Wednesday, September 25, 2013 • Vol. 7 Issue 15 Advocates for Children & Families “Social Media & Bullying Independent, locally 26,000 copies owned and operated! ANNE COLLIER delivered bi-weekly Exec. Dir., Net Family News Inc. ” to Lamorinda homes & businesses JASON BRAND LCSW / Psychotherapist www.lamorindaweekly.com • 925.377.0977 FREE 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 l 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette Register TODAY at LOPC.org l $10 or 925-283-8722 x250 Band members from left: Dorothy Watson, Dean Myatt, Erick Eckstein, Jane Daniel and Ric Hattabaugh are happy to “represent” Moraga, even with a lack of listeners. Photo Andy Scheck Moraga Band Wins Contest, Kicks Off Festival By Cathy Tyson oments before Moraga band littledog2 was about to take “We’re going to pause momentarily so we don’t blow up” – folks but this year, rain kept crowds at home on Saturday to the dismay Mthe stage at the Art and Wine festival, the ominous sky in charge of the amplification were concerned that the quintet of vendors who set up shop along Mt. Diablo Boulevard. This served up an appetizer of sprinkles, building to a hearty entree could get an electrical shock and the equipment could short out. was littledog2’s debut performance in Lafayette, the band re- of downpour. The band was able to perform an energetic rendi- Despite the dreary weather and the rain out, band member Ric cently won the “Classic Covers Cup” competition hosted by Red tion of “Pink Cadillac” despite the precipitation, appropriately Hattabaugh made the best of it, noting the group are all friends House Studios in Walnut Creek, winning this gig at the Art and followed by “The Rain King.” After completing only a handful and share a common passion for music. Wine Festival, along with bragging rights. of songs from their playlist, singer Dean Myatt announced, The popular festival has historically had fantastic weather, ... continued on page A12 Advertising Quote of the Week: KAREN RICHARDSON PRESENTS: "It is a place of strong 700 LOS PALOS, LAFAYETTE community, where kids still Great Potential on One of Lafayette's Most Desirable Streets. walk to school and the pool This 2244 square foot home has 4 bedrooms, without their parents, and 3 baths and sits on a flat, nearly a half acre lot. Karen Richardson neighbors gather in the Close to the trail, it is conveniently located near www.karenrichardsongroup.com DRE#01407557 streets to chat. " Read Lafayette's charming downtown and highly acclaimed schools. It is a true gem, ready for a Letters to the Editor, new owner's personal touch to transform it into page A8. a dream home to match the idylic location. Training Tomorrow’s Leaders By Sophie Braccini t often happens that great ideas evolve from ran- back and look at what is happening in the system; very high quality experience.” dom circumstance. Maura Wolf, of the Saint where are the road blocks and how we can move Wolf explains that the sessions will be benefi- Town News A2 - A12 I Mary’s College Leadership Center, lives in Moraga forward in a more collaborative, more effective cial to people in their everyday lives as well. “The Life in Lamorinda B1 - B12 next door to Cathy Harris, who is the daughter of way.” The two following Thursdays encompass nature of leadership is changing,” she says. “We Classified B8 Edy Schwartz, former president of the Moraga “Cultivating a Vision with your Organization and need to have both a long term vision and the adapt- Food B9 Chamber of Commerce. In the fullness of time, this Connecting the Dots with Possible Partners,” and ability to be able to respond to changes as they rap- Service Directory B9 led to meetings with Jill Keimach, Moraga’s town “Working with Conflicts and Hot Topics in New idly emerge.” She believes that the world is calling Not to be Missed B10-B11 manager, and to brainstorming about how to in- and Creative Ways.” for new, more collaborative, less hierarchical ways Business B12 volve and inspire the next generation of local lead- “This is critical for Moraga,” says Keimach. and people need to be trained in order to adapt. Sports C1 - C3 ers. Their ideas translated into a three-part “What we want is to train current and future town “Nowadays it might be much more effective to HOW TO CONTACT US C3 leadership seminar series – the first, which will be leadership to be able to resolve conflicts at a highly have a one-year experiment and be responding to Shop Orinda C4 held on Thursday, Sept. 26, is titled, “Increasing functional level and get better answers.” Keimach what is occurring in the moment as opposed to con- Our Homes D1 -D12 Engagement and Deepening Commitment.” It is has invited all of her department heads to partici- tinuing to wonder what’s going to happen,” she This Week Read About: free to all