Wednesday, June 6, 2012 • Vol. 6 Issue 7 South 26,000 copies Independent, locally owned and operated! delivered bi-weekly BART to Lamorinda homes & businesses parking lot www.lamorindaweekly.com • 925.377.0977 FREE URBAN VILLAGE 9am-1pm FARMERS ’ MARKET ASSOCIATION The scaffold-enclosed Old Yellow House is off its foundations while being refurbished. Photos Cathy Dausman Greening the (Pink) Old Yellow House James Wright shows off the vintage newspapers nestled under the home's linoleum flooring. By Cathy Dausman colorful Orinda home and its storied past is becoming Wright consulted with Orinda’s Historical Landmarks Com- and the inside will be made environmentally green. Wright is a environmentally green, thanks to a new owner. The mittee (HLC) to insure that the house “should look as close as renewable energy architect who plans to live and work at that AOld Yellow House, as it was originally known, has ac- possible to its original form.” He introduced himself to neighbor address, while using it as a model for a zero-energy environment. tually been pink since 1991 and unoccupied since 1966. But and former resident Ezra Nelson, tapped Nelson’s memories of Four HLC members and Assistant City Planner Roscoe Mata re- new owner James Wright said he is excited to begin his restora- how the house once was, applied for a historic landmark desig- cently toured the site. The group approved Wright’s exterior tion project, emphasizing that he plans to refurbish rather than nation for the house, and plans to refurbish the dwelling, inside color choice. “I am so glad it’s being preserved,” said HLC replace. His enthusiasm for the work to be done and his affection and out. member Kay Norman. “The feeling up here [second story] is so for the Orinda landmark is quite contagious. Its exterior will be repainted close to its original yellow color nice,” said another. ... continued on page A12 Quote of the Week: Advertising Sold Sale Pending Sold Coming "The right to marry is an soon ... acknowledgment of the equal rights of gays and Are you thinking lesbians to engage fully in of selling?? the life of our nation." 440 Deerfield Dr., Moraga Cathy Schultheis Offered at $1,199,000 Read Letters to the 510-915-2277 ©2012 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell [email protected] Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Es- Editor, page A9 461 Woodminster Dr., Moraga 352 Deerfield Dr., Moraga tate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity . brokercathy.com Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned And Op- DRE #01005765 Offered at $439,000 Offered at $1,215,000 erated by NRT LLC. DRE License # 01908304 RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Moraga School District Entangled Town News A2 - A12 Letters to the Editor A9 Life in Lamorinda B1 - B12 in Decades-Old Scandal Business B8 By Sophie Braccini Service Directory B9 he Moraga School District (MSD) has been All personnel working in the proximity of chil- ishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine of Food B9 Tconfronted with an outcry from parents and dren are “mandated reporters.” They include teach- $1,000, or both. Not to be Missed B10-B11 local residents over the past two weeks, requesting ers, administrators, teachers’ aids and assistants, but According to Moraga Police Chief Bob Priebe, Sports C1 - C3 the full investigation of whether then Joaquin Mor- also employees of day camps, recreational facili- the chief of police at that time discussed the case HOW TO CONTACT US C3 aga Intermediate School (JM) Principal Bill Walters ties, and social workers, to name a few. According (non-reporting of suspected child abuse by Walters) Classified C2 and possibly other school officials failed in their to Lauren Brosnan, community outreach coordina- with the then district attorney. “Since nothing was Love Lafayette C4 legal obligation as mandated reporters under the tor with Contra Costa Children’s Protective Serv- done at that time in regards to mandated reporting, Our Homes D1 - D8 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act during the ices, pending amendments to the law will also child endangerment or any other issues, any pros- This Week Read About: 1990s sexual misconduct scandal involving JM sci- include sports coaches as mandated reporters. ecution at this time would be precluded due to the Historical Facelift A2 ence teacher Dan Witters. The mandated reporter must report suspected statute of limitations,” said Priebe in an e-mail. One Percent A4 California Penal Code section 11164, known as abuse as soon as he/she becomes aware of it. The Moraga parent Sam Shapiro, dean of instruc- Budget Workshop A6 the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, states law specifies the reporter has to call social services tion and teacher at Athenian School, met with MOFD Budget Woes A11 that individuals working in close proximity to chil- or police immediately, or as soon as feasible, and MSD Superintendent Bruce Burns June 1. He said Long Distance Care B3 dren have the legal obligation to contact Social needs to follow up with a written report within 36 the School District should take two steps: “First, THT's Pygmalion B5 Services or the local law enforcement agency if hours. Contacting the hierarchy instead is not an the District should continue to look into ways to A Special Flag B6 they suspect or have reasons to believe that a child option. prosecute Mr. Walters for his failure to protect Idol Finalists B7 has been abused or neglected. The law was first Failure to report as defined by Penal Code children. Theatre Square B8 written to include teachers in 1974. 