Model T Ride Drives Centenarian’s Surprise · Lafayette School District Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m. Regular Board Meeting District Office Board Room 3477 School St., Lafayette Alarms

NCS Boys’and Girls’Soccer –page C1-C2.

Sports C1-C3

Fencing tipsto keepgardensdeer- andcritter-free –page D16

Life in Lamorinda B1-B10

Fire Districts A8

Our Homes D1-D20

Orinda vetreceiveshighest Frenchmilitary honor– page B2.

MOFD analyzes Orindaresponse times – page A8.

Civic News A1-A12Palos Coloradosdevelopment discussionsresurface – page A4.

News A2 - A12Life in Lamorinda B1 - B10Not to be Missed B8-B9HOW TO CONTACT US B9Food B10Sports C1 - C3Classified C2Shop Orinda C4Our Homes D1 -20This Week Read About:Lafayette Council OKs sales tax study A2Revised plan for Hacienda A4Town and MCSP owners connect A5New OUSD Superintendent A7Orinda Surveillance Cameras discussed A6SMC French Film Festival B5THT ‘Angels in America,’ part two B4SMC basketball C3

Advertising

Independent, locallyowned and operated!

FREEwww.lamorindaweekly.com925-377-0977

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 • Vol. 9 Issue 26

When Saul Bashin turned 100 Feb. 20, his life hadcome full circle, and what a ride it has been. The

newly minted centenarian was back in the seat of a FordModel T, much like the one he first learned to drive at age12 in 1928. But the story gets better, because before Bashindrove his original Model T, he assembled it from spare autoparts lying in a bundle he spied at the side of a barn.

Bashin’s son, Bryan, says his father paid $12 for the parts

near his Los Angeles home. He loaded them into a little redwagon, hauled them home and built a Model T. The elderBashin was one of five children, and “a self-taught, scrappyyoung kid,” said his son. He was born in New York; the fam-ily moved to LA in the early 1920s. At 19, Bashin moved toDetroit to soak up automotive knowledge. He worked in a

defense plant during World War II where he learned aboutdrafting, aviation, and electromagnetic devices. Eventuallyhe designed solar powered systems for satellites. Every stepof the way the man was hands-on and self-taught. Eventoday, although hard of hearing, Saul Bashin remains “brightand connected,” said his son.

... continued on page A11

Model T Ride Drives Centenarian’s SurpriseBy Cathy Dausman

Smile. Police Body and Car Cameras Are Rolling By Cathy Tyson

Pulled over by one of Lafayette’s finest? Smile, because the police willnow be recording the audio and high definition video of the incident.

All 22 of the Lafayette police officers are now outfitted with small body-

worn video cameras to record interactions with the public. In addition, videocameras are installed in all police cars and will soon be coming to police mo-torcycles.

Although there are very few complaints, and those that are received are

mostly from “outsiders,” according to Chief Eric Christensen, the camerasprotect the public, officers, and the city by recording what actually happened.“It changes the dynamic,” says the Chief. “It’s our insurance policy.”

Cameras were approved last summer by the city council at a cost of

$75,000 and have been run through a series of tests since the fall. After thor-ough training, the police have been rolling the cameras since January. Eachbody-worn camera costs $775 per unit, and roughly $6,000 per police cruiser,in addition to a small amount for on-going data storage.

Technology makes the system very user-friendly. At the end of their

shifts, officers download the day’s interactions from their deck of cards-sizedbody camera onto a secure server in the office, where the information is keptfor two years, tagged and sorted by date. Officers can look at the encounter,but cannot delete or change anything. ... continued on page A11Officer Michael Marshall points to his body camera. Photo C. Tyson

Centenarian Saul Bashin, left, gets a birthday ride from BAHCC’s Don Azevedo in his 1914 brass-era Model T Ford. Photo Cathy Dausman

��

��

��

��

��

�� !�"##$��!��%&��

��'(�)*��+��*��,��-��.�

��

��

��

Will Call 6pm �� Doors Open 7 pm Showtime 8 pmV P S �

The Orinda Chamber of Commerce Presents

Liv e at the Orind

a

Live at the Orind

a

Liv e at the Orind

a 2 01

2 01

A Night of Comedy!

A Night of Comedy!

A Night of Comedy!

� �

� �

Advance tickets available @ www.orindachamber.org

b k k d d

CCCCCCCCCCCCooooooooommmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeddddddddddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyy,,,,, CCCCCCCCCCCChhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmpppppppppppppppaaaaaaaaagggggggggggggnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeee,,,,, WWWWWWWWWWWWWiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnneeeeeeeee &&&&&&&&&&&& BBBBBBBBBBBBeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!

Separated by roughly half a mile,two projects are under construc-

tion in Lafayette: Eco Vive is a com-pletely leased office building nearthe Veteran’s Memorial Hall withtenants moving in starting in March;and in the heart of downtown is thevery early stage of what will be amulti-story condominium buildingcalled Towne Center by KB Homes,at the end of Dewing Avenue.

The contemporary rustic barn at

the corner of Mt. Diablo Boulevardand Risa Road was designed byScott Thomsen of Lafayette-basedWard, Young Architects and isowned by Branagh Development.Final approval from the city came inJanuary 2013, and it is basically onschedule, according to MattBranagh, although there were a fewdelays due to utility issues. He ishappy to announce that the entireBranagh Development team will bemoving into the building from theircurrent offices in Danville. Othertenants include Quest Diagnosticsand the offices of Artful Surgeryplastic surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Lee.

The 9,800-square-foot structure

will feature a shared parking lot asa joint venture with the city. Park-ing spaces will be available to thepublic on nights and weekends forevents at the Veterans Hall and Tem-ple Isaiah, just up Risa Road.

The future 69-unit KB Homes

condominium building on the 1.5-acre site located on the former park-

ing lot behind Panda Express willinclude a landscaped public walk-way to the BART station. Whencomplete, the building will featurefour floors above the private, secureparking garage that will accommo-date market rate units that range insize from 874 to 2,138 square feet.

According to Carly Kraft, projectmanager for corporate communica-tions, the community is currentlyplanned to open in May, with firstsales expected in June. At the mo-ment, curious onlookers will see agiant hole in the ground, when peer-ing over the chain link fence.

The project has had an interest-

ing history dating back to 1998when the city council entered into adevelopment agreement withLafayette Town Center Associatesfor a building originally known asTown Center Phase III.

... continued on next page

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYA2 Wednesday, February 24, 2016

DanaGreenTeam.com | 925.339.1918 License # 01482454

Custom 5BR/4.5BA, 5537± sq. ft. Happy Valley Mediterranean w/1BR/1BA Casita built to perfection in ‘06. Half-acre parcel with stunning gardens, infinity

pool, valley views, outdoor fireplace, & vineyard. A+ location close to everything! ��

STILL #1 FOR A REASON 2008 THROUGH 2015

�� !�"��#��$��%��&'

Lafayette’s BestRealtor

License # 01866771

City CouncilMonday, March 14, 7 p.m.Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Planning CommissionMonday, March 7, 7 p.m.Lafayette Library & Learning Center,Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Design ReviewMonday, March 14, 7 p.m.Lafayette Library & Learning Center,Arts & Science Discovery Center,3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Check online for agendas, meetingnotes and announcementsCity of Lafayette:www.ci.lafayette.ca.usPhone: (925) 284-1968Chamber of Commerce:www.lafayettechamber.org

Public Meetings

School Board MeetingsAcalanes Union High School District Wednesday, March 2, 7:30 p.m.AUHSD Board Room1212 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayettewww.acalanes.k12.ca.usLafayette School District Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m.Regular Board MeetingDistrict Office Board Room3477 School St., Lafayettewww.lafsd.k12.ca.us

Alarms 29911 Calls (includes hang-ups)12Noise Complaints 3Traffic Stops 103Suspicious Circumstances 6Suspicious Subjects 19Suspicious Vehicles 13Burglary, Misc. 1100 block Upper Happy Valley RdBurglary, ResidentialCivil Problem 90 block Carolyn Ct 1200 block Glen RdDispute, Verbal Chestnut St/Dewing Ave 1000 block 2nd St Disturbing the Peace Acalanes Rd/Hwy 24Fraud 4100 block Canyon RdHarassment 1500 Rancho View Dr (by phone)Health & Safety Violation Acalanes High School SafewayPanhandling 3600 block Mt Diablo BlvdPolice/Fire/EMS Response 1000 block 2nd St 1000 block Dyer DrPublic Nuisance 3600 block Happy Valley RdPromiscuous Shooting 3400 block Moraga Blvd 600 block Los Palos Dr 4100 block Hidden Valley RdReckless Driving Acalanes/Hwy 24 Pleasant Hill Rd/Olympic Blvd Moraga Rd/Mt Diablo Blvd (2) Moraga Way/Valley ViewShoplifting SafewayTheft, Petty 3100 block Maryola Ct 3500 block Mt Diablo Blvd 900 block Moraga Rd Round UpTheft, Grand 900 block Reliez Station Rd 1000 block Vista BellaTheft, ID 1100 block Pleasant Hill Cir 10 block Cabernet Ct 10 block Quail Run (2) 20 block Timber Ln (2) Reported to police (2) 3100 block Plymouth Rd 4100 block Canyon Rd 3600 block Chestnut StTheft, Vehicle 3200 block Camino ColoradosUnwanted Guest 3700 block Mt Diablo BlvdVandalism 1000 block Carol LnVehicle Recovery 10 block Roxanne Ln 10 block El Fleuti Dr, Moraga

Lafayette PoliceDepartment IncidentSummary ReportJan. 31 to Feb. 6

Poll to Measure Support of Sales Tax IncreaseBy Cathy Tyson

With a unanimous vote, theLafayette City Council de-

cided to fund a poll to investigate ifresidents are truly supportive of anadditional 1 percent sales tax meas-ure, under consideration for the Nov.8 ballot, which if approved, wouldboost the city sales tax to 9.75 percent.

The independent all-volunteer

Sales Tax Revenue Study Committeehas done extensive research on cur-rent and projected city finances alongwith priorities gleaned from the recentCommunity Conversation. They rec-ommend a 1 percent general sales tax,which sunsets in 30 years. The groupalso analyzed potential polling firmsand recommended Godbe Researchto conduct a voter attitude survey re-garding a potential sales tax measure,at a maximum cost of $26,250.

“Absent additional revenue, the

city will be very limited in its abilityto implement the projects alreadyidentified in the Downtown SpecificPlan, transportation studies, various

master plans and the CommunityConversations,” the group concluded.

At the Feb. 8 council meeting,

Mayor Mark Mitchell acknowledgedthat Lafayette was founded as a lowtax, low service city roughly 50 yearsago, but things may have changedover five decades and ultimately it isthe “public’s choice.”

Council Member Don Tatzin

agreed: “Polling will help tell us ifthere is interest.” The poll will ask asampling of residents if they supportan additional 1 percent sales tax thatwould run for 30 years.

There is a cost associated with

placing a measure on the Novemberballot, according to City ManagerSteven Falk; that cost depends onhow many other items are on the bal-lot. “The greater the number, thelower the cost,” said Falk, who ex-pects it to fall at the lower end of a$20,000 to $120,000 range. Councilmembers wanted to gauge support ofthe measure before committing to ad-

ditional election costs.

Being clear about the intent of the

revenue was a major concern forCouncil Member Traci Reilly, whoencouraged a narrowed list of projectsthat the tax revenue could be used for,to give voters a clear picture. Possibleprojects include purchasing openspace, increasing crime surveillancecameras and police, adding a parkinggarage, revitalizing the Park Theater,and focusing on downtown eventsand road repairs.

In the past, the city has attempted

to pass special taxes, and while overhalf the voters voted yes on the meas-ures, none of them was able to reachthe two-thirds threshold necessary topass. If the city council chooses afterthe poll results are in to place themeasure on the ballot, this time itwould be for a general tax that re-quires a simple majority to pass: 50percent of the vote plus one.

If approved, Lafayette’s 1 percent

additional sales tax would bring the

rate up to 9.75 percent, in the ballparkof neighboring Lamorinda municipal-ities. Moraga approved a 1 percentsales tax increase in 2012, Measure K,which will run for 20 years to pay forroad and storm drain repair. MeasureK passed with 70 percent approvaland brought Moraga’s sales tax rate to9.25 percent. Orinda voters approvedMeasure L in 2012 – a half-cent salestax that brings their rate up to 9 per-cent. The tax will automatically ter-minate in 10 years.

While council members are sup-

portive of the poll, clearly one mem-ber of the audience was not.Longtime resident Joan Bruzzonesaid, “It was painful for me to listento anybody wanting to spend $26,000for a poll to encourage us to spendmore money on things we really don’tneed.” She encouraged the council toeither vote yes or no, “without spend-ing money, without having a com-pany convince us we need thisincrease.”

Office Building Almost Complete, Condos Under ConstructionBy Cathy Tyson

• No Contracts, Cancel at Anytime• Phones Start as Low as $49 Each• On Site, Professional Installation Included • California Based Customer Support• All Local and US Long Distance Included

BUSINESS PHONE SYSTEM

www.daiscorp.com/lamo for details or call 925.933.3247

Visit us at

Affordable Cloud BasedAffordable Cloud Based

LaMorinda SpecialUp to 5 Phones, $150 a month

Future Towne Center by KB Homes condominiums Image provided

KB Homes filed an application

for a specific plan amendment in2010, which was followed by nu-merous public meetings and a sig-nificant amount of comments –both pro and con from concernedresidents. A major sticking point

was the height of the building. Thefinal height when complete will be55 feet tall, after the developeragreed to remove the top story.The development will be shorterthan the adjacent shingled apart-ment building.

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 A3

925 254-3030 www.Orinda.com

L a f a y e t t e • M o r a g a • O r i n d a Cal BRE 1221247

783 Los Palos Manor Lafayette, CA

© 2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Rarely available Located

on a well-loved court in the trail neighborhood • Completely updated

Chef ’s kitchen/family combo with built-in banquette • Media/ bonus room • 2 offices

Oversized master suite with

fireplace • Park-like flat lot with natural pool, waterslide, spa, play

structure, sport court • Orchard Expansive lawn and gardens

783 L P l M

New Solar.82 acre Park-like Lot5 bd / 3 Baths3957 sq ft (approx.)

Trail Neighborhood Gem!

N e w L i s t i n g !

Visit www.783LosPalosManor.com for photos & information.

$2,795,000Office Building ... continued from page A2

Construction site of the future Towne Center by KB Homes in downtown Lafayette

A view of the completed Eco Vive building Photos C. Tyson

CHOOSE YOUR DOCTOR

When it comes to good health, your doctor is your coach, partner, and ally. So it only makes sense that you have one that you connect with and can trust.

Our doctors are caring, supportive, and highly respected in their fields. And with more than 800 Kaiser Permanente physicians in Central and East Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley area, it’s easy to find one that’s right for you.

To learn more, visit kp.org/diablo.

more options

The Lafayette Library andLearning Center Founda-

tion (LLLCF) board of trustees ispleased to welcome to its boardsix new trustees, each of whomwill fulfill a two year term:Melanie Brickman, Chris VollChernin, Victoria DeMoss, LarryDuson, Mary Scipi, and DavidVan Etten. Brinkman, a CPA,works in corporate planning andanalysis and has her MBA in fi-nance and marketing. VollChernin is an educational psy-chologist specializing in psycho-educational assessment, cognitiveprocessing of information, andlearning disabilities. DeMoss is acertified public accountant whohas previous LLLC Board expe-rience. Duson, currently a resi-dential real estate agent with J.

Rockcliff, has more than 35 yearsof previous senior level bankingexperience and is active inLafayette’s Chamber of Com-merce and Rotary Club. Scipi, alongtime Lafayette resident andmother of two, works at Fitbit.Van Etten spent 44 years in thebusiness world prior to his careerin volunteering. He served as amember of the Contra CostaCounty civil grand jury, and afterattending and enjoying multipleevents at the LLLC, decided tocontribute his time and effort tothe Library. The LLLCF BoardTrustees serve to set the Founda-tion's policies, programs and fi-nancial goals, and act asambassadors to the greater com-munity by promoting the needsand values of the LLLCF.

LLLC Foundation NamesNew Board MembersSubmitted by Fran Miller


Check online for agendas, meetingnotes and announcementsTown of Moraga:www.moraga.ca.usPhone: (925) 888-7022Chamber of Commerce:www.moragachamber.orgMoraga Citizens’ Network:www.moragacitizensnetwork.org

Public Meetings

School Board MeetingMoraga School District Tuesday, March 8, 7 p.m.Joaquin Moraga IntermediateSchool Auditorium1010 Camino Pablo, Moragawww.moraga.k12.ca.usSee also AUHSD meeting page A2

Planning CommissionMonday, March 7, 7 p.m.Council Chambers and CommunityMeeting Room, 335 Rheem Blvd.

Design ReviewMonday, March 14, 7 p.m.Council Chambers and CommunityMeeting Room, 335 Rheem Blvd.

Town CouncilWednesday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m.Council Chambers and CommunityMeeting Room, 335 Rheem Blvd.

Lost tab – not the soda 2/2/16 Theregistration sticker was there whenoriginally stuck on the licenseplate in March, 2015, but the Can-ning Court car owner noticed itwas missing on Feb. 2. Not sureif sticky fingers unstuck it, or it felloff. The owner just wanted docu-mentation.

Suspicious solicitor 2/5/16 A baldgentleman in his 30s or 40s ap-proached a Rheem Shopping Cen-ter business owner andaggressively solicited $50 – stat-ing that he needed the money forcar repair. When the owner de-clined, the suspect helpfully sug-gested removing the money fromthe cash register. Stalwart store-owner was aware that this shake-down had occurred to otherstoreowners in the center in De-cember. Police were notified afterthe fact. Apparently the solicitortook “no” for an answer.

Loud party 2/6/16 Cops receivedan anonymous tip about a loudparty on North SandringhamDrive. Approaching officerscould hear robust music comingfrom the backyard. When asked,the homeowner denied having anymusic and became increasinglyhostile and aggressive. Cops gavehomeowner a stern warning ornext time, a citation would bewritten.

Three amigos plus booze 2/7/16Officers came to a Camino Ricardocul-de-sac at almost 1 a.m. andfound three male juveniles in andaround a car parked in the road. Thetrio had been consuming alcoholand a bottle of liquor was in plainview of the vehicle. Being sensitivesniffers, the police also noticed theodor of non-burnt marijuana comingfrom the inside of the car. Not sur-prisingly, some pot, a glass pipe, anda second liquor bottle was alsofound in the car. One of the 17-year-olds was cited for California penalcode violation 25662 B and P, alsoknown as “minor in possession” –all three subjects were released toparents. Could be an infraction ormisdemeanor with possible licensesuspension for a year – time tolawyer up, since those under the ageof 21 are not allowed to buy, possessor consume alcohol.

Bike vanished 2/8/16 Sometimeduring a 12-day period ending Feb.8, an unknown suspect took a bicy-cle that had been left unlocked nearthe chapel at Saint Mary’s College:estimated value around $500. Ap-parently opportunity knocked dur-ing the dozen days.

In addition, the following occurredin Moraga between Feb 1-8:

Calling For Back-up – Kent CourtTools Found – black and yellow, lo-cation undisclosed Audible Alarm – Park StreetWallet Vanished - not sure if lost orstolen – while shopping at SafewayWallet Found – Rheem BoulevardTraffic Accident – undisclosed lo-cationFalse Alarm – Moraga Road

Moraga Police Department

Scaled Down Plans and Phased Approach for theHacienda de las FloresBy Sophie Braccini

The conceptual remodelingplans for the Hacienda de las

Flores, which were sized downfrom a cost of $24 million to $6.3million by architect Gould Evansand shown at the Feb. 10 MoragaTown Council meeting, were wellreceived by the council membersand the public, but the economicstudy that went with it was sentback to the drawing board.

The first of three proposed

phases of the project no longer in-cluded the 20 casitas, the winecave and crush center, or the com-munity pool and spa. The new

plaza entrance was also thinnedout. What was left for the firstphase was a restaurant and large in-door banquet center on the groundfloor and five bedrooms upstairs,including a large suite – enoughamenities to generate an estimatedincome of over $2 million a year.

With phase one of the plan, the

public would continue to have ac-cess to meeting rooms on theground floor of the Hacienda andto the new restaurant, unless it isrented for a big event. The archi-tect added that if all goes well withthe first phase of the project, the

next phases would include the cre-ation of a wine cave and crush fa-cility, as well as an improvedcommunity center where the Pavil-ion is located, possibly with the re-construction of the original pooland the addition of a spa. A con-sensus is forming that could lead toa Request For Proposal to imple-ment the plan before the end of theyear.

The part of the report that was

unanimously criticized was theeconomic study conducted byPKF Consulting. Mayor MikeMetcalf noted that the town paid

little for the study and should ex-pect little in return.

Gould Evans noted that the

scope of the study, which statedthat the five- or six-bedroom facil-ity would only have a 25 percentoccupancy rate, was limited to theviability of a hotel in Moraga.“Saint Mary's College alone, withvisiting families and guests, wouldfill more than this,” said Metcalf.The mayor asked the architect whyit painted such a pessimistic pic-ture of the economic potential ofthe Hacienda at a time when in-vestors will be sought to partnerwith the town in developing theproperty.

Several people, including resi-

dent Edy Schwartz and WendyScheck, the president of the MoragaChamber of Commerce, added thatPKF should have studied the Ha-cienda in the context of greaterLamorinda, not Moraga specifically.Scheck offered to organize a localthink tank to conduct a more mean-ingful economic study of a remod-eled Hacienda.

The proposed change of access

to the Hacienda was also scruti-nized. While all agreed that a newaccess had to be designed, prefer-ably from the Moraga Road side,they also noted that the slope andlow visibility of the current asphaltthroughway that comes from Mor-aga Road to the Hacienda does notoffer safe access.

... continued on page A12

Giant Wakes Up From Its SlumberPalos Colorados development returns to the forefront of discussionsBy Sophie Braccini

Seven years ago the Town ofMoraga approved the amended

Precise Development Plan for thePalos Colorados Project, a 460-acredevelopment located north of theLafayette border, just off MoragaRoad. In March the town plans toapprove the final map and possiblythe grading permit for the proposed123-home development. If both areapproved, the town will receive over$2 million this year.

Debi Chung from Richfield Real

Estate Corporation, the developer,expressed her contentment to beback in Moraga after so many years.Richfield’s agreement with the townhad to be modified as the townprocess for issuance of a grading per-mit had changed since the agreementhad been signed. In order to complywith the new process, Richfield willpay the town a deposit of $2.5 mil-lion – most of which will apply to-ward the second installment of itsdevelopment fee – following theTown Council approval of the finalmap. The sum is not refundable un-less the town rejects the grading per-mit.

The approval of the final map

and the grading permit will be han-dled by staff with no public debate.“There is no discretion on the part ofthe Town to deny the map,” con-firmed Ellen Clark, the town plan-ning director. “Public Works is thelead on processing all of the finalmap requirements, because it’s verymuch a technical process at this

point. The town engineer will (also)issue the authorization for the grad-ing permit, ministerially, once all ofthe requirements have been met,(and) Richfield has secured all of theoutside regulatory agency permits.”

The agreement with Richfield in-

cludes a total payment of $14.5 mil-lion in four installments to the town

of Moraga to compensate for the lossof recreational requirements due tothe replacement of a golf course withopen space. The first $3.5 millionhas already been paid, and the second$3.5 million – less the deposit men-tioned above – is due within 120 daysof the issuance of the grading permit.The final installments will be paid on

a pro-rata basis at the time of is-suance of each building permit andeach certificate of occupancy for thePalos Colorados Project.

At the developer's request, the

final map approval has been delayedto March 9. The applicant has notprovided a date for when it would re-quest issuance of the grading permit.

Local Knowledge... Extraordinary Results

Bernie & Ryerson Team

925.200.2222 or 925.878.9685 [email protected] [email protected]

License #: 00686144 | 01418309

Concierge Real Estate Services

Combined 40+ years of unparalleled service

Representing buyers & sellers in Lamorinda

Trend setting marketing customized for each home

Committed to helping you achieve your goals

Bernie & Ryerson Team

Are you considering selling your home? If so, please give us a call for assistance. We would be happy to provide you with a complimentary market analysis of your home’s value, as well as a comprehensive marketing plan detailing how to get you the highest sale price in today’s market!

Lamor

g customized for e

elping you achieve your goa

BBernie & Ryerson TTTeTTTTTTTTTT am

ering selling your home?

l for assistance. We wplimentary ma

comp

License # 01866771

Gould Evans’ new plan for the Hacienda Image provided


Share your thoughts, insights and opinions with yourcommunity. Send a letter to the editor:

[email protected]

New Spirit of CollaborationEmerges Between Council andMoraga Center Property Owner By Sophie Braccini

Economic feasibility and market constraintsare some of the elements that the Bruz-

zone family, which owns most of the MoragaCenter Specific Plan (MCSP) area property,would like to see taken into account as the towndevelops the zoning of their property located inthe heart of Moraga.

A recent walk-through by the Bruzzones,

elected officials, staff and planning commis-sioners seems to have fostered an improved dy-namic between the owner and the town. Whilesome councilmembers who have been dealingwith this owner for over 10 years are urging staffto move forward no matter what, others are cel-ebrating what appears to be a new spirit of col-laboration.

“The field trip was the idea of Councilmem-

ber Onoda and Commissioner Kovacs, who areboth also serving on the Steering Committee(for the implementation of the MCSP),” saidPlanning Director Ellen Clark. Dave Bruzzone,who came to the town meeting on Feb. 11 whenthe council reviewed the first draft of the MCSPimplementation plan (see the Feb. 10 article,“Implementing the Moraga Center SpecificPlan” in the online archives), said that he feltfortunate the field trip took place with the mem-bers of the steering committee. “It was a pro-ductive exchange,” he said, adding that it isimportant for the committee to listen to what theproperty owner has to say about market con-straints, engineering requirements and phasingof the project, so a viable downtown could

emerge. Bruzzone reiterated his desire to con-tinue working with staff and Opticos, the con-sultant working for the town on the zoning, inorder to have a successful process.

“We’re meeting with Opticos, Mr. Bruz-

zone and his engineer in a couple of weeks,”confirmed Clark in the days following the coun-cil meeting. “The goal is to better understandthe Bruzzones’ ideas and concepts for the Spe-cific Plan area. To the extent we can reflect thesein the zoning standards, without deviating fromthe direction set by the Steering Committee,Planning Commission and Town Council, wewill try and do so.” If there are any substantialchanges from that established direction, or al-ternate ideas that staff feels are appropriate tolook at, then Clark says those proposals wouldneed to go back to the Steering Committee as afirst step for consideration.

Mayor Mike Metcalf reminded the council

that the Bruzzone family had refused to negoti-ate a development agreement with the townwhen the MCSP was approved, after seven longand arduous years of negotiating. He warnedstaff not to stall the process, but agreed that in-volving the property owner was positive. “Wewant this to be approved in 2016,” concurredVice Mayor Dave Trotter, who also has exten-sive experience on this topic.

Staff is scheduled to bring the first set of

draft zoning standards back to the SteeringCommittee before sending them to the PlanningCommission for review.

Real Estate…Simplified!

find all Agents at www.bhghome.com/Orinda

89 Davis Road Suite 100Orinda

925.254.0440www.bhghome.com/Orinda

Our Orinda office is uniquely positioned as a gateway for sellers and buyers around the Bay Area; a central hub for our 30 Better Homes and Gardens offices.

