementary years
spent in front of a mirror, waiting for
an angry woman to list my shortcom-
ings. I never thought ballet would be a
comfortable experience for me, a
sentiment that many dancers share.
Ballet is a notoriously toxic activity.
We often hear tales of disordered
eating, racism and an emphasis on
perfection. However, perfection isn’t
always feasible, creating more issues
surrounding mental health and
self-esteem.
There’s a euphoric feeling coming
from a mere compliment from your
teacher that makes all the panic
attacks and self-hatred go quiet.
But after one bad class, it all comes
flooding back. The culture of ballet,
traditionally, encourages all the girls
to be the same. The same height,
weight, look, behavior—everything
is uniform. However that all changed
my freshman year, when I began
taking ballet at Danspace.
Katie Taylor, the operations man-
ager at Danspace describes the studio’s
history as authentically inclusive.
“Ballet training is very rigorous
and demanding, but it wasn’t meant
to be this exclusive experience,”
Katie Taylor, operations manager at
Danspace, said. “It was meant to be: if
you’re showing up here and you want
to dance, then we’re dancing.”
And dancing they did.
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
Liam Pierce.......................... Editor & Layout Artist
Susan Montauk.....Business & Distribution Manager
RCPC Board of Directors, 2025
Casey Farmer................................................. Chair
Star Lightner......................................... Vice Chair
Jana Good.................................................Secretary
Paul McDonnell.......................................Treasurer
Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Gary
Barg, Kristen Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner,
Tom Lollini, Robbie Tasker, Zack Walton, Kim
Suczynski-Smith
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.
Letters to the Editor
Letters are limited to 350 words and published
at the editor's discretion in the order received.
Send letters to: editor@rockridge.org. Please
include 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
For a yearly subscribtion to the Rockridge News,
send your check for $22, payable to RCPC with
“Rockridge News” noted on the memo line.
Mail payment to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave.,
PO Box 22504, Oakland, CA, 94609
ADVERTISING DEADLINE for JAN. 2025:
DEC. 18, 2025
Advertising rates are $32/column inch ($28 for
b/w). Six-month pre-pay discounts available.
For display ads and classifieds:
Email Susan Montauk 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.


THE

DECEMBER 2025
page 3

Marcia Alpert's
Quilt Exhibit at the
Rockridge Library
Verges on Dreams
by Laura E. Miller
Artists gather at the Rockridge
Library every Thursday to create
unique items with yarn, thread and
fabric. Fellow artists, ages 25 to 85,
share artistic methods and swap life
stories, open up about heartfelt quan-
daries and cheer each other on.
One of these artists is Marcia
Alpert, whose brilliant quilts and
watercolors will be exhibited in her
solo show, “The Illustrated Journey,”
upstairs in the library from Friday,
Dec. 12– Jan. 29. A collection of the
drawings that inspired her quilts will
also be on view there at the artist’s
reception on January 3.
After a traumatic fall in 2023,
Alpert began doing small, nightly ink
and colored pencil drawings to aid her
spiritual recovery. She dubbed them
“healing shapes” and they eventually
morphed into images of people and
animals. These compositions eventu-
ally evolved into pictorial wall quilts.
Her quiltwork came to the attention
of the adult services librarian Anita
Bowen, who urged Alpert to exhibit
them there. That commitment ener-
gized Alpert and moved her to create
six new quilts.

Marcia Alpert's quilt "Virus Monster Over Town" (right) started out as a pencil drawing  |  photos by the artist

take action,” each element a vignette
of a spiritual and symbolic journey
anchored in physical reality.
Alpert exhibited watercolor paint-
ings throughout the 1990s and 2000s
locally and at art fairs in the western
states. Fabric work and quilting par-
alleled her painting along the way. In
addition, much  of her own wardrobe
is hand- and machine-sewn.
Since retiring from her day job in
materials prep at the Berkeley Public
Library in 2008, she is enjoying
quilting with the East Bay Heritage
Quilters and is especially fulfilled by
participating in charitable endeavors
there. She intends to continue her
engagement with the library needle-
work circle and to evolve with her
art, building new exhibits as she is
inspired. n
Her latest piece—a quilt inspired
by her own drawing—is called “Virus
Monster Over the Town” and shows a
deceptively friendly looking creature
floating over three buildings and
observed by a person and a dog.
“Marcia’s work makes me stand still
and be happy,” a fellow artist said.
“It really sparks my imagination; her
energetic output is inspiring.”
Alpert’s works are colorful, fan-
tastical creatures who are impish or
cherubic, spritely or thunderous. The
pieces conjure up a story in a viewer’s
mind. Witnesses to Alpert’s work have
been reminded of the dreamlike sym-
bols in the paintings of Marc Chagall
or the fantastical Golden Compass
stories of Phillip Pullman.
She writes that her figures have
“eyes to see” and “fingers and toes to
The Rockridge Library
is a place for everyone
Event
Space
Kid
Space
Teen
Space
Quiet
Space
Donate Today!
rockridgefriends.org
Friends of the
Rockridge Library
Supporting the Rockridge Branch
of the Oakland Public Library


