IT’S MORNING in Montclair. Sleepy-eyed people start to congregate — looking for coffee and a little conversation. The line grows at Starbucks, where the really “hip” people have only to enter and their drink is being made. And each time they open the door, they let escape that wonderfully warm, nutty aroma of fresh-brewed coffee.

Just a few doors down is the Montclair Donut shop, where the Gaelic guys sit and read at the table in the back. Friends laugh, and call them the Irish prayer group. Rain or shine, they start their morning at the round table.

The cyclists and dog lovers hang out at Royal Ground. These are their spots, and the benches outside are well worn. I glance across the way and see a local celebrity of sorts, George Zimmer of Men’s Wearhouse fame. He’s warming his hands with a steaming cup of java and chatting with another man in front of Peet’s. His shirt is crisp and fresh — not a wrinkle in it. He almost looks too good for this time of morning, but you can’t fault a man for impeccable taste.

A man with a different kind of fashion sense catches my eye. Rocky Becker is opening the old Montclair Barber Shop. “Have you got a customer already?” I ask him, a little surprised at his early business hours. “I open when I like,” he tells me, and that makes sense. Rocky is a rebel of sorts, with his dark leather jacket, silver-black hair and belt buckle sporting the confederate flag. He’s Al Davis’ barber, and he fits the Raider’s image — strong and self assured.

I stop for a moment to pet a blond dog. He’s sprawled across the sidewalk like he owns it. His “master” is somewhere, having a cup of coffee, no doubt. It’s all part of the scene in Montclair in the morning. That time between sunrise and 9 a.m., when folks have a little more time to linger. The sounds, the smells, the gentle way we ease into our day — this is the Village at its best.

Cyber book club

With the high cost of book these days, here’s an idea that lets you try … before you buy. It’s the Oakland Library’s online book club.

Just log on to http://www.oaklandlibrary.org and pick your favorite category of books, including mysteries, fiction and non-fiction, romance novels and even spiritual selections. Type in your e-mail address, and you’ll start getting a 5-minute portion of the “book of the week” by e-mail, each Monday through Friday.

If the book is a bore, just delete it. If you can’t get enough, you can buy it or get on a list at the library. What a great idea!

E-mail bag

On the subject of recent cuts in bus service in the hills, reader Don Mackey writes: “I thought that it might be helpful for you to know that we have an empty bus going up and down Snake Road in Montclair.”

He says that if the route were monitored, it might make sense for the bus service to be reallocated from Snake to an area with heavier ridership. Like most of us, Mackey says he hates to see empty buses driving around town polluting the air.

More e-mail

Oakland’s proposed legislation to limit the number and kind of pets you can have is still causing a stir. Reader Liz Taylor says part of the charm of living in the hills would be lost if restrictions were too severe.

“When we first moved to our home,” she says, “our property was flanked by a scientist specializing in berries and heirloom fruit who used guinea fowl for pest control.”

“On the other side,” she adds, “(there was) a great family with four kids, five dogs, a horse, reptiles and a number of peafowl.”

Taylor says everything from dogs to rabbits and sheep have co-existed in her neighborhood for years and she’d hate to lose that.

Indecent exposure

Making eye contact with a stranger can get you more than an eyeful these days. Just ask reader Jean M. who reports seeing more than she wanted of a motorist on Thornhill Drive. Apparently, the guy drove past her once in a state of confusion, then past her again in a state of undress. Jean reported the incident to police but never heard if they got their hands on the flasher.

THE “MAYOR” of Montclair is an animal, and believe me, that’s a compliment.

The pug Percy was given the nod in a mock election last week at Crogan’s, and the Village people have spoken.

Looking back, though, I do wonder about his qualifications. Was Percy, indeed, the best beast for the job? After all, the Montclair Antique’s mascot has been sighted (you notice I didn’t say cited) watering the landscape on more than one occasion. A victimless crime, you say? Not if you’re the poor defenseless plant.