registrants. pate in the series, as well as members of the town’s adds. Terraces in Review A2 The purpose of the seminar series is “to expand commissions, committees and foundations. But If you’re interested, you may attend one, two, Town Council Tonight A4 the capacities of people who want to lead locally,” Keimach wants to also reach residents who may or all three evenings. To register for the free work- Housing Element Evolves A6 says Wolf. “Those who come can be people already not currently be involved but are interested in learn- shops send an email to Wolf at Emergency Services A9 in leadership positions or not.” The training is part ing to communicate their vision so others can hear [email protected]. The meetings will be held Orinda Hero B3 of the mission of the college’s Leadership Center. it. from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Serbian Church meeting Town Hall's "Rainmaker" B5 “The workshop will be very interactive,” ex- The town manager is grateful for the college’s room, 1700 School Street, Moraga. For informa- Olive Fest Coming Soon B9 plains Wolf. “People will be encouraged to express generosity in organizing this workshop for free. tion about the Saint Mary’s College Leadership SMC Women's Soccer C2 their personal vision for the town. We will also “The Leadership Center has been wonderful taking Center, visit http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/leadership- shed some light and awareness on the barriers that the lead on this,” she says. “They do this kind of center/about-the-center. are holding people and organizations back; step training professionally and we are anticipating a Life in Lamorinda B1-B12 Sports C1-C3 Our Homes D1-D12 Meet the Idols Girls' Tennis in Full Over the Rainbow Swing Clare Varellas Cathy Dausman chats with two Catch up on the visits an Orinda of this year's rivalry action artist in her with Marissa Lamorinda Idols colorful home - - page B1. Harnett - page C1. page D1. Page: A2 LAMORINDA WEEKLY www.lamorindaweekly.com 925-377-0977 Wednesday, September 25, 2013 Surprise, Positive Budget Adjustment By Cathy Tyson s any local realtor will attest, at a recent city council meeting. teers came together to decide color that connects with a similar easement Aprices in Lafayette for homes “Property tax revenue came in much and type font to be used on improved across the city limit in Moraga. have been going up, to the tune of 5.8 higher than anticipated.” Staff had uniform signs throughout the city. There’s been substantial erosion and percent more than was anticipated on some items on the city’s wish list for Originally the plan was to replace the failure of a drainage channel; in ad- property tax rolls. According to the this pleasant surprise, and suggested signs one zone at a time to spread the dition, the canal impacts a trail that Civic News County Assessor’s office, cities the City Council take a look at: in- cost out. crosses the easement. Estimates Public Meetings throughout Contra Costa County creasing the rate of sign replacement, Staff also suggested funding a from contractors are being formu- showed an increase in assessed value, slide repair and alternative staffing landslide repair, with the cost being lated, but the approximate share for City Council from a low of 1.85 percent in Her- for the Public Art Committee. shared 50/50 with Moraga, that the each municipality is expected to be Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. cules to a whopping 14.61 percent in Accelerating the street sign re- downhill homeowner would like to less than $75,000. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, Richmond. Lafayette’s portion of placement project could potentially complete before the rainy season. Finally, shuffling the staffing of Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. that revenue, which trickles down to garner better pricing from contrac- Wear and tear, along with the Public Art Committee liaison was city coffers, translates to an extra tors. Discussed during May budget roughly 30 years of rain on the hilly discussed, moving responsibility Planning Commission $150,000 that wasn’t anticipated. talks in response to new regulations terrain above Moraga Road, have from a Senior Planner to the manager Monday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. “We estimate expenses aggres- by the Federal Highway Administra- taken a toll on a Lafayette-owned of the Lamorinda Bus Program. Lafayette Library & Learning Center, sively and revenues conservatively,” tion that require easier to read, more drainage easement across a Moraga With minimal dialogue, all three rec- Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. explained city manager Steven Falk reflective signage be installed, volun- Road property created in the 1970s ommendations were approved.