Meet our Featured Agents ...

Charming Victorian nestled in the hotmarket of West Oakland. This

2 bedroom, 1 bath home featuresapproximately 900 SF and has a large

private back yard. For moreinformation, please call MaureenCaldwell-Meurer at 510.915.0092.

Rare opportunity to own a beautiful4BR/3BAhome on a quiet court in one of

Lafayette's favorite neighborhoods--the Traildistrict. The backyard has a nice swimming

pool and a patio covered with ivy that offersexcellent shade in the warm summers.

Offered at $1,395,000 by Jim Colhoun, 925.200.2795.

You will love the charming 3 bedroom/2 bath family home.

Completely updated with hardwoodfloors, newer windows and hardwood

floors. Offered at $535,000 by Ruth Eddy,

925.788.5449.

This 2BR townhome is located in a wellmaintained complex close to top-rated

schools and the Rheem ShoppingCenter. It has its own rear patio &

features hardwood floors in the livingroom. Call Jim Colhoun at 925.200.2795

for more information.

Gorgeous, updated traditional home has 4 bdr.and 4 full baths, plus an office and hardwood

floors, within its 3691sf (per appraiser). Locatednear top-rated Moraga schools, it sits one .28 acrelot with ample outdoor living spaces, includinglawn areas and a pool. Offered at $1,650,000.

Please call Ruth Eddy at 925.788.5449 for more information.

Stanton Ave., Castro Valley 3128 Chestnut Street, Oakland 2121 Donald Dr #5, Moraga 471 Millfield Place, Moraga

3435 Little Lane, Lafayette 627 Linden Lane, Martinez

PENDINg

Wonderful Opportunity. Castro Valley Duplex.Ideal location. Both units 2 BR 1 BA, appx

879sqft each. Attached 2 car garage. SharedBackyard. Walk to Coffee & restaurants. BART &

Shopping w/n 1 mile. Call Larry Jacobs or Kress Hauri at

925.788.1362 or 925.899.5739 for more information.

PENDINgCOMINg SOON

COMINg SOON

CalBRE#01908929CalBRE#01465617/#01495118

CalBRE#01029160

CalBRE#01029160

CalBRE#01313819

CalBRE#01313819

PENDINg

LAMORINDA REAL ESTATE STATISTICS12 months, ending 1/31/16

City # of sales Avg. Sales Price Median Sales PriceLafayette 352 $1,404,231 $1,275,000Moraga 215 $1,082,714 $1,050,000Orinda 260 $1,335,854 $1,250,000We are still experiencing a low inventory of homes, and greatinterest rates for buyers. This is a great time to SELL!Please feel free to contact us for any assistance you may need!

TIP OF THE WEEK

Janine Hunt 510.409.6266

[email protected]#01909766

Jim Colhoun925.200.2795


Julie Georgiou 925.200.8246


Norla Torres-Turney925.323.8125


Kress Hauri/Larry Jacobs925.899.5739/925.788.1362

[email protected]@bhghome.com

CalBRE#01465617/#01495118

Lisa Shaffer 925.528.9278


Moraga Citizen of the YearNominations RequestedDo you have a person in mind for the Town of Moraga to honor as 2016 Citizenof the Year?

Criteria are as follows:• Must NOT be a current elected or paid member of any city

council, school board or commission;• Must be a current Moraga resident;• Must be someone who has given their time, money or energy

to help make Moraga a vibrant community, one where peoplewant to live, work and shop;

• Must be someone who brings the community together andmakes us proud to be residents of Moraga.

Please email your nomination to [email protected] orsend it to Moraga Citizen of the Year nominations, Lamorinda Weekly, PO Box6133, Moraga CA 94556.The deadline for submitting nominations is Thursday,March 17.

A celebration dinner will be held on Friday, April 29 at the Soda Center atSt. Mary’s College to honor the winner. The 2016 Moraga Citizen of the YearAward is co-sponsored by the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, St Mary’s Col-lege, the Lamorinda Weekly and Kiwanis of Moraga Valley.

MORAGA PARKS & RECREATION925-888-7045 • www.moragarec.com

Summer Camp ExpoSaturday, 3/5, 11-2 pmHacienda de las Flores

Citing the effectiveness of lastyear’s pilot program of using

surveillance cameras and license platereaders to deter and catch bad guys inOrinda, Police Chief Mark Nagelmade a successful pitch to the CityCouncil to expand the program andmake it permanent. The victory didnot come easily, though, as privacyconcerns surfaced about the availabil-ity of data produced by the technol-ogy to members of the public –including those who could use themfor the wrong purposes.

Particularly strong support for the

action came from residents of Wilder,where use of the new playing fieldshas created a sense of uneasinessamong those living in homes just overthe rise in the valley to the south (seerelated story on page D1). Nagel ex-pressed a particular need for camerasat appropriate Wilder locations, be-cause there has been a spate of auto-mobile break-ins in the playing fieldparking lots, and at least one incidentin which a stolen car was abandonedthere. Mailboxes have been vandal-ized and mail stolen within the devel-opment on several occasions, andresidents also told the council theyhave observed unfamiliar cars in thedevelopment – one took off in hastewhen residents approached and askedif the occupants needed help.

At the request of a friend in

Wilder, David Fried of Tiburon,which was the first Bay Area city toadopt the use of surveillance camerasfive years ago, spoke in support of thecamera program. Since license platereaders were installed, he said, therehas been a 50 percent reduction in se-rious crimes in his city, and the systemhas aided in solving crimes as well.His remarks to the council were ofparticular interest because Tiburon,like Wilder, has only one road in andout from the freeway interchange thatserves it. Others who spoke in sup-port of expanding the program in-cluded Michael Yim, whose homewas entered last December by an in-truder who pistol-whipped a nanny infull view of his 5-year-old daughter.With the aid of Orinda’s surveillancecameras, the suspect was appre-hended in Oakland within a matter ofhours.

Not all of those who appeared be-

fore the council spoke in support ofthe program, and some of the speak-ers were quite passionate about thepotential threat to privacy presentedby the availability of data from thecameras. In a dramatic demonstrationof the hazards of retaining the videoimages, one speaker whipped out atablet device and showed a clip of acar driving on an Orinda street.

“Council Member Worth, this is you,”he said. He then displayed the travelsof Chief Nagel on video. He and oth-ers recited a litany of information thatcan legally be obtained from the im-ages using open-source software. Ex-amples include observations of thecomings and goings of residents, thusproviding information about whenhomes are vacant, and of childrenwho are unaccompanied when walk-ing to school. The data mining fromthis source can also be used for otherpurposes when further processed.

Retention and production of the

information are governed by state lawand implementing policies of theContra Costa County Sheriff’s De-partment, limiting control by the city.Orinda takes the most conservativeapproach allowable for retention,

keeping license plate readings for oneyear and surveillance tapes for 90days.

At the end of the hearing, the pro-

tection of Orinda residents and theirproperty won out over concerns aboutmisuse of the cameras or the data theyproduce. The council voted 4-1 infavor of purchasing eight additionalRECONYX surveillance cameras tobe placed at locations where they willfill existing voids in coverage, two au-tomatic license plate readers (ALPRs)to be installed at Wilder locations, andan additional ALPR to be mounted ona police vehicle. Council MemberEve Phillips, who regarded the actionas going too far under the circum-stances, cast the dissenting vote.

The vehicle-mounted device will

augment one that is already in service,

but only during daytime hours be-cause of nightly maintenance of thevehicle and the greater need for day-time coverage, when home burglariestypically occur. This measure willprovide round-the-clock coverage. Inaddition to the acquisition of morecameras, the council made the pro-gram permanent, but added a require-ment for annual statistical review ofthe results of the program. Referringto the current national controversyover cell phone security, CouncilMember Amy Worth reminded staffof the need to keep a close eye onelectronic security developments toinsure that the city’s implementationof the technology is kept within cur-rent legal parameters.

Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLY

Citizens' InfrastructureOversight CommissionWednesday, March 9, 6:30 p.m.Sarge Littlehale Community Room, 22 Orinda Way

Public Meetings

A6 Wednesday, February 24, 2016www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977

City CouncilTuesday, March 1, 7 p.m. Auditorium, Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way

Planning CommissionTuesday, March 8, 7 p.m.Auditorium, Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way

School Board MeetingOrinda Union School District Monday, March 14, 6 p.m.OUSD Office, 8 Altarinda Road,www.orindaschools.orgSee also AUHSD meeting page A2

Check online for agendas, meetingnotes and announcementsCity of Orinda:www.cityoforinda.orgPhone (925) 253-4200Chamber of Commerce:www.orindachamber.orgThe Orinda Association:www.orindaassociation.org

Orinda PoliceDepartment IncidentSummary ReportJan. 31 to Feb. 6Alarms 26911 Calls (includes hang-ups) 2Traffic Stops 19Suspicious Circumstances 2Suspicious Subjects 4Suspicious Vehicles 9Burglary, Misc.

100 block Las Vegas RdBurglary, Residential

90 block La Cresta Rd20 block North Ln300 block El Toyonal

Civil Problem10 block Owl Hill Rd

Death, Non-criminal100 block El Toyonal

Dependent ChildMcDonald Nursery

Disturbing the PeaceSanta Maria/Camino Pablo

LitteringCharles Hill/El Nido Ranch Rd

PanhandlingSafeway

Police/Fire/EMS ResponseStarbucks

Probation RevokedGlorietta Blvd/Heather Ln

Public NuisanceDos Encinas/El Camino Moraga50 block Via Floreado70 block La Espiral

Reckless DrivingBevMo

Road RageSan Pablo Dam Rd/

Camino PabloRobbery, Armed

Theatre SquareTheft, Petty

20 block Orinda Way20 block Wild Rye Way10 block Las PiedrasFirst Republic Bank (from vehicle)

Theft, ID10 block Dos Encinas

Vacation House Checks 13Verbal Dispute

100 block Bates CtWarrant Arrest

CVS

Council Decides to Take Smaller Bite, Puts $25MBond Measure on June Ballot for RoadsBy Victor Ryerson

The Orinda City Council hasplaced a $25 million general

obligation bond issue on the June 11ballot to continue the city’s road anddrainage repair program, despite thereservations of at least two councilmembers who would have preferredto seek the entire $47 million neces-sary to complete the job. In a dra-matic about-face, Council MemberDarlene Gee voted in favor of thesmaller bond measure on Feb. 16 toprovide the four council votes neces-sary to put the measure before the vot-

ers this year and keep the programmoving forward. Council MemberEve Phillips cast the lone dissentingvote.

“We have tried the whole enchi-

lada (twice) before” without success,observed Mayor Victoria Smith. Butif this measure passes, the risk is thatvoters may not approve raising thefinal $22 million down the line if theyperceive it as unnecessary. “The re-ality is, almost everyone votes theirown pocketbook,” and not necessarilyin the community’s best interest as a

whole, lamented Gee. With the ma-jority of the road work completed anda lot of residents satisfied, it might beharder to obtain the two-thirds votenecessary to approve the final roundof road work.

Council Member Amy Worth

was more optimistic. Expressing“very serious concerns” that Orindavoters would approve the full $47million at once, she favors the morecautious incremental approach as onethat has already been accepted by theelectorate. Smith agrees that this so-

cial compact has essentially beenmade. With the reluctant support oftwo of their more hesitant colleagues,they paved the way on Tuesday notonly for this spring’s campaign, butlikely for another in two years.

The current measure will require

a two-thirds vote to pass. Voters canexpect to receive a lot of material inthe mail this spring as efforts aremade to explain or oppose the coun-cil’s action. In the meantime, sched-uled road repairs will continueunabated – until the money runs out.

Spirited Discussion Ends with Approval for MoreSurveillance Cameras By Victor Ryerson

please...

...thanks!

Amazing Private 8+ Acre Orinda Estate in Glorietta!

Laura AbramsTop 100 Agents Coldwell Banker SF Bay Area 2015#1 Individual Agent Coldwell Banker Orinda [email protected](510) 697-3225CalBRE # 01272382www.lauraabrams.com

Suzanne Toner Geoffrion Top 100 Agents Coldwell Banker SF Bay Area 2015

Presidents International Sterling [email protected]

(925) 699-4832 CalBRE # 01878803

www.myagentsuzanne.com

Private showings only! Offered at $4,250,000

is private unique one of a kind Orinda Estate is located on 8+ acres of rollingOakWoodlands with stunning panoramic views and possible potential forsubdivision. Recently updated, this approximately 8,500 square foot home features a6 car garage, indoor racquetball court, tennis court, 6 bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms, agame room, an exercise room, a large sauna, pool, spa and stunning entertainingareas! All located in the highly desirable Glorietta area close to downtown Orindaand Lafayette! For more images please view www.25rusticway.com.

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Realestate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: A7Wednesday, February 24, 2016 www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977

Share your thoughts, insights and opinions with your community. Send a letter to the editor: [email protected]

Taverna Pellegrini

Soup or Salad

Choice ofChicken MarsalaGrilled SwordfishMeat Ravioli

Glass of House Wine

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.Sunday-Thursday*

*Not valid on 2-14-16

Taverna Pellegrini925-258-4200

65 Moraga Way, Orinda

February Early Bird Special $24.95

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal HousingOpportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractorsales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Integrity Knowledge Results

Strong buyer demand + low inventory

+ masterful marketing and negotiation = SOLD for top $$$

Call me about pre-sale fixups that really pay-off!

Frank Woodward Realtor®, Previews Property SpecialistT. 925.788.4963 E. [email protected]

Now is the best time to sell a home in years!

CalBRE#01335916

School District Appoints NewSuperintendentBy Victor Ryerson

The Orinda Union SchoolDistrict has announced the

appointment of Carolyn Seaton asthe next superintendent, succeed-ing Dr. Joe Jaconette, who retired

last month. Seaton will assumeoffice on May 2.

Seaton comes to Orinda from

Manhattan Beach Unified SchoolDistrict, where she is currentlyExecutive Director of Human Re-sources. She holds a bachelor’sdegree in history from SouthernMethodist University and a mas-ter’s in education from the Uni-versity of North Texas, and isexpected to receive her Ed.D. inK-12 Educational Leadershipfrom the University of SouthernCalifornia this May. She beganher career in public education asan elementary teacher in Texas in1984, and has served as a middleschool teacher, assistant principal,principal, and administrator in

Manhattan Beach.

Seaton’s selection follows a

process that involved extensivepublic input to guide the board inselecting a leader who would re-flect the aspirations of the com-munity. “I look forward topartnering with district, school,community, and business organi-zations to expand the educationalopportunities available for ourstudents,” she says. “I am pas-sionate about teaching and learn-ing and committed to providingOrinda’s children with the educa-tional experiences that will bestprepare them for college, careerand life.”

Carolyn Seaton Photo provided

5 MORAGA WAY, ORINDA | 925.253.46002 THEATRE SQUARE, SUITE #117, ORINDA | 925.253.6300

ColdwellBankerHomes.com | /cbcalifornia | /cb_california | /coldwellbanker©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential

Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Dana Reedy

Susan Schlicher

Laura Abrams

Maureen WilburVlatka BathgateShellie Kirby

Suzi O’Brien Tom Stack

Chad Morrison Suzanne Geoffrion

Brooke Korkut

John Caronna

Lana Fitzpatrick

Jim Ellis

Scott Winburne Andi Brown Tricia Young

The Beaubelle Group

Elena Hood Group

Coldwell Banker OrindaThe Lamorinda Real Estate Firm People Trust

Melanie Snow

Woodward Jones Team

Rick & NancyBooth

Linda Van DrentCathy Schultheis

Emily EstradaPatti Camras Soraya Golesorkhi

Kim McAtee & Megan McAtee Wilson

Val Cook-WatkinsManaging Broker

Congratulations to The 2015 Top Producers

The Orinda Union School District seeks applicants to serveon its Parcel Tax Independent Citizens’ OversightCommittee. Currently there are two openings: one two-yearterm and one four-year term. The committee meets twiceannually during normal business hours. The primaryobjective and purpose of the Committee is to ensure thatthe parcel tax proceeds are spent for their authorizedpurpose and to report annually to the Board of Trustees andthe public regarding the expenditure of such funds.

If you are interested in serving on the committee, please submitan application to the Superintendent’s Office, Orinda UnionSchool District, 8 Altarinda Road, Orinda, CA 94563, via emailto [email protected], or by fax to (925) 254-5261.

Applications are available on the district website:www.orindaschools.org or by email [email protected]

Application Deadline: Friday, March 5, 2016, by Noon

Orinda Union School DistrictSeeking Applicants to Serve on

Parcel Tax Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee

Inside the Contra Costa CountyFire Protection District 2016 Op-

erational Plan lies one sentence thatLafayette residents have been waitingto read for nearly four years: the dis-trict will propose to its board that “weopen a newly rebuilt Fire Station 16in January 2017.”

The county closed the uninhabit-

able Lafayette fire station in 2012,and as the proposed station 46 jointventure between ConFire and theMoraga-Orinda Fire District draggedon, ConFire opted to rebuild its ownstation for $1 million rather thanspend three times the money to erecta shared station at the Lafayette-Orinda border.

A structural engineer delivered

the district a positive report on thecondition of the building, and Con-Fire awaits the results of a geothermaltest on the soil beneath the floor slab.The report should be completed bymid-March. “The slab has settled,probably as a result of soil loss underit, and will most likely require us tomitigate surface runoff from thestreet,” said fire chief Jeff Carman.

Concurrently, the district will se-

lect an architect, and should then beready to draw documents and put out

bids for the station construction. Onceall of the documents are prepared, thedistrict will secure a rough price esti-mate and be then able to go to itsboard for project approval.

“We are still feeling good about

our original direction that we can usethe existing foundation and rebuildthe station,” said the chief. “Withanything like this, we are prepared forthe unexpected and think we can reactto whatever is thrown our way. Worst

case scenario is we will have to re-build the entire structure, which Ithink we are even prepared for shouldthat happen.”


Fire Districts

Moraga-Orinda FireDistrict Board of DirectorsWednesday, March 2, 7 p.m.New Meeting Room:Moraga Town Council Chamber335 Rheem Blvd, MoragaFor meeting times and agendas,visit www.mofd.org

ConFire Board of DirectorsTuesday, March 8, 1:30 p.m.Board Chamber room 107,Administration Building,651 Pine St., MartinezFor meeting times and agendas,visit http://alturl.com/5p9pu.

Public Meetings

Emergency response informationand training:Lamorinda CommunityEmergency Response Team (CERT) www.lamorindacert.org.

Share your thoughts,insights and opinionswith your community.

Send a letter to the editor: letters@

lamorindaweekly.com

Opinions in Letters to the Editor are the express views of the writer and not necessarily those of the Lamorinda Weekly. All published letters will include the writer's name and city/town of residence -- we will only accept letters from those who live in, or own a business in, the communities comprising Lamorinda (please give usyour phone number for verification purposes only). Letters should be 350 words or less; letters of up to 500 words willbe accepted on a space-available basis. Visit www.lamorindaweekly.com for submission guidelines. email: [email protected]; Regular mail: Lamorinda Weekly, P.O.Box 6133, Moraga, CA 94570

“Let Us Light Up Your Life” Residential � Commercial � Industrial

Serving Contra Costa since 1991More than 35 years experience

All Work Done by Owner

Professional Installation of:

www.BurkinElectr ic .net

Bonded & InsuredLic.#C10-631523

James BurkinSole Proprietor

� Ceiling Fans, Recessed & Track Lighting � Kitchen or Bath Remodel � Exterior/Security/Landscape Lighting � Electrical Service Upgrade � Complete Home Wiring - Old & New � Spa Installation

HARDWOODS

CARPETS

RUGS

LINOLEUM

TILE

LAMINATE

FAMILY -OWNED

30 YEARS !

Orinda Response Times Frustrate MOFD By Nick Marnell

For years emergency medical callresponse times in Orinda have

exceeded those in Moraga. The ter-rain and the narrow, winding roads insections of Orinda make it difficult forthe Moraga-Orinda Fire District tosafely transport personnel and equip-ment to the emergency scenes. Asfire chief Stephen Healy prepares toupdate the MOFD Standards of Cov-erage, a deployment analysis of dis-trict resources, he again confronts thereality of the lengthier Orinda emer-gency response times and what, ifanything, can be done to reduce them.

Based on district records, the

2011 average medical emergency re-sponse time in Orinda ran six minutesand 15 seconds. The 2015 average

Orinda response time jumped to a hairunder seven minutes. The Moragatimes rose from five minutes and 47seconds to just over six minutes.

A 2011 MOFD facilities report

stated that for the district to improveinadequate emergency response timesinto the Sleepy Hollow, OrindaDowns and Upper El Toyonal por-tions of north Orinda, it should relo-cate station 45 to a site near theCamino Pablo and Miner Road inter-section. Healy said that the district hasno money to do that, and furthermore,he noted that moving station 45would place it farther away from tar-get hazards in Orinda, like Highway24, the Caldecott Tunnel, the BARTtunnels, senior assisted living facilities

and a convalescent hospital. “This isan example of how every contem-plated fire station relocation has po-tential positive and negative effects,”he said.

The report also called for structur-

ing aid agreements with adjacentAlameda County and East Bay Re-gional Parks fire districts. Healy saidthat MOFD has executed automaticaid and mutual aid agreements withthe Berkeley Fire Department andEBRP.

Some have proposed using

smaller, more nimble apparatus toquickly navigate that difficult terrainand those narrow roadways. “Whatwe’d pick up in size we’d give up intools and equipment,” said the chief.

District union representative AnthonyPerry agreed. “The narrow roads andnumerous blind spots of Orinda dic-tate the speed of the apparatus,” hesaid. “A smaller response vehiclewould have the same limitations, andyield no faster response.”

As for those narrow roads, the

district can expect no help from thecity of Orinda. According to ChuckSwanson, director of public worksand engineering services, Orinda isonly reconstructing the road pave-ment, and because of the high costwill not be widening or straighteningthe city roads. “Also, many of our res-idents like the semi-rural character ofthe roads the way they are,” he said.

In that case, those residents need

to prepare themselves even more sofor a major disaster, when evacuationtimes will matter maybe more thanresponse times. District emergencypreparedness coordinator DennisRein advises Orinda residents to notwait for the community warning sys-tem alert, but to take action on theirown. “If there is any doubt in yourmind, go,” he said.

As Healy works on his Standards

of Coverage document, and his geo-graphic information system analystcrunches the numbers yet again, thechief conceded that the fact of longerresponse times in Orinda will not goaway.

“It may be an unavoidable issue,”

he said.

most cabinetry,

C abinet M odifications

925.827.1093 Paul Kephart Master Craftsmanwww.TheCabinetMd.com

Licensed Cabinet & Millwork Contractor #598395

With over 25 years fulfilling custom needs, we can alter or modifymost cabinetry, while still utilizing your existing cabinetry for: • Large TVs/ Refrigerators and appliances • Recycle Bins and shelf pullouts • Cabinet alterations/repairs We can help with home, office, entertainment, custom cabinetry, shelving, crown mouldings, baseboards, new doors or mantels!

Editor:

Thank you for your recent article, “Call It a Dam,” whichbrought attention to the plight of fish and other aquaticlife in San Pablo Creek. Not only could fish return totheir natural habitat if the small dam/drop structure onBear Creek Road is removed (or at minimum, maintainedregularly by EBMUD to keep the opening clear of de-bris), but this would restore the more natural functioningof the creek.Unaltered waterways balance erosion with deposition incarrying their sediment load. Prior to 1990 streams wereengineered to "control nature" and an unfortunate conse-quence was to disrupt this balance. It has since beenshown that dams and other concrete projects increase ero-sion downstream by creating "hungry" water without anatural "load." At the same time, they are only temporarystructures because sediment and debris fill up the water-way behind the dam. This is a physical reason they arebeing dismantled all over the country. The biological ob-jective is to allow fish and other aquatic creatures freemovement upstream and downstream in a healthy envi-ronment; fish also need the gravel trapped behind the damto spawn.The creek behind Orinda Village is another example ofan engineered problem that needs restoration. The chan-nel was straightened, narrowed and placed in concrete in1958, but a few years later half of the concrete blew-outin a storm and traveled downstream blocking a major cul-vert. The now bare banks were/are exposed to "hungry"water and created an erosion problem we still have today.In addition, the failed project increased the likelihood offlooding by decreasing the capacity of the natural creek.In the last two decades, hardscaped projects began to bereplaced with natural riparian channels. Re-vegetatingbanks and restoring some of the meanders would not onlybe aesthetically pleasing and improve habitat, but alsoslow runoff and increase the capacity of the creek to holdflood waters. (To see the creek, walk behind Siam Orchidand Orinda Veterinary Clinic on Orinda Way, where treeshave regained a foothold over the last 55 years.)Friends of Orinda Creeks has been working on these twoprojects for years. Orinda is lucky to have fisheries biol-ogist Brian Waters and UC wildlife professor Reg Barrettengaging with EBMUD and other government bodies.

Cinda MacKinnon, hydrogeologist (ret.)Orinda

Editor:

The February 10, 2016 article “Community Out-reach Meeting Kicks Off Downtown ParkingStudy” helpfully provided overview of the Jan-uary 27, Parking Study meeting where theOrinda City Manager introduced TJKM, theCity’s consulting firm. Held in the same audito-rium in which the City Council meets, a largebody of Orindans with parking concerns waspresent. The article referenced the methodologyof the study, but failed to describe the size & typeof comments made by the public, noting onlythat “public comments were received”. Thus thearticle omitted the substance of the public com-ments. Given the clearly significant importanceof the Study to the readership, which in manyways is as important as a meeting of the CityCouncil, one wonders why this omission. Council meetings allow microphone access soall public speakers can be heard, and audio andvideo are recorded. For this Meeting, however,disregarding those unable to attend but inter-ested in following the public dialog, the City ap-parently chose to not use that same voice/videorecording system that is used in Council meet-ings. Absent those Council meeting features,members of the public were not given access toa microphone. Instead, they had to almost shouttrying to make their comments audible to all, andthe audience was straining trying to hear whatwas being said by members of the public. Manyworthy comments were not heard by all, likelyincluding by the consultants. Lastly, there was no apparent electronic record-ing of audio or video of that Parking Meeting.Rather, unbelievably, one TJKM person wasseen taking abbreviated notes using hand mark-ers on an easel, clearly an obsolete technique, in-volving inherent filtering of the public commentsby the person writing with the markers. It is simply not understood why the exact com-ments made by the public were not amplified,and not accurately and properly recorded. Whatwas the City afraid of? Do we not deserve achance to study those comments and perhapscontinue the dialog? Just asking.

