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at the Dec. 19 City Council meeting. meeting. Council City 19 Dec. the at

being included in Orinda’s maintenance program program maintenance Orinda’s in included being

Charles Porges Porges Charles spoke in favor of private roads roads private of favor in spoke

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16 Buzz Business

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12 Obituary

Local Groups/Events 2, 7, 13, 14 13, 7, 2, Groups/Events Local

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6 Blotter Police

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huge dinner party, and truly it was. This This was. it truly and party, dinner huge S [ WNE ae2] page WINTER EE 5 Award Mayor’s

Fellowship Hall. Fellowship crying child. One might think it was a a was it think might One child. crying News

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who were spending two weeks in LOPC’s LOPC’s in weeks two spending were who of arterials and collectors and 64 miles of of miles 64 and collectors and arterials of laughter and, very occasionally, a a occasionally, very and, laughter IN THIS ISSUE THIS IN

the homeless Winter Night (WN) families families (WN) Night Winter homeless the maintains 93 miles of public roads: 29 miles miles 29 roads: public of miles 93 maintains he room was filled with chatter, chatter, with filled was room he

Church (LOPC) was hosting a dinner for for dinner a hosting was (LOPC) Church maintenance program. Currently, the city city the Currently, program. maintenance

Staff Writer Staff

group from Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Presbyterian Lafayette-Orinda from group of private roads included in the city’s road road city’s the in included roads private of RASpg 4] page ROADS S [ EE

By BOBBIE DODSON BOBBIE By Orinda Grove and Orinda Oaks have added added have Oaks Orinda and Grove Orinda particular November night the Explorer Explorer the night November particular citizens battles to have Orinda’s 28 miles miles 28 Orinda’s have to battles citizens

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then, new developments such as Wilder, Wilder, as such developments new then, ing it these days as a group of local local of group a as days these it ing

Dejon Jasmyne enjoyed the shelter provided by the Warm Winter Nights program at LOPC. at program Nights Winter Warm the by provided shelter the enjoyed son her and that has only worsened over the years. Since Since years. the over worsened only has that rinda has more than a freeway divid- freeway a than more has rinda

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED inherited a plethora of deteriorating roads roads deteriorating of plethora a inherited

Editor When Orinda incorporated in 1985, it it 1985, in incorporated Orinda When

By SALLY HOGARTY SALLY By residential streets. residential

Sparks Division Sparks

Report on Roads and Drainage Drainage and Roads on Report

family who lost everything in the Tubb’s fire and for children at Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Nursery. Crisis Area Bay at children for and fire Tubb’s the in everything lost who family

Wagner Ranch Parents’ Club Club Parents’ Ranch Wagner Club Women’s Junior Orinda wrapped gifts for a a for gifts wrapped and from Volunteers

SALLY HOGARTY SALLY

Those in Need in Those

Warm Winter Nights a Miracle for for Miracle a Nights Winter Warm

displaced by the Tubb’s fire. fire. Tubb’s the by displaced FR ae3] page FIRE S [ EE

shared the story of parents with six children children six with parents of story the shared the coops and pens has been very difficult difficult very been has pens and coops the

Juniors could help, a hospital social worker worker social hospital a help, could Juniors from the fire,” she notes, but “keeping up up “keeping but notes, she fire,” the from

Stuffman asked if there was another way the the way another was there if asked Stuffman “Their animals were thankfully spared spared thankfully were animals “Their

the hospital did not need baked goods. When When goods. baked need not did hospital the working to rebuild, but they needed tools. tools. needed they but rebuild, to working

holiday party, but with current renovations, renovations, current with but party, holiday She also learned how hard the family was was family the hard how learned also She

desserts for the Children’s Hospital Oakland Oakland Hospital Children’s the for desserts and cooking utensils,” Stuffman explains. explains. Stuffman utensils,” cooking and

In previous years, Orinda Juniors baked baked Juniors Orinda years, previous In noted a serious need for stock pots, pans pans pots, stock for need serious a noted

every holiday. holiday. every “With such a big family, the mother mother the family, big a such “With

and a variety of non-profit organizations organizations non-profit of variety a and outpouring of support.” of outpouring

have individually supported adopt-a child child adopt-a supported individually have man says she was “highly touched with the the with touched “highly was she says man

tween the two groups. The local non-profits non-profits local The groups. two the tween Orinda community for donated toys. Stuff- toys. donated for community Orinda

Orinda Juniors, coordinated the efforts be- efforts the coordinated Juniors, Orinda included the OA, who appealed to the the to appealed who OA, the included

Ranch Parents’ Club and past president of of president past and Club Parents’ Ranch of the Orinda community.” One such group group such One community.” Orinda the of

Amy Stuffmann, president of Wagner Wagner of president Stuffmann, Amy family, who escaped the fires with their their with fires the escaped who family, Juniors members, but also other members members other also but members, Juniors thousands of acres in the San Francisco Francisco San the in acres of thousands

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desperate need of help to rebuild their lives. their rebuild to help of need desperate with local community members to help one one help to members community local with extended my net to include not only Orinda Orinda only not include to net my extended of the horrific fires, which destroyed destroyed which fires, horrific the of

adopted children with medical conditions in in conditions medical with children adopted and Orinda Junior Women’s Club teamed teamed Club Women’s Junior Orinda and children at Bay Area Crisis Nursery, so I I so Nursery, Crisis Area Bay at children glimmer of hope rose from the ashes ashes the from rose hope of glimmer

ents of four children and two internationally internationally two and children four of ents December, The Orinda Association (OA) (OA) Association Orinda The December, had already committed to covering 30 30 covering to committed already had

Staff Writer Staff The Tubb’s fires in Santa Rosa left the par- the left Rosa Santa in fires Tubb’s The and displacing an estimated 15,000. In In 15,000. estimated an displacing and them,” says Stuffman. “Our Orinda Juniors Juniors Orinda “Our Stuffman. says them,”

By KATHRYN G. MCCARTY G. KATHRYN By lives, but little else. else. little but lives, “I knew as a community we could help help could we community a as knew “I North Bay, taking the lives of 43 people people 43 of lives the taking Bay, North

Local Residents and Community Groups Help North Bay Fire Victims Fire Bay North Help Groups Community and Residents Local

January 2018 January Volume 33, Number 1 1 Number 33, Volume Delivered to 9,000 Households and Businesses in Orinda Orinda in Businesses and Households 9,000 to Delivered

Published by The Orinda Association Orinda The by Published Gratis 12 Issues Annually Issues 12

N O T EWS RINDA HE 2 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 NON-PROFITS Organizations Still Need Help After the Holidays

By SALLY HOGARTY chases of clothing can be sent to White Editor Pony Express, 1966 Tice Valley Blvd., #101, Walnut Creek, CA 94595. Dona- hile the holidays may be over, people tions of new or like-new clothing can be Wthroughout the Bay Area still need delivered to 3380 Vincent Road, Suite 101, help as winter’s cold weather continues. Pleasant Hill, Monday from 1-5 p.m. and White Pony Express (WPE), headquartered 7 – 9 p.m., Tuesday - Friday from 1 – 5 in Pleasant Hill, has an on-going Cold p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Weather Clothing Program (CWCP) that and 3 – 5 p.m. always needs contributions. The Orinda Volunteers are also needed for WPE’s Association recently donated the plethora Food Rescue program, which picks up of coats it received at its One Warm Coat 5,000 lb. of surplus fresh food (fruits, donation box in the Library Plaza. White vegetables, meat, dairy/deli/dry goods,

SALLY HOGARTY Pony Express’ programs have also been bread/pastries and eggs) every day and Orinda Association members Kate Wiley (L) and Cathy Goshorn sort the many coats donated by local the past recipient of the Orinda Woman’s then delivers it to nonprofits that feed the residents to the One Warm Coat drive. The coats will go to White Pony Express for distribution to those Club’s major fundraising event – the Fes- hungry in our county — all free of charge. in need of a warm winter coat. tival of Trees. In just over four years, WPE has rescued The CWCP program focuses on help- more than 5,200,000 lb. of quality, nutri- ing the homeless in Contra Costa County tious food that would otherwise go to endure the cold and often wet winter. They waste. hope to distribute at least 10,000 articles of Those wishing to volunteer for WPE clothing to the homeless including warm should contact Mandy Nakaya at 925-818- coats, pants, shirts, socks, hats, gloves, 6361 or at [email protected]. scarves, underwear and boots. For more information about WPE, visit Monetary donations to help with pur- www.whiteponyexpress.org.

a schedule,” she said. “I feel much more from page 1 t WINTER confident now and more able to take care For the past 14 years, 107 church con- of my daughter.” gregations have participated in the Winter Participants staying at the various Nights Homeless Family Rotating Shelter churches get up at 5:30 a.m. weekday program, under the auspices of the Social mornings, eat their breakfast and leave at 7 Justice Alliance of the Interfaith Council a.m. The children travel to the school they of Contra Costa County. “The goal is to regularly attend and the adults to their jobs provide shelter in a clean, safe and warm or the Oasis Service Center at St. Vincent environment and to help them break the De Paul Society of Contra Costa County. homeless cycle by assisting them toward There they are helped with job searches, self-sufficiency and into stable housing,” learn how to access available services and says Program Director Judith Stillman. how to find low income housing. Shower- According to Stillman, 17 congregations ing and laundry facilities are offered if the are actually housing clients this year in- host church doesn’t have them. cluding five in the Orinda area. Besides Volunteer Mary Welte of Orinda explains LOPC, these include St. Stephen’s Epis- she’s happy to be able to do this kind of copal Church, Orinda Community Church, “hands on” work: “You really get to know Santa Maria Catholic Church and Holy the people and the situations that have Shepherd Lutheran Church. “Right now, caused them to be homeless, often things we are serving nine families with a total beyond their control. For the most part, of 16 children, ages 1 year to 16, and one these are dear, kind people, down on their mom is pregnant. We have just purchased a luck, and I hope the very best for them.” new 15-passenger van, which LOPC helped The churches involved in WN provide Keeping Orinda finance,” Stillman explains. more than meals and a warm place to stay. Informed • Involved • In Touch! 925-254-0800 During its two weeks hosting families They help with many activities including in November, the LOPC Explorers group tutoring. “If the child has homework, we In the new year support the OA prepared and served the food, and then ate help with that, but there are many little ones Stay informed, involved and in touch with the guests and listened to their stories. who can benefit from being read to,” says A proud mother named Jasmyne told how tutor Jo Kerner. This year the Traveling INFORMED her son Dejon’s first-grade teacher said Tutors received the Making a Difference he was the best student in her class while Award by the Interfaith Council for their another guest explained that the rules devotion to the children of WN over the helped her stabilize her life. “They give me [SEE NIGHTS page 14]

