Montclair’s Ken Betts Chevron station has reopened for gas in daylight hours only after last week’s rash of car-ramming break-ins across Oakland.
The early-morning March 11 incident at Betts Chevron — one of the city’s five gas station burglaries in three days — knocked out the electrical panel. The car used in the crime also damaged the building when it rammed through the front of the service station.
Station employee Tommy Ng says management will try out 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. gas pump hours daily for the next couple of weeks as inspectors assess the damage. Employee safety after dark s also a concern since the front of the building is boarded up and workers can’t see through the window.
Daniel Swafford, the Montclair Village Association’s executive director, says there’s a “growing call to pressure the city, county, state to apprehend burglars and robbers that are pillaging Oakland‘s business district[s].” The late Ken Betts’ granddaughter, Marissa Betts, says she has “anxiety and frustration with the city.”
The timeline of the March 11 incidents, along with a Oakland Police Department policy that prohibits officers from chasing suspects fleeing property crimes, adds to the frustration.
Officers arrived at the Lakeshore service station just as several suspects were fleeing but they did not pursue. Just 15 minutes later, thieves rammed and ransacked the Montclair Chevron, and 15 minutes after that, the Ken Betts on Redwood Road was hit.
Perle closing: Fans of the fine dining establishment Perle in the Oakland hills’ Montclair Village district have been saying goodbye this week after the owners announced the restaurant’s upcoming March 30 closure.
Chef/owner Rob Lam and business partner Marcus Garcia ran the upscale wine bar and bistro for eight years, bringing a flair to Montclair Village that rivaled restaurants in Rockridge and on Piedmont Avenue.
“We love the Montclair community,” says Garcia, “and we hate to close … but we’ve been trying to find the silver lining and make it work for awhile, now.”
Garcia said the COVID-19 pandemic and what’s going on in Oakland have made staying in business challenging. Lam was more specific, telling reporters they were unable to negotiate a lower “prepandemic” rent and citing the “grit and corruption” in Oakland.
Perle will continue to operate until the end of the month, with Garcia confirming that March 30 will be its last day of service.
“We’ll be trying to say hello and goodbye to those who’ve been like family to us over the last eight years,” says Garcia. “Hopefully we will see you again down the road.”
Art escape: If you have a hankering for art, the Montclair and Piedmont libraries have free monthly classes that are growing in popularity. Graphic artist Jeni Paltiel, who owns Lellobird Illustration and Design in Montclair, says she enjoys seeing the community come together.
“We’ve been having a great turnout and a lot of fun exploring different media and methods,” she says, adding that people seem to like print making the most. “Pressing leaves, flowers and vegetables — you can make a lot of images without feeling like you have to draw.”
The classes are from for the 6 to 7:30 p.m. Next month’s free classes are on April 9 (natural art printing) at the Piedmont Library and April 15 (flower art) at the Montclair Library. You don’t need supplies or previous experience, and attendees ages 12 and older are welcome.
Speaking of free offerings, the Montclair Library also has a free book club that meets the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. You can see their book list and find out more at montclairfriends.org.
Ginny Prior can be reached at ginnyprior@hotmail.com and followed on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and at ginnyprior.com.