Chet MartineOrinda

MOFD engine navigates Sleepy Hollow Lane in north Orinda. Photo courtesy Moraga-Orinda Fire District

January Projected Reopening of Lafayette Station 16By Nick Marnell

360 Degrees Gourmet BurritosAdvanced Weight Loss and WellnessAlexander Galias A.G. RealtyAll Media, LLCaMFa GalleryAmphora NuevaArt and Science of EyewearArtisan BistroAstra TileBack to the Table Cooking SchoolBen Haag Guitar LessonsBenjamin Dierauf Acupuncture & Oriental MedicineBig Hat PressBistro Burger and GrillBonehead's BBQBradley School of MusicCalifornia StarCanetti's BookshopCaroline's SalonCheryl's ClosetChow LafayetteClean CleanersClocks EtcComputer Software and HardwareDana's Hair AddictionDiablo Rapid PrintDiamond K Supply LTD.Divine ConsignEarth and Sea YogaEast Bay Divorce and Financial Planning

Elmwood StationersEsther Barbounis, Farmers InsuranceEuropean Tile & Marble CoEvaluer MedspaFarmyard DarlingsFast Frame Expert FramingFinaleGHENT+McCUE Art AppraisalsGlamorous BoutiqueGolden Gate Hair CompanyGolden Gate StudiosGreg's AutomotiveGypsea BungalowHair by Ashley SmithHank & Frank BikesHappy Pixel StudioHello TiaraHome Expo EventsIndigo & PoppyIphone Repair TimeJ Rockcliff RealtorsJamie Westdal PhotographyJennifer Perlmutter Art GalleryJewels Just for YouJudy Francis, State Farm AgentKalpana ThreadingKevin Croak, Croak+Company CPAKevin Wong Orinda ChiropracticKosich & Callahan InsuranceLace and Bustle

Lafayette Auto BodyLafayette Chamber of CommerceLafayette FashionistaLafayette Glass CoLamorinda OptometryLamorinda Reflexology and WellnessLamorinda Tooth Buds Pediatric DentistryLamorinda WebLan's Skin CareLashify StudioLily Dong PhotographyM.R.S. Furniture UpholsteryMichael Simontacchi-Gbologah OrthodonticsMighty Fine GuitarsMoree HairMorrison's JewelersNatural Life FoodsNick Issa, Bay Sotheby's International RealtyNielsen Studios Architecture+DesignOrinda Family ChiropracticOrinda TravelOyama SushiP&L FramingPacific Union Christie's International Real EstatePacific Union Real EstatePampered PatronsPark Place Real EstatePark Place Wealth AdvisorsPaul Loscavio Weight Loss and WellnessPiece. Retail

Rancho CantinaRed Carpet FlooringRestoration PianoRevive Skin CareRon Mintz, Bay Sotheby's International RealtySalon EleganteScott McCue PhotographySharp BicycleShelby'sSoccer PostSpecialtees BoutiqueStat MedStudio Nish Interior DesignSushi IslandSvensson Auto Service & RepairSvensson AutobodyThe Dailey MethodThe Hideout Kitchen & CafeThe Image StudioThe Workshop SalonTina Frechman, Dudum Real Estate GroupTown Hall TheatreTrademark Architecture+InteriorsVenture Quality GoodsVillage Associates Real EstateVitality BowlWhipper SnappersWine ThievesYarn Boutique

What makes a good casualneighborhood bistro in

France, aside from the checkeredtablecloth instead of a white one, is ex-cellent quality food at an every dayprice. This is the spirit of Rêve Bistroin Lafayette, recently opened by PaulMagu – a rigorous and ambitious 5-star chef. Magu was trained both in

France and in the United States, climb-ing the ladder of culinary responsibili-ties. Coming from the Ritz Carltonand St. Regis hotels in San Francisco,he could have chosen to open a verypricey spot. Instead, Magu opted tofulfill his dream (Rêve in French) ofcreating a neighborhood bistro wherelocals can flock a few times a week.

Magu decided in his teens that

cooking was to be his life – not themost obvious choice for a diplomat’sson. Magu’s taste was formed in theFrench kitchen where his mother pre-pared dishes for receptions. At age 18he decided to go the technical schoolroute and started years of training, part-time in school, part-time in profes-sional kitchens. Magu trained at theFerrandi culinary school and his sec-ond internship was at The Lido, one ofthe largest cabarets in Paris, with akitchen of 38 people. “I was blownaway,” remembered Magu. “It is suchan organization, running like clock-work.” After he got his degree, Maguwas selected by his school to competefor the Meilleur ouvrier de France (bestworker competition) and got secondprize. This distinction allowed him toget a job at Gérard Besson's, a twoMichelin star restaurant.

“This is where I learned the most

about cooking and about discipline,”said Magu. For the chef, cooking isan art, but one that requires rigor andscrupulous attention to quality at allstages of the cooking process, fromthe selection of the ingredients to theway clients are served at the table.

At Gérard Besson's, Magu

learned a lot about game and wintervegetables. “I love this season,” hesaid. “I enjoy everything – the spe-cific sauces, the venison, the mush-rooms.” Magu then moved up thehierarchy and went to work at PaulDucasse’s restaurant. “In every

restaurant I worked I learned some-thing different,” he said. “WithDucasse, I learned the respect of theproduct, not overpowering it with sea-soning, just adding enough to mag-nify without hiding.”

In 1998 a friend of his parents

who lived in Houston, Texas toldMagu about the best French restau-rant there, La Colombe d'Or, and oftheir need for a new chef. Magu didnot hesitate, and headed to Texas withan 18-month visa in his pocket. “Iloved it there,” he said. During thattime, a New York chef who was goingto take over the Ritz Carlton in SanFrancisco stopped at La Colombed'Or and asked Magu to join his team.

Magu joined the Ritz in 2000,

first as dining room sous chef, thenchef of the banquet department.“Then I moved to the St. Regis whereI stayed until 2015,” said Magu. Healways thought that one day he wouldhave his own place. While workingat the Ritz he met Laura, who was incharge of hospitality. “To me she wasthe most professional,” he said. LauraMagu now manages the serving staffat Rêve Bistro, on top of raising theirthree young daughters.

Rêve Bistro’s menu is seasonal.

Magu has connections in the BayArea and he knows where to get thequality he wants, and he has the con-fidence to reject what is not up to hisstandards. The menu combines whatpeople expect from a French bistrowith modernized concepts that are

found in the best bistros today, suchas a surprisingly delicious raw kalesalad, tender, with no trace of bitter-ness and nicely paired with apples,radishes and seeds. In the same spirit,the main dishes include the classicbistro “steak-frites” and the “moules-frites,” and add dishes with venison,guinea hen, cod or braised beefcheeks. Vegetables are also interest-ing, as accompaniment or as a vege-tarian dish: mushrooms, quince,celeriac root, and chestnuts. The win-ter menu will change to the springmenu by the end of March.

Rêve Bistro was an immediate

success from the day it opened, justthrough word of mouth. “We takereservations,” said Laura Magu, “butwe keep a few tables open so peoplecan come up spontaneously.” On thefirst Saturday night after their softopening, a line formed outside thedoor of the intimate restaurant onMoraga Road in Lafayette. Becauseof limited parking and city regula-tions, it is only open in the evening.The restaurant has a charming gardenthat will open as well as soon asweather permits.


Paul and Laura Magu in their new Lafayette restaurant, Rêve Bistro Photo Sophie Braccini

Lamorinda Weekly business articles are intendedto inform the community about local business

activities, not to endorse a particular company,product or service.

Business

Rêve Bistro: An Oasis Of Culinary Excellence In LamorindaBy Sophie Braccini

Celebrating anAnniversary?If your business is celebrating a significantanniversary (5, 10, 20 years or more …) sendus a photo of your business, the owner(s) orthe staff with specific information about yourbusiness and what you’re celebrating, andwe’ll include it in an upcoming issue.

Rêve Bistro960 Moraga Road, Lafayette(925) 385-0793revebistro.com

��

� �� !!��

24 Hour Fitness Moraga Welcomes New Club Manager 351 Rheem Blvd., Moraga(925) 377-2400 – 24hourfitness.comPatrick Russell, the newclub manager at 24 HourFitness Moraga Rheem,has worked in several 24Hour Fitness clubsthroughout the Bay Areaduring his career. Rus-sell brings a passion forfitness to his new posi-tion that works well withthe large variety of fit-ness options that the cluboffers to members of allages and fitness levels.Amenities include per-sonal training, TRX Sus-pension Training, TC24 (the latest group training programs)as well as Group X classes including specific classes for theActive+ audience, yoga, Zumba and Step. “Fitness has beenincredibly impactful on my life, both professionally and per-sonally, and I am thrilled to share my passion with the townof Moraga. Our club and its programs bring together a com-munity of like-minded people,” he said. “Moraga residentsvisit the gym to take classes with friends and explore newfitness solutions. This kind of support is proven to reinforceour core lifestyle principles of mindset, movement, nutritionand regeneration – the essential recipe for achieving personalfitness goals.”

OSH Celebrates Grand Re-Opening in Moraga1550 Canyon Rd., Moraga(925) 377-0994Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH), as the local paint, hard-ware and backyard retailer, celebrated the Grand Re-Openingof its Moraga store on Saturday, Feb. 20. OSH commemo-rated the new, award-winning designed store and its updatedofferings and services with remarks from Moraga MayorMike Metcalf followed by OSH’s traditional board-cuttingceremony (chainsaw powered, of course).

Miramonte Alum Joins Pacific Union Real Estate 51 Moraga Way, Suite 1, Orinda(510) 282-4420 – TerriBatesWalker.comTerri Bates Walker, anOrinda native and graduateof Miramonte High SchoolClass of 1989, brings an ex-traordinary professionalbackground to PacificUnion Real Estate. A formerpracticing real estate attor-ney with a passion for ar-chitecture and design,Walker is one of the area’stop producers, representingboth sellers and buyers inthe Lamorinda communityand beyond. “Through myassociation with PacificUnion, I can offer my clients unparalleled marketing and net-working power, while remaining 100 percent committed toclient satisfaction and achieving a successful outcome,” saysWalker, who is a graduate of University of California, Davis(B.A. 1994) and University of the Pacific, McGeorge Schoolof Law (J.D. 1997). She lives in Orinda with her husband,Henry, an attorney and graduate of Acalanes High SchoolClass of 1988, and their three sons, who attend Sleepy Hol-low Elementary, Orinda Intermediate and Campolindo Highschools.

News from the three Chambers of CommerceLafayette

Monthly Mixer at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 at LasTrampas, 3460 Lana Lane.

Coffee with the Mayor, Mark Mitchell, at 8 a.m. Friday, Feb.26 in the Chamber Conference Room.

Citizen of the Year Dinner Honoring Tom Steuber from 6 to9 p.m. March 18 at the Lafayette Park Hotel and Spa. TheLafayette Chamber is proud to present this year’s special

award, with co-sponsor Lamorinda Weekly, to Tom Steuber,who has presided as Scoutmaster for Lafayette’s Boy ScoutTroop 204 for 12 years, and through his company, AssociatedServices, has reached out and supported underprivilegedteachers, schools and classrooms throughout the Bay Area.He is a remarkable humanitarian and a special Lafayetteneighbor. For reservations, visit lafayettechamber.org or call(925) 284-7404. Please make your reservations no later thanWednesday, March 16.

Moraga

March Entrepreneur’s Lunch. Attorney Asha B. Wilkersonwill discuss “Key Laws to Know as you Launch and Growyour Business” from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, March 14at Home/made kitchen café & bakery located at 337 RheemBlvd. in Moraga. Members and non-members welcome.Meet and mingle with other local business owners. $10 in-cludes lunch. Reservations are required at [email protected].

Orinda

Save the date for “A Night of Comedy,” featuring headlinerBrad Williams from Showtime’s highest rated comedy spe-cial, “Fun Size,” and Ben Feldmen at 7:30 p.m. Friday,March 4 at the Orinda Theatre. For ticket and event infor-mation, visit www.orindachamber.org, or call (925) 254-3909. (See story page B4)

business briefs

Patrick Russell Photo provided Terri Walker Photo provided

If you have a business brief to share, please [email protected]


Complete Sewer Special istComplete Sewer Special ist38 Years of Experience

Video Inspections & LocatingSewers Unclogged

Locally Owned & OperatedTrenchless Replacements & Repairs

No Landscape Damage

Gen. Eng. Lic #971074

925.932.4023925.932.4023www.GoTrenchless.com

TAXI BLEU All AirportsServed 24/7

Dispatch:

925-849-2222Direct:

[email protected]

Living Alone?Do you have a friend or loved one who would appreciate

a daily reassurance phone call with a friendly hello?Assistance League of Diablo Valley offers

925-934-0901

TELECARE...a free community serviceprovided by trained volunteers

Model T Ride Drives Centenarian’s Surprise... continued from page A1

“We’ve been thinking about

this [birthday celebration] for 100years,” joked Bryan Bashin, whocontacted local members of theBay Area Horseless CarriageClub to ask if they could supplyModel T cars and surprise his fa-ther. BAHCC club members ar-rived in style. Don Azevedoshowed up in a 1914 Model TFord, Orinda’s Rich Green in a1914 Model T Ford, Bill Cassi-day and Bill Austen drove 1915Model T Fords, Jon Alff had a1913 Buick and NormanSchwartz of Lafayette drove a1925 Model T Speedster.

There was one Ford product

holdout: Whitney and Diane

Haist, who came in costume,drove a 1926 Dodge Brothers.“We liked the idea, [of surprisingBashin],” said Haist. BAHCCplans to invite Bashin along on aclub tour as well as to be theirguest speaker at an upcomingmeeting.

“We enjoy sharing our cars

with people who know them,”Haist said.

As for 100-year-old Saul

Bashin, being around workingcars that are as old as he is lit acertain spark in his eyes. “Of allthe passions [my dad has had],the enduring one has been cars,”Bryan Bashin said.

Your Lamorinda Senior Checklist …Find cook for better nutritionGet driver to appointments, groceriesGet help with laundry & changing sheetsFind somebody for companionship, exercise, puzzles

CALL SENIOR HELPERSWe can assist with these activities and more.

Call for a free assessment 925-376-8000

Care. Comfort. Compassion.When you need it most.

Bonded and insured.Senior Helpers locations are independently owned and operated. ©2011 SH Franchising, LLC

Footage placed in this digital evi-dence room is admissible in court andcan be difficult to dispute.

Police cars have an even simpler

saving mechanism. When the carspark at the police department office inDesco Plaza, officers don’t have to doanything; the data is automaticallywirelessly transferred to the secureserver. The car cameras also have theability to go back in time. Car cam-eras are activated whenever the flash-ing lights are turned on, in the case ofan accident, when the officer hits thebrakes, and of course when the cam-era is manually activated. By con-stantly buffering, the camera recordsthe prior 90 seconds before the videois turned on, capturing exactly whathappened.

Recalling working at Great

America as a young man, Christensenshared the advice he received withstaff: “Remember that you are onstage.” Initially there was a bit of hes-itation about the cameras with someof the force, but by the end of training

everyone was on board.

“There is no expectation of pri-

vacy in public,” the Chief explained.That extends to other people in cars atthe time of an incident, or commentsmade in the back of a patrol car. Of-ficers are not required to tell you theyare filming; the cameras will simplybe on during any police-public inter-action. While police misconduct hasnot been an issue in Lafayette, officersare accountable for their actions, andthe recordings are something theChief sees as a way to “correct em-ployee behavior.”

There is no data so far showing

the cameras have brought down thenumber of citizen complaints becausethey are so new, according to CityManager Steven Falk. “My bet is thatthe cameras will increase the civilityof the interactions between officersand citizens, and reduce to zero thenumber of disputes. I am expectingthe number of complaints will godown significantly,” wrote Falk in“The Weekly Roundup.”

Smile. Police Body andCar Cameras Are Rolling ... continued from page A1

Safe, reliable and a�ordable home carefrom professionals who truly care!• Care Indeed is owned by nurses, experts in senior care, with extensive caregiving experience• Our caregivers not only meet Care Indeed’s standards, they meet your standards. If there’s ever an issue, you can notify us immediately and we’ll do something about it right away.• Call us. We can send a caregiver within hours of your call. We o�er 24/7 phone support.

• We price-match! No contract or deposit is required.

YOUR 24/7 HOME CARE SPECIALIST

(925) 317-3080 www.CareIndeed.com

2121 N. California Blvd., Ste.290Walnut Creek, CA 94596

“Our employees are our most important asset. We’ve chosen to invest in a training program

to ensurethat they have the skills and knowledge to provide high-quality care.”

Vanessa Valerio, VP & COO, Patient Care

Family members gather in front of a group of 100-year-old cars. From left: Michael (family friend), Bryan Bashin,centenarian Saul Bashin, Brendan Bashin-Sullivan, Lauren Bashin-Sullivan, Shari Bashin-Sullivan and MichelleBashin. Photos Cathy Dausman

The button on Bashin’s lapel, given to him by BAHCC, says: “I rode in ahorseless carriage."


Specializing in kitchens & bathrooms.All forms residential remodel/repair.

Clean | Courteous | ConscientiousOn-time | Trustworthy | Local References

Full design team resources available

Lic# 681593

General Contractor

925.631.1055www.MVCRemodeling.com

“A little bit of myself goesinto every job.”Michael VerBrugge, President, Moraga Resident

Call Tomfor a freeestimate

Since 1993! Tom Gieryng, owner and operator

��

� ��

��

��

�� !"� !�#!�$��%!��&'�(!��"��

��

� ��

��

��

��

�� !"� !�#!�$��%!��&'�(!��"��

��

� ��

��

��

��

�� !"� !�#!�$��%!��&'�(!��"��

��

� ��

��

��

��

�� !"� !�#!�$��%!��&'�(!��"��

��

� ��

��

��

��

�� !"� !�#!�$��%!��&'�(!��"��

FREE

ESTIMATE

CALBRE #01882902

WALNUT CREEK1910 OLYMPIC BLVD., #100WALNUT CREEK, CA 94596

O: 925.937.4000 F: 925.937.4001

LAFAYETTE999 OAK HILL RD., #100LAFAYETTE, CA 94549

O: 925.284.1400 F: 925.284.1411

WWW.DUDUM.COM

Distinctive Properties

DUDUM REAL ESTATE GROUPPROFESSIONALISM. INTEGRITY. RESULTS.

A REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE THAT WILL HAVE YOU SOLD!

BEN MILLER / SHERRY HUTCHENS 925.558.5744 / 925.212.7617

1175 CALDER LANE, WALNUT CREEK $1,080,000

PRIM

E

LOCA

TION

1937 ASPENRIDGE COURT, WALNUT CREEK $995,000

LAFA

YETTE

SCHOOLS


3921 N. PEARDALE, LAFAYETTE CALL AGENT

COMING

SOON


950 RISA ROAD, LAFAYETTE $1,495,000

COMMERCIAL

OPPORTUNITY

SERETA & RANDY CHURCHILL 925.998.4441 / 925.787.4622

524 BANYAN CIRCLE, WALNUT CREEK $900,888

TERESA ZOCCHI 925.360.8662

SOLD

REPRES

ENTE

D BUYER

1867 HOLLAND DRIVE, WALNUT CREEK $478,000

JON WOOD PROPERTIES 925.383.5384 / 925.451.3105

PENDING

LOS ARABIS (UPPER HAPPY VALLEY) LAFAYETTE $2,595,000

SERETA & RANDY CHURCHILL 925.998.4441 / 925.787.4622

UNDER

CONSTRUCTIO

N

JON WOOD PROPERTIES 925.383.5384 / 925.451.3105

MUIR RIDGE MARTINEZ / HABITAT FOR HUMANITY $464,999

JUST

LISTE

D

BEN MILLER

925.558.5744

TERESA ZOCCHI

925.360.8662

JON WOOD PROPERTIES

JON WOOD: 925.383.5384HOLLY SIBLEY: 925.451.3105

KAILEY GRAZIANO

925.404.4361

ANGIE GUERRA CULUM

925.209.5999

SHERRY HUTCHENS

925.212.7617

TINA FRECHMAN

925.915.0851

THE CHURCHILL TEAM

SERETA: 925.998.4441 RANDY 925.787.4622

JULIE DEL SANTOBROKER/OWNER

925.818.5500

MATT McLEOD

925.464.6500

This road is currently only usedby maintenance vehicles andpedestrians. CouncilmemberTeresa Onoda proposed that thehistoric entry point, on MoragaRoad close to Devin Drive, be ex-plored. While the rest of thecouncil supported the idea, the ar-chitect noted that an access pointclose to an intersection was notrecommended.

Gould Evans is planning a

community open house at the Ha-cienda on Feb. 25. The councilwill then review the final conceptplan for approval.

What will happen then and

how the project will move for-ward is unclear at this time. Thestaff person in charge of the proj-ect is Park and Recreation Direc-tor Jay Ingram. When asked, hewas not sure if the task to “sell”the Hacienda to possible part-ners/investors would be his jobalone or if the council would ap-point another consultant. Ingramconfirmed that he was meetingwith the Chamber of Commerce.Scheck added that she was as-

sembling a small group of localbusiness people with experiencein the development or hospitality

industry to support the market re-search efforts of the town.

Moraga

Scaled Down Plans and PhasedApproach for the Hacienda de las Flores... continued from page A4

93 Moraga Way, #103, Orinda

April Matthews www.villageassociates.com • www.dreamhomelamorinda.com

IT’S APRIL IN LAMORINDAFOR REAL ESTATE

[email protected]

Call me when you are ready to sell or buy a home and want the best results.

CalBRE#01221153

Giving Dreams an Address

Recently, millennials have takenup a new name for themselves

within the scientific community:Generation Mars. With exciting newdevelopments such as zero gravity3D printers, scientists have reasonto look hopefully toward the futureof space exploration and technol-ogy. At Campolindo High School,students in the Robotics Club can befound directly contributing to theseadvancements. Campolindo stu-dents are acting as a pilot group forSpace Games, a program launchedby Made In Space. In this program,students have been designing agame to be 3D printed in the Inter-national Space Station.

Mary Jo “MJ” Marggraff, the

creator of Space Games, first ap-proached Campolindo teachersabout the program in 2014, andbegan working with the RoboticsClub in September 2015. The Cam-polindo Makers Club was also in-volved in creating the earlierdesigns. “It was actually going to bea competition between multipleschools, but it ended up being justour school that would be creating adesign for the first year,” explainedBennett Coates, co-captain of theclub. “We first made a lot ofsketches, but now we are going tomake a rough model and 3D-print iton Earth, and the final model isgoing to be printed on the ISS by theMade In Space printer.”

Space Games proved to be a dif-

ficult but fun challenge for the Ro-

botics Club. The design was limitedto certain dimensions, and smallloose parts were not allowed due tosafety hazards. In addition to fulfill-ing these requirements, Campolindostudents hoped to create a game thatcould only be played in space. “It’sdifficult trying to make a game forouter space when all you’ve everknown is a 1G environment forgames. All of our earlier designswere things we’ve played on Earthwith slight variations,” Coatesnoted. Altenberg added, “Our pro-gram will hopefully inspire studentsto pursue engineering careers wherethey are able to learn and contributeto the production of things not nec-essarily just in space, but in 3Dprinting in general, which is a reallyrevolutionary manufacturing tech-nology.”

Made In Space, the company

that launched Space Games, createdthe first 3D printer able to operate inzero gravity, which was sent up tothe International Space Station onSept. 21, 2014. The company hopesthat this new technology will accel-erate space development and enablethe future of space exploration.

“The ability to construct from

one material almost infinitely manydevices and objects is really incred-ible, especially in space, where wehave a really limited number of re-sources. Having the ability to pro-duce things without a hugemanufacturing process is really im-portant and impressive,” Ray Al-

tenberg, co-captain of the RoboticsClub, explained. “While our projectdoesn’t have a necessarily practicalapplication, the brainstorming andthe effort that goes into developingsuch a product is similar to the workthat goes into creating more essen-tial items. The concept behind thischallenge is that we have to comeup with something that would be in-teresting on, say, a trip to Mars,which would take two to four years.The idea that you could have some-one on earth design these things foryou, send a file to you, and then youcould have the object even thoughyou’re millions of miles away inspace is pretty fantastic.”

Campolindo’s Robotics Team is

also currently participating in FirstTech Challenge, or FTC, a nation-wide competition in which studentsin grades 7-12 design, build, pro-gram, and operate robots to workwith or against other teams to com-plete a certain task. “Bad hardwaremade our season far more trouble-some than expected, but we still fin-ished with six awards andaccomplished a lot,” Altenberg saidabout the season.

Campolindo’s Robotics Club

was created in 2005, making thisseason its 10th year participating inFirst Tech Challenge. Recently, theCampolindo team won the Judges’Award at the Intel Folsom Qualifier,a FTC competition, for their effortsin Space Games.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 B1

ANNIVERSAIRE11

Interior Design • Gifts • RugsHome Accents • Lighting • Reupholstery

Custom Window Coverings

Please visit us and see ournew arrivals!

Indigo & Poppy1009 Oak Hill Road, Lafayette

925-962-9201www.indigoandpoppy.com

Hours: 10:00am - 5:30pm Monday - Saturday, Closed Sunday

Campolindo Robotics Team SendsDesigns to International Space StationBy Zoe Portnoff

The Campolindo Robotics Team sporting “Made In Space” T-shirts. Photos Zoe Portnoff

The Campo Robotics Team hard at work

I went from 30%to 18% body fat

in 11 WeeksI knew I’d reached a critical

point when my scaleregistered a weight I hadn’t

seen since I was pregnant.Living Lean helped me take

control and get back on-trackfast. I feel healthier, stronger andhappier. -Emily Gorin, Oakland

Personal Training, Nutrition and Group Classes

Call (925) 360- 7051

Two locations: Orinda and Lafayette

Read Client Testimonials at www.livingleanprogram.com

231 Marketplace #172 San Ramon Ca., 94583

!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''

CORRECTED PROOF SHEET

© Copy Written Material. May not be reproduced without Written consent from S & J Advertising, Inc.

S & J Advertising is not responsible for any mistakes not caught by client. SPELLING

ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE

S & J Advertising shall not be liable for more than discounting advertisement in thirds for mistakes as follows: 1) Address 2) Phone Number 3) Expiration Date. There shall be no discounts for misspelled words. S & J Advertising does not guarantee date of delivery.

SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13

Flat Monthly FeeDrop-in any time, no scheduling needed!

Building a solid math foundation is incredibly important for a happy and successful school year.

!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''

GET AHEAD IN MATH THIS FALL

WHEN MATH MAKES SENSE, YOU SUCCEED!

GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2

;<=>?>=5(%>@"=);<61!541>/<HOMEWORK HELP FOR ALL LEVELS

+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<

Must present coupon. New students only.


!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<



!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<



!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''

GET AHEAD IN MATH THIS FALLGET AHEAD IN MATH THIS FALL


GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<


3435 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette(Golden Gate Way at Mt. Diablo Blvd.)

(925) 283-4200 www.mathnasium.com


!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<



!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<



!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<



!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<



!"#$%&'()*+,)-.").,/%(01)"1#2,3.4,''5'6472$,4&'---32#.89#8:4+,$2$.;31)"''




ADDRESS

PHONE

EXPIRATION DATE


SIGNATURE_________________________________________DATE__________

</).4'=>?!@>A!BAAA'5'C#D'=>?!@=E!@B@A'

DATE__________________ 8/14/13



!"#$%&'()#*%&)(+#,-'./#0 "#,%(#*%&)(

!"#$%$&%$'"%()*%+),&*%-.$/%012%3"45

!"#$%&'()'(''

!1 2#3'45.#,.4//.+#,-'./# 62#78/%5%(.)(

6*%-.7.3%-"*$"8%($)$.&*9%:.84$%($8""$%)$%;"8*)<5

!"#$%*(")&*++ 2"#9%:#;4)</#*)%=#

>%8(-.#$4//: 6*%-.$8=4%>)8?"$@<)3"9%*"#$%$&%!&A%B.<<5

!"#$%!,')!*''

6!62#?.@#A'%B8)#C)-8/<%4=#D%E%F/../

C&<D"*%C)$"%E)/%)$%>$F%G.)A<&%;<7DF5

!"#$%"&,)*"''



GRADES K-12 !"#$%&"'!()*)$%&"'!()+),)-)*)."/0"1!2

!"#3(%45%56),)3(%45%567$89$38) !":(!(1/!2


+%-../%01..%232415678%94:.-41/%9.;<


GET AHEAD IN MATH THIS YEAR

Most people, as they enjoytheir golden years, likely

believe that their major accom-plishments are behind them. Butlongtime Orinda resident PatrickByrne is not like most people.

