Neighbors Report House Afire At Larch And Sparrow Ct. In Moraga

Moraga-Orinda Fire responding to a house fire at Larch Ave. and Sparrow Court in Moraga.

House okay. Shed and a boat lost. Damage set at $30,000. Cause unknown.

Name Change At EastBayDaze

Gentle readers -

Just wanted to let you know that we've been awarded our own domain name here at EastBayDaze, and you should see some behavioral issues within the site as we transition over the next three days or so.

The change means the "blogspot" will drop out of our URL so from now on we will be: www.eastbaydaze.com.

Steady readers won't have to do a thing as they will be redirected automatically. New readers won't get writer's cramp pounding out our URL.

Trying to make things easier!

EastBayDaze

Feds Call Distracted Driving "A Menace To Society," Lamorindans Say: "Naww."

We know all you texters, tweeters and front seat phone diddlers quiver at mere mention of Ray LaHood's name, but it appears he is out to get you.

The Transportation Secretary today labeled you a "menace to society," and promptly launched a two-day meeting on ways the Federales can prevent drivers from using mobile devices while behind the wheel.

EastBayDaze feels that may be like trying to stuff 100 feral cats back into a sack once they've been set free, but there you go.

Meanwhile, transportation officials reported that nearly 6,000 people were killed and another half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes stemming from driver distraction - meaning we're losing more people to cell phone use each year than we have in several years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Excuse us a second while we avert our heads and howl like wolves at that. It makes us crazy.

"To put it plainly, distracted driving is a menace to society," LaHood told more than 300 participants at the government's 'distracted driving summit.' "Distracted driving is an epidemic and it seems to be getting worse every year."

Well, yeah Ray. Sheesh.

The Transportation Department brought together experts to take a hard look at the highway hazards caused by drivers talking on cell phones or texting from behind the wheel. LaHood said he would offer recommendations Thursday that could lead to new restrictions on using the devices while driving.

Meanwhile folks, please stay away from us when you're on the road - we have enough excitement in our lives.

Wildfire Burning Near Caldecott Tunnel In Orinda

A fast-moving brush fire in the hills just east of the Caldecott Tunnel in Orinda has burned 30-acres and is threatening to complicate the evening commute.

The fire is burning next to the eastbound lanes of Highway 24 near Fish Ranch Road.

It was reported at 3:04 p.m. according to a spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, and has been deemed of "suspicious origin."

St. Mary's College Draws Moraga PD Attention As School Resumes - Noise, Thefts, Alcohol Abuse Complaints... And Two Babes In A Car

We have been informed that St. Mary's College does not generate any more calls for police action than any other part of town and, though we found it hard to believe, we always took the statement as gospel.

But, man, things have sure been hopping at the home of the Gaels.

Apparently the "Oasis" party at the college last Friday night wasn't exactly a hit with the neighbors as Moraga police and our own "comments" section received "numerous" reports from various parts of town complaining about the "music."


Photo: "Oops," courtesy of Officer James Dimmitt/ChicoBlueReview

One man apparently took a scientific approach to his complaint, telling officers he felt that the "uncorrected, unweighted sound pressure level" was averaging "more than 60 decibels" as indicated by the "sound pressure reader" he has at home.

Now that's our kinda guy! We used to complain loudly about the sound levels generated by the religious rituals at the college but it never got us anywhere. Now, we're off to buy a "sound pressure reader," whatever that is. We just used our ears in the past and called when they started to bleed.

Judging from police reports and our own "comments" section on EastBayDaze, we would think St. Mary's would end this sonic assault on its neighbors once and for all - but we're not holding our breath.

It's funny, we were always told we were the only ones complaining!

Police were also dispatched to the college earlier that Friday when a woman called to report that someone had smashed the window of her late-model BMW, which she had parked near the baseball fields, and made off with her purse and a computer... a $3,135 loss.

That morning, police had been called to the college to investigate the vandalism of a 2006 Nissan 350Z parked near the Ageno campus housing... a $1,000 loss.

And on Sept. 21, police and Moraga-Orinda fire responded to the college after getting reports that two children, ages 1 and 5-years, had been left unattended in a car with outside temperatures registering 92 degrees and temperatures inside the car exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Moraga's fine fire folks extracted the kids and Moraga's finest cited their mother.

The night before that officers were sent to the college to scoop up a 17-year-old local girl who'd had too much to drink and on Sept. 1 Moraga police contacted an 18-year-old St. Mary's student who said she'd been sexually assaulted while under the influence.

In between all that were multiple citations and arrests for driving under the influence on or near St. Mary's Road, some car crashes and other stuff we can't know for sure were generated by the college but... c'mon now people, let's hit the books instead of each other!

"Authentic Suburban Gourmet" Visits Lafayette's Metro

Ed. Note: It's fair to say EastBayDaze has a healthy appetite for good food. Apparently, so do our readers, some of whom we enlist from time to time to take us along on one of their sojourns to the local boîte or bistro of their choice and a vicarious dining experience equally committed foodies can appreciate.

Here's one from "Lisa," the "Authentic Suburban Gourmet," HR ace by day and Foodie by night, who takes us along on a recent visit to Metro in Lafayette - one of our favorite joints, er, restaurants.

Bon appétit!


EastBayDaze Guest Columnist: Lisa, the "Authentic Suburban Gourmet"

I had a week off from work and thought it would be wonderful to catch up with friends and try a new restaurant each day, except Thursday, since I need a day to clean out my closet. On this day my long time good friend John and I chose Metro in Lafayette.

Urban meets suburban at Metro, which is a local hotspot for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. (A must have if you go for brunch is the Zeppole - delicious fried puffs of goodness, similar to a Beignet, with a dipping sauce).

If you are in the mood for a relaxing happy hour outside on the patio, check out their fantastic martinis.

An eclectic menu consisting of California, French, Asian and Mediterranean flavors always having you want more on the menu than your appetite. Executive Chef Kirk Bruderer creates innovative as well as staple favorites for every diner’s palate. He gained his experience at French Laundry, Olivetto and Manresa – which gives him the green light to have a fantastic restaurant located in downtown Lafayette.

It was warm the day of our visit, about 90 degrees, and we decided to enjoy the patio with an abundance of green umbrellas. We began with an ice tea and an Arnold Palmer along with a fresh baguette and butter. John selected the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Brown Butter Crème Fraiche and I had the Crispy Brussel Sprouts with Lemon and Aioli to start.

For our main lunch entrée we both chose salads. John had the Caesar with Anchovy, Shaved Reggiano, Garlic Crouton and Rosie’s Organic Chicken and I had the Chopped Salad with Crispy Bacon, Avocado, Egg and Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing.

Overall the service was spot on and the food was tasty and fresh. It was great to catch up with John and enjoy my first day of vacation with a good friend and terrific food.

Metro Lafayette
3524 Mt. Diablo Boulevard
Lafayette, Ca 94549


Ed: Well, that was fun. Anyone hungry? Check out Lisa's blog here.

State Court Of Appeals Dismisses Molestation Charges Against Lamorinda Music Teacher

The State Court of Appeals has agreed with the initial trial judge's findings and dismissed all sexual molestation charges against Lamorinda music teacher James Toland.

Toland had been accused of molesting boys during private singing lessons in his home, but a local judge found that the charges stemmed from a county prosecutor's "reckless disregard for the truth" and ordered them dismissed and the state court agreed - issuing its decision yesterday.

A lone remaining charge of furnishing marijuana to a minor will be heard in mid-October.

Moraga Police Join Search For Serial Exhibitionist

Police in Moraga joined colleagues in Orinda and Danville in their search for a dedicated "serial exhibitionist" who has exposed himself to groups of young girls in those towns and, now, St. Mary's College students in Moraga.

Moraga Police Chief Robert Priebe said that their suspect deliberately exposed himself to a group of college students on Rheem Boulevard in Moraga on Sept. 22 - the same day Orinda police received reports of a man exposing himself to students in Orinda and shortly after a man of similar description exposed himself to three middle school students in Danville.

Police are looking for a white male adult between 40 and 50 years old, 5'10" to 6' tall, with dark hair, goatee, and dark eyes. He may be driving a dark gray Infinity G35.

Moraga Police Chief Priebe and Orinda Police Chief William French ask that anyone with information on this man report what they know by calling 925.284.5010.

When Neighbors Collide, The Fences Aren't Tall Enough, And The Pit Bull Doesn't Like Mom

Police say an argument between two groups of neighbors over loud music, noise and alcoholic excess sparked a donnybrook which ended when Concord police arrived to pick up the pieces.

