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Carol Behr, Chair, Frog Park: “Many more committee members & volunteers contributed time and energy to this project but could not arrange to be in this photo.”

By Theresa Nelson

— Carol Behr, FROG Chair (Friends of the Rockridge-Temesca] Greenbelt)

After nearly eight years, Carol Behr is stepping down as FROG Chair to focus on new professional and personal endeavors. Carol led FROG through an important period of growth by creating and admin- istering our first-ever community survey, and worked with the City and neighbor...

You may recallthe announcementinThe — Carol Behr, FROG Chair Rockridge News several months ago thatwe (Friends of the Rockridge-Temescal had obtained the required approvals from Greenbelt) carol@urbehr.com

Construction Underway at Frog Park — by Carol Behr, FROG Chair Coming soon to Frog Park: • Toddler swings • Two additional swings and over the next three to four months, construction will be ongoing. Alot of work is going on behind the fenced area at Frog Park, located at the end of Hardy ...

By Carol Behr

...akland Public Art Coordinator; Brian Carthan, city of Oakland Park Supervisor II, Public Works; Assemblymember Nancy Skinner and Mark Chekal-Bain, district director for Nancy Skinner; Howard Ferrier, FROG Committee Maintenance Coordinator; Carol Behr, FROG Chair and Ronnie Spitzer, event co-organizer; Al Hussian, sound system; Studio One, face painting and crafts; Dana Smith, juggler; Adrian Ehlman (Ace Magic), magician; Karen Quest, cowgirl tricks; stage, Oakland Technical High School...

By Carol Behr

by Carol Behr, FROG chair

By Carol Behr

Happy Volunteers at Frog Park. by Carol Behr, chair, FROG Park committee; chair@frogpark.org This past year, FROG has conducted annual park maintenance events to support the park, and made significant efforts to settle park enhancement planning and design. Following are some of FROG’...

By Carol Behr

Frog Park News, Projects, and Support development by Carol Behr, FROG chair Little Frog/Redondo Park and the Telegraph/51st Development: Join us for an informal presentation about the project from the Nautilus developers. We are particularly interested in how the development will impact Little Frog Par...

By Carol Behr

by Carol Behr, FROG chair Based on your FROG priorities survey responses, the Friends of the Rockridge- Temescal Greenbelt (FROG) committee members are working on the number one interest: more swings. FROG continues to plan and work through the survey r...

By Carol Behr

Many Thanks to Clean Up Crews by Carol Behr, FROG chair A beautiful, sunny Earth Day saw an impressive turnout at Frog Park for a morning cleanup and a fun 10th anniversary celebration in the afternoon as more than 100 volunteers — adults and children — joined in to clean the park, ...

By Theresa Nelson

FROG Celebrates by Theresa Nelson, FROG co-founder Please welcome Carol Behr as the new Chair of FROG. Most recently, she chaired last year’s successful FROG Fest, where more than 100 volunteers turned out to help take care of our park, and celebrated afterward with music, games and crafts for children. Carol is a ...

...er, Jimmy Pederson and Gideon Ur for many planning, setup and shut-down activities. Thank you, business neighbors We’re grateful to our neighborhood busi- pictures, visit www.frogpark.org and view our Flickr feed. New FROG committee member Carol Behr chaired the cleanup and Family Fest this year, backed by other commit- tee members. Carol said, “I’m in awe of the seasoned FROG committee members, Ronnie, Theresa, Howard, Jimmy, Jennifer, and community volunteers who were vital in the pl...

..., and join us for a fun, family-friendly Earth Day cleanup. Bring work gloves and gardening tools, or use ours. Activities include playground cleaning, weeding, planting, sweeping, sifting sand, and clearing the pond and creek bed. Contact Carol Behr at carol@urbehr.com with questions. Water and snacks will be provided for kids of all ages. Come for half an hour or the entire morning, rain or shine.  Time to Celebrate! FROG Family Festival

...as been ordered, so city staff can begin repairs. Also, a replacement tot slide, purchased by FROG, will be installed. Other changes include closing the small Survey: FROG Park Users Express Facilities Preferences New FROG Committee Member Carol Behr developed a survey to assess park users’ preferences and feedback. Behr and other volunteers contacted park users near the Hardy play area. Others completed the

population of young children. Carol Behr became the next FROG Chair in 2012 and launched a community survey process to find out what people wanted. Toddler swings, public art, and noise reduction were the top requests, and FROG began another planning and fundraising phase. More t...

