IF ONLY I could turn back the clock about a dozen years. I discovered a cafe in the Temescal at 4210 Telegraph Ave. the other day that would have made life so much easier when I had young kids.

Tumble & Tea Cafe is the brainchild of two moms who wanted a place for children to play and parents to relax. A place with good food and comfortable couches and free wireless Internet.

The concept is so simple — a perfectly designed room split in two. One side has castles and climbing structures and puzzles and toys, and the other is a cafe, where you can get a panini, a pastry, a latte or other adult treats. Of course, they make pizzas and sandwiches for the kids, too, but co-owner Gina DeCarlo says it’s really about the adults.

“The colors, the décor, the comfy couches, the music — it’s really for the caregiver,” she said.

Tell that to the kids, who seem perfectly content to play while their adult charges actually unwind, have a conversation or read a good book.

“Our plan is to have five in five years,” says DeCarlo, who along with her business partner, Sue Older, is looking to open in other locations such as Walnut Creek. It’s a long way off, but I see myself going there someday — with a grandchild on one arm and my laptop under the other.

HAPPY TRAILS: Shepherd Canyon Park is really shaping up, thanks to the organizations and volunteers who’ve been putting in long hours in our little greenbelt. Reader Mike Petouhoff says the kids at the East Bay Conservation Corps have made “nature’s Stairmaster” on the slope above the soccer field, a new path that does switchbacks up to the high point on Escher Road.

“At the top of the path, and at several points on the way up,” he says, “there is a beautiful view of San Francisco Bay.”

I made the hike the other day, stopping to smell the soap root plants that volunteers put in. Legend has it they were used by the Native Americans to make soap. Miner’s lettuce and wild onions also grow in the area, which offers surprising solitude for such a small park.

At the top of the trail on Escher Road, two new picnic tables invite hikers to enjoy their lunch outdoors. The tables have been hit by graffiti vandals twice in recent days, but the city has been on top of the problem.

We should all be so proud of the folks that have worked so hard to clean up this park, which was once a dump site for the city’s maintenance yard. And Petouhoff says his group isn’t through. They want to spruce up the top of the trail at Escher Road, with an arbor in the Shinto style of a torri gate.

“We’re working to hunt down the next Boy Scout to take on this project,” he says. Are there any Eagle Scout candidates out there? You can contact me and I’ll put you in touch with the right people.

CELEBRITY COOK: Hills mom Maureen Woelffer is coming off quite a Christmas, after being featured in several high-profile magazines for her gingerbread cookie parties. Woelffer and her three girls were shown baking and decorating holiday treats as part of an advertising campaign for Glad plastic wrap. Could a call from Betty Crocker be next?

WHEN I WAS in high school, I tried to break up a dog fight. The result was a bite on my index finger that still gives me trouble today. Well — here I am, all these years later, in yet another dog fight. This one pits park police against pet owners who violate the law by letting their dogs run off-leash on the Shepherd Canyon-to-Montclair trail. Park police Sgt. Ron Yelder says his officers are patrolling the trail because they’ve had ongoing complaints about potentially vicious dogs.
“It’s a quality-of-life issue,” he says, “when parents feel they can’t walk their kids on the trails.”
And contrary to what one reader suggested, these officers handle park matters only. The streets of Oakland are not their jurisdiction, so they’re not “wasting their time when they could be fighting crime.”

Instead of blasting me, as one reader did, folks should be thanking me for the warning. I know for a fact that I’ve saved at least one dog owner the cost of a stiff fine that she would have received, had she not read my column. The law is the law. I didn’t make it — but as the “Town Crier,” I’m compelled to report it.

VILLAGE UPDATE: The dust is flying at Rite Aid, where store manager Damion Wright says the place is getting a $700,000 remodeling job. The plan calls for a bigger pharmacy and more shelf space for things such as housewares and pet supplies — not to mention a whole new check stand layout.

Meanwhile, the old Montclair United Methodist Church at the corner of Shepherd Canyon Road and Mountain has finally been sold. Realtor Steve Moyer says the new buyer won’t be knocking down the building, as some neighbors had feared, but will make the space into offices, keeping the sanctuary intact for church and school groups who may want to lease that space.
Moyer’s other high profile building, the Montclair Women’s Club, is still on the market — for $2.975 million.

