EastBayDaze Weekend Roundup

Heckuva week out there in Lamorinda and environs with some folks ending up in the pokey, some landing in our pages and still others living out their lives in the grand fashion to which we've grown accustomed.

Our three city/towns all seem to be moving, to one degree or another, toward someone's Grand Design of what small town/cities should be. The road appears rocky, to be sure, but the small town feel appears to be fading into a new vision of "vibrancy" and "vitality" many of those who've lived here a while just don't get. We'll have to see how it goes but the process has left many folks scratching their heads and hoping our unique towns don't end up looking like every other strip mall town in America.

EastBayDaze continues to hear from readers both near and far, which is always fun, by why someone in Australia would be interested in life here is beyond us - even if that interest is always welcome.

One man's effort to rename a local landmark stirred up a bit of controversy and inspired some curt commentary, ahem. And the "Open Carry" folks, they of the need to display their hardware on their hips (no, not carpentry tools) are up in arms about their being barred from local businesses uncomfortable with customers who show up loaded for bear.

Orinda is losing its police chief as Bill French gives up the position in favor of more time with family and elusive fish (good luck, chief) and some key trial dates loom as perpetrators in high profile cases are brought to justice - or not, we'll see.

We're hearing of rapidly fading fortunes, of family gold going into the smelters in order to make the next house payment, of sinful displays of wealth and arrogance by those folks who have found a way to profit in bad times. It's the free market, we guess, the American way - with every Man Jack for himself and huzzahs for the person who winds up with the most toys at the end of the game. Still, all wealth seems painfully inconsequential when the man in the lab coat calls you into his office for a "frank discussion."

A local church is feeling the impact of an apparently unpopular leader some say is forcing members of the congregation to leave; local business continues to fight for every breath despite signs of a rebounding economy and locals continue to seek ways to have fun with family and friends without having to sell the ranch - or McMansion.

All in all, it was a good week. The world still spins on its axis and we're still breathing good, rain-filtered California air. Everything is right in Paradise, eh?

Walnut Creek Man Found Dead In Lafayette Had Friends, Family

Putting a face to news of the passing of a Walnut Creek man found dead in Lafayette earlier this month, we include his obituary - running today in The Times and San Francisico Chronicle.

The family and friends of Michael McDowell wanted him remembered appropriately, and offered the following words about Mike, 26, found January 20 in the yard of a Lafayette family on Moraga Road.

Police are still investigating the death, but say there are no indications of foul play.

Here's his obituary:

Michael Alexander McDowell May 19, 1984 - January 20, 2010 Michael Alexander McDowell, Walnut Creek, CA. Master of the quirky one-liner, goofy facial expressions and comedic-like behavior, Mike brought joy and laughter to those around him. Topping his personal chart of "favorite things" were basketball, the number 21, grasshopper pie, music, dancing and singing to his son - he was, indeed, a man of many talents and will be deeply missed. Mike is survived by his son Cash, mother Karen McDowell of Walnut Creek, father Dave McDowell of Sandpoint, ID, sister Rebecca McDowell of Modesto, grandparents Richard & Joyce Devincenzi of Danville, Kate McDowell of Bonners Ferry, ID and Alan & Monetta McDowell of Roseville, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. A celebration of life, open to extended family and friends, is planned for early Spring. Updated information will be posted on Karen's Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations to the following organizations would be greatly appreciated: Contra Costa Clubhouses, Inc http://ccclubhouse.org/ ); NAMI Contra NAMI Contra Costa (http://namicontracosta.org/).

World Trade Center Attack Trial Will Not Be Held In New York

The Obama administration has abandoned plans to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other alleged Sept. 11 plotters in the heart of downtown Manhattan, according to The Associated Press.

"Coach Andy" Gets 40 Years For San Jose Molestation Case

Former Lamorinda swim coach Andrew King remained stoic and deadpan when he was sentenced in a San Jose courtroom to 40 years in prison for molesting at least one of his young protégés.

King, 61, was known as "Coach Andy" to a string of Olympic hopefuls he coached over the years, setting up shop at a series of swim clubs and pools in Contra Costa and beyond, and carrying on openly flirtatious relationships with young swimmers - fathering a child with at least one.

While parents trusted their children to him, King was luring the young girls into romantic interludes at his apartment and boat, telling the girls to comply with his demands or to abandon their Olympic dreams. He pleaded no contest to 20 felony counts of child molestation stemming from a September incident involving a 14-year-old girl he coached at San Jose Aquatics.

In addition to his most recent job in San Jose, King was head coach or assistant coach at swim clubs in Lafayette, Concord, San Ramon and Walnut Creek. King also taught at a swim school in El Sobrante and was an instructor at Chabot College. He was under investigation by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's office when allegations of improper advances on young swimmers began to surface. Investigators said King "slipped through the cracks," because of his nomadic lifestyle, with King moving from one pool to another when rumors began to surface.

Accusations of King's sexual predation was supported by a dozen young women from San Ramon and elsewhere as the case against him unfolded in San Jose. All of the women gave similar versions of encounters with their coach. None of the accusations could be included with the current charges against King because they had fallen outside the statute of limitations.

Lamorindans: Some Good Economic News For A Change

GDP figures are rosy and people say there are signs that we're coming out of the recessionary tunnel. The Wall Street Journal crew talk it through, weighing the pros and cons.

EastBayDaze has learned that there are some financial whiz kids in our backyard so feel free to give us your take on the current market condition and where we are economically.

TSA Agent Photographed Asleep In Airport

Tough job and all but, dang, this just doesn't fill us with a whole bunch of confidence in the people entrusted with keeping us safe from terrorists eyeballing the nation's airports.

This Transportation Security Administration agent was caught napping at New York's LaGuardia Airport - in her TSA uniform. The message this sends? We don't want to talk about it, but we're getting strip searched at our airports these days and we're looking for a little professionalism from the folks doing it.

A Brooklyn man took the photograph Sunday. It was not known if the agent was on a break or supposed to be on the job but apparently it doesn't matter as she was quickly reassigned. And, yes, they have break rooms for TSA agents at LaGuardia.

Walnut Creek Police Work With Local Businesses To Stop Robberies

Walnut Creek police are taking a proactive approach to solving a recent flurry of armed robberies in their city, working closely with area businesses in an effort to stave off additional incidents.

The Investigations Division issued the following advisory today:

During the month of January, 2010, the City of Walnut Creek experienced three armed robberies of businesses. All three robberies involved suspects who brandished firearms while committing these crimes. Two of the robberies occurred at banks and the third was at a drug store.

In light of these recent brazen robberies, the Walnut Creek Police Department is working closely with local businesses and residents to inform and educate them on how to prevent and react to such crimes in our town. This proactive and collaborative relationship will help us to identify those involved.

We encourage people to call the Walnut Creek Police Department if you see any suspicious behavior near a business; especially banks. Alert and aware citizens can help prevent these crimes from occurring. The Walnut Creek Police Department is committed to preventing future crimes of this nature.

The Walnut Creek Police Department wants you to know that we are aware of the seriousness of these crimes and we are working diligently to protect and prevent future crimes of this nature. Please help us by contacting our non-emergency police dispatch center at (925) 935-6400 to report suspicious activity. Dial 9-1-1 for in-progress crimes or medical emergencies.

If you have any questions or information regarding the recent robberies, please contact Detective Bertolozzi or Detective Brown at 925-943-5844.

Pitch To Rename Landmark Mountain Has Residents Mad As... El Diablo

Here we go - another attempt to rejigger history in the name of political correctness or, more appropriately in this case - the Lord.

Forgive us, but I don't think God minds that one of his mountains came to be known as "Mount Diablo."

Apparently an Oakley man thinks otherwise. Arthur Mijares thinks the name - derived from an early encounter between a Spanish military expedition and Chupcan Indians - is "profane" and that we would be better served if we named the landmark after Ronald Reagan. Yes, Ronald Reagan.

A devout Christian, Mijares believes the word "Diablo," Spanish for "devil," is "derogatory and profane."

We think past and current efforts to rename historic landmarks and streets in the name of PC revisionism is "degrading and insane."

So there.