New FROG Co-Chairs Take the Helm; Thank You to Outgoing Chair, Carol Behr — by Theresa Nelson, Co-Founder, Friends of The Rockridge Greenbelt

...ansportation, emceed the event. Oakland City Councilmember Dan Kalb kicked off the celebration. Theresa Nelson, FROG Park co-founder, shared historical insight into the community-driven “Big Build” that established the park we enjoy today. Carol Behr, FROG Park committee chair and project lead, spoke about years of fundraising, designing, and planning with multiple government entities including the City of Oakland Public Works. As a

1951 Coffee Supports Local Refugees One Cup At A Time — by Jorja Siemons Frog Park: New Equipment Unveiled February 9 — by Carol Behr, Lthe wellbeing of refugees, asylum seek­ ers, and special immigrant visa holders by providing employment and social networking opportunities. ast June, 1951 Coffee’s Rockridge location opened its doors to become its third cafe working to ...

FROG Park Committee members and supporters gather in front of a construction fence on Day One of repairs and improvements recently approved for Hardy and Frog Park playgrounds. Above, from left: Fay Gordon and son Diego; Leonora Sea; Carol Behr and daughter Sara; Adrienne Wong, Designer/Consultant and daughter Sarah; Ronnie Spitzer, and Theresa Nelson. The project completion date is November 2019. /D. Kinkead

py Carol Behr, Chair, FROG Park Committee

...s who participated in the cleanup. Thank you again to Bakesale Betty for donating wonderful scones and nut-free banana bread over the years. A lot of work was accomplishments and Frog Park looks so much better. Thank you to all volunteers! Carol Behr, Chair, FROG (Friends of the Rockridge- Temescal Greenbelt) May Meeting and Town Hall from page 8

with Carol Behr, Chair, FROG Park > miss it: Earth Day, Sunday April 22. March storms have helped Us catch up on winter rainfall totals, but have also promoted masses of weeds, downed eucalyptus bark, and wildly growing ivy and Texas laurel, creating plen...

[ am writing to express my thanks to Carol Behr for her eloquent and well- reasoned letter (The Rockridge News, May 6). | share her concern about the direction Oakland leaders appear to be taking us. Our neighborhoods and the city at large have become victims of an irreverent pursuit of...

who have, in fact, “created” a vibrant and just Oakland, have made it a desirable place to live. I urge RCPC and Mayor Schaaf to examine the values pushing us into ever more density and despair. I, along with Carol Behr, urge support of our current, community- oriented zoning regulations.

we continue to navigate city funding and project costs. YOGA + WELLNESS N A M A S T E — Carol Behr, FROG Chair Donations are tax-deductible. FROG projects include: new play features; repairs; gardening and clean-up supplies; events; future art murals; and more. NEW TO NAMASTE 3 WEEKS /$39 UNLIMITED YOGA Limit one per person. First visit...

height to some of the tallest buildings in — Carol Behr whether there needed to be more choices downtown Oakland. Given the surrounding and a wider range of options. People also

4123 Broadway, PMB 3ll, Oakland, CA 9461! Contact Carol Behr, 510/919-0627, for more

began raising funds and working with the designers on the plan. We expect to finalize the design soon and begin construction in early 2017. Contact FROG chair Carol Behr, chair@frogpark.org for more about this project

Join us for a day of maintenance, or help- ing to update the website, or recruuung volunteers for special cleanup days, or just volunteering: www frogpark.org, or contact Carol Behr: chair@frogpark.org.

By Dan Kalb

...ontact Info@frogpark.org Tax deductible donations to cover the redesign plans and contingency building costs are gratefully accepted and may be made through www.frogpark.org. Want to get involved? Please contact us via chair@frogpark.org — Carol Behr, FROG Chair

...ed under the sheltering canopy of redwood trees at Redondo Park (aka Little Frog), urban park planners and supporters learn of Frog Park’s history of community construction and volunteer support from FROG committee members Barney Smits and Carol Behr (left foreground, facing away). D. Kinkead

...f Landscape Architecture, Greater & Greener designed a mobile workshop tour of Frog Park for attendees at its current biennial conference in San Francisco. Forty workshop participants were guided through the park in mid-April as FROG chair Carol Behr and FROG committee member Barney Smits described the remarkable history of the park from its conception to its hands-on construction by more than 1,300

or questions, write me at chair@frogpark.org — Carol Behr, FROG Chair, and Theresa Nelson, Park Co-Founder Frog Jump-Notes & Activities: Mark your calendar for Earth Day Cleanup and FROG Family Fest – Saturday, April 18, Frog Park, Rockridge- Temescal Greenbelt. More Jump-Notes: Welcome to our ne...

...l resulting in layout revisions which would require us to use more grassy area next to the existing regular swings along the freeway towards the restroom. We are seeking volunteers and our fund- drive continues: www.frogpark.org/swings. by Carol Behr, Chair, FROG, and Annie Suttle, Fundraising Since we first announced plans to move ahead with new swings and play features at Frog Park last December, we have raised approximately $22,000. We are well on our way to the $50,000 goal. Volunt...