MIND GAMES: Tired of those embarrassing “senior moments”? You may want to start stimulating your mind at www.happyneuron.com. The Web site is the brain child of hills entrepreneur Sheryle Bolton and has been featured on “The Today Show” and in several national publications. You just log on and for $9.95 a month you can play dozens of games that have been specially designed by scientists to help “beef up” the brain to develop new pathways.
“It’s good to get your abs in shape, or your arms,” Bolton says. “The same thing is true for your brain. It needs exercise.”

KEY RING BLING: An unlikely new fashion accessory is popping up on the necks of some well-heeled women in Piedmont and Montclair. It’s the Bad Boys Bail Bonds key chain, a nylon necklace that comes in a palate of pleasing colors and sports the company’s toll-free number: 800-BAILOUT (224-5688). One gal told me her key chain compliments the colors of her alma mater, USC. Another woman got a key ring to match her Mercedes. Is it the image of being “just a little naughty” that makes these key rings appealing? Apparently so. At least in this case, it’s good to be bad.

I like to watch fish. Tropical fish, mostly — but in a pinch, I’ll watch goldfish, and even those funny little crabs you can buy in the pet store. But when I really want to relax, I watch cows.

They dot the landscape in about half of our regional parks, moooving lazily along the ridgeline or sitting in the meadow, chewing the fat with their friends. Something I learned in Ireland, although I haven’t seen much of it lately, is how a cow behaves before a storm. They lay down, to keep their spot dry. It’s the only time I see them off their hooves, as cows seem to stand a lot, even when they’re sleeping.

The best place to hike among bovine is Briones Regional Park, but Sibley Volcanic Preserve is a good spot for them, too. There’s also the walk in the watershed off Pinehurst Road, across from the reservoir. In each place, cows of all colors may come up to you, and you need to be prepared.

“Don’t agitate them,” says the EBRP pamphlet on cows. In a fight with a 1,000-pound heifer, you’re almost certain to lose. Don’t walk through a congregation of cows. Go around if you can, especially if you have a dog. Cows don’t like dogs — they look too much like coyotes. And finally, don’t ever get between mother and calf. I friend I know did that once and got gored.

Cows are part of the pastoral setting we enjoy so much. They act as a buffer between the insanity of the city and the loneliness of the country. They’re fun. They can brighten your day. But don’t forget to give them their space.

ACT OF ARSON: No word, yet, on who set the fire that destroyed the office at the East Oakland Community Charter School (the old Hawthorne Elementary). Allison Delgado says staff members were demoralized when they saw what was lost — computers, equipment, and dozens of warm coats that were presents for the students. If you can help with a donation of money or supplies (even something as simple as Kleenex and hand wipes would be welcome) please drop by the school at 1700 28th Ave. in Oakland.

NAME DROPPING: Former Councilman Dick Spees and his wife, Jean, were at the opening of the new “In the Dark” exhibit at the Chabot Space & Science Center the other night. It’s a neat interactive wing where moles and shrews and other beady-eyed critters always seem to be staring at you — and you can’t argue with the venue, a place where it’s so dark you can see millions of stars. Speaking of stars, the Spees both volunteer long hours at Chabot, acting as humble docents leading tours through the massive facility. Imagine the surprise when visitors get to the Dick Spees wing of the building and then look at their guide’s name tag.

ANIMAL TALES: And since I started this column with an animal tale, I’ll end with one. Did you hear the one about the cat who fell in love with the bird? I know — you think it ended in fowl play, but read on.

George Place, who works at the Montclair Rite Aid, says his cat Genevieve and his pigeon Dudley are inseparable.

“It’s a unique relationship,” he says. The cat follows the bird up and down the stairs, even copying its bouncy little step. When its nap time, they sleep together, claw in paw and feathers in fur. This odd couple seems like a natural for David Letterman, but Place says he doesn’t watch the show. Maybe it’s just as well — we’ve already got one high profile sex scandal in the Bay Area.