INVOLVED

IN TOUCH

• Publishing The Orinda News • Hosting Community Forums • Providing transportation through Seniors Around Town • Operating The Volunteer Center • Organizing the 4th of July Celebration THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 3 THE ORINDA ASSOCIATION

A Message From the OA President The Orinda Association The Orinda Association is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to: Resolve is a good thing • Maintaining and improving the quality of life in Orinda; • Promoting awareness and discussion of issues that are important to the community; • Encouraging and recognizing volunteer efforts to enhance the beauty, character and security Cindy Powell of Orinda. P.O. Box 97 26 Orinda Way (Lower Level Library) Orinda, California 94563 e start the first day of the year with Movie on Jan. 11 is How the West was Phone: 254-0800 Fax: 254-8312 Wfireworks, kisses and cheers, and Won, one of only two movies ever shot in www.orindaassociation.org then move to the real good stuff . . . what Cinerama mode. It appears as wide as it OFFICERS will your New Year Resolution be in 2018? does because it was actually shot by three Co-President Cindy Powell BOARD MEMBERS Most resolutions include a better you and cameras all sitting in a row. Every frame of Co-President Anil Comelo Jeremy Conescu your surroundings. Like your town! Make this movie is three shots, lined up side by Vice President Joe Garvey Joe Haughin – Board Member Emeritus Secretary Carlos Baltodano Chris Laszcz-Davis this the year to get involved in Orinda. If side. The movie was nominated for eight Treasurer Bill Waterman Jim Luini – Board Member Emeritus you traveled over the holidays, choosing Academy Awards, won three and features Membership Kate Wiley Carol Zischke something close to home to do would be 24 famous actors and actresses. City Council Liaison Inga Miller fun. Remember, every Thursday night Jan. 13 is Make your Dreams Come outside the Community Center and library, True Day. If you have been procrastinating we still have the food trucks, games and fulfilling your dream, this is your chance live music. Get a bite to eat and intro- to get started. This may even be your duce yourself to someone new. The food resolution. changes, and there is always a drink truck Jan. 17 is Kid Inventors’ Day to encour- and a dessert truck. age children to think outside the box and Jan. 10 is Bittersweet Chocolate Day invent something or to search for scientific in case you didn’t get enough chocolate and logical solutions to problems. The day and sweets over the holidays. Ameri- is also the Birthday of Benjamin Frank- cans consume over 3.1 billion pounds of lin, one of the most prolific people in his- chocolate a year! There are some antioxi- tory. At the age of 11, he was responsible dants in each bite, meaning that it may be for inventing the precursor to the swimming healthy... in moderation. Is your resolution flippers a year after he stopped going to to get or remain healthy? Then Take the school. His invention was made for the Stairs Day, also on Jan. 10, may be for you. hands instead of the feet. The snowmobile, Doing so helps tone muscles, lose weight popsicles, and Braille, parenthetically, were and contributes to cardio-vascular health. all invented by children. But, children, un- Instead of using an elevator or escalator, like Ben, stay in school many years after hit the stairs for a low-impact activity that they turn 11. tones muscles. Most smartphones have an Okay, here it comes: Jan. 17 is Ditch app that counts stairs. A 160-pound person New Year’s Resolution Day. This day is who climbs for 3 minutes expends approxi- popularly thought to be the day when the mately 30 calories. Your resolution should most people abandon their New Year’s reso- become a daily habit. lutions. After all, resolutions are meant to Also in town, the Orinda Theatre Free [SEE PRESIDENT page 10]

capacity, Stuffman watched the children’s t FIRE from page 1 eyes fill with excitement as the van was without tools on hand.” unpacked. A website was created to request dona- “This family is extremely grateful as tions for the family: clothes and shoes for they lost everything in the Tubbs Fire,” girls ages 5, 6, 9 and 12 and their brothers, says Stuffman. “I would personally love ages 7 and 9; comforters and bedding for to see an effort to get wish lists of what the family; and children’s toys that included is needed for more families who are start- “anything Star Wars” or “pink and sparkly.” ing over. We could have their list of needs On Dec. 13, volunteers from Orinda Juniors accessible to the greater community, and Wagner Ranch parents gathered at especially since we have so many people Stuffman’s home to wrap gifts donated by in our area living with extra household the Orinda community. goods that could definitely go to a good The busy volunteers hoped that Orinda cause.” would give the family “a holiday to re- For more information about how to vol- member.” That hope became reality when unteer with The Orinda Association, visit Stuffman delivered the donations of both orindaassociation.org For information on new and gently used items to the family the Orinda Juniors Women’s Club, visit just in time for Christmas. Filling a van to orindajuniors.org. 4 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 EDITORIAL

and Kirsten Larsen, on behalf of the Orinda Correction... Vision and What’s Up Downtown Steering Committee.” It should have been listed: n the December issue of The Orinda Tom Trowbridge for the Orinda Vision INews, the letter to the editor entitled Steering Committee and Kirsten Larsen for “Orinda Must Chart Its Own Course,” the the What’s Up Downtown Orinda Steering authors were listed as “Tom Trowbridge Committee. Letters to the Editor... Thank You Mayor Phillips Council approved the Bella Oaks com- Mayor Eve Phillips’ current term as May- mercial development project at 25A Orinda or ended in December. City accomplish- Way, across from the library, where shovels ments during her watch are worth noting. will hit the ground during 2018. Perhaps most visible has been the heavy It became safer for Orinda citizens to lifting in shepherding the city through the walk between BART and the Theatre Dis- unexpected Miner Road sinkhole crisis, trict with the completion of more extensive seeing that critical roadway restored to full lighting on the elevated walkway and con- operating status within a matter of months, nector stairs. while Moraga struggled for more than two A lot more roads and storm drains got years to resolve a similar situation. rehabilitated with much more transparent The retirements and replacement of the project management and without much city’s long-time City Manager, the city’s aggravation. List of The Orinda News Advertisers Finance Director, and other key city staff- Mayor Phillips gave articulate voice to Page Page ers, have been seamlessly orchestrated. many stifled Orinda citizens, demonstrating Automotive Professional Property Management 10 Orinda Motors 6 Taxi Bleu 16 The National Main Street Center recom- conviction and courage, and all too often, Orinda Shell Auto Care 10 Real Estate mendation to re-vitalize the commercial being on the short end of 4-1, business-as- Beauty and Fitness AG Realty downtown with a focus on special events usual Orinda City Council votes. CoreKinetics 10 Alexander Gailas 2 was augmented with such events as Food Ms. Phillips came to this mayoral posi- Living Lean Exercise & Eating Program 7 Coldwell Banker Cleaning Services Laura Abrams 15 Truck Thursdays and the 75th anniversary tion by earning the most votes in the 2014 Kirby Carpet Cleaning 12 Suzanne Toner Geoffrion 10 celebration of the Orinda Theatre. City Council election. As one of those vot- Dental Shellie Kirby 12 While past City Councils mis-fired on ers, I look forward to her continued public Dr. Mary Smith DDS 7 Maureen Wilbur 8 opportunities to re-vitalize the commercial service on the City Council in the coming Educational Pacific Union Nurtury Preschool 8 Virginia and Paul Ratto 5 downtown (Montessori/retail replacement year and, hopefully, beyond. Old Firehouse School 3 Leila Schlein 3 of Phairs in 2013), Mayor Phillips’ City [SEE LETTERS page 10] Orinda Parks & Rec 2 Prime Vintage Realty Orinda Union School District 5 Rodney Lal 10 Garden/Landscaping Village Associates Blue Ridge Landscaping 15 Dexter Honens II 12 maintained residential street is when I visit t ROADS from page 1 McDonnell Nursery 1 April Matthews 5 a friend.” Tree Sculpture 11 Ann Sharf 13 to the private roads. In 2012, Orinda voters The CIOC’s report to the City Council on Medical Amy Rose Smith 9 passed Measure L, a half-cent sales tax that Dec. 19 projects that $3.5 million per year Dr. Brian Clark 8 Steve Stahle 3 Medicine Shoppe 5 Clark Thompson 11 generates approximately $1 million per will be needed to maintain the 93 miles of Non-Profits Restaurants/Catering year to maintain city services including public streets and associated storm drains. The Orinda Association 2 Baan Thai 11 repairing failing roads and drains. Measure It also estimates that the city will receive Pet Service Casa Orinda 11 J, a $20 million road and storm drain repair approximately $1,050,000 from state and Animal House Pet Sitting 15 La Mediterranee 12 Theatre View Veterinary Clinic 15 Piccolo Napoli 10 bond in 2014 and a $25 million bond in county sources for its 93 miles of roads. Professional Services Siam Orchid 3 2016 allowed the City of Orinda to begin The short fall from current taxes will need 5A Rent-A-Space 16 Taverna Pellegrini 16 improving all public residential streets, an to come from new sources. Cruise Adventures Unlimited 7 Village Inn Cafe 9 on-going process scheduled for completion Cohn projected that adding the additional Lamorinda Home Expo 8 Retail Law Offices of Victoria Robinson Smith 3 McCaulou’s 5 in 2019. A Citizens Infrastructure Oversight 28 miles of private streets would increase Committee (CIOC) was set up to oversee the cost of maintenance by around $1.1 mil- that funds were spent appropriately. lion. According to Cohn, current formulas urging the council to not approve this plan,” relationships among neighbors. What is the “We are residents and taxpayers of from gas and sales tax revenue could net said Melissa Roeder. “We need to form recourse if there is catastrophic damage?” Orinda. We deserve the same services as Orinda another $300,000 in funding for the a problem-solving task force to evaluate The City Council postponed approval of our neighbors. We are willing to pay for additional 28 miles. funding ideas that includes private streets.” the CIOC report pending additional infor- them but not over-pay as we have been,” “The additional cost might be $800,000,” CIOC chairperson Terry Murphy stated mation, which they requested be brought said Steve Cohn, spokesperson for the Cohn said. “There are, or will be when that the CIOC is not allowed to spend public back to the council as soon as possible. concerned residents. Cohn notes that resi- Wilder is built out, about 7,000 households funds fixing private roads.“We did look at “We need to address voter approved dents living on private streets pay taxes to in Orinda. This additional cost, spread the problem of private roads, and the CIOC revenue, and private roads are germane maintain the public residential streets as across all Orinda, averages $115 per house- agreed that a survey of private roads is to the plan,” said Vice Mayer Inga Miller. well as approximately $750/annually to hold annually or 30 cents per day. For a necessary so that citizens who live on those Councilmember Darlene Gee agreed, add- maintain their private roads. community with a median household in- roads have some idea of what it would take ing that the council needs to look at fund- “When the new taxes were being pro- come of $190,000, this is not unaffordable.” to repair them.” Mayor Amy Worth, how- ing, future maintenance and garbage impact posed, we were told that everyone used At the Dec. 19 City Council meeting, ever, didn’t believe public monies could be fees. the publicly maintained residential streets,” citizens living on the private roads asked used for such a survey. “The most significant vehicle impacts on Cohn explained. “This is not true. Fifty the council to create a task force to evalu- Charles Porges concurred that the con- private roads are the garbage trucks,” said percent of all privately maintained streets, ate the status of privately funded streets dition of the private roads needs to be Porges. Mayor Worth agreed saying that like mine, feed directly into the common and consider adding them to the CIOC’s measured. “Attempting to manage paving current garbage impact fees do not cover road system. The only time I use a publicly Roads and Drainage Repair Plan. “We are projects on a private street creates horrible the full cost of truck damage.