The fight early this morning resulted in two injuries and two arrests, according to a Concord PD press release. Things kicked off after 2 a.m. when the police dispatch center lit up and sorrounding neighbors called in to report that two groups had squared off and were fighting with fists, knives, and apparently a pit bull with no sense of loyalty.

Responding officers arriving at Loeffler Lane, a short block off of Clayton Road, found a combatant suffering from a knife wound, another who had been hit with a car muffler (a car muffler?) and sprayed with Mace - and a woman who was being mauled by a pit bull.

The dog turned out to be hers.

Tally for the night:
Darick Perez, 31, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. He was being held in county jail today with bail set at $105,000.

Peter Henain, 33, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and was being held in county jail in lieu of $30,000 bail.

No scooby snacks for the pit, and he keeps looking at his owner with something more than love in his eyes...

Lamorinda Take Note... We Install Speed Tables, San Francisco Closes Down Whole Streets!

Speeding along residential streets remains the favorite pass time of many Lamorindans, many of whom seem to regard the 25mph signs in our neighborhoods as a good place to start and see what they can do from there.

Of course the towns have tried to combat this proclivity. Speed tables, "neck downs," roundabouts, the hated red light or "Stop" sign. Most have been tried at one time or another but segments of our population protest civic attempts to keep speeders just under the sound barrier, creating some of the most contentious public debates in our history.

So, it goes on. As one civic leader put it so well: "The hard truth is that residents here are happiest when they can zip around town as fast as they want without hitting something."

It's when momentum meets immovable objects that we seem to run into trouble, and start to scream about why "someone doesn't do something" about that damn (pick one) a. light pole; b., intersection, c., town sign; d., radar trailer.

Having lived there a good deal of our lives, we were surprised to see San Francisco of all places tackle this issue, dare we say it - head on. The city that knows how, ahem, is launching a six-week trial aimed at reducing traffic traveling east on Market Street toward the Ferry Building by forcing drivers to turn right at Eighth and Sixth streets - or face stiff fines.

They're trying the same thing in our beloved Presidio, one of the last bastions of quiet introspection left in the city. Up to Oct. 27, Presidio Boulevard will be closed to vehicles between West Pacific Avenue and Simonds Loop and also the one-way, uphill portion of Crissy Field Avenue.

Presidio officials want drivers to stop using the national park as a shortcut, and we know how they feel, living on one of those ourselves.

What do you say? If were were to give you the sceptre and the power to do it where would you ban traffic in Lamorinda? To kick things off, EastBayDaze would propose making the Moraga Shopping Center a pedestrian, wagon, and bicycle-friendly environment. It would sure cut down on the door dings!

Lamorinda Is Cool Again!

Put away the salt pills, rescuscitate the gardeners, hang up that dorky, floppy straw hat you wore in your vain attempt to ward off the heat last week.

It's cool again. Going to stay this way for a bit, thank God. When watching the kids' soccer or football match becomes a matter of survival, you know it's too dang hot out there.

Well, That Didn't Take Long, Did It? "Recall Town Council" Signs Spring Up Around Moraga

Lending credence to the maxim that anyone running for public office in Moraga - or any other small town these days - does so with the understanding that there's a target on your back, we're sure you're noticing the professionally done "Recall Town Council" signs which popped up around town overnight.

EastBayDaze was out shooting some sports pictures this morning when we noticed the signs, posted at strategic locations around town.

We're not aware of any organized efforts against the council, but there are plenty of folks who have expressed displeasure with this and past local governments. The old "my President, right or wrong" mentality no longer seems to prevail in both national and local politics.

We've noticed we've become something of a "town kiosk" on these issues so perhaps the backers of this "drive," or at least the guys who paid for these signs, will come forward and explain their motivations. If not, regulations imposed the the Fair Political Practices Committee may force them out into the open, as the FPPC requires folks who paper towns with politically bent signage to say who they are.

We'll see.

Thanks to all those early risers who sent us word of the mushroom-like appearance of the signs overnight! We'll post additional details as they come in.

EastBayDaze

Miramonte High School Principal Addresses Issue Of Conduct Code For Student Athletes Head-On

In high school we played a little football (poorly), ran a little track (passably). It is safe to say our heart was not in sports and we never excelled, but we remember clearly those who did and the heightened perception our school had of them as "different," perhaps "special."

There were lettermen jackets, cheerleaders, the accolades of parents we hardly knew for games well played, races well run. It was heady stuff, at times, for young men and women, and we have to say there were times when our involvement in sports kept us out of trouble our peers had to face - when the number of pushups we could do or our time in the 40-yard-dash meant something to others.

We never really understood why, but it did.

Lately, EastBayDaze readers are aware, we have heard of a number of alleged violations of stated ethics codes regulating student athletes at local schools. This has been a thorny issue, as these kids are protected as minors, and recent stories have demanded that we shine a light on their behavior.

Allegations of favoritism shown toward student athletes persist, enough so it seems that the principal of one local high school issued a flatly worded statement of his school's enforcement of rules and regulations set for students participating in extracurricular and cocurricular activities.

Addressing "Miramonte Families" and the "Community," Miramonte Principal Adam Clark said administration, coaches, advisors, and supervisors "will hold students accountable if they participate in acts that violate the Rule and Regulations" covering their activities outside of school.

"Over the past two weeks we have heard allegations that a small number of our student athletes violated these rules. The administration of Miramonte has thoroughly investigated these statements. We have met with police, students, and parents to gather information regarding the safety of our students. This is an issue that we cannot solve solely on our own. Students must be truthful with administration and parents must support us in our efforts to hold students accountable for their actions," Clark wrote.

"High school sports and activities play a major role in enhancing community involvement as well as spirit. We will always work within AUHSD Board Policy and Education Code to ensure that Miramonte is recognized for its high standards and tremendous achievements.

"As we move forward, all allegations of student violations will be fully investigated by Miramonte personnel. We expect and welcome full cooperation from students, parents, and the community. Please review the following:

Rules And Regulations For Athletes

· Athletes must accept seriously the responsibility and privilege of representing your school and community by displaying positive sportsmanship and public action at all times.
· Athletes are prohibited from the sale, possession, or use of any form of tobacco, alcohol, or any Illegal (sic) drugs (steroids) or narcotics during their season of sport. Infraction of these rules will result in the loss of privilege to participate in athletic activities for 45 school days (BP, AR 6145.b). Sale will result in a recommendation for expulsion from school as well.
· Athletes will be suspended and removed from the team activity for infractions of the rules and expectations that occur during any school activity and may be removed from the team activity for infractions outside of school.

Sincerely, Adam Clark
Principal, Miramonte High School"

Orinda Police Investigating Indecent Exposure Incidents On Coral And Eastwood Drives, Schools Chief Issues Advisory

Orinda police are looking into reports that a man in running attire exposed himself to students on two separate occasions in the area of Coral and Eastwood drives.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Schafer says police are taking the reports seriously, and issued an advisory to parents in the area.

Several children reported seeing the man, wearing dark colored running shorts and a white or gray t-shirt, exposing himself as he ran in front of them. He was further described as a white male, between 38 and 50 years old, 5'9" to 5'10", dark hair with some gray, with a thin build.

One victim said the man may be driving a silver Infinity.

Anyone with information is asked to call Orinda PD dispatch immediately at (925)284-5010 to report any suspicious activity. Schafer asked parents to talk with their children about this incident and how to respond appropriately. He also advised students, if unsupervised, to walk in groups on their way to and from school.

Lafayette Vehicular Manslaughter Case Moved Back, New Prosecutor Assigned

Word reaches EastBayDaze that the trial date for David Caspillo, the Tracy businessman who pled not guilty by reason of insanity to gross vehicular manslaughter charges after his BMW sped down Stanley Boulevard and into traffic waiting at Pleasant Hill Road with fatal results back in 2007 has been set back.

The case, seared into the memory of many Lamorindans who were either involved directly or who saw the aftermath of the collision, was scheduled to go to court Sept. 28.

Word is that a readiness conference has instead been scheduled for Sept. 30 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 24, 1010 Ward Street in Martinez and a trial date set for Oct. 13 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 1.

The district attorney handling this case has since left and another prosecutor, Andrea Tavenier, will be appearing for the people...

...and hopefully for Dale Zenor, of course, the man who died in that crash almost three years ago - killed while waiting for a traffic light to change.

Orinda's Wilder Development Offering Public Peeks At Homesites

Stalled by the housing crash but now back in development, Orinda's Wilder neighborhood is showing off a few homesites in a community developers say will feature trail systems, a swim club, and 245 new homes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 square feet.

