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Thanks to Howard Ferrier, 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 Ca...

posters and flyers. We are grateful to the dedicated captains who supervised volunteers and led the many projects accomplished on Saturday: Howard Ferrier, Barney Smits, Jimmy Pedersen, and Jennifer Cooper. Our thanks to Ronnie Spitzer, who solicited donations of food and beverages to keep our volunteers refreshed throughout the morning and was our “go- fer.” A special thanks to Rockridge’s ...

By Howard Ferrier

join us. Contact Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@ sbcglobal.net to set a time for your shift. And, if you can lend a wheelbarrow or shovel, also let Howard know (even if you can’t volunteer), as we need extra tools. by Howard Ferrier, FROG volunteer coordinator E 8 a.m. and ...

By Howard Ferrier

To join or learn more, contact Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or 653-6463. See you on the 17th. SAVE BIG PRINT HAPPY

By Howard Ferrier

Claremont School Spring Fling fundraiser. Photo: Mike Mages by Howard Ferrier Almost nine years ago, the Rockridge community came together to build the Rockridge Greenbelt, now known as FROG (Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt) Park. The Friends now need your help to keep the park clean, maintained and safe. Join us...

By Howard Ferrier

Redondo and Cavour parks for the creek site. Questions? E-mail info@frogpark.org. by Howard Ferrier, volunteer coordinator, Friends of the Rockridge- Temescal Greenbelt (FROG) Park Join your neighbors for a community work day on Earth Day, Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to noon. We will remove debris and trim the plants around the park. Even...

By Howard Ferrier

Frog Park Annual Maintenance Day, September 17 by Howard Ferrier Join your Frog Park friends and fans for our big maintenance day and mini-build on Saturday, September 17, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Work will continue throughout the day, so come whenever your schedule permits. Please note that the Hardy and Redon...

...ain the park. Whether you have planting, weeding, paint- ing, organizing skills, or just about any other skill or interest, WE NEED YOU. To volunteer or become a FROG Park Steward, contact Head BullFROG/Chief Steward/ Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier. For general information about getting involved with the FROG Committee, join us at our meetings held on the second Wednesday of each month at the Rockridge Library. Last Chance to Contribute G A monthly update on what’s happening at the F...

...ts to paint creative signs for the grand re-opening. FROG Park is a vital part of our commu- nity, and it requires support and commitment from adults in the community to keep it looking good. We need your energy and volunteer time. Contact Howard Ferrier, hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or 510/653-6463

By Theresa Nelson

...endar Theresa Nelson ....................Neighborhood Merchant Lydia Gans...........................Photography Susan Montauk...................Business Manager Don Kinkead.......................Graphics & Layout  Treasurer Please contact Howard Ferrier if you can assist with any of these roles at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or 510/653-6463.

...e: FROG Park play areas will be closed Saturday, September 7, for the maintenance day. The play structures will not be open until Sunday as the sealer must dry. Bring gloves, smoothing rakes, turning forks and pruners, if available. E-mail Howard Ferrier, volunteer coordinator, for details at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or leave

...eachers will help again this year. The play structures will be closed until Sunday as the sealer will be wet. The wood sealer is messy, so children are not asked to help in this work. Cleaning begins at 8 a.m., and ends at 4:30 p.m. E-mail Howard Ferrier, volunteer coordinator, for details at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or leave a phone message at 510/220-4249. Fall Maintenance from page 4 annual maintenance day. Park volunteers will clean and seal wooden play structures, replace plants, sift ...

... sources for volunteers and irrigation system details. Please contact Gordon Piper, chair of the Oakland Landscape Committee at rgpiper@ sbcglobal.net or 510/843-3828. gloves, smoothing rakes, turning forks and pruners if available. E-mail Howard Ferrier, volunteer coordinator, for details at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or leave a phone message at 510/220-4249. See you there. Help the

By Carol Behr

...f Oakland Parks & Recreation; Kristen Zaremba, city of Oakland 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, ...