Reader’s forum

My piece on the hills motorist who found a nasty note on her SUV has precipitated yet another response. Reader S. Friedlander says, “T’wer me, I would ask the people who were leaving notes on her SUV to say: ‘Please leave it at home and take the bus or walk, or even take your bike — but try to use your car as little as possible.'”

Friedlander says it does no good to demand that someone sell their SUV, when many folks may need a bigger vehicle for work.

Speaking of cars, reader M. Liu says she has a Honda Civic hybrid and is feeling “great these days given the high price of gas.” She’d like me to mention Honda when I write about hybrids and tell readers there will soon be an Accord hybrid to rival the Prius, which I so dearly love to promote. “The more the merrier in the spare the air effort,” she says, and I agree.

Remembering Reagan

President Ronald Reagan’s recent death brought back memories of the time I traveled to his Santa Barbara ranch. Part of a very small group of reporters, I was treated to a side of Reagan that was both real and heart-warming. He showed me his favorite things that day, including the modest home he helped build with his own hands.

His spirit was contagious and he went on that year to lead our nation as president. So it touched me when I heard about the candlelight ceremony for Reagan at several Sunrise Senior Living locations, including one in Oakland. Sunrise offers Alzheimer’s care and used the event to pay tribute, not only to the brave people battling this disease, but to their selfless care-givers.

Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America by calling toll-free to 866-AFA-8484.

All’s ‘fair’

Get out the bib and the overalls, it’s time for the Alameda County Fair. There’s no better place to pig out on pork rinds and popcorn than Pleasanton, the quintessential place for a hometown celebration.

And speaking of food, there’s a wingding of an event this year, with the First Annual Hot Wing Face-Off on Saturday, July 10. Contestants have 20 minutes to prepare their raw wings on a two-burner propane cooktop in front of an audience. You can download entry forms on the Web at http://www.alamedacountyfair.com. May the best marinade win!

Punny plate

Spotted on a vintage sedan in the Oakland hills, the vanity plate: “75 SWINGR.” Rudy D. says the car sported an added feature — a hula girl bobbing wildly on the back shelf.

WISHES CAN come true, if you find the right “genie.” Just ask Michael Scott, an East Oakland school principal. He had a dream to energize the student body and beautify the campus at E. Morris Cox Elementary School. But without the money, he needed some magic to pull it off.

What came instead was divine intervention, from the Faith Network of the East Bay. The group hooked Scott up with Berkeley muralist Edythe Boone, who shared his mission and saw the benefits to the school and the neighborhood. The mural was unveiled on the playground this week and the sense of pride was heartwarming. You hear plenty of bad news about Oakland schools. But the good news comes from small acts of kindness like these.

Horsing around

For folks who don’t spend enough time with their four-legged friends, there’s a new horse camp at Lake Del Valle in Livermore. Complete with watering troughs and corrals, you can come down off the dusty trails and rest a spell, with your trusty steed nearby.

Since so many hills folks have horses, you may want to check this out: the town of Rio Linda hosts a cowboy-mounted shoot in which you ride horseback, shooting .45-caliber revolvers, racing the clock and firing at … water balloons. Someone should have come up with this 200 years ago. They could have tamed the old West a lot sooner.

One man’s trash…

Think of this as a Goodwill store for homeowners. At ReStore in San Leandro, you can buy everything from cabinets to doors, plumbing supplies to power tools — all donated by people with good hearts and the need for a tax write-off.

ReStore is the recycling shop run by Habitat for Humanity, and the money raised there goes to build new homes for low-income families. It’s a win-win for everybody. Contractors and business people can get rid of excess supplies (without dumping them in a landfill), shoppers get good stuff at great discounts, and Habitat for Humanity gets a new source of cash. For more information, call 510-251-2604.

E-mail bag

I apparently struck a nerve with last week’s story about a reader who found a nasty note on the windshield of her SUV in Berkeley.

Carol Siegal says she had a similar experience in Berkeley last summer when she left a bag on a broken meter, only to return and find a “venomous” note by someone who accused her of being too cheap to pay to park.

