Diablo Dish reports that San Francisco-based Smitten Ice Cream, which uses liquid nitrogen to make their ice cream in 60 seconds, may be replacing Cold Stone Creamery in La Fiesta Square in downtown Lafayette. Stay tuned…
Last October I pointed out how ridiculous it was that Starbucks was selling $6 juice drinks. I would like to apologize for that post as apparently $6 juice drinks are now considered a bargain judging by the juice drinks being sold at the Lafayette Whole Foods. $12 for a Cashew, vanilla, cinnamon, agave drink, $8 for a Lemon, cayenne, agave drink. Maybe I should stick with the black water instead.
Town Hall Theatre
3535 School St, Lafayette
Friday, July 19th – Sunday, July 21st, 2013
8:00pm (2:00pm Sunday) | $15THE presents Much Ado About Nothing – Widely regarded as Shakespeare’s finest comedy, “Much Ado About Nothing” focuses on Beatrice and Benedick–two sharp-tongued exes whose friends plot to make one fall in love with the other. Add to that two young lovers thwarted by rumors, a jilted brother and an insane watchman, and you have one of the funniest stories ever told.
The City of Walnut Creek has released the confidential investigative report about the Lesher Center employee who was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with children. Read the entire report here.
From the city website:
At the direction of the Walnut Creek City Council, the City today is releasing an independent investigator’s report that examines City employees’ actions, or failure to act, upon learning of alleged improper and/or illegal behavior by part-time employee Jason Pedroza. The report is available on the City’s website.
The report states that on Nov. 3, 2012, certain City staff learned of allegations that Pedroza, 28, sent inappropriate texts and Facebook messages to a 13-year-old Danville girl he met while both were actors in a Contra Costa Musical Theatre production, a non-profit theatrical company that performs at the Lesher Center.
City staff took “proactive steps” to “protect minors at the Lesher Center for the Arts, not to hinder efforts by any law enforcement agency – including the Walnut Creek Police Department – to investigate suspected child abuse,” the report states.
Those steps included terminating Pedroza on Nov. 8, and removing him from the cast of an upcoming Center REP production.
In addition, the report notes that staff knew the Danville Police were investigating the Nov. 3 allegations.
The internal investigation also finds in part that:
- The Danville Police concluded on Nov. 11 that no crime had occurred in relation to Pedroza’s messages to the 13-year-old girl.
- Until Nov. 3, none of the witnesses interviewed was aware of, or suspected, that Jason Pedroza had been acting appropriately in any way with minors.
- No witness interviewed had observed, or was aware of, inappropriate contact between minors and adults at the Lesher Center for the Arts.
The internal investigation also finds that the City Manager and Assistant City Manager knew about the Nov. 3 allegations and did not share that information prior to being interviewed in connection with the internal investigation.
Rheem Theatre
350 Park St, Moraga
Saturday, July 13th, 2013
11:00am – 3:00pm | $5 (for movie)The Moraga Police Officers Association is presenting a fun kids day on Saturday, July 13th at the New Rheem Theatre with a movie showing of Despicable Me on the big screen, and a festival of fun activities, face painting, balloons, lots of snacks and much more!
The 2010 animated hit movie with character voices by Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, and Julie Andrews starts at 11:00 am at a special price of only $5.00. The festival will start soon after at 12:00 noon til 3:00 pm.
Lafayette Reservoir
I remember scrambling for change too many times while parking at the Lafayette Reservoir over the years so it’s nice to see a new lot and meters that accept credit cards. The metered spots run $1.50 per hour, max 2 hours and there is also separate parking for those with annual passes. That being said I now park on Mt. Diablo Blvd. for free and just walk or run up as it’s so close by.
Moraga Way, Orinda
In May of last year I noted that “The Old Yellow House” was getting remodeled and it’s progressing nicely as you can see in the photo above. It’s located on Moraga Way so plenty of people see this house every day driving through Orinda. According to the developer’s Facebook page they will be back to finish this house sometime this summer. I look forward to seeing this when it’s completed.
Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Saturday, July 20th, 2013
11:00am – 12:00pm | FreeJoin us this summer for a guided walking tour of Walnut Creek’s prime public art works located around downtown. Tours start at 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of the month. The 60-minute, docent-led walking tours depart from the front of the Lesher Center. Admission is $5 and includes a free pass to the Bedford Gallery.
We’re excited that artist Seyed Alavi will be joining the tour on Saturday, July 20 on the new Tour Route #4, focusing on Downtown Main Street and the Library. Seyed will speak about his piece Fountainhead on Main St. by Mechanics Bank.
RSVP to 925/295-1423 and drop-ins are always welcome.