...munity are also welcome to help out. As usual, we will be using a sealer so children are not being asked to help with this work. We will begin at 8 a.m. and finish at 4:30 p.m. Bring gloves, smoothing rakes, and pruners if you can. Contact Howard Ferrier, volunteer coordinator, for details: hwferrier@ sbcglobal.net, or leave a message at 510/220-4249. See you there! /D. Kinkead With construction of the FROG Park restroom

...e walkway instead of into the train area, reducing the chance of sand mixing with fibar. Lastly, the suspension bridge will be rebuilt off-site this spring. To help with this project (some carpentry skills would be helpful), please contact Howard Ferrier, hwferrier@sbcglobal.net. Local Merchant Support We are grateful to Economy Lumber Piedmont (formerly Piedmont Lumber)

...hout the weekend and possibly beyond. The Park will be closed during this time. FROG plans to completely replace the playground wood chips (fibar) and perform maintenance on the structure itself. Anyone interested in helping should contact Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@ frogpark.org. Praying - Serving - Growing St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church 400 Alcatraz Ave. Oakland (between Telegraph and College Avenues) 510-653-8631 Mass Schedule Saturday: 5 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Weekdays:...

...ayground cleaning, weeding, planting, turning and replacing the fibar, sweeping, and clearing the pond and creek bed in preparation for the creek turn-on. Hope to see you there! Visit www.oaklandearthday.com for more informa- tion. Contact Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@ sbcglobal.net with questions.  Keep Our Park Safe   Please, leave no food in the playground. Scraps attract pests! Please clean up after yourself and others. Deposit trash in the garbage receptacles.  Vagrants or unsavory...

...oyees. We may even have to close libraries, senior centers, and park and recreation programs for some days each week. I suggest that all residents watch the budget process carefully. or www.oaklandearthday.com for more information. Contact Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net with questions. The April FROG steering committee meeting details will be posted on the FROG Park Web site, www. frogpark.org. Information: e-mail Jennifer Cooper, FROG chair, at jennifer@live-work.com. To adopt ...

...OG A monthly update on what’s happening at the maintenance day, April 21. Photo: Cy Gulassa FRO best community-built looks great. To par- ticipate in future maintenance days or to become a FROG Park “steward,” contact Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier @sbcglobal.net. Tests of E. Coli and Coliform in Temescal Creek Meet Standards and maintained park in Oakland Park Faces Changes, Challenges by Mike McDonald, FROG steering committee member Global Video Site F Hardy Park Perma...

... can make it) at Hardy Park. All skill levels welcome, including kids who can pick up trash, rake leaves, etc. We are specifically seeking a few experienced construction or landscaping folks to be “captains.” For more informa- tion, e-mail Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@ sbcglobal.net. For a kitchen, consult a kitchen expert. For a closet, find a closet designer. For your office, come to us. 5933 College Ave. (off Claremont) Oakland, 510-654-9500 WWW.GALVINS.COM 1265 Veterans Blvd., Redwood C...

and volunteers. Come on people, this is your park and volunteering is fun, easy and a great way to meet your neighbors. For more information, contact Howard Ferrier by e-mail at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net The Creek Flow Project Jennifer Cooper elected as new FROG Chairwoman At its January meeting, the FROG Steering Committee unanimously elected Jennifer Cooper as the new FROG chairwoman for 2007. Jennife...

FROG Park from page 1 and the volunteers and city officials who made this dream a reality, we offer special thanks to the following Phase II supporters: FROG COMMITTEE: Theresa Nelson, Jenni- fer Cooper, Howard Ferrier, Ronnie Spitzer, Mike McDonald, Lisa Ferrier, Christie Beeman, Barney Smits, Joan Marie Wood, Karen Cheever, Steve Costa, Lisa Kaplan, Carol McClellan, Carroll Moore, Jimmy Pederson, Ian Reed, Eileen Fitz-Faulkner, Al Hussian. KIOSK VOLUNT...

... 16 is the big annual Maintenance and Volunteer Planting day. All levels of experience are needed. Bring your wheelbarrow, gloves, and a smile. Coffee, water, and snacks will be provided. For more information, contact volunteer coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or 653-6463. o My check is enclosed.

...ll day Saturday, September 9. For more details: Mike McDonald at 772-7906 or mike@m-c-d.net Fall Maintenance and Planting Day. Saturday, Septem- ber 16. Bring wheelbarrow and gloves; water, coffee and snacks provided. For more information: Howard Ferrier at 653-6463 or hwferrier@sbcglobal.net ó ó

...ommunity Room, 5366 College Avenue. Light refreshments will be served before the meeting. Supervisors to help coordinate our volun- teer days and troubleshoot maintenance during the year. For more information, contact Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net or phone 510/653-6463. ☛ Save the date: This Fall’s volunteer and maintenance day is Saturday, Sep- tember 16. FROG Park Progress from page  signage; Ian Read of Level 4 Studio, LLC, and McDonald Construction, w...