FROG: Fundraising, Volunteers Bore Coalition. Please visit www.frogpark. org to view the plans and to donate. Questions or to volunteer: info@frogpark.org. — Carol Behr, chair “First Saturday” Cleanup, March 1 Stop by Big Frog Park for our next family friendly park cleanup on March 1, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Sponsored by Oakland Tech’s BuildOn club and FROG and community members like you. FROG provides tools a...

...e need for a fundraising drive to realize that vision, we are seeking private and corporate donations to meet a $40,000 goal. You can donate now at www.frogpark. org. Look for more details at the park and in this newsletter, coming soon. — Carol Behr, FROG chair, and Annie Suttle

By Leonora Sea

...e, worked hard, got soaked, and made Creek to Bay Day at Temescal a rousing success. We On a sunnier day, Leonora Sea and Lee Patterson of DMV Neighbors Association demonstrate some of tasks accomplished on Creek-to-Bay Day. /D. Kinkead by Carol Behr, FROG chair, and Annie Suttle F ROG continues to make progress on plans to add baby and regular swings, along with other play features in Big Frog (Hardy Park). You have several opportunities to view the plans, provide your input and ask y...

...orking with the community on art initiatives. E-mail info@frogpark.org to learn more about the plans or to participate on the committee. Next FROG meeting: Second week in July, 7:30 p.m. E-mail info@frogpark.org for location and details. — Carol Behr, FROG chair To learn more about the work of Daily Bread and volunteer opportunities such as pickup and delivery or other support, contact volunteer coordinator Patrice by phone at 510/526-3123 or e-mail patrice @pcsyes.com. Specializing in...

By Howard Ferrier

...ily-friendly First Saturday cleanup is May 4. Join Oakland Tech Community Club students to rake, plant and tackle family-friendly tasks. Meet at Big Frog (Hardy Circle), 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Park remains open during the clean up. Rain cancels. Carol Behr, FROG Chair Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt Board Candidates

... visit the area where marked stakes show how it will look when finished. (Please help us keep the wooden stakes in the ground, as they will guide the construction crew when work gets underway.) Leonora Sea, DMV Neighbors Association Chair, Carol Behr, FROG Chair Monthly Cleanup Changed to ‘First Saturday’ Oakland Tech’s BuildOn Club has adopted Frog Park as its spring service project. Let’s show them our community spirit: Join up to 30 dedicated BuildOn members on “First Saturdays” on ...

By DMV Neighbors

...resentation online at www.frogpark.org. Thanks to all who shared their opinions and helped with the survey. We look forward to working on these priorities with the community. E-mail info@frogpark.org for more information or to volunteer. — Carol Behr, FROG Chair DMV Plan Ready For Implementation – View It Online Wonderful news for neighbors, greenbelt lovers, Farmers Market goers, and Claremont DMV staff and patrons: The long-awaited DMV tree and park restoration will happen soon. The ...

...s, and time is running out for you to chime in. Remember, you can help guide Frog Park improvements and FROG decisions, by completing our brief survey now. The survey closes January 31. There are two ways to take the survey: information. — Carol Behr, FROG Chair FROG Continues Monthly ‘First Sunday’ Cleanups F ROG’s monthly, family-friendly, cleanups are usually held the first Sunday of each month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. However, the next monthly workday has been re-scheduled to Sunday, Januar...

...V, we look forward to a beautiful restoration of the DMV creekside area for the community, DMV patrons and staff, Temescal-Rockridge Farmers Market patrons and other visitors to enjoy. Please contact info@frogpark.org with any questions. — Carol Behr, FROG chair, and Misti Groves, Miles Avenue Residents Next FROG Meeting:

...ember 13, Rockridge Branch Library, 2nd floor, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Details: info@frogpark.org Ronnie Spitzer of FROG, left, Oakland Technical High School BuildOn volunteers, and a 4-year-old community helper at November’s First Sunday cleanup. /Carol Behr F ROG holds family-friendly monthly cleanups the first Sunday of each month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. In November, students weeded, re-planted and mulched our butterfly garden. Community members and students removed debris from the stream bed and sp...

.... The results will guide decisions and improvements and will ultimately help make planning, funding and purchasing decisions for Frog Park (Redondo, Hardy and the Greenbelt connecting them). Results will be available early February 2013. — Carol Behr, FROG chair

...our thoughts and concerns on Thursday, November 8 for the FROG meeting at the Rockridge Branch Library, 7:30-9:30 p.m., or e-mail us at info@frogpark.org. (Plans discussion begins at 8:30 p.m.) — by Misti Groves, Miles Avenue residents and Carol Behr, FROG chair /Leonora Sea

...ommunity in general. Survey results will be used to guide decisions and improvements and, later, to help make planning, funding and purchasing decisions for Frog Park, comprising Redondo and Hardy parks and the Greenbelt connecting them. — Carol Behr, FROG chair Next FROG meeting: Thursday, November 8, Rockridge Branch Library, 2nd floor, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Coming Coming Soon! 5 Offers! 5 Offers! Soon! 5486 Kales 74 Ross 5272 Lawton 432 McAuley Daniel Stea Rockridge Broker/Owner/ Attorney ...

