THE ORINDA NEWS Gratis Published by The Orinda Association 12 Issues Annually Volume 31, Number 8 Delivered to 9,000 Households and Businesses in Orinda August 2016 Glorietta Neighbors Raise Objections This Year’s Instagram Winner to District’s Proposed Solar Panels By BILL O’BRIAN Solutions, Inc., an education consultation Staff Writer and service firm, presented a Facilities Master Plan Update to OUSD trustees. It sually the installation of solar panels included a recommendation from energy Umakes people feel good: the satisfac- engineering consultants Newcomb, An- tion of creating green energy, saving money derson & McCormick that, “the district from PG&E payments and doing one’s part consider the installation of photovoltaic for the planet. Not so for some of the neigh- systems to offset the remaining campus bors on Martha Road near Glorietta El- electric load.” In October 2014, the district ementary School in Orinda. Many of them held a series of community meetings to help are unhappy, not just with the solar panels establish priorities for district construction recently installed there, but with how they projects. According to the district website, were treated by the Orinda Union School “Solar energy for our schools was among CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Congratulations to this year’s winner of the 4th of July Instagram contest. The beauty in this photo BILL O’BRIAN (she prefers to remain anonymous!) went all out to celebrate Independence Day. This front view of Glorietta Elementary School shows one of two locations of new solar panels. Panels are also located in the upper parking lot. District (OUSD) Board of Trustees. Since those projects that the community recom- Visions of a New Downtown Return last November, the neighbors have attended mended.” school board meetings, written letters to the In early 2015, the board approved a to City Council Agenda board, taken polls, sent emails and signed contract with solar energy consultants petitions. According to neighbor Susan Terra Verde Renewable Partners to assist By SALLY HOGARTY staff report is to present various options for Brady, “Basically, we were just ignored.” the district in “analyzing, evaluating and Editor downtown planning in terms of the output The genesis of the solar panel installa- developing one or more alternative energy or ‘product’ (i.e., the type of planning and tion at the four Orinda elementary schools projects.” The consultants helped the dis- ot many cities can boast of a freeway the subject matter),” says City Manager began in June 2013, when Total School trict qualify for Clean Renewable Energy Nrunning through the middle of down- Janet Keeter. “The report will outline the Bonds (CREBs) to finance the project from town dividing it into two very different study area, community and stakeholder PG&E savings at no cost to Orinda taxpay- business sections. Orinda has that honor. engagement strategies, data collection and ers. In August 2015, the board approved the Attempts over the years to forge a better presentation/technical studies, environmen- project and authorized CREB financing. connection between the two sections and tal review, and staffing options.” IN THIS ISSUE The following October, the board distrib- stimulate retail sales have divided the According to Keeter, the staff report will uted leaflets and held community meetings community as much as the freeway divides also explain which city documents contain News at all schools to announce the solar project the city. existing downtown regulations, plans and AUHSD Schedule Change 5 and garner feedback about location op- Now the topic comes front and center policies, and will summarize relevant exist- Police Blotter 5 tions. At a public hearing in October, the once again with the City Council plac- ing studies and pipeline projects. Around Town board approved a contract with Sun Light ing the item on the agenda for its Sept. 6 Discussions on various changes for 4th of July 9-11 & Power of Berkeley for $2,595,547 to be meeting, which takes place at 7 p.m. in downtown Orinda are nothing new. In 2007, Author 21 paid with CREB funds. the Library Auditorium. “The goal of the [SEE DOWNTOWN page 17] Fundraising Events 7, 8,12, 13 Some concerned Glorietta neighbors felt Students/Scouts 14, 18, 21 they were not well informed of the process Performing/Visual Arts 2, 15, 17 from the outset and that the board did not Between the Lines 8 listen to their concerns. The residents sug- Business Buzz 24 gested the solar structures (Glorietta is the Calendar 19 only school to have two solar locations) be moved out of view from the street. The Car Time 7 district suggested planting trees in front of Classifi ed 20 one structure but a neighbor said that would Editorial 6 only hide the rest of