Extracted text · highlighting “Ryan Phillips”

The

rockridge.org

VOL 41
VOL 41    •    NO. 5
NO. 5    •    ISSUE  NO. 441
ISSUE  NO. 441    •    MAY 2, 2026
MAY 2, 2026
                 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

RCPC Responds to Proposed Towers at Trader Joe’s Site

Statement by RCPC Board
Image of Align Real Estate’s proposal for two large residential towers

Having recently learned the
details of the proposal to
replace Trader Joe’s with two residen­
tial towers, RCPC was shocked at the
magnitude of its potential impact and
disappointed that the developer chose
not to engage with the community
before submitting its application to
the city.
RCPC supports the creation of new
housing in our neighborhood, and
recognizes that higher density can be
appropriate at sites located directly
adjacent to transit. However, with
one of the two high-rises at 31 stories,
the proposed project exceeds current
zoning by more than 20 stories and
eliminates Trader Joe’s, a vital part of
the community in the process. Trader
Joe’s is the only affordable grocery op­
tion in the neighborhood, and the first
unionized Trader Joe’s in the country.
Align Real Estate, the project
sponsor, has stated its commitment to
preserving the “vitality of the corri­
dor,” and RCPC shares that vision. The
quality and character of College Ave­
nue as a contiguous, interactive public

at the Trader Joe’s site (5727 College Avenue).| SCB Architects
environment is essential, and improve­
ments to all adjacent streetscapes, in­
cluding the placement and height of the
development’s taller components, are
crucial to helping this project become
a respectful neighbor. We urge Align
Real Estate to pursue a project that bet­
ter respects Rockridge’s scale, provides
affordable housing, and retains Trader
Joe’s as the ground-floor retail.
RCPC will actively engage in the
public review of this project to the
fullest extent allowed by the Oakland
zoning code and state law. We welcome
the opportunity to meet with Align
Real Estate to discuss their proposal
before the entitlement process begins
in earnest.
Please share your feedback on Align
Real Estate’s proposal for the Trader
Joe’s site via landuse@rockridge.org. ●

Community Vision Plan Shared with Residents

by Kristen Belt and Casey Farmer,
CVP Co-Chairs
meetings and robust resident feedback.
It is a framework for initiatives led by
the RCPC board, in collaboration with
the broader Rockridge community.
The CVP has five focus areas: Mobil­
ity, Open Space/Green Infrastructure,
Housing Opportunities, Commercial/
Cultural Activities, and Resilience/Sus­
tainability.
On Thursday, April 23, RCPC
hosted a Town Hall to release
the Rockridge Community Vision
Plan.
Over 120 residents squeezed into
the library’s community room to learn
about the plan and ask questions. The
Community Vision Plan is the cul­
mination of months of community
CVP, continued page 5

RCPC’s Community Vision Plan meeting
was standing-room only. | Robbie Tasker

●  Tech’s Champion Wrestler, page 4   ●  Inside the Breema Center, page 8    ●  Local Guitar Builder, page 10
INSIDE:


The

May 2026
page 2

The Rockridge
News Welcomes
New Editor and
Says Goodbye to
Interim Torchbearer
A Word from the
Rockridge News’
New Editor
by Ryan Phillips
I
’m thrilled to step into the role
of editor at The Rockridge News.
A little bit about me: I’m an Oakland
native (born in Merritt Hospital), an
Oakland homeowner, and an active
OUSD parent.
by RCPC Board
R
CPC welcomes Ryan Phillips as
the new editor of The Rockridge
News. Ryan is a seasoned journalist
with vast communications and editing
expertise in the nonprofit and educa­
tion sectors.
I swim with Temescal Masters,
cheer on the Ballers and Roots, and
I’ll argue with anyone that Cactus
Taqueria has some of The Town’s tast­
iest crunchy tacos.
He is an Oakland native, longtime
Oakland resident and homeowner,
and a graduate of the UC Berkeley
School of Journalism. We are excited
to work with him.
I have over 20 years of experience
as a published writer, editor, and
communications strategist, and my
reporting has appeared in The New
York Times, The Washington Post,
and NBC News. Local news has long
been my passion.
That said, we will also miss outgo­
ing editor Liam Pierce. Last fall, Liam
took on the role in an interim capaci­
ty. For personal reasons, he could only
commit to the role for six months.
We sincerely appreciate his time, the
new writers he has recruited, and the
unique stories he has uplifted.
I was the sports editor for the Santa
Cruz Sentinel and one of the first
batch of reporters for the hyperlocal
news site, Oakland North, where,
among other things, I covered City
Council and School Board meetings
and wrote a weekly column spotlight­
ing local businesses.
“I hadn’t lived in Oakland in 20
years and discovering the love ev­
eryone has behind this publication
taught me ancient truths about one of
the City’s oldest neighborhoods (via
researching Ohlone peoples), trends
that are defining this current moment
(mentoring Oakland Tech students)
and the shape of its horizon (while
learning perhaps *too* much about
land use),” Pierce shared.
My heart is here, in Oakland’s local
stories. I’m eager to work alongside
you, the neighbors, small business
owners, parents, and longtime resi­
dents who make Rockridge the spe­
cial place that it is. Please send your
story ideas my way. ●
“It was always the plan to be editor
for only six months—I knew I wanted
my career to be more education-ori­
ented. But that hasn’t stopped this de­
parture from being a tearful goodbye;
I’ll truly miss working on The
Rockridge News.”
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Rockridge News
The
The Rockridge News was founded in March
1986 by Don Kinkead and is published monthly
(except August). It is sponsored by the Rockridge
Community Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprofit
public benefit organization founded to: preserve
and enhance the unique character of the Rockridge
neighborhood; promote the health, safety and
quality of life of its residents; furnish a forum for
community involvement; and provide leadership
and representation of neighborhood interests.
Rockridge News Production
Ryan Phillips.........................Editor & Layout Artist
Susan Montauk...............Business & Distribution Mgr.
RCPC Board of Directors, 2026
Mark Aaronson, Gary Barg, Kristen Belt,
Sam Fishman, Jana Good, Star Lightner,
Tom Lollini, Paul McDonnell,
Garrick Monaghan Beyer, Natalie Musick,
Brian Stromquist, Robbie Tasker

