Coming home to the 4th of July
I volunteered to photograph this year’s 4th of July parade. I walked away with a full SD card, new friendships and –...
Maintaining Miramonte excellence is new principal’s priority
Bill Schloss, Miramonte High School’s new principal, describes himself as a “husband and a dad more than anything else. Everything else really...
Orinda’s new welcome mat will be ready by the end of August
The front door to the City of Orinda is getting a glow-up. A new “Welcome to Orinda” sign, new landscaping and...
EBMUD upgrades will cut the amount of chemicals in its water
Big things are happening at East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)’s Orinda Water Treatment Plant (WTP) on Camino Pablo Road, as an...
New Citizens’ Academy unravels the mystery of how cities are governed
Ever wondered how a new stoplight gets approved? Or a dog park is proposed and built? Or what developers have to go...
Library event uncovers Chinese impact on Napa Valley wineries
John McCormick will come to the Orinda Library on Aug. 15 at 2 p.m. to show a documentary film based on his...
Fun, flags and of course, a parade, highlight Orinda’s 4th of July
Flags – 42 of them – will don the railing above the Orinda plaza this year – one for each year the parade...
Miramonte’s new principal has experience all over California
William Schloss was appointed principal of Miramonte High School, effective July 1. He replaces Ben Campopiano, who resigned to take an administrative...
FAIR Plan premiums expected to rise by 30% or more in October
Fire risk is up and private insurers are fleeing California. Which means more and more homeowners, especially in Orinda, are forced...
Fire district digging its new digs
A major move doesn’t usually have people doing cartwheels, but don’t tell that to Moraga-Orinda Fire District Board President Craig Jorgens. ...
Bauer-Kahan wins primary, favored in November
Rebecca Bauer-Kahan dominated the June 2 primary election for the California State Assembly, earning 64.7% of the vote. Bauer-Kahan, an Orinda...
Contra Costa County voters turn down tax increase and bond issue
Contra Costa County voters said “no, thanks” to two ballot measures in the June 2 primary election. The tax-based Measure B...
Miramonte High School principal resigns; replacement expected June 3
Miramonte High School will have a new principal for the upcoming school year – and perhaps even in the next few weeks. Ben...
Orinda homeowners now eligible for $2,500 fire safety grants
Correction: Beautiful Moraga Orinda is run by the Moraga-Orinda Firewise Network. If the wind blew a burning ember to your door, would your home...
Dogs have plenty of room to ramble at off-leash Orinda Oaks
“Off leash, free to roam. Unbound and bounding. Joy on four legs.” – Mary Oliver Dogs and dog lovers know just what poet...
June 5 primary ballot has lots of elections that affect Orinda
It’s time to head to the polls for the June 2 primary election, and there’s a lot on the table for California voters...
Fire safety future on the line in upcoming MOFD election
While the state is fired up over the June 2 Primary Election, one local special district can wait till the smoke clears before...
Miramonte once again honored by state’s education department
Fewer than 200 of the state’s 1,295 public high schools received the 2026 Distinguished School Award and even fewer earned it twice in...
A Message from the OA – June 2026
Make the 4th a happy one
The Orinda 4th of July parade and party will soon be here, and let’s make the day a...
A complex school funding process penalizes Orinda
The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) is staring at significant budget cuts unless local taxpayers open up their wallets. Three nearby elementary...
AUHSD may go back to the ballot
Springtime, when a school board’s fancies turn to … parcel taxes. Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) is facing $2 million in budget...
Budget structure hampers OUSD
It’s a question that Orinda Schools Superintendent Aida Glimme says she faces often: If school districts start with the same base amount for...
Malkani the only Council incumbent who’s definitely decided to run
With three seats on the Orinda City Council ballot in November, and a filing deadline in August, incumbents and potential candidates are beginning...
Pet of the Month – May 2026
“This is Tank! He’s a five-year-old golden-doodle,” said Kristofer Konietzko of Orinda.
There’s help for homeowners dealing with fire obligations
The envelopes say “ABATEMENT NOTICE Please Open Immediately” in big red letters, and inside, is a letter detailing a long list of...
If a wildfire strikes, does MOFD have enough water to put it out?
It’s not that complicated: Water puts out fires. That’s why there are fire extinguishers in every kitchen, and fire hydrants on...
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...