THE
page 4
DECEMBER 2025

at 65.4% of total calls, structure
fires at 7.8%, engine utility (support
vehicles sent) at 7.4%, communication
alarms (basically: alarms) at 4.9% and
investigations at 3.2%.
Captain Nicholas Salgado (54, with
27 years experience), works at Fire-
house 17, but was at Firehouse 19 for a
year before Worthington took over.
“It's not an excessively busy fire-
house in terms of run call volume and
it may seem normal to the untrained
eye,” Salgado said. “But that couldn’t
be further from the truth; the types
of incidents you’re called to involve a
much higher level of skills training.”
Both Salgado and Worthington
pointed to the challenges of Firehouse
19, which is first due company to
incidents along Highway 24 and the
Caldecott Tunnel, often coordinating
with Berkeley, Orinda and Moraga
fire departments. Additionally,
Firehouse 19 handles a whole host of
incidents at Rockridge BART station,
where Salgado said they were called
to “nearly daily.” Salgado and Worth-
ington also mentioned that Firehouse
19 is positioned to handle brush fires
in the hills and stranded or injured
hikers along trails.
It turns out it’s pretty tricky to build
the technical knowledge, haul equip-
ment and stay safe when it comes to
tunnels, BART, highways and hiking
trails, according to Salgado.
However, when it comes to the
types of calls for businesses along
College Avenue and the residential
Firehouse, from front page
Worthington is one of 12 firefight-
ers who reside in Firehouse 19—with
three separate crews of four firefight-
ers rotating in 48-hour A, B and C
shifts, followed by 96 hours off. The
station is tucked away on the north
side of Highway 24, just east of
College Avenue, at 5776 Miles Ave.
During the holidays, when neigh-
bors settle in and the nights stretch
long and cold, the station becomes an
anchor—for firefighters and for the
community. Their daily work moves
with the pace of Rockridge, with the
neighborhood and its firefighters
quietly shaping each other.
UNIQUELY FIREHOUSE 19
Worthington—49, with 28 years
experience and only three months on
with Firehouse 19’s A shift—acknowl-
edges that, in one way, they might be
Rockridge’s most fortunate residents.
“We're lucky; we get compensated to
live here,” Worthington said. “There
are tradeoffs—the sleep deprivation,
the stress—but Rockridge is residen-
tial, so we get more downtime than
other stations, which is not by-and-
large the Oakland fire experience.”
According to the Oakland Fire
Department (OFD)’s most recent data,
Firehouse 19 ranked No. 18 out of 25
stations in terms of call responses.
The top five categories of their 1,069
911 responses in a year were EMS
Code 3 (life-threatening emergencies)


THE

DECEMBER 2025
page 5

C
 COOL TIPS FOR A
OOL TIPS FOR A
FIRE-SAFE HOLIDAY
FIRE-SAFE HOLIDAY
n
You're fire-smart, right? You know
the basics: don't play with matches,
don't let circus fire swallowers perform
inside, etc. Well, here are some tips/
facts you might not know:
In the U.S.
n ~1/2 of Dec. decoration🔥's are 🕯's
n Christmas Day = peak 🕯🔥's
n  2/5ths of Dec. decoration🔥's
= too close to heat source
n 1/3rd of 🎄🔥's = electrical problems
n 2023: 1,446 home cooking 🔥's on:
 No. 1 cooking-🔥 day: 🦃-day
•	 No. 2: 🏾 & No. 3: 🏾-Eve
“During the holidays, you have a
lot of inattentive, inexperienced
cooks. And no one's going to
repel from your ceiling and say,
‘Ah, ah, ah—that's not a safe way
to do that…'"
 – Captain Worthington 🕎
Cooking
-Keep snugly fit lids to 🍲's nearby
because…
n Grease 🔥's; don’t use 🚰 on them
Instead: smother 🍲 with lid,
turn heat off
n Oven 🔥's: turn off the heat, keep
oven closed
Christmas 🎄's:
n Cut 2” off the base of your 🎄,
because it' the most dry part
n Water the 🎄 daily
n Get rid of 🎄 when dry
n Oakland pickup = compost day
Decorations
n Consider using ⚡🕯's
n Check string 💡's for broken 🔌 's
n Use clips, not nails for 💡's
3 feet = magic 🪄number
n Keep decorations (including a 🎄)
    n 3 feet from heat sources:

🕎's, radiators, 🔥-places,

space heaters, 🕯's or vents
n For 🕯's, distance from heat is 12"
n Cooks need 3-foot radius of space n
Information provided by OFD and NFPA

neighborhood, Salgado said that,
proportionally, Firehouse 19 is not
that dissimilar to the rest of OFD.
A PERSONNEL TOUCH
But there are several other things
that make Rockridge’s Firehouse 19
unique. First, the architecture.
It makes for a striking facade,
a single-story structure with
baby blue steel beams propping
up a brick-red roof at about a
30° angle that almost makes
its way to the ground—with two
giant garage doors for the station’s
engine and truck. There are benefits
to a single-story design: they allow
for speedier response time.
“That old sort of dramatic going
down the fire pole,” Worthington
said. “It's not the most efficient.”
Then there’s the way that Rock-
ridge maintains itself. Worthington
said that the neighborhood’s prox-
imity to the Oakland Hills Fire of
1991 made residents particularly
fire-conscious. And the Firehouse
19 crew all agreed that the way
neighbors attend to trash and leaves
very effectively reduces fire danger.
“People really care here,” said
Nicholas Ramirez, Firehouse 19’s
paramedic firefighter (with nine
years experience), who grew up
in Oakland and visited Rockridge
often as a kid. “There are a whole
lot of people who sweep the front
porch, who pick up trash who want
to see Oakland beautiful.”
But perhaps the foremost factor
that makes Firehouse 19 unique
is the firefighters themselves.
Rockridge News sat down with one-
third of the Firehouse 19 crew: the
A shift. Every single-engine shift
contains the same combination of
an officer (usually a captain), an
engineer, a firefighter-paramedic
and a firefighter. Together, the
12 firefighters have an average of
roughly 16.5 years experience.
Ceciley Johnson, a probationary
(training) firefighter, grew up four
blocks away from the Berkeley fire
station where her dad worked and
lived. She and her brothers would
climb on the engines, run around