The Orinda News prints 9,000 copies and is published 12 times a Opinions of The Orinda News are expressed on the year by The Orinda Association. The office is located at 26 Orinda The Orinda News editorial page. Views of writers and letters to the editor are Way (lower level of the Library). All rights reserved. The publication is A Publication of their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The sent out by direct mail (Permit #4, Orinda Post Office) and distributed The Orinda Association Orinda Association or of The Orinda News. Advertisements to key locations throughout the city. Mailing Address P.O. Box 97 appearing in The Orinda News are not to be construed as Orinda, California 94563 endorsements by The Orinda Association or The Orinda News. Editor ...... Sally Hogarty Telephone: 925 254-0800 Assistant Editor ...... David Dierks Letters to the Editor are printed on a space-available Copy Editor ...... Ken Hogarty basis and should be no longer than 400 words. They must in- Advertising Representatives ...... Jill Gelster, Elana O’Loskey www.orindanews.org clude the writer’s first and last name, signature and telephone Editorial Committee ...... Carol Brown, Jill Gelster, Sally Hogarty, number. Lynn Kalmar, Jim Luini, Elana O’Loskey, Send letters to: Editor, The Orinda News, P.O. Box 97, Orin- Mark Roberts, Bill Waterman, Kate Wiley da, CA 94563, or email to [email protected]. Letters Staff Writers ...... Valerie Colber, Jennifer Conroy, Bobbie Dodson, to Editor for the February issue are due January 2018. Valerie Hotz, Kathryn G. McCarty, Elana O’Loskey, 8, Cindy Powell, John Vanek, Maureen Wilbur Contributing Writers ...... Jacalyn Buettner, Ruby Lowe Graphics ...... Aspen Consulting: Jill Gelster & David Dierks For display advertising rates, call Jill Gelster at 925-528- Printing ...... Folger Graphics 9225 ([email protected]) or Elana O’Loskey at 925-984- 1751 ([email protected]). The deadline for the February issue The OA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. is January 8, 2017. THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 5 MOFD / AWARDS

Winnacker Named New Fire Chief Outgoing Mayor Feted at City Council Meeting By DAVID DIERKS ormer Mayor Eve Phillips received Assistant Editor Fmany gifts and accolades at the Dec. 5 reorganization meeting of the Orinda n Nov. 2, the Moraga-Orinda Fire City Council. ODistrict (MOFD) selected Dave Win- Her favorite gift, however, was a tiny nacker as the new Fire Chief. Winnacker gavel presented to her for her daughter accepted the conditional offer, pending Carrie, otherwise known as First Baby. background and contract negotiations, and Amy Worth was selected as the new says he is looking forward to working with mayor with Inga Miller as Vice Mayor. the MOFD and its talented staff. Winnacker, a 23-year Marine Corps vet- CONTRIBUTED PHOTO SALLY HOGARTY eran and reservist, leaves Alameda County Dave Winnacker takes over as Orinda’s new fire chief on Jan. 1, 2018. Fire District (ACFD) where he served as Fire Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Rather than hiring a recruiting firm to Chief of Special Operations and Liaison screen candidates, MOFD chose to use Chief Officer for the City of Emeryville industry advertising, referrals and feedback and Lawrence Berkeley National Labora- from residents at public forums. Interviews tory. Prior to starting with ACFD in 2010, were conducted by MOFD Board members. Winnacker worked with the Fresno City A panel of MOFD fire captains, including and Newark Fire Departments. Winnacker Interim Fire Chief Jerry Lee, assessed the grew up in Berkeley, graduated from UC final candidates. Santa Barbara in 1997, and now lives in For more information, visit www.mofd. Albany with his wife and two daughters. org. Orinda Resident Recognized as Influential Filipina Woman ily Torres-Samoranos, Esq. has been FWN for uniting all of us together to plan Lselected as one of the 100 Most Influ- the future for our next generation of lead- ential Filipina Woman in the World by the ers in business and industry. Together we Filipina Women’s Network (FWN). The can accomplish many ways to strengthen Orinda resident received her award at the our community and our make our presence 14th Filipina Leadership Global Summit known in the world.” held in late October in Toronto, Canada. Torres-Samoranos has 28 years of legal “I am very excited and honored to receive experience in trial litigation. Presently, this award, which is a validation of my she works at the Asian Pacific Islander body of work for years. It was also very Legal Outreach as an immigration attorney exciting to meet my fellow awardees from in the area of removal defense, deporta- 14 countries and find out more about the tion and both affirmative and defensive partnerships and collaborations we can cre- asylum. ate,” says Torres-Samoranos. “I also thank – Sally Hogarty, Editor Mayor’s Award for Excellence

SALLY HOGARTY In one of her last acts as mayor, Eve Phillips (far left) awarded the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to the Miner Rd. Sink Hole “SWAT Team.” Composed of (L-R) Tod Fierner, Public Works Inspector; Cynthia Casey, Senior Administrative Assistant; Jason Chen, Senior Civil Engineer; Larry Theis, Director of Public Works; Osa Wolff, City Attorney, and Steve Ecklund, Facilities & Parks Supervisor, the team worked long hours to ensure the sink hole was repaired as quickly as possible. Also shown are City Councilmembers (back row) incoming Mayor Amy Worth, incoming Vice Mayor Inga Miller, Darlene Gee and Dean Orr. . 6 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 CARS / POLICE BLOTTER

