Sunday, February 7, 2016
To be considered as a candidate, email info@rockridge.org not later than close of business March 2, to tell the board of your interest and to receive an informational package. The election will be held April 21 at the RCPC Town Hall.
Some observers refer to aspects of Presidential campaigns as the "silly season." While these quadrennial exercises can be silly at times, the process is serious and has important results. Nationally or locally, voting for office holders is an important civic duty.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
When I moved to Rockridge in 1977, it never occurred to me to ask when the Grove-Shafter Freeway (Highway 24) and BART were established, and how different the neighborhood might have looked and felt previously. One day my neighbor Pat Nolan, a resident since 1957, told me about the freeway's devastating impact and described the Rockridge of 50 years ago. From then on I started looking anew at my neighborhood.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Peralta Auction: Saturday, March 5, starting at 5 p.m. Theme: "The Peralta Cruise." Suggested: cruise wear; formal wear; or pirate wear. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Dance, mingle and support the Peralta Parents Teachers' Group's annual budget. The PPTG funds what the district doesn't: Peralta's art, music, language, sports, gardening education, librarian and teacher support staff. More info and advance tickets: Peralta.Auction@gmail.com.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
The now year-old retail building at the northeast corner of College and Claremont Avenues was sold to Southern California company Terramar Retail Centers. The company proposes to lease the large space at the southern tip of the building to Fremont Bank. The site's CN-1 zoning requires obtaining a Conditional Use Permit from the City. RCPC is gathering input on what Fremont Bank's plans would be, and the community's reaction. Plans will be presented at the next meeting of the Land Use Committee, Wednesday, February 17, 7:30 p.m. upstairs in the Rockridge Library.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
The proposed Oakland city ordinance for Secondary Units received its second public reading at the January 19 City Council meeting. An amendment proposed by Councilman Dan Kalb was included.
Owing to an administrative error, the complete proposed ordinance was not submitted to the Council, and it was unable to take action. The final adoption was rescheduled to February 2.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Oakland Tech 2015 graduates Cheyenne Jacobsen, Kyle Merritt, John Oberholzer, and current Tech senior Connor Prime recently received their Eagle Scout Award, the highest honor in Boy Scouting. In addition, the family of Jack Lewis, the Rockridge teen killed when a tree limb broke near Children's Fairyland in December, received special honors. All five boys had been part of Cub Scout Pack 274, made up primarily of boys from Chabot and Peralta elementary schools prior to joining Boy Scout Troop 202. The awards were presented at a special ceremony in early January.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
North Oakland flapjack fans are invited to chow down at the 2016 Claremont Middle School Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, February 27, at the Rockridge Masonic Lodge, 5449 College Avenue at Kales Avenue.
This annual community event is generously hosted by the Oakland-Durant-Rockridge Masonic Lodge #188 in association with the Rockridge District Association (RDA) and the Claremont Middle School Dads Club. Proceeds from the breakfast support educational enrichment programs at our neighborhood public middle school.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
View the latest draft park enhancement plan revisions online at www.frogpark.org and email your comments to us at the address below.
Park enhancements are moving forward slowly; donations are still being accepted.
To volunteer or to find out more about our group, contact us: info@frogpark.org
Like us: facebook.com/frogpark.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Did you know that lower Rockridge is patrolled by professionally trained private security guards in marked vehicles more than 100 hours every week? These patrols are coordinated by the nonprofit group Safer Rockridge and funded by more than 560 residents and five commercial sponsors, including Rockridge Market Hall, Cole Hardware, Daniel Stea/Stea Realty Group, Ron Kriss/Lawton Associates, and Simon & Saraya Motley/The Motley Team.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
"I'm hopeful I'm the right leader at the right time."
That's what Libby Schaaf shared when Rockridge News editor Don Kinkead and I interviewed her at the Rockridge Cafe, a year after her election as Oakland's 50th mayor.
That is no small hope, as Oakland, still struggling to get on its feet economically, battles to mesh growth with heritage, gentrification with diversity, keep its sports teams and turn around its crime and school drop-out rates.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
The Oakland Heritage Alliance (OHA) community has lost a guiding light with the passing of local historian and tour leader Raymond Raineri. Ray, as he was popularly known, devoted himself to collecting memories of his childhood North Oakland neighborhood, and his Italian American heritage. Following his retirement, Ray's enthusiasm for North Oakland and Temescal history found a wide range of outlets including curating numerous exhibits at the History Room at the Oakland Main Library, and contributing articles to local newspapers such as the Piedmonter and the Montclarion.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Donations to RCPC's General Fund support projects that benefit the Rockridge neighborhood, including Frog Park; the new community grants program; the Halloween Parade; the Town Halls on issues affecting Rockridge; street trees, the Rockridge Library; schools; and benches. Please Remember RCPC in your year-end giving.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
We are close to making the vision of an enhanced Frog Park - with more swings - a reality. Your donation will help meet the costs of these improvements and get us over the finish line. The park has been a part of your family's life. Now make FROG a part of your year-end giving.
FROG Park: Online: frogpark.org. Mail/Payto: FROG Park, 4123 Broadway, PMB 311, Oakland, 94611. Tax ID 94-3011284
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Rockridge today is a long way from its near-undoing when construction of the Grove-Shafter freeway - Highway 24 - in the late 1960s wiped out more than 3,000 homes and many area commercial buildings, crippling businesses and leaving significant College Avenue storefronts boarded up. Was the evolution due to community involvement? Mere chance? Market action? The answer: all three, in that order.
Community Involvement
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Well, at long last, the electronic parking space monitor for the Safeway rooftop parking deck is working - sort-of. After an initial period when it showed more spaces available than the deck even held, followed by a period when the display constantly said Òfull,Ó it now appears the display is starting to be at least roughly accurate, so that, when the sign says "full," it may actually mean there are no spaces available.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
How's crime in the Rockridge beats? The board of the NCPC realizes that all crime is upsetting, and it is upsetting to the NCPC boardmembers, too, who also live in the neighborhood. But compared to almost anywhere else in Oakland, Rockridge has very low crime.
As board secretary, I collect monthly data from the Oakland Police statistics site. All the data for 2015 is not in yet, but there is enough to make some comparisons between 2014 and 2015 (through October). This is summary data; I publish monthly lists of reported crimes at http://tinyurl.com/pnkx4qk.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Today someone in our neighborhood is checking out a book, applying for a job, learning to read, finding healthcare benefits, or getting help from a trained librarian.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
The Rockridge District Association (RDA) is pleased to bring security ambassadors to College Avenue for the holiday season. RDA has contracted with Intervention Group Incorporated, Security Services, an Oakland company, to provide personnel as security ambassadors during the holidays, helping to make this an enjoyable time on the avenue this season. They will not only work to keep us safe but will be able to provide assistance with directions and information.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
I recently ordered lunch online for an upcoming Thursday, although my husband and I actually saved it for dinner - sliced Chicken Marbella over kale salad and brownies for dessert.
To retrieve it, I walked several blocks to the kitchen of my Rockridge neighbor, Diana Pasquali, arriving between the hours of 12:30-2 p.m. as instructed and drawn in by the delicious smells wafting from behind her front door.
