 | | | Photo Victor Ryerson | | | | | | Doing double duty on Oct. 6, former mayor Bobbie Landers presented Karel Balogh, Orinda's 16th exchange student from its sister city of Tabor, Czech Republic, to the City Council. Balogh, who is attending Miramonte High School, underwent a highly competitive process to demonstrate that he was a good fit for the program, and was fluent enough in English to do well in classes at Miramonte. Sister Cities' host families typically provide room and board for their assigned students. Orinda's first mayor Richard Heggie, with Landers, was instrumental in organizing the connection with Tabor, according to the city of Orinda website. Landers, the last surviving member of Orinda's first City Council, also presented a history of Orinda's cityhood at the council meeting. The highlight of the presentation was a screening of the 17-minute videotape that was used to persuade residents to opt for cityhood. Orinda officially became a city on July 1, 1985. V. Ryerson
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA