Bosko's — a Snapshot of an Enduring College Avenue Business
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THE www.rockridge.org RVOL 37 • NO. 2 • ISSUEckridge NO. 383 • FEBRUARY 6, 2021 CIRCULATION: News 5,800 RESIdENCES; 200 BUSINESSES Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) • 4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland 94609 Oakland Unified Honors RCPC Election Chabot Teacher Slated for April 15 by Judith Doner Berne by Leonora Sea, Chair, Rockridge habot Elementary School’s Community Planning Council C Phoebe Diamond, just named an Oakland Unified School District ednesday, February 24, Teacher of the Year, never wanted to W 2021, is the deadline to be a teacher. declare your candidacy for the 2021 election of the Rockridge Community Planning Council’s Board of Directors. The election will be held on the traditional date of the third Thursday in “No family member was a teacher,” April — this year, April 15 she said during a lively telephone Chabot Elementary’s Phoebe Diamond — with alternate polling on interview. As a young teenager, “I (above) and Freemont High School science Saturday, April 17. Also, as usual, teacher Ji-Yun “Jane” Kim are OUSD’s wanted to be a clown in the circus.” Teachers of the Year. Both are automatically six Board seats will be up for But after attending a summer camp nominated for Alameda County Teacher of election. the Year, and will be eligible for California where circus skills were taught, Teacher of the Year. RCPC Election, see next page Chabot Teacher, see page 14 Bosko’s — A Snapshot of an Enduring College Avenue Business by Skip Fogarty uch has changed on College ing artists were often MAvenue in the past few years. featured there and some of Many venerable businesses have Bosko’s own work is still closed or relocated. Rising rents are on display today. The cur- often a factor. In other cases, long- rent proprietors are two time proprietors have retired or have of Peter’s children, Lynne Typical of Bosko’s collection is this image of been undone by COVID disruption. Bosko and John Bosko. College Avenue looking north from Lawton Yet, there remain some of the char- “Our parents met at Avenue, taken by Eston Cheney in 1924. acteristic shops, pubs and eateries that the California College of Notice the trolley tracks which ran from lend Rockridge its special ambiance. Arts & Crafts in the late Broadway to the UC Berkeley campus. One of the longest-standing shops on 1930s,” Bosko recounts. College is Bosko’s Gallery, in business “My father’s visual for nearly eight decades in the same style is hard to describe. Some are with reviews from the 1950s and location. Naturally, there’s an intrigu- landscapes, I guess you’d say, but a 1960s about several notable shows in ing history to this place. little far-out.” In his desk drawer, he his dad’s gallery. In 1945, after Army service during keeps newspaper clippings (from the John Bosko attended Montera World War II, a young local artist Claremont Press, which served the Junior High and Skyline High. As a named Peter Bosko purchased the Rockridge and Claremont neighbor- young man, he developed a passion gallery space. Prominent and emerg- hoods in the mid-century period) Bosko’s, see page 13 THE page 2 FEBRUARY 2021 150 words to be published in the RCPC Election, from front page April issue of The Rockridge News. Any person 18 years or older, As in 2020, a Candidates Forum will whose principal residence is within be held via Zoom, at least one week The Rockridge News was founded March 1986 the RCPC boundaries, is eligible to before the election. by Don Kinkead, and is published monthly (except August). It is sponsored by the Rockridge stand for election. Candidates will For more information about RCPC Community Planning Council (RCPC), a nonprofit be asked to provide documentation Board service, email election@ public benefit organization founded to: preserve of eligibility (usually, a driver’s rockridge.org. To declare your and enhance the unique character of the Rockridge neighborhood; promote the health, safety and license with a Rockridge address will candidacy, send a statement of intent quality of life of its residents; furnish a forum for suffice). Eligible candidates will then to run to [email protected] by community involvement; and provide leadership be invited to submit a photograph 11:59pm on February 24, 2021. Late and representation of neighborhood interests. and a written statement of around submissions will not be accepted. n Rockridge News Production Anna L. Marks ....................... Editor & Layout Artist Jo Ellis ..................................................Assistant Editor Alameda County COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance Judith Doner Berne ....................... Eyes on Rockridge Susan Montauk ...............................Business Manager he current COVID-19 vaccine locations opening in the final phase. T supply is limited, and Alameda Any resident can fill out and submit RCPC Board of Directors, 2020-21 County is following the State’s vaccine the Alameda County Resident Vaccine Leonora Sea .........................................................Chair prioritization guidance. Per State and Notification Form online to receive Robin McDonnell ..................................... Vice-Chair Federal policy, the COVID-19 vaccine notifications about vaccine availabil- Casey Farmer ........................................ Co-Secretary will be administered to specific pop- ity. Visit https://covid-19.acgov.org/ Michelle Boyd ........................................ Co-Secretary ulations in phases, with community vaccines#localplanning. n Ronnie Spitzer ..............................................Treasurer David Garcia, Stuart Flashman, Annette Floystrup, Matt Levy, Eric Lombardo, Andrew Masalin, Kirk Peterson Contact the board: [email protected] For information: [email protected] Contacting The Rockridge News Are there community issues you’d like to see covered in The Rockridge News? Have questions about newsletter distribution? Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge News block captain? Want to write a letter to the Editor? Articles submitted for consideration should be emailed to the editor. All submissions are limited to 600 words max (300 words for letters), and must include the author’s name, email address, and city or neighborhood of residence. All submissions are subject to editing for clarity and brevity. To submit content, or for reprints of an article, contact: [email protected]. Newsletter Subscriptions To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your check for $20, payable to RCPC with “Rockridge law office of News” noted on the memo line. Mail payment to: dave karlinsky RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Avenue, 725 washington st., suite 313 oakland, ca 94607 PO Box 22504, Oakland, 94609 (510) 788-5700 www.davekarlinskylaw.com Display Advertising Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates: Deadline for March 2021 issue: February 18 Advertising rates are $28/column inch. Six-month pre-pay rate available. For display ads, call Jo Ellis • Estate planning at 510-653-3210 (after noon), or email joellis1@ • Probate / trust administration hotmail.com. Email Susan Montauk at smontauk@ gmail.com for information regarding classified ads. • Dispute resolution The Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any • Special needs trusts articles, display ads, or classified ads. Please contact me during regular business hours to Views expressed in articles accepted for publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Rockridge News, schedule an appointment. its editor, or the board of directors of the Rockridge Community Planning Council. THE FEBRUARY 2021 page 3 Rockridge Community Planning Council — Land Use Committee Letter to the Editor The February Land Use Committee meeting will be held on Monday, February 22, at 7:30pm, via Zoom. Please check the RCPC Facebook page the week before for details. The meeting is open to the public. Send an email to [email protected] or call Dear Editor, RCPC (510) 652-5373 to receive a link/phone number to attend. My opinion piece, titled “Stop SB50,” expressed my opposition to the proposed upzoning to RCPC Land Use Committee Update — allow high-density, market-rate housing in Rockridge. It was February 2021 published in the May 2019 issue by Stuart Flashman, RCPC Land Use Committee Chair of The Rockridge News and drew a strong response in subsequent The Land Use Committee held its the current pandemic recedes into his- issues of the News. This issue January meeting on Jan 25, via Zoom, tory. The Committee will be consulting was key in the last RCPC Board with a quorum of members present. with merchants along College and in election. Rockridge Housing Study other CN-1 zoned areas in Oakland, as A considerable amount of The Committee continued its well as looking at what other cities are information has come to light discussion of the Rockridge Housing doing to maintain neighborhood retail on this topic, far too much Study Report, focusing on possible areas. We will be asking what kinds for another article, so, I have incentives that might make larger of retail might compete with the big- created a website, www.Pre- residential projects “pencil out.” One box and online alternatives, and what serveRockridge.com, in an effort strategy would be to allow a large might replace retail if that turns out to to present my findings to the (e.g., 60 percent) density bonus for no longer make sense. This study will public. projects providing a large percentage probably take a while to complete, and Your comments are invited, of permanent, moderate-income rental input from the Rockridge community please email them to Info@ “workforce housing” at designated is welcome. PreserveRockridge.com (you opportunity sites. The current State Call for Committee Member Applicants can find this link on the website, density bonus law gives short shrift to While land use committee meetings too). this category, and Oakland’s abysmal are open to the public, only members performance in this category shows it. appointed by the board of directors Jon Gabel Another option would be to allow a can vote on recommendations to the 45-year Rockridge resident, developer to “mix and match” different board.