Lamorinda Weekly Issue 24 Volume 5
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Wednesday, February 1, 2012 • Vol. 5 Issue 24 “Calming the Pressure to Succeed” ALEXANDRA ROBBINS New York Times & Washington Post bestselling author of “The Overachievers” and “The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth” One of the most widely read journalists under the age of 35 26,000 copies Independent, locally owned and operated! delivered bi-weekly to Lamorinda homes & businesses Sunday www.lamorindaweekly.com • 925.377.0977 Feb. 12 FREE 6:00-7:30 p.m. $10 / in advance Presented by lamorinda $1 0 / in advance REGISTER ONLINE TODAYfamilycenter at LOPC , LOPC.org Matthew Dellavedova (4) and Kenton Walker II (30) Photo Tod Fierner Saint Mary’s Still Undefeated after Tough Road Trip By Alex Kozela and Caitlin Graveson Upcoming Home Games Get your tickets at the Athletics Ticket Office Mon-Fri, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Thu, Feb 02, 7:00 PM vs San Diego, SMC McKeon Pavilion or online at www.smcgaels.com Sat, Feb 11, 8:00 PM vs Santa Clara, SMC McKeon Pavilion Wed, Feb 15, 7:30 PM vs Loyola Marymount, SMC McKeon Pavilion ...read story on page C2 Quote of the Week: Advertising "Pointing fingers and Experience Real Estate in 2012. debating about who Listing and Selling Results Locally for 28 Years. should have done what is not going to get our www.clarkthompson.com roads fixed." [email protected] Read Letters to the Clark Thompson, Broker Editor, page A10 925-254-8585 ASSOCIATES DRE #: 00903367 REAL ESTATE Orinda City Council Initiates Eminent Domain Town News A2 - A12 Letters to the Editor A10 MOFD A11 Proceedings to Keep Glorietta Project on Track Life in Lamorinda B1 - B14 Service Directory B9 By Laurie Snyder Business B10 he Orinda City Council recently author- Boulevard and Jefferson and Seanna Allen of record. “We’re seeking to use it.” Food B11 Tized City staff to initiate legal proceed- Glorietta Court. The City’s “repeated good Project Overview HOW TO CONTACT US B11 ings against the owners of two private faith efforts over many months to acquire the Council authorized the Glorietta project to Not to be Missed B12-B13 properties. necessary easements through negotiation” prevent a recurrence of flooding near Glori- Sports C1 - C3 “None of us wants to take this action,” have, according to a staff report, included of- etta Boulevard and Moraga Way, which was Classified C2 said Mayor Steven Glazer. “We do this out of fers of compensation to the owners, even described in a 2000 incident report from the Love Lafayette C4 necessity.” Glazer’s remarks were made dur- though such payments are not required of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- Our Homes D1 - D12 ing a public hearing on January 17 at which cities under Government Code section tration (NOAA): “A 6 foot wall of water and This Week Read About: Council members and staff discussed the 7267.2. mud flowed through the yards and residences City’s success in acquiring easements from Council member Victoria Smith, who led along Glorietta Court near Moraga Way. Lifson Honored A2 four private property owners free of charge in the City’s effort to negotiate a separate agree- Widespread rain with twenty four hour accu- Dipping into Palos Bank? A4 connection with the Glorietta Storm Drain ment with property owner Diane Szucs, mulations of more than 5 inches occured [sic] Safe Routes to Schools A6 Improvement Project. An easement was also thanked Szucs for the record and noted that over the area on Feb 13 into February 14th.” CERT for Seniors B2 obtained from the East Bay Municipal Water Szucs declined the City’s offer of compensa- A subsequent investigation found that a se- Film Festival B5 District. tion and suggested that the Council put the verely deformed corrugated metal pipe (CMP) When Science Meets Music B6 However, the City has been unable to fi- savings toward repaving the City’s roads. in the neighborhood’s 50-year-old CMP storm New in Teen Scene B8 nalize agreements with two other private “We’re not seeking to own the lands,” drain system was the most likely cause. The Trans K Program on Hold B9 property owners – Sara Harkness of Glorietta City attorney Osa Wolff clarified for the City was sued. ... continued on page A12 Life in Lamorinda B1-B14 Sports C1-C4 Our Homes D1-D12 Life - Wings on the Grounds Miramonte Miramonte Kitchen Tour – Cathy Dausman talks to a local veteran who took his Girls Steam It Takes a Community preflight training at SMC in 1944. B1 Roll Rivals Visit two of the Orinda kitchens The Lady Mats con- featured in this tinue to dominate month's Tour DFAL play. Conrad with Sophie Bassett fills you in on Braccini. D1 girls' hoops. C1 Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Stunning Happy Valley Contemporary! 