WHOEVER SAID THE world is getting smaller wasn’t kidding. I’ve taken several flights in recent months and in each case, felt like a smelt in a fish cannery. People are on top of each other at airport gates, spilling out over chairs and sprawling across floors — wolfing down meals in any little spot — even on top of garbage cans!

Add to that the fact that no one wants to check luggage, and who can blame them? Just last week I saw a tattered bag come down the chute in New York with its contents all askew. It turned out to be my friend’s suitcase, with her undergarments going around the belt repeatedly for everyone to see. Sure, the airline got her a new bag but they didn’t reimburse her for pain and suffering. And she never did get the tire marks out of her good sweater.

TRAIL TALK: Several readers have mentioned they’ve seen Oakland police driving on the village trail between Shepherd Canyon Road and Snake Road. They’re apparently warning, and in some cases ticketing pet owners who let their dogs run off-leash on the popular path. I don’t own a dog, but I did witness an incident, recently, where a bounding off-leash dog knocked a handicapped man to the ground. Dogs also run up and down the dirt banks, trampling plants and causing erosion. A few fines may curb some of that.

E-MAIL BAG: What do you get when you combine fresh air and exercise with good will? You get a program called Students Run Oakland, where adults help inner city high school students accomplish great things by running. Reader Mort Landsberg says the program is really inspirational. Not only do the kids learn good fitness, they set life goals and develop team building skills.

Meanwhile, several readers have complained about the fact that Montclair Elementary School locks the gate on its parking lot after hours.

“How unfriendly to the local people,” one caller said, emphasizing the shortage of parking near the village. But neighbors have been complaining about nighttime drug dealing and loitering in the parking lot, and locking the gate is one way to curb that.

BUTTS AND BAGS: Two of the our waterway’s most visible polluters are plastic shopping bags and cigarette butts, according to reader Constance Young. In more than 10 years as a captain on the Hornblower Cruises, she’s seen “a plethora of these trash items not just in the Bay, but on the streets of Oakland.” Short of making a citizen’s arrest when you see someone tossing their butt or letting their bag blow away in the wind, what can you do? Perhaps Oakland could tackle this problem now that a law banning Styrofoam take-out containers is in place.

DELTA SAIL: Get out your cruise wear. The USS Potomac is taking a leisurely sail up the Delta to Old Sacramento on April 11. Picture yourself on FDR’s fancy floating White House as you wind your way past fun and funky Delta towns, enjoying breakfast, lunch and a wine and appetizer reception with music. You’ll even get a history lesson of the ship and the Delta region.

The cost is $225 one way, or $400 if you decide to stay in Old Town and catch the boat back on April 16. For more information, call 510-627-1215.

I’ve always suspected something was lurking, just below the murky green surface. Now it’s been confirmed — Oakland’s Lake Merritt has a monster. Like Scotland’s Loch Ness and Lake Champlain’s Champ, this creature eludes all but the most vigilant observers.

Richard Bailey, the resident expert, has seen the great head of the beast — with its glowing red eyes and spiked horns.

“It’s got six or seven humps like you’d see on the Loch Ness,” he proclaims, adding that the creature measures more than 10 feet in length. Frightening? You bet! But Bailey says it’s also a tourist attraction, if you don’t get too close. He’s sent out a letter to the City Council asking that the creature be protected as an endangered species. Perhaps the company Monster.com would like to buy the naming rights.

TENNESSEE BOUND: Michelle Slonecker has closed her popular About Face salon (inside Dina’s) and moved to Tennessee. No, it had nothing to do with my column on Nashville last week. She has a good friend in Springhill (about 40 minutes from Nashville) and the timing was right.

“It was God’s move,” she says, “because my house sold in two days.”

And you can probably guess what she paid for a brand-new 2,000 square-foot home on a big wooded lot in Springhill — $214,000. Still, it’s tough to leave your customers and friends after 33 years in business and Slonecker admits she’s had a couple of “good cries.” Good luck, Michelle — we’ll all miss you.

MAIL BAG: Last month’s column item on the upcoming changes at Albertson’s prompted reader Leona Narita to add her support for the switch to Save Mart.

“It’s like a regular supermarket,” she says, adding there’s one in Turlock where her mother lives. “It’s much nicer than the Albertson’s here in Oakland — newer and in better condition.”

