Never Short on Giving: A Sampling of Orinda’s Many Service Organizations
(Steve Harwood, Photographer)Fourth grader Natalie Schroeder gleams with joy after receiving her prize for winning the grade 3-5 solo performance during the 2016 Lamorinda...
Glazer Opts Out of Next State Senate Run
California State Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) considers his work to be public service, not politics. Serving the public well and avoiding politics are...
OakLuv Foundation: Spreading Holiday Cheer with a Zany Twist
(Courtesy of OakLuv Foundation)OakLuv’s Knucklehead Santa and elves deliver gifts to an Oakland classroom. The local non-profit has distributed tens of thousands of toys...
Orinda Around Town: News Briefs – December 2023
Hospice East Bay Holds Tree of Lights Ceremony in Orinda Village Square For 37 years, Hospice East Bay has held Tree of Lights ceremonies...
Bill Waterman – Citizen of the Year
John Fazel is 2023 Volunteer of the Year
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)
The Orinda Association board member, Bill Waterman, was named 2023 Citizen of the Year. During...
International Film Festival Returns to the Orinda Theatre Nov. 9
(Courtesy of Cohen Media Group)
Two of France's favorite actors, Line Renaud and Dany Boon, open Orinda's California International Film Festival with a subtle intergenerational...
Property Owners Seek Dialogue About MOFD Firebreak Ordinance
The Moraga Orinda Fire District (MOFD) recently passed Ordinance 23-08, adopted a month after its introduction, which repeals a similar law from February, leaving...
The Art of Mixology
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Maxwell Freise of Wildseed in San Francisco was named “Mixologist of the Year” for his “Tripping to Manhattan,” a savory twist on...
Land Yachts Sail into Orinda’s Annual Classic Car Show
(Lisa Burlini, Photographer)The Orinda Classic Car Show attracted its largest crowd ever. (Lisa Burlini, Photographer)Orinda’s Peter Read and fiancée Lorraine Rominger shared this 1959...
MOFD Pays $97,500 Settlement to Job Applicant in Fair Chance Act Violation
In one of the largest settlements in state history under the Fair Chance Act, Moraga-Orinda Fire District (MOFD) paid $97,500 to an applicant whose...
Cal Shakes Hosts Young Filmmakers’ Premiere of A Midsummer Night’s D&D
(Tracy Randolph, Photographer)Stella Swenson, Skylar Vandeweg, Jada Geronimo, Annika Arvik, and Matthew Randolph.
How do 400-year-old Shakespeare plays stay relevant in times of declining...
Storm-Battered Nature Area Making Progress Toward Reopening
The wind and rain storms which battered the Bay Area late 2022 into early 2023, led to what Friends of the Orinda Nature...
Measure R Funds: Are They Being Spent as Voters Intended?
Nearly three years since Orindans voted to approve a supplemental sales tax, some residents are raising concerns about how Measure R funds are being...
Tales of Mustang Fastbacks – Two Classics at the Orinda Car Show
(Courtesy of Kirk Haley)It’s been a long way home for Kirk Haley’s 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback, which is one of the many classics on...
Chevron Mini Mart Project Moves Forward with Conversion Plans
(Courtesy of Orinda Planning Department)The Chevron gas station and work bays at 11 Orinda Way are slated to receive major renovations, including an observation...
Orinda News Brief: Around Town – September 2023
Pickleball Drop-in Update As the Orinda Parks and Recreation Department continues the pursuit to find solutions for additional pickleball opportunities, it has implemented additional...
City to Explore Options for Dedicated Pickleball Courts
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Pickleball players (L-R) Tetiana Petty, Marty Johnson, Deb Maurer (in background) and Karl Petty (hitting the ball), play the popular game on...
Court Challenge to Plan Orinda, City Stands by Current Project Plan
(David DIerks, Photographer)Orindans for Safe Emergency Evacuation (OSEE) filed a lawsuit alleging Plan Orinda’s Environmental Impact Report’s wildfire evacuation analysis is inadequate, potentially causing...
Gay Pride Flags Repeatedly Stolen from Orinda Community Church
(Dave Hoppock, Photographer)In the past year and a half, six LGBTQ+ flags were stolen from the Orinda Community Church. Continually being replaced by church...
Q&A with Steve Harwood: Voice of Orinda’s Favorite Announcer
(Charis Woo, Photographer)Steve Harwood, the unofficial “Voice of Orinda,” has announed the 4th of July parade for over 25 years.
If you’ve attended a...
Orinda News Brief: Around Town
Happy Valley Pipeline Construction East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) began construction on the Happy Valley Pipeline Project May 30. It includes installation of...
Family-Owned Morrison’s Jewelers Celebrates Centennial Anniversary
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)The owners of Morrison’s, Christine and David Berryhill, are a husband and wife duo now running the 100-year-old family business.
If you’ve...
State of the Orinda Theatre – Locals Rally to Keep Iconic Landmark
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Preserving the iconic Orinda Theatre marquee is a priority for a group of community members who met last month to discuss ways...
Award-Winning Film Screened at Orinda Theatre
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Hollywood actress and writer Kathy Garver attended the screening of Yellow Bird at the Orinda Theatre on April 1, a new indie...
State Approves Orinda’s 6th Cycle Housing Element
After nearly two years of research, consultants’ reports, community outreach and engagement and several revisions, Orinda’s 6th Cycle Housing Element was deemed in...