At 91, Byrne, a widower, still

lives independently in the samehouse he has for over 40 years.He still drives. He’s active andsharp. And he has a keen sense ofhumor. Last December, whenByrne received a letter fromPauline Carmona, Counsul Gen-eral of France, he was over-whelmed. “I have the honor tosend you my warmest congratula-tions on … your nomination as aChevalier (Knight) of the Legionof Honor, by a decree signed bythe President of the French Re-public … ,” the letter read. “I wasso honored when I saw that the

president of France nominatedme,” Byrne proudly stated. Thisextremely prestigious award is inaddition to the Good ConductMedal and four Bronze StarsByrne previously had received.

The French Legion of Honor,

which is similar to the U.S. Con-gressional Medal of Honor, is anorder of distinction established byNapoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It isthe highest military honor be-stowed in France and is given toveterans who fought on French ter-ritory and risked their lives to de-fend and preserve theindependence of France. Byrne isin excellent company; other Amer-ican recipients of the Legion ofHonor medal include general andPresident Dwight Eisenhower, gen-erals Douglas MacArthur andGeorge Patton and Holocaust sur-vivor Elie Wiesel.

In 1941, several days before his

18th birthday, Byrne, living in Con-necticut but originally from Dublin,Ireland, enlisted in the Navy. He at-tended Naval Radio School beforebeing assigned to serve as a radartechnician second-class aboard theUSS Augusta, a Navy flagship. InAugust 1941, the USS Augustahosted the Atlantic Conference be-tween President Franklin D. Roo-sevelt and Winston Churchill;young Byrne was onboard at thetime and was incredibly honored tosee these two men.

On June 6, 1944, with Gen.

Omar Bradley commanding D-Daylanding forces from the bridge, theAugusta turned her guns on theshores of Omaha Beach in Nor-mandy, France. The fight came tobe known as the largest seaborneinvasion in history as well as thebeginning of the end of World WarII. Thousands of troops werewounded during this invasion and,unfortunately, Byrne was one ofthose critically injured. He wastransported off the ship and spentthe next six months recuperating atthe U.S. Naval Hospital in Philadel-phia before being honorably dis-charged.

Byrne does not talk much about

his military service, and he cer-

tainly does not talk about combat.“I saw too many bodies floating inthe water and out of respect forthem and all the others who didn’tsurvive, I don’t talk about it,” hesaid. He did say that when you“hear the phrase, ‘man your battlestations,’ you know what you’refacing, you know you’re going intoaggressive mode.”

Following his service industry

discharge, Byrne moved to Califor-nia. “I had a senior officer that I re-ally admired,” Byrne noted. “Hehad graduated from Cal so I de-cided that I, too, wanted to gothere.” Byrne went on to work forMotorola, returned to school for amaster’s degree and became a col-lege-level computer programminginstructor.

On Jan. 20, Byrne, along with

friends and family, traveled to theFrench consulate in San Francisco.There, flanked by two of hisgrandchildren, he stood andproudly listened as Counsul Gen-eral Carmona, pinning the medalon him, said, “Today we celebratea hero whose courage, faith anddedication contributed, more than70 yeas ago, to defend and pre-serve the independence of Franceand to save our common values:freedom, tolerance, democracy .... It is almost impossible for us toimagine how much courage andbravery it must have required … tofight as you did … your courageand bravery are precisely the rea-son why the president of theFrench Republic has decided toaward you this highest Frenchrecognition.”

The accolades continued. The

city of Orinda honored Byrne byofficially recognizing him at itsFeb. 16 City Council meeting.Council members and those in theaudience gave Byrne a standingovation as Mayor Victoria Smithpresented him with a Certificate ofRecognition for being the recipientof the Legion of Honor award, call-ing it a “small token of our appre-ciation.” She added that the City ofOrinda joined both the UnitedStates and France in their gratitudefor his service.

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYB2 Wednesday, February 24, 2016

• Trust Agreement • Pour Over Will • Guardianship of Minor Children • Power of Attorney for Finance • Community Property Agreement • Transfer of Real Property into Trust

Advanced Medical Directives, Including:

• Power of Attorney for Health Care • Living Will • HIPAA

LLIIVVIINNGG TTRRUUSSTT $$669955 CCOOMMPPLLEETTEE

Law Offices of Lauren Smykowski

(925) 257-4277

[email protected] www.smykowskilaw.com

Plan Includes: • Trust Agreement

• Pour Over Will • Guardianship of Minor Children • Power of Attorney for Finance • Community Property Agreement • Transfer of Real Property into Trust


• Power of Attorney for Health Care • Living Will • HIPAAIINNIITTIIAALL

CCOONNSSUULLTTAATTIIOONN FFRREEEE Notary Services Included!

Office Located in Walnut Creek

Valid until March 31, 2016

• Trust Agreement • Pour Over Will • Guardianship of Minor Children • Power of Attorney for Finance • Community Property Agreement • Transfer of Real Property into Trust


• Power of Attorney for Health Care • Living Will • HIPAA

LIVING TRUST $695 COMPLETE

Law Offices of Lauren Smykowski

(925) 257-4277

[email protected] www.smykowskilaw.com

Plan Includes: • Trust Agreement

• Pour Over Will • Guardianship of Minor Children • Power of Attorney for Finance • Community Property Agreement • Transfer of Real Property into Trust


• Power of Attorney for Health Care • Living Will • HIPAAINITIAL

CONSULTATION FREE Notary Services Included!

Office Located in Walnut Creek

• Trust Agreement• Pour Over Will• Guardianship of Minor Children• Power of Attorney for Finance• Transfer of Real Property into Trust• Advanced Medical Directive

Located in the Treat Towers1255 Treat Blvd., Ste. 300Walnut Creek, CA 94597

(925) [email protected]

Orinda Vet Receives Highest FrenchMilitary HonorPatrick Byrne is Knight of French Legion of HonorBy Diane Claytor

Counsel General of France Pauline Carmona congratulates Patrick Byrne as he receives the Legion of Honor Medalduring the Jan. 20 ceremony. Photos © Consulate General of France in San Francisco

Orinda's Patrick Byrne, wearing his Legion of Honor Medal, with CounselGeneral of France Pauline Carmona, right, is surrounded by family andfriends following the presentation ceremony.

NEW TO CONCORD!

RCFE # License Pending

Oakmont Senior Living’s newest project is now under construction and scheduled to open in the late summer of 2016!

Oakmont offers a wellness center and a full-time nurse to assistwith all of your daily living needs in the privacy of your own home.

Luxury Senior LivingAssisted Living • Memory Care

Restaurant-Style Indoor and Outdoor DiningPrivate Movie Theatre • Day Spa • Fitness CenterPet Park • Resident Gardens and Walking Paths

1401 Civic CourtConcord, CA 94520925-643-2037

Studio, One Bedroom and Two Bedroom Apartment Homes Now Available for Reservation

Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYB4 Wednesday, February 24, 2016www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977

3645 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette between Trader Joes & the Post Office

283-2988 www.waredesigns.com Tuesday-Saturday 10-6

$5 off Watch BatteryReg $15, Now $10

1 watch battery per person. Exp. 3/31/16. Usually installed while you wait. W/coupon. Restrictions apply.

jtÜx Wxá |zÇá Y|Çx ]xãxÄÜç á|Çvx DLJJ

• Custom Designs• Expert Repairs

• Appraisals • Pearl Restringing

Expanding our Services withTwo Goldsmiths

All your jewelry is insured with Jeweler’s Block Insurance.

Orinda Becomes Comedy Central onMarch 47th Annual Night of Comedy at Orinda TheatreBy Diane Claytor

Everyone’s heard that old saying: laughter is the bestmedicine. If that is, indeed, true, the Lamorinda

community has the opportunity to greatly improve theirhealth next month. That can be done by attending “ANight of Comedy,” the Orinda Chamber of Commerce’svery popular, and very funny, annual fundraiser. For thepast six years, this event has had audiences practicallyrolling in the aisles. This year’s March 4 evening at theOrinda Theatre promises more of the same.

Ben Feldman, named one of 2013’s Best Comics to

Watch by the San Francisco Weekly, will open the show,delighting the audience with his acerbic, playful wit. He’llthen turn the stage over to the evening’s headliner, BradWilliams, considered one of the funniest, most in demandcomedians working today.

Williams is a little person (or, as he describes himself,

“a dwarf, midget … I say them all interchangeably”). Butthe only thing small about him is his 4 foot 4 stature. Hehas more energy and personality than people twice hissize. In fact, the late, great Robin Williams once calledhim “Prozac with a Head.”

“My comedy doesn’t revolve around my size,”

Williams said. “I’m not going to talk about how I can takea bath in a thimble, but of course, my stories are told frommy vantage point. I don’t know how to tell a joke fromthe perspective of a 5-foot 10-inch blue-eyed blondeman.”

Williams, a Southern California native, has been

doing standup for 13 years, a career that started as a fluke

when he was a sophomore at USC. He had gone to a localcomedy club when the performing comedian started mak-ing jokes about midgets. “The audience around me wasn’tlaughing,” Williams said, which caused the comedian totake notice. “He brought me up on stage and started askingquestions,” Williams continued. “My answers got laughsand as soon as that happened, the adrenaline just soaredthrough me. I remember it so vividly. That was the mo-ment.”

From there, Williams began attending open mic nights

at comedy clubs throughout Southern California; he’dhustle, often driving for hours to get to a club where ‘I’dhave 15 minutes to make people laugh. It’s a grinding,slow build,” he reported. But he made it.

Williams has appeared on numerous TV shows, in-

cluding Dave Attell’s Comedy Underground, The TonightShow and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has two comedy al-bums, which he promotes by promising fans that “if youbuy a comedy album from a midget you automatically getinto heaven.” He’s a regular on a Los Angeles radio talkshow and, along with his friend Adam Ray, produces“About Last Night,” a weekly audio podcast. He just fin-ished recording his second Showtime special, which willbe out within the next several months. This follows on theheels of the Showtime special he did last year, which wasthe cable channel’s highest rated comedy special of 2015.

A review of Williams’ first CD, “Coming Up Short,”

said Williams’ “approach to comedy is a smart one.Williams is a passionate comedian with some truly funnyobservations… he makes the world a better place by mak-ing us laugh.”

On Friday, March 4, you’ll have the opportunity to

laugh hysterically, smile continually and witness Williamsin action. You will also be able to enjoy adult beveragesfrom the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association and thenew Cine Cuvee.

Charlie Chaplin once said, “A day without laughter is

a day wasted.” Don’t waste another day.

Tickets for this riotous evening, which begins at 7:30

p.m., are $30. Front row, VIP seating, along with compli-mentary access to a private bar where champagne willflow all night, is available for $100 per person. Ticketsmay be purchased by going to the Orinda Chamber ofCommerce website, www.orindachamber.org.

Night of Comedy's headliner, Brad Williams Photo provided

‘Angels In America, Part Two’Town Hall Theatre Company confirms top league statusBy Sophie Braccini

Following last year’s stellar production of “Angels inAmerica: Millennium Approaches,” which landed

Town Hall Theatre Company seven Shellie Awards, in-cluding Outstanding Production of the Year, THT onceagain pushes the envelop with part two, “Angels In Amer-ica: Perestroika,” Tony Kushner's 1990 play which opensFeb. 27. This bolder and fully mastered production defi-nitely places the Lafayette theatrical group at the top ofthe Central Contra Costa/Diablo Valley region companies.

This season all the actors are back performing in the

roles they embodied in the 2015 “Millennium Ap-proaches” production. They pick up right where they leftoff, but seemingly with a deeper understanding of theircharacters that has developed since “Millennium.”

“This is bigger than anything we've ever pulled off –

the language, the story, the complexity,” says director JoelRoster.

“Angels in America: Perestroika” is deep, cruel, un-

compromising. It includes a criticism of the Reagan years,where, in Kushner’s eyes, happiness was reachable onlyif you were in the norm and healthy. But it is also a fiercedissection of human behaviors when confronted with theworst adversity. Kushner desperately seeks a solution.Should humanity stand still, as the angel proposes, waitingfor the return of God, or forge ahead however painful itmight be. The play that deals with the AIDS crisis ad-dresses universal questions. Throughout the course of theplay every character has their assumptions challenged,their alliances broken and recreated in new ways. Hu-

manity survives in the end. “Angels In America” is, afterall, an optimistic play.

There are lighter moments as well with irony that will

make the audience smile. But the richest pleasure lies withthe level of the actors' performances, and how they cantake the audience with them into their deepest emotions,without cheapening or overacting the great text.

Jeffrey Draper as Prior Walter is poignant and deeply

moving. His fight with the angel is epic, his quest reach-ing a mythological proportion. Jerry Motta playing RoyCohn does not become more likeable as he approachesdeath, but his struggle is grandiose and Motta is at his best.Dennis Markam, Alexandra Bogorad Coleman and KerriShawn show their value and give fully of themselves tothe difficulties of the play. Ginny Wehrmeister, who playsthe angel, carries the incredibly poetic language of Kush-ner to levels of lyricism. Alan Coyne as Joseph Pitt is vul-nerable and weak, touching and struggling, trying to findhis place in the maelstrom that rages inside and outsidehim.

Roster directs his actors and the incessant ballet of the

ever-changing decor with precision. Over the course ofthe evening, furniture comes and goes; lights spot one sideof the scene or the other. It is also a technical masterpiece.


The Messenger Has Arrived; Ginny Wehrmeister as theAngel Of America. Photos Stu Selland

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Nowaccepting

newpatients!

Kristi L. Doberenz, D.D.S., Inc.8 Camino Encinas, STE #110, Orinda

(925) 254-3725

Theater ViewVeterinary Clinic,owned by Dr. Laurie Langfold,is excited toannounce a newaddition. Dr. Amelia Ausmanhas joined our team. Come check us out.

“Dr. Laurie” Langford

Phone: (925) 317-3187Fax: (925) 334-7017

Email: [email protected]

1 Bates Blvd., Suite 200, Orinda

Theater ViewVeterinary Clinic

Another ‘American Gothic’; Joe Pitt (Alan Coyne) andHarper Amaty Pitt (Alexandra Bogorad Coleman)

Sewer• Water HeaterSpecialist

• 24/7 Service

(925)377-6600www.LeapFrogPlumbing.com

*Expires 3/31/16 Provided & installed byLeapFrog Plumbing. 1 coupon per job.

CA Lic929641

green solutions!

Family-owned and servingLamorinda since 1993

We Hop To It!

$25 OFF!any plumbing job*

$75 OFF!re-circ systems*

LeapFrog PlumbingSave some WATER ‘n save someGREEN this St. Paddy’s Daywith a re-circulating hot-water pump. There’s one tofit your needs (push-button,timer-activated, full-time & more). Tired of waiting for that hot water toarrive? No more water down thedrain while you wait for hot water! Head Frog Mo Williams

Some of the perks of having a col-lege in your midst are the cultural

activities offered: plays, concerts,conferences, exhibitions – and festi-vals. Now in its fourth year, theFrench film festival, which openedlast week with the free showing of“Hiroshima Mon Amour” and “LaChambre Bleue,” offers an affordableway to foster a cultural and intellec-tual understanding of other countries.

“We aim to present a representa-

tive selection of films, ranging fromthose likely to attract wider audiencesto the more experimental ones,” saysHelga Lenart-Cheng, a professor in thedepartment of modern languages whostarted the program. “To reflect the di-versity of contemporary French cin-ema, we have selected a variety ofgenres (fiction, documentary, histori-cal, animation, etc.) We want to show-case both emerging and established

talents, so we choose famous directorsand actors as well as less known ones.”

Lenart-Cheng teaches French at

Saint Mary's College to a small butdedicated number of students who ei-ther major or minor in French. “Cul-tural programs such as this FrenchFilm Festival are highly important be-cause they open our students' eyes tothe world and they challenge them toexamine views that they rarely en-counter in U.S. mainstream media,”she says.

The French American Cultural

Exchange Foundation (FACE) offersthe films to universities. Lenart-Cheng puts together a team of profes-sors and students that choose fivecontemporary films and one classicfilm among those proposed by FACE.

The film “Deux Jours Une Nuit”

(“Two Days, One Night”) – directedby the Dardenne brothers and starring

Marion Cotillard (“La Vie En Rose,”“Rust and Bone”) – will be shown at7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 24, in SMC’sHagerty Lounge, De La Salle Hall.The Belgian brothers have been rec-ognized many times at the CannesFilm Festival and are known for theirintimate and pragmatic style, withmovies often filmed with the camerain hand, close to the actors and the ac-tion, capturing every raw emotion.Their stories can be tough, but likewith “Two Days, One Night,” there isoften the possibility of a miracle.

On March 3 at 7 p.m. another

great French actress, Juliette Binoche,will be featured in “Clouds of SilsMaria,” a story about the inescapablepassage of time, directed by OlivierAssayas. Maria Anders (played byBinoche) is cast in the same play thatstarted her career 20 years prior, onlythis time she is cast in the older role.Binoche is magnificent in this storyabout the clash of a young womanand a more mature one, which ends inthe suicide of the older. This is a beau-tiful film that discusses the changes of

time and cultures.

“Timbuktu” will be shown on

March 9. The Oscar-nominated filmis a must see. “Timbuktu, which willbe introduced by our specialist onAfrican history, professor JenniferLofkrantz, was an Academy Awardnominee for Best Foreign LanguageFilm,” says Lenart-Cheng. “The filmpresents stunning imagery and timelyquestions about conflicts caused byJihadists in the Malian city of Tim-buktu.” She adds that both that movieand the next, “The Nun,” deal withthe question of dogmatism and reli-gious fanaticism.

Based on the 18th century novel

by Diderot, “The Nun” tells the storyof Suzanne, a 16-year-old girl whosefamily forces her into a conventagainst her will. Inside, she is con-fronted with brainwashing and unfairtreatment, and tries to survive as shefights to regain her freedom. Themovie is not against religion or evenagainst the idea of convents. It isabout the battle of a young woman tobe true to herself, armed with her pas-sion alone to fight an entire institutionand her own family. “For those whohave seen the 1966 adaptation byJacques Rivette it will be interestingto compare the two adaptations," addsLenart-Cheng. “The Nun” will playat 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 inHagerty Lounge, De La Salle Hall atSaint Mary’s College.

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 B5

‘Angels In America, Part Two’... continued from page B4

Agreeing to Disagree; Louis Ironson (Dennis Markam) and Belize (LaMontRidgell) from Town Hall Theatre’s production of “Angels In America: Perestroika”.

Free French Film Festival Offered at SMC Through March 12 By Sophie Braccini

Photos provided

Those who saw part one last year

won’t want to miss the denouementthis year. Although it is not necessaryfor the audience to have seen part oneto understand “Angels in America:Perestroika,” Town Hall Theatre is of-fering staged readings of “Millen-nium Approaches” at 2 p.m. on the

Saturday afternoons preceding thatday's performance.

“Angels in America: Perestroika”

will run from Feb. 27 to March 19 at3535 School Street in Lafayette, withpreviews on Feb. 25 and 26. For in-formation, visit www.townhallthe-atre.com.

Preparing For What Comes; Hannah Pitt (Kerri Shawn), Prior Walter (JeffreyDraper), and Roy Cohn (Jerry Motta)

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, February 24, 2016Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYB6

Share YourCelebrationsandRemembrancesIf you would like to sharean announcement abouta special event orachievement, such as awedding, engagement,scholarship or graduationof a local resident, orabout a special personfrom Lamorinda who haspassed, send a photoalong with your text (upto 250 words) [email protected], and include“Celebrations andRemembrances” in thesubject line.

Community ServiceWe are pleased to make space available whenever possible for some of Lamorinda’s dedicated community service organizations to submit news and information

about their activities. Submissions may be sent to [email protected] with the subject header In Service to the Community.

DAR Good Citizens Award WinnersAnnouncedSubmitted by Louise Diracles

The Acalanes Chapter of theDaughters of the American

Revolution presented awards on Feb.6 to local students who had entered

the DAR Good Citizens Award com-petition. These students were nomi-nated by staff at their schools for theirachievements and contributions to

school and community. The contest-ants also submitted essays on a patri-otic topic to a panel of judges.Pictured, from left, are: Susan McGill,Good Citizens Award chairperson,award winner Ivy Li from MiramonteHigh School, award winner FionaStewart from Campolindo HighSchool, Susan Skilton, DARAcalanes Chapter Regent, and LesliePfeifer, District IV California DARDirector. Not pictured are award win-ners Sabrina Elliott from AcalanesHigh School, Sarah Wong from Con-tra Costa Christian High School, andAlexandra Kurland from Las LomasHigh School. Fiona Stewart, theAcalanes Chapter winner, was alsorecognized as District IV winner, andwas presented the award for the dis-trict by Leslie Pfeifer. Fiona will goon to compete for the California Stateaward.

Colleen Starrett turned 99 on Feb.17. Born of Sicilian immigrants in

1917 in Forth Wayne, Ind., Colleen,along with her two brothers and one sis-ter, were raised in San Francisco whereshe went to elementary schools through-out San Francisco and attended MissionHigh School. Colleen’s four daughterswere born and raised in San Francisco.Her youngest daughter attendedAcalanes High School and graduated in1973.

A resident of Lafayette since 1969,

Colleen moved from San Francisco to alovely brick house behind AcalanesHigh School where she still continues toupdate her house and yard to make it asspectacular as ever. Colleen and herhusband, Ken Starrett, loved the

Lafayette community, where they rodethe first BART train from Lafayette toSan Francisco in 1972, when theyworked for lithograph companies andcommuted daily to San Francisco untilthey retired in 1978. Colleen and Kenenjoyed the Lafayette open space andreservoir, beautiful downtown Lafayetteareas, and proximity to Sun Valley Mall.

Colleen spends time every day in

her garden, talking to neighbors andfamily, and keeps up-to-date on currentevents, reading the daily newspaper, en-joying crossword puzzles and readingbooks of all types. Colleen is a talentedseamstress and continues to sew for en-joyment. She also enjoys spending timewith her four daughters, eight grandchil-dren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Joan Freitas FavorsAug. 16, 1929 – Feb. 2, 2016

Joan Freitas Favors died peacefully Feb. 2 in Anacortes,Washington with her daughter by her side. Joan was born to Albina and Archie Freitas on Aug. 16, 1929 inOakland, California. She and her two older brothers, Robert and William,grew up in Oakland and spent their summers at the family cabin inPinecrest. Joan attended Holy Names High School, and graduated witha degree in education from Stanford University in 1951. Shortly aftergraduation she married Arch Monroe Favors (Jack) and began her lifeas matriarch of a large and boisterous extended family in Lafayette,California. Together they had five children, John, Gregory, Mary, Billy,and Jane. Joan inspired them all with a lifelong love of the family cabinin Pinecrest and time spent at the beach in Monterey. Later she wasblessed by her six grandchildren, Jeremy, Tia, Lindsay, Alex, Jackie andTrevor, and her great-grandchildren, Zoe, Mackenzie, Jackson, Masonand Heath and soon to be great great-granddaughter. Joan was a devoted parishioner of St. Perpetua’s Catholic Church.She volunteered teaching Catechism, Great Books and later was activein many of the church functions. She was also a long-standing memberof her book club and investment club. Later she became an avid antiquedealer. Joan was loving and devoted to her family and her friends. Afterthe sale of the family home in Lafayette she moved to Anacortes,Washington to live with her daughter Jane and grandchildren Jackie andAlex. She enjoyed many trips with her grandchildren and dogs travellingto Canada, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, the Cascades, Oregon andCalifornia. She enjoyed sitting in the sun and telling stories. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack, her parentsArch and Albina, her brothers Robert and William and many aunts andcousins. And though we are left with broken hearts we are blessed byher example of love, compassion and forgiveness.Funeral Mass to be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 26 at St. Perpetua’s CatholicChurch in Lafayette.

Ray MuerJuly 11, 1932 – Feb. 1, 2016

Raymond “Ray” Joseph Muer, 83, ofManhattan Beach, Calif., passed awaypeacefully on Feb. l, with family at hisbedside.

Ray Muer was born in Detroit, Mich., onJuly 11, 1932. He graduated from De La SalleHigh School and University of Detroit with abachelor’s degree in philosophy. Aftergraduating college he briefly attended SacredHeart Jesuit Seminary.

Ray spent 32 years in advertisingmanagement and radio sales with companies such as Kenyon andEckhardt, Blair Radio and KGO Radio. During this time he lived in SanFrancisco, St. Louis, and Moraga. After retirement he moved toManhattan Beach. In addition to his executive and sales history, Ray was a classicallytrained pianist. He possessed the ability to play piano by ear and enjoyeda particular talent for jazz. After his retirement, Ray played jazz piano inmany San Francisco Bay Area restaurants. Our fondest memories of Rayinvolve him playing the piano surrounded by family and friends. Ray is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Joan Marie Muer,and three children, Lisa Muer Tanner (Glenn), Julie Muer, and ThomasRaymond Muer (Susann). He is also survived by six grandchildren,Devin Ray Tanner, Spencer Thomas Tanner, Amanda Marie Tanner,Natalie Violanda Natole, Cora Albrecht Schoppe, and Tolya Ray Muer.Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Anna and Anthony Muer the2nd, and his brother, Anthony Muer the 3rd. A funeral mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 11 atAmerican Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach. A reception will be heldimmediately following the mass. A committal ceremony will be held ata later date at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette, Calif., wherehe will be laid to rest. In lieu off flowers a donation may be sent to theAlzheimer's Association, 5670 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1800, Los Angeles,CA, 90036.

Celebrations

Photo provided

Lafayette Resident, ColleenStarrett, Turns 99

Orinda Troop 303 Honors Three NewEagle ScoutsSubmitted by Jim Brovelli

Boy Scout Troop 303 in Orindahonored three new Eagle Scouts

at a Court of Honor Award Ceremonyon Feb. 21 at Grace PresbyterianChurch in Walnut Creek. Kyle Wal-lace, David Whisnant, and JonathanDate-Chong earned the highest ad-vancement rank in Scouting by fulfill-ing requirements in the areas ofleadership, service and outdoor skills,as well as completing at least 21 meritbadges and organizing and leading aservice project benefiting his commu-nity. These four young men joined

the less than 4 percent of all scoutswho achieve Eagle Rank.

For his Eagle project, Wallace, a

senior at Miramonte High School, de-signed and built a rainwater harvestsystem and garden bed for his formerpreschool. The project cleans, col-lects and stores up to 330 gallons ofrainwater used to water vegetablesand plants grown in the garden bed.The project educated the young stu-dents about water conservation andprovided hands-on learning opportu-nities.