“I felt like the adrenaline was pumping through me in anger for the next hour!” she wrote, adding, “the meter really didn’t work.” Carol’s car seems to attract anonymous notes.

Now she’s getting them in front of her own house by a group claiming to be the Claremont Woodlands Neighborhood Association. The official-looking memos state there’s no street parking allowed, but Carol knows it’s not true. “What does all this say about our society?” she wonders?

Montclair on the air

The radio station that calls itself “the Bone” (107.7 FM) is looking for a few good dogs in Montclair.

The station will be broadcasting from the Village on June 18 (from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Crogan’s), and holding a mock election for a new canine mayor. Candidates will have to knock Percy the pug off his perch. The pug that holds court at Montclair Antiques has been the top dog around here for several years.

I’VE OFTEN WONDERED about the legacy I’ll leave. Will people, decades from now, look back on my column and smile? The pages will have yellowed, and I will have mellowed. But, hopefully, the words will hold meaning.

While I’m thankful to have this outlet, there are other ways to leave one’s mark, like the story-telling group Polly Johnson founded at Montclair Presbyterian Church.

“We’ve been getting together every Tuesday morning for five years,” says Carol Peacock, who hosts the gals weekly at her house.

They’re all grandmothers and women of accomplishment, with lives full of happiness and heartache.

“We’ve become very good friends because we know each other’s history and struggles,” she says, adding that more than 60 people have written and shared their life’s stories with the group. Their “shares” include everything from tender childhood memories to bouts with family illnesses and troubles.

Peacock, herself, is up to 350 handwritten pages. Each week, she journals her journey through life, from birth and beyond. “Then we sit at the table, always in the same spots and the same order, and take turns reading our work.”

After each lady reads, a discussion ensues, and life lessons are shared. Then it’s on to the next story, and the next.

“It’s just been wonderful, personally,” says Peacock, who admits she would never have written all those chapters without a weekly deadline. But years later, the laughter and tears are still flowing, and the stories being told will never be forgotten.

Remembering Faith

It was just last October that longtime KTVU reporter Faith Fancher lost her battle with breast cancer. Her courageous campaign touched us all and brought powerful people together to fund outreach and research.

In Faith’s honor, the first annual “Leap of Faith” dinner is being held at Scott’s Seafood Restaurant on Thursday, June 3. Money raised that night will go toward the new Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. If you’d like to go, and I hope you will, call 510-204-1667 for more information.

Strange sightings

Is it my imagination, or is this Prius craze getting a little scary? Like a scene from a sci-fi movie, a pod of Prius proceeded down Park Boulevard the other day. My seaside pearl was surrounded by two silvers, a blue and a purple.

If it’s not bad enough that we travel in groups, some of us have satellite mapping systems. A voice from my dash speaks to me. It knows where I’m going, and it follows my movement on a little screen. I could be worried, but what’s a little paranoia when you’re getting 50 miles to the gallon?

Tick tock

Plans for a clock in Montclair Village are moving ahead. Thanks to Al Atallah, owner of Raimondi’s Paint and Wallpaper, for sharing some possible designs.

Deep thinking

We’ve covered life’s stories, but what about death? It’s a much tougher topic to tackle, but one that the First Congregational Church of Berkeley is ready to deal with on Sunday, June 6. With a panel of spiritual leaders, speakers will explore thoughts on what happens to people after they die, and how our views of the afterlife affect the way we live. For more information, call 510-848-3696.

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I’VE FOUND something out about myself this month: I have Greek envy. I’m a Greek woman trapped in the body of a Minnesotan — and I must come out. So the other night, I was dining on dolmas and fine Greek wine, when I looked over and saw two tables full of folks from Montclair.

What a small world. Here I was at Papas’ Taverna on the Petaluma River, and hills attorney Jim Pandell was celebrating his 60th birthday with a couple dozen of his closest friends right next to me. It makes perfect sense, too. If I were him, I’d want to ring in 60 with a belly dancer.