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 200 words & 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 subscription 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 JUNE 2026:
MAY 21, 2026
Rates: $32/column inch ($28 for b/w)
6-month pre-pay discounts available.
For display ads and classifieds:
Email Susan Montauk: 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 RCPC. ●


The

May 2026
page 3

Your Remodel Could Be Featured in the Rockridge Kitchen Tour

by Star Lightner, RCPC Vice Chair
Do you like all things KITCHEN?
The layouts, the colors, the fix­
tures, the appliances? Are you inter­
ested in getting a behind-the-scenes
look at some of the coolest remodels in
Rockridge? If so, the 2026 Rockridge
Kitchen Tour would love to have you
as a volunteer.
For those who are not familiar, the
Rockridge Kitchen Tour is a biennial
event where Rockridge neighbors open
their homes for a tour of their newly
remodeled kitchens or new accessory
dwelling units (ADUs), with architects,
contractors, and designers on hand to
answer attendees’ questions.
The Kitchen Tour is RCPC’s only
fundraiser, and it supports a variety
of events and projects such as Rock
& Stroll and the annual Halloween
Parade on College Avenue, and neigh­
borhood beautification projects such
as the pocket gardens at the corners
of Forest/Locksley, and Hudson and
Miles, and the mosaics soon to be
gracing trash cans in the Rockridge
BART plaza. The Kitchen Tour funds
RCPC grants that have also enabled
such projects as the restoration of
murals under the freeway overpass on
Claremont Avenue and at Frog Park.
The Kitchen Tour features Rockridge kitchens remod­
eled in the past two years. Show us what you’ve got!
architects, contractors, and designers
to talk to? If you went on the Kitch­
en Tour first, you understand! We
consistently get positive feedback from
Kitchen Tour attendees about how
helpful it was to speak to a variety of
professionals, as well as how many
excellent ideas they got from the Tour.
Show us what you’ve got!
Please email
kitchentour@rockridge.org with
kitchen or ADU candidates, or to
volunteer. Thanks! ●
We need kitchens for the tour! If you
have a kitchen that has been remod­
eled in the past two years (or a new
ADU) that will be ready for prime time
by August, please get in touch. So far,
we have two kitchens and potentially
one ADU, so we definitely need more
candidates to make the tour happen.
There is no specific blueprint for the
type of kitchen or ADU we are looking
for — large, small, expensive, bud­
get — and we would love to present a
variety of styles.
The Kitchen Tour has a lot of
moving parts, and we need volunteers
for a variety of task. First, we need
a webmaster. The website exists but
needs to be updated with information
pertaining to 2026 and photos from
the 2024 tour, and it will then need to
be linked to the ticketing website. We
also need someone to help with adver­
tising and sponsorships. In addition,
we are looking for a small army of tour
docents who will be stationed at each
of the generally eight properties on the
tour. Finally, we need people interested
in helping out with last minute tasks
in the week leading up to the tour. We
have a small but mighty team in the
works so far, but we need more great
folks to help pull it all together.
Holistic Facials
Therapeutic Massage
Clean Beauty Studio
Also, opening your kitchen for the
Tour is a wonderful public service. If
you recall your experience contem­
plating remodeling your own kitchen,
you probably remember having a lot
of questions and concerns; wouldn’t
it have been great to have a group of
2842 Prince St. Berkeley, CA
(510) 817-4555 | bohemiaskinandbody.com