Whisnant’s Eagle project in-

cluded the construction of a woodenframed stair system leading from theparking lot of the Oakland Zoo up tothe Veterinarian Clinic. It was an in-tense process of grading the hillsidebefore assembling the woodenstringers and risers and securing theassembly to the ground. This projectwas a necessity to the zoo, as it pro-vided staff with an easier way totransport sick and injured animals tothe clinic. Whisnant is a freshman atCampolindo High School.

Date-Chong, a senior at Mira-

monte High School, designed and di-rected the construction of fourwooden benches for Wagner RanchElementary school. The benches,painted to match the trims of theschool buildings, were installed inareas where there was previously noseating for the students.

For over 52 years Orinda Boy

Scout Troop 303, chartered by theRotary Club of Orinda, has been pro-viding boys with a variety of hiking,camping, community service andleadership opportunities. To learnmore about the troop, visitwww.bsatroop303orinda.com or con-tact scoutmaster Jim Brovelli (925)997-8437.

From left: Kyle Wallace, David Whisnant and Jonathan Date-ChongPhoto provided

Photo provided


Acalanes Presents ‘The DrowsyChaperone’ March 3-5Submitted by Mandy Chivers

Acalanes High School’s spring production of “TheDrowsy Chaperone” – a Tony award-winning

farcical play within a comedy by Lisa Lambert andGreg Morrison – is sure to delight. The “Man in theChair” is your guide as you navigate his favorite mu-sical from the ‘20s: “The Drowsy Chaperone.”

The tale is one of slapstick comedy, improbable

situations, and a wedding that may or not may not hap-pen. The show travels in and out of the Man in theChair’s imagination, strung together with snappy, up-beat ‘20s-influenced song and dance.

“The annual spring musical is a total Performing

Arts collaboration,” says Bruce Lengacher, director ofchoral activities and Acalanes Performing Arts Depart-ment chair. “The Drama department contributes set de-sign, set construction, some advanced drama students,and the technical crew. Instrumental Music providesthe musicians for the pit orchestra for every perform-ance, and some of the top players in the program are

in the pit. Choral Music provides the bulk of the castand production company, which is made up entirely ofstudents.”

This year’s production has a student director, pro-

ducer, publicist, and make-up key, Lengacher says. “Ina mere nine weeks, we go from table read to three full-scale performances and conclude with an empty the-ater waiting for next year’s adventure!”

You can see the production of “The Drowsy Chap-

erone” at 7 p.m. March 3-5 at the Acalanes PerformingArts Center. For more information, visitacalaneschoral.org. Tickets are open to the generalpublic: $18 for adults; $16 for seniors (60 and older)and students, and are available at the Acalanes Web-store, https://acalaneshs.revtrak.net/tek9.asp?pg=prod-ucts&grp=38.

Image provided

The Four Must Dos on Campus VisitsBy Elizabeth LaScala, PhD

Among the most exciting parts ofthe college search, and certainly

one of the most important, is the cam-pus visit. There is no better way tofind out if a college is the best fit foryou than to register for an informationsession and arrange a campus tour.Today’s busy families make sacrificesin time and money to tour campuses,so make yours count by planning todo four things that help ensure a suc-cessful visit. 1. Work closely with the admissionsoffice. The student should register for thevisit using his or her dedicated collegeemail account (one used only for col-lege admission purposes so nothinggets lost or missed). Registering al-lows the admissions office to recordyour interest in their school and toproperly schedule your visit. If youhave questions in advance, contact theadmissions officer assigned to workwith students who live in your homecounty or state. Send questions in ad-vance. Ask if she or he can makearrangements, for example, to meetwith students who share your inter-ests, speak with faculty in your in-tended major(s) or to meet with acounselor in the career developmentcenter. Most admissions officers willtake the time to answer all of yourquestions and help you to make theseappointments. They also keep de-tailed records of each visiting stu-dent’s interests. These records mightmake a difference in an admissionsdecision or result in an invitation tobecome part of a unique living and/orlearning opportunity, such as an hon-ors program or scholarship.2. Take the campus tour, then toursome more. When you take a campus tour,you are most likely to see a dormroom, the library, athletic facilities, therecreation center, the dining hall, the

student union/center, classrooms, labsand performing arts facilities. Youmight receive invitations to attendevents on campus or a discount toshop at the campus store. But there’sa lot more to a college campus thanyou will see on the formal tour. Itpays dividends to walk around, andfind out where students go to social-ize, take breaks from classes and eatmeals off campus. You will want totry a meal in the dining hall, and ifyou have special dietary needs, findout if the school can meet them. Youshould also find out where students goto receive medical care. At some col-leges the answer is easy; the schoolhas a health center, maybe even a hos-pital on campus. At other schools, youmight need to go off campus for med-ical care. Also, notice how studentsget around campus. It’s easy to walkaround a school that occupies only afew city blocks. But you will need totake shuttles to get around campusesat many larger, more spread-out uni-versities.3. Get the scoop from the college’sstudents. You will get first impressions onthe campus tour. But you get only asmall number, at best, of student im-pressions and then only from studentswho are among the happiest on cam-pus. If your tour guide offers you abusiness card, take it. That personcould be very helpful as you makeyour short list of schools as well asyour final decision. But as you ven-ture on your own, stop and talk to stu-dents. Ask them if they like theschool. Was it easy or hard for themto get into the major that they wanted?To transfer to a different major? Tosee a professor for help on a paper orexam? What is the social center of thecampus? Where do students live afterthe first year? Take and read a copy ofthe campus newspaper, so you get a

sense of hot topics on the campus,cultural events, athletic spirit andguest speakers – and add it to theother information you gather.4. Check out the community offcampus.

The campus is not the complete

picture of a college community. Thereare many differences between aschool that’s in a large city versus onein a smaller “college town.” The col-lege town is more likely to look to thecollege to be the cultural center of thecommunity; a large city will have acultural life that is not over-dependenton the college for support. You’remore likely to find more “schoolspirit” in the college town. But you’realso likely to find more cultural andentertainment options in the largercity. In either case, be sure that yousee how easy or hard it is to get intothe community surrounding campus.Can you walk right into town? Or doyou need to rely on public transporta-tion or a car to get around?

College admissions offices try tomake the campus visit experi-

ence as pleasant as possible. But it’sup to you to make it a truly informa-tive experience – one you gather allof the information that you need tounderstand if the school should havea place on your final college applica-tion list. The time to visit is well worththe investment, given the investment

Elizabeth LaScala, Ph.D. is anindependent college advisor whodraws upon 25 years of highereducation experience to help guideand support the college admissionsprocess for students and their families.Dr. LaScala is a member of NACAC,WACAC and HECA. She can becontacted at (925) 891-4491 [email protected]. Visitwww.doingcollege.com for moreinformation about her services.

Acalanes High School students at a recent rehearsal of “The Drowsy Chaperone” Photos Rick Sasner

Acalanes Choral Director Bruce Lengacher with Stu-dent Director Charlie Manzano and Student ProducerTaylor Wondolowski

The Chabad House ofLamorinda Helps LocalsExplore Their Jewish IdentityBy Sophie Braccini

Anew community center inLafayette, steeped in the Jewish

tradition, aims to provide educationaland outreach activities for people ofall ages with Jewish roots. Rabbi Yis-roel Labkowski, who recently openedthe Chabad House, follows the wordsof the founder of the Chabad move-ment, Rabbi Menachem MendelSchneerson, who said that “(aChabad) should serve as a key to openthe hearts of all who will visit it andall who will come under its sphere ofinfluence – open their hearts to thevery core of their Jewishness.”

Labkowski says that Jews are

equal, regardless of their circum-stance, and therefore everyone is wel-come in the Chabad. “A Jew is a Jewregardless of his affiliation, regardlessof his observance; he is born Jewishand will always be a Jew,” he says.“The idea is to awaken the Jewishidentity everyone born Jewish has.There is no idea of membership intothe Chabad, it is a place open toeveryone interested.”

Labkowski was born into a reli-

gious Jewish family with Russian ori-gins in Brooklyn – the 11th in afamily of 12 children. He studied inCanada, Israel and Los Angeles. Heand his wife, Tzipora, were bothraised by parents who were part of theChabad movement. “We were bothraised with the idea that it's not justimportant to live your own life, andmind your own business,” he says,“but with the idea that a Jew’s missionin life is to help out another Jew.”Therefore rather than staying in their

comfort zone, they decided to venturewest. There are about 4,500 ChabadHouses throughout the world. TheLabkowski asked friends and familyfor seed money so they could starttheir service.

One of the first steps the

Labkowskis took was to ask theLafayette City Council to let them in-stall a menorah on the Plaza duringthe eight days of Hanukkah. “Thiswas a symbol of light, warmth andbeauty that we wanted to share withthe community,” says Labkowski.“Now we have started to offer classesand activities for all ages and open toall. The activities are for people to beinvolved; we are not preaching. Forthe children, it is very hands-on,teaching by feeling.” For example,children made candles for Hanukkahor they made their own lamp, learningto press olives that produced the oilthat burned in the lamp.

There are many classes and activ-

ities offered: Mommy and Me, He-brew school, monthly communityShabbat dinners, Torah reading, Jew-ish history, and many more. There isalso a special class for women, chal-lah bread making, which provides anopportunity of women to socializeand reflect on the meaning of challah.The next challah bread making classis scheduled for Tuesday, March 1.The Chabad also organizes celebra-tions for each Jewish holiday, the nextone being Purim March 23-24.

For more information, go to

www.chabadoflamorinda.org.

Children learn how to make olive oil used in an oil lamp at the Chabad. Theolive press is shown on the left. Photo provided

Campolindo High SchoolNamed 2016 East CountyRegional AcademicDecathlon ChampionSubmitted by Jonathan Lance

Campolindo’s Academic Decathlon team Photo Diane Morrell, CCCOE

Campolindo High School wonthe 2016 East County Regional

Academic Decathlon Feb. 10 for thesixth straight year. Along with beingthe East Bay Regional winner, theteam will also represent Contra CostaCounty in the California State Aca-demic Decathlon competition. Fol-lowing Campolindo were Las LomasHigh School (Walnut Creek), secondplace; and Dublin High School, thirdplace. Teams from Acalanes and Mi-ramonte also participated in the event.

Directed by the Contra Costa

County Office of Education(CCCOE) and with the assistance ofcommunity volunteers, the AcademicDecathlon provides an opportunityfor high school students to competeas individuals and teams in a series of10 academic tests and demonstra-tions. The subjects in the competitioninclude art, economics, literature,mathematics, music, science, socialscience, essay, interview, and speech

(prepared and impromptu) – plus theSuperQuiz.

Approximately, 120 participating

high school students have been study-ing and preparing for this event withtheir coaches since September. Thisyear’s Academic Decathlon themewas “India.”

Along with earning their sixth

consecutive year as Contra CostaCounty’s Academic Decathlon cham-pion, Campolindo was also last year’snational Academic Decathlon winnerin the Medium School Category.High school teams are made up ofnine students, grades 9-12, with amaximum of three students in each ofthe following divisions: Honors(3.75-4.00 GPA), Scholastic (3.00-3.74 GPA) and Varsity (2.99 GPA andbelow).

The Campolindo team will repre-

sent Contra Costa County at the Cal-ifornia State Academic Decathlon, tobe held in Sacramento, March 17-20.

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, February 24, 2016Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYB8

Not to be missed Not to be missedLamorinda’s

Religious Services

St. Anselm’s Episcopal ChurchA Loving Community

Sunday Services: 8 and 10 AMIn-church Youth Zone, 10 AM Nursery Childcare

682 Michael Lane, Lafayette, 284-7420, www.stanselms.ws

ORINDA CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH 24 Orinda Way (next to the Library) - 254-4212

Sunday Service and Sunday School 10 - 11 amInformal Wednesday Meeting 7:30 - 8:30 pmReading Room/Bookstore M - F 11 - 4; Sat 11 – 2

www.christianscienceorinda.org

ART

“Intercepting Light: The Mind’sEye” at the MoragaArt Gallery fea-tures eye-catching landscapes by pho-tographer Wenda Pyman, whose workcalls to mind such masters as AnselAdams and Eliot Porter. The show,which includes paintings, ceramics,jewelry, and more by the gallery’s 15member artists and several guest artists,runs through March 19.

The Lafayette Art Gallery’s show, ti-tled “12x12,” runs through Feb. 28. Itwill feature small works all done in a 1-foot by 1-foot format with some other,larger works in a square format also ondisplay. In addition, the talented groupof local member artists will be exhibit-ing numerous new works in variousmediums: ceramics, glass works, sculp-ture and jewelry. For info, visitwww.lafayetteartgallery.com.

“Two Painters” - An Exhibit featur-ing husband and wife Robert Poplackand Deborah Kirklin, both professorsof art and artists themselves, in theirfirst show together at the Jennifer Perl-mutter Gallery. Still life and abstract,separate in subject but joined by a life-long partnership. The exhibit runsthrough March 19.

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Artwill feature the following exhibitsthrough April 2016: “EnvironmentalImpact,” William Keith, and “The Bat-tle for Hetch Hetchy.” In addition, “In-stagaels,” a student Instagramexhibition, displays the best photo-graphs the student community has tooffer, but also provokes fundamentaldiscussions about the identity of art,while David Maxim’s “Points of View”explores the eternal mysteries ofmetaphorical meaning and ambiguity.The museum is open from 11 a.m. to4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.For info, visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

MUSIC

The senior ensemble at CaliforniaAcademy of Performing Arts (CAPA)is holding a benefit dance show “Glad-iator in a Tutu” to raise money forCamp Okizu (a camp for kids with can-cer) from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Friday, Feb.26 at Bentley school. Tickets are avail-able at the door: $15 adults; $12 stu-dents.

Pacific Chamber Symphony pres-ents the second concert of it’s 27thseason with “Delightful Strings andJoyful Songs.” Maestro LawrenceKohl, orchestra founder and conductor,will lead the performance at 7:30 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Lafayette Li-brary and Learning Center CommunityHall. Tickets: $10 to $35. Children withpaying adult are free. Tickets are avail-able at www.brownpapertickets.com orby calling 1-800-838-3006.

Love jazz music, like “CantaloupeIsland” by HerbieHancock or “ThereWill Never Be Another You” by HarryWarren? Can’t get enough classical?Local community members can listento the musical styling’s of award-win-ning student jazz combos, a string quar-tet and a “little big band” as part of thesecond annual “Orchestra and Band onthe Run” event at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb.27 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church inLafayette. The event includes dinner, anauction and dancing afterward to musicprovided by D.J. Scott Haney. Ticketsare $50 and can be purchased at BrownPaper Tickets, www.2016orchestraand-bandontherun.brownpapertickets.com.

The Welsh-American Society ofNorthern California will hold its an-nual Gymanfa Ganu - Hymn-SingingFestival - at Lafayette United MethodistChurch from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb.28. Everyone who loves music is in-vited to attend. A Te Bach (Little Tea)will follow the singing.

Solo Opera’s “The Computer Kid'sMagic Night,” a great show for the en-tire family, runs at 7:30 p.m. Friday,March 4 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, March5 at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Seating isreserved; group discounts are available.Tickets: $25-$35. For tickets call (925)943-7469; or visit the Lesher Centerbox office, or online at https://lesherartscenter.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=412. For

more information, visit www.Solo-Opera.org.

The Lesher Center for the Arts pres-ents “Tales of Fantasy and Adven-ture” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8 atthe Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Ticketprices: adult $17; seniors $14. Free ad-mission for students. Tickets are avail-able through the Lesher Center for theArts Ticket Office at 1601 Civic Drive,Walnut Creek, by calling (925) 943-7469, or by ordering online athttp://lesherartscenter.showare.com/TalesofFantasyandAdventure.

Diablo Choral Artists presents"Bach and His Predecessors," a con-cert featuring works by Bach, Schütz,Telemann and Buxtehude, includingBach’s Jesu, Meine Freude and Buxte-hude’s Magnificat, with string ensem-ble at 8 p.m. Friday, March 11 at St.Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1924 TrinityAve., Walnut Creek, and at 3 p.m. Sun-day, March 13 at St. Stephen’s Episco-pal Church, 66 St. Stephen’s Drive,Orinda. Tickets available at brownpa-pertickets.com: adults $25, seniors 60+$18, students $5, ($3 discount - adult &senior - before March 8). For info, visitwww.dcachorus.org.

Early piano quartets byMendelssohn and Richard Strauss,as well as Spanish Serenade for celloand piano by David Popper, will be fea-tured on Convictions. These earlyworks of composers show blossomingtalent and flashes of brilliance. Featuredmusicians are pianist Yana Reznik, cel-list Eugene Lifschitz, violinist MoniSimeonov and violist Pamela Freund-Striplen. The concert will be held at7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at theLafayette Library Community Hall,3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Apre-concert talk will start the evening at7 p.m. Tickets: $37.50 general, $32.50senior, $15 student. To order tickets,visit www.gcplayers.org or call (925)283-3728.

THEATER

Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer-winningmagnum opus comes to its jaw-drop-ping conclusion on the Town Hall The-atre stage this February, as the entirecast of last season’s critically-acclaimed“Angels In America: Millennium Ap-proaches” returns to finish what theybegan, beginning work on Part II: “Per-estroika.” The show will run from Feb.27 through March 19. Check online forshow times and ticket prices. For info,contact the Town Hall Theatre Box Of-fice at (925) 283-1557 or visitwww.TownHallTheatre.com.

Acalanes High School Presents thePerforming Arts Musical "TheDrowsy Chaperone” by Lisa Lambertand Greg Morrison, a farcical playwithin a comedy. The tale is one ofslapstick comedy, improbable situa-tions, a wedding that may or not maynot happen, all strung together withsnappy, upbeat ‘20s influenced songand dance at 7 p.m. on March 3, 4, and5 in the Performing Arts Center. Ticketsare open to the general public: $18 foradults, $16 for seniors (60 and older)and students. Available on the AcalanesWebstore.

Campolindo High School presents“West Side Story,” one of the mostbeloved romantic musical dramas of alltime. Leonard Bernstein and StephenSondheim’s iconic score and lyrics cap-ture the turbulent world of two youngidealistic lovers caught between rivalstreet gangs in New York City in the1950s. Come enjoy community theaterwith its rich blend of drama, dance andmusic. There are eight performancesfrom March 10-20 at Campolindo HighSchool, 300 Moraga Road, Moraga.For info on show times and ticketprices, visithttp://www.campochoir.com/.

For our 2016 season, East Bay Chil-dren's Theatre proudly presents aWorld Premiere Musical Event: “Al-addin and the Lamp.” Based on thetimeless "Arabian Nights" tale, “Al-addin and the Lamp” retells the story ofa boy who is lost on the highway of life.After being trapped by a comical vil-lain; Aladdin falls in love, discovers amagical lamp and its occupant, changeshis ways, and finally learns what it trulymeans to be “like a man.” Public per-formances will be presented at 1 and 3

p.m. Sunday, March 13 at The JewishCommunity Center of the East Bay inBerkeley; and Sunday, March 20 at theOrinda Library Auditorium in Orinda.Tickets are $12-$15, and may be pur-chased online at:www.EBCTonline.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Zulu nurse and healthcare activistSister Abegail Ntleko, author of“Empty Hands” and a recipient of HisHoliness, the Dalai Lama’s Unsung He-roes of Compassion Award will be vis-iting from South Africa to share herincredible story of overcoming poverty,racism, and sexism to earn her educa-tion, and live a life in service to hercommunity by adopting dozens of chil-dren orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pan-demic over the course of her eightyyears. This free program will be heldfrom 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 atthe Lafayette Library and LearningCenter in the Community Hall. Registeronline at tinyurl.com/EmptyHandsLAF.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre DocentLecture of the world premiere of“Aubergine” by Julia Cho at 1 p.m.Thursday, Feb. 25 in the Mosaic Roomat the Hacienda de Las Flores, 2100Donald Drive, Moraga.

“Facing Life and Death: a film anddiscussion” at the Orinda Library at6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 in the Gar-den Room. Death is a subject that muchof modern western society prefers toavoid. Following the 26-minute filmscreening Dr. Peticolas will lead a mod-erated discussion where participantsmay share stories and listen to the sto-ries of others. For info, visit www.se-cretsoflifeanddeath.com. Free. Formore information, call the Orinda Li-brary at (925) 254-2184.

“Perscription Drug Abuse - WhatEvery Family Needs to Know” at 7p.m. Monday, Feb. 29 at St. Perpetua’sChurch Parish Hall in Lafayette. Highlyaddictive opioid prescription drugshave devastated communities through-out the U.S. Seven young men fromLafayette have died in the last threeyears from this epidemic – a catastro-phe in such a small town. Join us for anevening of education and frank discus-sion about what can be done to helpprevent the devastating downstreamimpacts prescription medications suchas painkillers, sedatives and stimulantscan have on youth and adults of allages. This presentation is appropriatefor adults and youth who are 13 yearsand older.

Saint Mary's College Creative Writ-ing Series will feature Claudia Rank-ine at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 2in the LeFevre Theatre. Claudia Rank-ine is the author of five collections ofpoetry including “Citizen: An Ameri-can Lyric” and “Don't Let Me BeLonely;” two plays including “Prove-nance of Beauty: A South Bronx Trav-elogue;” numerous videocollaborations, and is the editor of sev-eral anthologies including “The RacialImaginary: Writers on Race in the Lifeof the Mind.”

The League of Women Voters of Di-ablo Valley andHealth Care for All –Contra Costa County are presenting adiscussion about Health Care in ContraCosta County from 3 to 4:30 p.m. onSaturday, March 19 in the McHaleRoom, Pleasant Hill Community Cen-ter, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill. Thepublic is invited. Panelists will addressthe following questions: “How arehealth care providers meeting currentneeds?” “What are some systemicchanges we might consider?”

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Lafayette Library Teen 'Scape pres-ents Angry Birds! Play real life AngryBirds, enjoy the Angry Birds videogame, and make an Angry Birds craftfrom 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.24 at the Lafayette Library and Learn-ing Center's Teen Center.

The 30th session of the California StateSummer School for the Arts seeks teenartists, writers and performers for sum-mer 2016 (July 9 through Aug. 5 – fourweeks of embracing creativity). Appli-cations must be completed by Feb. 29.Financial aid available. For info, visitCSSSA.ca.gov.


Moraga’s Newest/Oldest Church

Living Truth Christian CenterLiving Truth Christian CenterLiving Truth Christian Center

155 MORAGA ROAD “Just Look for the Cross”

www.livingtruthcc.com / 925.819.2127



























www.livingtruthcc.com /































































To be run December 16

To be run in December 2 issue

Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church 433 Moraga Way, Orinda, 254-3422

www.holyshepherd.org WORSHIP DECEMBER 6

8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 9:40 a.m. Education for all ages

10:45 a.m. Contemporary Worship Coffee Fellowship at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m.

Childcare available for ages 5 and younger

WORSHIP DECEMBER 13 & 20 Single Service at 9:30 a.m.


To be run beginning January 13 and forward


www.holyshepherd.org 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:40 a.m. Education for all ages 10:45 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Coffee Fellowship at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. Childcare available for ages 5 and younger


www.holyshepherd.org

WORSHIP DECEMBER 20 Single Service at 9:30 a.m.


CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES4:00 p.m. a family-friendly service

6:00 p.m. a contemporary candlelight communion service 10:00 p.m. a traditional candlelight communion service

(Childcare available at 4 and 6 p.m.)

To be run December 30


www.holyshepherd.org WORSHIP JANUARY 3, 2016

Single Service at 9:30 a.m. Childcare available for ages 5 and younger

WORSHIP JANUARY 10, 2016 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship

9:40 a.m. Education for all ages 10:45 a.m. Contemporary Worship

Coffee Fellowship at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. Childcare available for ages 5 and younger

10 Irwin Way, Orinda | 925.254.4906 | www.orindachurch.org“No matter who you are, wherever you are on life’s

journey, you are welcome here!” Join us Sundays at 10 a.m. | Sunday School 10 a.m

Lafayette United Methodist Church955 Moraga Rd., Lafayette

284-4765, [email protected], thelumc.org

Worship and Faith Formation Sunday 10 amSacred Space for Lent Wednesday 6-7pm

Music. Meditation. Candlelight. Holy Communion.

Sunday Worship Services 9 & 10:30am

10 Moraga Valley Lane | www.mvpctoday.org | 925.376.4800

Now enrolling for Fall 2016!Preschool Hours 9am to 12:30pmExtended Programs 8am to 5pm

KIDS, ... continued

Coldwell Banker Residential Broker-age will sponsor a new relocation col-lege scholarship program to help adeserving student with college expenses.The winning student will receive $2,000towards the college of his or her choice.All high school students set to graduatein the spring semester of 2016 who meetthe eligibility requirements are invited tosubmit an original and thoughtful essayof 1,000 words or less exploring thetopic of relocation. Essays will be ac-cepted starting March 1 of this year andmust be submitted no later than June 15in order to be considered. For more in-formation regarding the ScholarshipProgram, please contact Kathy Den-ning at (925) 771.5273 or [email protected].

The student musical group "Sym-phonics" will offer the classical musicand narrated performance of Prokofiev's"Peter and the Wolf" at 7 p.m. Tuesday,March 1 at the Moraga Library. This freeevent is open for all ages, no reservationsnecessary. For more information, pleasevisit ccclib.org or call (925) 376-6852.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday at theMoraga Libraryon Wednesday, March2. Dr. Seuss books will be available toread all day in the picture book nook.There will be special Seussian sorytimesand crafts at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Seuss-ian activities and crafts for older kids willtake place from 4 to 5 p.m. Free. No reg-istration required.

Moraga Summer Camp Expo from11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5 atthe Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 DonaldDrive in Moraga.

OTHER

Contra Costa Living presents “SolarEnergy Seminar - Top 10 things toknow before you install solar” from 4 to6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at LafayetteVeteran’s Memorial Center, 3780 Mt.Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. You will learnabout the top 10 things you must knowbefore you invest in a solar energy sys-tem for your home. Free. For more info,visit https://10thingstoknowbeforey-oubuysolar.eventbrite.com or call (925)297-5335 or email [email protected].

Diablo Valley Literacy Council Op-portunity - EnglishTutors Needed. Vol-unteer to help adults in yourneighborhood to read, write and speakEnglish well enough to function in oursociety. Working one-one-one, you canhelp people to get a better job, apply forcitizenship, read to their children...thepossibilities are endless. No teaching ex-perience is required. The next workshopwill be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Satur-day, Feb. 27 and Saturday, March 5 at theGood Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4000Clayton Road in Concord. You must at-tend both sessions. There is a nominal feeto cover the training and material costs.For more info or to register call the hot-line and leave a message at (925) 685-3881, email [email protected],or visit dvlc.tripod.com.

Lovebugs for Leap Year! Find yourvery own at Community Concern forCats Adoption Event from 1 to 4 p.m.Feb. 27 and 28 at Pet Food Express inLafayette and Pleasant Hill, and Petco inWalnut Creek. Hours are noon to 3 p.m.on Saturday, Feb. 27 in Lafayette. Formore information, see www.communi-tyconcernforcats.org.

Lafayette resident, Papa John Kiefer,will offer workshops on “How to RaiseYour Own Chickens.” Topics will includeraising young chicks, laying hen mainte-nance, and sustainable coop construction.Workshops are free and will be held inLafayette from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday,Feb. 28. Reservations are required. Forinfo, contact [email protected].