Car Time POLICE BLOTTER To Keep It or To Not Keep It? October 29 through December 9, 2017 Calls for Service Petty Theft: 4 incidents. By JOHN VANEK 911 Hangup: 14 incidents. Public Assembly Check: 3 incidents. Abandoned Vehicle: 5 incidents. Public Nuisance: 3 incidents. Accident Injury: 4 incidents. Reckless Driving: 19 incidents. ust about when the newness wears off a good transmission the value is restored. Accident Property: 19 incidents. Robbery, Strong Arm: 1 incident. Jyour main family vehicle you find your- The real value is being able to use this car Alarm, False: 135 incidents. School Check: 28 incidents. self having to spend money on it. It has for another three to five years. The trans- Arson: 1 incident. Security Check: 40 incidents. given you almost 120,000 miles hauling the mission job will cost about $3500. Yikes! Barking Dog: 2 incidents. Service to Citizen: 133 incidents. kids to baseball, scouts to camp and taking Nonetheless, a new Grand Cherokee will Battery: 2 incidents. Shoplift: 4 incidents. Beat Info: 1 incident. Shots Heard: 3 incidents. the family on many outings. It has been the cost you about $42,000. Double Yikes! Burglary: 2 incidents. Suspicious Circumstances: 17 incidents. unsung hero of your family and has not let Tax alone is $2650. Interest on payments: Burglary, Auto: 7 incidents. Suspicious Person Stop: 15 incidents. you down to this point. It will be five more maybe $1300. Insurance/DMV fees will Burglary, Residential: 5 incidents. Suspicious Subject: 28 incidents. years before the youngest graduates high rise about $600 - $800 per year. These Civil Matter: 15 incidents. Suspicious Vehicle: 20 incidents. school so you still really need this vehicle. additional expenses hit you immediately CVC Moving Violation: 159 incidents. Suspicious Vehicle Stop: 36 incidents. Suddenly, the unthinkable happens: your while the value of your new ride drops. CVC Non-Moving Violation: 126 in- Tow: 9 incidents. transmission fails! It will cost major bucks Okay, let’s go back to fixing it. Will you cidents. Traffic Collision/Property Damage: 1 Death Non Criminal: 3 incidents. incident. to fix. Do you spend money fixing it, or get all your money back if you fix it and Disturbance, Fighting: 1 incident. Traffic Hazard: 21 incidents. do you replace it with a new vehicle? This sell it tomorrow? No, you won’t, but you Disturbing the Peace: 1 incident. Traffic Stop: 2 incidents. is a common situation that arises all the will get the “value” out of it if by driving Drunk in Public: 1 incident. Trespass: 4 incidents. time. The scenario may be different, but it for another three to five years. The new Fire/EMS Response Info: 3 incidents. Unwanted Guest: 3 incidents. the situation is the same. You have a car Jeep will depreciate several thousand dol- Forgery: 2 incidents. Vacation House Check: 47 incidents. you need to use but don’t want to spend lars in the first few years. After years of Found Property: 1 incident. Vandalism: 8 incidents. money on right now. Ultimately, replacing ownership of the new Jeep, guess what Fraud, Credit Card: 1 incident. Vehicle Blocking Driveway: 1 incident. Grand Theft: 1 incident. Vehicle Theft: 1 incident. the vehicle is much more expensive, not just happens? The wear and tear expenses start Grand Theft from Building: 2 incidents. Vehicular Manslaughter: 1 incident. because of the staggering sticker price but happening all over again. You are likely to Health & Safety Violation: 2 incidents. Verbal Dispute: 7 incidents. also considering all of the other increasing need tires, battery and general maintenance Hit & Run Misdemeanor: 2 incidents. Walk Through: 4 incidents. expenses when replacing the family hauler. just about when it is paid off. The vicious Identity Theft: 3 incidents. Welfare Check: 16 incidents. When considering keeping your car, it cycle continues, and we are all stuck in it. Indecent Exposure: 2 incidents. is important to be aware of the general Your vehicle may never require such a Juvenile Disturbance: 4 incidents. Arrest condition. The example I gave is pretty significant job as a transmission replace- Litter: 1 incident. Drug Sales: 1 arrest. Lost Property: 2 incidents. DUI Arrest: 2 arrests. significant. What I am trying to establish is ment, but there may be other repairs lurk- Loud Music: 2 incidents. Grand Theft: 1 arrest. a thought process that involves the notion ing. Spending $1500 - $2500 is significant Loud Noise: 3 incidents. Recovered Stolen Vehicle: 1 recovery. of spending a scary amount of money on enough for most of us. It is enough to make Loud Party: 3 incidents. Warrant Arrest: 4 arrests. your vehicle. Let’s break it down and look you consider buying new. If you keep up Medical Hospital: 7 incidents. at a comparison between repairing and re- with the maintenance and repairs, you also Missing Adult: 4 incidents. BART Statistics placing. Mr. and Mrs. Orinda have a 2006 keep the value of the vehicle up. Do your Motorist Assist: 5 incidents. No incidents reported. Jeep Grand Cherokee that needs a trans- research. Could you even afford a new ve- Occupied Stalled Vehicle: 5 incidents. Ordinance Violation: 12 incidents. – Compiled by David Dierks mission. The vehicle has approximately hicle right now? Consult with your trusty Other Misdemeanor: 1 incident. Assistant Editor 95,000 miles on the odometer. They have car care provider about the condition of Outside Assist: 46 incidents. maintained the car by the book and the 90K your existing car. Panhandling: 1 incident. For more incident details, visit www. service was performed. The car has very John Vanek can be reached at john@ Parking Detail: 144 incidents. crimereports.com little value with a blown transmission. With orindamotors.com. Patrol Request: 51 incidents. THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 7 FIRST FRIDAY FORUM / FITNESS/ SCHOOLS

The Polar Night Comes to Orinda SCHOOL CALENDAR JANUARY with Forum Talk 1 All Schools Closed. (Orinda Academy, closed through Jan. 7.) 8 Miramonte High School, 6 p.m. Sport Booster meeting. 7 p.m., Mindfulness meet-up. Orinda Unified School District, 6 p.m., board meeting, 8 Altarinda Road, Orinda. 10 Miramonte High School, 7 p.m., Governing Board Meeting, AUHSD Community Room, 1212 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette. 13 Holden High School, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. (stay as long as you’d like), Holden Zumbathon Charity Event, Zumba is a fun, aerobic fitness program featuring Latin American dance movement and music. No dance experience needed. All are welcome! 15 All Schools Closed. 17 Miramonte High School, 9:30 a.m. Parents Club meeting. 19 Orinda Intermediate School, 9 a.m., Parents Club Meeting. Del Rey Elementary School, Parents Club Bingo Night. 25 Miramonte High School, 7 p.m., Public Speaking Showcase. Also, Jan 26. 27 Miramonte High School, 7 p.m., Winter Ball. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 28 Miramonte Boosters Club, 5-8 p.m. Booster Mardi Gras Madness Fundraiser! at the Light shows like this one take place almost every night during the winter in polar regions. Moraga Country Club. By BOBBIE DODSON to these dancing luminosities in the sky,” Staff Writer Mende notes, “but now, after several hun- Send calendar items to Jill Gelster at [email protected] dred years of scientific research, we think n unusual treat awaits attendees of we understand most aspects of the aurora.” Athe First Friday Forum on Jan. 5 – the He further clarifies, “You might say Polar Night. It will be held at Lafayette- it’s nature’s gigantic television display. Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Beams of electrons streaming down from Drive, Lafayette, with refreshments in the space collide with the atmosphere, which Fellowship Hall at 1 p.m. and the lecture acts as nature’s phosphor screen on which in the sanctuary at 1:30 p.m. Dr. Stephen the multi-colored light show takes place.” Mende, who has specialized in studying the His talk will specifically detail “why the aurora since 1965, titles his talk, “Spirits aurora is colored the way it is, and why it of the Polar Night.” He says there will be only occurs in the polar regions. I’ll also “movies, pictures, illustrations- you name explain why auroras occur preferentially it” in his PowerPoint presentation. in a circular region around the magnetic Mende says, “Auroras are often called the poles of the Earth. We know the aurora is spirits of the polar night. As in the dark win- part of a huge global electric current circuit, ter skies, in the polar regions, fascinating but how and where is the power generated? light shows take place almost every night. If we knew this could we use this gigantic People have attributed fearsome properties [SEE FORUM page 14] Fitness Tip of the Month Are You Bored with Your Food or Just Bored? Try a Smoothie: There are at least 100 different combina- tions of fruits for your protein smoothies. Actions speak louder than words: Make that smoothie first thing and you are committing yourself to healthy eating…or at least reminding yourself of it. If you are still bored… maybe food isn’t the answer. For more information, contact Sheena with Living Lean personal training and eating for elite fitness, at 925-360-7051 or www.livingleanprogram.com. 8 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 STUDENTS

Magic Girls and Boys SoccerFest Champions

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Congratulations to the California Magic 08 Girls and 08 Boys for a Magical Finals performance at the San Ramon Soccerfest! Both teams worked hard all tournament taking first place in their respective divisions. Boys Coach Jasko Begovic said, “Magic worked hard all season and showed amazing character, skill and determination throughout the four games in the tournament.” Girls Coach Beto Zambrano noted, “The team did a great job meeting all their goals for the tournament, and I am very proud of the team.” Donate Blood to Save a Life By RUBY LOWE Miramonte Student

he most important part of the holiday Tseason is giving to others. This season, you can continue giving to others and help your community by donating blood at St. Mark’s Methodist Church on Jan. 27. Did you know that many blood banks across the country don’t receive enough donations to meet the demand of hospitals? This is

because only 37 percent of the U.S. popu- CONTRIBUTED PHOTO lation is eligible to donate blood, but less Campolindo senior Ruby Lowe (R), shown here than 10 percent do annually. Additionally, with Ashley Thomas, is organizing her second annual blood drive at St. Mark’s Church in Orinda. someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfu- sion every two seconds and approximately Gold Award is the highest achievement a one out of every seven people entering a Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout can earn hospital will need blood. by completing an 80-hour community When I learned about these staggering service project. statistics, I decided to dedicate my Girl I hosted my first blood drive in August Scout Gold Award project to combatting and was thrilled to see so much support the blood shortage crisis in America. The [SEE BLOOD DRIVE page 14] THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 9 LIBRARY GALLERY Gallery: “Art From Night Dreams,” Ceramics and Landscapes

