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Apply by March 13 to serve on a Commission or Committee

Serving in these volunteer positions is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of city government.
Nominate a Piedmont volunteer to be recognized for their impact

If someone’s time, care, and effort helped make the city a better place in 2025, take a few minutes to nominate them.
Piedmont announces new spectator policy for Binks

Rules follow brawl with San Leandro.
The Blotter | Jackhammers among tools stolen from backyard

Stolen vehicle and car break-in reported; also police corner juveniles in Corporation Yard.

AROUND TOWN

Winners of all ages in Girl Scouts’ Pinewood Derby
Results are in from the 21st annual Girl Scout Pinewood Derby.
Who’s that Good Dog?
Sociable Franki loves to be out and about with her human and canine pals.
Treat your sweetheart to chocolate-covered strawberries for Valentine’s Day
Order by February 11 at midnight to support this Piedmont Community Service Crew fundraiser,
Nominate a Piedmont Heritage Tree
Do you have a favorite tree in Piedmont’s parks and public spaces?
Obituary | Robert W. Phillips, 1971 – 2026
Beloved by family, friends, and colleagues, Rob is remembered for leading an exemplary life.
PIE hosts benefit concert for Sidekicks program on Feb. 27
The Rec Dept program trains teens to support inclusive after-school and summer programs for neurodiverse school-aged children.
Scherman Summer Camp makes room for unstructured fun for Piedmont youth
Quincy Scherman (PHS '24) is back for a sixth year running the popular summer program.
Piedmont Unplugged aims high in quest to curb youth smartphone, social media use
Co-founder Melissa Partovi says what's working in Piedmont could be replicated across the state.
Piedmont Beautification Foundation recognizes donors to annual holiday fundraising drive
The "Lights Up, Piedmont" celebration, along with other recent PBF initiatives, has raised over $200,000.
Obituary | Barbara Agnew Whalen, 1936-2026
Lovingly known as Bobbie, the longtime Piedmonter and philanthropist is remembered for her devotion to God, her family and friends.
Obituary | Susan Cotter Johnson, 1939 – 2026
The longtime Piedmonter is fondly remembered for her sense of adventure, political interests, and dedication to family and friends.

CITY NEWS

City says Piedmont Community Pool to open April 11
5+ years since the community voted to build a new pool facility, a grand opening is at last in sight.
Apply by March 13 to serve on a Commission or Committee
Serving in these volunteer positions is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of city government.
Nominate a Piedmont volunteer to be recognized for their impact
If someone’s time, care, and effort helped make the city a better place in 2025, take a few minutes to nominate them.
City holds first on-site training for new pool staff
The city is still actively hiring for spring and summer positions — with the greatest need for lifeguards and swim instructors.
February Cop on the Block
Chat with a police officer at one of the upcoming casual meet-ups around town.
Descendants of Piedmont’s first Black family sue city over racially motivated land seizure
While the city's planned memorial is a good recognition of what happened in the past, it is not a remedy for injustice, say the plaintiffs.
City Council adopts ‘Objective Design Standards’ to govern new housing in Piedmont
As the state chips away at local control over new housing development, Piedmont still has control over some design standards.
Nominate a neighbor to be recognized for sustainable home improvements
Nomination deadline is February 18; awardees will be recognized at the city's Design Awards Gala on April 15.
Local leaders attend ribbon-cutting for new city dispatch center
The $3.1 million, 18-month project, was completed on budget and leveraged $2.1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Piedmont Community Pool: A look back at how we got here
Hindsight is always 20/20, but the building of a state-of-the-art aquatics facility suffered from an overly optimistic timeline from the get-go.