...r longer swim; we have specific short-term projects and other volunteer opportunities. We need those with a general interest in Frog, and with skills in marketing, website development, event planning, landscape, maintenance, and surveys. — Carol Behr, Chair Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier describes the work to be done by the volunteer group. Join your friends and bring your kids to rake, plant and tackle child-sized tasks. Oakland Technical High School clubs are

...Help us Sunday, August 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as we do general cleanup, weeding and other tasks with the Build On group from Oakland Tech. New Trees in DMV Lot Need Water, Care FROG Sets Cleanup Days by Howard Ferrier, FROG maintenance, and Carol Behr, FROG chair Our community park relies on the community to keep things clean, safe and fun for our children and ourselves. Join us on the cleanup days noted below. Also, there is a FROG committee meeting Thursday, July 12, 7:30 p.m. (Note: ...

By Christopher Chin

...ected officials and big build captains participated in the festivities alongside family-friendly entertainers and activities. The May 2012 Rockridge News lists extensive thank you’s and acknowledgments. (Find it online at rockridge.org.) — Carol Behr, FROG chair Next FROG Meeting: June 14 Rockridge Library, Thursday, June 14, 7:30 p.m. Join with neighbors who care about FROG.

...Park to enjoy. We will celebrate this gift on Earth Day. Join us Saturday, April 21, for the combined annual Earth Day maintenance activities and to celebrate and comemorate the people who made Frog Park and the play structures possible. — Carol Behr, FROG chair Changes: FORL In October 2001, more than 1,300 vol- unteers from Rockridge and nearby neighborhoods joined together to work for 10 days from dawn until after dark to build Frog Park’s custom-designed play structures in what was...

5. Welcome New FROG Chair Carol Behr

... to District 1 Councilmember Jane Brunner. FROG is grateful to the community volunteers who worked for seven years to get this bathroom built: Mike McDonald, Ronnie Spitzer, Jimmy Pedersen, Jennifer Cooper, Theresa Nelson, Barney Smits and Carol Behr. We also deeply appreciate the assistance of Councilmember Jane Brunner and staff members Zac Wald, Justin Horner, Kate Whitlow and Nila Kim, as well as Public Works staff Jim Ryugo, Denise Louie and Lily Soo Hoo. The new restroom replaces...

...■Starbucks for hot coffee from page 1 ■ ■Katrina Rozelle Bakery for delicious cookies, cupcakes and cheesecake This year, FROG sponsored a Family Fest with games, crafts, bubbles, face-painting, planting, and other family fun, organized by Carol Behr and Ronnie Spitzer. We appreciate the game and activity supervi- sion from Barney Smits and Joan Bletch, and teen volunteers Daniel Orenstein, Tyler Lee, and Ruby Spring, who handled face-painting. Thanks to John Gomes for his wonderful ki...

Photos: Earth Day at FROG Park Tools at the ready. Herman Miller, left and co-worker. Ronnie Spitzer; Herman Miller, parks supervisor; Carol Behr with Sara; Tyler Lee; Theresa Nelson. Brownie Troop 3261. Barney Smits, left above. Jennifer Cooper delivering trash bags. Carrie Jacobs and Ava, front; Eric and Ericka McConnell, and Haven and Flora. Elizabeth Norris; Clifton Pugh, city o...

...aling of the new wood, sweeping, and clearing the pond and creek bed in preparation for the turning-on of the creek. Afterwards, stay for a potluck picnic and family activities. Visit www.oaklandearth- day.com for more information. Contact Carol Behr, earthday2011@frogpark.org. Frog Park Restroom Update

FROG Park Open Shopping? Shop Oakland, First from page 9 There’s a new broker in town. with city staff and Leathers & Associates. Carol Behr brought in a pro bono arbor- ist who advised on the invasive redwood roots at Redondo. Jimmy Pedersen (part of the original Big Build), used his construc- tion knowledge and contacts to advise on replacement surfacing to minimize future dr...

By Howard Ferrier

If you use the park, you’re needed to keep our park functioning and safe, since the city is limited in what it can do. FROG member Carol Behr, right, her daughter Sara, and FROG chair Theresa Nelson at the soon-to-be-replaced slide. Photos: FROG Park Committee Be part of doing something constructive and important in our neighborhood. Please Work begins Saturday, September 11 at