Thursday MusicVid: We Need Some Of That "Good Thing"

EastBayDaze always liked those "Young Cannibals," with their mod suits and cool Vespas. We believe front man Roland Gift went into acting after setting the charts on fire with a series of vibey hits.

Nice to bring 'em back, if even for a bit... Enjoy.

Stuck Gas Pedal Sends BMW Into Alamo Home

A quiet Alamo street looked more like a demolition derby this morning after the accelerator pedal on a resident's BMW sports utility vehicle reportedly stuck, sending the vehicle hurtling into a neighboring house and then into the driver's own garage.

The unidentified female driver and her daughter were treated for minor injuries after "hanging on for dear life" when the car they were in tore through a neighbor's living room and then roared back across the street and into her own garage.

Police are picking up the pieces but damage estimates to the house in the 1400 block of Entrada Verde has been put at $200,000. Residents of the home taking the brunt of the collision were not at home - but will most likely have to find temporary lodging elsewhere due to the damage.

Walnut Creek Woman Arrested For Embezzling $900,000

Pleasanton police say they arrested a Walnut Creek woman who allegedly embezzled nearly a million dollars from her employer during the two years she worked as the company's controller.

Police searched the Walnut Creek residence of Kathryn Britto-Florence, 51, after documentation of the theft from the as-yet unnamed company were brought to light. She was booked at Santa Rita Jail and is being held on $500,000 bail.

Investigators noted that Britto-Florence may have a prior conviction for embezzling from another former employer, and that she may have initiated the latest fraud to help pay court-ordered restitution in the earlier case.

"Catcher In The Rye" Author J.D. Salinger Dead At 91

J.D. Salinger, who was thought at one time to be the most important American writer to emerge since World War II but who then turned his back on success and adulation, has died in Cornish, N.H., where he lived in seclusion for more than 50 years, his son told The Associated Press. He was 91.

Bay Area Cities Banning Door-To-Door Magazine Sales

EastBayDaze recently ran off yet another crew of door-to-door magazine peddlers - this group brought in by van and dropped off in various neighborhoods in Moraga and Lafayette. Palo Alto and San Carlos recently cemented their reputations as visionary communities by banning the groups outright.

Complaints have the door-to-door peddlers have included reports of theft, identity theft and, in one case in Lafayette - murder. What many people don't know is that these kids are recruited by older "trainers," sequestered in local hotels and pumped up with bogus stories and a heated sales pitch.

The last guy wouldn't show us his peeling, laminated "I.D." but we got the usual "Good evening, I'm a former bad kid trying to do good... you may know my auntie, she lives around the corner" spiel.

They called themselves "OverAchievers Inc." until we and others outed them, and now they go by a variety of other seemingly honest-sounding monikers - including "Fresh Start." OverAchievers changed its name, of course, after one of their "salesmen" pushed his way into the home of a Lafayette woman, raping and killing her before escaping with items stolen from her home.

Just thought you'd want to know...

Talk Of Expanding St. Marys' McKeon Pavilion Has Neighbors On Edge

St. Mary's McKeon Pavilion - the largest enclosed arena in Contra Costa County - is often packed to the rafters with face-painted students and adoring Gaels fans. The noise inside the tightly packed 3,500 seat area on game nights, many students admit, approaches jet take-off levels.

With the televised success of Gaels basketball and consistently packed bleachers, athletic director Mark Orr has said design plans exist that would "knock out" the front and back walls of the gym, adding 1,000 seats. Maybe more. The college has said they currently do not have the funding for such a project and that there are no immediate plans to build, but neighbors who have heard of the talk and know of the college's propensity for building are on edge.

Neighbors currently navigate two lane roads choked with pre- and post-game enthusiasts and put up with the overflow of fans unwilling to shell out a recently levied $5 on-campus parking fee who park on St. Mary's Road. Post-game revelry has made the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail a popular destination for late night partyers and there have been neighborhood complaints of littering and knots of drinkers imbibing on the trail long after the games end.

Similar campus/neighborhood confrontations have shaped up recently in Berkeley and other college towns.

Any thoughts, Dazers?

Moraga Town Council Approves Downtown Plan

Despite a flurry of last-minute communications and questions from residents concerned by its size and scope, the Moraga Town Council said it was time to "pick the fruit" and unanimously approved guidelines to develop the forlorn Moraga shopping center.

Although council members and property owner David Bruzzone say actual construction remains very much in the future - if at all - the council's passage of height and density limits for a retail/office/senior housing complex on the space now occupied by unoccupied storefronts is the first step to what council member Dave Trotter called a "vital" city center.

At least one speaker and a volley of emails sent to council members by concerned residents this week expressed doubts about plans for 630 new "dwelling units," an 80-room hotel, affordable housing and 50,000 square feet of new retail space.

Eric and Debbie Standring asked the council members to "re-think" the plan.

"It is not what our community wants," they wrote. "We like the town as it is."

Brigid Wonder wrote: "I am concerned that there is a disconnect between what the community has said it wants and the plan that has been developed. In every conversation I have had about Moraga development and in every meeting I or my husband has attended, everyone wants limited growth."

But the council Wednesday said the plan was the best deal they could get, satisfying state-mandated affordable housing requirements and building an Aegis-like senior facility. The plan, as approved, headed off a proposal to build 330 "monster homes" on the site.

Some residents continued to express concerns about crime, traffic and the loss of open space, until the council said it was time to "move forward" with a plan that was in the best interest of the town.

"I believe that it is a good plan arrived at after careful negotiations..." council member Howard Harpham said Wednesday. "It is time to pick the fruit."

The contentious nature of the Moraga Center Specific Plan was heightened during a brief statement by developer Dave Bruzzone, who angrily contested what he said were "last minute changes" to the plan's future approval process - a move he said "could stop the whole deal."

Oscar Grant's Daughter Gets $1.5 Million From BART

BART officials have agreed to pay a $1.5 million settlement to the daughter of Oscar Grant III, a Hayward man killed by a BART police officer at the Fruitvale station in Oakland in January of last year.

Oakland attorney John Burris, who represents 5-year-old Tatiana Grant, and his mother, Wanda Johnson, initiated the claim on behalf of the family. A settlement between BART and Johnson may be forthcoming, insiders say, but a number has yet to be determined.

Tatiana is the daughter of Oscar Grant and his girlfriend, Sophina Mesa, the child's guardian.

Grant, 22, was shot and killed by former BART Officer Johannes Mehserle after Mehserle and other officers responded to reports of a fight on a BART train. Mehserle, who resigned a week after the incident, is charged with Grant's murder and his trial is expected to begin in Los Angeles County Superior Court later this year.

Lamorinda Open Space Groups Rally Against Development

The people most affected may either by asleep, approve of the growth coming to Lamorinda, or simply aren't aware it's about to happen - but local Open Space groups are mobilizing against projects they say will take a lot of the "rural" out of our semi-rural neighborhoods.

Preserve Lamorinda Open Space and the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society are asking interested Lamorindans to write the Moraga Town Council about the Rancho Laguna project (27 more homes east of Rheem Blvd.).

The project would eliminate the creek parallel to Rheem Blvd. using soil excavated from the ridge to fill the stream. Lamorinda Open Space says development would destroy the "riparian canopy and cutting 73 mature native trees. Town staff has pushed for this plan as a means to stabilize Rheem Blvd."

Neighbors appealed the council's approval of the project. A hearing has been scheduled Wednesday, February 24, at 7:30 pm in the Joaquin Moraga Middle School Auditorium, 1010 Camino Pablo, in Moraga.

Six Bucks To Cross The Bay Bridge? Get Outta Here...

It's going to cost you more to cross the Bay Bridge during commute hours. Six bucks. And if you're doing your part to keep the planet from incinerating itself and car pooling - pony up boys and girls and pass the hat from back seat to front, folks - from now on it's $2.50 for the whole car.

The Bay Area Toll Authority bumped the cost of crossing all six Bay Area bridges - the Golden Gate is not affected - after months of public hearings and despite objections from carpoolers.

It's costing more and more to drive in the Bay Area, and we can see where toll hikes based on the congestion already clogging our freeways could be used to maintain overstressed roads and fund alternative means of transportation - but the cost of BART and other public conveyance are also going up, aren't they?

What's a commuter to do?

iPad Takes Center Stage With Jobs

Photo: New York Times/Jim Wilson

Apple CEO Steve Jobs took center stage with his company's latest creation, a tablet he says can help people watch videos, surf the Web, play games and read electronic books.

Traffic Signal Tune-Up At Main & Ygnacio Valley Tonight

The City of Walnut Creek will be fine-tuning the traffic signal at the intersection of Main St and Ygnacio Valley Rd. tonight and they've advised people traveling in the area to be aware.

Lights at the intersection will be down from 10pm Thursday through 4am Friday. The traffic control at this intersection will be 4-way stop using stop signs.

WSJ Video: Preview Of Washington Auto Show

Moraga Historical Society Hosts "Train Talk" At Aegis

Back before SUV's and buses roared up and down the valley a single, elegant train brought visitors, flight school candidates and the city weary to Moraga.

Photo: St. Mary's Road, before the arrival of rail... and traffic.

Vestiges of the valley's dependence on rail transportation are nearly all gone (the refurbished Moraga Barn once served as a hostel of sorts for railway workers) but for one night, at least, old timers and those trying to learn a thing or two can hear about the Golden Age of Rail - courtesy of the Moraga Historical Society.

Members and other interested parties are invited to hear railroad expert John Krauskopf address the group at Aegis Assisted Living, 950 Country Club Drive, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Jerry Brown Taps Orinda's Steven Glazer To Serve As Campaign Czar

The press conference has yet to be called and the announcement made official but EastbayDaze is hearing that gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown will ask Orinda councilman Steve Glazer to head his campaign during Brown's race for the governor's seat.

Glazer has been aligned with the Brown family since he served as communications and policy adviser for Brown’s sister, Kathleen Brown, during her 1994 challenge of then-California Governor Pete Wilson.

A former Orinda mayor, Glazer has been working behind the scene of Brown's campaign for months. Political columnists have identified him as Brown's campaign boss in recent stories and the paid job offer appears to be forthcoming.

Glazer was elected to a four-year term in November 2004, appointed to serve as Mayor Pro Tem for 2006, and as Mayor for 2007, according to the City of Orinda web site. Glazer also served as co-chair of the OUSD Save Our Schools Committee, was a member of the Orinda Fire Campaign Committee, and Orinda Park and Recreation Commission

Glazer is no stranger to the "trenches" of California politics, serving as Republican developer Rob Arkley's spokesman during Arkley's push for a Home Depot Mall on Humboldt Bay - a bitterly contested North Coast battle that ended in a highly publicized shoving match between Arkley and City Councilman Larry Glass. Glazer was mayor of Orinda at the time.

Pioneer Moraga Rancher "Sam" Carr Leaves The Valley

EastBayDaze was very sad to hear that "Sam" Carr passed last Thursday.

Those who knew him and his extended family will know that Sam was a cattleman's cattleman, owning one of the area's largest working ranches and keeping that tradition alive up to his passing.

A particularly memorable "boys night" was held at the ranch's "saloon" way back in 1972 and proved a great way for teen boys to get together and let off steam - with Sam smiling and forgiving us our excesses.

He lived in Moraga for 90 years, and on a road that bears his name.

From his obituary:

Alfred Carr (1919 - 2010)
Alfred "Sam" John Carr Aug. 25, 1919 ~ Jan. 21, 2010 Resident of Moraga Sam Carr passed away on January 21, surrounded by family and friends, in Moraga where he was born and resided for 90 years. He married Mardel Marian Craft on February 2, 1946. They had 4 children. The family all participated in a working cattle ranch that continues today. Sam was preceded in death by his wife Mardel and their daughter Diana. He is survived by his son Scott Carr (wife Kathryn) and daughters Jacqueline Hoover (husband John) and Teresa Morris (husband Ed), all whom reside on the Carr Ranch. He also leaves behind 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Sam's timeless lifestyle and humorous spirit will be greatly missed by all who crossed his path. We invite you to share in a celebration of his life at 1:00pm, January 31st at St. Mary's College in the Soda Center.

WC School District Expected To Topple "Tower Of Doom"

Word coming out of the Walnut Creek School District offices is that a controversial broadband Internet antenna proposed for installation at Walnut Heights Elementary School won't beam a single radio wave if the district has anything to say about it.

At least not from district property. The proposal by Clearwire Corp. would have put $15,000 in leasing fees in district coffers but concerns over emissions from the 37-foot-pole, camouflaged to look like a tree, apparently swayed district officials.

Superintendent Patricia Wool said in an email to parents today that she does not think the antenna is a good idea, and that Clearwire was not able to adequately explain its impact on little Walnut Creekians scampering around beneath it.

A formal vote on the issue has been scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday at the district offices, 960 Ygnacio Valley Road.

DOT Expected To Announce Ban On Text Messaging Today

High on our list of "it's about time" legislation is Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's ban on text messaging for drivers of commercial vehicles. LaHood is expected to announce the ban today.

It should be known that the lobbyists, cell phone companies and irresponsible politicians have allowed the nearly epidemic use of personal electronic devices while driving to take hold and that nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2008 alone.

Twice the number of folks killed Sept. 11 and no sign that it will stop anytime soon. EastBayDaze would feel safer out there if something was done, even though we have been flipped off, openly chastised and threatened by multi-taskers who object to our requests that they hang up and drive.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says the worst offenders are the youngest and least-experienced drivers — generally those under 20 years old, but we have found that all age groups are represented. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.

Earlier this month, LaHood said he would support legislation to deny federal funds to states that allow drivers to text and reward states that ban such activities. Bills to do just that have been introduced in Congress.

Nearly 20 states already have some type of ban on text messaging while driving, while six states ban drivers from using handheld cell phones, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. The group expects more states to adopt bans this year.

Ex-Gael Teahen Returns For St. Mary's "Players" Night

Mark Teahen, all-time leading batter for the St. Mary's Gaels (.368 for 2000-02) and freshman third baseman for the Chicago White Sox, returns to his alma mater for "Meet the Players Night" on Feb. 13.

Mad As Hatters, Perhaps, But Never Afraid To Wave Their Flag!

Okay, call me crazy but I like the British. Always have. I forgive them their eccentricities and envy them their museums.

Had the pleasure of being invited to one of these national sing-alongs back in the eighties. Royal Albert Hall is magnificent and even the best musical talent in the country isn't afraid to poke a little fun at themselves at the last night of the Proms.

Rule Britannia! But I'm still glad we beat them as we did. Huzzah for Yankee Doodle!

"Open Carry" Folks Barred From Local Businesses

A brass roots movement touting the lawful if somewhat disconcerting practice of toting one's unloaded private sidearm around in public is meeting with approval from gun rights advocates - but wrinkling the brows of local business owners who find themselves hosts to "Open Carry" events.

The meetings of like-minded folks who don't mind occasional police frisks and a lot of staring - some panicked, some admiring - have been creating a bit of a stir lately.

Small groups of "Open Carry-ers" turn out for regular "carry-ins" at local businesses, getting people used to the idea, they say, of constitutionally protected rights to bear arms. Unloaded arms, yes, but still worn on the hip.

And don't think that doesn't get people's attention.

Allow us to "out" ourselves a bit here. EastBayDaze believes in the Second Amendment and we will say that we have been in situations where we would have felt a little less anxious had we been heeled at the time. And given that there are now 16-year-olds riding around with AK-47s strapped under their hoodies, it may seem to make sense that a lawful citizen be allowed to bring a little equalizing firepower to any potential conflict.

At the same time, given the proliferation of workplace shootings, mass killings and other mayhem perpetrated by unstable people with easy availability to firearms, you have to question the motives of folks who bring their guns with them to buy a Happy Meal.

Planned "Open Carry" gatherings at the California Pizza Kitchen in Walnut Creek and Peet's locations have been called off after the owners of those businesses said the group was not welcome. Apparently it does not help the digestive ability of your typical suburban Soccer Mom to have four or five guys with firearms knocking back a cappuccino so close to Junior's Graco you could hit him with the paper jacket from your straw.

Open Carry advocates remain nonplussed, saying they don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable and that they will take their business elsewhere. And it seems that some business owners have no problem with having a squad of armed men in their stores - perhaps because they've been robbed once or twice.