HORSE TALK: Oakland was a horse town, back in its “hay day.” The hills were dotted with livestock and barns, and folks galloped along the ridgeline on lightning-fast steeds. A couple of local horsewomen are writing a book about Oakland’s equestrian heritage, to be published next spring during the Grand National Rodeo.

Co-authors Amelia Marshall and Terry L. Tobey are looking for old photographs for their book. If your family has a horse history in the hills, call Marshall at 510-482-9718.

ANIMAL TALES: It’s not unusual to have visitors on New Year’s Eve, but John Broadus was pretty surprised when he walked out on his deck and saw a coyote.

“As first I thought it was a dog,” he writes, “but then I realized that it was not.”

The man and the coyote locked eyes in frozen silence before the animal broke his stare and disappeared into the darkness. Wiley and spry, he no doubt rang in the New Year by howling at the moon.

NO MAN is as sexy as a man in a cowboy hat. I’ve had this conviction since my college days at Montana State University. But when it comes to studs in Stetsons, Montana’s got nothing on Nashville — where cowboys are crooners in a city that celebrates country music.

They don’t call Nashville “Music City” for nothing. Music is to Nashville what movies are to Hollywood. There are over 180 recording studios in Nashville, as well as the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry and literally hundreds of places showcasing live talent. It seems almost everyone in Nashville is either a musician or a song writer — holding out hope they’ll hit pay dirt.

Dolly Parton got her big break in Nashville, saying she was so poor when she left home she had nothing to lose. It wasn’t long before she was singing with Porter Wagoner on the Grand Ole Opry.

A kid named Elvis made his name here. He recorded some monster hits in RCA’s famed Studio B. Songs like “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “Little Sister” were smash records for “The King” and you can almost picture those late night recording sessions when you tour Studio B today. The studio closed permanently for commercial recordings the day after Elvis died in 1977, but not before producing a thousand hits for legends such as Roy Orbison, Eddie Arnold and Patsy Cline.

The Country Music Hall of Fame brings these artists and their music to life. One of the most innovative museums in the country, it takes you on a journey through time, from the early years of folk to the sounds of hillbilly, honky tonk and the more sophisticated strings and vocals that made up the Nashville Sound of the 1960s. The Hall of Fame houses a priceless collection of clips from radio, television and film that tells the story of America’s love affair with country.

It’s as much a timeline of our nation as it is a tribute to its music.

It’s billed as “everyman’s music.” A bottle of booze, a broken heart, an old yellow dog and a pickup truck. The key to writing a good country song is to tell a simple story — one folks can relate to. And while it wouldn’t be on every visitor’s list of attractions, you can pay a local writer to help you come up with your own country song. It’s more than just writing a couple of verses and a chorus. You need a catchy melody and a good hook.

The Bluebird Café is a favorite venue for songwriters. The night I was there, four of Nashville’s best were taking turns playing some of country music’s biggest hits. These guys, virtually unknown outside the industry, were singing the pieces they wrote that made millions for stars like Kenny Chesney and Travis Tritt. They sat in a circle and swapped stories and songs in a space that seemed more like my living room than a legendary nightclub. And their poetry touched raw emotions as they sang about relationships, motherhood, patriotism and faith.

I think I paid 15 bucks to see them that night — about a penny a tear.

It’s even cheaper to hear music in Nashville’s famed honky tonks. Sure as a dog is man’s best friend, these blue-collar bars have the music cranking, day and night. Walk into Roberts or Legends or Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and grab a stool. What you’ll hear is some of the best live country this side of the Smokies — with no cover charge, just a pass of the cowboy hat.

But the “Mother Church of Country Music” is still The Ryman Theatre, home of the Grand Ole Opry each winter. The Ryman actually started out as a church, and the stained glass windows and warn wooden pews are still part of its charm. Even more heavenly are the acoustics, which make the live broadcasts sparkle. It’s a real treat to watch WSM radio broadcast the Opry live each weekend with some of the biggest names in country music gracing that historic stage. And just like the early days of the Opry, you never know who will pop in.

