From the Orinda police blotter

Wednesday, Sept. 26

IDENTITY THEFT — A resident in the first block of Roberts Road reported at 8:27 a.m. that his wife’s bank card had been used to make more than $2,000 in online music and movie ticket purchases. Police reports state the card had been taken when the family’s mail was stolen in an incident that was reported to police.

Harriet Ainsworth plugs next Wednesday’s 2007 Fourth of July parade, led by Lafayette’s Mo Levich, in her Sun column this week: Mo says: “All instruments and all levels of musicianship are welcome: If you need music in advance, call me at 925-283-0361. Drums (only) must register in advance: call 925-254-9169. We meet at 9 a.m. at Valero gas station next to Casa Orinda; practice one hour and parade at 10 a.m. sharp. Uniform is blue shorts, white shirt and something red — socks, cap, what have you?”
I

To keep up with the Campolindo band during its trip to Russia, go to http://www.campomusic.org/web_site/St. _Petersburg_Trip/index.php:

Here’s a report from Jackie Burrell, Contra Costa Times feature writer who is there: “Last night’s Campolindo band concert at St. Petersburg’s Cappella Hall was magical — fantastic acoustics, amazing performance, a standing room only crowd roaring its approval, dignitaries (including a representative from the Russian Federal Ministry of Culture, the American Consul-General and the dean of the Palace for Children’s Creativity, a 17K-student school) praising our teenagers for their role as cultural ambassadors, and the amazing sight of Campolindo’s musicians onstage with their Russian counterparts, in bright red military-style uniforms, performing Russian victory marches and “Stars and Stripes Forever” together. For the adults in the audience — including us chaperones, Cold War era babies, every one — the evening stood as an unbelievable, awe inspiring, beacon of hope for the future. As we boarded the buses afterward in a euphoric daze, the gentleman from the Russian Ministry of Culture came to see Mr. Benstein and our young musicians off, and to say he was relaying that message of hope to Moscow.

“We spent this morning at Peter the Great’s summer palace in a flurry of snowflakes — fat flakes that glistened on our coats and fancy Russian scarves (the kids went for the fur hats and Paul Mack has amassed a monumental collection of chapeaux, but the rest of us went for the scarves!). We’re back at the hotel now, the snow has melted and the sun is shining once more, as we scurry to pack before dinner. We head for the airport at 2 a.m., after the final festivities with our Russian musical colleagues, so the next time you hear from us, we’ll be home! ”
[Posted: Jackie Burrell, Wednesday, April 04, 2007]

Lamorinda’s third spring musical, Miramonte’s production of “Aida” — the Elton John musical, not the Met Opera with elephants — opens this Thursday for a two-week run. And now even younger singers are grabbing the spotlight.
When San Francisco’s historic CA Thayer returns to the Hyde Street Pier on April 11 after a major overhaul, look for the youngsters singing about blowing the man down and rolling the old chariot along. They’re fifth graders from Moraga’s Rheem Elementary and they’re experts on Thayer lore.
For the last decade, teacher Ann Ralph and her colleagues have taken their students on an overnight field trip aboard the historic schooner each winter to play deckhands, sailors and ship’s cooks as part of the National Park Service’s maritime education program. They’ve slept in the cramped quarters down below, raised the sails and swabbed the decks. And, says principal Elaine Frank, when the aging ship needed refurbishing, they raised $500 for the cause. On the 11th, Rheem’s young sailors will greet the Thayer as she returns to port, and sing sea chanteys for assembled guests, including Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who helped secure federal funding for the project.
– Jackie Burrell

Lamorinda was a buzz of activity last night as the seventh annual Lafayette Jazz Festival opened at Acalanes Performing Arts Center, Campo’s spring musical “Hello Dolly” debuted in Moraga, and the sound of dribbling basketballs and joyous cheers echoed off the walls at Madigan Gym at St. Mary’s College.

Cheers erupted at the jazz fest too as longtime KCBS anchor — and beloved Rossmoor Big Band crooner — Al Hart received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Generations in Jazz Foundation, then stepped to the mic to sing “What a Wonderful World.” The audience got sniffly after legendary arranger and Rossmoor Big Band co-director Frank Como exchanged beaming grins and hugs with Stanley eighth grader Erin Grant. The young tenor saxophonist had performed two jazz classics artfully arranged just for her by the now-retired Como, who spent 20 years as Lionel Hampton’s arranger.

But the best sight-em came afterward. Ripping off cummerbunds with one hand, whipping out cell phones with the other, the younger members of the Rossmoor Big Band, which features teen and veteran musicians performing side-by-side, raced offstage to get the lowdown on the Acalanes basketball team and the NorCal Division III quarterfinals at St. Mary’s. More cheers, this time backstage: the NCS champions had just triumphed over Weston Ranch, 50-47. Next up: Acalanes vs. Sacramento High at St. Mary’s this Saturday at 7 p.m. (Tickets: $5 students, $9 general admission) What a wonderful world …
– Jackie Burrell