A few of the homesites - teasers if you will - were made available for viewing recently and prospective homebuyers are being invited to go take a look. Get there by taking Gateway Blvd. from Highway 24 to 2 Wilder Road.

Home Sweet Lamorinda! - Tips For Living Well In LaLa-Land

EastBayDaze promised its readers some inside information on survival in the wildlands of Lamorinda, and will feature local businesses and people to help us all do just that.

Call it EastBayDaze Does Bear Gryll, or Grill, or however you spell that survival-Dude's name, with a bit of luxury thrown in. Instead of pine cone tea, we'll highlight the best source for coffee around town. Instead of a decomposing Yak carcass, we'll show you where to go for cheese and meats you can drag back to your 'Burban-Cave.

Lamorinda Survival Tip #1 - Produce
Walnut Creek Produce – 2251 Olympic Boulevard (@ Tice Valley)

The Cortez family, who also own Concord Produce on Monument Boulevard, recently bought the former Martinez Family Produce and have renamed it Walnut Creek Produce.

It’s been a favorite of ours for years and the Cortez family is keeping it up beautifully. It’s like having a local Farmer’s Market available all week, but much less expensive. This past weekend we indulged in some gorgeous green champagne grapes ($1.49/lb.), perfectly ripe black figs ($1.99/pint) and beautiful yellow honeydew melon (69-cents/lb.).

These melons are vine-ripened and sugar sweet on the inside – far from the hard, green flavorless melons available at most supermarkets. Walnut Creek Produce has an excellent array of vegetables and herbs at extremely competitive prices. We love cooking with their beautiful leeks ($1.29/lb) and flat leaf parsley (2 for 79-cents!)

There is a cook-inspiring selection dry goods as well – Asian noodles and spices, dried garbanzo beans and some of the harder to find Mexican spices and shelf goods.

Note: If you know of a business or entrepreneur whose products make life here in Lamorinda just that much more fun, let us know by writing us HERE.

Any Erasure Fans Out There? Here's A Little Something From The Halcyon Days Of San Francisco's Dance Club Scene

Guaranteed to get your foot tapping.

Erasure was a big name around the San Francisco dance club scene way back when. This song is one of our favorites.

Moraga's St. Mary's College Warns The Neighbors: We're Partying Friday Night!

EastBayDaze got a nice "heads up" call from Tim Farley at St. Mary's College in Moraga, asking if we could let the neighbors know the college will be rocking the Quad with a back to school social Friday night.

Tim says this event, known as the "Oasis Dance," is one of the school's most popular events and will be held outdoors Friday from 9 p.m. to midnight. They've gone beyond that in the past but Tim promises a midnight shutdown so we'll see.

Neighbors living in the Bluffs, Rheem Valley Manor and St. Mary's Gardens neighborhoods are advised to call the college's 24-hour public safety line at 631.4282 if there are any, ahem, problems.

Party safely, dudes. Don't hurt yourselves or others, please!

Parents Of Texas Man Who Died At San Luis Obispo Frat Party Sue The Fraternity, Lafayette Man One Of Four Frat Members Awaiting Trial

An Austin couple whose son died of acute alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity in California has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity - Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Photo: Ibrahim

The parents of 18-year-old Carson Starkey filed the suit Wednesday. Starkey was found unresponsive in December 2008 after attending a frat party during which he was instructed to drink a large quantity of alcohol from a bag.

Fraternity members began driving Starkey to a local hospital but turned around when he began to vomit. He was stripped of identifying fraternity symbols and put in a room, where he aspirated and died. Starkey was a freshman attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo after graduating from Austin High School.

His blood alcohol level at death was .39 to .48, which the lawsuit states is the equivalent of surgical anesthesia.

Four members of the fraternity, including a Lafayette boy, have been charged with hazing and providing alcohol to minors in connection with his death. Haithem M. Ibrahim, 20, of Lafayette was taken into custody with the other and charged in connection with Starkey's death.

Their cases are pending trial.

So far this year, 1,825 students ages 18-24 have died due to alcohol-related causes, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

The Question Of Anonymity: Good Or Bad For EastBayDaze?

We're all about communication here at EastBayDaze, and have incorporated an "anonymous" functionality for people who wish to keep their identities protected.

This has been both good and bad, with folks feeling a bit more free to express themselves, perhaps, under the curtain of anonymity than with an identified Google profile or other Web ID.

We'll admit, we're having mixed feelings about this and want to put it to our readers (1,803 folks yesterday alone... thanks for visiting). Tell us if you feel anonymity should stay a part of EastBayDaze or if commentary should be allowed only if folks put their name on their post.

Now, it does not help us in any way if you sign up for a Google account, though we like ours. You get these nifty little profile factotums and we get to have a "look" at you and know who we are dealing with, though no private information is shared.

In recent weeks we've received hundreds of posts on specific subjects and we've had to spike many of them because they were over the top, potentially libelous, profane.

Perhaps if you knew your screen name or profile photo would pop up along with your post they would be more considered and posted more thoughtfully. That said, for a little blog started on a short shoestring, we have been amazed by your response to us... and we are grateful and wish for it to continue, of course.

That's what we're about here. We want to talk about the place we live and we like hearing from you all. Tell us what's fair for you and how best to proceed!

Cordially,

EastBayDaze

Oh-Oh, "Sleepy, Musty" Orindans... Someone Is Trying To "Wake You Up" Again!

They're talking about it in Moraga, Lafayette appears to be heading in that direction - and now The Chronicle is telling Orindans they live in a sleepy, 'burban bubble that's needs to be shaken in order to make it better.

Oh, no.

Chronicle architecture writer John King comes out and endorses the vision of some folks who think we need to stack residential and office space atop downtown retail shops in order to bring "density" and "vibrancy" to the downtown area.

EastBayDaze has different words we might use to describe this approach to making us more attractive to a new, younger demographic in search of faux Tuscan-style architecture and corner coffee shops, but that's neither here nor there.

What do you think should be done? Many who moved to Lamorinda did so because of the rural look and feel, unobstructed views of oak-studded hillsides and cattle - and coyotes - calling into the night.

But now there's talk of bringing more development to the area (are we building things again? We guess so...) scraping off the land and moving the cattle to the... well, the happy place where the cows all go.

EastBayDaze invites you to read the Chron story for yourself and draw your own conclusions but we were struck by some of the references in John's story - especially the one where he calls Orinda "musty." Actually, he gets bolder, endorsing a plan to raise maximum heights downtown from 35 to 55 feet.

There are caveats," John writes, "such as going no higher than 27 feet along the sidewalk. Still, in context, it's a radical step.

"The right one, also."

Gulp. Sounds like it has been decided for us, though if you look at the architect's drawing of what Theater Square would look like with a couple of stories stacked on top of it we're struck by the fact that there's one lone car in the parking lot outside the theater, bikers are happily making their way through light traffic and the little "model people" all appear to be smiling merrily.

We don't know about you but we circle Theater Square like a 747 in a fog bank looking for parking now. Bikers are afraid of the street and ride on the sidewalks, and the only smiling people we see are those we know and the commute thieves who have just scored a digital watch from Walgreens and are hopping it back to BART.

Maybe we just spell "vibrancy" and "density" differently. What do you guys think?

Sweeet Home, Lamorinda! Why We Like Staying Home As Much As We Do...

After decades of expanding our horizons, worshipping our cars as king and running errands hither and yon, Americans finally want to stay home.

Since the 1950’s and easy access to mass produced automobiles, small town, suburban and even city dwellers have literally driven themselves out of their towns and local neighborhoods to get to the supermarket, the giant department store, the big box store and the office. It proved our status and wealth. We liked it! Elbow out the window, we breezed from store to store, from dance lessons to karate practice to the dentist three towns over. We even felt free and rich enough to drive to the big city whenever we wanted – where there was always something enticing we couldn’t get at home.

I guess we’ve decided all that time in the car isn’t so fun after all. Crowded highways, raging, competitive drivers, unaffordable fuel and maintenance costs and hours upon hours spent in our cars elevating our stress level have convinced many if not most of us that there must be a better way. A better way... hmmm,we mean, like it used to be.

We want to work from or near home! Yeah, and we want to shop and live here too! We don’t want to drive 15 or 20 miles to shop. We want to know our grocer (remember when it used to be called the grocery store?) and our butcher and our produce market. We want to go to the dentist and doctor in our own town or neighborhood! Maybe, just maybe, we can buy some of our clothes from a local merchant! (Okay, online is local enough.)