If you’ve never been to Papas’, you need to get there right away. Just 5 miles from the gorgeous Petaluma Sheraton, Papas’ is like a taverna in Greece, with funny little knickknacks on the walls and ceiling.

Our waitress, Sandy, says she came up the river on a dingy one day and never left. Other customers come by bike, car and sea plane — it’s that special. “We discovered it when a co-worker was wearing a Papas’ Y-shirt,” Diana Pandell tells me. “It seemed like the perfect place to have a birthday party.”

It’s also the perfect place to celebrate life. And you don’t have to have a jewel in your navel to do it.

More Greek speak

While I’m on the subject, Oakland’s Ascension Cathedral did a bang up job with last weekend’s Greek Festival. Despite the construction of a new chapel and parking structure (which altered my favorite festival taverna), they still managed to cram thousands of revelers into the church halls and outdoor patio. The marketplace was buzzing, the music was great and the gyros were better than ever.

Mail bag

Reader G. Parker tells me the Skyline High class of ’64 is having their 40th reunion. Alumni who can still fit into their prom gowns or tuxes are encouraged to do so, as the committee is going for that “fresh squeezed” look. Bee-hive hair-do’s are also welcome, although just for the women. The shindig is set for Saturday, July 31, at the Bellevue Club on the shores of Lake Merritt. For more information, see http://www.skyline64reunion.com.

Tick tock

There’s talk of a clock, again, in Montclair Village. A lot of you remember the old town clock, which faithfully told the time and temperature for years on what’s now the Montclair Malt Shop.

In fact, Malt Shop owner Maurine Marie says she’ll never forget that huge clock. It told her that she got cold at 42 degrees.

That wonderful landmark disappeared decades ago. But each time there’s talk of Village improvements, the idea of a clock comes up. So the Montclair Village Association is looking at plans for a new timepiece near La Salle and Mountain.

If you ask me, this will help establish a town center. It’s an idea “whose time has come.”

Rumor mill

Word has it that Gary’s Grill and Bar is being sold. Word is wrong.

Owner Gary Wong says he’s been trying to sell his place for months, but people run away “faster than anything” when they find out the rent is more than $5,000 a month. He says he’ll keep his restaurant open “month to month” for right now.

Face value

If a good facial can take years off your age, then Michelle Slonecker has collectively taken centuries off folks in this town. Since the days when her clients included actress Diane Carroll (at Touch of Class on Liemert Boulevard), Michelle has been building a steady base of freshly scrubbed faces.

And now that she’s found a sweet little studio downstairs in Dina’s hair salon on Park Boulevard, Michelle is busier than ever. Happy second anniversary in your new location, Michelle. Thanks for keeping us all young.

Punny plate

Spotted on a green sedan near Alta Bates hospital, the vanity plate TACOMOM.

Jim. C. wonders what kind of gas mileage the driver gets — on her trips “south of the border.”

I’M NOT MUCH for jumping on bandwagons. I usually wait until they’re flying down the highway, then I throw myself on and hope for the best. But I’m proud to say I got on board one band wagon early. I’ve been rooting for Oakland’s “American Idol” star, La Toya London, for months. That’s why I can’t believe she was eliminated from the competition Wednesday night.

London was the odds-on favorite. She’d been singing since she was a child, according to her step-dad, Bill Morse of Oakland. “She always had a beautiful voice,” he told me, “and she was raised in the church, singing with the youth choir at Allen Temple Baptist.” Morse, had been putting out an “Idol update” each week for his co-workers at the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

Oakland Realtor Susan Jones is a friend of London’s who says the singer has a lot of other interests, including being a real e-state agent. The money is the appeal, says Jones, who adds that London also likes the flexible schedule.

Now that her “Idol” competition is over, London can pursue other dreams. Whether it be real estate, or music, or some other endeavor, Oakland is proud of her efforts. It’s the best publicity we’ve had since the Raiders were in the Superbowl. Too bad the outcome was the same.