her view of the hills. Everyday Changes 22 Another neighbor felt that since the solar Orinda Association 4 structures at the other schools were away Seasoned Shopper 14 from neighborhood views of the hills, those Something to Howl About 16 at Glorietta should be moved out of view The Reel Less Traveled 17 from the street. New OUSD Superintendent [SEE SOLAR page 4] ECRWSS Postal Customer Customer Postal PERMIT# 4 PERMIT# ORINDA, CA ORINDA, PAID US POSTAGE US NON-PROFIT 2 n THE ORINDA NEWS n AUGUST 2016 VISUAL ARTS Four Women Who Create Nonstop Show Artwork By ELANA O’LOSKEY with a variety of images. Some paintings something brighter. Staff Writer remind her of aerial landscapes, others are When you view Backlight, a 24” x 18” reminiscent of the subject of water where encaustic on board painting, you will be he Lamorinda Arts Council hosts an she first started exploring the use of an struck by the density of color. Maybe Texhibit of paintings by Mariko Hibbett alternative perspective that only water you will even ask, “How am I embracing and Francesca Saveri, photographs by Gale can give. This is because water reflects color in my life, my garden, my home?” Gettinger, and fabric creations by May Ho the world above itself but also provides Saveri’s travels in Brazil to learn samba at the Orinda Library Art Gallery during a glimpse of what lives below. Look for and tango have been a visual feast of color, August. Meet the artists at a reception on Crossroads, a 30” x 40” acrylic on canvas, which shows up in her work. She says that Aug. 6 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. “All of our where colors flow across textures, eddying abstract work asks the viewer to pause, knowledge has its origin in our percep- in pools. She invites viewers to enter the because they can’t find a label for what tions,” says Leonardo da Vinci. Likewise, world within her paintings, detach from they see – she invites viewers to entertain Wei Wu Wei says, “There is no mystery the subject, and follow the feeling, mood a new idea about what they are looking at. whatever, only inability to perceive the or atmosphere she has created. Go to www. For more of Saveri’s work, go to www. obvious.” All the work you will see in this marikohibbett.com to see more of her work. francescasaveri.com. exhibit is described within these two quotes Francesca Saveri of Berkeley works in Gale Gettinger of Orinda has been inter- because each artist’s work speaks volumes what she describes as “the fiery, magical ested in photography since she was intro- about her particular perceptions. medium of encaustics.” She, also, has been duced to it for her high school yearbook. Mariko Hibbett of Oakland has been painting all of her life and is showing 24 Later, she interned with photographers at CONTRIBUTED PHOTO making art her whole life – it is her first works. Encaustic painting involves using The Philadelphia Enquirer and eventually Gale Gettinger’s Nob Hill, a 40”x60” canvas wrapped photograph, appears in the Orinda Li- love. For practical reasons, she became an heated beeswax to which colored pigments decided she wanted her own studio. Over brary Gallery August exhibit. architect and worked at it for many years, are added. The liquid or paste is then ap- several decades, she has amassed a large painting in her spare time. “About five years plied to a surface – usually prepared wood, and loyal clientele of families – newborn ago, I took the plunge and started painting though canvas and other materials are often babies, seniors, graduations and more. inspired to protect the environment. See full time, mostly with acrylics,” says Hib- used. “Every day that I am in my studio Timeless portraiture is what she strives www.galegettinger.com for more of her bett. “I love the creative process when it is with the high ceiling and sunlight pouring for. Using digital work, she incorporates work. going well. I lose myself and it becomes a through the skylights, my dog Lila snooz- painterly portraits into her repertoire. May Ho of Orinda learned knitting from meditation. I feel free to experiment and ing on the sofa, I am happy,” says Saveri. Gettinger is exhibiting about 20 photo- her mother as a teenager and has never play without worrying about the outcome.” “I recently donated all my black clothing; graphs, all in color, with themes of travel stopped. That was five decades ago and She will be showing about a dozen works I invite people to try it – trade them in for and nature along with some portraiture. She she is still fascinated by the possibilities works with Photoshop, Corel Painter and of yarn. New combinations of natural and Light Room. For Nob Hill, she climbed to man-made blends are always appearing; the roof of the Fairmont Hotel and hung her favorite yarns are from Italy.