One thing is certain — Nashville has style. From its imaginative downtown skyline to its stately southern plantations, the city makes a statement. You can tour dozens of historic sites, including the beautifully restored home of President Andrew Jackson. Take a picnic and enjoy the lush grounds of Vanderbilt University, a national arboretum with tree-lined paths and rolling green lawns. Or take in one of Nashville’s most surprising sites — the world’s only full-sized reproduction of the Greek Parthenon, complete with four art galleries and a giant gilded statue of the Goddess Athena.

And while Nashville is known for its architecture, there’s something else catching the eye of folks who visit. It’s the sparkle of rhinestones on the outfits of country artists who order their clothing from Manuel. With just one name (think Cher or Prince) Manuel has been the tailor to the stars, here, for decades. He’s the guy who put Johnny Cash in black and Elvis in tight pants and Dolly Parton in her eye-popping blouses. His personality is as big as his creations, yet he still sews by hand in a modest downtown house.

And that’s the attraction of Nashville. It’s one of the most fascinating and cosmopolitan cities in America, yet it’s warm and inviting — and approachable. Like a man in a cowboy hat — it exudes charm.

TIS THE SEASON to be — crabby. This time of year brings out the best — and the worst in people. Cars stack up between Starbucks and Albertsons like they’re in a Christmas parade.

Horns honk, tempers flair and expletives fly. Part of the problem is the Montclair post office, where mail employees and motorists alike find it perfectly acceptable to double-park. It’s a bottleneck anyway, and suddenly you’re down to one lane. It’s enough to turn even the jolliest old soul into a curmudgeon.

Then you’ve got the Raiders. There’s been no joy in Oaktown this year, with Randy Moss sidelined and an offense that runs like my daddy’s old Studebaker. Their Christmas weekend loss didn’t help. I counted five altercations, four stumbling drunks, three provocations, two rude dudes and the closest thing to a partridge in a pear tree — a guy who kept flipping the bird.

There is light at the end of the tunnel — or in this case, Highway 13. The holiday lights on Picardy Lane are a symbol of unity in a decade of dissension. It’s not too late to take the drive down Seminary to the sweet little street full of storybook homes, bedecked in bulbs of all colors. To me, it’s more than just a Christmas display. It’s a beacon of hope for the season and the year to come.

PARK PROGRESS: Santa’s elves have been busy in Shepherd Canyon Park. With cash from a Measure DD grant, volunteer Adrienne Bryant and her merry band of helpers has been pulling pesky cape ivy and replacing it with native grasses in the meadow above Escher Creek.
“Sometimes the progress is hard to see because we chip away at it a bit at a time,” says reader Mike Petouhoff, “but the effort is steady over time.” Speaking of progress — look for the city to expand the parking lot at the popular soccer park this spring.

ABOUT TOWN: Attention shoppers. Albertsons becomes a Save Mart sometime next year and customers are curious about the changes. Will it mean a warehouse-type store for Montclair? Most folks hope not, saying that kind of discount market would detract from the village charm. As it is, there has been an increase in theft since Albertsons changed hands and closed some of its nearby locations. Just the other day police caught a man trying to steal $500 worth of razor blades, a crime he readily admitted was to support his drug habit.

FURRY TRIBUTE: It’s with a twinge of sadness that I announce the passing of Droopie the dog at Thornhill Nursery. Customers remember Droopie as the hound who used to bound through the rows of plants and trees, keeping the wildlife in check. In later years, Droopie preferred napping by the fireplace or in a tucked-away corner of the hillside nursery. Droopie is gone, now — to that big dog park in the sky.

Got news? You can reach Ginny Prior by phone at 510-273-9418 or on the Web at www.ginnyprior.com. Ginny’s radio “ginettes” can be heard on Sirius Satellite channel 122 at 4 p.m. each Saturday.

I tend to look up a lot at this time of year. The winter sky is an amazing pallet of steel blue and gray, as ominous clouds race across the horizon. Each winter storm brings snow to the Sierra, and occasionally to Bay Area peaks. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d see an ice rink in Montclair.