the station and press various buttons
just to see what they would do.
“I felt like my dad was a real life
superhero,” Johnson said, her admi-
ration glowing. “I remember him
bringing his uniform home and it
actually looked like it had a cape.”
Brian Petrie, a skateboarder in his
youth, has 19 years experience as an
engineer: the person who operates
the fire engine, manages water
pressure, pumps and equipment to
support the crew.
“He’s one of the most important
pieces of the puzzle," Worthington
said. "Especially within the first 10
minutes on the scene."
HOLIDAY HEROICS
The crew didn’t recall many harrow-
ing stories about holiday-induced
fires—nothing about menorahs
torching living rooms or Kwanzaa
candles incinerating a whole house.
Petrie mentioned a fried turkey
incident he heard about on High
Street (“take that turkey out early and
let it fully thaw,” he advised). And
that he’d had a few calls—to other
parts of Oakland—where people set
fire to dried-out Christmas trees left
on the curb.
“It goes up so fast that by the
time we get there, we're looking for
it because it's already burned itself
out,” Petrie said. “Hopefully it hasn't
burned anything else.”
Worthington gave a general
warning about kitchen safety—the
biggest cause of holiday fires—espe-
cially about croweded kitchens and
leaving pot handles facing outward: a
real hazard.
But when it came to Rockridge-spe-
cific, holiday-related stories, not a fire
was stirring; not even a house.
Though the crew is called to var-
ious chaotic scenes all throughout
Oakland, there was a shared grat-
itude for the relative calm of their
immediate district of Rockridge.
“When other firefighters come
to Rockridge, they go ‘this is still
Oakland?’—the sun is shinier over
here, the people wave,” Ramirez said.
“There’s a shared experience here;
best district in OFD.” n


THE
page 6
DECEMBER 2025

Beautifying a Utility Box on Chabot Road
by Aanika L. Newman, age 9
Become a Rockridge
News Marshal!

by Susan Montauk
Thank you, Cristin Williams!
Cristin Williams has just
informed us that she is going back to
school full-time and sadly has to pass
the torch as Marshal of the Alcatraz
Avenue area of distribution. Williams
has been a very dedicated marshal
for several years now and the block
captains in her area from Alcatraz
Avenue to the Berkeley border could
always rely on her to get their bundles
on time. She's a hard act to follow, but
we would love for someone in her area
or nearby to accept the challenge.
From Left-to-Right: Andre, Jasmine, Raphael, Aanika, Shayne and Iyla | Photo by Marissa Toffoli
Squeak, squeak. That's the sound of
our gloves scrubbing off years and
years of caked dirt from green metal.
A group of us neighborhood kids
were cleaning utility boxes on Chabot
Road at College Avenue on a sunny
Saturday afternoon, with the goal of
painting two boxes and two poles a
shade of baby blue. For the paint to
stick, we needed to remove the dirt off
first. That took a lot of time, energy
and cleaning spray.
We were painting these boxes for a
few reasons: One, we wanted to make
the community more beautiful. We
noticed that the utility boxes were
sometimes tagged or people put their
old boba tea cups on top of them, and
we knew that wasn’t good. We wanted
to make the boxes look nicer so that
people would appreciate it as art.
Second, we wanted to help our
fellow muralist, Rachel Perls. She was
going to paint flowers on the utility
boxes and poles on top of the baby
blue coat that we painted.
The third reason was because we
wanted to build our community (not
destroy it). We wanted to spend time
with each other, to hang out and to
work together to make something
better. That’s how I think a sense of
community is built.
Our team of kids encourages other
small groups to come together to
make Rockridge more beautiful.
Thank you to Rachel Perls for
donating her talents to residents all
over Oakland and RCPC for sponsor-
ing our activity. n
Thank you, Judy Berne!
For her service as Block Captain of
Coronado Avenue and for her many
wonderful stories and interviews that
appeared in The Rockridge News’
column “Eyes on Rockridge” over the
years. Berne, a career reporter, was a
highly valued staff member and will
be sorely missed. Coronado Avenue
now needs a new volunteer to deliver
the newsletter to 14C/D. — See below:
What a Marshal does:
Pick up a box of 11 bundles of
newsletters for this route from the
nearby bundling house the first
Friday or Saturday of the month.
11 drops:
Deliver each bundle to the front
porch of the Block Captain listed
on the cover sheet, the same
weekend.
Routes 14C/14D:
Both sides of Coronado Avenue
from 51st St. to Desmond Street.
Deliver copies to the library of
Merrill Gardens at Rockridge
assisted living facility, 5238
Coronado Ave.
Just Sold
5737 Country Club Dr
To volunteer:
Call or email Susan at 510-547-
3855 or smontauk@gmail.com
Let us know if you are interested
and/or, perhaps, might need
more information. n
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THE

