Top Stories, June 26 - July 1

THE WEEK'S MOST POPULAR NEWS ARTICLES:

1. : An East Bay Express blogger called into question several restaurant reviewers apparent skittishness about Piedmont Avenue. In their comments, Piedmonters said the business district doesn't scare them.
2. : The 4th of July was Carla Betts' kind of day, with festivities morning, noon, and night. The morning part featured the parade down Highland Avenue that she spearheaded.
3. : City Council has approved a $279,883 contract to repave four sections of road and seal three more this summer.
4. : In part due to California's last hired-first fired policy in the midst of a bad economy, public school districts across the state, including Piedmont, have fewer young teachers.
5. : Libraries were indeed saved this week when Oakland's City Council passed a budget preserving the funding to keep all the branches open. That move

THE WEEK'S MOST POPULAR ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Want your favorite Piedmont Patch feature to make next week's top stories list? Share it via Facebook, Twitter, or email using the buttons at the end of the news item or announcement.