Strange bedfellows

Dieting and dessert — they go together like a girdle and a bikini. But somehow, a Montclair chocolatier has managed to forge a friendship with the Weight Watchers franchise next to his new candy shop.

Michael Mischer Chocolates is now open at 3352 Grand Ave., between the diet center and Dominos Pizza. A pastry chef from Germany, he makes dreamy chocolate in seductive shapes like diamonds and pears.

“When people come in from next door, I greet them with the words ‘two pieces for three points,'” he says, referring to the point system these dieters use.

And it works. While I was there, a woman came in and said, “This is a hell of a location.” Then she ordered a gelato.

Armchair travels

Round and round the big wheel goes, and where it stops, Jeff Greenwald goes. He’s the Oakland journalist who uses a wheel of fortune for his one-man travelogue.

Without giving too much away, his stories include the bizarre tale of the time he hitchhiked a ride with two people who turned out to be escaped murderers.

When the wheel lands on Iran, he weaves a yarn of romance in a strange land, during a total eclipse of the sun. And then there’s the story of the sea captain who went out of his way to make his pores reek of garlic.

Each symbol (the wheel has 30) triggers a story, and each evening is like a journey.

You can catch Greenwald’s “Strange Travel Suggestions” May 19 and 26 at the Marsh in San Francisco. For more information, check the Web at http://www.jeffgreenwald.com.

Stepping up

Thanks to reader Perry Graham for filling me in on the community spirit at the Village Market. He says owners Jim and Janie Trimble welcomed the opportunity to sponsor his Babe Ruth/Cal Ripkin baseball team, the Grizzlies, by paying for equipment and other necessities.

More and more, this league relies on small-business donations, since so many major donors have moved out of the area. In return, Babe Ruth has given us some of our greatest all time sports heroes, including Willie Stargell, Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson.

Punny plate

Spotted on a new green Mercedes in Oakland, the vanity plate: NDULGNC. Jeff N. says with the price of gas these days, it’s indulgence every time you hit the highway.

SUDDENLY IT’S SUMMER, and I’m not prepared. For one thing, I’ve still got my winter body. It’s a body of sugar and carbs that I’ve worked on since Halloween. I don’t shed it until June. Secondly, my house is not ready for sunlight. Bright, streaming sunlight puts every cobweb and dust bunny in a spotlight. It’s not a good look, unless you’re the Munsters.

But there’s one more thing that’s catching me by surprise — a seasonal ritual that yields big fruit, if you work it just right: the garage sale.

My friend Sheila O’Connor is a garage sale expert. She holds over a dozen of these events a year and has these tips. First, tag each item with its estimated retail price. That way, the mark-down shows folks what a bargain they’re getting. Second, lure buyers in with a box of free things right out front.

“Even better,” says O’Connor, is “a box marked ‘free with any purchase.'” And don’t forget to advertise with signs and a free listing on Craigslist under garage sales. “But wait till the morning of the sale or your ad will get lost in the hundreds that are advertised,” she adds.

Finally, if you’re planning a garage sale, give me a call. I’ve used up my bulky-waste pickup day, and I really need to get rid of some stuff.

One man’s trash

Speaking of unwanted items, hills businessman Mort Landsberg has found a way to turn trash into treasure. His organization — Philanthropy By Design — takes things like used hotel carpet and other throw-aways and uses them to help remodel non-profit centers. Since 1987 they’ve helped over one hundred organizations in the Bay Area and saved tons of material from being tossed in the landfills.

“One place that really touched me was a home I did for recovering alcoholics,” Mort says. “It was filthy and when we were done it was beautiful.” After that, the residents took such pride in their home that they asked folks to take off their shoes at the door, he says. For more information on this wonderful charity, check the Web at http://www.pbd.org.

Healing touch

In a charming old building that speaks well of Oakland’s past, you can get in touch with more than just history. Massage therapist Pamela Falkowski shows you how to listen to your body.