DECEMBER 2025
page 7

Rockridge’s Transitional Shelter Needs
Your Help: Donate to their Financial
Literacy Course
by Liam Pierce
Family Matters is the name of the
homeless rehousing program that
lives in the first and second floors of
the former CCA dorms at 5276 Broad-
way Ave. And “family matters” may as
well be the program’s mantra.
“When you take families suffering
from homelessness and you put them
in nicer areas, it makes them want
to do better,” said Ieisha Watson,
director of Family Matters at the East
Oakland Community Project (EOCP).
“To walk out into Rockridge: it's
a lot of friendly people: everyone's
walking; everyone's happy; it's a clean
neighborhood. Sometimes the com-
munity is part of your healing.”
Watson is currently leading a fund-
raiser to help the 20 families—who go
through the program on six month
cycles—get access to financial literacy
classes. One family that Watson was
working with had a particularly diffi-
cult time finding housing at first.
But after taking Family Matters’
financial literacy class—led by Veron-
ica Dangerfield of Patelco Credit
Union—the family were not only
able to build up their savings over
two months but secured housing and
still had money set aside. Watson
said these lessons often help families
throughout a lifetime.
Family Matters’ real mission is “no
child left on the street,” according to
Watson. And their work goes beyond
that. They want to make sure families
feel comfortable and welcome—and
Photo provided by EOCP
Rockridge residents have helped with
that. Some families have brought
cookies; one little girl sewed pillows
for the children; others come in to
read books out loud. One of Watson’s
passion projects is to decorate the resi-
dences for the seasons.k
“When families are coming out of
their rooms and coming down to the
lobby, I want them to feel like it’s their
living room: you see a Christmas tree,
and it makes them feel like they’re
not missing anything,” Watson said.
“Even the kids who have been through
a lot of trauma—their eyes light up.”
Consider contributing this holiday
season to help your neighbors at
Family Matters and other EOCP pro-
grams via eocp.net. Or, to contribute
directly to Family Matters, send a
check to EOCP, 7515 International
Blvd., Oakland, CA 94621), write “for
FM” on the memo line. n
3  Floor
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Ste. 312
(510) 653-6677
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


THE
page 8
DECEMBER 2025

ockridge’s warm, village-like atmosphere and eclectic mix of
locally owned stores make for a festive place to dive into holiday
shopping. The tree-lined sidewalks, enchanting storefronts and
welcoming shopkeepers create a sense of community that big malls
just can’t match.
Rockridge’s small businesses rely on local support to thrive and sustain jobs.
These businesses also invest back in the community through events and dona-
tions to local causes. By shopping local, you help preserve the vibrant, walkable
charm that makes Rockridge such a special place to live, visit and enjoy.
The neighborhood’s cozy cafes, independent bookstores and delicious eateries
add an extra layer of joy to the season. Make a day out of your holiday
outing! You can sip locally roasted coffee while browsing handcrafted
goods, pick up gourmet treats for a holiday party and finish off
with a warm meal at one of the area’s beloved restaurants.
The Rockridge District Association’s website is a fantastic
holiday resource, featuring everything from gift ideas
and seasonal events to catering options, venue
rentals, health resources, fundraisers and local
food drives.
Its Holiday Hub highlights unique
gifts for all ages and interests,
making it easy to find
something special
for everyone on
your list.
R

For more
For more
gift ideas &
gift ideas &
other holiday
other holiday
resources, visit:
resources, visit:
rockridgedistrict.com

rden Bambino Thrift Shop Bella Vita Blick Art Materials Bosko's Picture Framing Chic Boutique Claremont Rug Cole Hardware Crossroad Trading
niture Hazara Rug Gallery In Full Swing Lesley Evers Maison d'Etre Marin Raw Market Mercy Vintage Murasaki Fine Futon Shop Nathan & Co. Ope
ed Re-Up Refill Shop Skull Savvy SOBU Sole Terra Shoes Stranded Records Talisman Antiques The Wardrobe Project Thelma Harris Gallery Toots
ACRE Kitchen and Bar Ain't Normal Cafe A16 Bad Walter's Bootleg Ice Cream Bangkok Garden Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers bb.q Chicken Beck
s Bar & Grill Boba Guys Billingsgate Seafood The Burrito Shop Cactus Taqueria The Cheese Shop at Market Hall The Chocolate Dragon Bitterswe

ROCKRIDGE  HOLIDAY  GIFT

by Jody Colley, Rockridge District Association
Photos provided by respective businesses
Give the gift of a quiet mind, re-
duced tension and mental reset.
When suspended in a skin-tempera-
ture solution of Epsom salt and water,
your loved one will lose track of
where their body ends and the water
begins. They’ll experience a euphoric
afterglow that can last for days.
Cocoon Day Spa (5377 College Ave.)
East Bay Cooks” is an impressive
collection of eighty signature
dishes from 40 of the city’s leading
restaurants. It’s a region that’s got you
covered, no matter what the craving.
An uncomplicated taco with the
power to stir the soul? A nourishing
bowl of authentic Singaporean laksa?
Shrimp and grits with layers of fla-
vors never imagined? It’s all here, and
designed with home cooks in mind,
so that re-creating signature dishes
from the area’s favorite chefs has
never been easier. Its beautiful pho-
tography serves as a culinary tribute
to the East Bay and its unique ethnic
food variety.
“
These might be the prettiest little
solar hand-crank radios you ever
did see. They come in two sizes, in
designs and colors so pleasing you
might not want to stash them away
in your disaster kit. Use them year-
round, knowing they're also ready to
be your info source in an emergency.
A practical, beautiful gift.
Xocolate & Confections is known for
beautiful and delicious bonbons
and truffles made with organic,
fair-trade chocolate and natural ingre-
dients. Each is handmade in small
batches in Berkeley. Each box includes
a variety of textures and flavors sure
to please any chocolate lover.
Nathan & Co (5636 College Ave.)
Local Economy (6028 College Ave.)
Xocolate & Confections (5854 College Ave.)