For my part, I don’t want my plumber to have an ‘800’ number or come from a network called Service Anywhere. How could someone in Kansas City possibly direct me to the best plumber in Lamorinda? I’d rather buy birthday gifts for my kids’ friends from Handlebar Cycle & Toys in Lafayette where for decades late owner Freda Challis hand picked bicycles and beautiful toys. Is it too much to ask to be able to buy a spool of thread from a locally owned business in my home town?

Large retailers and big box stores have brought us a lot – namely many, many more choices, competitive pricing and luxury for all. I personally would hate to lose Costco or even Target for certain things – and after all, they are American business success stories. It’s just that the cost of that development throughout American retail history has been, well, inadvertently high. Large retailers moving into big spaces gobbled up profits of small businesses that operated just down the road from our houses. If that wasn’t enough to drive the little (and local) guy out of business, high overhead (produced by our own wealth and greed) finished him or her off.

Oops, the little guy... why, that’s us! All of us, even those who run big corporations, are local yokels from somewhere. I daresay even Fortune 1000 executives, of which we have more than our fair share here, want their local communities to thrive.

There is a lot to be gained from truly living your life in your own community. We get to know each other again, we’re better neighbors, we relax a little, we’re more responsible and responsive, and we help each other make a living. It makes going out of the area or to the bigger cities for special occasions... special. For those of us who must still commute distances, at least we’re at home... when we’re at home.

To that end, EBD plans to regularly feature locally owned businesses – some well known, some well kept secrets – that are doing a good job for us local yokels. We may even feature other communities that are doing an excellent job on that front.

Let’s capitalize on our desire to stay home, keep locally owned businesses around, and even encourage development of new ones.

(If you know of a locally owned business worthy of being featured as a boon to our community, please drop us a note by clicking EastBayDaze!)

Orinda Police Preparing "Obstruction" And "Unruly Party" Case Against Parents Of Area Teens Caught Partying A Little Too Hearty

Parents of Orinda teenagers arrested on a variety of charges after a raucous party last week face charges themselves, police say, after allegedly obstructing a police investigation into the case.

Orinda Police Chief William French says his office plans to pursue charges against the parents, one set of whom allowed their teen to host the party itself, while another allegedly spirited their intoxicated child away from the scene of an accident after she ran her car into a telephone pole while leaving the scene.

"The detectives are scheduled to present both cases to the District Attorney for review later this week," French said Monday. "So the answer is an emphatic 'yes,' we will present the cases and the D.A. will decide whether they will face prosecution."

The initial arrests and subsequent fallout from them has been a hot topic at EastBayDaze, with people on both sides of the argument weighing in on behalf of the parents or excoriating them for their lack of parenting skills.

EastBayDaze broke the story last week after hearing from neighbors upset by the Saturday night/Sunday morning bacchanal in the 4100 block of Happy Valley Road. Witnesses reported hearing loud music and seeing several drunken teens fleeing the house and outlying area before police could arrive.

"One girl was driving a carload of kids when she struck the telephone pole," a neighbor said. "She was obviously intoxicated and immediately called her parents. As soon as the other kids in the car saw she was calling her parents they all scattered and left her..."

Seven Miramonte High School students were ultimately arrested on a series of charges. Four of the teenagers, including the party 'host,' were arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness; two on suspicion of driving while intoxicated; and one on suspicion of possessing marijuana. The host also was cited for holding an unruly party.

EastBayDaze Weather Report: Hot, With Intermittent Periods Of Hotter, Interspersed With Gusting Flames From The Fiery Furnaces Of Hell

We think you get the picture.

Please protect yourselves, older folks, pets and the environment. We'd head for the coast if it wouldn't be desertion - so we'll sit right here with you and pray for our beloved fog.

Your heat stories, always welcome below!

Stay cool...

Some People Use Pistols, Some Use Holdup Notes, This Woman Robs Moraga CVS Store With A "Post-It Note"

As cons go it's a pretty clever one - stick a note on an empty cash register instructing employees to give the "nice lady" a full cash refund without a receipt.

And it worked. Kathleen Vinson, 31, used the ploy on a string on 37 unsuspecting businesses - including the CVS store in Moraga - and appeared to be running con to con as she and a boyfriend moved around the state in a stolen 2009 Cadillac rented but never returned to an Avis agency at the San Francisco Airport.

Vinson and her boyfriend were arrested Wednesday in Sparks, Nevada after sharp-eyed police spotted the Caddie outside a Holiday Inn for cash merchandise she never purchased. Vinson gave an alias to police but they saw through that ruse, too, uncovering nearly 135,000 in outstanding warrants for the Cameron Park woman.

But Vinson had one last delaying tactic up her sleeve, she promptly went into labor after her arrest and gave birth the next day - a baby boy in case you're wondering.

CVS loss-prevention investigators told police Vinson targeted stores in Belmont, Hayward, San Leandro, Moraga and Marin County.

Here's Our Entry In Tomorrow's Orinda Classic Car Show

We call it the EastBayDaze Phantom and, man, can she fly.

Don't laugh, we had one of these beauties in the family up until 1965.

Details on tomorrow's Classic Car Show:
Saturday, Sep 19 10:00a to 2:00p
at Orinda Motors, Orinda
More than 125 classic cars, vintage race cars, and motorcycles, as well as food and music.

Lafayette Celebrates Art And Wine This Weekend - And What Two More Noble Things Are There To Celebrate?

Lafayette's Art and Wine Festival starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday.

Bring the sunscreen!

"I Sure You, I Want To Work For Your Son..." Lafayette EBD Reader Unimpressed By Job Applicants - So Far

We've done a fair bit of hiring ourselves, and know what sort of applicants can come out of the woodwork when there's a job in the balance. We won't delve too far into the time one potential aspirant submitted his résumé on the back side of a cocktail napkin - that's another story.

But "Mary" of Lafayette, apparently a regular reader of this e-squib of ours, is having a particularly difficult time locating a suitable writing coach for her son. She posted an ad at St. Mary's College in MoTown in a hopeful effort to find said tutor but, so far, the responses have left her head hurting, she says.

Here's an example, with all the identifying info stripped out to protect the innocent:

"I am a recent graduate of Saint Mary's College of CA and hold a degree in Sociology with a strong interest in working for your son as a tutor."

Ed: Is "strong interest in working for your son" a new minor? And we don't think you want to let little Jimmy know you're working for him... he'll run you into the ground.

"I believe I am qualified for the position of a tutor or mentor because of my personal tutoring experience I have had in the last ten years. I am currently a private tutor to a few other different students of different schools around the Bay
Area..."

Ed: You're qualified because you've been tutored yourself. Okay.

"I also feel that my oral and written communication is excellent since I have to design and write the lesson plans of the student, as well as communicate the lesson plan itself to the student. The communication doesn't stop there as I am to communicate the progress of the child to their parents and teachers..."

Ed: Excellent written skills, certainly, but perhaps the communication should stop there.

"I know you expressed that you wanted a male tutor, but I sure you, that all kids I work with end up doing their own work. I would very much like to meet with you to discuss my qualifications and the possibility of working for your son..."

Ed: Ooh, and Jimmy can't wait to meet you...


Good luck, Mary, and best wishes to everyone looking for work out there these days. We know times is tough, er, are tough.

Moraga Center Specific Plan Sub-Committee Meeting Monday

A discussion of draft development standards for the Moraga Center Specific Plan has been set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Moraga Library Meeting Room, 1500 St. Mary's Road.

The plan, currently under review by town leaders, includes plans for sweeping future development of the town center to include mixed use commercial and residential construction.

Moraga Police Officers Provide Roadside Resucitation For Rheem Valley Motorist

There was a hectic scene in the 200 block of Rheem Boulevard during the morning commute yesterday. Moraga police officers responding to reports of a vehicle that had crashed into a retaining wall arrived to find a 63-year-old Orinda resident unconscious behind the wheel.

Officers Russell Douthit and Roberto Ortiz could not locate a pulse on the unidentified driver. They removed him from the damaged car and began CPR, using a portable defibrillator to restart the driver's heart and staying with him until Moraga-Orinda fire could arrive to transport him to Kaiser Medical Center in Walnut Creek - where emergency surgery was performed.

This morning, the unidentified driver was listed in critical condition in Kaiser's Intensive Care Ward.

EastBayDaze sends our neighbor its best wishes for a speedy recovery as well as two great big "Attaboys" to Officers Douthit and Ortiz.

Dispute With Boom Car Thugs Leads To Shooting, Sign Of A Growing Trend?

You don't have to roam far within this e-publication to realize that we have called out the owners of so-called "boom cars" before and suggested that their brand of urban and suburban aggression is leading to serious conflict - and more.