“We usually pay attention to our bodies only when they break down,” she says. But a massage she offers called the Trager Approach lets you relax while you learn where your body needs attention.

Pam also knows the ancient art of Amma Therapy, which she uses in a deep-tissue massage that moves energy around, to balance it in the body. These techniques take a lot of study, and you can’t find specialists in these methods easily — but Pam is an expert. Also deeply spiritual, she offers her massage services on a sliding scale and can be reached at 510-986-0720.

Tell me why

Why mess with a winner? That once distinctive café called Carrara’s on Broadway’s Auto Row has remodeled. They shouldn’t have. The charm of this restaurant was the space they shared with the neighboring car dealership. I got the biggest kick out of eating and watching the salesmen on the showroom floor. Apparently not everyone shared my enthusiasm and management was getting complaints about the car dealer distractions. A wall went up and now Carrara’s is just like so many other trendy cafés.

You go girl

And finally, the A’s aren’t the only thing we’re rooting for in Oakland right now. La Toya London is heading down the home stretch in the TV mega-hit “American Idol.” Twenty-five years old and beautiful, London is the odds-on favorite to win the competition. And why not? She’s been singing since she was 2, and she even goes by just one name, like Cher. So go, London. Make Oakland proud. But don’t forget to come back home — we need more shining stars like you.

I’VE NEVER thought much about self defense. I’ve just always assumed that I would kick the daylights out of anyone who tried to attack me. I’d go for the kneecaps or the groin — and then run like crazy.

But that didn’t work for a friend of mine. She was accosted by two thugs in her parking garage. They roughed her up and took her purse. She ended up moving out of her Grand Lake neighborhood.

If you look at the statistics, they’re alarming. Three out of four women will be the victims of violent crime in the U.S. And watching Steven Segal movie or “Dirty Harry” won’t teach you self defense.

Doug Jones will. A fourth-degree black belt, Doug has studied martial arts for more than 30 years and runs DJ’s Martial Art and Fitness Unlimited on MacArthur Boulevard.

He knows what it’s like to win a fight. “I was diagnosed with cancer in 1983,” he says, “and I was given six months to live.” Twenty-one years later, his mission is more clear than ever — make his community safer and stronger.

Watching Doug donate his time to teach the eighth-grade class of Corpus Christi School was fascinating. He showed them maneuvers and yells to ward off attackers. It was serious business, but he did it with humor and fun.

When I left his studio in the Laurel district, I recalled the words I’d read in Doug’s brochure: “As I grow stronger I also grow wiser . . . sometimes it’s best to just walk away. Other times I must stand my ground.” It reminded me of the words of another strong man — Teddy Roosevelt. “Walk softly, but carry a big stick.” In my mind, these are words to live by.

Full circle

Round and round the pizza place goes — till it ends up back where it started — as a Round Table. Yes, Woodminister’s only pizza parlor is going back to the Round Table franchise. It’s life as a Paradise Pizza was short-lived, and it should re-open in about two weeks under the management of local businessman Alec Kerachi, who runs two San Francisco Round Tables.

“I have a reputation for reviving Round Tables,” Kerachi says, “and Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22, there’ll be free pizzas for everybody who attends and simply comes in and says ‘hello.’ ”

Kerachi says he’ll have an 8-foot-long salad bar at the Woodminster restaurant, and he’s expanding the seating, too. By the way, he’s negotiating to open Round Tables in Montclair (where Paradise Pizza is currently closed), in or near Piedmont, Grand Avenue and Emeryville.

Reader reactions

I had no idea folks were so passionate about their mail. Lots of comments are coming in about the new postal boxes in Montclair. After reading that the drive-by box at Colton and Mountain was overflowing, Lorraine Adams commented “Why don’t we just put another box there?” She says now that the publicity is out, people obviously are using it, and she often has cars in front of her and behind her when she goes to drop off her mail.

On a separate matter, there’s the idea that reader Tom McCord has to spruce up the shopping district. “People talk about making Montclair more than a village — well, something that Montclair could have that wouldn’t take much, is a huge clock.”

