Published March 8th, 2017
It was 10 years ago today (or thereabouts)
By Cathy Dausman
A lot has happened in Lamorinda and in the world in 10 years - and a lot has stayed the same. Here is a "time capsule" of what was happening in March of 2007 when the Lamorinda Weekly launched:
Lamorinda:
Lafayette approved plans for a Whole Foods market (it opened in 2011) and broke ground for the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. It opened November 2009.
The California Transportation Commission approved final funding for a Caldecott Tunnel fourth bore. Traffic pop-ups remained through its completion in 2013. Bulldozers on an Orinda hillside south of Highway 24 began shaping the Wilder Homes development. Orinda moved into a new city hall.
Moraga held its first triathlon. It mourned the loss of three young adults in unrelated motor vehicle accidents.
Zillow Group, Inc. Median Home Values reported for March 2007:
 Lafayette: 1.14 million (vs. 1.37 million forecast for March 2017)
 Moraga: 1.07 million (vs. 1.25 million forecast for March 2017)
 Orinda: 1.26 million (vs. 1.46M million for March 2017)
The housing bubble burst in December 2007. California home prices fell faster than they had in the previous 25 years.
2007 Lamorinda leadership roles:
Mayor:
Carol Federighi, Lafayette
Mike Metcalf, Moraga
Steve Glazer, Orinda
City Manager:
Steven Falk, Lafayette
Phil Vince, Moraga
Janet Keeter, Orinda
Fire Chief:
Pete Nowicki, Moraga-Orinda Fire District
Keith Richter, Contra Costa Fire Protection
District
Chief of Police:
Mike Hubbard, Lafayette
Mark Ruppenthal, Moraga
Scott Haggard, Orinda
Statewide:
 Arnold Schwarzenegger was California's governor; he served two terms.
 More than 9,000 wildfires burned in California during 2007 affecting more than one million acres and displacing nearly as many people.
Nationwide:
 George W. Bush served his second term as President.
 Gas per gallon cost an average of $2.81. Toyota Camry and Honda Accord topped the best-selling list in 2007.
 Apple promoted its first iPhone with a "Hello" commercial aired during the Academy Awards. BlackBerry reassured its customers with "we'll be fine."
 Facebook turned three; founder Mark Zuckerberg was a billionaire at 23.

D�j� vu:
The American Public Works Association recognized the Town of Moraga for its "emergency sinkhole repair" (September,2007).
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," (released December 2008) The cast would include Saint Mary's College graduate and now Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali.

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