The

May 2026
page 4

Oakland Tech Wrestler Wins Oakland’s First Girls State Title

by Madeleine Turner
Senior at Oakland Tech
When Oakland Tech wrestler
Shayna Ward began wrestling
at age 13, there weren’t many girls she
could compete against.
“When I was in middle school, I was
usually practicing with boys,” Ward
said. “I wrestled boys at tournaments;
I’d be lucky to wrestle a girl.”
She continued to rise in the ranks,
and at the end of February, Ward
secured Oakland’s first girls’ wrestling
state championship.
Ward, a two-time runner-up for the
state championship, attends Oakland
Unified School District’s Sojourner
Truth Independent Study and wrestles
for Tech’s club team.
Shayna Ward (above and below), who wrestles for the Oakland Tech club wrestling team,
In the final against Zahra Stewart of
Orange Vista High, Ward was nearly
pinned on her back.
won Oakland’s first girls’ state wresting title at the end of February. | Shayna Ward
helps keep her focused and motivated,
and holds her accountable.
“I was thinking, ‘this cannot happen
again,’” Ward said. “I lost to her last
year. So this year, I got up and
put her on her back, and the crowd
went insane.”
“My little sisters are always watching,”
she said. “When I go out there and lose,
they’re so sad, and I don’t want to see
them sad. Definitely, all the supporters
and the family and friends I have keep
me going.”
Ward said she is receiving offers to
wrestle at Division I colleges, with the
goal of wrestling professionally after
earning a degree in Communications so
she can someday work in sports media.
For Ward, the state title was the end
of her high school chapter, but she be­
lieves it’s just the beginning of her story.
During her free time, one of her
hobbies is photography. She sees simi­
larities with wrestling — both allow her
to express herself creatively.
“This won’t be the last time you hear
my name,” she said. ●
“Everybody has their own style and
wrestles differently, and I like watching
other people on the mat,” Ward said. “I
can see that ‘they hit a move like this,’ or
‘I like the way they do this.’ So I think
I’m out there being creative.”
Ward’s road to the state champion­
ship has been a series of near-misses.
As a senior, this was her final chance to
bring a state title home after finishing as
a runner-up the past two years.
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“I don’t think wrestling is for every­
one,” Ward said. “It’s a really intense,
grueling sport, and sometimes you put
so much into it, and it feels like you’re
not getting a lot back.”
Her family’s support from the stands

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The

May 2026
page 5

CVP, continued from cover
Each focus area identifies goals in the
following four types:
•	 Advocacy: How should RCPC
push for changes from local
government?
•	 Partnerships: Which organiza­
tions can we collaborate with?
•	 Education: What do residents
want information about in Rock­
ridge News articles or Town Halls?
•	 Physical Improvements: What
changes to the infrastructure
around us help to reach our goals
of enhanced connection, safety, and
quality of life?
After a brief presentation of the plan,
a robust Q&A session revealed strong
enthusiasm for many of the initiatives—
particularly those focused on sustain­
ability and resilience. The discussion
also highlighted the wide breadth of
opinions and concerns surrounding
neighborhood development, echoing
feedback gathered throughout the
engagement process. RCPC is opti­
mistic that the CVP, which outlines
protocols for reviewing development
proposals, will strengthen our ability to
organize and advocate as a community
for projects that enhance the walk­
ability, vitality, and connectivity of our
neighborhood.
ment to thoughtfully guiding growth in
Rockridge in a way that preserves the
exceptional quality of life we all value.
Change is inevitable, and RCPC can
play an important role in advocating for
and engaging the community to help
achieve the best possible outcomes,”
RCPC Secretary Jana Good said.
CVP: Section on Sustainability and Resilience
Implementation of the Community
Vision Plan: You’re invited! Residents
are encouraged to sign up for one of the
following Committees.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
ENROLLING NOW!
•	 Land Use Committee focused
on Housing, Open Space, and
Commercial Activity on College
Avenue - Next Meeting will be May
20 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
•	 Transportation / Mobility (next
meeting in June)
“While there are a range of perspec­
tives on housing, the discussion at
the meeting—and within CVP more
broadly—highlighted a shared commit­
•	 Sustainability / Resilience (next
meeting in June)
Sign up and read the full plan at
rockridge.org/cvp. ●
Scan the QR code for
upcoming informational events
or visit orindaacademy.org
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The

May 2026
page 6

Proposed 6230 Claremont Senior Residency Facility Update

Planning Commission were there
an appeal, can deny a waiver is if it
has a specific, adverse impact upon
health or safety that is “quantifiable,
direct, and unavoidable…, based on
objective, identified written public
health or safety standards, policies,
or conditions.” This State standard
significantly limits the discretion
of local officials in denying project
approvals, far more than was the case
under only local law in the past.
The project site is within Oakland’s
CN-1 Neighborhood Commercial
Zone. The developers have not
requested a major variance or major
conditional use. While there will be
some CEQA review, it will not involve
the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Report.
by Mark Aaronson, RCPC Board
On March 30, the Oakland
Planning Department accepted
the initial application of Ellis Partners
and Spirit Living Group for the
development of a 203-unit Residential
Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE).
The facility would contain independent,
assisted living, and memory care units,
and is located on Claremont Avenue
across from Safeway.
Overriding State law applies to
the review of this project. Most
significantly, RCFEs are eligible for
a State bonus residential density
allowance of 20 percent without any
requirement to provide affordable
housing.  This calculation affects the
permissible height and bulk of a project
determined by the number of proposed
residential units using a complicated
combination of local and State legal
provisions.
At a meeting attended by 50-60
Rockridge residents on March 31,
representatives from Rockridge
Neighbors for Sensible Housing
(RNSH) presented for discussion
objections to the number of units
and situational appropriateness of
the proposed RCFE, not an RCFE of
a lesser scale. The objections focused
on the height, bulk, and safety of the
project, which has a 21 ½-feet ground
floor with a partial mezzanine and six
mainly residential floors above, and is a
little under 85 feet in height.
The application will now be reviewed
by the Planning staff for zoning and
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) compliance, a process likely
to take at least four months from the
acceptance date.
This project is subject to a regular
design review, which in this instance
results in a decision by the Planning
Director, subject to appeal to the
Planning Commission. The Planning
Director must post public notice of
the proposed decision at least 17 days
before it becomes final.
What is legally most at issue is not
how high or how bulky a building is
but whether the project falls within
the permissible number of units under
the State bonus density law, not local
land use limitations. As part of the
application process, developers first
must show that the proposed number
of residential units falls within the
permissible limits and then apply for
waivers from local requirements, such
as for height, step-backs, and setbacks.
The RCPC Board has appointed a
seven-person Consultation Committee,
which has met with the developers
to discuss potential changes in the
proposed project. The Committee’s
members include RNSH participants,
at-large neighborhood residents, and
RCPC Board members. The next
meeting with the developers will be in
mid-May.
For comments to be effective and
timely, they should be submitted in
writing for the record earlier in the staff
review process. Only issues raised in
writing can be appealed to the Planning
Commission. There is no appeal to the
City Council, and any further remedy
would involve litigation.
If the project meets the units test,
the only reason in most cases the
Planning Director, and then the
●