By ELANA O’LOSKEY lanarak.com. all of her knowledge about Japanese culture Staff Writer Barbara Stevens Strauss of Berkeley lives to her two teachers, Sensi Soho Sakai for in the midst of her passions: raku ceramics, ikebana at the Orinda Community Center he Lamorinda Arts Council invites you ikebana, Japanese tea ceremony and Zen and Yoshi Akiba for the Japanese tea cere- Tto celebrate the New Year by visiting Buddhism. She has been working with mony. To learn more about Stevens Strauss’ the Orinda Library Art Gallery to view “Art ceramics for 20 years and has a studio in ceramics, visit www.bstevensart.com. From Night Dreams” and dream art books Berkeley. Her love of raku, a Japanese fir- Regarding the value of art to the commu- by Diane Rusnak, plein air oil paintings ing method, requires that when you pull the nity, Rusnak says, “Our life is full of visual by Lana Rak and Japanese inspired raku clay out of the kiln with tongs, you wave it chaos – traffic, advertising, the Internet – ceramics by Barbara Stevens Strauss. Meet around in order to get a crackle effect. Next, which can become abrasive. Art brings a them at their artist reception on Jan. 7 from while the clay is glowing in the dark, you path or order to that chaos and turns it into 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. where light refreshments set it into a bucket of sand or water to cool something you want to experience such as will be served. - a very dramatic moment. No one knows a painting, a dance or a piece of music.” Diane Rusnak of San Pablo has been what the raku will look like when it emerges Rak sounds equally positive: “When people making and showing art for 50 years. She so you have to be able to live with that lack create art and others experience it, it brings taught art for over 40 years and is retired of control if you like making raku ceramics. us together as humans.” Strauss says, “Art from Berkeley City College and Contra The seven ceramic pieces she is showing transports you from one era to another.” Costa College. Early on, she became are all different - high fire with oxides, pit Visit the gallery at 26 Orinda Way dur- interested in dream images; the mysteri- CONTRIBUTED PHOTO fired and low fired raku. Look for Utahime ing normal library hours – Mon. through Among the pieces Lana Rak will exhibit during ous dream is the one she is interested in January is Hello, a 12” x 18” oil on linen board. (Diva), a 20” x 10” x 9” raku fired ceramic Thurs., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Satur- painting. with glazes on a koa wood base. The Japa- day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. She is showing about 20 acrylic paintings anerusnakart.com to see more of Rusnak’s nese aesthetic, as Strauss understands it, to 5 p.m. The library is closed on Jan. 1 and on canvas with the theme “Art From Night artwork. engenders a minimalist expression of deep 15. Call 925-254-2184 for more informa- Dreams” and a number of dream art books. Lana Rak was born and raised in Kiev, reverence for nature. Strauss says she owes tion or visit http://ccclib.org. These are not dream journals per se, but Ukraine and now calls Danville home. She fine art books exploring particular dream has been painting since she was 12 years subjects. Their sizes vary from tiny books old and won’t be stopping any time soon. that fit into a metal box to larger books The genres she paints include still life, unfolding to 30 pages. Several of her dream cityscapes, plein air (paintings painted out art books unfold like an accordion. of doors), abstract and figurative. Two of Rusnak agrees with Langston Hughes the works she is showing are large, Tango who says, “Hold fast to dreams, / For if and San Francisco, both of which are 36” x dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird, 24” oil paintings. The rest are smaller works / That cannot fly.” For the past 25 years, including plein air oil paintings. she has been holding fast to her dreams Rak keeps her work fresh by participating by participating in a small dream group in plein air events such as Plein Air Easton that meets every other week. Personally, in Maryland, the Carmel Art Festival and she has written down over 5,000 dreams Telluride Plein Air where she meets fellow and chooses to make art from those that artists, sees what they are doing and looks are most puzzling and strong. That puts for new ideas that push her out of her com- her on the learning edge, right where she fort zone. “I like plein air painting because wants to be. Look for The Dreaming Cham- I have to work very fast, very quickly, so bers, a 36” x 40” acrylic on canvas for a the conditions force me to be creative,” says peek into her dream world. Visit www.di- Rak. For more of her artwork, visit www. 10 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 HOSPICE

Tree of Lights ictoria White and her family waited Vfor over two hours to be the first in line to visit with Santa at the Hospice East Bay annual Orinda Tree of Lights ceremony on Dec. 2. The ceremony fea- tured two choir performances by Orinda school children followed by Santa's arrival via Moraga-Orinda Fire District Fire Engine. The Orinda Chamber of Commerce arranged for Santa's special appearance during his busiest time of the year. Hospice East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care for ter- minally ill patients while offering sup- port for the entire family. Hospice East Bay has served over 28,000 patients and celebrated it’s 40th anniversary last year. DAVID DIERKS

t LETTERS from page 4 t PRESIDENT from page 3

Thank you, Mayor Phillips, for your be broken so relax and stop feeling guilty. public service and leadership. Almost 80 percent of all people who make – Owen Murphy New Year’s resolutions abandon them sometime during the year. This is just the Orinda Does Not Need a Down- date to choose if you want to be part of town Specific Plan the crowd. I disagree with Tom Trowbridge and Jan. 19 is Popcorn Day. Historians Kirsten Larsen, who wrote on behalf of believe that corn, whose kernels could be OrindaVision and What’s Up Downtown popped, was first cultivated around the 5th Orinda, that the passage of Senate Bill 35 millennium BC in Mexico. In Orinda, it is means that Orinda should create a Down- a popular movie munchie. Popcorn became town Specific Plan because otherwise the popular in the U.S. around the early 1900s State or developers will do it for us. This when it was sold on street corners under kind of scare argument is based on misun- the name of Pearls. Before bubble wrap, derstanding SB 35. In fact, SB 35 does not we used popcorn as packaging material. require Orinda to make any zoning changes. On Jan. 24, attend the eReader work- SB 35 does not allow the State or develop- shop and learn how to find, download and ers to change our zoning. All that SB 35 read eBooks from our library’s large and does is to speed the approval process for growing collection. A working knowledge projects that comply with existing zoning. of your eReader is required. Register online Existing zoning includes the height and at ccclib.org or visit or call the library to density limits that most of us cherish. A register for this workshop. Downtown Specific Plan would be a Trojan Jan. 27 is Miramonte’s Winter Ball. Horse that would ultimately undo those Thank you to the parents and staff who vital limits. Supporters of a Downtown Spe- make this beautiful event so special. Or cific Plan want to raise the height limit and spend your time at the Sci-Fi Film Festival increase density. Don’t be fooled or misled at Orinda Theatre and see some fantasy into supporting a Downtown Specific Plan. and classic sci-fi films. Stay in costume and – Nick Waranoff attend the Miramonte Booster Mardi Gras Madness Fundraiser! on Jan. 28. During the month, put on your jacket and take a walk to check on your neigh- bors, soak up some sunshine, and go to town! THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 11 VISUAL ARTS / REAL ESTATE Wayne Miller’s Photos of Orinda Children at the Moraga Art Gallery

By ELANA O’LOSKEY the Orinda Theatre was quite the center of Staff Writer local activity. Children under a certain age were invited to a Santa Party every year. eanette Miller, daughter of world-class The lobby was decked out with a huge Jphotojournalist and Orinda resident Christmas tree and a spot for Santa. Chil- Wayne Miller (1918 – 2013), is displaying dren lined up and one by one Santa gave 11 black and white photographs taken by each child a present. In Miller’s photograph her father between 1952 and 1958 at the of the children inside the theater, you can Moraga Art Gallery between Jan. 9 and see the gifts from Santa clutched in their Mar. 19. The public is invited to meet Jea- hands. After they received their gifts, they nette at the opening reception on Jan. 13 entered the theater and watched cartoons. from 5 to 7 p.m. while enjoying art, wine, “There were no grown-ups present; they light refreshments and music. Jeanette’s were not invited, because it was just for sister, Dana Blencowe of Ft. Bragg, is help- kids,” said Jeanette. WAYNE MILLER ing to organize the show. Having grown up in Chicago, Miller stud- Wayne Miller captured the children’s joy in this scene from 1950’s Santa Party held at the Orinda Theatre. All the photos are of children in Orinda ied banking at the University of Illinois at After the children received their presents from Santa, they would go into the theater to watch cartoons. because they are digital prints excerpted Urbana while working as a photographer. In from Miller’s 192-page book, The World is Urbana, he met Joan Baker (1921 – 2014), Young (1958). Miller’s aim was to capture who was to become his wife of 70 years. the universal truths of childhood. He did His first task during his 30-year career as this by photographing not only his own a photojournalist was to become a WWII four children but many other children in combat photographer. Edward Steichen, a Orinda as they grew through childhood to giant of 20th-century American photog- adolescence between 1952 -1958. Keeping raphy, recruited him into the US Navy in with Miller’s photojournalist style, most of 1942 as a Lieutenant. He was on the move the photos are candid rather than posed. continuously during the war, documenting Jeanette Miller relates that, in the 1950s, [SEE MILLER page 12] Real Estate Reality California home prices on track to hit a record high in 2018, Realtor forecast says

