Ruth Bancroft – Creator Of The Garden That Bears Her Name – Dies Sunday At 109
Ruth Bancroft was a collector and skilled plantswoman who created numerous gardens around her home, the most notable of which became a public garden and plant nursery. Born in Massachusetts and raised in Berkeley, where her father was a classics professor at the University of California, Ruth developed a love of plants as a child…
Moraga’s Canyon Bridge Re-Opens – One Lane Of It, Anyway – And It’s Getting A Workout
Moragans have been beset by traffic issues in recent months and some were starting to feel a little more cut off from the rest of the world than they would have liked. We won’t mention the Unmentionable Hole as it has been successfully filled in and while engineers and construction people are still working on…
UPDATE: Arrest Made In Sweet Drive Burglary; Lafayette PD Says Charges Pending
UPDATE: Images of a vehicle captured on neighborhood cameras as it left the scene of a burglary on Sweet Drive Thursday have led to the identification of the car and the arrest of a suspect, Lafayette police said Wednesday. Witnesses confirmed the vehicle captured on the cameras was the vehicle from the crime scene and LPD…
Moragan Dies Of Injuries Received In Oct. 30 House Fire
Moragan James Rader Lewis, born May 1, 1955 and a local business man and resident his entire life, succumbed to injuries suffered during a fire at his home on October 30, 2017, dying of those injuries the following day at the UC Davis Burn Unit. Mr. Lewis attended Rheem, Los Perales, JMIS, Miramonte High School and…
So Long, Chuck – You Were A Great Depression
Old Timers in Moraga may remember life Before Chuck, before the rains came. Traffic moved easily along Rheem Boulevard, neighbors waving jauntily to one another, some of them even venturing into the shopping center to buy something from time to time. And then, whammo. After a biblical eight days of solid precipitation the ground near…
Danville Police Interrupt Phony Kidnap Scam – Victim Counting Out Ransom Money When Stopped
In the latest in a string of telephonic cons aimed at separating victims from their money through the use of Internet or telephone – Danville police officers saved a 52-year-old resident from wiring a large sum of money to “kidnappers” who told him they were holding his daughter hostage Monday. Danville Police Chief Allan Shields…
Blackhawk Homeowners Association Posts $25,000 Reward For Info On Busy Burglars
The Blackhawk Homeowners Association is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the suspects involved in a string of recent burglaries in Blackhawk. On Friday, November 3, at about 7:30 p.m., Blackhawk Police Services received a report of a burglary on the 5400 block of Blackhawk Drive. Three suspects apparently…
Martinez Resident And Teacher Charged With Multiple Counts Of Sexual Assault Of A Child – Other Charges
A Martinez resident and local teacher is in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility Monday after evidence was developed alleging that he had sexually assaulted a child he had arranged to meet for sex. Michael Bartel, 33, was booked Friday evening on the charges and others, including possession and distribution of child pornography. Bartel’s bail…
Lamorinda Police Detain Four After Strong Arm Robbery In Alamo Saturday
An apparent “electronics grab” in Alamo prompted a coordinated response from San Ramon Valley and Lamorinda police Saturday and ended with a carload of people detained at gunpoint along Highway 24 at Fish Ranch Road. Witnesses contacting this site said three young men entered the Alamo Starbucks, 3225 Danville Blvd., at around 2:30 p.m. Saturday…
“Touch ‘N Go” Returns To The Wild
Some of you may remember our tale of a young bobcat scooped up from where he’d come to rest after getting hit by a car off Highway 4 back in August. His prognosis was not good, initially, and we defied conventional wisdom in these incidents and went ahead and named him “Touch n’ Go” anyway,…