The

May 2026
page 7

Volunteers Cleanup Frog Park on Earth Day

FROG
Committee
Members
Nate
Beckett,
Will
Sheldon,
Theresa
Nelson and
Leonora
Sea (from
left) were
among the
volunteers
at Frog Park
on Earth
Day.
| Ryan
Phillips
by Ryan Phillips
your local community, you’re enhanc­
ing the local community.”
More than 50 volunteers gath­
ered at Frog Park on Saturday
morning for an Earth Day cleanup
organized by Friends of the Rock­
ridge-Temescal Greenbelt (FROG).
The family-friendly event brought out
kids, parents, and longtime residents
who spent the morning weeding, trim­
ming trees, raking leaves, and tidying
up the park’s play structures. Local
merchants provided snacks and coffee.
Nearby, Girl Scout Troop #32445
picked up trash in shifts. Beth Robert­
son, a troop mom, said the girls were
working toward an Earth Day badge.
“Trash goes into the ocean, and crea­
tures who live in the ocean eat it,” shared
one of the Girl Scouts.
Maki Kominami brought her young
son, Atlas, for their second cleanup.
“We wanted to get him involved in
some type of volunteer work,” she said.
Saturday marked the 14th consecu­
tive year the Freemasons of Oakland
Lodge No. 61 has helped with the
park’s Earth Day cleanup.
Theresa Nelson, co-founder of
FROG, noted that children who played
at the park when it was new are now
in their 20s and 30s, and some have
returned with their own kids.
“Everybody looks forward to it,” said
David Forsyth, the lodge’s secretary.
“Because we know that if you support
“People want to help,” she said. ●

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The

May 2026
page 8

What Goes on Inside the Breema Center?

by Franchesca Garagorri
On our way back from a Satur­
day morning bakery run, my
husband and I passed the Breema
Annex just east of College and
Claremont avenues. We’ve walked
by countless times, and I’d always
wondered what happened behind
those doors—it usually seemed so
quiet and mysterious.
But this time, the door was wide
open. Two practitioners were sit­
ting on the cushioned floor, and I
couldn’t help myself—I took the op­
portunity to step inside and finally
satisfy my curiosity.
As luck would have it, they were
holding an open house with free
introductory sessions. I never say no
to bodywork, and the practitioners
had such a gentle, calm demeanor
that I felt an immediate sense of
trust. One practitioner, Susan Man­
kowski, asked if we’d like to try a
treatment. We gave a fervent “yes.”
Body work practice at the Breema Annex. |The Breema Center
Schreiber, DC, a chiropractor originally
from New York, co-founded the center
in Rockridge after learning this modal­
ity in the late 1970s; he studied under
the founder, Malouchek Mooshan, who
first brought it to the U.S.
as a single, whole unit. Breema was
always passed down via oral tradition
until Schreiber became the first to put it
into writing, eventually authoring many
books on the subject.
Today, the practice is guided by nine
principles of harmony, including “No
Extra Effort” and “Body Comfortable.”
While many people originally sought
out Breema for physical issues like back
pain, it has evolved into a holistic sys­
tem for living more fully and naturally.
The process was simple: no
waiting, a quick consent form and
you can remain fully clothed. I just
kicked off my shoes and lay down
on the cushioned floor.
Schreiber told me that learning this
tradition was a gift; it was a world away
from his formal chiropractic training.
He noted that Breema carries a certain
“simplicity and honesty” that differen­
tiates it from other Western modalities.
In this practice, the practitioner and
client are equals, and the body is treated
I should disclose that I love body­
work. I’ve tried almost every modal­
ity under the sun, so I was particu­
larly curious about Breema. What
followed was an almost entrancing
experience—a series of holding
patterns and movements that were
fluid, rhythmic, and deeply relaxing.
As a regular meditator, I’m used to
quieting my mind, but receiving
these stretches felt like a perfectly
natural extension of that practice. We
left feeling thrilled and wanting to
know more.
Breema, continued next page
History and Origins
The Breema Center has been a
staple in Rockridge since 1980 (that’s
46 years!). This modality of body­
work originated centuries ago in the
Kurdish village of Breemava, passed
down through generations of masters
as a spiritual healing practice. Jon
Perry Riani, Realtor ®
6211 Medau Place Oakland, CA 94611
C: 510.813.3799 Perry.Riani@Compass.com
License # 01402540