SCHOOLS

Piedmont announces new spectator policy for Binks
Rules follow brawl with San Leandro.
Discover the ‘Art of Oral Storytelling’ at Piedmont Adult School
Learn the fundamentals of story structure and presentation in a supportive, creative environment.
PEF welcomes Spring Fling co-chairs
A season of fundraising and community celebrations is planned -- with the main event set for May 1 and a kick-off party on February 25.
Piedmont students join nationwide ‘ICE Out’ protest
Teen walkout was one of many happening in the Bay Area on Friday.
PEF thanks donors to this year’s Giving Campaign
1,164 households contributed $4,015,068 in support of Piedmont schools, making this the strongest Giving Campaign in PEF's history.
PUSD’s Summer Adventures returns for 2026
Registration opens on Thursday, January 29; spots for February and April Adventures still available.
PUSD accepting nominations for 2026 Arthur Hecht Volunteer Award
The deadline for nominations is March 13.
Piedmont Education Foundation’s Giving Campaign raises over $4 million
Record-breaking dollar amounts and participation.

SPORTS

Girls soccer | Piedmont splits 1-0 games
Girls soccer loses to Castro Valley, rebounds against Alameda.
Boys basketball | Piedmont beats Berkeley, 61-52
The Highlanders are now 16-8 on the season, 4-4 in West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division play.
Boys soccer | Piedmont falls to Alameda
Losing streak reaches seven.
Boys basketball | Empty stands, big win
Highlanders edge O’Dowd.
Girls basketball | Johnson celebrates senior night
Celebrated on Senior Night, ‘Unc’ helps Highlanders to win.
Fight breaks out at Piedmont-San Leandro basketball game
No fans to be allowed at February 4 Bishop O’Dowd game.
Girls soccer | Piedmont falls to Berkeley
Highlanders are next scheduled to host Castro Valley on February 4.
Girls basketball | Piedmont beats Alameda, 76-55
Girls basketball now 2-0 in league.
Girls soccer | Piedmont plays O’Dowd tight
Girls soccer falls to top team.

CALIFORNIA

‘Valleycrat’ or Mamdani wannabe?: California Democrats are split on how to win swing votes
After 2024 losses, Democrats are split on whether to move to the middle or embrace economic populism.
West Oakland BART lot closes partially as preparations begin for transit village project
Construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and will close an estimated 300 spaces out of the 440 at the station.
Trump scraps a cornerstone climate finding, as California prepares for court
California is preparing to sue — and may try to write its own rules.
California challenges Trump administration’s threat to withhold $5 billion over gender identity disclosure
At issue is whether school staff should notify parents if they believe their child may be transgender or gender-nonconforming.
Facing ‘extinction vortex,’ California grants new protections to some mountain lions
Officials declared Central Coast and Southern California mountain lions threatened under the state’s endangered species act.
Supporters, critics debate Flock cameras as Alameda County reviews contract extension
Concerns about federal agency misuse and targeted surveillance.
Factory-built housing hasn’t taken off in California yet, but this year might be different
Building homes inside a factory could revolutionize the American housing industry, ushering in a new era of higher quality homes at lower price.
California teachers navigate difficult discussions about current events after ICE shootings
Students and teachers examine current events in the context of their classroom studies.
State Sen. Wiener proposes bill to address law enforcement wearing face masks
California's "No Secret Police Act" would have come into effect last month but was challenged by the federal government.
Cal State to back three proposals on nursing education, campus safety and more
Legislative agenda also includes pilot to help former CSU students receive associate degrees.
‘Little death bombs’: Illegal cannabis farms poison California’s forests. Who’s cleaning them up?
An environmental research group sounds the alarm on lasting consequences of pollution on public land.
Overtime pay and night vision binoculars: UC San Diego is among agencies helping patrol border
Local police forces get money every year from the Department of Homeland Security to assist with border patrol operations.
California sues websites that publish blueprints for 3D printer ghost guns
California law enforcement agencies seize about 11,000 ghost guns every year.
‘Be on the right side of history’: Unions push Newsom to regulate AI amid presidential bid
Union leaders framed AI as one issue where the public broadly supports regulation.
Trio arrested in fatal Oakland TV crew shooting plead guilty to various charges
Security guard Kevin Nishita was killed while protecting a KRON-TV news crew on assignment in November, 2021.
On frozen ground in Minneapolis: Why I went — and what I saw as press freedom is tested
A local reporter heads to Minneapolis to put his (winter) boots on the ground where so much is at stake.