I am very happy to have been selected as the Chief of Police for the City of Orinda. I have worked for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office for over 14 years in various assignments from custody, city and county patrol, to technical services and was promoted up the rank to Lieutenant. The Orinda Police Department has always held an excellent reputation for professional officers, dedicated staff and have placed a high value on community police work, all in an effort to prevent crime.  I hope to continue that tradition.

I appreciate the care and concern the Orinda community has placed on preventing crime and their willingness to work together with the Police Department to solve problems.  We are very fortunate to have eleven officers and two sergeants that do an excellent job in responding to calls, investigating crimes and providing community service every day.  One of my first priorities is to make sure they have the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs more effectively and to keep them safe.

Please feel free to contact me anytime with any concerns you may have. I believe together we can keep the community safe and remain a desirable place to live, work and visit.

Health Matters for Boomers & Beyond    

On Friday, March 7, 2014, the City of Orinda Parks & Recreation Department is partnering with the Orinda Library and Friends of the Orinda Library to host a 2-part series on senior health. Health experts will be covering various aging topics, as well as offering free mini-fitness classes suitable for all levels. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the Orinda Library Auditorium. Coffee, tea and morning pastries will be available. Pre-registration is not required and this event is free and open to all. 

From 9:30 - 10:30 there will be a lecture on Bone Health and Aging, presented by Dr. Lani Simpson, Bay Area health provider and educator. Dr. Simpson has been researching and studying bone health for the past 20 years. Her clinical experience and multi-disciplinary approach have enabled education of thousands of patients and professionals about common yet life changing health challenges for older adults.  Simpson, an instructor of spinal anatomy and osteology, cofounded the Menopause and PMS Center and the Osteoporosis Diagnostic Center in Berkeley.

Choose from one of three mini fitness classes during the 20 minute fitness break, including Zumba Gold, improving Balance, and Yoga.

At 11:00am - 12:00pm, a lecture on Nutrition and Aging Well, will be presented by Saskia Kleinart.   Kleinart, a nutritionist and health educator, has been in private practice since 1993. Her approach to health care is both holistic and science based. Kleinart is the founder and Director of the Emeryville Wellness Center, a successful multi-practitioner center in the SF Bay Area.  Kleinart received her nutritional education from Hawthorn University and through Dr. Andrew Weil's Institute of Integrative Medicine.

The Adult Spring Basketball league will have their first game on March 6, 2014 with 5 teams competing in the spring season.  Registrations for Adult Spring Softball are now being accepted for the season beginning in April. Interested teams and free agents can contact orindaparksrec@cityoforinda.org or call (925) 254-2445 for more information. All levels are welcome!

Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC)

Last week,  the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) reviewed and discussed two separate traffic calming requests. Residents from the neighborhood around Dalewood Drive and Sundown Terrace requested traffic calming measures that include speed cushions/humps, speed feedback signs, and lane narrowing with new striping.  The Residents also requested additional stop signs at selective cross streets. Staff informed them that stop sign installations are not traffic calming measures but are reviewed by engineering staff using a standardized stop sign warrant analysis.  

In addition, residents along the Brookwood Drive neighborhood were present to support their request for traffic calming measures near the apartment complex. They requested the lane striping to be modified to provide a striped shoulder on the north side of Brookwood leading to downtown and ultimately a sidewalk/path for safer pedestrian access and speed feedback signs. TSAC recommended that staff proceed by working with each Neighborhood Action Team to develop a traffic calming plan and to build consensus among nearby residents.  

 "The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City" 

Would YOU Make a Good Grand Juror?

      

The Contra Costa County Superior Court is accepting applications for Civil Grand Jury Service for the Fiscal year 2013-2014 term.  Contra Costa County's Grand Jury consists of 19 citizens. A new Grand Jury is impaneled each year. Grand Jurors are officers of the court, and function as an independent body under the guidance of a Superior Court judge. 

The application deadline is Friday, April 12, 2014. 

To download an application to become a Grand Juror, Click Here. 

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