11166(c) is characterized as a misdemeanor pun- ... continued on page A11 Life in Lamorinda B1-B12 Sports C1-C3 Our Homes D1-D8 Summer Reading, and Acalanes, Campolindo At Home in More Win Tuscany? NCS! Jennifer Wake Sophie Braccini views an Simon Tryzna has suggestions award-winning remodel has the baseball for summer with a distinctly Italian success stories. reading fun! flair. Page D1 Page B1 Page C1 Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, June 6, 2012 TheThe DanaDana GreenGreen TeamTeaamm ProudlyPrrooudllyy PresPrePresents...ents... Picture Perfect in Silver Springs! #1 Agent in Lafayette www.DanaGreenTeam.com Balanced Budget Includes Extra Funding for Road Repair By Cathy Tyson ith very little fanfare, and no public com- per capita in the County, the City of Lafayette spends Wment, the City of Lafayette’s $11.9 million more than $4 million annually on police services. Massage Parlor budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 passed unani- What about money for roads? The capital im- Ordinance Approved mously at a recent City Council meeting. Boasting provement budget includes $1.1 million from the Also unanimously approved at the May a balanced budget with $4,500 to spare, frugal Ad- General Fund reserve, with an additional $975,000 29 City Council meeting is an ministrative Services staff improved on the very from the annual operating budget. What’s more, two Civic News amendment to the Lafayette Municipal modest $223 extra from the last fiscal year while grants are expected in 2013 that would pay for pave- Public Meetings Code about massage parlors. There are funding programs at current levels. The city’s re- ment management work and streetlight installation City Council currently 19 such establishments serve, or savings account, is very healthy, the esti- along Mt. Diablo Boulevard. The city also receives downtown. Chapter 4-501 establishes Tuesday, June 11, 7:00 pm mated total for fiscal year 2012–2013 is $8.9 million, money from gas taxes and Measure J sales taxes. In new standards that comply with Lafayette Library & Learning Center, $3 million over their target amount, allowing for a the wake of the recent failed tax measure, there was California law and spells out certain Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd release of $1.1 million for pavement projects. agreement that dipping into the city’s substantial re- minimum health and safety standards “While we predict that the General Fund will serve account was appropriate to start to address the Planning Commission for those businesses and their grow less than one percent next year, we have seen road repair backlog. employees. Simply put – all massage Monday, June 8, 7:00 pm encouraging signs of growth in the local economy, Other notable highlights include the approval of therapists and practitioners operating Lafayette Library & Learning Center, suggesting that things are slowly improving,” said modern “smart” parking meters that will be popping within the city must be state certified, Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd City Manager Steven Falk in a staff report. Falk also up downtown at a budgeted cost of $200,000; re- and the businesses must be registered pointed out that the city has weathered the recent eco- member that when you conveniently use a debit or with the city. Ten pages outline who Design Review nomic downturn without laying off employees and credit card to settle up. Due to savvy renegotiating, and what is covered, along with Tuesday, June 11, 7:00 pm maintaining existing programs, a feat “many, if not the lease on the City Offices in Desco Plaza has been exemptions for other professionals like Lafayette Library & Learning Center most, California cities have been unable to do.” reduced annually by $59,000. City employees had physicians, nurses, physical therapists, in the Arts & Science Discovery Police services are getting more expensive, going their salaries frozen for the past two years, and are but also barbers, manicurists, nursing Center at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. up five percent over the last fiscal year, at a cost of currently in negotiations for a salary increase.