Published by The Orinda Association THE ORINDA NEWS Gratis www.TheOrindaNews.com 12 Issues Annually Volume 34, Number 11 Delivered to 9,000 Households and Businesses in Orinda November 2019 Orinda Teen Raises Funds in Fight Against Juvenile Arthritis By BOBBIE DODSON Staff Writer arisa Chow’s life changed dramati- Mcally at age 13 when she could no longer play the piano or tennis or dance. It hurt too much. She was diagnosed with juvenile idio- pathic arthritis. “My wrists hurt the most now,” says the Miramonte High School senior who is in the school’s jazz band, orchestra, symphon- ic band and marching band. “I wear wrist braces and use warm compresses when they are really bothering me.” Marisa’s mother, Cristi Chow, explains, “After complaining about wrist pain for SALLY HOGARTY several months, there were numerous doc- Wen-Shee Lee, a rider with Seniors Around Town and a monthly donor to the volunteer ride service, visits with SAT program coordinator Cathy Goshorn. tor visits and even a cast. Initially Marisa was diagnosed with Kienbock’s disease, but when they were going to do surgery Volunteers, Donors Keep Wheels on her wrist we got a second opinion and IN THIS ISSUE found it was arthritis. There are many kinds Turning at The Orinda Association News [SEE CHOW page 12] Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan 2 By SALLY HOGARTY immigrated to the United States 50 years Police Blotter 5 Executive Editor ago. She moved to Orinda’s Monteverde Senior Housing more than a year ago and Power Shutoff 5 er quick step, ready smile and energy says she loves her new home. She enjoys Around Town belie the fact that Wen-Shee Lee will traveling, seeing her three adult children, H People 6-7 soon turn 80 years old. working in the community garden and Born in China and raised in Taiwan, Lee [SEE VOLUNTEERS page 4] Performing/Visual Arts 8-10 Schools 13 Chamber Goes Virtual Business Buzz 16 he Orinda Chamber of Commerce in October shut down its downtown office and Calendar 9 Tlet go of its executive director. The organization had subleased the office in the Club Meetings 7 Library Plaza from The Orinda Association since January 2005. Classifi eds 12 Chamber leaders said in a press release that the vast majority of interactions with its Editorial 4 members, the business community and local government are through Internet-based services, making a physical office space and an executive director not the best use of Everyday Orinda 13 membership funds. Library Calendar 6 The release also noted chamber communications such as its newsletter and event an- School Calendar 10 nouncements would be powered by “low cost or no cost digital services … and carried out by volunteers.” Seasoned Shopper 11 CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Chamber began in 1952 and has 80 to 100 members in good standing. The Orinda Association 3 Miramonte senior Marisa Chow and her “Shark- Chamber board members did not respond to calls for comment. The Reel Less Traveled 14 nado” team hope to raise $6000 in support of the – Sally Hogarty, Executive Editor Arthritis Foundation. Find these stories and more on our website TheOrindaNews.com. ECRWSS Postal Customer Customer Postal PERMIT# 4 PERMIT# ORINDA, CA ORINDA, PAID US POSTAGE US NON-PROFIT 2 n THE ORINDA NEWS n NOVEMBER 2019 NEWS Fitness Tip of the Month Exercise Alone Will Not Make You Fit We can exercise a lot and never be- come fit or we can exercise a little and become very fit. The key to fit- ness is measurable improvement. If your exercise results are improving you are becoming more fit. For more information, contact Sheena with Living Lean personal training and eating for elite fitness at 925-360- 7051 or www.livinglean- program.com. COURTESY OF OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATS Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (L) with Gov. Gavin Newsom (seated) and fellow legislators at the signing of the gun violence restraining order bill Oct. 11. The bill allows employers, co-workers and teachers to seek gun violence restraining orders against other people. Catching up With District 16 Assemblywoman Bauer-Kahan By SALLY HOGARTY husband. There is no way I could do this Executive Editor without him.” Bauer-Kahan also notes the support of oming up on her first-year anniversary, her children. “The other day, my 7-year-old CDistrict 16 Assemblywoman Rebecca daughter said she wants me to run again Bauer-Kahan looks back over a very busy because she knows I help people. That was 10 months. The Orinda resident travels to so rewarding. Hopefully, I’m a role model Sacramento Monday to Thursday when for them.” the legislature is in session, coming home The Democrat says she decided to run each night to