An apparent gang argument involving loud music outside Deer Valley High School in Antioch ended with gunfire and a teenager wounded today as the school went into lockdown and police hunted the offending car and its occupants. The video above pretty much outlines the issue.

Now, we hate to say we told you so... but we told you so. In cases both near and far people assaulted by sound systems capable of cracking glass are asking for relief - sometimes getting shot if the "music lovers" don't wish to comply with the request.

And these people don't. Back in the day (I know, youngsters all over Lamorinda are nodding off here, it's okay) a polite request to lower someone's music was usually met with an apology and a peaceful resolution.

Now, ask for peace and quiet and duck, brother, 'cause these homeboys don't mind slinging lead so they can keep pounding the pavement with their "music."

We all know it's not about the music. We all know they don't really care if the bass line is sweet and just right, they are out to anger and disturb others and feed on the hard looks and stares of people whose eardrums they've just ruptured.

In Modesto last year, a man disturbed by the loud music emanating from a truck parked on the front lawn of a house there drove to the home and asked that the music be turned down. He was ridiculed but the music was turned down until he turned his back, which is how these people play, and then it went up again - along with his blood pressure.

He came back, more words were exchanged and the offended homeowner, a Navy veteran named William Gibbs, took action - reaching into the truck and turning down the music himself.

People who offend others don't like to be told they're doing so. Witness accounts suggest multiple people boiled out of the household, one of them, a man named Mario Martinez, jumping on the hood or roof of Gibb's car.

Gibbs, outnumbered and alarmed, tried to speed away, dislodging Martinez and sending him to the pavement in a fall that killed him. That case, and others, is currently wending it ways through the courts, with people hoping for peace and quiet in their neighborhoods losing out to the letter of the law - which in many cases seems to side with the offender.

Police say they are enforcing noise laws, but if they are, we certainly aren't seeing the effects of that enforcement, as the noise in some parts of our suburban community is almost constant. It also sets of car alarms, which adds to the din, and adds stress to normally right-thinking people who have tried to play by the rules but are tired of getting ignored by those who can help.

What should we do? You tell us... it ended in gunfire today, what's going to happen tomorrow?

Lafayette Looking For Art In All The Right Places

Lafayette is hoping to acquire "existing artworks in various mediums" for display in the town's new library. The Oakland Museum is assisting Lafayette and its Library Public Art Committee in finding just the right pieces.

Local artists and from all around the Bay Area are encouraged to apply... let's just hope we don't get Berkeley's homage to its schizophrenia in fiberglass (is that still standing? We were hoping for a final, cleansing gust of wind...).

Artists interested in submitting artworks must apply using CaFE, a web-based online application service via www.callforentry.org.

For more information, contact Cherie Newell or Carin Adams at the Oakland Museum:
Cherie Newell, Project Manager
510.238.6836
cnewell@museumca.org

Carin Adams, Project Manager
510.238.6836
cadams@museumca.org

Good public art is nourishment for the soul...

Miramonte English Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Of Sex With Former Student

Mark Litton, an English teacher at Miramonte High School, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of having sex with a 17-year-old girl - a former student.

Litton, 34, pled not guilty to five charges of sex with a minor on July 2 and 4. He was ordered to return to court Sept. 24 to set a date for preliminary hearing.

Walnut Creek police arrested the popular English instructor at school last week after news of the relationship surfaced. A county prosecutor said the girl was a 2009 Miramonte graduate who later came forward to report the relationship.

Litton remains jailed in lieu of $270,000 bail.

"The Parents Have The Difficult Job," Orinda PD Chief William French Says

Orinda Police Chief William French confirmed that his officers hooked up six local youths over the weekend, including two minors arrested for DUI, one minor arrested for hosting an unruly private party, three minors arrested for being drunk in public, and one minor for being in possession of marijuana.

"All the minors received a juvenile probation cite or a citation and were released to their parents," the Chief says, confirming accounts we were getting about antics out at Orinda Downs this weekend.

In an environment familiar to all who occupy positions of responsibility, the chief has been getting it from all sides lately (our words, not his) - skewered for doing this, for not doing that. Goes with the uniform and the stars.

But that does not mean what has happened, and is happening in Orinda (and other Lamorinda towns) lately does not have an impact on him.

"I have an obligation to the community that goes beyond responding to and investigating teenage drinking and partying," he said. "I recognized there was a problem when I started my job as Police Chief in January of 2007. I must also say that I do not believe that Orinda is different from other cities that have similar teenage partying issues.

"I can assure you that we do everything we can do to catch and prosecute a minor who possesses or consumes alcoholic beverages. The Officers that work for me realize that this issue is a top priority and we do not give warnings or drive teenagers home. We prosecute everyone and refer all cases to Juvenile Probation for prosecution.

"These cases are not handled in-house via juvenile diversion, I want to send the message that enough is enough. We know that the teenagers in the City of Orinda drink alcohol every weekend, this past weekend was no different. I am very much aware of my responsibility and I do not take it lightly. I am more than willing to throw the book at them, having honest conversations with a teenager about partying and drinking is difficult.

"My responsibility maybe the easiest of all, the parents have the difficult job."

We would agree.

Former Lafayette Swim Coach Pleads No Contest To Felony Molestation Charges

A swim coach who once coached a team in Lafayette and other area towns pleaded no contest to 20 felony child molestation charges prosecutors say could send him to jail for the rest of his life.

Andrew King, 61, stunned a San Jose courtroom with the surprise plea Friday. He has been at the Santa Clara County Jail in lieu of $3 million bail since his arrest in April on charges he molested a 14-year-girl he coached at San Jose Aquatics. He was arraigned in July on additional charges of sexually abusing two East Bay women he coached in 1988 and 1989.

King bounced from swim club to swim club, prosecutors say. Investigations in San Jose and the East Bay turned up 12 people who said they were victims. King was investigated at least two other times — in the late 1980s in Contra Costa County and in 2000 in Washington state — on suspicion of molesting young girls he coached, but no charges were filed in those cases.

In addition to his most recent job in San Jose, King also was head coach or assistant coach at swim clubs in Lafayette, Concord, San Ramon and Walnut Creek. He often coached the elite swimmers who hoped to compete in the Olympics. King also taught at a swim school in El Sobrante and was an instructor at Chabot College.

Papaverine Administered AFTER Joe Loudon's Death? Transplant Center Apologizes To Loudon Family, Doubt Cast On Cause Of Death Findings

A tissue donation center harvesting Miramonte sophomore Joseph Loudon's tissue for transplant have told his family they were the ones who injected the boy with Papaverine after his death.

The revelation, aired in a CBS 5 report tonight, stunned the Loudon family - and apparently county investigators who had attributed Loudon's death to a lethal reaction to the drug and a small amount of alcohol apparently ingested during a party at the home of Patrick "P.J." Gabrielli, a neighbor, friend, and teammate, the night of May 23.

In a letter to Loudon's mother obtained by CBS 5 Investigates, the Northern California Transplant Bank said "blood samples used by the coroner's office were provided by the bank, and those samples were drawn after the introduction of Papaverine."

The Loudon family and friends of the outgoing 16-year-old have maintained that Joe did not use drugs and that the drug, once used to treat erectile dysfunction, may have been introduced as a prank the night of the party.

In the same letter to the Loudons the transplant bank's executive director, Allen Brown, told Loudon's mother, "We take full responsibility for this finding. I want to formally apologize."

Papaverine is apparently a viable means of preserving the body's tissue prior to transplant, though it is not known why the donation center did not announce its use of the drug after county coroner's found it had contributed to the boy's death. It is also not known what action the county coroner's office will now take, or what this news means to their investigation into the cause of Joe's death that night on Hillcrest Drive.

The question tonight is much the same as it has been since May 23: What killed Joe Loudon?

Seven Miramonte Students Arrested After Happy Valley Party, Teen Driver Crashes Into Telephone Pole, Police Seek Charges Against Parents

Police, neighbors and eyewitnesses report that a raucous teen party in the 4100 block of Happy Valley Road Sunday ended badly for seven Miramonte High School students arrested for possession of alcohol and a variety of other offenses.

Another teen lost control of the car she was driving and crashed into a telephone pole after leaving the party, neighbors said. Police are seeking charges against her parents after they were allegedly called to the scene and tried to shield her from investigators.

"It was amazing," one witness told EastBayDaze. "She lost control, hit the pole and the kids in the car at the time bolted and left her there when she called her parents."

Police Chief William French said police will pursue charges against the parent of a teenager who hosted the party and as well as the parents who tried to cover up the DUI crash that followed.

