Heritage Day at Borges Ranch This Saturday

June 6, 2013 4:30 pm

Photo by Flickr user John-Morgan

Borges Ranch
1035 Castle Rock Road
Saturday, June 8th, 2013
11:00am – 4pm | Free ($5 parking @ Northgate High)

Walnut Creek history comes alive as Walnut Creek celebrates Heritage Day at Borges Ranch. Meet Borges family members and tour the historic 1901 ranch house. Step into the 1903 Carriage Barn for silent moves from the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. Learn about gardening, beekeeping, spinning wool and more. Music will be provided by the East Bay Fiddlers and Bigfoot. Kids will have a great time doing crafts and taking pony rides until 2:30 p.m. Food will be available for purchase.
Park at Northgate High School and take the shuttle to the ranch for $5 per family (no parking is available at the ranch except for vehicles with a placard).
For details, contact Ranger Dan Bylin, 925-943-5899 ext. 2162.

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Cooking with Kids at Walnut Creek Yacht Club July 13th, 27th & Aug 10th

June 5, 2013 4:30 pm

Cooking with Kids:

Walnut Creek Yacht Club
1555 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek
Saturday, July 13th, 27th & August 10th, 2013
1:00pm – 3:00pm | Free

The spaces at these classes are highly coveted. Please call now if this is something that you would like your budding chef to experience. The three classes are held on Saturdays, from 1-3 pm.
And here are the dates:
July 13, July 27, August 10
Chef Kevin chooses a dish that he finds fun and exciting to prepare with kids, ages 7-13.
We’re sorry, but this is for kids only! Please drop your sous chef off at the aft deck at 1:00 and pick him or her up at 3:00. These classes are as much fun for Chef Kevin as they are for the kids, so we do not charge for them.

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New Art in Downtown Walnut Creek

June 5, 2013 8:30 am

As I passed by Bank of America on N. Main St. in downtown Walnut Creek I glanced at this beautiful work of art hanging next to the ATM. I read the sign next to it wondering who the artist was when I learned it’s actually an abandoned night drop. How funny is that?!

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DNA from Recent Assault Helps Solve Previous Attack in Walnut Creek

June 5, 2013 7:00 am

From the Walnut Creek Police Department:

In January 2013 Francisco Hernandez –Murrieta was convicted of Assault With Intent to Commit Rape for an attack that occurred in Walnut Creek on 6/9/12.
In that assault, Hernandez-Murrieta attacked a female that was walking home from downtown Walnut Creek on a trail late at night. The victim was able to fight off Hernandez- Murrieta and he was captured by police a short distance away. Hernandez-Murrieta was sentenced to 2 years State Prison for the offense. Hernandez- Murrieta is currently incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.

As a result of his arrest and conviction, a swab of Hernandez-Murrieta DNA was taken and submitted to the California Department of Justice CODIS data base. A search of the DNA linked Hernandez- Murrieta to a previously unsolved 2010 sexual assault case that occurred in Walnut Creek on 8/14/2010. In that case the suspect attacked a female alone in a car near downtown Walnut Creek. DNA evidence was recovered in that case by the Contra Costa County Crime Lab who in turn submitted the samples to the Department of Justice database.

Walnut Creek Police detectives worked with the Contra Costa County Crime Lab to confirm the DNA match. Detectives were also able to obtain other corroborating evidence linking Hernandez-Murrieta to the 2010 attack. The two attacks occurred less than a half a mile apart. The case was submitted to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. On 6/3/13, the Contra Costa County District Attorney filed charges of Assault to Commit Rape against Hernandez-Murrieta for the 2010 assault. He was additionally charged with being armed during that offense.

This case is particularly timely with the Supreme Court decision released 6/3/13 in Maryland v. King, continuing police authority to collect buccal DNA swabs from persons arrested for serious crimes. This case illustrates the value of this crime fighting tool and the success of the CODIS program.

Anyone with information on this case should call the Walnut Creek Police Department at (925) 943-5844.

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Bicycle of the Day

June 4, 2013 10:00 am

Spotted outside Katy’s Kreek in downtown Walnut Creek.

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Ottavio Signage in Walnut Creek

June 3, 2013 11:30 am

A year and a half ago I posted about the Italian restaurant Ottavio in downtown Walnut Creek. Recently I noticed what seems to me as new signage although it may have been up for a while.

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Lori’s Swim & Sun Closes in Moraga

June 3, 2013 8:30 am

After 17 years in business, Lori’s Swim & Sun has closed in the Moraga Shopping Center. A couple of weeks ago I noted that Hallmark would be closing next door so it seems rather empty over there these days.

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Burger Showdown – Rustic Tavern vs. Corners Tavern

May 31, 2013 11:30 am

Corners Tavern kids burger

I consider the Corners Tavern burger (Walnut Creek) one of my favorite burgers in the East Bay (through the tunnel). So when I found that recently opened Rustic Tavern (Lafayette) was offering a burger I knew I had to try one out to see if it can hold its own against a Corners burger.

The Corners burger comes with fries, pickled onions, lettuce, tomato and aged cheddar while a Rustic burger comes with fries, bacon, grilled onions, pickles, and cheese. The Rustic bun was more brioche-like, fries thicker cut and herb-coated. A Corners burger costs $15 while a Rustic burger goes for $14.

There’s a saying that everything tastes better with bacon so I’m not sure if it’s the bacon but the Rustic burger tasted amazing. Everything worked really well together. I thought I’d miss the lettuce and tomato but the pickles, bacon and onion combined with the high quality ground beef was delicious. I’m so glad there are multiple burger options around here. And pretty soon Lafayette will have yet another burger option as Roam Artisan Burgers plans on opening in October. Yum!

Rustic Tavern half-burger

Rustic Tavern is located at 3576 Mt Diablo Blvd in downtown Lafayette and Corners Tavern is located at 1342 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek next to Macy’s.

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Album Cover of the Day

May 31, 2013 10:00 am

Gisele MacKenzie, album from the 50s (?). Check out the video of “The Song from Moulin Rouge”.

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Friday Question of the Day – Does Street Soliciting Bother You?

May 31, 2013 8:30 am

A few weeks ago at this downtown corner in Walnut Creek I was waiting for the light to turn green with some other people including an older, well-dressed couple in their 60s. While waiting a street solicitor repeatedly asked the older man for a donation, referring to the color of his shirt to single him out. As I observed this the man mentioned to his wife how uncomfortable he felt.

So for the Friday question of the day, does street soliciting bother you? Are these legitimate charities?

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