Adult / Seniors:  The last class, iPads, of the successful 3-part Lamorinda Lunch n' Learn technology series took place on November 19 in Moraga. With 29 participants, this was the most popular Lunch n' Learn to date!  A Digital Photography Lunch n' Learn series is planned for 2014. All three cities are extremely pleased with the popularity of the new technology series.

Upcoming classes and workshops include:

• Bridge Workshops - Doubles, End Plays, and Signals & Discards. Join one of these popular three-week bridge workshops, starting the week of December 4. These popular classes are taught by Carol Griffin, a Silver Life Master player and ABTA Master Teacher. Cost: $36 (Orinda Residents); $41 (Non-resident).


• Garden Mosaics Workshop - Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The cost is $120 (Orinda Residents); and $138 (Non-resident). An additional $30 Material Fee payable to the teacher. Make a holiday gift for a loved one! Create an exterior mosaic that will last for many decades. Delaine Hackney is a well-known Bay Area artist/teacher and brings to class colorful scraps that she has found on one of her daily hikes; part of a discarded sink, a broken child's toy, a gargoyle's nose, junk jewelry, beach glass, malformed metal, warped wood, eclectic electronics, and more.

 "The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City"

The City of Orinda is pleased to announce,  

"Cans for a Cause Food Drive"

The City has partnered with the Orinda Union School District, and Republic Waste Services to collect food to donate this holiday season.   Specially marked collection bins will be placed at Orinda school locations, Orinda City Hall, and the Orinda Community Center. Residents are encouraged to donate non-perishable canned goods and packaged foods. Items needed are fruits, vegetables, rice, pasta, peanut butter, and other shelf stable items. All items collected will be donated directly to the Contra Costa Food Bank.  Republic Services, our current local refuse provider, will match the amount of food collected.  

The City of Orinda and the Orinda Union School District will host the food collection from December 9th-20th. The Orinda schools will begin their collections with the first school, Orinda Intermediate School (OIS) starting November 12th until November 22nd. The remaining schools will follow soon after in December, with the final school, Glorietta Elementary hosting their event February 3rd - 14th, 2014. By staggering the collection drives, it will allow the Contra Costa Food Bank to receive donations even after the holiday season, when donations tend to be lower.

The Orinda schools will be collecting food on the following dates:

Orinda Intermediate School - November 12-22   

Del Rey Elementary - December 2-19

Sleepy Hollow Elementary - December 2-19

Wagner Ranch Elementary - December 2-19

Glorietta Elementary - February 3-14th 2014  

If residents have any questions, please contact Food Drive Coordinator,  

Aimee Stevens at 925.570.5654

December 10, 2013

• 55B Oakwood Road - New single family home
• 17 La Campana - New single family home

City Council -

December 17, 2013

• 81 Moraga Way - Consideration of request to amend Type I designation to Type II

Zoning Administrator - Applications Approved

• Public right of way at Manzanita bridge and at Acacia Drive - Tree removal permit for two trees in the public right-of-way
• 124 Moraga Way - Tree removal permit to remove a Coast Live Oak tree

New Projects Received as of 11/21/2013

• 23 Frogs Leap Way - Design review for a new single family home at Wilder
• 25 Frogs Leap Way - Design review for a new single family home at Wilder
• 120 Alta Haciendas - Conceptual development review for a new single family home
• 66 St. Stephens Drive - New fence installation
• 28 El Gavilan - Design review for an addition and fire replacement

"The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City"  

resident volunteers to serve on the following   

City Commissions and Committees: 

Art in Public Places Committee (1)

Planning Commission (2)

Parks & Recreation Commission (2)

Citizens' Infrastructure Oversight Commission (2)

Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (3)

Finance Advisory Committee (3)

Public Works Aesthetic Review Committee (1)

Historic Landmark Committee (3)

The City of Orinda is also seeking applications from resident volunteers to serve as the City's Liaison to the following local agencies:

Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District Trustee (1)

Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging (1)

Representative on the Contra Costa County Library Commission (2)

County Connection Citizens Advisory Committee (1)

Statement of Interest forms are available from the Orinda City Clerk's Office located at 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563. If you have any specific questions regarding the recruitment, please contact Michele Olsen, City Clerk at 925-253-4221 or molsen@cityoforinda.org. Application forms may also be downloaded from the City's website at www.cityoforinda.org.

Completed Statement of Interest forms must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office by Friday, January 3, 2014 at 5:00pm.

Qualified applicants for City Commission and Committee appointments will be invited to interview before the full City Council on Saturday, January 11, 2014.

Camino Pablo/BART - Over the next several months BART will be making earthquake upgrades to the Orinda station. To make these improvements it will be necessary to close the right lane of Camino Pablo from just south of the BART parking lot exit to just north of the eastbound SR24 on ramp.  

Questions regarding the improvements can be directed to the  

BART Project Information Line: 925-603-5342 or  

Email: earthquakesafety@bart.gov