Last week’s Montclair Village Stroll offered skating to little tykes, who really took to the experience. Most had never been on ice, and they looked more like bumper cars than skaters. But it reminded me of the times in Montclair when winter really embraced us. As in 1988, when it snowed during my Christmas open house. And a few years later, when big, white flakes swirled through the air as I did laps at the Hills Swim Club. And more recently, when we had enough slushy stuff to build a snowman in our neighborhood.

Winter is my favorite season. While some may hope for sunshine, I pray for snow. And if it spills over from Lake Tahoe to the Bay Area, then my season is complete.

AROUND TOWN: Montclair’s newest merchant is a punk rocker who moved to the Bay Area several years ago with her band “The Spam Grenades.”

Today, she owns Cinder Bischoff Designs in Ink at 5772 Thornhill Road, where her silk-screened clothing and artwork shines in the little gold shop with the T-shirt-shaped sign. Cinder’s creative streak can even be seen in her name. Her friends call her Cinder Block, a moniker she used when she helped start a music merchandising company in Oakland in 1989. That business ballooned into an operation that employs more than 150 people today. But for Generation Xers, she may be best known for her punk band Tilt, which toured with Green Day in the 1990s. Like most artists, Cinder draws from her life experiences. Her art “releases pressure,” as she puts it, and is considered deeply intriguing, if not downright violent. Perhaps it’s the perfect gift for that unique individual on our list. If not, it’s still an interesting place to peak in.

LIFE SAVER: Taylor Miller knows how to keep cool under pressure. As a retired Oakland police officer from the hills, he’s seen just about every emergency situation. So it’s no surprise to hear that he saved a life, recently, on a vacation in Amsterdam. His wife, Julie, says they were walking along when a guy literally fell to the ground right in front of them. Taylor gave the man CPR and started his heart in seconds.

“I’m sure the guy was shocked to see my husband on top of him, practically kissing him,” laughs Miller. But a stranger’s lips are a small price to pay for a new lease on life.

METER MADNESS: Raise your hand if you think the parking situation in Montclair is getting out of hand. Readers are complaining about the dozens of broken meters all over the village. Some motorists are keeping plastic bags in their cars to mark the mangled meters — but they’re still getting tickets. Talk about the Grinch who stole Christmas.

E-MAIL BAG: The controversy over a tree removal plan at Montclair’s St. John’s Episcopal Church has spawned at least one Web site and a documentary. Reader Molly Dutton-Kenny says Skyline High School junior Adam Brooks has started the Web site www. thornhilltreelovers.com. And a senior at Bishop O’Dowd, Scott Hanshew, is doing a documentary on the subject.

“You know it is an interesting story when even teenagers start standing up for trees,” Dutton-Kenny writes.

THE TOWN CRIER: GINNY PRIOR

Show at AT&T Park previews winter thrills

I’M SURROUNDED by snow as you read this — right here in San Francisco. I’m at Icer Air 2006, a pre-season ski event at AT&T Park. The same folks who blew snow down the streets of San Francisco last year have trucked in more than 200 tons of snow for this event, which features the top 20 skiers and snowboarders in the world. All I can say after watching the action is “Bring on winter!”

GREAT NIGHT OUT: I popped into a cool San Francisco club the other night and found it was owned by Montclair dad Ben Doren. Levende Lounge, at the corner of Mission and Duboce, is Doren’s first bar and restaurant and evolved out of his niche for hosting big parties and events.

“Entertainment was a big part,” he says, “but then we hired a chef.”

The food, I can tell you, is fantastic. And on Sundays they even have a “Boogie Brunch” with breakfast, Bloody Mary bar and a live DJ. Doren says he wants to open a second bar and restaurant in Oakland.

“I’ve got the liquor license and it’s good for 90 days,” he says, so he has to look fast. I’m hoping he’ll take a look at the Montclair Women’s Club building, which is on the market and crying out for a high-class entertainment venue.

Speaking of a great time out, Marlo Thomas is starring in a tasty collection of one-act plays at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre in Fort Mason Center. As a young girl, Thomas made such an impression on me with “That Girl” that I had to see her in “Moving Right Along.” She didn’t disappoint, with a poignant portrayal of a wealthy woman whose privileged life had stunted her emotional maturity. And while Thomas was brilliant, she didn’t overshadow the other talent.

