From the Desk of Police Chief Nagel 

Recently the Orinda Police Department responded to a number of vehicle burglaries. These are crimes of opportunity.   Remember, thieves steal first and evaluate the stolen item's value later. Thieves will smash a car window just to look inside a bag, backpack, briefcase or box to see if there is anything of value. You can outsmart/prevent the car thief by following the tips below:

• Don't leave anything on display in your car. Even a coat on the back seat is a temptation.
• Take all of your belongings with you when you leave the car. If you don't, lock them in the trunk.
• Be mindful of what you leave on display on the dashboard or in the car:

1. Cell Phones, GPS, Laptops and IPhone/IPad
2. Checkbooks, Credit Cards
3. Cash (even loose change)
4. Vehicle Registration Documents
5. Private Mail
6. Wallets and Purses
7. Garage Door Activators

Don't make the mistake of thinking because you live in a low crime neighborhood that you can leave items in your car. Thieves know to cruise "nice" neighborhoods because that's where the good stuff can be found. When parking your car, try to consider the location. I know at times parking might be limited for various reasons, but consider the area. Thieves always like to steal from cars parked in places where they run the least risk of being seen. Is the car concealed from public view? Are you parked in between trucks or other large vehicles which block the view of your car?

As always, if you see anyone peering into car windows or making an extra effort to not be seen, please call the Police Department immediately.  

Email Crime Tip: orindatip@cityoforinda.org   

 "The Nation's 2nd Friendliest City"

Come join us for a Family Story Concert on Saturday, April 19, at 3.30 p.m. Ann Riley, Terry Stokes, and Dana Sherry will take you around the world on the wings of folk tales. This trio of storytellers will perform stories to delight audiences ages five and up.  

For more information, contact Lin Look at llook@ccclib.org

Nixle Comes to Orinda!

Nixle is a free, opt-in communication service providing notifications using the subscribers location-based information to send relevant notifications involving: 

• Alerts on emergencies/breaking news                                    
• Advisories on road closures, accidents, and construction activity that may impact traffic  

Nixle is currently used by many of our neighboring Police Departments including Moraga and Lafayette.

The notifications subscribers receive are Customizable; you decide what information you want and how it is received, including:

1. SMS/text message (standard text messaging rates apply)
2. Email
3. Nixle website, subscribers Nixle homepage (once a login is established)

The sign up process is quick and easy.  On your computer or from your smart phone, go to www.nixle.com or, Click Here and enter information such as your name, cell phone number and the geographical areas whose notifications you would like to receive.  A confirmation text will be sent to your cell phone. Simply reply to the text and you will be registered.

The Orinda water treatment plant is the largest of the East Bay Municipal Utility District's potable water treatment plants with a capacity of 175 million gallons per day (MGD). High-quality water from Sierra snowmelt in the Mokelumne River watershed is stored in Pardee Reservoir near Valley Springs and then transported approximately 90 miles to three water treatment plants in the East Bay. Because of its high quality, the water reaching these three plants needs minimal treatment.

The Orinda plant was first placed into service in 1935 with 8 sand filters and a capacity of 42 MGD. In 1948, 12 additional filters were added, increasing the capacity to 105 MGD. In 1961 additional improvements were made, increasing the plant to its current capacity of 175 MGD.  

The Orinda plant operates year-round 24-hours a day and serves a portion of the Lamorinda area as well as hundreds of thousands of customers west of the Oakland hills. Water flows from Orinda to Oakland through the Claremont Tunnel (near the Caldecott Tunnel). The Claremont Tunnel was recently seismically upgraded where it crosses the Hayward Fault.  The City of Orinda designated the Orinda water treatment plant as a historical landmark in 1988.

Our households use an average of approximately 490 gallons per day, compared to the District-wide average of 250 gallons per day. In evaluating this, we need to remember that the EBMUD service area includes 800,000 people on the west side of the Oakland hills, where the climate is cooler and parcels are generally smaller. We probably could do better, but because of our larger gardens and warm summer days, it likely would be difficult for many Orindans to reach the District-wide average.