Join Jewish women and girls ages 12and up from Lafayette, Moraga andOrinda for an evening of Jewish pride,unity and inspiration at 7 p.m. Tuesday,March 1 in the Lafayette Library Com-munity Hall. Pre-paid registration re-quired. Cost: $20, or $36 for a motherand daughter pair. Register at Chabad-ofLamorinda.com/ChallahInline.

Do you dream of being your own bossand taking control of your future? Start-ing with an overview on franchise own-ership, followed by presentations fromtop franchise companies that are lookingto expand in Northern California - thisthree-hour seminar is filled with viableinformation to help determine if fran-chising is an option for you. The seminarruns from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, March2 in the Veterans Memorial Building,3780 Mount Diablo Boulevard,

Lafayette. For more information and toRSVP, contact Liz Carmona at (408)772-9868.

Saint Mary's College Guild's GameDay And Luncheon - Join friends for aday of Bridge and Bunco from 9:30 a.m.to 2 p.m. Friday, March 4 in the SodaCenter. Luncheon will be served at noon.Wine will be available. Table prizes forwinners. Cost: $36 per person. Makecheck payable to St. Mary's CollegeGuild and mail to Dolores Mc Gonigle,828 Crossbrook Ct., Moraga, CA94556; (925) 376-4339.

The big semi-annual book sale will beheld at the Moraga Library from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Therewill be hundreds of books in various cat-egories priced from 25 cents to $4. From1 to 2 p.m. a large paper bag can be pur-chased for $5 and filled with as manybooks as it can hold.

The Moraga Movers will hold theirmonthly dinnermeeting at 6 p.m. Mon-day, March 14 at the Saint Mary's Col-lege Soda Center. The social hour beginsat 5:30 p.m. La De Da, a ladies cappellavocal quartet will provide the entertain-ment. Reservations can be made onlineat www.moragamovers.org. Cost is $20for members and $30 for non-members.

SENIORS

Sons in Retirement LamorindaBranch 171 meets the first Wednesdaymonthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center1700 School St. Moraga. Social hour 11a.m., lunch at noon. The after-lunchspeaker on March 2 will be Mr. TimKawakami, sports columnist for theMercury News and Contra Costa Times,analyzing all sports for the two newspa-pers including interviews with wellknown sports figures. In addition, Mr.Kawakami has written a fascinatingbook about the boxing champion, Oscarde la Hoya. For membership informa-tion, call Larry at (925) 631-9528

GARDEN

Basic Composting for the Home Gar-dener from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday,Feb. 27 at the Moraga Library. Basiccomposting will teach you how easy it isto make a positive impact on the soil inyour garden. Learn how to turn your gar-den waste and kitchen scraps into sweet-smelling organic soil conditioner. The

program will cover the benefits of com-posting, most common compost meth-ods, uses for compost, and compostingproblems. Q&A. Free. For info, call(925) 376-6852 or visit ccmg.ucanr.edu/.

Lafayette Garden Club meeting from9:45 to noon Thursday, March 10.Lafayette Garden Club is excited to pres-ent “An Andalusian Legacy.” SpeakerKatherine Greenberg will discuss creat-ing beautiful and sustainable gardenssuited to California’s Mediterranean cli-mate. Meetings are held at the LafayetteVeteran’s Building, 3780 Mt. DiabloBlvd., Lafayette. For info, email Car-olyn Poetzsch at [email protected].

The Walnut Creek Garden Club willhold its March meeting at 9:30 a.m. atthe Gardens at Heather Farm, Monday,March 14. Business 9:30 a.m., social10:30 a.m., speaker 11 a.m. Program:"Photo Essay of the Animals and PlantsFound on Mount Diablo” by DirkMuehler, Shell Ridge open space naturephotographer.

Montelindo Garden Club meetingwill be at 9 a.m. Friday, March 18 at St.Stephen's Episcopal Church, 66 St.Stephens Drive, Orinda. Visitors wel-come. Topic: From Farm to Vase FloralDesigns. The speaker will be AnnaCampbell, owner of The Floral CulturalSociety flower shop in Oakland, whowill demonstrate her farm-to-table floraldesign style. For info, visit www.mon-telindogarden.com.

Registration for the Sunday, May 1Bringing Back the Natives Garden Touris now open. This year’s tour will fill;register now to reserve your place. A va-riety of bird- and butterfly-friendly, pes-ticide-free, water conserving, lowmaintenance gardens that contain 60 per-cent or more native plants will be openfrom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May1 at various locations throughoutAlameda and Contra Costa counties.More than 40 garden talks will be sched-uled throughout the day. For info, visithttp://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/registration-p1.

The Vincent Price evening of celebration isscheduled for Friday, Feb. 26 at Cine Cuvée,

Orinda Theatre Square’s new wine lounge adjacentto the theater. The event starts at 7 p.m. with winetasting from the Vincent Price Signature Collectionand appetizers from his world famous cookbook,“A Treasury of Great Recipes” (1965) that Pricewrote with his wife, Mary. His daughter, VictoriaPrice, will be attending and will reminisce about herfather – a man who loved life, art, wine, food, hisfamily and entertaining people.

Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. was an actor, writer,

art connoisseur and gourmet who was born in StLouis, Missouri on May 27, 1911 to MargueriteCobb (Wilcox) and Vincent Leonard Price, Sr. Hetraveled through Europe, studied at Yale, becamean actor and made his screen debut in 1938. Aftermany minor roles, he began performing in low-budget horror movies such as “House of Wax”(1953). He achieved his first major success in“House of Usher” (1960). Known for his distinc-tive, low-pitched, creaky, atmospheric voice and hisquizzical, mock-serious facial expressions, he wenton to star in a series of acclaimed Gothic horror

movies, such as “Pit and the Pendulum” (1961) and“The Abominable Dr. Phibes” (1971). In the mid-1970s he started doing cooking programs for tele-vision. Price’s final acting role was in “EdwardScissorhands” (1990). Vincent Price died on Oct.25, 1993 at age 82 of lung cancer and emphysema.

A special screening of the original (1959)

“House on Haunted Hill” will be shown at 9 p.m.at the Orinda Theatre.

An eccentric millionaire, Frederick Loren (Vin-

cent Price) has a proposal for five guests at a possi-bly haunted mansion: Show up, survive the nightand receive $10,000 each.

Sounds easy?

Prior to the screening of “House on Haunted

Hill,” Victoria Price will be giving a lecture on herfamous dad. Seating is limited for the wine tastingevent. Get your tickets early online at lamorindathe-atres.com.

Tickets for the wine tasting are $10 for which

you will receive a 3-ounce pour of each of Price'swines. Movie and lecture tickets are $10 or freewith a purchase of a bottle of wine. Do not miss thisspecial evening.


Not to be missedNot to be missed Not to be missed

Explore Lamorinda Rotary clubs The heart ofRotary is our clubs- dedicated people who sharea passion for both community service and friend-ship. Learn about Lamorinda’s Rotary clubs.

Service ClubsAnnouncements

Social 5:30-6:00 p.m. Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

W 660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek.

J

A global volunteer organization working to improvethe lives of women and girls through programsleading to social and economic empowerment.

Contact us:Letters to the editor (max 350 words): [email protected] issues: [email protected] listings: [email protected] press releases: [email protected] interest stories/Community Service: [email protected] stories/events: [email protected] events/stories/pictures: [email protected]/Owners: Andy and Wendy Scheck;[email protected], [email protected]: Jennifer Wake; [email protected], Copy Editor: Nick Marnell; [email protected] Editor: Spencer Silva; [email protected]: 925-377-0977, Wendy Scheck;[email protected] Writers: Sophie Braccini; [email protected],Cathy Tyson; [email protected],Victor Ryerson; [email protected],Cathy Dausman; [email protected],Nick Marnell; [email protected],Digging Deep: Cynthia Brian; [email protected],Food: Susie Iventosch; [email protected] Writers: Conrad Bassett, Moya Stone, Michael Sakoda, Lou Fancher, Chris Lavin, Amanda Kuehn Carroll, Diane Claytor, Uma Unni,Spencer Silva, Karl Buscheck, Ryan McKinley, Zoe Portnoff, Clare Varellas,Adam Blake, Daniel Smith, Fran Miller, Jade Shojaee, Emily Dugdale, Dean Boerner, Barry Hunau (cartoonist), Derek Zemrak (Film Critic)Calendar Editor: Jaya Griggs; Photos: Tod Fierner, Ohlen Alexander, Gint FederasLayout/Graphics: Andy Scheck. Printed in CA.Mailing address: Lamorinda Weekly, P.O. Box 6133, Moraga, CA 94570-6133 Phone: 925-377-0977; Fax: 1-800-690-8136email: [email protected] website: www.lamorindaweekly.com

Lamorinda Weeklyis an independent publication, produced by and for the residents of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, CA

26,600 printed copies; delivered to homes & businesses in Lamorinda.

Wine, Appetizers, Lecture and MovieJust another day at Lamorinda TheatresBy Derek Zemrak

“House on Haunted Hill” Photo provided

Vincent Price Wine “House on Haunted Hill”

Outstanding high schoolspeakers compete in annual

Rotary 4-Way Speech Contest

February 26:

Our own Eve Phillips,Orinda Vice Mayor,updates the goings-on

March 3:

Wine Barrel Raffle: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner drawings on May 1, 2016Buy $10 raffle tickets on-line at www.lamorindasunrise.com, or from

our Rotary Club members

For more info, please email us at [email protected]

We meet Friday mornings at 7:00 amat The Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa,3666 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette.

SOROPTIMIST OF 24/680

“Improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to

social and economic empowerment”

Please join us for our next meeting:

WHEN: Wednesday 1/8/14 Social 5:30-6:00 p.m. Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Buttercup Grill 660 Ygnacio Valley Road, Walnut Creek.

January Speaker: Sister Caritas Foster – “Modern Day Slavery/Trafficking”

For more information, contact:Regina Englehart @925-876-9076 or go to: soroptimist24-680.org

Wednesday, March 2nd

Social 5:30-6:00 p.m. Meeting 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Lafayette Rotary ClubStep in on a Thursday and join us for our lunch meeting.

Thursday at noon Oakwood Athletic Club, 4000 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette.

www. rotarylafayette.org

February 25:Peter Brookswill talkabout the White PonyExpress

March 3:Dave Luebkeman -sustainable family farms,Plant with Purpose

Cauliflower is often the forgottenvegetable, but it is so versatile

and delicious, and comes in a varietycolors: yellow, purple, green, and, ofcourse, the basic white. It can be eatenraw as a crudité, (with or without dip),sliced in salad or puréed as a soup,steamed, sautéed, roasted, barbecuedor even turned into fluffy cauliflowercouscous.

We recently had a side dish at a

restaurant that I had a tough time fig-uring out until further microscopic in-

spection, and it turned out to be very,very finely sliced cauliflower in vinai-grette. It was absolutely delicious andit got my recipe wheels rolling. Be-cause normal cauliflower is just plainwhite, I thought it would be fun to addsome color by using some yellowcauliflower, radicchio and also littlebit of parsley. This salad has a lot ofcrunch, with toasted walnuts tossed infor good measure. If you are feelingreally adventurous, you can use thepurple or green cauliflower, too.

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYB10 Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Crunchy Shaved Cauliflower SaladDeliciously Delivers By Susie Iventosch

INGREDIENTS(Makes enough for 6 side dishes)

1 head yellow or white cauliflower, (I used both), thinly sliced on amandolin or the flat edge of a traditional cheese grater½ head radicchio, julienned 1 small shallot, finely diced and sautéed until translucent, optional½ cup large walnut pieces, toasted½ cup Pecorino Romano, grated ¼ cup coarsely chopped parsley

Dijon Vinaigrette2 teaspoons Dijon mustard¼ cup red wine vinegar1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oilSalt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONSClean and thinly slice cauliflower on a mandolin or cheese grater.Some of the cauliflower will grate into very tiny pieces, but don’tworry, just get as many slices from the stems as possible. Place insalad bowl. Cut or snip radicchio into thin julienne strips and add tobowl along with toasted walnuts and grated Pecorino Romano (orParmesan). If you like the idea of adding sautéed shallots, add themnow.Place all dressing ingredients in a jar or a container with a tight-fittinglid and shake well. Pour over salad ingredients and toss well. Servecold or at room temperature with an extra spoonful of grated cheeseand parsley sprinkled over the top.

Shaved Cauliflower Salad with Radicchio and Walnuts Photo Susie Iventosch

Susie can be reached [email protected] recipe can be found on ourwebsite: www.lamorindaweekly.com.If you would like to share your favoriterecipe with Susie please contact her byemail or call our office at (925) 377-0977.

www.bayareaunderpinning.org

BuildingFoundations• Lifting• Leveling• Stabilizing

CA BRE 01902148

Sales - Retail - ManagementResidential - Commercial - Leasing925-254-5636 ppm4rent.com

Serving Lamorinda Area

$1099

$1099

(regular price $18, seniors and kids $16)

(regular price $18, seniors and kids $16)

Orinda Village 1 Camino Sobrante #5, Orinda (Across from Safeway, Next to Starbucks)925-254-7474Rheem Valley Plaza 564 Center St., Moraga (Between TJMaxx & CVS, Next to Massage Envy)925-376-9000

Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm • Sat 8am-7pm • Sun 8am-7pm

OFFER EXPIRES: 5/31/16

OFFER EXPIRES: 5/31/16

Plaza Center(925) 283-3380

6211 Medau Pl., Oakland(510) 339-2210

Offer good while supplies last.One gift per customer, please. Gift Dates:

February 24 – March 13Next to SaveMart & CVS

(530) 885-0500

FREE Gift with Purchase!

Choose Your MoisturizerBIENFAIT MULTI-VITAL NIGHT CreamHIGH RESOLUTION NIGHT REFILL-3X™ CreamRENERGIE LIFT MULTI-ACTION NIGHT Cream

Choose Your Gloss ShadeJUICY TUBES Lip Gloss (2 shade choices)

RecieveADVANCED GENIFIQUE Youth Activating ConcentrateCILS BOOSTER XL Mascara PrimerDEFINCILS MascaraBI-FACIL Eye Makeup RemoverYour Choice of Cosmetics Bag

Lafayette Montclair Auburn

YOURS WITH ANY $35 LANCOME PURCHASE

($78.00 – 86.00 VALUE)

- No Room at the Shelter- Lamorinda Music Teacher Recognized for Life of Achievement- Rent Moratorium Shelved for Troubled Complex- Greener Power Likely Coming to Lafayette- Taylor Morrison Returns to Walnut Creek with Collection of Townhomes- Moraga Inches Toward Enrolling in Community Choice Aggregation- Lafayette Pack and Ship Brings Boutique Feel to Mail- Kevin Reneau: Moraga's 2015 Business Person of the Year- You Want to Become a Filmmaker?- Implementing the Moraga Center Specific Plan

If you wish to view any of the stories above go towww.lamorindaweekly.com and click the link below the story.

www.Lamorindaweekly.comMost Frequently Viewed StoriesFrom Our Last Issue:

Thanks to a 4-3 shootout win,Campo boys’ soccer is moving

on to the NCS Division II semifinalsafter drawing 0-0 in double overtimeagainst Montgomery in Santa Rosaon Feb. 20.

“Our focus all year has just been

on improving, so that we could becontenders by the time NCS rolledaround,” head coach Shane Carneyexplained of his sixth-seed Cougars.“We knew we were going to be verysmall and very young compared tomost opponents, so it's been aboutworking hard, playing smart and im-proving every night we go out there.”

After taking down the No. 3 seed,

the Cougars (8-1-3 in league and 16-3-6 overall), who landed in secondplace in the DFAL, are now set toclash with Concord.

Campo will host the No. 10 seed

Minutemen in Moraga at 6 p.m. onFeb. 24. For the Cougars, the entireteam has chipped in, but there’s agiant in the heart of the defense.

“Honestly, this truly has been a

team effort all around this season.We've had solid consistent play andthe team often plays better than thesum of the parts,” Carney said. “Oursenior captain, center back RyanRossi is the DFAL Defensive MVPand has saved us many times in theback, but we've got a number of guyswho are stepping up late in the sea-son.”

In the opening round of NCS, the

Cougars didn't waste any time smash-ing past No. 11 Arroyo 4-1 at home.

“We wanted to play on their

nerves and try to get an early lead,”Carney said. “We managed to scoretwice early in the match, which set thetone for the rest of the night.”

Acalanes also earned a big win in

the opening round, toppling No. 1seed Redwood 1-0.

“At the end of the day, that's why

you have the playoffs,” head coachPaul Curtis said after the No. 16 seedDons trekked to Larkspur andgrabbed the win courtesy of a second-half goal from sophomore CameronShapoorian. “Teams have to playeach other. And so, it's a matter of ex-ecution on the field as to which teamis going to end up winning.”

Even though the hosts were heav-

ily favored in the tilt, Curtis declinedto dub the win an upset.

“I never really consider them an

upset because you've got to play thegame,” Curtis explained. “So, it's amatter of which team executes thebest on any given night. It's nice. It'sa good win for the boys. I'm happy forthem. They've worked hard for it.”

The coach also wouldn't bite

when asked if the squad's status as theNo. 16 seed – despite a 9-9-5 recordoverall and a 5-5-2 mark in DFAL –served as extra motivation.

“You know, it might have. We

didn't really talk about it, to be frankabout it,” Curtis admitted. “We werepleased to get in and have the oppor-tunity to play. The boys try and takeeach match one at a time and that wastheir approach.”

The team's NCS Division II run

came to a halt on Feb. 20, however,when De Anza edged past Acalanes2-1 in El Sobrante.

Looking back at the season, Cur-

tis was at a loss when asked to singleout an individual Don who had beenthe star of the show.

“You can hear me hesitate and the

hesitation means, 'No.' It's been – dif-ferent match, different boy,” Curtissaid. “There are 23 (players) on theroster and I think almost all of themhave been man of the match at somepoint during the season. Very fewhave two man-of-the-match recogni-tions. And so, that shows good teamwork and balance in how they ap-

proach each match.”

Like Acalanes, Miramonte

cashed out of the postseason in thequarterfinals after losing 3-0 againstMarin Academy on Feb. 20.

Marin, the No. 2 seed in the Di-

vision III bracket, scored an early goalin San Rafael and sank the Mats witha pair of second-half strikes. Eventhough the campaign ended, headcoach Masood Ahmadi was im-pressed with his team's showing.

“We had some ups and downs

throughout the season with losingsome key players due to injury but theplayers stepped up and the team tookon the challenge and overcame thebump(s) to qualify into NCS for asecond straight year after many yearsof not going to the playoffs.” Ahmadisaid. “This year (was about) taking itone step further than last year.”

The No. 7 seed Miramonte (7-8-

4 overall and 4-6-2) arrived in thesemifinals after thumping CardinalNewman (No. 10 seed) 4-0 on Feb.17.

“The key to success in winning

this game was that the boys playedwith lots of confidence.” Ahmadisaid. “That was the first home playoffgame in a very long time at Mira-monte for the boys program and I be-lieve the boys were proud of that andmade sure to make it count.”

LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: C1Wednesday, February 24, 2016 www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977

Follow us on Twitter@LamorindaSports

CARPET CLEANINGLAMORINDA'S FAVORITEFAMILY OWNED BUSINESSFOR OVER 36 YEARS

WINTER SPECIAL

I 5 % OFF(925) 283-8744

www.siggyscarpetcleaning.com3408 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette

CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7

P097314.1 State Farm Home Office, Bloomington, IL

When I say “good,” you say “neighbor.”

Now that's teamwork.CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7

P097314.1 a e Far Home Office, Bloomin ton, I

When I say “good,” you say “neighbor.”

Now that's teamwork.Mike RosaAgent925-376-2244Insurance Lic. #: 0F45583346 Rheem Blvd., Suite 106Moraga

BAD INC.

Bay Area Drainage, Inc.

Have You Checked Your Crawlspace Lately?

• French Drains

• Underfloor Drains

• Downspout Systems

• Subdrain Systems

• Sump Pumps

• R etaining Walls

• Pavestone Driveway & Walkways

A General Engineering Contractor

Locally owned and Operated

Contractor LIC # 762208

925•377•9209 visit our website

www.bayareadrainage.com

BAD INC.



• French Drains




• Sump Pumps








BAD INC.



• French Drains




• Sump Pumps








Are You Ready For

El Niño?

Campo Advances to NCS Semifinals;Acalanes, Miramonte Bow OutBy Karl Buscheck

Ryan Rossi is expected to be named DFAL Defensive MVP. Photos Gint Federas

Rupert Dusauzay

Modern, six-lane competition pool with diving board and play areaTop-ranked swim team

Four tennis courtsYear round USTA adult teams & junior tennis programs

On-site kitchen serving food during the summerNewly-renovated, air-conditioned clubhouse

Play structure with monkey bars and slide

SWIM. TENNIS. SUMMER FUN.

Join the fun today!For more information, contact:

[email protected]

Meadow Swim & Tennis Club20 Heather Lane, Orindawww.gomeadow.com

It’s crunch time for girls’ soccer this week asrivals Acalanes and Miramonte both ad-

vanced to the semifinal rounds of the NorthCoast Section (NCS). The Lady Mats ousted theLady Dons in the semi finals of last year’s Di-vision II tournament, but this winter, the Matsmoved to the newly minted Division III bracket.

No. 2 seed Acalanes (11-2-2) faced No. 15

Newark Memorial Cougars (8-9-6) in its first-round matchup last Wednesday, and handedtheir opponent a 4-0 shutout loss. Despite play-ing on a flooded, soggy field, the team “did agood job to keep their heads above and pull itout,” according to head coach Evan Sassano.

Wednesday’s match proved the Lady Dons’

offensive depth. Each goal was scored by a dif-ferent player: senior Regan McQuain, junior Al-lison Merrill and sophomores Emily Smith andKierra Krawec.

“It’s always a good sign when that happens

– as a coach, you’re happy,” Sassano said.“Our style is very much the collective way ofplaying - we try to attack in a lot of differentways and not give it just to one player.”

The Lady Dons had a reserved confidence

heading into their quarterfinals match last Sat-urday against No. 7 Tamalpais.

“We’re confident with ourselves, but we

definitely don’t get ahead of ourselves,” Sas-sano said. “They’re a strong team, and we’rejust focused on getting better this way and mak-ing our way through with the same focus – tak-ing it one game at a time.”

Their focus paid off, as the Lady Dons beat

the Red Tailed Hawks 2-0 that evening, movingon to a semifinals match-up against the No. 3Las Lomas Knights (16-1-5) – the team thathanded them their first DFAL loss in two sea-sons earlier this month. The two teams will meetWednesday, Feb. 24.

Sassano was optimistic but measured when

asked about his team’s chance of winning itsfirst sectional title. “Anything could happen,”he said. “We’re trying to stay really organizedand do a good job at that defensively, and alsowork hard together offensively.”

Reigning Division II champion Miramonte,

entered the Division III tournament as the No.3 seed. In the first round, the Lady Mats tookcare of No. 14 Encinal (7-11-1) with relativeeasing, winning 5-1.

Despite a few late-season losses for the

Mats, head coach Mark Daus felt his team waswell prepared before the match. The second halfof season league play was “some of the bestsoccer we have played this year,” he said. “Ithink getting positive results against good teamsat the [end] of conference play is good for ourteam’s mentality.”

With their shutout against Encinal, the Mats

were confident for their Saturday’s quarterfinalmatch-up against No. 11 Ygnacio Valley Warriors(9-7-3). The girls prevailed with a 2-0 shutout.They will now meet No. 3 Saint Mary’s (Berke-ley) in the semi final on Wednesday Feb. 24.

“The big thing for us was trying to enter the

tournament on an upswing, which I think wehave accomplished,” Daus said.

He credited the team’s upperclassmen with

preparing the younger players for a successfulplayoff run. “Towards the end of the year theseniors and captains have really stepped up andtook control of this team not only on the fieldbut took control of the locker room as well,” hesaid. “I have no doubt their experience winningNCS last year will help carry younger playerswho haven’t been here yet.”

Campolindo (7-12-3) won the tournament

in 2014 and reached the finals in 2015, but didnot qualify for NCS this winter. The Cougarswere young, graduating just four seniors. Headcoach Ernesto Silva believers a more experi-

enced group of returning players will “give usthe continuity we need,” for years to come.

“I feel we were able to be competitive

throughout the season, [and] our young playerswill take this experience and come backstronger next year,” he added.

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYC2 Wednesday, February 24, 2016

reach 60,000+ with your ad reach 60,000+ with your ad

SPORTS MEDICINE CENTER FOR YOUNG ATHLETES

OAKLAND510-428-3558

SAN RAMON925-979-3450

WALNUT CREEK925-979-3430

$10 per 1/2” classified adheight Email to: classified@

lamorindaweekly.com

Classified • Classified • Classified • Classified • Classified • Classified • Classified

Music Lessons

Insurance

House Cleaning

www.totalclean.bizServing Lamorinda since 1985.Insured and bonded 376-1004.

Windows & Gutters

Reliable Window CleaningFriendliness & remarkable results.Windows, Gutters, PressureWashing. (925) 254-7622ReliableWindowService.com

Tree Service

East Bay Tree Service.377-8733. Fine pruning, largetree removal, stump grindingLicense #805794

Plumbing

We hop to it!(925) 377-6600

LeapFrogPlumbing.com

Construction

Handyman

Tree & brush removal. Poison Oak removal. 376-1995,Licensed, insured & bonded

Concept BuildersRemodeling, Home Repair &

New ConstructionBonded & Insured. License no. 842563(925) 283-8122, Cell: (925) 768-4983

Piano/guitar w/Robbie DunbarAll levels welcome!I travel to your home.

M. A. Music CompositionPiano tuning as well!925-323-9706

[email protected]% <>

Rusty Nails Handyman ServiceRepair • Restore • RevampCall Rusty- (925) 890-1581

Jacob Spilsbury - General ContractorAmerican owned and operated

Renovation • Remodeling • Home RepairBig & Small Jobs • Bonded & Insured

Lic # 898775 925-825-5201

Totalintegrityinsurance.com20+yr Lamorinda resident. My independent insurance brokerage is here to serve you. Over 100 top carriers = great pricingand coverage for Biz Gen Liability, W Comp, Homes, Auto, Life. CallHenry at (925) 247-4356 0E90108

Rototilling

Ken’s Rototilling• 4 W/D Tractors• Hillside Weed Cutting

• Mowing • Discing • RototillingFree estimates! 925-938-9836licensed, bonded & insured. CA#667491

www.kensrototilling.com

Math Tutor

$35/hr. All levels of Math,elementary thru Calculus. SAT & ACT.Call Seymour (510) 823-2314,[email protected]

Acalanes, Miramonte advance to semifinals in NCS TournamentBy Emily Dugdale

Senior Regan McQuain and junior Allison Merill each scored a goal – along with sophomores Emily Smith and Kierra Krawec – during the Lady Dons’ 4-0 win over Newark Memorial last Wednesday.Photos Gint Federas

Kyra Rossiter

Gina Crosetti (9) scored the game-winning goal against Campolindo in last year’s Division IINCS final. Isabel Fine (8).

