FAIR insurance rates could jump as much as 35 percent
At least 1,200 Orinda homeowners would be looking at a 35.8% increase in their already pricey FAIR plan fire insurance rates if...
Rezoning approval maintains city’s control of new projects
The Orinda City Council took important steps to approve amendments to the Orinda Housing Element at a special meeting on Sept. 30....
MOFD change means Orinda will soon have a full-time ambulance
Orinda will soon have its own 24-hour-a-day ambulance, thanks to a change in the way the Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) staffs its...
Old BofA site is nearing a new day
What’s going on at the site of the former Bank of America? Inquiring Orinda minds want to know. Answer –...
Miramonte’s best coach ever? Hall of Famer Bill Brown
When Bill Brown stepped on the pool deck for his first Miramonte water polo practice, he told the players to divide into...
BART makes it even easier
No longer is a Clipper card required to pay BART fares – now, any common credit or debit card will work, and...
Corrections – October 2025
The name of the Miramonte girls’ golf coach was misspelled in the September issue. The coach is Doug Senz.The transformation of the Orinda schoolhouse...
A local landmark set to shrink by 40 feet
The iconic tower in the Lafayette Reservoir is scheduled to be shortened by 40 feet in an upcoming East Bay Municipal Utilities District...
Start your engines: Orinda’s Classic Car Show is set for Sept. 6
Power meets precision at this year’s Classic Car Show. Celebrating the best cars of the ‘60s and ‘70s from the U.S. and...
Repairs on Wildcat Canyon should soon come to an end
It’s been over two years since a portion of Wildcat Canyon Road was shut down due to a landslide in the area,...
Undergrounding power lines just a pipe dream in Orinda
Orindans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for more power lines to be buried underground. In 2021, no more than 15% of...
Planners ratify rezoning proposal
The Orinda Planning Commission approved amendments to the controversial Orinda Housing Element Aug. 12, despite a parade of speakers and a host...
Legal issue pushes AUHSD to change to district elections
The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) voted unanimously to initiate a transition to election of the five board members by geographic...
Theatre Square owners decide to keep iconic Orinda property
The Orinda Theatre Square is not changing hands – at least for now. “We are not selling it right now,” said...
Pilot program testing feasibility of off-leash dog park at Orinda Oaks
As spring rolls into summer, local dog owners are bringing their furry friends to Orinda Oaks Park, where the Orinda Parks and...
Orinda Community Foundation absorbs local volunteer group
While Orinda itself just hit 40 years since its incorporation, the Orinda Park and Recreation Foundation (OPRF) will mark its 15th anniversary...
Seasoned Shopper – August 2025
Summertime is tomato time
I only use tomatoes in the summer when they add color, and most important, flavor to my dishes. ...
Who doesn’t love a parade? And that’s just part of Orinda’s Fourth
It’s a day when Americans consume around 150 million hot dogs, spend $4 billion on beer and wine and $2.7 billion on fireworks. ...
2025 Parade – Know before you go
Street parking will not be available along the parade route on Moraga Way or on Orinda Way. All other street parking is available, as...
Global economics lead to sticker shock for Orinda coffee lovers
Do you really need that afternoon iced latte? The rising price of coffee might make you think twice about stopping by the...
Ron Pickett’s masterful mix of music and mayhem will be sorely missed
(Hatti Hamlin , Photographer) ...
Orinda Before: The rocky road to incorporation stalled local control
The idea of incorporation first saw the light of day when Orinda’s population stood at just 767 – but that was nearly 90...
Orinda After: The city’s 40th birthday is a great opportunity to celebrate its success
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)
The Orinda Theatre sign has been and remains one of the iconic landmarks in Contra Costa County – and its presence reminds...
The failure of Measure T will have a long-term impact on Miramonte’s students
Measure T, the $130 annual inflation-adjusted parcel tax proposed by the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD), failed to get the two-thirds voter...