The

May 2026
page 9

Exploring the Practice
To dive deeper, my husband and I
signed up for a three-hour workshop
on February 14, which was suggested
by Mankowski. The timing was per­
fect—a Valentine’s Day gift to us.
Breema Center Upcoming Events
In Person Classes: Tuesdays
7-8:30 p.m.; Fridays 9-10:30 a.m.
Daylong Workshop: Connection &
Presence In Touch and Movement;
Saturday, May 9, 9:30-12:30 p.m;
2-5 p.m. For more info and to
register: breema.info/bcsaturday
Online classes are free of charge.
For more info and to register:
breema.online
When we arrived at the Claremont
location, the room was already buzz­
ing. The space was filled with beautiful
Kurdish rugs (a nod to Mooshan’s
influence), and three teachers—Sch­
reiber, Roxanne Caswell, and Alexan­
dria Johnson—sat at the front dressed
in white. We formed a circle and shared
our “wishes” for the day, which ranged
from simple relaxation to a desire to be
more present in our bodies.
explanation,” Schreiber said.
Jon Schreiber, Director of the Breema Center
and Breema Clinic | The Breema Center
I found this to be true during my
treatment—my mind finally went quiet
and I was simply aware of the sensa­
tions of relaxation and the occasional
spot of tightness.
moment. I eventually realized that
while I am a world-class receiver of
Breema, I am very much a novice at
giving it.
Then came the hands-on part. The
teachers demonstrated three differ­
ent sequences or routines on volun­
teers, and then we—a group of about
50—paired up to try them ourselves.
I’ll admit, I was nervous! I’m a very
visual, kinesthetic learner; if I don’t do
the movement at the same time as the
teacher, I tend to forget it. Thankfully,
the teachers were incredibly supportive
and the atmosphere was so friendly that
my beginner’s nerves quickly settled.
Schreiber echoed this in our in­
terview, noting that Breema is a path
for self-awareness. It’s a never-ending
loop: as he teaches, he continues to
learn about himself in relation
to others.
Give it a Try
Breema is one of the most accessible
bodywork styles I’ve encountered. You
stay fully clothed, the practitioners are
experts and there is a profound sense
of peace that comes from simply being
held in a supportive way. I think we
could all use a bit of that right now.
Being Present
Some of you might wonder: What
does it mean to be ‘present’ in your
body? I’m right here, aren’t I? Well, yes
and no. Without getting too deep into
the philosophy of Descartes and the
Western mind-body split, Schreiber
explains it like this: in Breema, being
present means there is total harmony
between your mind, your feelings, and
your body. They work together.
If you aren’t ready for a full session,
they even offer self-Breema exercises
you can do on your own. They have
two locations nearby: the Breema Clin­
ic on College Avenue and the Breema
Center on Claremont Avenue.
The Practitioner’s Secret
During the intro of the workshop,
Schreiber mentioned something that
caught me off guard: the practitioner’s
comfort is the priority. In most body­
work, the focus is entirely on the client.
In Breema, while you certainly ensure
the client is comfortable, the practi­
tioner is the key. If the person giving
the treatment isn’t grounded and
comfortable, the work won’t flow. This
reminds us that we can’t take care of
others unless we take care of ourselves.
Stop by one of their facilities or visit
breema.com to explore it for yourself.
Your nervous system will thank you! ●
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The

May 2026
page 10

For a Rockridge Luthier, the Process Is the Purpose

by Chris Ayan
On a quiet Rockridge block, in
a garage that can be converted
back into a parking space in under ten
minutes, 64-year-old luthier (a skilled
craftsperson who builds, repairs, and
restores stringed instruments) Paul
Morgan builds guitars the long way.
Everything is from scratch.
Not in the romantic, market­
ing-copy sense of the phrase, but
literally. Scrap wood pulled from truck
beds. Construction-grade lumber
most people would overlook. Fabric
from a defunct baby store business,
now glued, sanded, and lacquered into
something resembling a late ‘60s fever
dream. Each instrument carries the
subtle imperfections of a human hand.
“It looks like it’s made by a person,” he
says approvingly.
Rockridge resident Paul Morgan uses everything from scrap wood pulled from truck beds
to fabric from a baby store business to build guitars. | Chris Ayan
That’s the point.
He didn’t set out to become a guitar
maker, at least not in the way you
would expect. He grew up in the U.K.,
picked up a guitar as a kid in the early
‘70s, like everyone else, chasing rock ‘n’
roll. There was an unfinished attempt
to build one with his stepfather, a
memory he admits might not even be
real anymore. Then life happened. A
move to San Francisco in 1980. Years
as a bike messenger. A marriage. A
baby store. Decades passing, as he puts
it, “in the blink of an eye.”
The guitars came later. Much later.
About 15 years ago, his son
upgraded from a beat-up bass. Instead
of tossing the old one, Morgan tore
it apart. Stripped it down. Rebuilt it.
Made it fretless. “That was so much
fun,” he recalls. “And it wasn’t
that hard.”
So he made another. Then another.
Then the pandemic hit. The startup
he worked for collapsed almost over­
night. Faced with returning to work he
hated, Morgan made a decision that
feels increasingly rare. He opted out.
“I’m almost old enough for Social
Security,” he says. “I’m just going to do
what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
What he wants to do is this. Spend
hours shaping wood, solving small
problems, letting each guitar take
on a life of its own. There is no strict
blueprint. No fixed endpoint. Just a
sequence of decisions. Cut, sand, adjust,
rethink. “Think, think, think, try,
try, try,” he says.
Guitar, continued next page