g Company Crush on College East Bay Books
pen Mind Music Pave Fine Jewelry Pegasus Books Pla
sies Transports Veranda Wildflower & Fern Wisteria Ro
ky's Chinese Restaurant Belly Belotti Ristorante e Bottega Ben
eet Cafe and Bakery Cole Coffee Crepevine Delicious Thai Kitchen
GUIDE
THE
THE
DECEMBER 2025
These traditional Japanese water-
colors for artists and crafters are
recognized by their vivid color and
quick dissolution. They offer a wide
range of colors without mixing and
create whimsical, dreamy effects.
Blick Art Materials (5301 Broadway Ave.)
Finch + Fennel’s Strawberry Fig
Preserves are carefully crafted to
balance and enhance the flavors of
your favorite soft cheeses. This jam is
specially formulated to pair with goat
cheese, cream cheese, blue cheese
or Brie. Add it to your next holiday
charcuterie board.
The annual wine boxes from Vino
are made up of their seasonal
favorites that best pair with your hol-
iday spread. You can customize your
box by wine types. They also offer
free local delivery.
Veranda (5931 College Ave.)
20%
OFF
ON
THE
Vino! (6319 College Ave.)
17TH
Friends and Neighbors is a game
that focuses on emotions. Can
players help a girl who’s sad because
she’s standing out in the rain or a boy
who’s afraid of the dark? Parents help
their children recognize characters'
feelings and needs; considering others
is the first step to building empathy.
This reversible cashmere buckle
shawl is so versatile, beautiful
and cozy. The shawl is 30 inches
long, providing the perfect amount of
cover and comfort.
wednesday
december  17
Bella Vita (5511 College Ave.) n
In Full Swing (5937 College Ave.)

page 9


THE
page 10
DECEMBER 2025
Help Oakland Out: Adopt a Storm Drain
by Liam Pierce

Adopt-A-Drain map
PROFESSIONAL TREE SERVICES
Proudly serving the Rockridge community since 1965!
www.treesculpture.com
contact@treesculpture.com
Fully Insured
Certified Arborists
License #655977
(510) 562-4000
Available Drains
Adopted Drains
Heidi Giancola, an environmental
analyst with the Oakland Public
Works Department, has adopted a
few drains of her own via Oakland’s
Adopt-A-Drain program. She has
caringly tended to some in downtown
Oakland, making sure they’re not
clogged in case of rain.
“Mine are more trash guzzlers than
leaf guzzlers,” Giancola said.
Oakland has 13,000 storm drains,
but only 1,600 have been adopted.
Even if Rockridge residents are par-
ticularly conscientious about raking
leaves and clearing drains, Giancola
encourages residents to officially
claim their drain parenthood to help
the city with tracking. There are even
prizes for hitting certain marks with
your drain reporting: notebooks, mugs
and (appropriately) water bottles.
Rockridge resident Brooke Levin
was assistant director of Oakland
Public Works in 2012, when she helped
oversee the launch of Adopt-A-Drain.
She said the program was started after
a particularly heavy bout of rain.
 “It makes a big difference when you
rake and dispose of leaves, pick up
litter and report larger items to 311,”
Levin said.
Rockridge has a unique history
with street clearing that predates the
Adopt-A-Drain program.
When Oakland launched its official
street-sweeping program in 1986—the
one that requires people to move their
cars on certain days—Rockridge res-
idents pushed back. They petitioned
for an exemption, and the City agreed,
on the condition that neighbors would
keep their sidewalks, curbs and gut-
ters clean themselves.
“That was a long time ago,” Levin
said. “New residents may not be aware
they're responsible for clearing leaves.”
Through Adopt-A-Drain, Oakland
provides tools to help with drain
clearing, such as trash grabbers, rakes,
trash bags; they also send people over
to pick up any green waste spillover.
There will also be a city-wide Adopt-
A-Drain event on January 19 for MLK
Day of Service.
With rainy season here and leaves
continuing to fall, it’s more important
than ever to keep your drains debris-
free. Visit tinyurl.com/2znnk4er for
more information. n
CollegePrep
A private high school for grades 9-12

At College Prep, education is more than a curriculum—it’s a shared journey fueled by curiosity and
passion. Here, academics are just the start. Dive into our rigorous, thoughtfully designed curriculum
and engage deeply with your peers and teachers. Together, you’ll debate, explore, innovate, and find
meaningful ways to connect your learning with the world beyond the classroom. At College Prep, we
don’t one-up each other; we lift each other up. Find out how every step of your academic journey
can be supported and celebrated.

6100 Broadway     Oakland CA 94618     510.652.4364   college-prep.org

RNews
RNews
CORREC TIONS
n "Local Artisan" (Oct. '25)
Damon Manni's site is actually:
ManniStudio.com