her husband Darren and three following the 2016 presidential election. children, ages 5, 7 and 9. “I’ve spent many years as an environmen- “We’re usually done in Sacramento by tal litigator, and I’m the granddaughter of midday Thursday, so I spend Thursday refugees. When the country took the turn it afternoons and Fridays in the district,” says did in 2016, I decided rather than just being Bauer-Kahan, which includes Lamorinda, depressed I should step up and make sure parts of Walnut Creek and the Tri-Valley. the values that I knew District 16 and the “All working moms have to juggle. But, community holds were represented at every luckily, I have incredible support from my [SEE BAUER-KAHAN page 3] THE ORINDA NEWS n NOVEMBER 2019 n 3 ORINDA ASSOCIATION A Message From the OA President The Orinda Association Doing Good — With Your Help The Orinda Association is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to: • Maintaining and improving the quality of life in Orinda; Carlos Baltodano • Promoting awareness and discussion of issues that are important to the community; ’m a single grandmother and my SAT is one of the many programs offered • Encouraging and recognizing volunteer efforts to enhance the “Ichildren live very far away,” says and sponsored by The Orinda Association. beauty, character and security of Orinda. Orinda Senior Village resident Mary Poon. The OA also organizes and sponsors the The Orinda Association “I could not go to my doctor appointments 4th of July Parade and annual Classic Car P.O. Box 97 without the help of the Seniors Around Show, and runs the downtown Volunteer Visit our office at 26 Orinda Way Orinda, CA 94563 (Lower Level Library) Town program.” Center. It publishes The Orinda News, Phone: 254-0800 Seniors Around Town (SAT) is an Orinda which is distributed free each month to www.OrindaAssociation.org Association (OA) program which helps every household and business in Orinda. local seniors maintain their independence. The OA started in 1946 and is a 501(c) OFFICERS BOARD MEMBERS It is the only free transportation program (3) nonprofit with the mission of main- President Carlos Baltodano Anil Comelo Vice President Joe Garvey Joe Haughin – Board Member Emeritus that provides reliable, door-to-door trans- taining and improving the quality of life Secretary Sally Hogarty Chris Laszcz-Davis portation to seniors. There are 70 volunteer in Orinda. It promotes awareness and Treasurer Bill Waterman Diane Lautz drivers who use their private vehicles for encourages dialogue through forums on City Council Liaison Inga Miller Jim Luini – Board Member Emeritus Cindy Powell the rides. important issues. All of these efforts, Bryan Silveira With public support over the past several events and programs would not be possible Devan Sudra years, the program has expanded to become without the public’s continued generosity Kate Wiley a positive force in the community by of- and assistance throughout the years. In its fering support to families who can count 73-year history the OA has been providing on someone else to take their loved ones these services with the financial support of to appointments. The program serves 118 dedicated Orinda residents. registered riders and provides more than There are many new opportunities to 1,300 rides last year. There is a tremendous explore. For instance, The OA has begun need to provide this assistance to seniors in to work on a volunteer emergency support Orinda, where 30 percent of the riders are plan that will match SAT drivers with SAT in their 90s, 30 percent are in their 80s and riders in their own neighborhood. When 20 percent are in their 70s. SAT drivers sign onto the program, they can As an example of the dedicated volun- also volunteer to check on their assigned teers and staff, SAT staff made an extra ef- riders as needed and help connect them fort during last month’s PG&E outage to get with family or the appropriate emergency the most vulnerable clients to their dialysis services agency if needed. and chemo treatments. They reached out The PG&E outage was a wake-up call for by phone and in person to check on some Orindans. It gave us insight on how to be senior riders they knew were isolated. better prepared the next time. For us at the This is not just a ridership program, it’s OA, it was an opportunity to think about helping our extended local families in a how we can better assist the most vulner- time of need. [SEE PRESIDENT page 14] t BAUER-KAHAN from page 2 says she was surprised to find how little of that was evident in Sacramento. “People level of government,” she says. often just try to push through their view, Fighting climate change was a chief and I think we need to listen to each other motivator.