Proposed Orinda Theatre sale to comedy club veteran falls apart
A transaction to sell the business operations of the Orinda Theatre – not the physical theater property itself – to former comedy club...
Orindans gather to support nationwide Hands Off! protests
A crowd of about 500 Orinda neighbors lined the streets on April 5 to join the nationwide and global Hands Off! demonstrations protesting...
EBMUD searching for a tenant to take the place of Cal Shakes
In the wake of California Shakespeare Theater folding after a half-century, the amphitheater that hosted its performances for nearly 35 years is ready...
Measure T mail-in ballots due May 6
May 6 is the final day to mail in votes on Measure T, which would add an annual $130 parcel tax to property...
Controversial EIR approved by Council
A major long-term environmental plan that has been years in the making and is the nascent green shoot for key developmental decisions that...
Police Blotter – May 2025
March 16 through April 15
Calls for ServiceAccident with Major Injuries: 1Accident with Property Damage: 1Battery - Misdemeanor: 1Burglary, Auto: 3Burglary, Residential: CVC Non-Moving Violation:...
Supporters and Friends of The Orinda Association
Look below for our list of supporters that make a difference. The Orinda Association programs like The Orinda News delivered to your mailbox,...
Opening up Nature Area isn’t as simple or cheap as many hoped it would be
Everyone involved with the Wagner Ranch Nature Area issue can agree on one thing: the desire to preserve and keep as much of...
California’s Zone Zero mandate will have a major, and pricey, local impact
Wildfire mitigation, evacuation plans and homeowners’ insurance have been burning issues in Orinda long before the urban firestorm that laid waste to portions...
Brazen heist stuns Orinda Village store
Employees and customers at the Hilton House Consign & Design were victims of a smash-and-grab just before noon on March 1, as robbers...
Orinda Senior Mugged in Broad Daylight
A woman in her 80s was mugged on a path from Orinda Village to BART on Feb. 5, and suffered serious injuries as...
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle
“Blessings on the hand of women,” begins William Ross Wallace’s 1865 poem and, despite his slight grammatical inaccuracy, Wallace has a point, because...
Severson Steps Down, Leaving Orinda With No Vote on Acalanes School Board
When Walnut Creek’s Stacey Schweppes was appointed to the Acalanes school board last month, it left Orinda and Miramonte High School without a...
A New Face Takes over Top Spot On the Lamorinda Arts Council
Tony DeMartile has only been working in Orinda for the past two years, but his enthusiasm and energy helped him quickly move up...
Seasoned Litigator Latika Malkani Serves as Orinda’s Next Mayor
Latika Malkani is beyond thrilled to become mayor of a community she’s lived in since 2004. “I could not be more honored and...
City of Orinda Reorganization
(L-R) Janet Riley, Darlene Gee, Latika Malkani, Cara Hoxie, Inga Miller and Brandyn Iverson. Orinda welcomed new Councilmember Hoxie at the annual City...
Former Mayor Bobbie Landers Proclaimed a Tabor Honorary Citizen
(Courtesy of Orinda Tabor Sister City Foundation)According to Darlene Gee (center, with Bobbie Landers, left and Slavka Ruzicka, right) one of the nicest parts...
Community Generosity Lights Up Orinda
Bone-chilling autumn temperatures could not dissuade a cross-section of Orindans – toddlers through grandparents – from swarming to the corner of Brookwood and...
Addressing Fire Zone Zero: No Man is an Island
How far are you prepared to sacrifice your perfumed English roses around the door, your expensive landscaping and specimen shrubs, just to save...
Seven Years at the Helm: MOFD Fire Chief Announces Retirement
What’s a history major doing running a Fire District? Everyone concurs that Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) was fortunate to hire Dave Winnacker as...
Wilder Fields are an Asset for Lamorinda Sports Teams and Families
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)The five Wilder Fields offer a spectacular backdrop for hosting a variety of Lamorinda sports, including soccer, baseball, lacrosse and rugby. The...