THE

DECEMBER 2025
page 11

black and white truffles are found
throughout the menu.
Belotti also has an extensive and
reasonably priced wine list.
In addition to Belotti Ristorante,
their other establishment Belotti
Bottega—part shop, part restaurant—
is on Piedmont Avenue, where all of
their pasta and sauces are made. You
can watch the chefs at work and buy
their pasta, fresh truffles, olive oils,
wines and cheeses and enjoy them
all at home.
Belotti Ristorante is being talked
about far and wide. When my wife
and I were attending a cooking class
in Japan, we asked a Bay Area couple
what their favorite restaurant was.
They said Belotti Ristorante.
In my opinion, Belotti Ristorante
deserves a Michelin star and will have
one. Buon appetito. n
BEST BITES
Belotti: Fantastico
Insalata di Lattuga
Burro Vivae
by Jeff Sykes
Almost 10 years ago, my wife and
I walked by a new restaurant
on College Avenue. As we stopped
to look at the menu in the window,
someone got up from their meal and
stepped outside to tell us how great
the food was. When was the last time
this happened to you?
The same thing happened to us
again—two more times—before we
first dined at Belotti Ristorante. We
have since become regulars. This is
our favorite restaurant. We consider
the food to be some of the best we
have eaten anywhere in the world.
Michele Belotti was born in Ber-
gamo, Italy and was classically trained
as a chef. His wife Joyce was born
in Taiwan and handles daily tasks.
Several of the servers were born and
raised in Italy. Their small restaurant
is a friendly neighborhood place with
indoor and outdoor seating.
Davide, one of the servers from
Venice, always warmly greets my wife
and our dog as we walk by. While
our dog is normally favored with a
handful of veal placed on the side-
walk, Davide is quick to joke that I,
photo by the author
however, am not allowed and need to
go home. We’re just that close. When
my wife and daughter were recently in
Venice, they spent three evenings with
Davide and his family being shown
the town and best places to eat.
Everything at Belotti Ristorante
is fantastic. Particularly the salad of
living butter lettuce, toasted pine nuts,
lemon dressing and Grana Padano
cheese. Harvested from its root ball
immediately before it is plated, this
is unlike any other lettuce. It is mild,
tender and sweet. No salad is fresher
or tastes more like summer.
Some reviews boast that Belotti
Ristorante has the best pasta in the
East Bay. It is all freshly made with
100% Italian flour, extra virgin olive
oil and some with 15–20 egg yolks
per pound. The pasta dishes are made
with grass-fed beef and veal shank,
pork loin, sausage prosciutto, pork
shoulder, smoked pancetta, duck sugo,
rabbit sugo, wild boar sugo, braised
osso buco and a variety of cheeses and
other ingredients. This time of year,
RESIDENTIAL INTERNET SERVICES:
Ethernet Wiring, WiFi, Home Office
Wire Mgmt, Smart TV/Device Setup, Consulting
A COLLEGE PREP SCHOOL
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Enhancing today’s home lifestyles
Call Mike
510.993.5141
Scan the QR code for
upcoming informational events
or visit orindaacademy.org
hnhsoakland.org
HOMEINTERNETWIRING.COM


THE
page 12
DECEMBER 2025

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters to the Editor:
I was very distressed to learn
that both editors of the Rockridge
News were fired. Worse yet, is that
their terminations were without
explanation. And adding insult to
injury, it’s quite disturbing that the
interim editor does not live in the
Rockridge.
I have always enjoyed getting my
copy of the Rockridge News and in
particular, loved to hear about my
neighborhood and neighbors.
I’ve had a number of interactions
with Anna Marks and found her to
be very helpful and generous.
I have no doubt that my feel-
ings here are not unique.  Please
consider resigning your unjust
decision. If that isn’t possible,
please explain why this decision
was made and how, in your eyes, it
benefits the Rockridge Community.
Dear Editor,
As a 13-year resident of Rockridge
and a regular reader of the News, I
want to welcome you to your post
and congratulate you on a stellar first
issue. As I often do on Sunday morn-
ings, I read the main articles aloud to
my wife at the breakfast table. Only
this time I had tears in my eyes. The
story about Coyo Tena was powerful.
Thank you for centering indigenous
people (including Linda Yamane!),
and reminding us in your intro letter
about what truly matters.
I look forward to this next phase
of the News. We are lucky to have a
professional journalist leading our
little neighborhood newsletter, and
your experience already shows. (I say
“little,” but I’m sure I don’t need to tell
you how local publications like this
one have an outsized influence in our
climate of fading media.)
 Keep doing what you’re doing!
-Stephen Coles w/ Laura Serra n
-Marsha Balian, Kales Ave.
welcome back
TO PRESCHOOL
Register
your interest
today:
The JCC East Bay Preschool has a new home!
In Fall 2026, our award-winning preschool will
be located at the brand new East Bay Jewish
Community Campus in Rockridge.

BART
SweaterFest
Merriment in
Rockridge Plaza
by Henry Symons, BART
Community Affairs Director
B
ART's popular SweaterFest
returns to the Rockridge
BART Station plaza on Saturday,
Dec. 13 from 1-3 p.m. The free
event will feature live music, crafts
and rides through the parking lot
on the BARTmobile, decorated
for the holidays. A pop-up BART
merch store will be selling transit
themed gifts, including the cov-
eted 2025 BART holiday sweater.
BART holiday sweater owners are
encouraged to wear theirs for a
large group photo at the event. n


THE

DECEMBER 2025
page 13

HOW DO YOU GET AROUND?
bike | transit | walk | otherwise
The Rockridge News wants to
hear from you!
Scan the QR code
or follow the link
below to fill out a
quick survey.
tinyurl.com/9x9dbh4r
COME CELEBRATE WITH US
Solstice Labyrinth
Walk 12.21 • 5-7pm
Christmas Eve
12.24 • 7pm
COLLEGE AVENUE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
www.capcoakland.org
LISTED IN ROCKRIDGE!
2 EMERY LANE
Impeccable 3 Bed, 3 Bath contemporary
2016 Craftsman. Zero steps to main level:
open plan living, vaulted ceilings, luxurious
kitchen & primary suite, 2-car garage.
Lower level works like a whole other
2-bed  unit w separate entrance! Great for
downsizers, low maintenance lifestyle.
Close to Village Market!
 More details at 2Emerylane.com
Offered at $2,195,000
SOLD IN ROCKRIDGE!
6051 MARGARIDO DRIVE
5 Bedrooms ∙ 5.5 Bathrooms
Closed for $3,450,000
MAXI LILLEY
510.919.8997
maxi@redoakrealty.com
The Rockridge Realtor®
with a Designer’s Eye
DRE #1919653