Four of the teenagers, including the party host, were arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness; two on suspicion of driving while intoxicated; and one on suspicion of possessing marijuana. The host also was cited for holding an unruly party. All were released to their parents.

You Asked For A Bakery, EastBayDaze Brings You One! La Boulange Coming To Lafayette...

A recurring theme in our recent survey of Lamorindans and what you felt we needed in terms of new business in our small chunk of the East Bay was that we needed a bakery.

And being the elitist snobs that we are, many respondents were quite adamant that it be a French bakery - with caneback chairs, aproned waiters, powerful cups of Turkish espresso and pastries, lots of pastries.

Turns out La Boulange, a multiple storefront operation with locations throughout The City (including two in our old neighborhood) is coming to Lafayette, and they'll be taking over a deserted space near Yankee Pier soon.

That's good news for you poncy Francophiles who like to wile away your mornings reading the Herald Tribune, hand flitting between your coffee and a still-warm tart.

Good news for us, too.

Bail Set At $30 Million For Garrido

Minutes ago a Placerville judge set bail at $30 million for Phillip Garrido, the man accused of kidnapping Jaycee Dugard at a South Lake Tahoe school bus stop in 1991 and then holding her captive in a Bay Area backyard compound for 18 years.

Garrido has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, rape and false imprisonment charges.

He and his wife, Nancy, are accused of dragging 11-year-old Jaycee Dugard into their car in 1991, raping her and holding her captive in a backyard jumble of tents and sheds for nearly two decades. Garrido fathered two daughters with Dugard.

Clothes Similar To Those Of Missing 5-Year-Old Do NOT Belong To Him

A volunteer search party looking for missing 5-year-old Hasanni Campbell have discovered clothes similar to those the boy disappeared in over a month ago at the end of a road in Oakland.

The search volunteers found a gray sweatshirt, a red sock, and other children's clothes partially buried at the end of Chabot Road in Oakland, according to Oakland police.

Searchers contacted Oakland police investigators immediately after finding the clothes, located about a mile from where the boy was last seen. The area has been roped off and both searchers and police stress that nothing conclusively ties the clothes they uncovered to the child.

Hasanni, who has cerebral palsy, was reported missing from the parking lot of the Shuz of Rockridge shoe store in the 6000 block of College Avenue in Oakland at about 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 10.

Lamorindans Run Gantlet Of Panhandlers In Walnut Creek

EastBayDaze reader "BigRedOne" writes about an unusual little incident in Walnut Creek the other night, one that we're hearing a good deal more of lately now that the courts are turning "low risk" offenders back on the streets and money is getting tougher to find all around.

BigRed says he and his wife were walking past Tiffany's the other night when several officers pounced on a guy who apparently had been aggressively panhandling people in the area.

"It seems his opening line was: I'm on parole and I need money," Red says. "One guy made the mistake of taking some bills out of his pocket and handing him a single. The guy says: 'How 'bout ten?'"

A source at Walnut Creek PD says Mr. Parole-Boy was also dropping by stores in the area and demanding money. Turns out he has a slight problem with methamphetamine - and he isn't alone.

"A lot of the work these guys could normally get on the outside is drying up," says the man from WCPD. "They need money for their drugs so they're getting more aggressive. If they don't get it, they do something so they can get arrested and at least get a hot meal."

Getting busted at Tiffany's - now that's a classy arrest.

Drunken Students, Lightning, Overnight Fire Make Friday Night At St. Mary's A Real Laugh Riot

Crazy night in Moraga, both meterologically and in the neighborhoods surrounding St. Mary's College as drunken students kept things "interesting" for residents and an on-campus fire brought out the fire brigade early Saturday morning.

Rolling lightning and thunderstorms crisscrossed the area and provided overhead illumination for the night of revelry. Campus spokesman Tim Farley said Monday that a brush fire that broke out after 2 a.m. near the school's tennis courts was caused by lightning.

It was put down about an hour after it was reported.

Moraga's Traffic Safety Committee Questions Effectiveness Of Its Traffic Calming Guide, Qualifications For Change Too Restrictive?

At a recent meeting of the Moraga Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC), three volunteer committee members openly questioned the efficacy of the guidebook they use to mitigate traffic problems in town.

Committee members Chuck Treat, Christie Linehan, and Chris Peterson discussed whether the plan, as written, can effectively address the concerns of residents who find themselves impacted by speeding cars, gridlock in school zones and problem intersections. Members Barbara Simpson and Joe Mahoney were absent from the Sept. 2 meeting.

The three TSAC members, citizens who volunteered to sit on the advisory committee, debated sending out questionnaires to at least two citizen groups who followed established guidelines for change only to be thwarted by a required lack of consensus set forth in the guide, in order to assess any issues the groups may have had with the process.

Drafted in 2007 in the wake of three high-profile traffic fatalities in town and driven by former Mayor Mike Metcalf - who sat on TSAC as a liaison to the Town Council in its early days - Moraga's guide was liberally borrowed from the one in use by Lafayette. The process it laid down was intended to "take the pressure off" Moraga police and put the onus for change back on the citizenry, making certain that the complaining group cared enough about solving its problem to fulfill certain requirements and ensure their proposal enjoyed broad-based neighborhood support.

The guide was further intended to head off implementation of controversial traffic calming measures such as the three speed tables TSAC approved for Camino Pablo, and meant to instill a sense of procedure and method to approval of similar future measures.

(Note: For the record and in the interest of full disclosure, it should be mentioned that your editor voted for both the speed tables and approval of the guide in its earliest form while sitting as a volunteer member of the committee in 2007-08.)

After further revisions, the Guidebook was presented as a systematic process for neighborhoods with traffic issues to follow. The town council officially incorporated the Guidebook into the TSAC charter in January of this year. But some neighbors, and now TSAC itself, are apparently beginning to wonder if it went too far and has effectively paralyzed neighborhood efforts to effect any change at all.

Orindan Turns Her Front Yard Over To Native Species With Golden Results

Here's a nice snapshot of a nicely "au natural California" front yard done by Orinda resident Alma Raymond with help from Kim Larsen of Dragonfly Designs, an advertiser here as it happens.

Alma is hoping to connect with other EastBayDazers who have an interest in native plants and planting so check in here and start the dialogue. For the record, we're enthusiasts as you know, and appreciate the scholarly effort people make in returning their lawns to a more native look and feel.

Whoa Nellie! Another Curmudgeon Sighting In Lamorinda!

Just when you start to think you're the only one with 20/20 vision in a world wearing blinders, up comes another beknighted old soul who sees things the way you do and ain't (sorry, grammarians, I'm in an Old School frame of mind) afeared to call it the way he sees it.

I'm referring to Mike Zampa's recent opinion piece for the Contra Costa Times, a sound piece of writing if ever there was one - and not just 'cause he happens to agree with us here at EastBayDaze.

Mike called in a column from Rheem Boulevard recently, an area of more than passing interest to us, as well, and he summed up our position on plans to build 26 new McMan... er, new homes, in that area - a move we happen to think would further erode the rapidly eroding rural charm of this area.

As Mike says, Rancho Laguna (as it has been re-dubbed) is probably a green-lighted project down the road, but that doesn't mean our hackles weren't raised by its approval.

EastBayDaze says: check him out.

"Never Forget..."

We were getting ready for work when a friend called that morning... "Turn on your television," was all he could get out. The first tower had already been hit.

We watched the second plane strike together. I'll never forget the sound he made.

"We're at war," I said.

Never forget the people lost that horrific day... and in the maelstrom that followed.

Miramonte High School English Teacher Arrested For Having Sex With A Minor Student

Walnut Creek police arrested a Miramonte High School English teacher today on suspicion of having sex with an underage former student.

Mark Litton, 33, was arrested shortly after 1 p.m. at Miramonte. He was taken to County Jail in Martinez and is being held on $250,000 bail.

Litton, who is Walnut Creek resident, faces charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

Charges Pending In July 26 Fire Behind Rheem Center, Mom Supplied Juveniles With Bottle Rockets - Case Under Review

The Moraga Police Department has wrapped up an investigation into a scary fire that burned briskly behind the Rheem Valley shopping center on July 26, forwarding their information to the county district attorney for review and possible charges.

If you were there you may remember the fire burned quickly, briefly threatened homes at the top of Ascot Drive and was almost immediately deemed "suspicious."

Moraga PD reports that on Aug. 8 two juveniles, ages 14 and 15, were brought into Moraga Orinda Fire District Station 41 by their respective mothers and revealed that they had been shooting off bottle rockets in the grassy area behind the shopping center prior to the fire.

Under questioning by Battalion Chief Stephen Healy it was determined that the mother of one of the boys actually supplied them with the fireworks.

