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The New Office
Ashby Village's new home at 1821 Catalina, Ave., Berkeley. Photo by Richard Bermack
 
Ashby Village's New Home
By Charlene Depner
 

Ashby Village greets 2017 in its new Thousand Oaks location at 1821 Catalina Ave., Berkeley CA.  September’s devastating fire left Berkeley’s First Congregational Church, our six-year host at the Durant Avenue location, desperately in need of office space.  Thanks to the vigorous community effort of Ashby Village members, volunteers, and friends, we were able to meet our goal to return the Durant Ave. space to First Church by the end of December.

 

There are many people to thank for this effort.  In particular, Ari Rokeach, Real Estate Advisor at Newmark Cornish & Carey, who searched for prospective office locations; Richard Shapiro, Farella Braun + Martell, LLC, who provided legal advice; Linda Jacobs, for project assistance; and Ashby Village member Charlie Schad, who knew about potential space in his own neighborhood.  Charlie  introduced Executive Director Andy Gaines to Rev. Titus Vu, minister at Thousand Oaks Baptist Church and facilitated a conversation about their organizations’ common vision for purposeful aging, support, and community service.  As Rev. Titus. 75, put it, “We were on the same wave length.” 

 

Thousand Oaks Baptist Church has a small, diverse congregation noted for supporting numerous community outreach efforts. Rev. Titus, minister there since 1985, was born in Shanghai, China, immigrated to Hong Kong at 15, later to British Columbia, and finally to Berkeley. He has worked as a teacher, academic, and minister.  Rev. Titus says that Ashby Village is an important ally in meeting the needs of an aging population, a mission that is “always where my heart is.”

 

The new location offers plenty of space for Ashby Village’s burgeoning calendar of events and activities.  We have access to the Julia Morgan Hall, conference rooms, meeting space, a garden, and a full working kitchen.  “The new location has lots of potential to create community,” says Charlie Schad, who lives in the neighborhood and is active in the Thousand Oaks Hamlet. “There is more space for members to spend time together face-to-face.” 

 

Village Members were quick to lend a hand in preparing our new space.  Thanks to Melissa Beidler, Luciano Corazza, Roger Newman and all who participated in the three-day “Hearts N’ Hands in Reverse” effort to ready us for the move.  Volunteers helped with demolition, IT configuration, repair, cleaning, painting, packing and unpacking.

 

The new Thousand Oaks site will open its doors in January and will be the site for the January 6 Happy Hour at 4 p.m.  Plans for an Open House are underway.

 





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