Mark Rydell played a dark yet comedic role as a desperate writer in the first short play, “Killing Trotsky.” All in all, “Moving Right Along” is a fitting way for the Magic Theatre to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

E-MAIL BAG: Hills homeowner Chris Cariffe says he was amused by last week’s reader’s comment linking Montclair’s aging sidewalks to a lack of taxpayer money.

“Especially after opening up my $10K, 2006-2007 property tax statement,” he writes. “I don’t see that Alameda County can be operating on a ‘shoestring’ if they are getting this from the residents every year.”

FAREWELL TOAST: Brian Goehry would like to say “thank you” to his former customers at Montclair Wine and Spirits. As the manager for more than 10 years, he says he developed quite a bond with folks in the village, and he hopes to open his own wine shop someday in Oakland.

Meanwhile, Brian will sip on selections from his own cellar and enjoy some well-deserved time off.

ANIMAL TALES: My driveway seems to see more than just cars these days. Two weeks ago, I spotted a one-antlered deer coming up the path. Just yesterday it was a fox — a small brown critter that looked more like a dingo. Neither animal is as exotic, though, as the menagerie reported by reader Laura Thomas, whose plumber not only keeps snakes in his house but a miniature alligator. I wouldn’t want to see one of those on my driveway.

WHAT IS IT about autumn that makes time accelerate? Even the squirrels seem rushed, scuttling about as they pile up their nuts for winter.

For humans, it’s more complicated, of course — although seemingly just as nuts. Parents race between school and work. Kids race to their sporting events and big social functions. We’re stressed out, racing about, and we haven’t even hit the holidays yet.

Life in the fast lane can spawn accidents. Take the terrifying incident in Montclair the other day, where a pedestrian was pinned between two cars. Witnesses say the woman was standing between two parked vehicles, talking to a friend, when the SUV in front of her started its engine.

The driver apparently didn’t see the woman and the woman wasn’t aware that the driver was backing up. Suddenly, she was being crushed between tons of metal and her blood-curdling screams brought the driver to a screeching halt. Thanks to the clear heads of a few passersby, she was freed when they physically lifted the unoccupied car behind her. It’s a lesson for all of us — to slow down and be aware of our surroundings.

E-MAIL BAG: Reaction continues to pour in regarding my recent column on aging sidewalks in Oakland.

DeAnna Wilkins says she’s been trying to get the city Public Works Department to fix a broken curb in front of her house since 1998. The irony is, the curb started crumbling after a city truck backed up on it — an incident that at least one neighbor witnessed. After repeated calls to city officials, Wilkins finally got a response the other day. But it wasn’t the one she wanted.

“They sent me a notice saying that I was responsible for repairing the strip!” she says, exasperated with the whole situation.

Meanwhile, reader Larry Jacobs writes: “Regarding the terrible condition of the sidewalks, it dovetails nicely into the pot-holed condition of the roadways. And the decrepit condition of the schools … and on and on.”

Jacobs says we complain, but are unwilling to tax ourselves to pay for these infrastructure improvements.

“When you try to operate a government on a shoestring, you get poor service,” he laments.

CAFFEINATION STATIONS: Where does the highly caffeinated crowd go now that Peete’s is temporarily closed in Montclair? Apparently, it’s Nelly’s Java, which has seen a big boom in business since its rival started a recent remodel. One longtime Nelly’s customer said she can hardly get her favorite table since the extra customers started coming. For her part, though, I’m sure Nelly hopes her Peete’s customers will be re-peats.

RUMOR MILL: Speaking of coffee, rumor has it that Starbucks is opening a kiosk in the Montclair Albertson’s. It’s not true, a customer service rep told me the other day. He said a Starbucks kiosk was sitting in their garage, but it was going to another store.

“There wouldn’t be room in our Albertson’s” he says, “especially with the long deli cases.”

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL: If you love Halloween as much as I do, then head down the mountain to the little school in the Redwoods this weekend. Canyon School’s annual Halloween carnival is this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features live music, a barbecue, games and the best haunted house in the hills and beyond. With Pinehurst Road still closed for slide repairs, you’ll have to take Redwood Road to get there, but it’s worth the drive. Happy haunting!