A lot of people agree with you, Tom, that a clock would be charming in the heart of the Village. Let’s hope the business association acts on the idea.

Paying the piper

Remember the fire safety measure that Oakland voted for in the last election? Well, the committee that pushed that assessment through is in debt — about $9,500.

Reader Jill Broadhurst says the group is looking for donations of all kinds to pay for campaign expenses. If you want to help, send your check to Keep Oakland Fire Safe, 33 Hiller Drive, Oakland, CA, 94618

Anchors aweigh

Boating on the Bay can set you back a few bills, unless you find a deal like this: It’s time again for the free public harbor tours at the Port of Oakland.

Once a month, starting May 20, you can get a free 90-minute ride up the Oakland Estuary. See the giant steel cranes as they lift and load. Watch the fourth-largest container port in the country — in full operation.

To reserve a spot on the next narrated tour, call 510-627-1188. Tours run through October.

OUR LITTLE TOWN is a pretty nice place to live. From the sweet Easter coloring contest at Safeway (you should see the size of the bunnies and baskets they’ve been giving away) to the hills full of chickens and goats and other farm pets, Montclair is unique. But like any town, people come and go — and change is always in the wind. So after eight years, it’s time to say good-bye to Michael Silverman and What the Traveller Saw.

His store was eclectic and exciting — a place that opened your eyes to the cultures and creations of far away places. His shop had a spirit and soul that will really be missed when he moves to Solano Avenue in Berkeley next month.

“I’ve made a lot of friends,” Silverman says, adding he’ll miss all the people who came in just to see his big sleepy Bernese mountain dog, Tara.

The thought of two locations crossed his mind, but it wasn’t financially feasible. On Solano Avenue, he’ll have a much bigger store in a high-traffic area.

So what happens to his space at 6128 La Salle Avenue? The good news is that long-time landlord, Ann Steppen, has carefully chosen another one-of-a-kind shop for this location. In just a few weeks, we’ll have a new culinary shop called Someone’s in the Kitchen, owned by a local entrepreneur, Jennifer Sandstrom. I’m sure she’ll do well with all the interest in eating, these days.

Other rumblings

Montclair may be getting a farmers market. It’s just a “seedling” of an idea right now, but it’s being explored by the Montclair Village Association. The board supports the idea and is looking at sites for a produce mart on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feel free to send me your comments, and I’ll pass them on to the powers that be.

Kids on stage

Congratulations to the Montclair 4H club for winning first place recently at Skit Night. Local dad Robert Ferguson says eight Alameda County clubs had three months to come up with their skits — which had to fit a “back to the future” theme.

The Montclair kids won with a plot that included 4H suddenly disappearing from the planet — leaving the children completely memorized by TV and junk food. Somehow it doesn’t seem that far fetched, but thank goodness it was only science fiction. The 4H clubs are alive and well as healthy outlets for our kids.

E-mail bag

Thanks to local Realtor Keith Sjoholm (Prudential California Realty) for spotting another positive travel piece on Oakland. The Sunday, April 18, New York Times had an article by local writer Megan Harlan — “The quirky heart of the East Bay.”

Her favorite Oakland haunts include A Cote, the trendy French cafe on College Ave, Everett and Jones BBQ — with its “tasty goop sauce” — and, of course, Yoshi’s and the Claremont, where you can dance and drink with the beautiful people. Rockridge gets a lot of ink in this story, but there’s nary a word on Montclair Village. Hmmmm.

Mail mania

It’s a clear case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease. After years and years of begging for a new Montclair mail drop, we now have three!

The U.S. Postal Service has responded in triplicate with a box at Mountain and Colton, another at Mountain and Scout, and a brand new box near the 7-Eleven on Thornhill — which went in last week.

The drive-by box at Colton is getting so much. One reader reported that it was practically overflowing the other day. Maybe the next step is to increase the number of pick-ups, at least at that box.