Anyway, we'll see what happens. Open Carry continues to attract attention and supporters fed up with crime and what many see as California's overly restrictive gun laws. The media attention they get from their gatherings also appears to be helping their cause, though some people say there are no more renegade Indians to fight or outlaws to face down - and perhaps it's time for the group to keep their weapons to themselves.

How 'bout you, where do you stand? Feel better ordering a pizza with your Beretta on your hip? Or does it just make you nervous when you see the guy next to you wearing his? Or hers?

Wall Street Journal Market Report: Invest? Or Not?

Former Moraga Mayor Questions Moraga's Current Direction

As we have often here at EastBayDaze, former town Mayor Lynda Deschambault was sitting in gridlock traffic on Moraga Way recently when she "penned" this inquiry into her PDA - questioning the direction the town is taking relative to its growth.

Deschambault, a 20-year resident of Moraga, titled her gridlocked musings: "Where have all the Moraga Visionaries gone?"

Here it is:

"Darn! 7:50 am and it's Moraga gridlock time. I inch forward and wonder how we’ll evacuate in the event of a large fire. How will we handle the 1,300 additional new homes presented in last year’s state of the town address?

"I watch 11 cars cut through the shopping center trying to avoid the next congested intersection. There go eight more. That’s one way to get folks to our retail center. Too bad the stores are all vacant.

"Next Wednesday, Jan. 27, the town council will approve plans for 630 new homes and 140 thousand square feet of retail/office space. My elected officials told me "it’s what’s best for the community." They also told me "it’s the only thing the Bruzzones will sign." A Planning director in Oakland tells me 'that is not a plan for a specific area — that is a development agreement.'

"Moraga argues the need to comply with state affordable housing regulations and renovate our downtown areas. Cities everywhere face the same issue. Moraga is asked to build 307 affordable homes, yet not one of the 630 homes about to be approved includes any binding language to ensure they are affordable. Rather the town hopes to get 'credit' for high density housing. That is not the same. Other cities provide specific legal language and compliance procedures to guarantee senior housing at affordable prices. One Planning commissioner asked for the word 'affordable' to be placed in the mission statement. The planning director recommended against it. Other communities are creative in their redevelopment and planning process to meet state goals and have been for 10-20 years. We’ve proudly curtailed growth in Moraga, and now we’re rushing a plan on Wednesday that will bring us 30 units per acre and a new three story building ordinance in town. The old retail areas aren’t even mentioned.

"This is not the well thought out, renovated, tied together, community gathering place that I envisioned would come out of this five year process. Will future generations have the chance to enjoy what I have so loved about this town? Where have all the visionaries for a semi-rural Moraga gone?"


Lynda Deschambault
Former Mayor of Moraga.

"Chemical Ali," Hussein's Cousin And Aide, Is Executed

Ali Hassan al-Majid, known throughout Iraq as Chemical Ali for his role in the 1988 campaign that killed as many as 180,000 Kurdish men, women, and children - was executed today.

Bin Laden Claims "Credit" For Christmas Terror Effort

Perhaps in an effort to appear still viable and operational, Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the failed Christmas Day bombing effort aboard a Detroit-bound airliner in an audio message released today.

OBL, or "The Beard" as he is known to the troops lined up to kill him or drag him from his cave, also threatened more attacks on the U.S. - even though, if true, his last attempt failed to detonate in the would-be bomber's diaper.

U.S. Intelligence experts say there is nothing to indicate bin Laden or any of his subordinates had anything to do with the Christmas Day effort, and that he may merely be attempting to appear "at the helm" of al-Qaida operations worldwide.

"They offer strategic guidance and rely on their affiliates to carry out that strategic guidance," State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said in an interview.

"He (bin Laden) is trying to continue to appear relevant," he said.

Lucky Marine Defies "Victim Operated" IED: Fine Reporting By NYTimes - How Is YOUR Day Going?

EastBayDaze was cruising its inbox this morning and came across a link to a New York Times story filed from Helmand Province in Afghanistan, where a lot of our people are hanging their lives out on the line for - their buddies, the Corps, us.

New York Times Photo by Tyler Hicks: Lance Cpl. Ryan T. Mathison, left, after stepping on a mine that did not go off.

Don't know why this story pulled us in so much, except that it is a gripping account of the Leatherneck experience in Afghanistan, an account of one Marine's up close and personal contact with one of the hundred things that can kill a man there in the course of his day.

Great writing from the front lines. Maybe it will give us pause. Think about them while we're filling the SUV with gas or standing in line for coffee. Puts things in perspective for us, at least.

Hanks, Spielberg Bring Us "The Pacific" - Airs March 14

What "Band of Brothers" did for the service of airborne forces in World War II, the soon-to-be-released "The Pacific" will surely do for the Marine Corps.

The ten-part series will air in March. If it was anything like Band of Brothers, have a supply of tissues on hand.

Nice to see someone has captured what happened out in those islands.

Tornado Warning Issued For Contra Costa County

Funnel clouds were spotted today near Brentwood, moving east at about 5 mph.

There were no reports of damage or injuries in the area, according to sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee. A shelter in place warning was in effect for residents of Discovery Bay but that was soon lifted.

Let's Send Our Farms To China, Too - Whaddaya Say?

With much of our nation's industrial base exported to foreign lands and all that coming back to haunt us - e.g. this week's arrival of much-needed structural steel from China intended for our Bay Bridge, late, and delivered within feet of rusting shipyards that once turned out two finished ships a day during World War II.

Detroit. The Rust Belt. American farmers paid not to grow crops and sell off their land to developers who put up research parks. Okay, perhaps there's a master plan at work, we'd like to think so.

And then we hear of men like Dean Pierson, 59, who was found dead in his upstate New York barn Thursday. A suicide.

A note was found but Mr. Pierson left a stronger message when he took his own life. He killed 51 of his milk cows before turning his rifle on himself. Neighboring farmers who turned out to bury the animals would not talk about Pierson or the way he ended his life - but one merely said: "These are hard times to be a farmer."

Remember all those amber waves of grain?

Dippy Interview But Interesting Technology: PPVs In Our Future?

Local Business Owners: Tense But Tenacious

EastBayDaze was out and about the last 48 hours, spreading the wealth around Lamorinda and environs and taking the pulse of local businesses whose owners say they are fighting off a mounting gloom, staying positive and carefully maintaining their service levels.

While the sign of the times for many local business seems to have a "Closeout Sale" on it, others are hanging in with steadfast determination and a more friendly, outgoing approach to customers.

We liked that.

Started out last night in search of a meal for some new arrivals in town and found that the Ranch House was closed and dark. It wasn't looking good so we headed toward Rheem, ending up at Mondello's and engaged in conversation with the always-fun owner, Marco - whose own family had come in to have dinner with Papa.

We liked that, too, as it reminded us of our own Italian heritage and the "family-style" approach to dining we always enjoyed. Marco says things have been slow but steady, with old favorites dropping in to get their own dose of good Italian food (hear that, Angelo?) and his "can do" approach to cooking keeping customers in his seats and coming back.

He proved it yet again when we ordered up a last minute plate of pasta for a late arrival and Marco brought it around himself, bidding us farewell as we stepped out into the rain.

The personal touch is good business, we feel, and reminded us of Robert Young, owner of Diablo Digital Printing in Pleasant Hill, who once drove out of his way to deliver a small print job to us and ended up staying for a chat. Robert's photos still grace our pages from time to time.

And then, today, it was my wife's turn to experience the "personal touch" a good business person brings to their business, when she picked up a bottle of Tractor Shed Red from a local retailer. She remarked that it was from St. Helena, a favorite town of ours, and that I would like it and was heading for the checkout line when the winemaker, Ron Vuylsteke, from Cerruti Cellars, stopped her.

"What's your husband's name?" he asked, and when she told him he grabbed a pen and inked a "Thank you!" onto the bottle.

You gotta like a guy who stops long enough to give a sale the personal touch. And don't think we won't be stopping by Cerruti on our next visit to the Napa Valley.

Groundbreaking Today For Caldecott Tunnel Project

Gold shovels and guest speakers were on hand for today's ceremonial groundbreaking of a tunneling project which, when completed in 2013, will bring a much-needed fourth bore to the Caldecott Tunnel.