Acting Sergeant Will Davis pulled the case together for presentation to the district attorney. It is not known if the boy's mother will be charged in connection with the case.

Glory Be, Ford Motor Company Endorses Ban On Texting While Driving

The Ford Motor Company today became the first automaker to endorse a federal ban on sending text messages while driving.

Ford issued a statement in support of legislation proposed by Senator Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, that would cut by 25 percent the federal highway funding given to states that did not comply with a text-messaging ban. Ford also said it supports a similar proposal in the House of Representatives by Carolyn McCarthy, D-New York.

“The most complete and most recent research shows that activity that draws drivers’ eyes away from the road for an extended period while driving, such as text messaging, substantially increases the risk of accidents,” Susan Cischke, Ford’s group vice president for sustainability, environment and safety engineering, said in the statement.

“Ford believes hands-free, voice-activated technology substantially reduces that risk by allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Ford supports a ban on hand-held text messaging while driving.”

Hallejujah... sanity begins to dawn.

Moraga TSAC Backs The Rheem Boulevard Roundabout, Even Though There's No Money To Build It

Call it a "shadow" project that may never be built - at least in some of our lifetimes - but Moraga's Traffic Safety Advisory Committee says construction of a $550,000 traffic roundabout to help corral speeders and car cowboys at Rheem Boulevard and St. Mary's Road is the town's best hope of calming traffic there.

Even though there's no money to make it happen.

A TSAC representative will forward the committee's preference to the Town Council at the council's Oct. 14 meeting, TSAC agreeing that the roundabout would be the most effective solution for problem traffic accessing St. Mary's Road from Rheem Blvd. and Bollinger Canyon Road.

Committee members freely admit that they may never see the fulfillment of their recommendation come to fruition, as the town has already made it known it has no money to initiate such construction.

Less expensive options, including an arterial stop ($75,000 to $100,000), did not measure up. Area residents were hoping for some sort of fix in the area, which is known for its dodgy entry onto St. Mary's Road, speeding at that location, and its limited visibility.

TSAC also briefly addressed concerns raised over proposed re-paving and renovation of Rheem Boulevard by the developer of the nearby Rancho Laguna project. Many Moragans steer clear of Rheem Boulevard due to its deteriorating condition and the question was raised if a resurfaced roadway would bring even more traffic to the intersection.

Former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle To Be Tried For The Murder Of Oscar Grant

Teen Who Killed Two While Texting No Longer Laughing Out Loud

The first trooper on the scene of this crash outside Logan, Utah in 2006 covered the victims in the smaller car and put the survivor driving the SUV into his cruiser. The trooper grew suspicious when the driver, a 19-year-old house painter, pulled out a cell phone and started texting someone from the back seat of the cruiser.

Watching with the rear view mirror, the officer asked the young man if he had been texting before the crash. The answer was "no," as he continued to text.

The trooper knew something was wrong. Further investigation revealed that the lone survivor of the horrific crash had texted his girlfriend 11 times prior to the crash - the last message just one minute before he dialed 911 asking for help.

It was later determined that his last text was sent just as he was crossing over the double yellow line and into the path of two local scientists on their way to work. Both men died instantly.

To his credit, the text offender realized what he had done when faced by the families of those he had killed and actually pled guilty to charges of negligent homicide, apologizing to family members in a courtoom that - until that moment - had been filled with lawyers and spectators busily texting each other.

That activity, a witness noted, stopped instantly as people openly wept and put their phones away.

Spare The Air Tomorrow, Gonna Get Hot!

Spare the Air tomorrow. That means: no barbecuing or boating, no mowin' with gas powered mowers or blowin' with gas powered blowers.

Be kind to pets and old folks and keep them outta the sun.

Stay cool!

California State Assemblyman Resigns After Bragging About Bagging A Lobbyist - Literally - And Then Cheating On HER!

Fresh from the "these people lead us" file comes news that flamboyant and apparently completely lacking in integrity second-term assemblyman Mike Duvall, R-Orange County, is resigning after bragging about his sexual conquests while an open microphone broadcast every word to an intrigued state committee.

The married 72nd Assembly District rep, who was known for his conservative stance and for riding a Harley Davidson to political events, bragged about slap and tickle parties with a female lobbyist whose clients had business before a committee on which
Duvall sits.

And then he bragged about cheating on the lobbyist in the most graphic of terms.

Duvall, speaking to a relatively mum Republican colleague seated to his left, apparently had no idea his dais microphone was live about a minute before the start of a cable-televised committee hearing.

AeroMexico Jet Hijacked In Cancun Lands In Mexico City - Passengers Freed, Eight Hijackers Arrested

British Commandos Free A New York Times Reporter Captured By The Taliban, His Interpreter - And A British Commando - Killed In The Fight

Steve Jobs Wows The Faithful At Apple Event Today, Talks About His Liver Transplant, Gets A Standing Ovation

Moraga Burning? KKK "Cross" Found On Wandel Drive - FBI Investigating

Moraga PD took an unusual call yesterday morning, responding to the unit block of Wandel Drive to take a report regarding a KKK-style cross left in front of a residence there. And now the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident.

Photo: Taken at a so-called Klan "Unity" gathering in the South.

Moraga Police Chief Robert Priebe referred EastBayDaze to the FBI Tuesday and declined further comment. FBI spokesperson Patti Hansen says the case is currently "under review."

There have been occasional sightings of the three-letter scrawl of toothless hillbillies in various parts of Moraga, usually left well after dark by kids with no real understanding of what the organization is or what it did.

But this was new, a fairly sophisticated rendering of the klan's "flaming cross" wrapped in t-shirts and the usual insignia (Q: Why do they call themselves the KKK? Answer: Because it's the only three letters of the alphabet they can remember).

Police contacted a San Francisco couple staying at the residence and learned the home belonged to a relative, that they stayed there regularly and that they had just returned from a long holiday weekend when they found the three-foot cross on the driveway outside the home. The husband suspects it was left there because his wife is black.

No suspects, but you may want to look for a bunch of yayhoos in a car with "I'm A Rebel" license plates.

Bay Bridge Open - Traffic Moving Briskly!

Lamorinda-5-0 - Would You Join A Volunteer PoPo Posse?

We hear a lot about crime in certain areas of Lamorinda, how someone's car got burgled or had their house broken into. People who tell us these things are generally pretty yanked off, and eventually there's talk about forming a citizen's volunteer force and "takin' care of business."

Now, our ancestors "Posse'd Up," joining in long hunts for the elusive Charles Bolton (Black Bart) and other equally shady characters. It's not known if great great-grandad actually helped apply any frontier justice we modern types sometimes long for, but we know he was armed for bear and not afraid to lend a hand when needed.

As this Recession/Depression lands on us like a ton of bricks and some towns and cities - mercifully less so in Lamorinda than other places - begin to look for new and creative ways to extend basic services, there has been increasing talk of mobilizing citizen patrols to help underfunded police departments.

EastBayDaze can say firsthand that it's not a popular idea with law enforcement, who are trained to take great gobs of crap from people enjoying a ride in the arms of Bacchus or Morpheus, and who don't want know-nothing civilians getting in their way as they go about it.

We can appreciate that. I mean, these folks sign up to wear the star and keep the peace, and that can be a thankless job - especially when a 15-year-old girl so high on apricot brandy she doesn't know her own name is threatening to have your job "'cause my dad's a lawyer..."

I mean, who wants to take that? But these people do, and until they ask for someone to back them up EastBayDaze says we sit on our hands and support them where we can.

But enough of what we think, how about you? If citizen patrols were formed would you join? Is it merely asking for trouble and placing a bunch of untrained folks on the street? Or is it a good idea, with more eyes out looking for trouble and hands available to help if need be.

Let us know...

Bro, Let's Go To The Church Social - Have A Few 40s, Test Out The Tec-9

We often bemoan how things have changed in our home towns, and how some things don't seem to be changing at all.

Last night's hip-hop gathering at a San Lorenzo Baptist Church at 180 East Lewelling Blvd. was unusual not for the type of crowd the music attracted, or the fights that followed, or that a small army of police had to be called in to knock things down after one of the "guests" - feeling his oats - decided to shoot down the moon with an assault weapon.

Heckuva church social. Back in the day the worst that could happen was that someone would spike the punch, now you have to worry if you're going to get your lights punched out or turned off permanently by gunfire.

Two arrests, one kid really "hip-hopping" when the sheriff's lit him up with a Taser - and lots of spent cartridges in the parking lot.

Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition... the times they are a'changing.