The

May 2026
page 11

He could sell more of them. Proba­
bly should. People ask constantly. But
that would mean marketing, websites,
scaling. Instead, he sells a few here and
there. Fifteen hundred dollars, maybe
$2,000 if he is lucky. Prices that do not
come close to covering the hundreds of
hours in each build.
It does not matter.
“For me, it’s mostly about filling my
days and having a good time,” he says.
There is something quietly radical
in that. In a culture that insists every
hobby become a side hustle, every pas­
sion monetized, his workshop resists
the logic. The reward is not the sale. It
is the making.
He does not even play much any­
more. His hands will not allow it. But
that does not seem to bother him. The
connection to the instrument runs

deeper than performance. “For some
guys, it’s cars. For some guys, it’s whis­
key,” he says. “For me, it’s guitars.”
On weekends, people stop by.
Neighbors. Kids. Dog walkers. They
ask questions, linger, watch. The garage

Paul Morgan
at work in
his garage
studio. |
Chris Ayan
door stays open.
Inside, another guitar is taking shape.
No clear plan. No guaranteed outcome.
Just wood, time, and attention.
The process, as it turns out, is
enough. ●

Rockridge News Volunteer Opportunities

One of our most active volun­
teers must soon step down from her
three jobs delivering The Rockridge
News. Candy Vernetti has served
her own block and blocks nearby
for several years and regrets having
to give up her routes. She says these
volunteer jobs have been an import­
ant part of her fitness regime and
she loves meeting her neighbors
along the way. Thank you, Candy,
and we wish you well.
Wendy Cohen for her volunteer
service to 62nd Street. Wendy must
reluctantly give up her route. If you
live on any of the blocks covered by
the routes (or nearby) and would
like to volunteer, Candy, Linda and
Wendy will be very glad you can
cover their routes.
Bryant (5408-5442) to Manila
•	 Route 18C: Odd and even
sides of 5300 Boyd between
Hudson and Clifton
•	 Route 17D: Delivers
newsletters to both sides of
5200 Boyd between Clifton and
Cavour.
•	 Route 22B: Delivers news­
letters to odd numbers along
Claremont between Forest and
the freeway ramp to Highway 24
•	 Route 21J: Both sides of
62nd Street between College
and Hillegass.
To volunteer, call or email
Susan at 510/547-3855 or
smontauk@gmail.com. Let us know
which route you are interested in or
if you need more information. ●
Linda Zunas has delivered The
Rockridge News to her block for
over a decade, and she, too, must
take a break. Lastly, we thank
•	 Route 12A: On Broadway
from Manila, odd numbers
5539-5437, to Ada, evens on Ada
to Bryant, even numbers along
WE ARE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!
M.O.M. is your neighborhood preschool serving children from
32 months to 6 years of age. Rooted in the Montessori method
and philosophy, our comprehensive curriculum empowers
children to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
We offer a distinctive TK program for 4-year-olds.
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CALL (510) 652 -5979 TO SCHEDULE AN IN-PERSON TOUR!


The

May 2026
page 12

Mother’s Day Celebrations and More this May in Rockridge

by Jody Colley,
Rockridge District Association
Rockridge is set to come alive this
May with a diverse lineup of events,
workshops, and community gather­
ings, offering residents and visitors
alike a chance to celebrate creativity,
cuisine, and connection, including a
festive Mother’s Day weekend.
Kicking off the month’s offerings, a
wellness workshop on Saturday,
May 9, invites participants to Breema
(6076 Claremont Ave.) to explore a
holistic practice focused on presence
through touch and movement. Held on
Claremont Avenue, the session intro­
duces attendees to the Nine Principles
of Harmony, blending bodywork and
self-care exercises designed to foster a
sense of balance and well-being. Par­
ticipants can choose between attending
for a full or partial day.
That same weekend, Rockridge
businesses are rolling out special pro­
motions and events in anticipation of
Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10. eliz­
abeth H/the art of hair design (5431
College Ave.) will offer a 20% discount
on services and retail products on May
9, while a nearby shoe boutique, Sole
Terra Shoes (5933 College Ave.), will
host trunk shows during the final two
weekends of the month.
Book lovers can gather at the
Rockridge Library (5366 College
Ave.) on May 9 for a book club discus­
sion of “Before We Were Yours” by
Lisa Wingate.
Dining is also central to the celebra­
tions. Popular plant-based restaurant,

The 2025 Indie Food Fest. | Market Hall
Millennium (5912 College Ave.), is
preparing a special prix fixe Mother’s
Day brunch, and encouraging early
reservations for what is expected to be
a busy holiday.
Food enthusiasts will find plenty to
savor at the third annual Indie Food
Fest, hosted by Market Hall (5366
College Ave.) on May 9 from noon–3
p.m. The free event will showcase
around 30 artisan producers offering
samples of cheese, charcuterie, olive
oil, chocolate, wine, and more. Attend­
ees can also meet cookbook authors
David Lebovitz and Asha Loupy, who
will be signing copies of their
latest works.
Beyond the holiday weekend, Rock­
ridge continues to buzz with recurring
social events. Mahjong nights have
become a growing trend, with weekly
gatherings on Fridays and Tuesdays
at United Dumplings (6247 College
Ave.) and Belly (5634 College Ave.).
For those seeking lively entertainment,