Real work is expected to begin in two weeks. It is hoped that construction of the new bore will alleviate some of the traffic jams often encountered at the Caldecott during commute hours.

Moraga Town Councilman Joins Contra Costa Mayors' Conference

Moraga Councilman Dave Trotter will serve as the new vice chairman of the Contra Costa Mayors' Conference for 2010. Hercules Vice Mayor Ed Balico will head the group as chairman.

The mayor's conference provides a forum for the mayors of the county's 19 cities to meet and mull regional issues. Meetings are public. The Mayors' Conference meets on the first Thursday of each month in designated host cities.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Richmond Memorial Convention Center, 403 Civic Center Plaza, in Richmond.

St. Mary's College Shells San Diego, 71-56, In Moraga

Omar Samhan scored 20 points, Ben Allen added another 14 points with 10 rebounds and Saint Mary's sailed past San Diego 71-56 in Moraga on Thursday night.

Mickey McConnell also had 14 points for the Gaels (17-3, 4-1 West Coast Conference), who went on a 23-2 run early in the first half, then coasted to their fourth win in five games over the visiting Toreros.

Technology As Revenge Tool: Oracle Exec Finds Out The Hard Way That Hell Hath No Fury...

We hang with a lot of technology guys in our line and learned of an innovative, if somewhat creepy, digital shafting by a spurned lover after her Oracle exec dream date ended their relationship.

Apparently some programmers, designers and media specialists made some good money from YaVaughnie Wilkins' public outing of Oracle co-president Charles Phillips, who admitted this week to an 8 1/2 year "relationship" with Wilkins.

Wilkins didn't like becoming the "ex-other woman" and launched a billboard and Internet campaign that aired private communications and mementos in a very public way. Billboards depicting a picture of the couple snuggling sprung up briefly in major cities across the county, including San Francisco, but have since been taken down.

Wilkins fired her parting salvo at Phillips after learning of his reconciliation with his wife. Phillips, 50 admitted the affair: "I had an 8 1/2 year serious relationship with YaVaughnie Wilkins," he said in a statement to NBC Bay Area. "My divorce proceedings began in 2008. The relationship with Ms. Wilkins has since ended and we both wish each other well."

Ummm, maybe not so much. A web site designed by San Jose-based designer Bela Kovacs contained a digital shoebox of photos, ticket stubs to various events, love notes and, yuck, karaoke recordings made while Wilkins and Phillips were an item. That site was also hurriedly taken down.

Another Miscreant Walks Away Without A Scratch

Back in our days on the police beat we marveled at the ability of some transgressors to walk away from the mayhem they triggered unscathed - while innocents died around them.

"God giving us the finger," a beat-weary Pleasanton copper said one horrific night in that town back in 1982. "There's no such thing as justice."

He was remarking on the ability of a completely hammered Livermore roofer to survive a grinding crash after speeding from his hometown to Pleasanton at 102 mph - in a failed effort to take his own life.

Livermore Man emerged from the smoking ruin of his shattered wagon with nothing more serious than a bloody nose. Twenty feet away, however, was the still-smoldering shell of a car belonging to the Pleasanton teenager who had the misfortune of pulling out directly into the path of the oncoming suicide runner.

The kid didn't make it, his driver's license blowing up against my shoe. That's how they identified him.

And then there's the more recent case of Leo Ray Olguin, 22, from Hayward. He's facing three murder counts, three counts of robbery, three counts of evading arrest and one count of felony DUI ending in death or major injury after the car he was driving slid under a big rig during a high-speed chase Dec. 23.

Olguin was arrested at the scene of the crash. Police say he had run stop signs and intersections before hitting a tractor trailer at Foothill Boulevard and A Street - killing passengers Andrew Falcon, 17, of Livermore; Dominic Hall, 18, of Hayward; and Vanessa Hurtado, 16, of San Leandro. A fourth passenger spent several days in the hospital with significant head injuries, authorities said.

Olguin escaped without major injuries. Investigators say he ducked when the car went under the big rig, partially severing the roof and crushing it to door-level - and killing his friends, of course.

Olguin had a blood alcohol level just above the state's legal limit when he was arrested. Police say he was speeding away from an armed robbery in a residential Hayward neighborhood reported 45 minutes before the 12:15 a.m. crash and that a gun and personal items from one of the robbery victims was found in the car after the crash.

It was Olguin, police say, who touched off a Dec. 11 car chase that ended when pursuing officers called off the pursuit due to high speeds in rainy conditions. He had also been reported missing from a halfway house the day before the fatal crash.

We can't help but wonder if the families of the three people who died when Olguin took off that day sensed that God had just gestured rudely in their direction.

Walnut Creek Man Found Dead In Lafayette

A man found dead in the bushes adjacent to a home in the 800 block of Moraga Road Wednesday has been identified as Michael McDowell, 26, of Walnut Creek.

Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, said McDowell's body was discovered at 3:11 p.m. Wednesday by a resident working in his front yard. There were no signs of foul play and it was not immediately known what caused McDowell's death, Lee said.

Investigators are working to determine what McDowell was doing in the area and how he got there.

"He did have some health issues, apparently, which we're looking into," Lee said. Toxicology results are pending.

McDowell's discovery and the subsequent police response prompted a number of inquiries from concerned residents passing through the heavily trafficked area.

Parents Not Happy With Walnut Creek "Tower Of Doom"

Parents, as you might expect, are not happy with a plan to erect a Wi-Fi tower at Walnut Heights Elementary School - even if it is carefully camouflaged to look like a pine tree.

Photo: "Stealthy" Cell Tower in Palm Tree

The issue, first reported by cyber-colleague "Soccer Mom," drew more than 100 people to a meeting held this week to address parental concerns over low-range radiation emissions from the proposed tower. If approved, it would go up at the rear of the school adjacent to the Shell Ridge Open Space. It would also bring about $15,000 in rental fees to the cash-strapped school - even though district superintendent Patricia Wool said that potential windfall would not factor into their decision.

"The district has no deep commitment," she said as parents shifted in their seats. "Would we ever fill it with money that would hurt your children? No."

The company behind the proposal, Clearwire of Kirkland, Wash., said the antenna would support subscribers to the company's WiMax broadband service. Parents, however, were unimpressed.

"I don't want my kids used as an experiment," said John Johnson. "Wi-Fi is not that important."

The school board is expected to consider the issue again Feb. 1. Meanwhile, parents vowed to oppose any plan to erect a tower of any kind, saying they would come up with the money the district would derive from its lease themselves.

Energy Department Loans $465 Million To Tesla Motors

The U.S. Department of Energy gave electric car maker Tesla Motors a $465 million jump start today to assist in the construction of two manufacturing facilities industry insiders say will generate more than 1,600 new jobs at completion.

Tesla said a new powertrain production facility in Palo Alto's Stanford Research Park will turn out electric vehicle battery packs, electric motors and other equipment for Tesla's line of electric cars as well as to other manufacturers.

Tesla plans to move its corporate headquarters to that locaion, a renovated 350,000-square-foot manufacturing facility formerly occupied by Hewlett-Packard and Agilent Technologies. Part of the loan will also be used to build an assembly plant in Southern California geared to produce Tesla's Model S sedan.

"State Of Emergency" Declared In San Francisco, Three Other Counties

Acting Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for the city and county of San Francisco and three other counties due to damage, deaths and injuries caused by this week's flurry of storm fronts.

A "State of Emergency" proclamation indicates that conditions are beyond the control of any single county or city and require the combined resources of mutual aid. State government, employees, personnel, facilities and equipment will now be able to provide assistance to the four counties hardest hit by this week's storms.

A state of emergency was also called for in Los Angeles, Riverside and Siskiyou counties.

Bloggers Cover The East Bay - Not Bad For A "Part Time" Gig

EastBayDaze was having one of its all-too-infrequent chats with cyber-colleague "Soccer Mom" - she of the popular "Crazy In Suburbia" web site - and trading notes about these little enterprises of ours.

Like EBD, "Crazy" is a part-time gig for "Mom," who has a big job and kids to take care of. With all that, she's still managing to break stories and get people talking about things they might not normally be inclined to discuss. Same with us.