MAUREEN WILBUR

ealtor economist Leslie Appleton– market’s “rate of acceleration has been RYoung predicts California’s five-year slowing,” said Appleton-Young. run of rising home prices is expected to last The big mystery in the housing market, another three to five years. however, is why the pace of sales and price The California Association of Real- growth isn’t higher given that jobs and tors forecast home prices will increase incomes have been rising. The answer lies an additional 4.2 percent in 2018, rising in twin ills that have plagued the housing to a median of $561,020. If the forecast market for the past four years: Too few proves accurate, the existing single-family homes for sale and too few buyers able home prices will exceed the record high of to afford those that are on the market at $560,270 set in 2007. Prices, however, will today’s prices. remain well below pre-recession records “It’s so odd to look at this in an environ- when taking inflation into account. ment where you’ve seen such rapid job Single-family home sales also are pro- growth and income growth and low (mort- jected to increase in the state next year, gage interest) rates,” Appleton-Young said. but at a much more modest pace, the Real- “A lack of inventory and affordability... are tor forecast said. CAR projected 426,200 really keeping a lid on the California hous- houses will change hands, up one percent ing market. We have fewer transactions . . . from this year’s level. today than when we had 10 million fewer Overall, the gains in both house prices people living in California.” and sales are lower than in past years, Pulling out an old economics lesson, perhaps signaling the California housing [SEE REALTY page 12] 12 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 OBITUARY t REALTY from page 11 norm, Appleton-Young said. But the scarcity is most pronounced for lower- Obituary: Brenton N. Farmer Appleton-Young noted that high home- priced, entry-level homes for first-time price appreciation usually leads to “a sup- buyers. (1979 – 2017) ply response” – that is, more homeowners “The low end is kind of disappearing,” taking advantage of higher prices. she said. “It pushes people inland. It pushes t is with great sadness that the family “We just haven’t seen that happening,” people out of state.” Iof Brenton N. Farmer announced his she said. CAR also expects mortgage interest rates unexpected death at the age of 37 this past The reason, she said, is home sellers to rise slightly next year, but not enough summer. Brent will be forever remem- face possible consequences after big price to deter home buyers. Rates for traditional bered by his parents, Al and Sue Farmer, gains. Not only do they lose their Prop. 30-year, fixed mortgages are forecast to rise of Orinda, along with his five siblings and 13 tax advantages when they move, they to 4.3 percent in 2018. That’s still low com- their spouses: Laura (Jim), Chris (Lisa), also can face a capital gains tax on profits pared with historical averages but up from Steve (Adam), Patti (Dan) and Alan (Jes- that exceed $250,000 for individuals and 4 percent this year and 3.6 percent in 2016. sica). He will also be fondly remembered $500,000 for married couples. If rates were to go much higher, “hous- by his five nieces and nephews. Meanwhile, buyers are constrained as ing will be hit hard,” Appleton-Young said. Brent was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but well, the economist noted. Rents have been She doesn’t expect that to occur, however. spent his early years in England with his rising so fast that few millennials can save Instead, Appleton-Young expects home family. At the age of five, he moved to up for a down payment to buy a home. prices to continue rising for the next few Orinda and remained there for the rest of While half of Californians could afford years. his life. the median-priced house when the market “I know that this cycle will not last Brent had many friends who loved him recovery started in 2012, only 26 percent forever,” Appleton-Young said. “I would for his honesty, sense of fun and kindness. will be able to afford a detached, single- guess we’ve got maybe three to five more He never seemed to have a quarter in his family home next year, the forecast said. years where things can eke out the kind pocket because once he covered his needs, A lack of homes for sale – due in part of increases that we’ve seen over the past he always shared the remainder with his CONTRIBUTED PHOTO to under building – has become the new couple of years.” friends. Brent wanted to move forward with Brenton N. Farmer. his life, but the severe mental illness that and medical guidance and invaluable emo- consumed him as a young adult prevented tional support. A Memorial Fund at NAMI him from achieving independence. has been set to honor Brent’s memory. All When Brent was first diagnosed with funds will go to support the Contra Costa schizoaffective disorder, his family was chapter of NAMI. To contribute, please go overwhelmed by the magnitude of the to this website: www.namicontracosta.org/ situation. The National Alliance for Men- brent-farmer/ or mail a check to: NAMCC, tal Illness (NAMI) became a life-saving c/o Brenton N. Farmer Memorial Fund, PO resource for his family – counseling, legal Box 21247, Concord, CA 94521.

t MILLER from page 11 Lisa Gunn, who is a member of the Moraga Art Gallery, is the featured art- WWII by land, by sea and by air. He pro- ist during the same time period. Gunn is duced some of the most compelling war- showing large oil paintings with the theme time images ever recorded. Wayne, his wife “Garden Abstraction.” Get to know other Joan and their three children – Jeanette, art lovers and visit the Moraga Art Gallery David and Dana - moved to Orinda in 1949 in the Rheem Shopping Center, 522 Center where their fourth child, Peter, was born. Street, Moraga, 925-376-5407, www.mor- Inga Miller, Orinda Vice Mayor, is Miller’s agaartgallery.com. Hours are Wed. – Sun., granddaughter. 12 noon to 5 p.m. It’s closed Monday and Steichen became director of photography Tuesday. at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. He asked Miller to help curate an exhibit entitled, “The Family of Man.” It Acalanes Board traveled worldwide and was seen by over nine million people. The photo Miller took Position of the birth of his son David, umbilical The Acalanes Union High School cord and all, was included in the show. District is accepting applicants for a It was also one of the photos Carl Sagan provisional board position until 4 p.m. designated to be carried as an artifact into on Jan. 8. The vacancy must be filled space aboard time capsules in two Voyager by Feb. 12 with the position up for elec- spacecraft. Miller continued working as tion in November 2018. Applications a photojournalist by freelancing for Life, are available at the district office, 1212 Ebony, and National Geographic. To view Pleasant Hill Road, in Lafayette, or more of his work, visit www.magnumpho- online at www.acalanes.k12.ca.us. For tos.com/photographer/wayne-miller. more information, call 925-280-3902. THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 13 CALENDAR ON THE CALENDAR “The Spirit of Sharing” Raises JANUARY Funds for Children’s Health Guild

4 Orinda Books, 10 a.m., Story Hour with Cathy G. 2-4 year olds and their grown-ups are invited for a lively hour of books and fun. Also Jan. 11, 18 and 25. 276 Village Square, Orinda, [email protected], 925-254-7606. City of Orinda, 5 p.m., The Taste of the World Market Street Feast food trucks Orinda Community Center. Also, Jan. 11, 18 and 25. 5 First Friday Forum, 1 p.m., Polar Night! Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. See article pg. 7. 7 Orinda Library Art Gallery, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., artist reception from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. with light refreshments. View paintings by Diane Rusnak and Lana Lak, also Barbara Stevens Strauss raku ceramics. See article p. 9. 13 Moraga Art Gallery, 5 - 7 p.m., reception for exhibit of Wayne Miller’s photos of Orinda children circa 1952-58 presented by his daughter, Jeanette Miller. Enjoy wine, light refresh- ments and music. Also “Garden Abstractions,” oil paintings by Lisa Gunn. 522 Center St., Moraga, 925-376-5407. See article p. 11. 16 World Affairs Book Group, 3 p.m. will discuss MILLENIUM: From Religion to Revolution: How Civilization Has Changed Over a Thousand Years, by Ian Mortimer. The discussion will be lead by Jim Sibbring. 276 Village Square, Orinda, 925-254-7606. 17 Orinda Books, 11:30 a.m., Literary Luncheon with Victoria Sweet (author of God’s Hotel) discussing Slow Medicine: The Way to Healing. $12, for reservation, call 925-254-7606. 27 McDonnell Nursery, 10 a.m., Winter Rose Pruning Workshop, call to register 925-254- 3713.

Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m., St. Mark’s Church, 451 Moraga Way, Orinda. To schedule LIBBY DAFFERNER your appointment, or for more information, visit redcrossblood.org. See article pg. 6. 28 Lamorinda Home Expo, 10 a.m., Vetrans Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. (L-R) Orinda residents Audrey Mao and Andrea Brown, co-chairs of the Children’s Lafayette, www.homeexpoevents.com. Health Guild (CHG) Spirit of Sharing fundraiser, are shown here with keynote speaker 31 Orinda Books, 7 p.m., Michael Benanav will discuss Himalaya Bound, a gripping story Diane Dietz, President and CEO of Rodan + Fields, and CHG President, Michelle of a nomadic family’s migration to the high Himalayan Plains. 276 Village Square, Orinda, Berolzheimer. The event, which was held on Dec. 1 at the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco, 925-254-7606. was attended by 389 guests and raised $200K to benefit UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital of Oakland and George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro. “These two life-changing AT THE LIBRARY organizations together provide the most advanced medical technology and compassionate All events are free unless otherwise specified. For more information, call 254-2184 or visit www. care to children regardless of their family’s ability to pay,” said Berolzheimer. For more ccclib.org/locations/Orinda.html. The library will be closed on Jan, 1 and 15. information about CHG and their beneficiaries, visit www.childrenshealthguild.org. 5 Teen Coloring Club, 4 p.m. Join the Orinda Library TAG to de-stress, relax and have fun. The library provides age appropriate coloring books and colored pencils; you provide the Orinda Hiking Club. Every weekend and first Wednesday, www.orindahiking.org or Ian at inspiration and creativity. Free and open to all. Also Jan. 12 and 26. 925-254-1465. 6 Open Hearts Workshop: Where Compassion Meets Creativity, 10:30 a.m., Join Mindful Orinda Historical Society. Call 925-254-1353 for times and location of meetings. Littles and the Orinda Library for a fun workshop where families can explore creative ways Orinda Job’s Daughters. First and third Monday, 7 p.m., 9 Altarinda Road, 925-283-7176. to learn and practice compassion. Participants will leave with the warm fuzzies and more Orinda Junior Women’s Club community service group. First Tuesday, September through open hearts. Registration is required. Please sign up at http://bit.ly/2C5DzBE. Children must June, 7 p.m., www.orindajuniors.org. attend with a parent or guardian. Orinda Masonic Lodge #122 F&AM. First Thursday every month, except holidays, at 9 Al- 8 Mindful Aging: Brain Chargers – Registration 10 a.m., for Jan 22, 29, Feb. 5 and 12 at tarinda Road, Orinda Masonic Center, Orinda. Family Dinner at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 8 10:30 a.m. Join us for an hour of brain stimulating activities - Elder Paws (reading aloud p.m., 925-254-5211, www.orindalodge.org. to a dog, solving puzzles, and coloring). Space is limited. Open to adults 55 years or older. Orinda Rotary. Every Wednesday, noon, Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way, 925-254- Sign up for a session by telephone or in person at the Orinda Library. 2222, www.orindarotary.org. Jan. 3: Our scribe will introduce the Rotarians to Volcanoes in Orinda Library Writers Group, 6:30 p.m. Meet with a friendly group of beginning writers California. Take a journey to the Fire Mountains of the Golden State, from Mount Shasta to in a supportive environment to motivate, critique and inspire one another. Share two pages the Berkeley Hills. Jan. 10, Sally Hogarty Live Theater in the East Bay: An Abundance of of your writing (any genre) and get feedback from the group. Also, Jan. 22. Artistic Riches. Jan. 20, 6 p.m. All You Can Eat Crab Feed, Masonic Hall, Orinda. Everyone 11 ESL Conversation Circle, 1 to 3 p.m. For adults, practice and improve English conversa- will be served at their tables with wine included and we expect to have a sellout, so get tion skills in a small, informal group, Registration not required. Also Jan. 18 and 25. your tickets early. Tickets are $55 call 254-2222. Jan. 24: Ted Urban will speak about Art 19 Mystery Book Club, 3-4:30 p.m. Join the Orinda Mystery Book Club to uncover and in Public Places. Jan. 31, Modern Riffs on the Bard: Translating Shakespeare for Today’s discuss the new mystery book of the month. Meetings every third Friday of the month. Audiences. Cal Shakes Dramaturg, Phillipa Kelly, explains how Shakespeare’s plays are Orinda Library TAG Meeting, 4 p.m., Monthly meeting of the Orinda Library Teen Ad- made relevant in the 21st Century. visory Group. Orinda/Tábor (Czech Republic) Sister City Foundation. Fourth Thursday, 7 p.m., social, 7:30 25 Introduction to Chair Yoga, 1 p.m., Get an introduction to yoga in a chair from Atna Yoga p.m., meeting, call 925-254-8260 for location. Studio. Orinda Teen Advisory Council. Second Wednesday, 4 p.m., Community Center, 28 Orinda Way, email [email protected]. CLUB MEETINGS Orinda Woman’s Club. Second Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. to noon, call Jean Barnhart, 925-254-3881, American Association of University Women (AAUW) General meetings third Tues., http:// or www.orindawomansclub.org. oml-ca.aauw.net or email Marty Schimbor at [email protected]. Jan. 16, 9:30 a.m. Kath Delaney, founder of Madera Group, a social impact agency dedicated to moving CITY/FIRE/MEETING SCHEDULE mission-minded leaders and organizations forward, will be the keynote speaker at the Orinda City Council. First and third Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Library Auditorium, www.cityoforinda.org. Community Church. She will address the three obstacles to empowerment and discuss best Historic Landmarks Committee. Fourth Tuesday, 3 to 5 p.m., Library Garden Room. Call practices in fundraising and social media to better leverage your brand, preferred charity, 925-788-7323. cause or candidate. Moraga-Orinda Fire District. First and third Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. Visit Diablo Star Chapter #214, Order of the Eastern Star. Second Monday, 7:30 p.m. Orinda Masonic www.mofd.org/board/meetings; meeting location will be posted on the agenda. Center, Karen Seaborn, 925-689-0995. Planning Commission. Second and fourth Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Orinda Library Auditorium, www. Friends of the Joaquin Moraga Adobe. Third Monday, 7:30 p.m., Garden Room, Orinda Li- cityoforinda.org. brary, www.moragaadobe.org. Friends of the Orinda Creeks. Fourth Wednesday, 8:30 a.m., May Room, Orinda Library, Send calendar items to Jill Gelster at [email protected] 925-253-1997. Guided Meditation. Wednesdays, 9 a.m. St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 451 Moraga Way, Orinda, focuses on health, harmony and wholeness, 925-254-5965. Lamorinda Alcohol Policy Coalition. Third Wednesday, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Orinda City Hall Sarge Littlehale Room, 925-687-8844, ext. 227. Lamorinda Nature Walk and Bird watching for seniors. Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m., free. Call 925-254-2445 for weekly meeting place. Lamorinda Sirs for retired men. Second Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga, Pete Giers, 925-254-4667. Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary. Every Friday, 7 a.m., Lafayette Park Hotel, 3287 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, www.lamorindasunrise.com or 925-283-8288. Lamorinda Toastmasters. Every Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Isaiah, 945 Risa Road, Lafayette, http://lamorinda.toastmastersclubs.org. Montelindo Garden Club. Third Friday, 9 a.m., Sept. through May, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephen’s Drive, www.montelindogarden.com. Jan. 19, 9 a.m., Fresh Ideas for Your Front Yard, with Janet Sluis, Director of Sunset Western Garden Collection and a Berkeley-based horticulturist who will look at new trend-setting ideas for your California front yard. 925-284-8193. Orinda Association. Second Monday, 7 p.m., Orinda Library, May Room, 925-254-0800. Orinda Garden Club, 315 Camino Sobrante, Orinda 925-257-0668 or going to www.eventbrite. com. 14 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 CLASSIFIED t BLOOD DRIVE from page 8 Moraga Way, Orinda) on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. To schedule your What Is Your Greatest Fear? from our community. Dozens of first appointment, or for more information, By JACALYN BUETTNER time donors came out to donate, and we visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor Contributing Writer collected 33 pints of blood! Each pint code: RUBY, or call 1-800 RED CROSS of blood can help up to three people and (1-800-733-2767). You can streamline ccording to Google, the number one will go to treating cancer patients, ac- your donation experience and save up to Afear in America is public speaking, cident victims, premature babies, surgery 15 minutes by visiting redcrossblood.org/ beating out heights, bugs and snakes! patients and people fighting chronic RapidPass to complete your pre-donation And the Chapman University Survey on illnesses. reading and health history questions (this American Fears reports that 25.3 percent Donating blood is simple and easy: you form must be completed on the day of your of residents are afraid of speaking in front only have to take an hour out of your day donation). If you have questions regarding of a crowd. to make a big difference in someone else’s your eligibility to donate blood, you can What about you? Have you ever had to life. Blood is precious and scarce and can visit redcrossblood.org to review the re- present your ideas or be articulate in front only come from generous donors like you. quirements on the “Donating Blood” page of a group? Were you pleased with your CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Please help me make sure that no one ever or call 1-866-236-3276. You must be at presentation? Have you ever considered a Chiropractor Jacalyn Buettner at the National goes without the life-saving blood transfu- least 16 years old to donate (sixteen-year- career in public speaking? Writing a book? Speakers Association Northern California Speak- ers Academy. sion they need. The Red Cross is relying on olds require a permission slip signed by a If so, I’d like to share my story and hope- generous donors like you to help them save parent. This can be found on redcrossblood. fully inspire you to explore your interest in If you would like to learn about developing lives. Give thanks for your own health and org on the “Donating Blood” page under public speaking. your speaking skills, consider joining the do what you can to help others who are not “Eligibility Requirements”). As a chiropractor based in San Francisco, Speakers Academy. A new session begins as fortunate as others. Please take a little time out of your last longtime Orinda resident and supporter of Jan. 27 at the Lafayette Learning Center. If you want to help me combat the Saturday in January to make a big differ- Orinda causes, I’ve had many opportunities Entering its 14th year, the National blood shortage crisis, donate blood at St. ence in our community! Your generosity to speak in front of groups. As I entered Speakers Association NorCal Chapter Mark’s United Methodist Church (451 and kindness could save a life. my third act — what Jane Fonda would Speakers Academy trains speakers, trainers, define as the years between 60-90 — I consultants, coaches, authors, entertainers, t NIGHTS from page 2 a volunteer social worker to help families began thinking about my legacy: how can business owners and experts from a variety with their goals one night a week. Go to I pass on what I’ve done in my life and the of fields about the business of public speak- past six years. www.cccwinternights.org for a list of vol- wisdom I’ve acquired? ing. In the monthly all-day workshops, Working with the homeless has a special unteer positions and a wish list for donated You’ve probably heard that adage, participants learn about topic selection and meaning for Orindan Katie Owensby: “I supplies. “When the student is ready, the teacher will development, markets for public speakers, have an older sister who has been home- appear.” In my case, I signed up for the Na- the business of speaking, branding and col- less for the past six years. We try to help, t FORUM from page 7 tional Speakers Association Northern Cali- lateral materials, sales, social media mar- but it’s difficult to know if we’re doing power station to satisfy our energy needs?” fornia Speakers Academy and had many keting, multiple product streams, storytell- the right thing. It breaks my heart. I just After attaining a B.S. and Ph.D. from the teachers show up during the nine-month ing, protecting one’s intellectual property, hope someone or some group of people University of London, Mende began his series. I came away with a clear intention ethics and much more. Participants also out there will take care of my sister on her career at Rice University in 1965. It was and focus. I’m creating a speaking series deliver their own presentations where they darkest nights when I cannot. I also hope then he developed the first camera for ob- and publishing several books -- inspiring will benefit from practice, video recording that together, we bind as a community and serving the aurora from a small satellite and stories of women overcoming obstacles and coaching in small group team meetings. do the same for these families who come in 1973-76 he developed a new type camera along their life paths. For more information, email info@ to stay with us.” now in wide use by almost all ground based In the spirit of giving back, I volunteered nsanc.org or call Academy Dean Tony Katie’s 9-year-old daughter Hennessey auroral and airglow observers. During the to be a team member for the 2018 Academy. Woodall at 415-857-0225. adds, “I like volunteering with Winter years of 1976-1993, he was lead scientist Nights, because it helps me understand that for the experiment called “Atmospheric the NASA IMAGE mission. The IMAGE ner edge of space, the home of all satellite life can be really hard sometimes.” Emission Photometric Imager” that flew satellite went far enough from the Earth to communications, which, he says, is very Winter Nights takes only homeless on the NASA Space Shuttle twice and in look back and see the entire planet with its important to our technological society. families and can accommodate up to 30 subsequent years he and his team found the auroral belts. He has more than 300 refereed articles in people. Much more affordable housing answer for astronauts who noted that the Later, he was lead investigator for ground journals and books and three patents are is needed. A 2017 report by Contra Costa shuttle glowed at night on its forward facing based observatories for the NASA THE- under his name. Health Services Division of Health, Hous- surfaces. The team recognized that the glow MIS mission, where he and his team are “You won’t want to miss the presentation ing and Homeless Services (H3) shows that was created from the natural reaction of operating a network of 21 auroral cameras with its spectacular pictures and informa- 1,607 people were counted to be without atmospheric atomic nitrogen and oxygen. strategically scattered around the Northern tion about the mysterious auroras,” says housing during a 24-hour period, including Mende began his career at UC Berkeley Arctic regions. Mende is deputy director Dr. Joe Whitehouse, member of the First 911 who were living outside. According as a Senior Research Fellow in the Space for the NASA Explorer project known as Friday Forum Team. “The program is free to socialsolutions.com, in 2016, 564,708 Science Lab in 1996. During the years up the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, a and open to all.” For further information, people in the U.S. were homeless. Of that to 2005, he and his team built and flew satellite to be launched in 2018 which will call 925-283-8722. number, 206,286 were people in families the far ultraviolet Imager experiment on study the earth’s ionosphere. That is the in- with a quarter of the group children. Right now, Winter Nights is in need of 2018 Publication Schedule Orinda News classified ads ... Issue Deadline ...classified ads February 2018 January 8, 2018 Your ad in The Orinda News reaches 9,000 households and businesses in Orinda! March 2018 February 8, 2018 Help Wanted Ad rates are $5 per Ad representative for The Orinda News. Email [email protected] for more informa- line - $10 minimum There are 32 spaces per line. Count each letter, punctuation mark, and space between words. tion. Get first look at incoming library book dona- Categories Name ______Category ______tions. Sort books with Friends on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – noon. Call OA Volunteer Center 254-0800. • For Sale Address ______Number of Lines ______Household Service Cars Musical Instruments City ______Zip ______Phone ______Email ______Total Clean. Serving Lamorinda homes since 1985. Sports Equipment Write your ad in the boxes below with one letter, space or punctuation mark in each box. Cost is Insured and bonded employees. 376-1004. Miscellaneous $5 per line: $10 minimum. Instruction • Help Wanted French and Italian Conversation Classes start- • Household Services ing in January at the Orinda Community Center. Tel. Caregivers (925) 254-2445. www.cityoforinda.org. Domestics House-Sitting Services • Instruction Rain Gutter Cleaning. Roof Cleaning, overhanging Music Lessons branches trimmed. Charles (h) 925-254-5533 or Tutors (c) 925-528-9385 Miscellaneous Wanted • Pets • Pet Care I buy 1950’s Furniture. Danish modern, Herman • Rentals Miller, Knoll wanted. 1 item or entire estate! Call Rick at 510-219-9644. Courteous house calls. • Services Enclose your check payable to The Orinda Association and mail to Orinda News, P.O. Box 97, Orinda, • Vacation Rentals/ Unwanted Eye Glasses are collected for Lions CA 94563. We reserve the right to reject any ad. Classified ads must be prepaid. Your cancelled check is Club at the Orinda Association office, 26 Orinda Home Exchanges your receipt. Way, Orinda. • Wanted THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 n 15 PETS / SCOUTS

