The Orinda Association turns 80 – and is still going strong
It’s likely, according to those who should know, that more than 200 Orindans will find themselves turning 80 within the coming year....
Contra Costa County looks to increase sales tax to 10.375%
Faced with a healthcare funding crisis due to cuts in federal spending, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors has placed a...
John Muir Land Trust begins its planning for Nature Area
After years of controversy, the Wagner Ranch Nature Area’s future as a valuable Orinda asset is assured – but now the real...
Miramonte’s gymnasium now bears Sabrina Ionescu’s name
After a bit of controversy, Miramonte High School’s gymnasium is now officially the Sabrina Ionescu Gymnasium, a move unanimously approved through an...
New websites help Orindans in completely different ways
The City of Orinda has launched two new websites designed to support local businesses and help residents prepare for emergencies. According...
Miramonte students stage peaceful walkout protesting ICE
More than 400 Miramonte High School students joined in the nationwide parade of protests about the practices and policies of the Immigration...
BART threatens to close Orinda station should ballot measure fail
In a dramatic move to focus attention on a potential 2026 ballot initiative to raise money for Bay Area Rapid Transit, BART...
Orinda Garden Club speaker will discuss ways to control wildfires
The Orinda Garden Club will spotlight wildfire resilience and sustainable landscaping at its annual March community meeting at the Orinda Library Auditorium,...
Miramonte beats the odds and just keeps on improving
According to the latest Nation’s Report Card, put out by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, math and reading scores for high...
OUSD overall numbers are very good, but weak spots remain
The 2025 California academic achievement scores tell several stories about Orinda’s elementary and middle school students. By the numbers, it’s a...
City wildfire website makes it easier for residentsto prepare for and respond to potential...
The City of Orinda has launched OrindaReady.com, a centralized wildfire preparedness website designed to help residents prepare for, respond to and understand...
County to provide $30,000 for Seniors Around Town
Seniors Around Town, the volunteer-based transportation program that has served Orinda’s older adults for two decades, received a significant financial boost after...
Brandyn Iverson to take over Orinda’s mayor’s role in 2026
Brandyn Iverson is ready to take the reins. The city council member was installed as mayor of Orinda during a recent...
Orinda’s initial Youth Volunteer Award presented to OIS student
Twelve-year-old Rhydian Daniels of Orinda Intermediate School (OIS) made local history this year as the first recipient of the new Orinda Youth...
Malkani’s year as mayor focused on wildfires and managing housing
As Mayor Latika Malkani prepares to hand over the gavel at the end of the year, she concludes a term shaped by...
Six brand-new EV chargers are an electric addition to Orinda
Finally, there’s a way to charge electric vehicles in downtown Orinda. Electric-car drivers often suffer from charge-anxiety, wondering whether they can...
Teenage E-bike riders create a controversy on Orinda’s streets
Electric bikes allow riders to go faster and further than regular bikes – and many in Orinda believe they are a hazard. ...
A Message from the OA Board – January 2026
A reflection on gratitude, service and what really matters
Every so often, life hands you an experience that softens something inside you and...
Light Up Orinda welcomes the holiday season
It was a festive evening in the Orinda Library Plaza Nov. 6, as residents gathered for the moment that the lights on Light...
Orinda voters will be divided among two AUHSD districts
Orinda residents will no longer vote together for Acalanes Union High School District trustees, and in some cases, even parents with children in...
Orinda Nature Area issues with school district are finally resolved
Years of mistrust dissolved into smiles at the Oct. 20 board meeting as Orinda Union School District Superintendent Aida Glimme announced a deal...
License plate readers multiply; will keep tabs on local drivers
(Michelle Jun, Photographer)
Though there will be more than 20 license plate reader cameras monitoring local traffic, they will not be used to issue citations....
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...
