Lamorinda Weekly Issue 23 Volume 11
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Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 • Vol. 11 Issue 23 26,000 copies delivered biweekly to Lamorinda homes & businesses 925-377-0977 wwww.lamorindaweekly.comww.lamorindaweekly.com FREE Windy Margerum shows off her winning medals (left). Margerum in long jump (top right); Monte Upshaw, 1954 (lower right). Photos providedprovided Keeping track of Lamorinda long jumpers By John T. Miller hree generations of track and fi eld stars continue to long jump (‘04 and ‘08) – stays active with private coach- Joy and Grace, along with their other siblings Chip and make news in the Lamorinda area. ing, and Joy’s daughter, Acalanes High School grad Windy Merry, plan to honor their father with a Monte Upshaw T Monte Upshaw, the patriarch of the family, Margerum, is off to a fl ying start at UC Berkeley compet- Long Jump Festival to be held at Edwards Stadium next passed away in July and will be honored next year with ing in track and fi eld. Joy’s eldest daughter Sunny is a for- year. The event is being planned to coincide with the Bru- a long jump festival. His eldest daughter Joy continues to mer Central Coast Section champion long jumper whose tus Hamilton Invitational meet on April 27-28. Proceeds excel in Masters track and fi eld competition worldwide; college career at Berkeley was cut short by an Achilles in- will go to benefi t the UC Berkeley track program. a younger daughter Grace – a two-time Olympian in the jury. ... continued on page A12 Advertising Here's to a happy, healthy and homey new year! 1941 Ascot Drive, Moraga 2 bedrooms 710 Augusta Drive, Moraga 2 bedrooms Community Service B4 + den/2 baths, + den, 2 baths, 1,379 sq.ft. Coming Soon 1,464 sq.ft. Not to be Missed B6-B7 First Open 1/14 1-4pm HOW TO CONTACT US B7 Top of Ascot, Desirable Moraga Move in Ready! Country Club Classifi ed C2 single level Shop Moraga C4 www.TaraRochlin.com 925.586.3442 CalBRE [email protected] #01330630 Lafayette department of engineering Rheem Theatre closes its doors: to merge with public works Will the phoenix rise up again? By Pippa Fisher By Sophie Braccini The public works and engineering depart- ments will be combined into a single entity under the public works director; the city engi- neer position will be eliminated. Two existing employees will be reclassifi ed into new mid- management positions of engineering services manager and public works superintendent. Additionally the city will be adding a full- time position in administrative services – a communications analyst who will manage the city’s social media accounts, write the “Vistas” quarterly newsletter and coordinate the new “Lafayette Listens!” online public opinion- gathering website. City Manager Steve Falk explains, “Many if not most cities have a single person who di- New Public Works/Engineering Director Mike rects public works and engineering.” He says From left: Leonard Pirkle, Linda Summers Pirkle, Edy Schwartz and Derek Zemrak were Moran Photo Lamo archive that Lafayette will be following that approach. among more than 100 attendees at the fi nal viewing of “Shape of Water” on Sunday night at afayette’s engineering and public works “Mike Moran will assume the new com- the Rheem. Photo Andy Scheck L he Rheem Theatre’s lights went out for Foundation might be able to capitalize on departments are set to merge in early Feb- bined position of public works/engineering T ruary in a minor reorganization. director. Meanwhile, Donna Feehan will be good on Sunday, Jan. 7. A fairly large these regrets and raise enough money to buy Recently approved by the city council, the reclassifi ed as the public works maintenance number of residents came to the last evening the theater, how much money it would need shuffl e was prompted in part by Lafayette City manager, and Matt Luttropp will be reclassi- and expressed their sorrow at seeing the only to purchase the venue, and whether the the- Engineer Tony Coe’s announcement that he fi ed as the engineering services manager,” says Moraga entertainment venue closed. Ques- ater is even viable in the long run continue. will be retiring on Feb. 12. Falk. ... continued on page A12 tions about whether the Moraga Community ... continued on page A4 Civic News A1-A12 Life in Lamorinda B1-B8 Sports C1-C4 Our Homes D1-D12 Interim town manager takes Fast SMC Which helm in Moraga – page A4 times on Women’s wood the race Basketball would burn Fire Districts A8 track for season starts best in your Campo – page C1. fi replace or MOFD outlines goals for student – pit? – page 2018 – page A8 page B1. D1. Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY 925-377-0977 www.lamorindaweekly.com Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018 CONGRATULATIONS TO DANA GREEN! PROUDLY NAMED THE 2018 BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR BY THE LAFAYETTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “If you don’t recognize this name, you really need to get out more often. Dana has been the leading Realtor in Lafayette for a decade and her love for Lafayette knows no bounds. Who knew the same streets she walked down as a child would one day Public Meetings be the place she would decide to do business and always with a smile. Being #1 is rewarding to Dana, but being involved with the community is just as important. Dana City Council is happy to share her success with many non-profits and their projects. How does Monday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. she do it? Passion for her clients and community and the help of one amazing team. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Together they have helped shape this little town into something we are all proud of.” Planning Commission - Jay Lifson, Executive Director, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. LAFAYETTE’S #1 REALTOR FOR 10 STRAIGHT YEARS! Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. 925.339.1918|LICENSE # 01482454 DANAGREENTEAM.COM Design Review Monday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Emergency response training at schools includes active Arts & Science Discovery Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. shooter scenario School Board Meetings By Pippa Fisher Acalanes Union High School District Wednesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m. to this for the administrators of all to work on practicing the plan,” AUHSD Board Room the campuses,” explains Chris- says Christensen. “By rehearsing 1212 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette tensen. “Some of the smaller day- and talking about what could oc- www.acalanes.k12.ca.us cares had us do it with all of their cur in an emergency we are going Lafayette School District employees last year. Last year, we to be much better prepared when Wednesday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m. focused a lot on making sure every- anything happens.” Regular Board Meeting one had basic incident command Feeling part of a team is im- District Offi ce Board Room training.” portant to Christensen. “Meeting 3477 School St., Lafayette Christensen says that his de- each other, shaking each other’s www.lafsd.k12.ca.us partment plans on doing more of hands is one of the most important Check online for agendas, meeting these types of courses with local things. They (teachers and staff) all notes and announcements City of Lafayette: businesses and anywhere crowds now know Larry and me – we’ve gather. “We had a few churches had a chance to meet them. When www.ci.lafayette.ca.us Phone: (925) 284-1968 mixed in with the various groups something happens, it’s no longer Chamber of Commerce: over the last classes as well.” strangers meeting – it’s people who www.lafayettechamber.org Christensen, who presented the have met and have a common foun- training himself along with Lafay- dation.” The Lafayette ette PD’s Youth Services Offi cer Christensen credits Lafayette Police Department Larry Seliga, spent much of the Schools Superintendent Rachel has changed their reporting and we hour reminding the teachers and Zinn for bringing this training in. Teachers and staff listen to the police chief discuss how to handle an emer- were unable to get the complete staff that their decisions and im- “She is a driving force behind the gency at Lafayette elementary school. Photo Pippa Fisher information before press time. mediate response to a shooter on programs within the schools,” he ou are not helpless. What school under gunfi re is the defi ni- campus matters and will make a says. “Yyou do matters.” This is tion of the unthinkable. But for difference, saving lives. Vice Mayor Cam Burks be- Is Lafayette the main message from Lafayette Christensen his attitude is never With some specifi c strategies lieves this initiative is of the utmost police in their emergency response that it can’t happen here. And his discussed, the message that stu- priority. “In my opinion, nothing ready for trainings, currently ongoing for all argument is that it is exactly by dents’ lives are the teachers’ re- is more important than protecting staff in Lafayette’s public elemen- thinking about it ahead of time sponsibilities until the police arrive our children. Chief Christensen’s cannabis? tary and middle schools. that people can be better prepared, and take care of the situation was forward-leaning approach with our By Pippa Fisher The trainings cover response to were they ever to be faced with loud and clear. “You have the abil- schools will enable our fantastic different emergencies but the focus that unthinkable situation, in the ity to save lives,” Christensen told community of educators to be pre- ith the legalization of rec- is largely on active shooter situa- same way that regular fi re drills at the audience.