For Rent

Guitar Lessons

Lamorinda Guitar LessonsFolk, Rock, Blues & Jazz

Serving Lamorinda since 1980925-933-3111

[email protected]

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 LAMORINDA WEEKLY Page: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 C3

Submit stories tosportsdesk@lamorinda

weekly.com

(we prefer to receive your original photo file, minimum size: 200 dpi and 1200 pixels wide)

St. Mary’s Basketball Teams Looking for Late-Season BurstBy Dean Boerner

Despite their respective suc-cesses this season, neither

Saint Mary’s basketball team iscompletely satisfied with theirprogress to this point. With just afew weeks left before the WCCtournament, both squads recognizethe importance of finishing the sea-son strong.

For the men’s team (22-4 over-

all, 13-3 WCC), it’s all about reviv-ing a conference-leading offensethat’s been somewhat dormantlately.

“Our offense has been a little bit

stagnant as opposed to what it wasearlier in the season,” said sopho-more center Jock Landale.

In many games in the second

half of the season, the Gaels havehad trouble reaching their team av-erages of 76 points and 18 assists pergame. Nevertheless, the Gaels arestill vying with Gonzaga for the topspot in the conference standings.

With a win over LMU earlier in

the month, Saint Mary’s reached the20-win mark for the ninth consecu-tive season. With four players aver-aging in double figures and twomore sitting at nine points per game,the Gaels feature a balanced attackthat many teams struggle with.

“We just enjoy playing to-

gether,” said forward Dane Pineau.“I think that’s why it’s such a bal-anced spread. We have pretty goodguard play which helps move theball as well.”

The Saint Mary’s starting back-

court, consisting of Emmett Naarand Joe Rahon, accounts for about12 of the team’s 18 assists per game.Such adept guard-play leads to end-less open looks for a team where al-most everyone is a three-pointthreat.

In addition to rejuvenating their

offense as the season winds to aclose, the Gaels will work on play-ing a full game and avoiding in-game lulls. “One of the big things

we’ve been harping on in the lockerroom is that we haven’t been able toplay through an entire game like wewere before Portland,” said Landale.

The Portland game Landale

refers to is an 89-74 late January winover the Pilots in which the Gaelsregistered 19 assists and shot 62 per-cent. If there is a model game thattypifies the Saint Mary’s offense,that Portland game is it.

With narrow wins on the road

over Portland and Gonzaga this pastweek, the Gaels are now in driver’sseat for the WCC’s top spot. Satur-day marked the Gaels’ first regularseason sweep over the Zags in 21years.

Like the men’s team, the

women’s team (21-6 overall, 12-4WCC) is positioned nicely in theregular season’s closing weeks.While the top spot held by BYU isout of reach, second place is attain-able.

“I think we can still definitely

get the second seed,” said sopho-more guard Stella Beck. “We justhave to end really strong.”

Beck has had to assume more of

a scoring role lately in the absenceof injured leading scorer LaurenNicholson, and she has respondedwith impressive totals. On the roadagainst LMU earlier in the month,Beck scored a career-high 27 pointson 10-11 shooting.

To head into the WCC tourna-

ment as the second seed, SaintMary’s will have to maintain theirrebounding advantage while limit-ing turnovers, a weakness all season.They’ll also have to work on playinga full game.

“We need to play great from the

first half to the second half,” saidjunior guard Devyn Galland.

“We can’t just try to pull it out in

the fourth quarter.” Both Beck andGalland point to a February 11 lossagainst Pepperdine as a bit of awakeup call. “We were feeling really

good up until we lost to Pepper-dine,” said Beck.

In that 62-58 loss to the Waves,

the Gaels fell behind early andcouldn’t overcome a second halfdeficit. “We had a ton of turnoversthat game,” said Galland. “We cameout too relaxed and then tried tocome out in the fourth quarter, but itwas too late.”

The Gaels seem unlikely to re-

vert to that type of play with their re-maining games, as they’re focusedon positioning themselves nicely forthe postseason tournament. On Sat-urday, the Gaels dismantled Portlandby 42 points, its largest margin ofvictory in 17 seasons.

The men finish their regular sea-

son with a home game againstGrand Canyon University at 7 p.m.Tuesday, March 1, while the womenend regular season play against USFat 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27.

Miramonte Pole Vaulter SetsIndoor School RecordSubmitted by Doug Bockmiller

On Jan. 16, at the an-nual Pole Vault

Summit in Sparks, Ne-vada, Miramonte seniorMolly Colwell broke theindoor pole vault schoolrecord with a jump of 10-feet-2-inches. The eventattracts more than 3000pole-vaulters every year,from all over the world fortraining clinics and compe-titions. Colwell also did a10-foot-6-inch jump, butthe bar fell off a few sec-onds after she landed in thepit. This spring, she has sether sights on the schooloutdoor record of 11-feet-6-inches, and is well onher way to breaking it.Molly is also a rankedcompetitive sailor andtrains year round for bothevents. Other MiramontePole Vault Club vaultersparticipated in the event,including: senior SamWhiting (12-feet-6-inches), junior MathewImmesoete (12-feet-10-inches), freshman ThomasErisman (9-feet-2-inches),and freshman Daniel Eris-man (seven feet).

St. Monica 3rd Grade Boys CYOTeam Wins Diocese ChampionshipSubmitted by Laura Revelos

Back, from left: Mark Robeson, Shawn Clancy, Eric Van Olst Middle: Cooper Chang, JoeRevelos, Max Robeson, Gian Maguire, Kai Van Olst, Anthony Sanguinetti Front: Blaise Clancy,Luke Bonardi. Photo Mike Bonardi

On Jan. 31, the third-grade St. MonicaSpartans American basketball team com-

pleted a perfect season by winning theCYO West Diablo League Championship.

Photo provided

MBA to Host Opening Day Parade Feb. 27Submitted by Lauren Fritch

The Moraga Baseball Association (MBA)is hosting its Opening Day Parade on Sat-

urday, Feb. 27 from 9:30-10 a.m. The paradewill feature over 250 Moraga baseball players

ages 6-14, with graduating eighth graders ridingin convertibles, music by the Joaquin MoragaBand, and the Moraga Fire and Police Depart-ments.

Sophomore Emmett Naar has played a big role in the Gaels’ success this winter. Devyn Galland Photos Tod Fierner

18 Orinda Way, Orinda • 925-254-7766 • www.thegannetts.comRegistered Principals with and Securities offered through Foothill Securities Investing in

your future since 1962, Member FINRA, SIPC

• Retirement & Income Planning • Estate Planning• Charitable Planning • Educational Funding

401K Rollover Specialists

Save Gas Save Money Save Time

Shop your local McCaulou’s

Alan Wong, R.Ph.

We’re more than adependable health

professional. We’re also your

personal health advisor.

The Pharmacy That’s All About Your HealthSM

282 Village Square, Orinda (925) 254-1211

(925) 482-7112(925) 253-TAXI (8294)

24/7 AIRPORTS & LOCAL

[email protected] www.orindataxi.com

107 Orinda Way • Orinda • 925.254.2206Mon. - Sat. 11 to 6 or by appointment

www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, February 24, 2016Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLYC4

Directory Issue Sales ID0 CONT 13 2776SPA Version UDAC Classified Heading3 B2 TQPWP 939700 Tree ServiceA

www.bayareahomecompanions.com

L

• Personal Care• Meal Preparation•

• Light Housekeeping• Non-medical Outpatient Assistance

p

Affordable, Competent,W

Warm & Compassionate Adult Care

•

(925) 330-3999

To advertise on Shop Orinda call 925.377.0977

TUESDAY SPECIALSENIORS CUT

®

WEDNESDAY SPECIALJUNIOR CUT

1199$ .

1199$ .


®


1199$ .

1199$ .

JUNIOR CUT

1199$ .

1199$ .


®


1199$ .

1199$ .


®


1199$ .

1199$ .

81 Moraga WayOrinda

Across street fromWells Fargo & Nations

925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®

81 Moraga WayOrinda


925-438-7018

®


®


1199$ .

1199$ .


®


1199$ .

1199$ .


®


1199$ .

1199$ .


®


1199$ .

1199$ .

YYeeaarr 4444tthh

AAggeess 44--1166 ● LLaaffaayyeettttee RReesseerrvvooiirr SSiittee HHoommee PPiicckk UUpp AAvvaaiillaabbllee iinn OOrriinnddaa

CCoommee VViissiitt CCaammpp!! wwwwww..rroouugghhiinnggiitt..ccoomm//vviissiitt

CCoommee VViissiitt CCaammpp!! wwwwww..rroouugghhiinnggiitt..ccoomm//vviissiitt

OUR HOMESLamorinda Weekly Volume 09 Issue 26 Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Lamorinda

Digging Deep with Cynthia Brian ...read on page D16

It may be a bit of an exaggeration to say that theresidents of Wilder are pioneers, but being thefirst homeowners in a whole new community is

a phenomenon Orinda has not witnessed since the mid-dle of the last century. Surrounded by open space andaccessible only from Highway 24, Wilder is isolated likeno other Orinda neighborhood, yet it is a stone’s throwfrom downtown, and just a little farther from the brightlights of the East Bay. Wilder residents can easily choosebetween the two for their shopping and entertainmentneeds, yet they are cloistered in a valley so rural at thispoint that they have to take precautions to ensure theirpets do not become dinner for the coyotes that roamthe hills around them.

Once part of a ranch owned by airline mogul Ed

Daly, tucked in the Gateway Valley between the Orinda

crossroads and the Oakland Hills and set on 1,600 acresof land, with homes boasting 2,500 to 6,000 square feetof living space, Wilder is its own oasis. It took almostthree decades for Wilder to get to the point wherehomes started rising on the newly graded hills, and thepath is nearly as littered with defunct developers as theChilkoot Trail is with the artifacts of Alaska gold seekers.With 16 of the 19 finished homes actually occupied,their occupants, at least for now, are very much pioneersin Orinda’s outback.

They are coming from places close by like

Lafayette and Berkeley, and from faraway places like At-lanta and New York. They are predominantly families ofyoung professionals with children ranging from new-born to college age. Their reasons for coming are familiarto all Orindans: Orinda’s proximity to the metropolitan

centers of San Francisco and Oakland; its celebratedschools; and the quality of life in a remarkably peacefulsemi-rural town buffered from the urban world just overthe hills by seemingly endless open space.

Mark and Shannon Vicencio, the third residents

to move into Wilder, came from Lafayette with theirtwo teenage sons. They have lived there for over twoyears, enabling them to get a feel for the rhythm of lifein the new community. “I love it,” Shannon says of herlife in Wilder. One feature of the development that shefinds particularly appealing is what she calls the “sta-dium effect” of the construction, with houses built ei-ther uphill or downhill from one another, which meansthat neighbors will not be looking across the street intoeach other’s living rooms.

For Madelyn Mallory, 60, and her husband, Dr.

Mark Bresnik, 64, Wilder’s location was an importantfactor in their decision to move from just over the hillin Berkeley’s Hiller Highlands neighborhood. Mallory,a financial planner who works in San Francisco, had pre-viously lived for many years in Orinda and was eager toreturn. Bresnik, who works in San Mateo, supportedher aspirations, but made it clear that Wilder was as faras he was willing to commute from the Contra Costaside of the tunnel. It was a good compromise: She takesBART from Orinda, arriving early enough to find park-ing at the station, while he battles the traffic to get to hisjob in Foster City.

Not surprisingly, real estate in Wilder does not

come cheap. Lots have been selling in the range of$700,000 to $1.5 million, and homes from about $1.8million to just under $3 million. The demographics ofits inhabitants reflect these prices.

... continued on page D4

The Wilder development in the Orinda hills Photo Victor Ryerson

Into the Wilder-nessBy Victor Ryerson

OUR HOMES Wed., February 24, 2016Page: D2

Lamorinda Home Sales recorded

Home sales are compiled by Cal REsource, an Oakland real estate information company. Sale prices are computed from the county transfer tax in-formation shown on the deeds that record at close of escrow and are published five to eight weeks after such recording. This information is obtainedfrom public county records and is provided to us by California REsource. Neither Cal REsource nor this publication are liable for errors or omissions.

CityLAFAYETTE MORAGA ORINDA

Last reported:1067

LOWEST AMOUNT:$810,000$660,000$823,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT:$3,275,000$1,710,000$2,117,000

LAFAYETTE21 Burnt Oak Circle, $1,080,000, 3 Bdrms, 1481 SqFt, 1971 YrBlt, 1-28-16;

Previous Sale: $85,000, 08-16-763 Foothill Park Terrace, $1,200,000, 4 Bdrms, 2282 SqFt, 1958 YrBlt, 1-21-16;

Previous Sale: $655,000, 08-07-013693 Highland Road #3695, $875,000, 2101 SqFt, 1949 YrBlt, 1-15-16;

Previous Sale: $368,000, 09-29-98610 Huntleigh Drive, $1,330,000, 4 Bdrms, 2038 SqFt, 1960 YrBlt, 1-21-16;

Previous Sale: $993,000, 05-07-103397 La Caminita, $1,925,000, 5 Bdrms, 3260 SqFt, 1965 YrBlt, 1-22-16;

Previous Sale: $1,420,000, 08-20-104146 Los Arabis Drive, $1,625,000, 4 Bdrms, 1727 SqFt, 1956 YrBlt, 1-29-16;

Previous Sale: $725,000, 06-27-1420 Ruth Court, $863,000, 5 Bdrms, 2106 SqFt, 1950 YrBlt, 1-28-16;

Previous Sale: $910,000, 07-20-0523 Sessions Road, $3,275,000, 5396 SqFt, 1997 YrBlt, 1-26-163185 Stanley Boulevard, $810,000, 3 Bdrms, 1124 SqFt, 1950 YrBlt, 1-21-163331 Vaughn Road, $1,308,500, 4 Bdrms, 1945 SqFt, 1961 YrBlt, 1-22-16MORAGA176 Calle La Mesa, $1,075,000, 4 Bdrms, 1946 SqFt, 1973 YrBlt, 1-15-16;

Previous Sale: $994,000, 06-30-061438 Camino Peral, $660,000, 3 Bdrms, 1348 SqFt, 1971 YrBlt, 1-15-16;

Previous Sale: $542,000, 12-03-131084 Larch Avenue, $1,135,000, 2 Bdrms, 2596 SqFt, 1985 YrBlt, 1-25-163 Paseo Linares, $1,710,000, 4 Bdrms, 5074 SqFt, 1989 YrBlt, 1-28-16;

Previous Sale: $725,000, 08-16-90307 Rheem Boulevard, $916,500, 3 Bdrms, 1685 SqFt, 1957 YrBlt, 1-29-16;

Previous Sale: $235,000, 10-04-881817 School Street, $1,300,000, 4 Bdrms, 2050 SqFt, 1966 YrBlt, 1-15-16;

Previous Sale: $78,500, 09-11-75ORINDA53 East Altarinda Drive, $2,117,000, 4 Bdrms, 3145 SqFt, 1974 YrBlt, 1-28-16;

Previous Sale: $890,000, 08-29-017 Hartford Road, $823,000, 3 Bdrms, 1936 SqFt, 1956 YrBlt, 1-15-16;

Previous Sale: $765,000, 11-07-0312 Las Mesas Path, $840,000, 2 Bdrms, 1268 SqFt, 1952 YrBlt, 1-15-1618 Lind Court, $1,247,500, 3 Bdrms, 1350 SqFt, 1955 YrBlt, 1-22-16;

Previous Sale: $560,000, 05-03-0217 Overhill Road, $975,000, 3 Bdrms, 1969 SqFt, 1959 YrBlt, 1-15-16;

Previous Sale: $345,000, 07-07-8926 Parkway Court, $2,000,000, 5 Bdrms, 3769 SqFt, 1978 YrBlt, 1-21-1621 Sandy Court, $1,700,000, 4 Bdrms, 3311 SqFt, 2005 YrBlt, 1-29-16;

Previous Sale: $1,650,000, 04-11-06

G�� K�� B�� 925.254.1212

TheBeaubelleGroup.com CABRE# 00678426, 01165322

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

LAFAYETTE - SOUGHT AFTER HAPPY VALLEY LOCATION PRIME 1 ACRE FLAT

OPEN SUNDAY 1-4 ~ 1265 Happy Valley Road

A

vailable

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

License # 0186677

Moraga. Exquisite design in the

Moraga Country Club. Remodeled

from top to bottom in 2014 this

2850± sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 full

bathroom home offers 180 degree

views of the Moraga and Orinda

hills. Outdoor living spaces include

decks and large patio.

107 Greenbriar, Moraga

Offered at $1,469,000

Ranked in the Top 1% of realtors in Contra Costa County

Happy Valley Opportunity

Burton ValleyView Property

Lafayette. Opportunity in Happy

Valley. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms,

2300± sq. ft. single-level ranch style

��

pool. Prime close-in Upper Happy

Valley location. Ideal for remodel

and expansion - turn this property

into the home of your dreams.

Call for more information


Lafayette. Privacy and views in

Burton Valley. Charming two-story

��

including 2500± sq. ft., 5 bedrooms,

2 full bathrooms on a .70± acre lot.

Spacious family and living rooms.

Large bedrooms on the second

level all with gorgeous views.

Call for more information


.85± Acre Flat in South Orinda

Orinda. Prime South Orinda

location. 5 bedrooms, 2 full baths

and 2 ½ baths, 3000± sq. ft. single-

level ranch style home on pancake

��

to award-winning schools. Quiet

court location yet minutes to

community amenities.

28 Dos Encinas, Orinda


925.818.8000License #: 01130308

KURT PIPER

415.990.4929License #: 01296053

LESLIE PIPER

415.606.2047License #: 01896511

CHRISTINE GALLEGOS

925.997.6808License #: 01433269

AMY PRICE

925.216.7583License #: 01919680

SCOTT SANS

[email protected]

KurtPiperGroup.com

Pending

Moraga Country ClubExquisite Design

Page: LAMORINDA WEEKLY OUR HOMES www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, February 24, 2016D4

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. EqualHousing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are inde-pendent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Looking to Buy or Sell?

Chad MorrisonINTERNATIONAL DIAMOND SOCIETYBAY AREA TOP 100Direct: 925.253.4650Mobile: [email protected] www.sellinglamorinda.com

CalBRE# 01905614

I look forward to assistingyou with your real estate

needs in 2016

Brooks Street's Perry says that about 20 percent ofWilder’s current residents are empty nesters. Bresnik and Mallory fit this profile. Essentially emptynesters – Mallory’s 27-year-old daughter hasboomeranged home while she gets her career estab-lished – they claim to be Wilder’s oldest residents. Asthe sixth to move there, next door to the very first oc-cupants, they are certainly among the earliest. Theyounger residents tend to work for large tech companieslike Sales Force, Paypal, and Survey Monkey, or inbiotech. Many of the children attend nearby privateschools, but some attend Orinda public schools andhigh schools in the Acalanes Union High School Dis-trict. Buses are available for students of both public andprivate schools.

Both families extol Wilder’s proximity to open

space, and they make full use of it. Mallory says she andher daughter particularly enjoy hiking the winding trailbetween the development and neighboring Sibley Re-gional Park to get away from it all. The Vicencios makeregular use of Wilder’s local system of trails and pathsto walk their two golden retrievers. The valley is hometo a great many songbirds and raptors that are generallyin view, and Mallory especially likes to watch the localflock of redwinged blackbirds doing aerobatics “at thatmagic time” before dusk.

To most of us who zip past Wilder on Highway 24,

the most salient feature of the project is the growinggroup of five sports fields that cascade down from the

top of the saddle separating the valley from the rest ofthe world. The fields, included in Wilder as a conditionfor building the development, are already busy, espe-cially after school and on weekends. Michelle Lacy,Orinda’s Director of Parks and Recreation, reports thatthey are used for youth and adult soccer, lacrosse, youth

and adult rugby, adult softball, youth baseball, and fieldhockey. She cites 2015 use by no less than 19 differentsports organizations from both sides of the tunnel, in-cluding some from Berkeley and Martinez-PleasantHill.


Into the Wilder-ness ... continued from page D1

Photo Andy Scheck

Terri Bates Walker Broker, J.D.

[email protected]

License# 01330081

Terri Bates Walker

O�ered at $1,549,000 | SOLDRepresented the Buyer

761 To�emire Drive, Lafayette

O�ered at $1,995,000 | SOLDRepresented the Seller

7 Maloyan Lane, Lafayette


50 Corte Maria, Moraga


3911 Happy Valley Road, Lafayette


31 Via Hermosa, Orinda

O�ered at $1,695,000 | SOLDRepresented the Buyer (pre-market)

35 Kazar Court, Moraga

O�ered at $995,000 | SOLDRepresented the Buyer

83 Rheem Boulevard, Orinda


3 Maloyan Lane, Lafayette

Price Upon Request | SOLDRepresented the Buyer & Seller (pre-market)

4075 Happy Valley Road, Lafayette


9 La Sombra Court, Orinda

SELLING LAMORINDA

terribateswalker.com

Coming Soon in Briones ~ Wonderful Craftsman/Prairie style 8 year old

home on 7.6 ac, 7 stall barn, amazing views, private/gated road - enjoy a

country lifestyle 20 minutes from Orinda/Lafayette BART.

$1,475,000

CAL BRE# 01491373

Oakland ~ 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. Living room, Formal Dining, Updated

Kitchen, Energy Saving Dual Pane Windows. Detached Garage and Bonus

Room. $399,000

The Pereira Team 925.297.0321 [email protected]

Alamo ~ 11 COLE CT. Why not enjoy your own private retreat. 3900+ sq.

ft., 4 bd, 3 ba, Pool, Views, Sport Ct., 3 Car Garage, 1 & 1/2 acres. Gated

court of 4 exclusive homes. Zoned for horses. Huge master suite with office

& spa-like master bath. $2,100,000

Lynn Oakes 925.878.9617 [email protected]

The Pereira Team 925.297.0321 [email protected]

Coming Soon in Rossmoor ~ Beautifully updated Tamalpais model on

golf course. Amazing views, near Golf, Event Center, & Creekside restau-

rant. 2bd/2ba $549,000

Kitty Chan 510.332.6080 [email protected]

AMYROSESMITH

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

Amy Rose SmithVillage Associates 93 Moraga Way Suite 103 Orinda, CA 94563 Phone: 925.212.3897Email: [email protected]: www.amyrosesmith.comWeb: www.iloveorinda.comCalBRE: #01855959

Coming Soon, A STUNNER INHAPPY VALLEY

Incredible opportunity in Prestigious Happy Valley, Lafayette! Private approx 4,407 sq. ft. single level 5 bed + office, 3 bath home peacefully rests on 1.08 flat acres including fruit trees, tennis court, flat grass & pool. The heart of the home is the

recently remodeled fabulous & oversized, State of the Art eat-in kitchen, with too many bells and whistles to highlight. Premium location and Top rated Schools!

Please call me for pricing details.

6 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, approx 4647 sq. ft. Another amazing property in Orinda. Let me help you Find the Right Fit.

Please call me for details.

3790A Happy Valley Road, Lafayette Broker Tour 3/1 Open House 3/6

ALSO COMING SOON!125 Alta Haciendas Road, Orinda

AMYROSESMITH

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

Amy Rose SmithVillage Associates 93 Moraga Way Suite 103 Orinda, CA 94563 Phone: 925.212.3897Email: [email protected]: www.amyrosesmith.comWeb: www.iloveorinda.comCalBRE: #01855959

Coming Soon, A STUNNER INHAPPY VALLEY

Incredible opportunity in Prestigious Happy Valley, Lafayette! Private approx 4,407 sq. ft. single level 5 bed + office, 3 bath home peacefully rests on 1.08 flat acres including fruit trees, tennis court, flat grass & pool. The heart of the home is the

recently remodeled fabulous & oversized, State of the Art eat-in kitchen, with too many bells and whistles to highlight. Premium location and Top rated Schools!

Please call me for pricing details.

6 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, approx 4647 sq. ft. Another amazing property in Orinda. Let me help you Find the Right Fit.

Please call me for details.

3790A Happy Valley Road, Lafayette Broker Tour 3/1 Open House 3/6

ALSO COMING SOON!125 Alta Haciendas Road, Orinda

Wonderful 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath single story ranch-style home in cul-de-sac in charming Ivy Drive neighborhood. Apx. 1,994 sq. ft. on .30± acre level lot with pool. Original Owner of 50 years; house has great bones! Minutes to 12 years

of excellent schools, shopping and BART bus. Open Sunday 2/28/16. O�ered at $1,050,000

249 Ivy Place, OrindaBeautifully updated Plan 3 in Moraga Country Club. 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath, apx. 2,191

square feet in secluding setting near Clubhouse, pool & tennis courts. Loft area with built-in desk & cabinets, spacious Master Suite with Bay Window and enclosed hallway to bonus room/3rd BR with laundry room & sitting area. Call for more info.

O�ered at $950,000

1742 Saint Andrews Drive, Moraga

Paul & Virginia Ratto | 925.998.9501 | [email protected] | RattoandRatto.com | License #: 00900621 | 01361537

Call us for more information!

Coming Soon in Orinda & Moraga!

WWW.HOLCENBERG.COMClient satisfaction: a family tradition

Michelle [email protected]

925.253.4663CalBRE#01373412

Wendy [email protected]

925.253.4630CalBRE#00637795

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. ColdwellBanker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real

Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity.Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a

Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell BankerResidential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates andare not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker

Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Come sneak a peek at this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home with a beautiful level yard. Upon entering there is a formal dining room andliving room with vaulted ceiling and fireplace. The kitchen with dinette opens to the family room, with sliders to the yard.Hardwood floors run through most of the home. Updates include dual-paned windows and a newer roof. Enjoy the yard with fruittrees, lawn, patio and space for a garden or play structure. Located on a cul de sac close to top-rated schools, this one is a gem.

Spacious Single-Story Home on Cul-de-Sac with Level Yard

142 Selborne WayMoraga

Open Fe

bruary 28

, 1-4pm


��

��

��

��

��

!��"#��

��$�

��

��

� ��

��

�!�" ��#�$��#�!��%��&' �!��(�

)*+,��-�.�/��*',0�1� ��/��&�� 2�

��

�� !��"��#$��%��&��&�'%()��

��)��*�&��&��

��&��+�,��$��#��

��#$��-��&��

��&��,��,��

• '��$��,��&��

• .��&��/��*��0��

• ��/��&�,��&�,��

��,��

• ��,��&��$��0��

��%��"��(��3�� 4�� "��4�1��2(��(��

�� 1��$��,��2

�� !

��

��

��

��

��

!��"#��

��$�

��

��

� ��

��

�!�" ��#�$��#�!��%��&' �!��(�

)*+,��-�.�/��*',0�1� ��/��&�� 2�

��

�� !��"��#$��%��&��&�'%()��

��)��*�&��&��

��&��+�,��$��#��

��#$��-��&��

��&��,��,��

• '��$��,��&��

• .��&��/��*��0��

• ��/��&�,��&�,��

��,��

• ��,��&��$��0��

��%��"��(��3�� 4�� "��4�1��2(��(��

�� 1��$��,��2

�� !

��

��

��

��

��

!��"#��

��$�

��

��

� ��

��

�!�" ��#�$��#�!��%��&' �!��(�

)*+,��-�.�/��*',0�1� ��/��&�� 2�

��

�� !��"��#$��%��&��&�'%()��

��)��*�&��&��

��&��+�,��$��#��

��#$��-��&��

��&��,��,��

• '��$��,��&��

• .��&��/��*��0��

• ��/��&�,��&�,��

��,��

• ��,��&��$��0��

��%��"��(��3�� 4�� "��4�1��2(��(��

�� 1��$��,��2

�� !

www.ashleybattersby.comwww.amyrosesmith.com


Stylish SolutionsDiscovering New Design TrendsìBehind the Draperyî By Ann McDonald

Welcome to “the season,” as we say in the design business.We are in the middle of a time of year when trade shows

abound, and comfortable shoes start traveling with us discreetlyin purses, whipped out for the walk between booths and parties.From the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas to theshows across the pond, I thought it would be fun to give you, Styl-ish Suburbanite, an inside peek at a few standards, as they say, “be-hind the drapery.”

