High Court Allows State to Dissolve Redevelopment Agencies, Seize $1.7 Billion

California Supreme Court says state may seize $1.7 billion in property tax revenue. Ruling does not allow agencies to come back into existence with contributions to schools, transit, firefighting

Piedmont in 2011: Top Stories, August-October

A look back at Piedmont, and Piedmont Patch, over the past year, as reflected in the articles most popular with our readers. Did we miss a story that was important to you? Tell us in the comments section below.

New Child Safety Seat Law Kicks in Jan. 1

Beginning in 2012, any child under age 8 must be secured in a child safety seat

Not Quite a Spare the Air Day, but Close

Air Quality officials say they want the Bay Area to recover from unhealthy levels of smoke pollution from the holiday weekend

Piedmont 2011: The Year's Top Stories, March-May

A look back at Piedmont, and Piedmont Patch, over the past year, as reflected in the articles most popular with our readers. Did we miss a story that was important to you? Tell us in the comments section below.

Piedmont 2011: The Year's Top Stories, Week by Week

A look back at Piedmont, and Piedmont Patch, over the past year, as reflected in the articles most popular with our readers. Did we miss a story that was important to you? Tell us in the comments section below.

No Yule Log, Wood Burning on Christmas Day

Winter Spare the Air day #10 for the seasons falls on Dec. 25

City Council Candidate Margaret Fujioka Now Has Campaign Website

The campaign website for Fujioka, who is an incumbent seeking reelection, is now live

Free Parking for Shoppers in Oakland Today

Christmas Eve is the second of two Saturdays when Oakland is giving holiday shoppers a break from parking fees

Oakland City Council Okays Lawsuit Over Blair Park

Oakland will continue to seek an agreement with Piedmont to extend the deadline for filing a lawsuit, but will sue if that doesn't happen by Jan. 9

Planning Board Schedules Hearing on Second Units

Second units ("in-law apartments") are critical to Piedmont's ability to meet state regulations on providing housing at various income levels

Spare the Air: Don't Light That Yule Log Without Checking

Wood-burning ban called for Wednesday may extend through the weekend, say Bay Area Air Quality Management District officials

Update: Undergrounding Litigation Inches Ahead

Engineering firm says the case calls for arbitration. A case management conference is scheduled Wednesday.

Updated: Sunday, Monday are Spare the Air Days

The Bay Area Air Quality Management district has called two Winter Spare the Air Days

Plastic Bags on City Council's Agenda for Monday

Council members will also consider a formal agreement with the Piedmont Swim Team for use of the Piedmont Community Pool

Piedmont Voters: What Do You Want to Know About Candidates?

Help shape Piedmont Patch's coverage of the Feb. 7, 2012 city council and school board elections. Let us know what information and issues are most important to you.

Free Parking for Holiday Shoppers Saturday

Oakland proclaims a parking "holiday" for the next two Saturdays, Dec. 17 and 24

BART Board Picks Castro Valley Man as President

John McPartland, a retired Oakland Fire Department battalion chief, says addressing the system's signs of aging and extending service to Warm Springs and Livermore are among his priorities

Oakland Okays Grace Period for Parking Meters

Cars parked at pay-and-display meters will get five extra minutes before a ticket is issued

It's Back! Another Spare the Air Alert for Wednesday

Air Qualty district says "no" to wood-burning on Wednesday

Poll: Should California Ban All Cell Phone Use While Driving?

The National Transportation Safety Board recommended Tuesday that states outlaw all cell phone use -- including hands-free devices -- while driving, except in emergencies. What do you think?

Planning Commission Looks at Second Units Again

Tonight's meeting will include staff reports, discussion and public testimony on how to promote second units at different income levels, but no final action

Seismic Safety Committee to Review Annual Audit

Updates on expenditures and Beach School construction are also on the Dec.15 agenda

Air Quality District Still Frowning on Fires

Saturday is the fourth Winter Spare the Air day in a row

Deck the Halls: Hearing Overflows into the Hallway

At the Dec. 5 Piedmont City Council hearing on the Blair Park sports field proposal, seats in the council chambers were filled early. Those who arrived later had to watch the meeting on monitors, including one at the end of the main hallway.

Spare the Air, Day 3: Wood Burning Ban on Friday

Again, a crisp night with no fire in the fireplace...

Save the Date: Meet the Candidates Night Jan. 12.

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont has officially announced its candidates' forum, scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Letter to the Editor: Moraga Gully (aka Blair Park and Moraga Canyon)

Piedmont resident Jane Cullinan writes about the width of Moraga Avenue

Oakland to Piedmont: Addendum to Blair Park EIR is Not Enough

Deputy director of Oakland's Community & Economic Development Agency says the document "ignores meaningful review of new and significant Project changes and environmental impacts"

City of Oakland Lawsuit over Blair Park Still an Option

Oakland City Council members will consider litigation against the City of Piedmont again in a closed session on Dec. 20

Winter Spare the Air Alert Issued for Wednesday

No fires on the hearth Dec. 7, says the Air Quality Management District

Pearl Harbor Eyewitness to Speak at Hornet Event

The 89-year-old Navy veteran from Hayward will share his recollections during a 70th anniversary commemoration in Alameda on Dec. 7. Are there Pearl Harbor survivors living in Piedmont? Please share your memories in the comments section below.

City Council Gives the Go-Ahead to Blair Park Sports Field Plan

An overflow crowd and 70 speakers made for a long evening, with the meeting starting at 7:30 p.m. and ending just before 2:30 a.m.

Letter to the Editor: Former Soccer Club Player Weighs In on Blair Park

Serra Sabuncuoglu sent this letter to members of the Piedmont City Council and Park Commission, with a copy to Piedmont Patch

Crunch Time for Blair Park: City Council Considers EIR, Project Approval, Lease

The Piedmont City Council will make a number of decisions tonight about the contentious Moraga Canyon Sports Field Project

Letter to the Editor: Moraga Canyon Water Main

Piedmont resident Rick Schiller writes about the costs of relocating or replacing an EBMUD water main as part of the Blair Park sports field proposal. Click on the PDF to see his correspondence with EBMUD.

Letter to the Editor: Two Small Fields at Blair Park?

Piedmont resident Sinan Sabuncuoglu sent this letter to members of the city council, with a copy to Piedmont Patch. Click on the PDFs to see the brochures included with the letter.

BART Board Adopts New Policy Governing Cellphone Service Interruptions

The new policy calls for "extraordinary circumstances" but still allows the district to interrupt cell service to avoid disruptions to public transit

Letter to the Editor: Blair Park Roundabout

Rick Schiller talks about his concerns with the proposal for a traffic roundabout on Moraga Avenue

Wintertime Wood Burning: Read the Rules, Take Our Poll

During the winter it is generally illegal to use fireplaces, wood stoves and any other indoor or outdoor woodburning system when an alert has been issued. Fines are possible.