Category Archives: Orinda

Free Admission to National Parks on Veteran’s Day

Posted on November 1, 2014 | Leave a comment

NPS

Anyone looking to explore a national park for free in 2014 should mark his or her calendar. The National Park Service has nine fee-free days on the calendar in 2014. On the dates, all 401 national parks will offer free admission, though only 133 usually charge admission, according to the National Park Service (NPS). See the list below for this years dates and plan a trip to your local park. If you’re active military or family, you can also get a FREE Annual Pass to the National Parks.

Mark your calendar for these free fee days in 2014:

Nov. 11 for Veterans Day

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

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Posted in Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek

Halloween Tipsy Toe Offers Free Ride Home

Posted on October 31, 2014 | Leave a comment

aaa-tipsy-tow

AAA’s “Tipsy Tow” initiative will be offering Halloween partygoers a free ride home tonight in the hope of getting people home safely on one of the biggest party nights of the year.

Anyone who has celebrated Halloween with a little too much to drink will be able to catch a free ride with Tipsy Tow rather than risking more dangerous ways to get home.

The Tipsy Tow program is open to everyone. You do not need to be an AAA Member to take advantage of this service to the community.

AAA typically offers the service to drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on the holiday to 6 a.m. the following day in Northern California, Nevada and Utah. For specific dates and times, see the list below.

During the period Tipsy Tow is available, drivers, potential passengers, party hosts, bartenders, and restaurant managers can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow home of up to ten miles. Just tell the AAA operator, “I need a Tipsy Tow,” and a truck will be on its way.

The service will provide a one-way ride for the driver and vehicle to the driver’s home. If there are additional passengers who need a ride, they will be taken to the driver’s home as long is there is sufficient room for them to be transported safely in the tow truck. You cannot make a reservation.

AAA provides its Tipsy Tow service for the following holidays:

Halloween: 6:00 p.m. October 31st – 6:00 a.m. November 1st

Whatever you do, please don’t drink and drive. Take the Pledge! Join AAA’s commitment to driving only while drug and alcohol-free.

AAA offers the following tips to stay safe and keep others safe on the roads:

Drive only while drug and alcohol-free
Plan ahead and designate a non-drinking driver before a celebration begins
Don’t let your friends drive impaired. Take their keys away
Never ride in a car with someone who is impaired
Plan to take a cab or stay with a friend

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Posted in Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek

Free Admission to National Parks on Sept 27

Posted on September 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

NPS

Mark your calendar for these free fee days in 2014:

Sept. 27 for National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11 for Veterans Day

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.

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Posted in Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek

FREE U.S. Constitution Booklet – Read Yours Today

Posted on September 17, 2014 | Leave a comment

US_Constitution

“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!” ~Sam Adams 1776

It is our Constitution and those that believe in it that keep us free and out of servitude. Lawless leaders and individuals have attempted to destroy the U.S. Constitution which is the very foundation of OUR country. Very few know this, but the Constitution wasn’t written for everyone, in fact it was written only for a select few.

John Adams in a speech to the military in 1798 warned his fellow countrymen stating, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

In a day of Miley Cyrus twerking, there are signs of our society losing moral ground daily. However know that all hope is not lost. In the days of unprecedented wickedness, there is a glimmer of hope arising from the chaos. All across our nation, true countrymen are pulling back to their roots and dusting off their U.S. Constitution.

Since Obama’s election in 2008, there has been a resurgence of America patriotism in which hasn’t been since in decades and is spreading like wildfire. The IRS targeting groups that use the term “patriot”, “American” and “tea party” hasn’t stopped the spread either. The gun laws that were passed unconstitutional back fired making Obama the best gun salesmen in America. Gun shops had record-breaking sales men and women flocked to stores to take up arms.

Why are we talking about the Constitution?Because today is Constitution Day. It’s a day that commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.

On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they had created. We encourage all Americans to observe this important day in our nation’s history by attending local events in your area. Celebrate Constitution Day through activities, learning, parades and demonstrations of our Love for the United State of America and the Blessings of Freedom Our Founding Fathers secured for us.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ~Edmund Berke

The best thing we can all do, to help save this great nation of ours, is to pick up and study our Constitution. To vow to protect and preserve this priceless gift for generations to come.

If you don’t have a Constitutions and want one, there are many groups that offer FREE U.S. Constitution booklets. Check them out and show your American spirit with these other patriotic goodies listed below:

★ FREE Pocket Constitution (Scroll to the bottom of the link) – Requires SASE.