...for the opening celebration to be held in July. Kiosk and Improvements Saturday, April 22nd — Volunteer Maintenance Day The Spring Volunteer Maintenance Day is Saturday, April 22. Contact Head Bull- frog/Chief Steward/Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@sbcglobal.net, or phone 653-6463. Public Art project moves ahead: FROG is preparing plans for the kiosk and improvements and site furnishings for Hardy Plaza. They will be built by community volunteers following Phase II const...

By Mike McDonald

...ardy Park Kiosk and Plaza build project. Also, there is always a need for volunteers for regular maintenance and educational days. To volunteer or to become a Frog Park Steward, contact the Head Bullfrog/Chief Steward/Volunteer Coordinator Howard Ferrier at hwferrier@

... starts 5pm. ART EXHIBITS In The Gallery: • September: Susan Hall and Mike G. Surprise Frog Park Big Build Phase II Saturday, September 1, 9am to 4pm. Projects will be going on all day and lunch will be provided. For more information: call Howard Ferrier at 653-6463 or hwferrier@sbcglobal.net. exhibit! In The Display Case: • September: Claire Lomax; Paper sculpture and collage. Sick Plant Clinic 5366 College Avenue, 597-5017 Bring your ailing plants to the University of Cali- fornia Botani...

g Communications Coordinator m Gardeners and Horticultural Coordinator mw Treasurer Please contact Howard Ferrier if you can assist with any of these roles at hwferrier@ sbcglobal.net or 510/653-6463.

By Annie Suttle

... Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Event Planner and Construction Coordinator. They would join our awesome team of volunteers —from retired neighbors to empty nesters to parents of preschoolers and high schoolers. We’re losing a gem when Howard Ferrier, our longtime Maintenance Coordinator, steps down after our cleanup this fall. And we know that one of our neighbors—or perhaps a duo to share responsibilities—is ready to step up to the plate and

...ones, to the anonymous donors who brought a huge box of pastries and to the DMV Neighbors Association for the coffee. Visit frogpark.org or Facebook.com/ frogpark to see photos. FROG Maintenance Coordinator Retires A special thanks goes to Howard Ferrier, FROG’s volunteer maintenance coordinator, who has done an incredible job for more than 10 years and will be stepping down after the fall maintenance day.

By Leonora Sea

...that it was lifting the 3-ft diameter manhole cover by the path on the Big Frog side of Clifton. Ronnie Spitzer and I noticed water streaming out 2 to 3 inches deep and pouring into the laundry room of the apartment building near the path. Howard Ferrier and Barney Smits of FROG, and Lee Patterson of Scenic Streets built a brilliant impromptu dam from materials generated in the cleanup, and from improvised sandbags made from plastic trash bags and playground sand. An apartment building res...

...p up with all the park’s maintenance items. We work with the city to support our park and our volunteers to create a clean and safe park for our neighborhood. Check out the images of our workers at the Hardy play area. See you next year. — Howard Ferrier, Volunteer Coordinator, Friends of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt (FROG) Park.

By DMV Neighbors

will be provided. Come for half an hour or the entire morning, rain or shine. Volunteer? E-mail info@frogpark.org Howard Ferrier, FROG Maintenance Officer and Ronnie Spitzer, Treasurer and Maintenance Officer

By Leonora Sea

City Gardener Luciano Cortes and Rockridge neighbor Barney Smits repair a park play structure. plans at www.frogpark.org. Thanks again to all who helped and a special thanks to the volunteers and teachers from College Preparatory School. — Howard Ferrier, Maintenance Officer and Volunteer Coordinator Frog Park Monthly Cleanups F ROG is establishing family-friendly monthly cleanups to be held the first Sunday of every month, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. ➧➧Keeping FROG Park in Shape, page 5 LAW OFFICES OF...

...rm 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 Th...

By Carol Behr

...t to steward the earth and community resources. A huge amount of work was accomplished, thanks to Rockridge and Temescal neighbors and friends. Our thanks to Mara Gendell for the festive graphics, and the dedicated captains who supervised: Howard Ferrier; Barney Smits; Jimmy Pedersen; and Daniel Orenstein. Our thanks to Bakesale Betty’s for the banana bread, Jean Littlejohn for ably staffing our registration table, and Ronnie Spitzer for acting as our “gofer.” A special thanks to Rockridge...

... 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 drainage problems. Howard Ferrier, FROG’s maintenance manager, began the work last September at the Fall Maintenance Day and continued to provide renovation advice. Many community members turned out in October and November to clear roots and clean the gravel sub-surface: t...

