It was a tough week for little Lamorinda. More than 200 Moragans and friends from far-flung places turned out Monday for a country-club send-off for former -- a fitting celebration of life for a man who loved it and made many friends along the way.
Not a dry eye in the house after a particularly sharp honor guard presented the flag to Ed's family and attendees were asked to toast his memory with a shot glass filled with his favorite libation -- chocolate milk.
Over in Lafayette, neighbors have been writing Patch about a worrisome streak of "hot" burglaries in neighborhoods bordering Highway 24, with burglars returning to the area, apparently, to strike more than once and even when the residents are at home.
Chief Eric Christensen told Patch a bit ago the burglaries are disturbing but not out of pace with the rate normally seen in the city, and that it appears one or more crews of burglars are returning to hit homes near the freeway because of the quick getaway it provides. Neighbors tell us they have arrived home to find people unknown to them fleeing out their front doors. In one case, apparently, burglars struck the home of a new arrival in town and that's not the sort of welcome wagon you want greeting new arrivals.
Police are working some leads and we'll be posting news of any arrests when they are made.
And there are many disturbing and obvious aspects to the first homicide to occur in , with resident James Collin, 62, being held to answer for murdering his live-in girlfriend -- Evangeline C. Devera, 56 -- with a machete in the house they shared in the 600 block of Moraga Way.
Longtime residents say the home has been the scene of tragedy before, with Collin's brother Tim suffering a mortal, self-inflicted gunshot wound in the residence back in the 70's.
Orindans who remember the case say the shooting was determined to be accidental at that time.
Investigators and neighbors said James Collin and Devera argued frequently and that police had responded to the residence in response to domestic violence complaints on several occasions.
Here's hoping for better days ahead. Have a story for me, drop me a line... and be well.
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