★ FREE Printable Constitution PDF

★ FREE Downloadable Pocket Declaration of Independence and Constitution

★ FREE Downloadable Book: Pocket Catechism on the Constitution of the United States

★ FREE Copy of NRA’s Essential Second Amendment Guide

★ FREE Firearm Safety Education DVDs

★ FREE Printable Firearm Paper Targets

★ FREE STICKER NRA Armed Citizens – Defend Your Right to Defend Yourself

★ FREE Tea Party Patriot Bumper Sticker

★ FREE STICKER Patriot Act: Repeal It

★ FREE American Flag Decals (Scroll to the bottom of the link)

★ FREE American Flag Window Cling

★ FREE Square Inch Of US Land

For more information on Constitution Day, visit ConstitutionDay.com.

What do you think of our Constitution? What do you think about what’s happening to this country? Have you read your Constitution today?

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Posted in Antioch, Brentwood, California News, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, National News, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg / Bay Point, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek

McD’s Offers Free Morning Coffee – Until 29th

Posted on September 16, 2014 | Leave a comment

freecoffee

From September 16th – 29th, you can score a FREE Small McCafe Coffee from McDonald’s during breakfast hours. That’s 2 long weeks of FREE coffee! No coupon or purchase necessary. They always offer free Wifi too.

McDonald’s announced a second national Free Coffee Event, an opportunity for even more coffee lovers to enjoy a freshly brewed, rich and smooth tasting McCafé coffee.

McCafé fans will soon be able to enjoy their coffee whenever they want, including at home. McDonald’s recently announced a collaboration with Kraft Foods Group, Inc. to offer a variety of McCafé ground, whole bean and single cup coffees in grocery stores and other retailers nationwide starting in early 2015.

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NEW 3 Ft Bicycle Law – Effective Today!

Posted on September 16, 2014 | 1 comment

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is alerting drivers about a new law that requires them to give bicyclists, traveling in the same direction, three feet of clearance when passing. The Three Feet for Safety Act takes effect Today, September 16, 2014.

According to the new law ( AB1371, Bradford), signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. on September 23, 2013, if traffic or roadway conditions prevent motorists from giving cyclists three feet of space, drivers must “slow to a speed that is reasonable and prudent” and only pass when a cyclist will not be in danger. Violations are punishable by a $35 fine. Motorists who collide with cyclists and injure them while violating the Three Feet for Safety Act can be subject to a $220 fine. Under the previous law, a vehicle was simply required to pass to the left at a “safe distance.”

Each year in California, more than 100 people are killed and hundreds of thousands more are injured in bicycle collisions. Some bicycle related crashes are connected to the bicyclist’s behavior, while others are due to the motorist’s lack of attention.

Bicycle riders on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and are subject to the same rules and regulations. Refer to the California Driver Handbook to become familiar with these rules.
Motorists must look carefully for bicyclists before turning left or right, merging into bicycle lanes, and opening doors next to moving traffic. Respect the right-of-way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with you.

California is among 24 states that require motorists to give bicyclists three feet of clearance while passing, according to theNational Conference of State Legislatures.

For more information about safely sharing the road, check out these helpful DMV resources:

–Announcement from the Department of Motor Vehicles

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Posted in Antioch, Brentwood, California News, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg / Bay Point, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek

Closed DMV Offices Creates Nightmare @ WC

Posted on September 15, 2014 | Leave a comment

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With 2 DMV offices (Concord & Pittsburg) currently closed, the Walnut Creek office is getting ugly! If you thought the DMV was time consuming before, just wait. LOL (pun intended!) 🙂

In fact, since the recent temporary closures (remodeling), the Walnut Creek office has taken the brunt of it. They are so overwhelmed that they have to start registering people outside because there isn’t enough room inside.

It has gotten so bad inside that there really hasn’t been ANY standing room. If by chance, you will be lucky enough to get a seat, you will be crammed next to strangers.

And parking? Forget about it! Be prepared to wait in line in the street, just to get into the parking lot. Traffic on N. Broadway was blocked by vehicles waiting in line to enter the parking lot. DMV patrons inside were complaining about waiting for a parking spot for up to 45 minutes, which doesn’t include the wait time to be seen.

The Concord & Pittsburg DMV offices will be reopened to the public at the end of September 2014.

Don’t get caught up in all the drama and stress! Save Time, Go Online! Doing business with the DMV online has never been easier. The DMV offers an array of services to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including online advance appointments for written and drive tests; vehicle registration and driver license renewals, selection of personalized license plates, changes of address and payment of fees via secure debit transactions. Customers can also effect transactions by calling DMV customer service at(800) 777–0133.

For more information about the DMV or to access the online services, visit their website at www.dmv.ca.gov.

I know we have ALL experienced frustrations at the DMV, what was your worst one? What was your longest wait time? Have you ever had a quick and painless experience? Tell us about it and comment below!