...ank. If you like, send us their names and we will honor them in the January issue. raising funds and promoting the park. Other key community members whose names are practically synonymous with FROG Park are Jennifer Cooper, Ronnie Spitzer, Howard Ferrier and Mike McDonald. Thank you all! The Rockridge Muse Thank You to Our Neighbors I don’t know all of your names, but you know who you are and we thank you every day. You look out for the well- being of the elderly in our community. You pick...

...ion. Decisions on work to be performed at the park, including its Community and College Preparatory S c h o o l volunteers j o i n e d f o rc e s t o spruce up t h e P a r k and remove the fibar. Community volunteer maintenance coordinator Howard Ferrier aloft to seal the towers on the FROG play structures. Photo: Theresa Nelson scope and time frame, are the responsibility of City staff. Some non-critical below-grade play structure pieces need replacement due to dry rot. The community will...

...rick Zak (l.); Rick Wallenback; Susan Bernosky, Allstate Insurance; Nicholas- Lee; Chris Jackson, RDA and NCPC. Justin Horner and Violet Above: Carol Bieri (l.); Cathy Furtado (Terrace Street); Eric Warren; Jennifer Kaplan, Rockridge Home. Howard Ferrier Patrick Hoge, Jennifer Cooper, Barney Smits, Theresa Nelson, Tamir Scheinok Clinton Pugh, Theresa Nelson, Will Patterson Lois Dixon and Chris Staller Rodrigo Prudencio, De’Mar Lacy, Susan Shawl, John Russell Hannah and Cory Lieu, Michelle ...

...ce Day September 15 Save the date: Annual Fall Maintenance Day at FROG Park, Saturday, September 15. Play structure clean-up and other maintenance tasks are planned. FROG Park is a special place and we need your help to keep it so. Contact Howard Ferrier for more information: And Remember: Sunday, September 9, 11 – 2 p.m. Picnic in the Park: Family Fun Task Force Day at FROG Park. Bring a picnic lunch or something from the Temescal Farmer’s Market and join other volunteers in kid-friendly ...

...Task Force Day and Picnic in the Park: Sunday, 9/9, 11am to 2pm. Bring kids to do weeding/general maintenance, then picnic with other families. (2) Annual Fall Maintenance Day: Saturday, 9/15. For information on projects and tools, contact Howard Ferrier at hwferriew@ sbcglobal.net.

...bors Jeff by Theresa Nelson, FROG (Friends of the Rockridge- Temescal Greenbelt) Chair A huge thank you to everyone who donated their time and worked hard to make the September 16 FROG Maintenance and Planting Day such a success. Thanks to Howard Ferrier, FROG Maintenance Coordinator, for careful plan-

ning, getting materials delivered, cheerful supervision, and collaborating with Cynthia Upper left: Howard Ferrier and Jennifer Cooper oversee FROG fixer- uppers; above: College Preparatory School volunteers pledge to hop to it; left, volunteers in action; right: young volunteer commutes to cleanup site. PHOTOS CY GULASSA

Above and top: College Preparatory School students and teachers give Frog Park play structures a make- over. Center: FROG Park volunteer coordinator Howard Ferrier tells CPS recruits of the park’s history. Bottom right: students show off the latest fashions in latex gloves. Bottom left: picnic break for Temescal Creek clean-up crew.  !   !     !    

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By Jennifer Cooper

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  We also need six adults to volunteer as Captains to answer questions and guide the work as needed. No special tool skills required. Please call Howard Ferrier at 653- 6463 for a spot on the team of Captains.    
FROG depends on the support of every- one who uses and enjoys our community parks. Mark your calendar, spread the word and come lend a hand. 

 
 General Dentistry...

...The play structures will be closed Sep- tember 18-19 while we work, and to let the wood sealer dry. Thanks for helping us keep the maintenance day safe and productive. Visit the FROG website at www.frogpark.org for more details, or contact Howard Ferrier at 653-6463. Come support your community-built playgrounds — they won’t last without you! We also need a team of skilled work- ers to build a fence at the Hardy sandbox, repair the Redondo bulletin board and We’ll sand, seal, rake, weed an...

Travis Crawford Laura Mytels Consulting Safeway Foundation Theresa Nelson & Barney Smits $500 - $999 Level Lucy Armentrout, Broker Associate Amy Dobras Howard and Kathryn Ferrier Margaret Hunt Dan Kalb Masonic Lodge 188 Zachariah & Megan Larson Nautilus Group, Inc Richard & Sallie Olsen Stoker Foundation Robert & Catherine Miller Charitable Foundation $250 - $499 Level Benjamin Bonnes Amy Dennis Ryan Er...