Minding manners

What is the proper etiquette for saving a seat on an airplane? On a sold out Southwest flight, just after boarding, I marked my seat with a magazine and water bottle before heading to the lavatory. Upon returning, I found a young woman in my seat.

“Did you see my things here?” I asked. “Yes I did,” she replied defiantly, “but you can’t save a seat here.”

It was like an episode of Seinfeld, I thought, as I struggled for words. “It’s called manners,” I blurted out as I found another seat. “It’s called an airplane,” she fired back, rolling her eyes.

So much for the friendly skies.

FARMS IN MONTCLAIR? You might be surprised at the number of folks who have chickens, goats and all manner of livestock in the hills. Take the Hawkey family, for instance. They’ve got a pair of goats, two rabbits and, count ’em — nine chickens.

You might say it’s a zoo at their house, but well worth it when you consider they don’t need a weed wacker and rarely buy eggs. And they aren’t the only ones.

Hills resident Liz Taylor says, “Your readers might be interested to know what a pleasant addition a few pet hens can be. Not only will they consume your kitchen scraps, they are also death on snails, flies, ticks and other pests.”

She says the steady supply of fresh eggs will put any store bought eggs to shame, not to mention the fertilizer the chickens provide, quite naturally. It’s no wonder Montclair has a thriving 4H chapter with the pet project of … raising chickens.

Speaking of animals

Knowing my penchant for cats, at least two readers have sent me clippings on how to keep tabby from turning your garden into a personal litter box. The best idea calls for spreading red pepper flakes liberally around your plants. Pussy soon learns that these spicy flakes are not fun on the tongue — thus they avoid padding through the peppered plant mixture.

E-mail bag

Thanks to Barbara Harrison for the kind words on my April 2 tribute to Crogan’s owner Bob Gattis. “We have just come off a long week of good-byes to our dearest friend of 30-plus years, and continue to be moved by the number of people who were affected by Bob’s spirit and largess,” she writes. “Though you didn’t know him, I think you got his essence. His wife, Anne, will be very pleased by your kind words.”

Snail mail

Business is reportedly picking up at the new drive-by mailbox at Mountain and Colton. Reader Nancy, aka “the slipper lady,” says she was mailing a check to the Waste Management Co. and had to wait for two cars that were ahead of her in the drop-off line. “Then as I started to drive away, another car pulled up to the box behind me. That was four drops within about 1 minute! Fantastic!!!” she adds (with triple exclamation points).

Innkeeper update

After a nationwide search, two new innkeepers are running the bed and breakfast at the East Bay’s own East Brother Light Station. The Spelmans bring an interesting blend of talents to this unique job.

Lucien Spelman is a first officer for Hornblower Cruises and has taught sailing on Lake Merritt. (He’s licensed to take guests by boat to and from the island). Isabella Spellman has been managing the Emeryville Marina and loves horticulture and interior design. Moving to the island (off the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge) means more room for both of them. They’ll be living in a house, now, instead of on a boat.

Flower power

Thanks to reader Kathy Castaldi for telling me about an East Bay woman who’s painting the town orange. Kathy says a co-worker gave her poppy seeds to plant and told her they were from a San Leandro woman with an organization called Native Daughters of the Golden West.

“One of their “missions” is planting poppy seeds all over California — so if you send a self-addressed stamped envelope to her, she’ll send you back poppy seeds to plant,” says Castaldi.

Indeed, the flower gal’s name is Carolyn Barber, writer her care of El Cereso Parlor #207, 2470 Washington Avenue #19, San Leandro, CA 94577. Native Daughters of the Golden West has been a fraternal organization for over a century, working to save the environment.

Speaking French

The Town Crier gets some interesting phone messages, but rarely in a foreign language. Reader Michelle DeRobertis had me pulling out my French/English dictionary the other day, when she told me her daughter, Nicola DeRobertis, a senior at St. Mary’s College High School, had tied for first place in a French speaking contest. Congratulations, Nicola, and merci, Michelle.