With the occasional scoops and community coverage comes some attention and even, when nerves get touched, some notoriety. People have hammered us for being "rabble rousers" and much worse. It can get a little lonely hanging out there on that unsupported limb, lions circling beneath us and none of the backup afforded to larger, "traditional" news organizations. That's part of the game.

And then you see your words in the New York Times or you get a nice note from someone far away. Like this one:

"My (only) grandchild attends DelRay Elementary and lives with his parents on Moraga Way. So although I live in San Rafael, I keep thinking about moving to Moraga because I spend so much time hanging out in the area with my grandson.

I first became aware of your webpage after I found it referenced in a comment to a SF Gate article about Joe Loudon.

I think your page really helps to "create community" and hope you are able to continue to keep up the good work."

This was from "Frances" and don't think we didn't puff up when we got it. We've been up for the biggest prize in journalism before but this little note packed quite a punch.

So thanks, Frances, and everyone else out there who have joined the "EastBayDaze Irregulars." Hearing from you means the world to us - and keeps us in the trenches and swinging.

Thirty-One Souls Jump From "Bridge of Gold" In 2009

It's a national and civic landmark. It's also an example of the best that mankind can build, a great golden span in streamline moderne. For 31 people last year - and more than 1,300 since it was completed in 1937 - the Golden Gate Bridge was also the last thing they saw before they ended their lives.

Some jump from the west side, looking out at the great expanse of ocean that will claim some of them forever. Those jumping from the eastern rail - and charmed enough to have lived - say they do so for the last, unparalleled view of the city.

EastBayDaze can remember talking one would-be jumper out of it back in 1993, when a German "stunt man" wandered into the news room looking for information on the bridge and ways to survive the 220-foot free fall to San Francisco Bay.

We told him his chances were about one in thirty, that the winds beneath the bridge would probably flip him over on his back and guarantee that he struck the concrete-hard water in a catastrophic belly-flop capable of bursting internal organs.

He showed us his "special gear," elastic bands he was going to wrap around his ankles, knees, wrists, and elbows. No, thanks, we said but we would most definitely not like to film his attempt as we didn't cover suicides.

We never heard from him again but we didn't get the usual call of a "jumper" so we're hoping he ate some crab, hit the clubs, and eventually went back to Berlin.

There have been calls for a barrier with which to deter those so forlorn that they climb the rail and take that last, awful step - but we can't agree with that. We remember the time a man jumped, landing in a newly installed net designed to catch suicides - and as police and bystanders called to him to come back he bounced out to the end of the net and accomplished his initial goal.

It is an awful and sad truth that something so beautiful can attract those so desperate as to use it as a mechanism in their own demise.

Lamorinda Police Agencies Preparing Case Against Orinda "Flasher"

Police in Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda are building their case against a 40-year-old Orinda man suspected of a string of daylight "flashing" incidents in Lamorinda and Alamo.

Todd Hager has reportedly admitted to several incidents in which a man, often seen in or near a gray Infiniti sedan, exposed himself to groups of male and female students on several occasions starting in August of last year.

Hager was arrested at his residence by Lafayette police, acting on a report of a suspicious man exposing himself in a gray car parked near Lafayette Elementary School on Jan. 1. He reportedly told investigators he was "under a lot of stress" at the time.

Hager has been linked to two incidents in Moraga and several others in the area. Charges against him will be presented to the District Attorney's Office simultaneously, investigators say. A gray Infiniti was found parked at his residence.

Orinda Woman's Death Stuns Her Family And Friends

Death is often a part of what we do at EastBayDaze, seeing much of it during our time recording the ups and downs of people's lives.

Every once in awhile a person's passing touches us in a personal way, as it did in the case of Olivia Stein, 24, of Orinda.

Olivia graduated from Columbia University in 2008 with a degree in Art History, accomplished much in her academic career and belonged to several social and charitable organizations. People eulogizing her after her death this month all talked of her "razor sharp" intellect, quick mind and giving heart.

We can attest to that as Olivia contacted EastBayDaze in the weeks following a devastating March 26 motorcycle crash in Marin County in which she was involved. She said she had gone riding with Anthony John Butt, 35, of Sausalito on that day, that Butt was drinking and eventually crashed his 2005 Harley-Davidson while getting on southbound Highway 101 at Freitas Parkway as they were coming home.

Both riders were thrown to the pavement. Stein suffered a lacerated liver, cuts to her tongue, lost teeth, a fractured vertebrae and possible brain injuries. An investigation put Butt's blood alcohol level at .21 percent - nearly three times the legal limit for driving - and he pleaded guilty to charges of drunken driving and causing great bodily injury, staving off prison. His attorney says he also suffered head injuries in the crash and didn't remember much of what happened before he lost control.

Butt remains free but faces up to a year in jail when he is sentenced Feb. 2, and he could still get a six-year prison term if he violates the terms of his probation. He has a prior drunken driving conviction from Santa Barbara County.

Olivia came home to be treated for her injuries, and took time to contact EastBayDaze after the accident in an impressive attempt to tell her side of the story.

"It wasn't a date, a boyfriend/girlfriend kind of thing," she said at the time. "It was an outing with a friend. I had no idea he would be drinking that much."

She was candid about her experience and hopeful her involvement would be portrayed correctly.

"I made a mistake," she said.

We found her measured and forthright, and remember being impressed by the intellect behind her words. Even though our contact was minimal, she seemed every bit as impressive as the friends and family who eulogized her after she passed earlier this month said she was.

Posters to this blog say she passed in her sleep. Funeral services were held January 15 in Oakland.

Martinez Junior High School Student Arrested For Selling Prescription Drugs

Martinez police arrested a Martinez Junior High School student for allegedly selling stolen prescription drugs to other students - and for having other students sell the drugs for him.

Police were contacted Friday when a student reported feeling ill, eventually confessing that he had purchased the prescription drugs from the suspect and taken them. Investigators say the "ring leader," who they declined to identify because of his age, is new to the area. He told them he had purchased the prescription drugs from the suspect and swallowed them.

Officers learned that 11 other students had purchased drugs from the suspect and distributed them for him. More than 30 pills of various description were eventually confiscated from students.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale.

NYTimes News Burst: Supreme Court Rejects Campaing Spending Limits

The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on their participation in federal campaigns.

The court on Thursday overturned a 20-year-old ruling that said corporations can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to pay for campaign ads. The
decision almost certainly will also allow labor unions to participate more freely in campaigns and threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states.

"Freedom Rings" In Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek's California Symphony will present "Freedom Rings" on Jan. 24 and 26 as part of its 2009-2010 season.

The program features Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait" with comedian/satirist Will Durst as narrator; Mozart's Symphony No. 35 "Haffner;" and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 "Scottish."

Tickets for both shows are $44, $54 and $64; go to the Lesher Center's Web site at www.lesherartscenter.org for tickets and information.

Okay, Moraga, There's A New Lawman In Town...

... and his name is Michael Foley. He has been on duty for a couple of days now doing his field training and learning the ins and outs of our mean streets.

Chief Priebe was feeling the lack of available manpower, we know, and Officer Foley's hire brings the Moraga police department's strength to ten officers with a benchmark roster of 12.

Still, nice to have a new officer on the job and welcome Officer Foley, who comes from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Be nice to him out there.

Gunman Makes Withdrawal From Walnut Creek Bank

Walnut Creek police are looking for a man who robbed a Bank of the West branch at 2050 North Calif. Blvd. this morning, displaying a handgun and making off with an unspecified amount of cash.

Sgt. Roman Martinez says the robber entered the branch at 9:19 a.m. this morning, showed a teller his gun and demanded money. Police responding to the area where unable to located the gunman.

He is described thusly:
Black male adult in his 20’s, approx. 6’ feet tall, medium build. Last seen wearing an olive green parka with a fur-lined hood, black ski mask, black shirt, black gloves, dark pants, and dark sneakers. He was armed with a handgun.

Anyone with information on this robbery should call the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 943-5844.

Need A Car For Town? Orindan Has One For A Mere $140,000

Need a town car for soccer practice? Trips to Safeway and Starbucks? If you've got a spare $140,000 lying around, and who doesn't, then one Orinda car fancier has just the scooter for you.