If their cuddle puddles were
measured in volume,
Chico (14)—a senior dog—
and Stasha (16 months), a
mischievous tabby/Maine Coon
mix, would rival Lake Baikal.
When not cuddling, Stasha (aka
Cleocatra) is pouncing on Chico
(aka Cheeky-week) to keep him
spry. Chico's Rockridge hobbies
include reading his 'pee-mail' on
the streets, while Stasha
catches up on BirdTV™ through
the window.
Dogs of Rockridge illustration by Laura Serra
Let's cut to the chase:
Ollie (3)—aka Oliver Horatio
von Loewenfeldt—is a
dastardly table thief of ill
repute. His family has put up
more gates than a medieval
castle to abate his kitchen
table tyranny. When he's not
rasacking his family-of-five's
vittles, he's the cuddliest
good boy imaginable. In case
you need to shake him down
for food that mysteriously
disappeared, you can find him
loitering in Bushrod Park. n
Does your furry friend live in Rockridge? If so,
send a photo of your four-legged companion
and short commentary to: editor@rockridge.org.
Andrew Pitarre


THE
page 14
DECEMBER 2025

RCPC to Launch New Website in January
by Gary Barg, RCPC Board Member

In January 2026, RCPC will launch
a new website. Same URL:
(rockridge.org), but with loads of new
content and features.
You’ll see familiar oldies like:
archived Rockridge News issues,
upcoming events and information
about Rockridge boundaries and
RCPC. But on top of that, there will
be new features like blogs, a com-
pletely new, easier-to-navigate layout
and a decked-out newsreader for the
Rockridge News. Planned for later: a
dedicated Events page listing events
like book clubs, art classes and other
group activities the community is
involved with.
We look forward to hearing your
feedback as we roll out this new com-
munity resource! n
Rockridge Food
Drive Update!
Support Families Who
Were Denied SNAP
RCPC
by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair
donate.accfb.
org/vfd/
RockridgeGives
By the time you read this, the
Rockridge food drive will be
wrapping up, BUT there is still time
to donate food or money to help us
reach our goal. The folks at the Food
Bank have expressed their deep appre-
ciation to the residents of Rockridge
for your generosity—let's keep going
and make it to our goal! Please make a
food donation by Dec. 8 and a finan-
cial donation by Dec. 15.
At the time of this writing, the Food
Bank had picked up from Market
Hall and Claremont Middle School
three times already, and twice at the
Rockridge Library. That translates to
Rockridge residents having donated
more than 1,000 pounds of food in
barrels in just over two weeks! Final
barrel pickup is the week of Dec. 8.
Our virtual food drive is also doing
fantastic—we have a total of $8,000
in matching funds, and have raised
just over $5,000 so far! If we can raise
$3,000 more, the Food Bank will
receive $16,000!!
Please contribute any way you can.
While the government shutdown is
finally over, there will likely be delays
and possibly only partial SNAP ben-
efits in the near-term. Thank you for
your generosity! n
Holiday Sale
NOV 1ST-30TH
25%
OFF
Visit Us in Store on College Ave.
5709 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
lesleyevers.com


