THE ORINDA NEWS Gratis Published by The Orinda Association 12 Issues Annually Volume 31, Number 5 Delivered to 9,000 Households and Businesses in Orinda May 2016 City Council Miramonte Opens New Baseball Field Looks at Regu- lations on Short- Term Rentals By SALLY HOGARTY Editor n Feb. 13, a tragic event occurred Oat a party in Orinda. A 21-year-old Chabot College student was brutally beaten at a party on Camino Encinas. The Orinda police responded to the 1:53 a.m. incident and, due to the large number of young people at the party, subsequently asked for additional police support from Moraga, Lafayette and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. A suspect, 21-year-old Falealea Tytus Maka, has since been arrested for attempted murder and aggravated mayhem and was arraigned on April 13. The victim suffered a life-threatening head injury and is still in a coma at a local hospital. SALLY HOGARTY Miramonte senior James Vaccaro winds up for the first pitch of the first game on Miramonte’s new baseball field. Delayed for several months due to rain, The five-bedroom, $2-million residence the new field has a completely overhauled irrigation system and new grass specifically selected for use on a baseball field with Miramonte’s soil type and had been rented out for the event, purport- climate conditions. The old field had drainage and severe gopher problems making it dangerous to play on. Evidently, the new field, which was re-sodded [SEE RENTALS page 20] by local landscape contractor Cleary Bros, proved a good omen for the Mats who beat Las Lomas 4-0. Citizen Group Aims to “Spruce OA Hosting Informational Meeting On Roads Bond Up” Downtown Orinda he Orinda Association will host a meeting forum aimed at providing information By MAGGIE SHARPE in Orinda. “I love the concept of WUDO; Tabout the upcoming $25 million road-repair bond set for the June primary election. Staff Writer anything that spurs new business and brings This will be geared towards helping Orindans get the facts about the proposed bond attention to downtown is great.” measure and ask questions of knowledgeable experts. It will not be a debate format. ore than 80 supporters, family and WUDO Steering Committee member Mfriends packed The Fourth Bore res- Laura McDowell said interest in WUDO Wednesday May 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. taurant in downtown Orinda on the evening has boomed since the group launched its Orinda Library Auditorium of March 31 for the city’s first WUDO website last September, with more than 500 For more information, go to www.orindaassociation.org. Welcome Wagon. WUDO, an acronym people now signed up on the email list. The for “What’s Up Downtown Orinda,” was group has also met with Mayor Victoria formed last fall by a group of young fami- Smith and City Manager Janet Keeter to lies interested in revitalizing downtown mull over how to bring in new business and AAUW Honors Volunteers at May and giving residents more in-town shop- inspire existing businesses and property ping options while preserving the city’s owners to “spruce up” and take pride in Distinguished Woman Luncheon old-world charm. their appearance. “The evening could not have gone better, Topping the wish list of what surveyed By DENISE BURIAN K. DeGroot founded the school’s tutoring it was the perfect event,” said Fourth Bore WUDO members want is a gourmet market. Contributing Writer program in 1993 and have volunteered for owner Michael Karp, whose family lives They would also like to see more women’s all of its 23 years. In addition, Marilyn and kids’ clothing boutiques and a “fun he American Association of Univer- Budge, who founded the school’s library independent coffee shop.” WUDO is also Tsity Women Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette program in 1997, Jan Coe, Carrol Foxall, floating an idea for “pop-up” stores, where (AAUW-OML) branch will recognize Jean Somerset and Connie Mueser have owners rent a space for a few months to test volunteers at the Burckhalter Elementary volunteered for 15 years. These women the business waters in Orinda. School in Oakland at its annual Distin- [SEE AAUW page 18] “Janet Keeter used to be the economic guished Woman luncheon on May 17 at development director for the City of Lodi, the Moraga Country Club. so she has a great perspective, and we are Local residents Carol Messinger and interested in hearing more of her ideas,” IN THIS ISSUE News said McDowell, who grew up in Orinda, left for a few years, and returned to raise Measure L 5 her family. She thinks Orinda could benefit Police