"John" has a Pearl Yellow 2008 Giallo Midas Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera up for sale.

As he says: "This car has 14,300 miles and is in absolute perfect condition with every option from the factory except fire extinguisher. Just serviced at Lamborghini of San Francisco (BMC) 2,000 miles ago. The car comes with all service records and manuals. I am selling this car because I need the money for a business investment!"

It's loaded, with Carbon Ceramic Brakes for those quick stops in front of Safeway when a parking spot opens up; navigation system for finding your way to Starbucks and matched floor mats ("put that juice down, Brittney, it's going to spill...damn!") and more.

$139,950 or best offer. John says he's willing to negotiate if the transaction is swift and the currency green.

Orinda Battles The Storm - Wires Down, Some Power Out

Our very diligent friends at the Orinda city offices are still at the helm of their soggy ship and they report a couple of storm-related problems this morning:

Donald Drive is now open to residents only (no buses, garbage trucks, etc). The tree has been cleared to allow for residents to pass. A private arborist, hired by the property owner, will be on site tomorrow to remove the remaining tree debris. PG&E estimates power restoration between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. this evening.

Glorietta Elementary School and OIS have their power back up thanks to the guys and gals who come out and play with high-voltage wires in rainstorms.

Note: Call PG&E at 800-743-5000 to report a power outage or to receive power outage updates.

6.1 Temblor Rattles Nerves In Haiti, Estimated 200,000 Dead

Last week's 7.1 earthquake killed an estimated 200,000 people in Haiti, left 250,000 injured and made 1.5 million homeless, according to the European Union, and a new shaker - a 6.1 temblor that sent Haitians and emergency responders racing for open ground - rattled already frayed nerves today.

The magnitude 6.1 temblor was the largest of more than 40 significant aftershocks that have followed the Jan. 12 quake.

New York Times To Charge For Access To Web Edition

Our good friends at the New York Times announced today that starting early next year visitors will get a limited number of articles free every month before being asked to pay for a flat fee for access.

Seventh Suspect In Richmond High Rape Case Surrenders

John Crane, a suspect in the rape and robbery of a 16-year-old Richmond girl outside her homecoming dance, walked into Richmond police headquarters Tuesday and surrendered.

Computer Bandits Strike Again At St. Mary's College

Students and staff at St. Mary's have written us in the past about an apparent spike in computer thefts at Moraga's landmark university. The high priced, highly portable devices are tempting targets, apparently.

Two more thefts were reported recently, with a person or persons unknown making their way into Ageno Hall and making off with three Mac Book laptops, a Blackberry Tour, iPod Touch, and one iHome iPod player from two unsecured dorm rooms on Jan. 14, while a second theft occurred Jan. 17.

Loss in the first instance was, ouch, about $3,800 and who knows what kind of data was stored on those devices. Two laptops stolen from an unlocked dorm room on Jan. 17 were worth $1,400, according to their former owners.

Note to the victims: cruise Craigslist in the next few days and see if they turn up there. Others have.

AP Report: Scott Brown Wins U.S. Senate Seat In Massachusetts

The Associated Press has called the Massachusetts Senate race in favor of Scott Brown, the Republican candidate.

Pot Of Gold Sought In Lafayette

EastBayDaze was very pleased to hear from reader Lisa Libby Albert today as she bore incontrovertible evidence that rainbows do hover over Lafayette.

"It was raining too hard for me to willingly go further than my backyard," she wrote, "so I hope someone will send you one that is more picturesque."

We don't know, Lisa, this one will do just fine. Thanks for the pretty picture...

Pot-Smoking Frisbee Golfers Anger Moraga Man

A Moraga homeowner is fighting a leafy battle of wills with those hell-raising Frisbee golfers who like to throw the disc around in a course built just for them behind the Moraga Commons.

Turns out a resident in the 1400 block of St. Mary's Road objects to the "golfers" taking time out between holes with a little pot and a drink or two on a makeshift bench they've built directly behind the man's home. They objected mightily when he began dumping his leaves over his fence and in their direction.

Apparently the battle lines are drawn and the resident has asked for extra police patrol and for Public Works to relocate the Frisbee "hole."

We'll see how that goes.

Danville Man Fights The Law, And The Law Wins

First mistake: roll through a stop sign. Second: do it in front of a police officer. Third: think the high-centered Lincoln Navigator you're driving can outrun a police cruiser.

Danville resident Nareg Hovsepyan, 19, thought he could do all that and more Saturday night. Police say he rabbited when the local gendarmes lit him up at the intersection of Sycamore Valley Road and Greenbrook Drive around 9:30 p.m., driving into a shopping center at Camino Tassajara and Tassajara Ranch Drive and abandoning the Navigator and losing a footrace and wrestling match with the officers.

He was booked on suspicion of felony evasion of officers, driving while intoxicated, and resisting arrest.

San Ramon police and a "K-9 officer" also took part in the chase but Nareg wisely surrendered before the dog could do what he is trained to do, police say.

Giving 101 - Lamorindans Looking For One-Click Donation?

You want to help. You're short of time and you want to make sure your money goes to where it can do the most good.

Gotcha. EastBayDaze has been getting inquiries from a number of folks who want to help people caught in this current international calamity.

Check out these organizations, favorites of ours for whatever good that does you, but we have actually seen them in action so they get our donations when things go south somewhere in the world. Like now.


AmeriCares
A nonprofit disaster relief organization delivering medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis anywhere in the world. Donations go toward medicine and medical supplies and for expenses for providing that medical aid.

Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders)
Saw these guys at work in Africa and they are committed and good. The group delivers medical care to people in need of treatment anywhere around the world. Donations going to rebuilding the obstetrics and trauma hospitals in Haiti. They have also dispatched 70 doctors and tons of medical supplies to the island.


Direct Relief International
Direct Relief provides medical attention to those in need on an ongoing basis and in emergencies. Monetary donations go toward medical aid, supplies and equipment in Haiti.

Lafayette's Venerable Shuffleboard Game Gets Some Ink

EastBayDaze had one of those dot.bomb gigs around the turn of the century (no, not that century). A favorite passtime of a dedicated and very young staff was to decompress at the end of a 12-hour day and shatter Lafayette's standing shuffleboard record at the old Roundup Saloon.

Yes, occasionally some beer was involved. But infrequently. The saloon was a warm and welcome home away from the IT cubicle farm. Yes, they let us have our own cappuccino maker but it was still a grind.

The Chronicle recently discovered the Roundup's slick-as-hell shuffleboard table and covered it in their compilation of the Bay Area's best parquet bar games. Brought back a lot of great memories.

Now, THIS Is What We Call A Storm!

Nice, wet, early morning wake up call, eh? A rolling thunderclap and the Labrador seeking cover on the bed with his human friends. Up and at 'em before the rooster calls, firing up the cappuccino maker before the power goes out.

We're a little dependent on electricity around EastBayDaze (we're working on that) and we're waiting for the blackout many of our neighbors have already experienced. So far, the levees are holding and the cisterns doing their job.

Today is supposed to be a warm-up for tomorrow, and we're looking forward to seeing what Ma Nature has in store for us. Meanwhile, the phone is heating up with locals checking in to see how we're faring, including a call from the unsinkable Elsie Mastick, who has lived in Moraga more than 50 years - "when there were more cows than people." Miss Elsie is something of a mainstay around these parts, with a lot of passion for Moraga and its history packed into a rather petite frame.

Her Historical Society has some cool new seminars coming up which should help shed some light on our affection for this old valley of ours and we'll let you know the details when we get them.

We took advantage of that brief lull and made it over to McConnell & Son jewelers over in Walnut Creek, hearing more horror stories about the local economy from the good folks there. Apparently some of the local ladies are making ends meet by offering their gold baubles to the jeweler's smelter - "making their house payment for another month," according to the nice people behind the counter.

Yikes. We're sorry about that, remembering the stories grandma used to tell about selling the family gold on the front porch of her home in Marin just to buy food for the month. Hang in there, guys, and watch this space for more news and information from Lamorinda and environs. We may be wet, but our sense of humor is still very, very dry.