THE

DECEMBER 2025
page 15

RN
RN
CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIEDS
HANDYMAN & HOUSEHOLD
CARPENTRY
40 years of responsible, personalized service.
Repairs, custom projects, fine interior plaster
and painting. Free advice, planning and con-
sultation. Serving Rockridge, Montclair, North
Oakland, Berkeley, Albany and Alameda. Len
Lauro 510-435-9586 lenlauro@yahoo.com.
List your 36-word message here for only $24
(phone #'s count 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.
MELISSA PARKER, NOTARY PUBLIC
SERVICES
Wills and Trusts, Refinance, Reverse mortgages,
employment matters and more. Please call
Melissa Parker at 415-527-7647 melissabpark-
er@gmail.com
Deadline for JANUARY News is:
Dec. 18, 2025 (available Jan. 9.)
MODERN DOG TRAINING
Need help with leash manners, basic obedience
or problem behaviors? Private, in-home train-
ing can help! Visit dogsquaddogtraining.com or
call 510-646-9657 for more information.
SENIOR CONCIERGE SERVICES
JG Life Services provides personalized home,
administrative and non-medical lifestyle
support for seniors & peace of mind for their
families. Please visit: jglifeservices.com to learn
more. Go Bears! Jill Gregori 510-224-3206.
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat existing.
Large jobs or small. Twenty-five years in Pied-
mont Ave/Rockridge. Bruce Williams Wood-
floors; CA Lic #913727. Call or text 510-652-
8121. blwfloors.com!
ELECTRICAL REMODEL & REPAIRS
Need landing lights for Rudolph?  I can help
with that. I’ve been doing electrical work in
Oakland and Berkeley for over 35 years. Sutor-
ik & Company. sutorikandco.com. Lic #397149.
510-655-3677.
SEEKING WALKING BUDDIES
For 20-35 minute walks/friendly conversation
in the neighborhood. Moderate pace. Starting
in general area of Alcatraz & College. Daytime
or evening, spontaneous or planned. One-time
or ongoing. Email me at: walkjoy@sonic.net.
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.
THERAPIST-LED SUPPORT GROUP
FOR OLDER ADULTS
Are you an older adult experiencing significant
life changes? Join our 6-week group for a safe,
confidential space to connect with peers. Sarah
Moxon, LCSW  510-823-2455 x107; smoxon@
pacificdbt.com.
GARDEN MAINTENANCE,
CLEANUPS & DESIGN
Experienced team of two dedicated to the art
of gardening. We specialize in garden mainte-
nance, cleanups and custom garden designs.
Visit us at yourgreengardeners.com. Check us
out at yourgreengardeners.com.
PENELOPE'S AESTHETICS
Celebrate the holidays and bring in the New
Year! Be ready for the festivities with a lash
and brow tint, $40. Freshen and liven up your
first impression, *your face*! Call today,
510-594-1552 penelopecalef.com.
FREE SPANISH CLASSES  
Achieve your language goals with FREE weekly
Spanish classes! Immersive, fun lessons with a
highly experienced Spanish teacher. All mate-
rials included. Three (3) FREE classes offered
weekly.   Visit: spanishwithdenamarie.com Email:
spanishwithdena@gmail.com.
TheKey-Trusted Senior In-Home Care
Providing compassionate, reliable support tai-
lored to your family’s needs. Keep loved ones
safe and comfortable at home. Call Michael
Manus 510-590-0549 or visit TheKey.com to
learn more about trusted care today.
JEWELRY REPAIRS
Formerly of High Strung and Blue Door Beads!
Marilee is now doing repairs as an independent
contractor. Please email her at mjwrepairs@
proton.me for all your jewelry repair needs. n
Rockridge Library
DECEMBER 2025
and 1-3 p.m., Tuesdays 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Wednesdays
5:30-7:30 p.m. Come with your devices and technology
questions and our volunteer tech guru will help you get
sorted.  Signup recommended.
Adult Crafting Series: Tuesday Dec. 2nd,
6-7:30 p.m. Draw a bird with lellobird. Come learn
how to recognize and break down bird's unique fea-
tures into simple shapes to draw realistic or stylized
birds. Makes a great holiday card or gifts.
This is for You: Gift-Giving as a Way of Life.
Books will be sold onsite by A Great Good Place for
Books. This program is sponsored by the Friends of
the Rockridge Library.
Rockridge Gardening Series: on hiatus until 2026.
Chair Yoga: Monday Dec. 1st and Dec. 15th,
10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn from certified instructor
Bett Bollhoefer, drop ins welcome. n
For Teens ages 12 – 18
Holiday Party Wednesday 12/10 2–4 p.m. Come
make snowglobes, snowflakes & decorate cookies!
For Adults
Making Sense of Medicare presented by Denise
Lombard: Friday Dec. 5th, 1-3pm. Drop ins
welcome. Learn about the ins and outs of the 2026
changes coming to Medicare and how to make the
best coverage decisions.
Meet the Author: Wednesday, Dec. 3rd, 6:30-7:45pm.
Ilana DeBare, author of "Shaken Loose," will be in con-
versation w/ journalist and author Sue Fishkoff about
her newest novel, "Shaken Free."
Ask Your Area Home Experts: Every 2nd Friday,
12:00-2:00. Get answers, tips and connections from
a Senior Loan Advisor and a Realtor, both Rock-
ridge locals. Have questions answered about home
ownership, maintenance, finance, investing, ADUs,
downsizing, moving and more.
Rockridge Book Club: Every 2nd Saturday, 3:30-
4:30 p.m. Please call 510-597-5017 for more info and
to get a copy of the book. November's book is "The
Sentence," by Louise Erdrich.
Needlework Circle: every Thursday, 1-3 p.m. Bring
your yarn and fiber arts projects to Rockridge
Library. Build community, share your passion,
learn and have fun!
Artist’s Open Studio: every 3rd Tuesday, 2-4:30 p.m.
1-on-1 Technology Help: every Saturday, 10am-12pm
For All Ages          (Red = Dec.-only events)
Winter Kamishibai Stories and Snowflakes:
Mondays, 12/22 & 12/29 at 3:30 p.m. All ages,
please join us for paper theater stories followed by
paper snowflake making!  Children; bring your
whole extended family!
For Children
Special Saturday Mornings instead of Storytime:
12/6; East Bay Parks Program; all ages welcome.
12/13; Kids Go Mandarin; storytime and songs to
learn Mandarin, for the whole family.
Storytime: Thursdays and Saturdays; 10:30 a.m.
Chess Club: Wednesdays; 4 p.m. All ages and
skill-levels welcome.
Read to a Dog: Thursdays; 4 p.m. Practice reading
aloud with Gladys the dog.
Craft Programs: MoChA at the Library! Thursday,
11/20, 3:30 p.m. Monthly art workshops for chil-
dren & families led by teachers from the Museum
of Children's Art. For ages 5-15 and caregivers.
Making Stories Club: Thursday, 12/4; 3:30 p.m.
(No meeting 1/1.) Monthly workshop to write, illus-
trate and tell stories. Make books, zines, stories,
comics, kamishibai or plays! Join youth writers and
illustrators. For ages 8 to 12.
Rockridge Library Hours:
Mon., Thurs., & Sat.: 10am – 5:30pm
Tues. & Weds.: 10am – 8pm
Fri.: 12 noon – 5:30 pm
Holiday Closures:
Christmas Eve: Weds., Dec. 24 – Close at 5:30pm
Christmas Day: Thurs., Dec. 25
New Year’s Eve: Wed., Dec. 31
New Year’s Day: Thurs., Jan. 1
Please also check our calendar:
oaklandlibrary.org/events for events in the city.
5366 College Ave., at Manila;
510-597-5017


Celebrating 59 Years of Excellence in
Real Estate Brokerage
For nearly six decades we’ve
earned the loyalty of countless
clients, helping them achieve the
American Dream of home and in-
vestment property ownership. Our
deep-rooted relationships within
the community built on trust, has
been pivotal in our journey. From
first-time home buyers and seller
representation, to seasoned inves-
tors, we’ve been privileged to be a
part of your journeys.
Kevin Brown, Broker
Better Homes Realty, Rockridge
510.593.4780 | dre# 00644175

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