These are industry-only trade shows where designers, archi-

tects, builders, suppliers and manufacturers showcase their wares.We glean training, access to unreleased products and test models,and learn about what will hit the market six to eight, or in somecases, 12 to 16 months out.

KBIS: The Kitchen Bath and Industry Show. Held in dif-

ferent locations across the country, the ‘mac-daddy’ for the westernUnited States is held in Las Vegas, often in conjunction with sev-eral smaller home-geared shows having to do with drapery, build-ing and property development.

At KBIS, designers learn about new introductions from ap-

pliance manufacturers to tile companies, hardware brands to light-ing manufacturers. What was the hot ticket this year? Customcabinetry and pretty much custom everything.

Ambiente. Just finished, this is the leading international con-

sumer goods show held in Germany. Here we find the newest fromenamel cookware to Versace home’s latest porcelain introductionsto the next best-unknown lighting designer. Ambiente is an ex-traordinary show, and often showcases trends that will hit the U.S.

market, six to 12 months out. The trends this year? Nature on andin man-made materials, including porcelain. We see sand and otherraw materials transferred and printed onto and into anything fromporcelain to textiles. From table linens to tiles, nature influences,from raw to overtly floral and colorful, were everywhere.

Maison Objet. The show. Well, not the only show, but con-

sidered “the” show, here you find the most fabulous introductionsof textiles, product and furniture design as well as historical and ed-ucational seminars with inside access to designers and fabricators.Exhibitors come from across the globe. One of the hallmarks of thisshow, as well as Ambiente is the use of unusual and custom materials.

The use of hand formed objects, from hand blocked fabrics,

to non-assembly line pillows, and lighting fixtures where even the‘same form’ was not an exact replica of the one adjacent stands out.There is a return to perfectly imperfect in the design world, astronger sense of couture level production, where you are acutelyaware that a hand has made this, not a machine alone.

Maison has a U.S. show scheduled for the second time this

year in Miami.

High Point North Carolina. Every year, twice a year, de-

signers pilgrimage to High Point for new product releases, fabricsand furniture, acces-sories and educationalseminars. This actually is“the show” for furnitureand fabrics. Due to theoverwhelming volume ofproduct at this show, myteam and I plan forweeks in advance de-pending on the goals forour time in North Car-olina each season. Manybrands and designersdebut new furniture linesand use High Point toeducate on product con-struction or uses. We willoften spend half our timebehind the scenes on pri-vate tours or in closed-door sessions with thoseleading the market.


This photo showcases a traditionallook, still popular with clients. Cab-inetry by Teddwood Fine Cabinetry,Design and Installation by DavidCalvani & Sons, David Calvani

Ambiente Trade Show tabletops are drool worthy for thislover of all things dining. Exhibitors come from across theglobe to showcase what's new and next. Here, for 2016 wesee pastels and primary colors in bakeware and tabletop. Of-ficial press photo, 2016 www.messefrankfurt.com

The Ebb andthe Flow By Andi Peterson Brown

A CB Top ProducerAndiBrownHomes.com

925.818.4588

The spring selling season is upon us,and our market has never been hotter.

While most people are aware that ourhousing market is part of broadereconomic cycles, many people do notrealize that there is also a seasonalinfluence affecting market activitythroughout the year. And when it comesto this annual cycle, all months are notcreated equal. Sleepy August cannot holda candle to lively March, spirited April, andbubbly May. And poor January. It tends toget lost in the shuffle.

Why is this? The answer is quite logical.

The spring and early summer weather is theperfect backdrop for selling a home.Gardens are blooming, the sun is shining,and it’s easy for buyers to get out and seewhat’s available. Many of those buyers alsopay attention to kindergarten and schoolregistration dates. Thus, market activity isalmost always at its highest during April,May, and June. We tend to see activity dropoff towards the end of July as both buyersand sellers take their vacations and enjoytheir summer days. Here in Lamorinda,once the school year kicks in and routinesare established, there tends to be a secondsurge in market activity. This “mini-spring”lasts through the beginning of November,but once Thanksgiving hits, market activityusually drops off. Most people are inholiday mode, and buying or selling realestate slides onto the backburner if it is nota necessity.

Spring buyers are out in full force. If

you’ve been thinking about selling yourhome, there has never been a better time.

real local • real knowledge • real valueCalBRE# 01738605

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registeredtrademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. EqualHousing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Sub-sidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage areindependent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate

LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Office: 925-254-8585 [email protected] www.clarkthompson.com

CALBRE# 00903367

Springhill Road, Lafayette

New Listing

8.41 Acre Parcel

Springhill Road, Lafayette

23 Sessions Road, Lafayette

539 The Glade, Orinda

20 Whitfield Court, Pleasant Hill

Pending

5 Burton Vista Court, Lafayette

Custom Design

Sold Sold

111 Bear Ridge Trail, Orinda

Coming Soon!

PACIFIC UNION REAL ESTATEWELCOMES

TERRI BATES WALKERTerri Bates Walker brings an extraordinary professional background to Pacific Union Real Estate. A former practicing real estate attorney with a passion for architecture and design, Terri is one of the area’s top producers, representing both sellers and buyers in the communities of Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga and beyond. With every transaction, her goal is to make the process as seamless as possible for her clients while producing exceptional results.

Terri WalkerBroker 510.282.4420terri@terribateswalker.comterribateswalker.comLicense #: 01330081

51 Moraga Way, Suite 1Orinda, CA 94563925.258.0090

pacificunion.com

Extraordinary PeopleLocal Expertise

Manzone Team Leslie & Michele Manzone

925.388.6056 | [email protected]

manzoneteam.comLicense #: 01120753 | 01028002

Luxury Specialists • Lifelong Contra Costa County Residents $500+ million in transactions closed, representing buyers and sellers

We are o�ering free insider information on how to prep your home for sale to maximize your homes value.

CONTACT US TODAY.

License #: 01866771

believe in the art of living well.

PATTI CAMRASREALTOR®CalBRE# 01156248

[email protected]

5 Moraga Way, Orinda

www.patticamras.com

Whether helping first-time home buyers & move-upbuyers or downsizing empty nesters & seniors, I wantmy clients to live well at every stage of their lives. I’lldo whatever it takes to helpthem enjoy a seamless transitionfrom one of life’s passages to thenext. This is my promise.

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. AnEqual Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Realestate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker

Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Kyle DavisMortgage Consultant/Owner/PartnerLamorinda Resident Since 1995CalBRE License #01111347/NMLS #274107

Direct: 925-314-5299 [email protected]

This is not a loan commitment, nor is it a guarantee of any kind. Thiscomparison is based solely on estimated figures and information availableat the time of production. Interest rate is subject to borrower and propertyqualifying.Stonecastle Land and Home Financial, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Lender.

319 Diablo Rd., Ste 103 • Danville • CalBRE Lic. # 01327738, NMLS#280803

Fixed Rates to $417,000 Fixed Rates to $625,500RATE APR RATE APR

30 Year Fixed 3.625% 3.625% 3.875% 3.875%

15 Year Fixed 3.000% 3.000% 3.250% 3.250%

RATES ARE NEAR ALL TIME LOWS!30 YEAR FIXED RATE TO $2,000,000!

3.875% /3.990% APRGREAT CONFORMING RATES!

“PROVIDING PREMIER LOAN PRODUCTS AND SERVICE FROM THE MOSTEXPERIENCED AND SOLUTION-ORIENTED PROFESSIONALS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.”

Call 925-314-5299 for Today’s Quote!


2560 Oak Rd. #123, Walnut Creek $449,000

Tom StackMobile: (925) [email protected] #01501769

©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registeredtrademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal HousingOpportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC.Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor salesassociates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential

Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Did you know that we have a successful Music & Comedyseries bringing live rock and roll and top flight comedy to ourcommunity? These shows will sell out, so get your tickets now!

www.TownHallTheatre.com

Stylish SolutionsDiscovering New Design Trends ìBehind the Draperyî ... continued from page D10

What’s hot? The transitional traditional is still hold-

ing court. While I love a contemporary space, at the endof the day, people – no matter how austere in their designaesthetic – still need someplace to sit and sleep. We areseeing fresh takes on traditional, fewer completely darkrooms, and mixed metals and florals are back – in a big

way. There are reprints of classic floral patterns a la thechintz of 1980, albeit with an updated flair, used in mod-eration, or not, to remind us of softer, gentler living. It’srather nice. I think every room can use a flower or two!

Las Vegas Market. Similar to North Carolina, but

on a much smaller scale, the Las Vegas market is packedwith furniture, fabric and accessories and is also run inconjunction with the accessories and gift shows. Whilemany in Lamorinda are getting ready for swim meets, myteam and I are often headed off to source holiday décor inthe dead of summer. It is funny to wholesale Christmastrees, and then fly back for the OMPA, but therein lies thetruth behind the drapery for designers.

There are so many more ideas I could share from

boutique shows run alongside the majors, where artisanalwares are showcased by the artist themselves, to other na-tional trade shows, but I have learned to edit. For the Lam-orinda design-savvy suburbanite, these are our majors.After each show, my team and I gather trend reports for

those who desire a more in-depth experience. For a recapfrom our travels last year, be sure to read the June 3 article,“What’s New in the World of Design” in the LamorindaWeekly online archives. For this year, we continue to scourthe globe to bring you the best available.

Would you liketo attend one ofour post-tradeshow trendmornings? Wegatherprofessional realestate agents,and other

interested individuals for in-depth presentations,private or group, after each major trade show. Bookyour office or real estate agent group today. Don’t fallbehind with outdated design counsel. To learn more,visit www.couturechateau.com/trends

Photo courtesy Ambiente, www.messefrankfurt.com

Call us today for a complimentary consultation and discover the ‘fl uff’ difference. Simply the best!

Fluff Residential Staging and Design925.385.8507•[email protected]•FluffStaging.com

The very best home staging ...Fluff Residential Staging & Design can make your home shine like no-one else can! From re-arranging and adding a few key pieces to your existing look to a full service install of a current, fresh, new appearance; Fluff is your “go to” staging expert who will showcase your home to appeal to the greatest number of buyers and ultimately produce the highest price.55+ Community

Obtaining a Mortgage is Not Easy These Days!!Let Mark Provide The Service and Expertise YouWould Expect When Getting A Loan!!

Equal Housing Opportunity. Loan Officer Mark Zinman | [email protected] | CA Bureau of Real Estate License #01335252 |NMLS License #248181 | Pacific Mortgage Consultants Inc. | CA Bureau of Real Estate License #01378482 | NMLS License #2131

Mark ZinmanMortgage Broker/Owner

NMZ Financial Group

[email protected] Williams Drive, Moraga

MZ FINANCIAL GROUPMark has been a Lamorinda Resident and Mortgage Broker for 15 years andwould love to put that experience to work in handling your mortgage needs!

MZ Financial Group handles financing up to $3,000,000. WithInterest Rates at Historic Lows give Mark a call today to talk aboutyour specific situation!


Digging Deep with Cynthia BrianFence Me InBy Cynthia Brian“Good fences make good neighbors.” – Robert Frost

Growing up on a ranch we had all kinds of enclo-sures. Fences to keep the cattle in, fences to keep

the deer out, coops for the chickens, hutches for therabbits, paddocks for the horses, pens for the sheep,and extra corrals for the injured animals we would re-habilitate before release. What we didn’t have werehuman fences.

While traveling to the East Coast and the south-

ern states, I noticed a lack of fences between homes.Lawns rolled into one another, gardens meandered,play structures appeared to belong to no one or every-one. In the California sierras, the same mentality holdstrue for many homeowners. But in the cities and sub-urbs of California, strong fences create good neighbors,especially if you live near a house that reminds you ofMiss Havisham’s ruined mansion in Charles Dickens’“Great Expectations,” albeit with abandoned cars onblocks, rusting washing machines, and a backyard piled

high with trash. The sturdy redwood fence dividingyour properties could be your sanity savior.

Here in our neck of the woods we experience a

different kind of problem. Deer! With few predatorsand plenty of open space deer have been multiplyingexponentially. This is not good news for gardeners. Ofall the correspondence I receive from readers, the ma-jority of the questions concern these trespassing for-agers.“What can I plant that deer won’t eat?” “How can I keep the deer from breaking my sprinklersystems?”“What can I do to keep the deer out of my garden?”

Over the years I have written articles about our

dear deer and after three decades of trying literallyevery trick suggested, I am convinced that there is onlyone answer.

Build a fence!

I decided to call several fencing companies to find

out if they have experienced a rise in requests for deerfencing. The answer was a resolute “Yes!” RyanCollins, the estimator for C & J Fencing, informed methat 95 percent of the calls he had been on in the lastmonth were all related to building deer fencing. De-spite the fact that C & J builds custom decks, arbors,

handrails and benches as well as offering ornamentaliron and chain link, putting in redwood and galvanizedwire deer barriers has become an important part ofprotecting landscapes.

If you are considering installing a fence, repairing,

upgrading or replacing an old one, as a homeowner,what do you really need to know? I interviewed Collinsmore in depth and also tagged along on an installation.Here are some tips that I gratefully learned through thegenerosity of C & J as well as through my own obser-vations:1. Get recommendations from friends, family, orneighbors you trust.2. Invite two or three legitimate companies to lookat your location and bid your job. Ask how long eachhas been in business. Make sure all are licensed, carryWorkman’s Comp Insurance, General Liability Insur-ance, and Auto Insurance. 3. To be fair to all, make sure each estimator is bid-ding apples for apples. Show each of the contractorsexactly where you want the installation. Share your ex-pectations, and your fears, if any. Be clear about howhigh you want your fence. To keep the deer and coy-otes out of your garden, seven feet is the recommen-dation. ... continued on page D18

A crew builds a fence. Photos Cynthia Brian

A mangy coyote on the hill.

Wed., February 24, 2016 OUR HOMES Pag e: D17

Three fields are completed and in use, and were reserved for a total of 6,166 hoursin 2015; two more fields are scheduled to come online shortly. As might be expected,all of the new life and activity in Wilder have brought with them what Mallorycalls “growing pains.” The empty new streets were quickly discovered by skate-boarders, who could not resist the temptation to try them out for an excitingride. There have been a few incidents of mailbox break-ins and minor vandalismat construction sites because there are not yet a lot of eyes in the valley, she says,and some problems with construction trash and violation of construction hoursin the valley. There have also been a few instances of vehicles abandoned on theproperty that may be related to the easy access afforded by proximity to Highway24. Residents are working closely with the developer, the Orinda Planning De-partment and the Orinda Police to address these concerns, and heightened en-forcement of permit conditions and stepped-up security measures, such asinstallation of surveillance cameras, are expected to resolve most of these issues.Others will simply disappear as the construction ends and the valley fills up withnew residents.

The Wilder community is settling at a slower pace, with only 16 of the pro-

posed 245 custom homes in the development occupied, and 23 more under con-struction. How quickly Wilder will build out is anyone’s guess. “The marketwill dictate the velocity of sales,” says Perry, but “every sale adds new word ofmouth.” Vicencio believes it will not take long, perhaps until the end of 2017,because “progress is amazing.” Mallory thinks it will take a longer time, maybefive to 10 years. In the meantime, Wilder’s pioneering residents are busy buildinga community by doing the kinds of things pioneers have always done: hostingpotluck dinners and throwing progressive Christmas parties to get acquainted,and banding together to address their community issues. In addition, they havedone something their historic counterparts did not traditionally do. They hireda concierge to handle all of the duties that title implies in the hospitality world,plus a few others such as coordinating community events.

“We’re very pleased to be here, and very fortunate,” says Mallory. And

while she and her neighbors have Wilder all to themselves, their pioneeringlifestyle is unique to Orinda.

Into the Wilder-ness... continued from page D4

� Re�nancing?��Purchase?��2nd�Home?�

�Equal�Housing�Lender.��Prospect�Mortgage,�LLC,�NMLS�ID�#3296,�(www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)�is�a�Delaware�limited�liability�company,�licensed�by�the�Department�of�Business�Oversight�under�the�California�Residen�al�Mortgage�Lending�Act�.��This�is�not�an�o�er�for�extension�of�credit�or�a�commitment�to�lend.��Terms�and�condi�ons�apply.��Addi�onal�loan�programs�may�be�availa-ble.��This�is�not�an�o�er�to�enter�into�a�rate�lock�agreement�under�MN�law,�or�any�other�applicable�law.�Call�for�details.�3/2015�NMLS�ID�#�1438399�Orinda�Branch�

��Call�Kat�today!��Home�Lending�in�Lamorinda�over�25�years.�

Kat Rider Sales�Manager��NMLS#202928�Cell:�925.787.1692�[email protected]� ��8�Camino�Encinas,�Suite�115�Orinda

WWW.FINOLAFELLNER.COM

COMING SOON!46 Moraga Via, Orinda

COMING SOON!21 Old Rodgers Ranch Court, Pleasant Hill

925.890.7807

BRE #01428834©2014 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

Fabulous Glorietta home. Beautifully updated one level approx. 2,700 sq ft home with gorgeous custom finishes,

vaulted ceilings, chefs kitchen, spacious master suite, private office spaces with custom built-ins, lovely gardens, views and

3 car garage. Call for more details.

Don't miss this wonderful home located on a quiet cul-de-sac in a sought after Pleasant Hill neighborhood. With

4 bedrooms and 3 baths, sunny eat in kitchen with adjacent family room, as well as formal living and dining rooms, wonderful gardens, patio and deck, this two story home

is ideal for indoor/outdoor living! Call for more details.

4. Ask and get in writing the materials that will beused. Will the fence be redwood, Douglas fir, pressuretreated, metal, chain link, or something else? How deepwill the posts be set? (Two feet or more is best.) Howmuch concrete will be used? If using wood, are the poststo be set eight feet on center with 16-foot top rails?Where will gates be placed? Is the wire galvanizedwelded? Is there an up charge for the longer lastingblack or green vinyl coated wire?5. What is the experience and expertise of the crew

who will handle the job?6. How soon can the fence be started and com-pleted?7. Does the company contact the utility companiesor is it the obligation of the homeowner to know wherepipes, cable, electrical, and gas lines reside? If it is thehomeowner’s responsibility, call 811 to schedule a freeinspection. 8. Is the leftover debris recycled? What happens toit?9. Is there a warranty and, if so, how long?10. When is payment due?

Costs vary widely between companies. Most fenc-

ing companies quoted an additional $2 a linear foot forthe upgrade to the green or black vinyl coated wirewhile another company quoted $5 a linear foot. Somecompanies offered discount coupons; others were will-ing to negotiate within reason based on client needs.The key is to know exactly what you want and ask for it.Although a wood and wire fence could last 25 years orlonger, warranties for the pressure treated posts andkickboards tended to be 15 years and gates one year.Other than special order items which required a de-posit, payment for the structure is due upon comple-tion, according to the companies I interviewed.

Once you have installed a redwood fence, should

it be left natural, stained or painted? Collins indicatedthat this is a personal choice, however, staining or paint-ing will extend the life of the wood because it will bebetter protected from the elements, especially moisture.

I watched C & J’s crew chief, Lopez, with his six

man crew as they were unloading trucks, digging post-holes, hauling bags of concrete, cutting wood and erect-ing the fence. Every person was on his game, non-stopworking until the job was finished and the area cleaned

and cleared. Depending on the size of the job, a crewconsists of two to four men, with a few more usually ar-riving the first day to unload. Lopez’s crew were so im-pressive that I asked Collins if all of the 12 crews run byC & J were equally as hard working and diligent. He re-sponded that because C & J is a family-run business,each crewmember is hand picked, resulting in a prideof ownership mentality. Many times they hire siblingsof a dedicated worker. Lopez, an eight-year veteran ofC & J, brought his two brothers on board.


Blue Ridge

Landscape Company Inc.Blue Jay FeldmanOWNER/OPERATOR

www.blueridgelc.com

DESIGNINSTALLATIONIRRIGATIONDRAINAGESTONEWORKCONCRETE WORKDECKSFENCESPATIOSLAWNSPONDSCLEANUP &HAULING

925-258-9233cell: 510-847-6160

LICENSEDINSUREDLic# 818633

Fence Me In ... continued from page D16

A pear tree in bloom flanked by a blooming camellia.

A magnificent tulip magnolia burst into bloom.

A spectacular white tulip stellata magnolia addsbrilliance to the landscape.

This information made me realize that asking

about the expertise and work ethic of the specificcrew assigned to a project is a critical part of hiringthe right company for the job. I wondered if somecompanies were charging higher fees because of El

Nino. (I had heard that roofing companies wereknown for that practice.) Collins responded that acompany with integrity quotes the same fees year-round. Many people believe the misconception thatwinter is a time when fencing contractors scramblefor work, but that is not the case. If you need a fence,do it when you want it. Don’t wait.

To help you explore your options, here are fourlocal companies to consider:

C & J Fencing(925) 355-1380www.CandJfencing.comA & J Fencing(925) 939-2105www.AandJfencing.comBorg Fence(925) 290-8818www.BorgFence.comBurton Fencing(925) 290-7840www.BurtonFencing.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 925-377-0977 www.lamorindaweekly.com OUR HOMES LAMORINDA WEEKLY Pag e: D19

Spring is around the corner and our trees are full of buds andblossoms. Enjoy the beauty and the fragrance.

Happy Gardening!Happy Growing!

Cynthia Brian withRyan Collins, andthe crew from C & J

©2016Cynthia BrianThe Goddess GardenerStarstyle® Productions, llcCynthia@GoddessGardener.comwww.GoddessGardener.com925-377-STARTune into Cynthia’s Radio show at www.StarStyleRadio.netI am available as a speaker, designer, and consultant.

Family owned in Moraga since 1987

[email protected] www.advancetree.com

Winter is the best time to start pruning deciduous plants and trees, suchas maples, shrubs, roses, most fruit trees and most of all your Montereypines. They go dormant in the winter and some lose their leaves.Deciduous plants are best pruned in the winter because that’s whenthey’re dormant and less prone to disease. Before you start hacking away at your yard, you may want to call in aprofessional Arborist from Advance Tree Service to give you theiradvice on what should be done, the proper handling during pruning isessential to ensure a healthy future for your trees and shrubs.So don’t wait until it’s too late, call your local Arborist at Advance TreeService to help make your yard its very best.Advance Tree ServiceYour Authority on Trees.

Lic.: #611120

Your friendly neighborhood arborists Darren and Lew EdwardsWinter Pruning

A crew with a post hole digger.

925.932.5432www.sewerinspections.com

Sewer InspectionsSewer Inspections && Cleaning CleaningLocally Owned & Operated

Video Inspections & LocatingOverfl ow Protection Devise Installation

38 Years of Experience Sewers Unclogged

Trenchless Replacements & Repairs

We let the video speak for itself!We let the video speak for itself!

Gen. Eng. Lic #971074

Ashley BattersbyPatricia BattersbyShannon Conner

Joan EggersLinda EhrichJoan Evans

Linda S. FriedmanMarianne GreeneDexter Honens II

Anne KnightSusan Zeh Layng

Art LehmanCharles Levine

Erin MartinApril MatthewsKaren Murphy

Ben OlsenSue Olsen

Tara RochlinJaime RoderAltie Schmitt

Judy SchoenrockAnn Sharf

Amy Rose SmithMolly Smith

Jeff SnellLynda Snell

Clark ompsonAngie Evans Traxinger

Ignacio VegaAnn WardDan Weil

Jenny Lyons WilhiteMargaret Zucker

Lamorinda’s Leading Independent Real Estate Firm

facebook.com/VillageAssociates

twitter.com/villageassoc

THE VILLAGEASSOCIATES:

ASSOCIATES

R E A L E S T A T E

Sunday Open Homes93 Moraga Way, Suite 103 • Orinda, CA 94563 • Phone: (925) 254-0505

Visit www.villageassociates.com Click on

ORINDA ORINDA ORINDA ORINDA

407 Ridge Gate Road Rarely available detached 1 storyin Orindawoods on sought aftercul-de-sac. Open floor plan withvaulted ceilings. Stunningoutdoors with generous decks forultimate privacy.

$1,395,000

31 Crestview Drive Completely renovated turn keyOrinda home featuring fivebedrooms plus office, threebathrooms plus two half baths.Quality finishes, level out patioand yard with expansive views.

$1,795,000

8 Camino Del Diablo Stunning Contemporary rebuilt in2002 by MGHG Designs.Impeccable design & architecturalfinishes. Chef’s kitchen w/ top ofthe line appliances, Carrera marblecounters, radiant floors.

$1,975,000

159 Lombardy Lane Located in highly coveted SleepyHollow area of Orinda, thisrecently renovated 3486 sq. ft. 2story gorgeous home has 5bedrooms, 4 baths, and issituated on an idyllic 1.1 acresetting. $1,995,000

ORINDA MORAGA MORAGA LAFAYETTE

160 Camino Don MiguelMagnificent SpanishMediterranean estate on 2 adj.lots, located on 4th hole of OCC.Main house completely rebuilt in1996 is over 5800sf with 5bd/5ba& separate 627sf 1bd/1ba guesthouse. $6,200,000

1183 Alta Mesa Drive Stunning views on MoragaRidge. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathroomswith hardwood floors, newcarpet, updates throughout.

$995,000

1072 Sanders DriveLight & bright fully remodeledand expanded 4 bedroom, 2 bathplus office on a level creek-side.27 acre lot. Close to K-8 topschools!

$1,395,000

3957 Woodside CourtClassic Lafayette charmer on.83ac of mature landscaping,fruit trees & gardens - adj. to Laf.Reservoir w/private gate access.New windows, hdwd flrs,remodeled kitchen & masterbath. Call for Price

LAFAYETTE LAFAYETTE ALAMO PLEASANT HILL

858 Mountain View DrivePerched on Lafayette’s MtnView Dr. rests this spacioushome amongst 2.01 acres.4280sf w/5 bds + ofc + bonus,3.5ba, high ceilings & updates.Top rated schools. In-lawpotential. Call for Price

5 Burton Vista Court Spectacular 7bd/9+ba, 8986sfEstate w/luxury amenities ingrand oversized spaces. Premium2.25ac parcel w/sport court, sun-drenched pool, pavilionw/kitchen, dressing rooms &showers. $5,599,000

156 Camille AvenueDesirable single story 4 bed +2offices, 3.5 bath ranch homeupdated w/high end customfinishes throughout! Expansivepatio, custom pool w/hot tub, firepit, heaters & BBQ.

$2,375,000

280 Cleaveland RoadUpdated & adorable, this 3bd/2ba,single level 1316sf home is on.22ac. Features open floor plan &wonderful bkyd overlooking opengreen space. Walk to downtownPleasant Hill.

$569,000

New ListingNew Listing

New Listing Coming Soon New Listing

New Listing New Listing New Listing

Documents

Model T Ride Drives Centenarian’s Surprise · Lafayette School District Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m. Regular Board Meeting District Office Board Room 3477 School St., Lafayette Alarms