Friends of Orinda Creeks Celebrate Phase One Restoration Completion
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)The local non-profit Friends of Orinda Creeks held a celebration event on the bank of San Pablo Creek, behind 25 Orinda Way,...
Orinda News Briefs: Around Town
Chipper Time Again With all the beautiful greenery, as a result of our wet winter, it is time to prepare for the fire season:...
Big Plans for Former Bank of America Building
(Rendering courtesy of Ben Zarrin)The proposed renovation at 31 Orinda Way will turn the former Bank of America space into three restaurants at ground...
DA Decides Not to Prosecute in Vandalism Case
(Charleen Earley, Photographer)Robert Brock, with wife Jessica Brock, appeared at the Superior Court in Martinez on Feb. 21. Brock was arrested for felony vandalism...
Paws to Read at Library
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)
The Orinda Library’s “Paws to Read” program, where children in grades 1-5 read with dogs certified for their sociable natures, has...
State Senator Steve Glazer Holds In-Person Town Hall
(Kathy Cordova, Photographer)State Senator Steve Glazer addresses constituents at a town hall meeting in Orinda on Feb. 22.
On Feb. 22, State Sen. Steve...
Orinda Around Town: News Briefs
(Rodney Lal, Photographer)Miramonte High School Interact Club volunteer, Ethan Lee, delivers a dinner to former Mayor and Council Member Amy Worth at the 20th...
Suspect Arrested in Felony Vandalism to Police Vehicle
(Charleen Earley, Photographer)Robert Brock, a True Value Orinda Hardware manager, seen here with wife Jessica Brock, was arrested on Jan. 27 for a felony...
Orinda Adopts Sixth Cycle of the Housing Element
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Downtown Orinda, as seen from the Orinda Grove development, a 73-lot subdivision on 11 acres with adjacent 3.1-acre city-owned sports fields. The...
Two Blockbuster Stars Headline Live At the Orinda! in March
(Gene Reeves, Photographer)With a dynamite voice and commanding stage presence, Karen Mason took Broadway by storm. A 13-time MAC Award winner, which honors cabaret,...
Three Former Miramonte High School Students File Lawsuit Claiming Negligence and Sexual Abuse
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Jane Doe 2 is one of three plaintiffs in the lawsuit recently filed against Miramonte High School and the Acalanes Union High...
Storm Waters Create Lake Cascade Waterfall
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)
Due to recent storms, Lake Cascade at Orinda Country Club (OCC) reached full capacity where, ultimately, club members released water, creating...
Meet The Orinda News’ New Executive Editor Kathy Cordova
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Kathy Cordova took the reins as executive editor of The Orinda News Jan. 1. She and her husband Jeff moved to Orinda a little...
New Local Office Electees Prepare for Upcoming Terms
(Kathy Cordova, Photographer)The City of Orinda honored outgoing councilmembers and welcomed newly elected councilmembers at a reception on Dec. 13 in the Orinda Community...
Possible Two New Firefighter Hires for MOFD but More Data Needed
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Captain-Paramedic II Michael Lacy (left) has worked with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District for 16 years, has been in the fire service for...
Facing Low State Funding, OUSD Considers New Parcel Tax
Facing record national economic inflation and the second lowest per-student funding in the state, the Orinda Union School District (OUSD) is recommending a...
A Fitting Tribute to Orinda City Councilmember Amy Worth
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Orinda Mayor Inga Miller (far left), former Mayor Dennis Fay and City Councilmember Darlene Gee presented the City Council’s proclamation to Councilmember...
Housing Element and Downtown Precise Plan Move Forward
(Charleen Earley, Photographer)Orinda City Councilmembers started the city council meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance on Nov. 1 via Zoom, before discussing the Housing...
Annual Hospice Tree of Lights and Parks and Rec.’s Holiday Tree Lighting
(Lou Landgraf, Photographer)Hospice East Bay members have cared for patients and their families in the Orinda community since 1977 and are proud to celebrate...
Amy Worth Retires from City Council
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Mayor Amy Worth in front of the Orinda sign at the Community Center.
Who would have thought fundraising for a children’s play...
Mixology Event Draws Hundreds to Orinda for Creative Cocktails
(Jeff Heyman, Photographer)Top winner Mixologist of the Year, Cynthia Songco from Casa Orinda, made the winning cocktail titled “Henny Penny” at table 13 at...
Edward Denny McClure Passes
Edward “Ted” Denny McClure died of heart failure on Saturday morning, Nov. 5. Born May 16, 1947, he was the eldest son of...
Remembering the Late Laurie Rothermel’s Wonderful Life
(Terry Riggins, Photographer)Laurie Rothermel passed away Sept. 23, while vacationing in Portugal.
When longtime Orindan Laurie Rothermel hopped in the car to head to...
Remembering Stephen Arnon, Dedicated Public Health Physician
(Courtesy of Arnon Family)
Dr. Stephen Soulé Arnon of Orinda, Oct. 14, 1946 – Aug. 17, 2022.
Dr. Stephen Soulé Arnon of Orinda died peacefully...
Long-time Community Advocate Pete Wilson Passes in November
(Courtesy of Wilson Family)A 58-year Orinda resident, Pete Wilson was instrumental in preserving Gateway Valley and establishing the Moraga Orinda Fire District. A passionate...
