Lumber yard burning in central Walnut Creek
Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:17:48 GMT

Dozens of firefighters are battling a four-alarm fire at Piedmont Lumber in central Walnut Creek this afternoon.

Doctor in sex case says he made 'terrible mistake'
Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:04:07 GMT

Published: Friday, March 12, 2010 at 4:28 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, March 12, 2010 at 4:28 p.m. Maurice Wolin, whose fall from acclaimed East Bay cancer doctor to child-sex predator was captured on national TV, said Friday he made a "terrible mistake" that shattered his family and cost him his career.

Utility district lawsuit closer to resolution
Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:44:09 GMT

The lawsuit between the city of Piedmont and Bert and Deborah Kurtin over formation of Hampton-Seaview undeground utility district is inching its way to resolution with a settlement conference set for April 19 in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland.

Doctor caught in sex sting gets two-month jail term
Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:23:17 GMT

Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:31 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 7:31 p.m. The East Bay doctor caught in a nationally televised child-sex sting in Petaluma in 2006 was sentenced Wednesday to two months in jail and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life Maurice Wolin, 52 of Piedmont, who ...

Sex offender living close to school in Piedmont
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:15:19 GMT

Several parents of students at Wildwood Elementary School in Piedmont are angry after learning that a convicted sex offender has moved into a home across the street from the school - according to the New York Times.

Piedmont Residents Complain About Sex Offender Near School
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 09:03:15 GMT

Piedmont residents are asking police why a convicted sex offender is being allowed to live near an elementary school in the wealthy East Bay suburb.

A Sex Offender, a School and the Law That Cannot Keep Them Apart
Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:33:49 GMT

Sunday's Bay Area Report features an article about an East Bay communitya s bewilderment as a convicted sex offender is allowed to move into a home across the street from an elementary school.

Officials Allow Sex Offender to Live Near School
Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:58:54 GMT

James F. Donnelly, a convicted sex offender, is living in the house on the right, across from Wildwood Elementary School.

Retired judge to sit on panel probing Piedmont undergrounding debacle
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:16:01 GMT

The Piedmont City Council has appointed retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Ken Kawaichi to serve on the audit subcommittee that will investigate the construction management, documentation, bidding and overall handling related to the Piedmont Hills underground utility district.

Piedmont City Council puts moratorium on utility districts
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:39:01 GMT

Following the city's black eye over $2 million-plus cost overruns for Piedmont Hills underground utility district, the City Council voted 4-1 this week to impose a two-year moratorium on such districts.

Piedmont police notify public about sex offender
Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:46:30 GMT

The Piedmont Police Department has issued an advisory on a convicted sex offender who is living near Wildwood elementary school, and concerned residents are bombarding the police with phone calls asking how he is being allowed to stay in town.

Education Report: Former union president to run for Oakland school board
Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:12:50 GMT

This is a sampling of The Education Report, Katy Murphy's Oakland schools blog. Read more at www.ibabuzz.com/education . Follow her at Twitter.com/katymurphy . March 1 Ben Visnick led the Oakland teachers union for six years before Betty Olson-Jones succeeded him in 2006 after the near-strike of that year.

Bar embezzler gets 32 months
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:52:34 GMT

A former State Bar employee was sentenced to 32 months in state prison last month after she admitted embezzling more than $600,000 from the agency.

Coming Up: Bay Area Choral Edition
Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:50:58 GMT

It's time for the spring choral car pile up! Note the unfortunate three-way conflict between SFRV, SFCA, and Cal Bach, for example.

Piedmont schools rank among state's best again
Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:40:07 GMT

Piedmont students rank among the highest in the state for academic achievement in this community of some 11,000 residents, where annual School Accountability "report cards" reflect that fact.

Piedmont fire chief hanging up his helmet
Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:03:50 GMT

Fire Chief John Speakman is taking the leap to retirement after 42 years in fire service.

Volunteers Needed
Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:02:41 GMT

The Piedmont Neighborhood Association needs volunteers to help get the word out about our March 11 neighborhood gathering.

Wine tasting Wednesday to aid child hunger
Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:46:38 GMT

There are few better bargains for DC wine lovers than the monthly Grand Tasting at Bell Wine & Spirits, which pours somewhere between 35 and 40 wines, typically for free, and generally including several high-end bottles well out of the average value shopper's comfort zone.

A flavorful debate
Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:38:50 GMT

Probably it was a throwaway tweet. Robert Parker wrote last week that Australian Shiraz was being cold-shouldered by "the anti-flavor wine elite." Within two seconds, the winerati proudly assumed that mantle: a flavor-hating renegade band.

Piedmont schools need $700,000 to avoid more layoffs
Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:38:48 GMT

The Piedmont school board is hoping that the various school parent clubs and educational support organizations will make up a $700,000 shortfall projected for the 2010-11 school year, thereby avoiding any additional layoffs.