The RIC Bar and
Arcade (5515 College
Ave.) offers karaoke every
weekend night, alongside
Wednesday trivia nights
that draw competitive
teams from across the
neighborhood.
Elevate your under­
standing of current affairs,
arts, and culture at Local
Economy (6028 College
Ave.) with engaging talks
and workshops through­
out the month. On
Saturday, May 9, Local
Economy is hosting a Creative Show &
Tell Happy Hour where you can share
your creative passion projects or listen as
others talk about theirs.
For home cooks looking to expand
their skills, Preserved (5540 College
Ave.) is offering hands-on culinary
classes throughout May. Topics range
from sourdough bread and kombucha
to pasta-making, kimchi, and chocolate
crafting, reflecting a growing interest
in traditional food techniques and DIY
kitchen projects.
Rounding out the month, the local
gastropub The Monk’s Kettle (5484
College Ave.) will host a four-course
beer dinner on May 28 in partnership
with Ghost Town Brewing, a celebrat­
ed Oakland brewery known for its
award-winning craft beers. The ticketed
event includes tax and gratuity.
You can find more details for each of
these events, as well as dozens
of others, at www.RockridgeDistrict.
com/calendar. ●


The

May 2026
page 13

illustration by Laura Serra
Bucatini is a mischievous and
courageous 3-year-old tuxedo
tabby who was rescued from
living in a dumpster in Hawaii.
She has many nicknames
(Tini, Tuca, Tuca Bonino, Bip-
bip, Tinky) but she doesn’t
answer to any of them. She is
an indoor cat but she’s been
known to escape onto the
roof if given the opportunity.
She loves running laps around
her house and watching the
neighborhood comings and
goings from her basket perch.
●
Mishu (8), is a German Shepherd
Mix who watches intently over
the Shafter/Clifton intersection
from his perch on his front
porch. He was adopted from the
Berkeley City Shelter. He has
been a cuddler from the start.
He’s a real goofball and lover boy
when you get to know him, but
he comes on strong when on the
leash. ●
Does your furry friend live in Rockridge? If so,
send a photo of your four-legged companion
and short commentary to: editor@rockridge.org
Just Listed
6211 Valley View Road
2
Baths
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1,227
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sq ft lot
6,600
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The

May 2026
page 14

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ride 4A Reason
Raises Over $211k
for local schools
Dear Editor,
lot corner.  The City of Oakland must
account for the time pedestrians need to
cover various distances, and that should
be considered.
The intersection of College Avenue,
Claremont Avenue, 62nd Street, and
Florio is challenging.  There is often a
substantial backup of traffic heading
south on College, trying to turn right
onto Claremont.  Also, several people
have written letters noting that the pe­
destrian crossing times are skimpy.
By Kirsten Dwyer
Bear in mind that scramble time
would be in addition to the time needed
for bus and car traffic, while the current
method takes little to no additional time
(pedestrians cross in parallel with street
traffic).  Pedestrians, cars, and buses
would all experience the delay, whether
or not anyone is actually traversing the
long distance.
More than 400 cyclists took part in
the 18th annual Ride 4A Reason on Sat­
urday, April 25, raising over $211,000 to
support public schools in Oakland and
Alameda.
Adding a pedestrian scramble is an
intriguing idea but would have to be
examined closely to be sure it did not
create a substantial delay to everyone
using the intersection.  What concerns
me is the long distance between the
Fremont Bank corner and the empty
The ride began before sunrise at Oak­
land Tech, with staggered departures
for riders on courses ranging from 45 to
approximately 110 miles. Shorter-dis­
tance participants were transported by
bus to their start points after check-in.
I’m particularly concerned about the
51 bus being delayed to BART.  Every
effort needs to be taken to keep public
transport moving smoothly and the bus­
es are already slowed because they are
on the very section of College Avenue
that backs up with cars making the right
turn onto Claremont.
The ride concluded at the State Cap­
itol in Sacramento, where cyclists were
welcomed by cheering crowds, lunch,
and a closing program recognizing the
collective effort behind the event.
COLE
HARDWARE
No easy answers to this one, that’s
for sure!
The event was supported by more
than 30 local businesses and communi­
ty partners. This year’s ride will benefit
11 schools serving communities with
significant unmet needs. Funds support
programs including arts and enrich­
ment activities, family engagement
events, and college readiness efforts. ●
Roberta Heintz

Alcatraz Avenue
HAPPY
HOUR
$10 OFF
A $25  PURCHASE!
“Allie is a phenomenal
negotiator and a brilliant
strategist who knows exactly
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FRIDAY
May 15
3:00pm--close
~ Greg E. Berkeley
Free wine &
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The