St. Mary's Road Closed Briefly After Morning Accident

Traffic is moving but slowly past the scene of an accident this morning on St. Mary's Road in front of the Moraga Library.

It appears a late model Toyota rear-ended another car at that location. Airbags deployed and the Toyota appears to have lost with major front-end damage. Moraga PD on the scene and traffic moving again under the direction of officers.

No apparent injuries.

Lafayette Looks For Justice: Caspillo Case Goes To Court Sept. 28 - Or Will It?

Two and a half years after death came for Dale Zenor in his rear view mirror, the man witnesses say killed him as he waited patiently for a traffic light goes to trial this month on the 28th.

Maybe. After all, it has taken nearly two and a half years to bring David Caspillo, a Tracy businessman with a penchant for racing BMWs, to account for the death of Dale Zenor.

Every person deserves a fair trial and professional representation, but a number of Lafayette residents who were at Pleasant Hill Road and Stanley Boulevard on March 22, 2007 are wondering why it has taken so long in this case.

Felony charges of gross vehicular manslaughter were brought against Mr. Caspillo after he sped through a residential neighborhood, past Acalanes High and into a line of cars stacked at a red light on Pleasant Hill Road... his Beemer rear-ended one car so hard it was pushed up and over the cars in front of it, killing Zenor.

Witnesses reported seeing the BMW speeding up as it approached the line of cars.

Caspillo, who was slightly injured, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity during his initial arraignment. Aside from a few sporadic hearings that has been the extent of his time at the altar of justice... always free to leave afterward. Mr. Zenor, of course, cannot.

Bush-Cheney "Dead-Enders" Alive And Stirring The Pot In Lamorinda

EastBayDaze has been out and about lately, as you know, taking the pulse of our three villes and assessing the mood of its residents.

Like the rest of the country these days, we can't help but get the impression that things are a little bit loopy out there.

By that, we mean that dinner parties and social gatherings have taken on a decidedly political turn on more than one occasion, with talk leaning toward some pretty scary ideologies - expressed over a drink or two but packed with meaning and conviction.

Chief among these convictions are the feelings held against our president - duly elected and now leading this country. First it was the "birthers," then the kill grandma "deathers," and now it's the "KiddieIdealogues" - those who feel the White House is going to pump some sort of leftist, socialist, Marxist messaging into our kid's heads during the morning Graham cracker break.

Uh, guys, back in the day before they banned the "pledge of allegiance" messages to school kids from our leaders were commonplace, freshly rolled off a mimeograph machine, we grant you, and not a CD-Rom - but the messaging was largely the same.

But the hue and cry continues to grow, with our neighbors (some of our neighbors, that is) sounding more like villagers with pitchforks and lanterns than reasonable, practical members of the privileged elite.

And, hey, bit of advice, when someone asks you if you "want to get together later" or "meet some of my friends" after a two-hour harangue on how Oprah Winfrey and the election of Barack Obama are leading this country down the path of destruction - don't do it. Not only are the hors d'oeuvres lousy but the rationale is off the chart.

We mean, geez, it took a while to get us to this point and now we're coming apart at the seams over practices and policies that have been in place for years - two terms to be precise. Remember those morning briefings "Old Rummy" - Donald Rumsfield - used to give? Remember how he used to talk about the insurgents being nothing more than "dead-enders" cut off from the rest of the population and raising scatter hell wherever and whenever they could?

Well, that's what we have in this country these days - only instead of kaffiyehs and RPGs they're wearing trucker caps and carrying signs reading: "When People Fear The Government It's Tyranny, When the Government Fears The People It's Liberty."

Only when the people are really scary, maybe we all have to worry.

Let's get smart, research our positions and make our points - but let's not wear propeller caps, play kazoos and have our eyes counter-rotate while we do it. Sheesh. This is a great country, let's make it even better. And if you're going to try to win us over to your side, the least you could do is come up with some decent hors d'oeuvres...

Biker Gangs Terrorize Moraga - Two-Wheeled Set Ticking Off The Locals

EastBayDaze never thought we'd be writing about this but we've had a couple of stories in the last couple of days along the same theme - outlaw bikers taking over the town. And these aren't your Marlon Brando-type bikers, these are your Lance Armstrong-type bikers.

We like to ride ourselves, and wonder where the agro tactics are coming from, but we've seen enough and had confirmation from reliable sources to confirm the unexpected - that eco-friendly, health-conscious Biker Boys can be just as uncivil and ill-mannered as the people they yell at on the roads.

First case comes from Lamorindan Dave Briccetti, who shot this picture of a gang of gearheads taking over the Moraga skate park (bikes are verboten there) and pushing aside the skaters who were politely asking for a chance to drop into their bowl.

Dave says he watched this scene unfold while he was on a bike ride of his own, clicking a picture of the offenders when things got heated. If you can't tell, the bikes were down in the drain and occupying the rim. As if this wasn't enough, "Jason" writes in about an altercation between a biker and a motorist on St. Mary's Road Tuesday.

"The bikes were northbound and drafting each other, one rider pulling out into traffic to pass his pal. This went on while traffic was piling up behind them. An elderly driver waited and finally passed but one of the bikers started yelling at him, calling him some pretty nasty names and telling him he should learn to 'share the road.'"

Apparently the driver pulled over and the two road warriors vented for about five minutes before they went on their way, neither making their case with the other and parting with some well-chosen words - none of which sounded like "farewell."

"It was pretty nasty," Jason says, "for bike-friendly Lamorinda."

Well, at least no one was texting during any of this...

Out Of Work, Lamorindans? Tell Us Your Tale, Let Us Know How You're Doing...

This economic malaise that is the Recession/Depression of '09 is hitting people where it hurts, tearing down psyches, taking away the sense of self-worth that comes with being employed.

People who have never been out of work in their lives are finding out what it feels like - no severance, an escort to the door and no looking back. No health care. No money coming in. No prospects.

Lamorindans fare better than most, we know. Our homes are bucking state and national trends, many of us own our own businesses and - so far - we're above water. We cling to reports of a turnaround like drowning men and pray for friends who dread the first of the month and bills that never seem to stop.

How are you guys doing out there? This is a largely anonymous forum, tell us how this economic meltdown is playing out in your household. We do care, and we'll do what we can to get people back on their feet. One thing we're finding here is that the "comments" section is almost as widely read as the original posts, perhaps we can put some people together and make it good for everyone.

Keep your chin up...

EastBayDaze

Life And Death On Fernwood Drive - Moraga's Wild Kingdom From "MoTown Mama"

There are a million stories in our rural and semi-naked cities. One of them was played out recently on Fernwood Drive in Moraga. Let's let "MoTown Mama" tell the tale:

"I started out the front door for our walk with the Labrador this morning and got stopped right at the curb. There, in the gutter in front of the house by the side path, were 2 frantic quail parents and 9 or 10 hatchlings. Mom and Dad were trying to usher their brood across Fernwood Drive to get them to the safety of the pine trees, but most of the babies couldn’t even walk yet and neither could they hop the curb – too little, too weak.

"The cars were coming full speed in both directions, as usual, and I thought the parents would get hit, but every close call ended with them scattering in a feathery panic.

"I called Animal Control, who advised me to call Lindsey Museum. No one was at Lindsey and they had no emergency services. I then remembered a Stanley parent who is a veterinarian and an avian rescue worker. Thank God I got her cell phone - she said I could pick the babies up without consequence, so I dumped the Lab in the house and ran around scooping up the tiniest chicks you’ve ever seen and trying to put them under the hedge. They kept flopping and rolling back down into the gutter, and Mom and Dad were beside themselves fluttering and calling to their babies.

"Finally, a dog-walking lady stopped, took pity on me and helped me move them further into the yard. (Her sweet dog did as he was told and sat and waited!) I kept hearing another one cheeping in the distance and I finally managed to locate it further up the street. Sadly, there was another one laying in the trickle of water already dead.

"But all the drama wasn’t over. After we’d gotten all the chicks moved near the fence, I re-leashed Lab-Boy to resume our walk. When we came out of the house, to my delight, Mom had herded all of the chicks into a little hole by the hedge. As we crossed in front of the neighbor's house, I froze. Directly on the other side of the hedge, lying in wait, was Banjo - the neighborhood cat.

"Papa quail was on the roof yelling 'emergency.' The Lab and I went back to the brood. Mistake. The Lab did what Labs do and grabbed one of the babies in his mouth. I made him drop it. He grabbed him again. The third time I scooped up the wet and traumatized but breathing chick and put him back with his siblings. We walked away, Banjo nowhere in sight now, and hoped for the best.

"I haven't seen them around yet today but I'm hoping... they were beautiful."