1223 Upper Happy Valley Rd, Lafayette New to Market! # Exceptional Bob Swatt designed estate combines architectural elegance, privacy & breathtaking views Dana Green Sarah Kellar Lic. #01482454 Lic. #01805955 # Situated on 1.5±AC, exterior highlights include pool, tennis court & award-winning 1000-vine (925) 339-1918 Petite Sirah & Zinfandel vineyard www.DanaGreenTeam.com # The interior of this modern 5+BR/4.5BA retreat #1 Agent in Lafayette & Contra Costa County boasts crisp minimalist details, high ceilings \ www.1223UpperHappyValleyRoad.com Offered at $2,895,000 After Delays, Senior Housing Project Ready to Roll By Cathy Tyson n 2008 this paper reported on IEden Housing’s bid for a low in- come senior apartment complex along Mt. Diablo Boulevard. It was described as well on its way at the time; but it was only recently, at a Jan- Civic News uary 23, 2012 City Council meeting Public Meetings that Woody Karp, Senior Project Manager said, “I’m really happy to Tri-City Meeting report we obtained the final piece of City Council funding in order to move project for- Thursday, February 9, 7:00 pm ward. We should be ready to start Sarge Littlehale Community Room, 22 construction in the beginning of Au- Orinda Way, Orinda gust. Thank you for your patience next regular City Council and support.” Monday, February 27, 7:00 pm Karp explained the hold-up was all about the financing, “Affordable Planning Commission housing relies on very limited public funding sources to make it work.” He Monday, February 6, 7:00 pm added, “It’s very competitive. Fund- Rendering of the Senior Housing Project Provided Lafayette Library & Learning Center, ing sources have been cut back signif- family program administered by the designed by architect Van Meter kitchen for residents who would like Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd icantly or eliminated altogether.” California Department of Housing Williams Pollack. The 52,000 square to host parties, along with amenities Design Review The original funding source was and Community Development. “It foot structure is set back from the like a gardening club to work on the Monday, February 13, 7:00 pm a federal program with applications was pretty miraculous,” said Karp. street and has two inner courtyards for raised beds on the property, a com- taken only once per year. Eden ap- With a great downtown location residents to enjoy. puter learning center, and modest ex- Lafayette Library & Learning Center in the Arts & Science Discovery plied three different times and ulti- between Brown Avenue and Black- Seventeen of the units are de- ercise room. Thirty parking spaces Center at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. mately tied for first place. But there wood Lane, next to Bo’s Barbeque, signed specifically for disabled resi- will be available underneath the was only enough money for one proj- the almost one-acre site is very pedes- dents. The building will feature a building. The design hasn’t changed School Board Meetings ect, and it went to the other applicant. trian friendly. The forty-five rental large living room style community since going through the Design Re- Acalanes Union High School Undaunted, Karp was finally able units exclusively for low-income sen- space with comfortable sofas, a tele- view process and gaining approval District to secure funds from a state multi- iors, with one manager’s unit, were vision and music, a full service back in 2008. Wednesday, February 1, 7:30 pm Wednesday, February 15, 7:30 pm Board Room AUHSD Office Popular Chamber Director Receives Business Award 1212 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lafayette www.acalanes.k12.ca.us By Cathy Tyson nown for his good humor with “hip hip hurray for Jay,” Mo Lafayette School District Kand boundless energy, Jay Levich led a packed house to Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 pm Lifson, Executive Director of the honor the man who brings resi- LAFSD Office Lafayette Chamber of Com- dents together with the Chamber- 3477 School Street, Lafayette merce, was awarded the Marquis sponsored Art and Wine Festival, www.lafsd.k12.ca.us Business Person of the Year the Reservoir Run, Rock the Plaza, award at a celebratory dinner as well as the “Shop Lafayette Check online for agendas, meeting event at the Lafayette Park Hotel First” campaign, and efforts to notes and announcements & Spa. By all appearances, Lif- save the twinkle lights. City of Lafayette: son’s the most popular man in Family, friends and a veritable www.ci.lafayette.ca.us Lafayette. Beyond the charm who’s who of Lafayette movers Chamber of Commerce: however, is a dedicated, success- and shakers raised a glass to the www.lafayettechamber.org ful leader of the Chamber since man of the hour. His friend for 2005, who has increased mem- over forty years, Mac Carey Please submit bership by 42 percent and in- lauded him as having “the rare creased revenue by 65 percent.