May 2026
page 15

RN
RN
Rockridge Library
CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIEDS
DOES YOUR DOG WALK YOU?
Dog walks should be fun, not a chore,
right? Create a better relationship
between you and your dog with reward
based training. Please call 510-646-9657 or
visit dogsquaddogtraining.com.
For Children   (Red = May-only events)
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.
Kamishibai Paper Theater: Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate Bicycle Month, Older Americans Month, and
Asian & Pacific Islanders Heritage Month combined,
with Japanese folktales featuring elders, from the
bicycle-based street performances of the 1930s-1950s.
Making Stories Club: Thursday, May 7, 3:30 p.m.
Last of our monthly workshops to write, illustrate,
and tell stories. Make books, zines, stories, comics,
kamishibai, or plays alongside other youth writers and
illustrators. For ages 8-12.
Storytime: Thursdays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
Chess Club: Wednesdays, 4 p.m.
All ages & skill-levels welcome.
Read to a Dog: Thursdays, 4 p.m.
Practice reading aloud with Gladys the dog.
ELECTRICAL REMODEL & REPAIRS
Upgrading your electrical system? I can
help with that. I’ve been doing electrical
work in Oakland and Berkeley for over 36
years. Sutorik & Company. Lic #397149.
510-655-3677. sutorikandco.com
For more information, email Susan at:
smontauk@gmail.com.
Deadline for MAY News:
April 16, 2026 (available May 2)
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat
existing. Large jobs or small. Twenty-plus
years in Piedmont Ave./Rockridge.
Bruce Williams Woodfloors; CA Lic #913727
Call or text 510-652-8121. blwfloors.com
SENIOR CONCIERGE SERVICES
JG Life Services offers home man­
agement, administrative support, and
personal concierge services to keep life
organized and stress-free. Decades of
administrative, healthcare and senior living
experience. Please visit jglifeservices.com
or call Jill Gregori at (510) 224-3206.
For Teens, ages 12 – 18
Ice Cream Party! Tuesday, May 12, 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate Bicycle Month, Older Americans Month, &
Asian & Pacific Islanders Heritage Month combined,
with Japanese folktales featuring elders, from the bicy­
cle-based street performances of the 1930s-1950s!
Engrave Your Own Keychains:
Wednesday, May 27, 2–3 p.m. Try out our new hand­
held engravers and engrave a keychain to take home.
We are looking for teen volunteers:
Orientations will take place in May and June. May 16,
May 19, June 2, and June 6. Please see our website or
contact us for more info.
VISIT PENELOPE’S AESTHETICS
Relax and rejuvinate with a custom facial,
tailored for your unique skincare require­
ments. $110 for the month of May, Happy
Mother’s Day! Gift certificates available.
510-594-1552 penelopecalef.com
JEWELRY REPAIRS
Formerly of High Strung and Blue Door
Beads! Marilee is now doing repairs as an
independent contractor.
Please email her at mjywrepairs@proton.me
for all your jewelry repair needs!
GARDEN MAINTENANCE,
CLEANUPS & DESIGN
Experienced team of two dedicated to the
art of gardening. We specialize in garden
maintenance, cleanups and custom garden
designs. To contact us, please email: 
yourgreengardeners@gmail.com
Check us out at yourgreengardeners.com
For Adults
Adult Crafting Series: Tuesday, May 12, 6-7:30 p.m.
Paint Your Pet! Please bring a close-up photo of your
pet. Drop-ins welcome.
Meet the Author —
Erica Pool, “The Judgment Trap: Why We Judge,
How it Hurts Us, and How to Break Free:”
Wednesday, May 20, 6:30-7:45 p.m. Erica Pool, who
has a doctorate in psychology, is an adjunct professor
at the Wright Institute in Berkeley and is a clinician
and director of training at Peninsula Behavioral
Health in Palo Alto. She specializes in anxiety disor­
ders, trauma-related disorders, and eating disorders in
adults and adolescents.
Ask Your Area Home Experts:
Every 2nd Friday, noon–2 p.m. Get answers, tips and
connections from a Senior Loan Advisor and a Realtor,
both Rockridge 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. May’s book is “Before We Were
Yours,” by Lisa Wingate.
California Writers’ Club 5-Page Critique:
Every 4th Saturday, 1–5 p.m. Bring 6–8 copies of your
work, five pages long, double-spaced, Times New Ro­
man font for review & critique in half-hour sessions.
Needlework Circle: every Thursday, 1–3 p.m. Bring
yarn and fiber arts projects to Rockridge Library. Build
community, share your passion, learn & have fun!
1-on-1 Technology Help: Every Saturday, 10 a.m.–
noon and 1-3 p.m., Tuesdays 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Come with your devices & technology questions &
our volunteer tech guru will help you get sorted.
Signup recommended. ●
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.
DOG WALKING AND PET CARE
Reliable Rockridge dog walker offering
daily walks, feeding, and gentle check-ins.
Experienced, attentive, and great with
all pets. Flexible scheduling, affordable
rates, and same-day availability. Local,
trustworthy care for your pets.
RockridgePaws@gmail.com.
AESTHETIC PRUNING
I specialize in pruning trees & shrubs un­
der 20 feet tall. Combining art & science,
I work with trees to enhance their natural
beauty and form. Over 20 years expe­
rience. Bruce Thompson 510-428-4964
brucethompson13@gmail.com ●
Rockridge Library Hours:
Holiday Closure: Memorial Day, Monday, May 25
Mon., Thurs., & Sat.: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tues. & Weds.: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Fri.: 12 noon to 5:30 p.m.
See calendar for events: oaklandlibrary.org/events
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

Rockridge News
Rockridge News
Rockridge News
The

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