Something to Howl About... Wagner Ranch Girl Scouts Troop

Animal Tales etting into the spirit of helping Oth- Gers, the Girl Scouts of Wagner Ranch What’s New This Year Elementary School held their annual One Warm Coat drive the week before Thanks- Jennifer Conroy giving. Troops made signs and held them up as students were dropped off/picked up at school on several mornings and afternoons t’s a new year, a good time to look at that delivers a variety of either dog or cat to advertise the effort. They collected 92 Iwhat’s new in the companion animal treats to your front door. Speaking of doors, coats, along with many hats, scarves and world. There are many products that might there are now pet doors that open and close gloves. The coats were delivered to City interest you. automatically by reading your animal’s mi- Team in downtown Oakland and will be Growing in popularity are GPS collars crochip. The flap automatically opens when distributed to people in need over the com- that can track the whereabouts of a dog or your cat or dog approaches and then closes ing months. Shown at right are Girl Scouts cat. They range in price from about $50 once the animal is clear. I’m not quite sure Agnes Swaney, Charlotte Sluis and Cor- to nearly $200, depending on the features what the advantage of that is, although it rian Boonzaier. that typically include loading a tracking may afford some sense of security for your – Sally Hogarty, Editor VANESSA SMITH app on your phone or tablet. Call me old- home and can be helpful for senior animals. fashioned, but my favorite way to track These gadgets and products can be found my companion animals is by having them easily through an internet search, and you with me where I can interact directly with will find that prices vary dramatically from them. I do recommend reflective collars for vendor to vendor for similar products. cats and dogs, available at every pet supply Before choosing any of them, make sure store. And don’t forget about microchip- to read reviews of other customers. Most ping, which is much cheaper (typically importantly, remember that no gizmo can under $20 and sometimes offered at free ever replace the attention you give your clinics) and readily available through your animal companion. If there is one thing veterinarian. And, it won’t fall off! that is old every new year, it’s the fact that For cats who love to hang out under you are and always will be your animal’s furniture, there’s something called the Cat best friend. Crib that costs about $20 and is essentially a small hammock you can string up under a t BUZZ from page 16 chair. For small home dwellers, this could dent Jennifer Brophy, a Certified Ayurvedic be a great space conserver, while afford- Practitioner. “I completed over 2,000 pro- ing your cat the privacy that some kitties gram hours of academic and clinical train- crave. ing in classical Ayurveda to earn a Master Car seat covers that are waterproof and of Arts degree from Mount Madonna come with safety belts can help keep your Institute. Art of Ayurveda skin balms help car paw-print proof while protecting your keep the body and mind in balance,” says dog. They are available in assorted sizes. Brophy. Mayana offers dark chocolate tasty They run about $35. treats in several distinctive flavors such as If your stay-at-home cat gets fascinated crispy coconut cookie, peanut butter and by watching videos on your laptop, con- vanilla shortbread. You will also want to sider adding a laptop scratching pad that take advantage of the free gift wrapping perches over the keyboard. That little gem available here. costs under $30. Lina Shatara works out of her San Fran- One of my favorites is the pooch selfie cisco studio and is committed to local and stick that affixes to your phone and holds a sustainable production. “My love of travel tennis ball to capture your dog’s attention. inspires my creativity and heavily influ- Personally, I prefer the selfies of me with ences my jewelry designs,” says Shatara. a dog licking my face! Her most recent journeys have been to As far as catching your cat’s attention, Istanbul, India, and Hong Kong. you might try the feline laser scratching Lina Shatara Jewelry Pop-up is open post with the built-in laser light that will daily until Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. shine randomly on the floor, walls, etc. For more information, visit the website at To keep the year “new” every month, www.linashatara.com or pop an email to you can sign up for a subscription service Lina at [email protected]. 16 n THE ORINDA NEWS n JANUARY 2018 BUSINESS BUZZ

Business Buzz Putting a Personal Face on Local Business Valerie Hotz

To send items for consideration, email money there are very tiny transaction fees Hotz at [email protected]. with each transaction, nothing even close to one percent,” says Peter Eberle. Piccolo Napoli Accepts Bitcoin The attraction for merchants is that pay- It used to be tradition, tradition and now, ment is received immediately, compared my friends, it is transition, transition. Hail with credit cards, which take 24 hours to Piccolo Napoli in Theatre Square, where to process. A smart phone is necessary customers may buy dinner using Bitcoin, because users access the digital currency DEB SITZMAN Regular customer Matt Sitzman (L) convinced owner Peter Eberle (R) to accept Bitcoin at his restaurant a crypto currency created in 2009. Owners using a virtual wallet application, in this Piccolo Napoli in Theatre Square. Maria and Peter Eberle were persuaded by case “Bit Pay.” Eberle believes it will one of their loyal customers, Matt Sitzmark, catch on for many money transactions, such as Melanzane Da Napoli, Vegetariano have been doing events with local artists about the value of accepting this form of including sending money home and mak- Calzone and Carne Calzone are available, and designers for 11 years and decided to digital currency. ing purchases. along with nine different pizza offerings, do a pop-up storefront for a limited period “Essentially 97 percent of our custom- “Bitcoin must comply with the Patriot including the option of gluten free. You of time, in addition to the single events. ers use credit or debit cards, which incur Act and IRS regulations, and it carries may build your own pizza, should you Among our finds are metal and precious a surcharge from two to four percent that the advantage that it can be purchased in desire. A gluten free 10-inch pizza is on and semi-precious stone jewelry pieces, our business must cover. The credit card nearly every currency. There is no currency the menu and you will not want to miss the leather bracelets, beauty and home prod- companies justify this additional charge conversion fee,” points out Eberle. delicious gelato. ucts,” says Shatara. because of the prevalence of fraud trans- After working in finance and traveling A native Orindan, Peter attended Sleepy A tour of this boutique reveals a wide actions and the surcharge covers that. By the globe, Peter established Piccolo Na- Hollow School and has lived here on and variety of gift items, all from Bay Area comparison, a very small fee is charged to poli with his wife Maria, incorporating her off for the past 40 years. He and Maria have designers and small businesswomen, such the individual at the outset when purchasing family recipes into the dishes served at the four adult children. They enjoy mountain as Silver and Bone, Elana Jovero Jewelry, Bitcoin. Subsequently, when spending the Orinda establishment. House specialties biking and skiing whenever time allows. Stable and Sea, Mayana Chocolates, Chris- Peter sits on the Board of Directors of the ty Natsumi Jewlery, Anecdote Candles, Orinda Chamber of Commerce. Art of Ayurveda, and leather goods from Piccolo Napoli is open Wednesday Timmy Mays. through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Among this variety of presents, whether and Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to for you or somebody else, you will find 9 p.m. Piccolo Napoli is a member of the soothing skin balms made by Moraga resi- Orinda Chamber of Commerce. For more [SEE BUZZ page 15] information, visit the website at www. piccolo-napoli.com or call 925-253-1225.

Lina Shatara Jewelry Pop-up in Theatre Square Designer Lina Shatara creates her own line of distinctive pieces of jewelry, each one a unique handmade original. As a result of her passion for supporting local handmade designers and women owned businesses, Shatara has opened her pop-up boutique in Theatre Square, on the street level across from Coldwell Banker. You must act fast for your Valentine, because Lina Shatara Jewelry Pop-up is here only until Feb. 3. “I am excited to be in Orinda. We have VALERIE HOTZ received a warm reception from the com- Artist and jewelry designer Lina Shatara hosts her boutique, Lina Shatara Pop Up, featuring a variety munity and appreciate our customers. I of unique handmade gifts, until Feb. 3.