Blotter 6 from having a dedicated economic director, New Section Around Town but Keeter said there are no plans to hire Events 6, 12, 19 such a person at the moment. Local Residents 7, 11 SOPHIE BRACCINI Celebrations Ali Drasin, also a WUDO steering com- Performing/Visual Arts 9, 10, 15 (L-R) Mayor Victoria Smith joined What’s Up Downtown Orinda members Trudi Loscotoff, Ali mittee member, has lived in Orinda for five ust in time for those spring engage- Schools/Students 9, 13, 16, 17 Drasin, Darien Destino and Kirsten Larsen at years and has two children in local schools. Jments and summer weddings, The Business Buzz 24 the group’s Welcome Wagon event held at The She said it’s a fine line when talking about Orinda News will launch a Celebra- Calendar 21 Fourth Bore restaurant in Theatre Square on [SEE WUDO page 6] tions page. Here is your opportunity Car Time 7 March 31. to send in a photo of the happy couple Classifi ed 20 and announce an engagement or the Editorial 4 date of a wedding. It’s also the perfect Orinda Association 2-3 ECRWSS Postal Customer Customer Postal place to let people know about a spe- PERMIT# 4 PERMIT# Real Estate Reality 19 ORINDA, CA ORINDA, cial anniversary. Roving Reporter 22 PAID For more information on the details Seasoned Shopper 8 US POSTAGE US and cost, please email news@orindaas- Something to Howl About 14 NON-PROFIT sociation.org. The Reel Less Traveled 18 2 n THE ORINDA NEWS n MAY 2016 ORINDA ASSOCIATION Dedicated Volunteers and OA Members: Steve and Tish Harwood By SALLY HOGARTY how it came to our attention. It may have what you’re involved in and why. Editor been from a courier on horseback, announc- Steve: I’ve been involved with the 4th ing the news. of July parade for over 20 years. My first ach month a family or individual involvement was as Elvis, singing from the Emember of The Orinda Association What made you want to become OA backseat of Jim Barnett’s gaudy convert- (OA) will be profiled. We hope you enjoy members? ible, surrounded by screaming ladies, who getting to know your fellow Orindans, who Initially, we joined The Orinda Associa- were held off by secret service men. When are actively improving the quality of life tion to support it in bringing community we drove down to the parade my daughter, in our community by their membership. concerns to the attention of the Board of Alison, then 10 years old, needed a ride to This month meet Steve and Tish Harwood. Supervisors, which governed the city prior the parade, but she was so embarrassed by The long-time Orinda residents raised to incorporation. her dad dressed up as Elvis, she lay down their three children (Will, Alison and Tim) Subsequently, we’ve continued to sup- on the backseat so no one would see her as here and continue to be very involved with port the OA as its activities have evolved. we drove to town. In the parade, as Jim’s the community. Will lives with his wife, Now the The Orinda News keeps us up car approached the judges’ platform, the 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter to date, Seniors Around Town is a valued generator in his trunk powering my sound in Chicago. Alison, lives in Denver with service, the July 4th celebration is a clas- system conked out. So there was Elvis, her husband and 8-month-old son, and Tim sic small town event, and other activities sweating, as he kept pulling on the genera- lives close by in San Francisco. promote volunteerism and discussion of tor rope in a failed attempt to get it started. current issues. From that auspicious beginning, I’ve been SALLY HOGARTY How long have you been members of the A common theme throughout its history involved with the parade each year, as Tish and Steve Harwood have been members of OA and how did you find out about the is that The Orinda Association helps to give Volunteer Pick-Up Band organizer, Chair- The Orinda Association for 41 years. They joined organization? our community its identity. man, sound equipment guy and announcer. when the OA brought concerns of Orinda resi- th dents to the County Board of Supervisors prior to We moved to Orinda 41 years ago and I’ve loved being involved with the July 4 Orinda’s incorporation. joined The Orinda Association soon there- You both do quite a bit of volunteer parade since it’s fun, and it celebrates the after. That’s so long ago it’s hard to recall service through the OA. Please explain many wonderful aspects of our community. making new friends and having fun. The Tish: When I retired four years ago, I OA offers a full range of opportunities to began to drive for Seniors Around Town.