Pharmaceuticals, Health Care Stocks Jump

Miramonte Junior Writes About 911 Immunity For Partyers

Miramonte High School Junior Caroline Cook writes for the Mirador, the school paper. Her mom, an attorney, is also representing the teenage host of a by now infamous Orinda house party during which Joe Loudon, a neighbor and friend, passed out and eventually died.

Young Caroline states the case for a 911 Immunity Law for partyers confronted by emergency but afraid to summon help for fear of lawful repercussion. We've covered this issue previously in EastBayDaze.

You can read Caroline's story in the Los Angeles Times by clicking HERE.

Relief Efforts Struggling To Reach Haiti; Hope Turns To Chaos

The world has mobilized to provide relief to the dusty rubble heap that is Haiti, and that seems to be the problem as the island nation's lone airport has been inundated to the point of mid-air collision and helicopter air drops have proven to be the fastest method of getting supplies to those in need.

There are reports of widespread looting and gunfire in the capital city of Port au Prince as Blackhawk helicopters ferried military rations from U.S. Navy ships unable to dock at the country's battered port. The choppers are being vectored in to centralized locations, hovering and kicking food and supplies out the doors to avoid being rushed by frantic Haitians, then taking off and repeating the process.

About 1,700 people camped on the grass in front of the prime minister’s office compound in the Pétionville neighborhood, pleading for biscuits and water-purification tablets distributed by aid groups. A sign on one fallen building in Nazon, one of many hillside communities destroyed by the quake, read: “Welcome U.S. Marines. We need help. Dead Bodies Inside!”

Aid and logistics experts say the next 72 hours will be critical ones for the country and its people.

Walnut Creek Gas Station Worker Greeted At Gunpoint

A N. Main Street gas station employee was greeted by armed robbers when he arrived to open the station early Friday morning, according to Walnut Creek police.

Lt. Shelly James says the unidentified merchant arrived to open his store in the 2900 block of N. Main and was confronted by two armed suspects waiting for him inside.

One robber pointed a "silver revolver" at the victim and ordered him to walk through the store and open the safe. The victim complied and the suspects left with an undisclosed amount of cash. The shop owner was not injured.

Police say the two suspects got into a dark colored sedan and fled in an unknown direction. Officers responded to the scene and searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the thieves.

Suspect Descriptions:
Suspect #1: Black male, 5’10”, wearing a black ski mask, black jacket with red writing, dark pants, armed with a silver revolver.

Suspect #2: Black male, approx. 5’8”, wearing a black ski mask, black hooded sweatshirt, black pants.

Vehicle Description: Dark colored sedan, unknown make or model.

Anyone with information on this robbery should call the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 943-5844.

Moraga Calling... Moraga Calling... Is Anybody Out There?

Fogbound here in the valley. Wrapped in a calming white blanket and waiting for the storm. Putting out a call to Lamorinda, the middle part of the county and beyond for signs of life.

How are things in your neighborhood?

It's pretty quiet here, the combined effect of the expectation of a coming storm and the sound-dampening blanket of fog.

Our household is abuzz with news of sports achievements and relief efforts as we watch others struggle to live through an event we were lucky enough to make it through ourselves.

The local birds are down, staying close to the ground and in the brush - a sure sign of a coming storm. Our Labradors patrol the grounds looking for new scent trails and birds with delayed take-off capabilities. One has developed a taste for bird seed of all things, our lawn no doubt suffering as a result.

EastBayDaze hums along, pushing buttons and even helping from time to time. We continue to be amazed by the letters and email we get from readers - nearly all of it really well-written and fun to read. It gives us hope, especially when we compare to other forums we've seen in cyberspace.

With that comes the enmity a screed such as ours can inspire at times, with readers challenging our positions, our scruples. Fine. A former editor once said "you're not reaching anyone if someone isn't pissed off at you all the time" and we seem to have accomplished that aim, though not purposefully. We've said it before, we value opinion - if you have one, send it in with your name and the power of your conviction.

Hopefully, you haven't been convicted of anything too recently.

So here we are at the TwentyTen equivalent of our Morse Signaler, tapping out a communique to the world and hoping the message reaches discerning ears - er, eyes.

Moraga Calling... Anyone out there?

Walnut Creek Investment Fund Manager Gets Four Years For "Ponzi-Type" Investment Fraud

A Walnut Creek man was sentenced to four years in prison Friday for a five-year-long investment scheme that bilked investors out of $4 million.

The latest addition to a growing "Rogues Gallery" of local scam artists is Edward Ehee, 46, a Walnut Creek resident and former San Francisco investment fund manager.

Ehee pleaded guilty in January of last year to one count of wire fraud, one count of tax evasion and one count of making and subscribing a false tax return. Ehee admitted to defrauding investors by convincing them he would invest their money in securities markets using complex, low-risk, high-return trading strategies from 2001 to 2006.

Federal prosecutors said that Ehee actually used the money from new investors to pay existing investors and for personal expenses. In addition to four years of prison time, Ehee was also given three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

Lamorindans: Want A Nifty Compost Bin At Half Price? Here's How To Get One... Or Three

EastBayDaze readers will know we're interested in "off the grid" approaches and "green" methodologies that lessen our collective impact on this planet of ours.

It should come as no surprise that we're big composters here. It's fun and it works, with our garden happier as a result and our family reaping the rewards.

Lamorindans may want to take advantage of a forward-thinking offer from the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority. They're selling Smith & Hawkin Biostack® Compost Bins at a reduced price in our area - $62 delivered to your front door.

That's a deal. We bought three more to add to our compost farm. If you want in, don't mind getting your hands dirty from time to time, click HERE.

The bins are made from 60 percent recycled plastic (PET), hold 13 cubic feet (28" L x 28" W x 34" H) with three bottomless tiers and a hinged lid.

Bins can only be sold to residents of Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek and central unincorporated Contra Costa County and City of San Ramon.

Batten Down The Hatches, Grab The Sandbags - Soaker On The Way

You don't have to be much of a sailor to know the heavens will open this weekend and into the week - and first responders from Lamorinda and Walnut Creek want to make sure everyone is ready for the deluge.

Bit of an overstatement there, but it is going to rain - a lot. So...

Sand and sandbags are available for Orinda residents at the following Moraga-Orinda Fire District locations:
Station 43 - 20 Via Las Cruces (nearest cross street is Charles Hill Road)
Station 44- 295 Orchard Road (nearest cross street is Moraga Way).

For more information contact the MOFD at 258-4599.

In Walnut Creek:
Lancaster Rd. at Orchard Ln.
Howe Homestead Park 2950 Walnut Blvd.
Larkey Park 2771 Buena Vista Ave.
Heather Farm Park 301 N. San Carlos, north parking lot

Each sandbag station is set up with sand, empty sandbags and shovels. It's a good idea to bring your own shovel if you can.

Keeping Junior Safe In The Back Seat

Walnut Creek police, in cooperation with the Contra Costa Car Seat Safety Coalition and John Muir Health, are hosting a "Car Seat Fitting Clinic" on Wednesday, January 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Target store, 1871 N. Main St., Walnut Creek

Technicians will be on hand to check your car seat installations, teach you how to put your seat in correctly, and answer all your child passenger safety questions. They'll be in Target's underground parking garage so bring your car, car seat, car seat manual and if possible, your child.

No appointments are needed for this free drop-in clinic. For more information, call 943-5844 or 941-7989.

Seventh Suspect Sought In Richmond High Rape Case

Richmond police today issued an arrest warrant for John Crane Jr., 43, of Richmond, for his part in the recent gang rape of a high school girl outside her homecoming dance.

Crane, known as "John John," is considered armed and dangerous. He is described as a black male, 5-11 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds. He has a tattoo reading "John John" on his chest.

Six other suspects - San Pablo residents Cody Smith, 15, and Ari Morales, 16; Pinole resident Marcelles Peter, 17; and Richmond residents Manuel Ortega, 19, Jose Montano, 18, and Elvis Torrentes, 21 – have been charged with a variety of crimes in the case including an acting in concert charge that opens the door for a life sentence.

As many as 10 people robbed, beat and raped the victim for two-and-a-half hours in a secluded area of the campus while as many as a dozen others stood by and watched. The case triggered a wave of outrage throughout the community and the nation.