Soprano Ann Moss presents STORY/SONG, a recital of art songs that tell stories, at 7 pm Oct. 4 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. Accompanied by pianist Martin Morley and clarinetist Asher Davison, this program includes works by Schubert, Barber, Mozart, Richard Strauss and others, with world premieres of songs by living composers.
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Lafayette’s Town Hall Theater’s presents “The Graduate,” Through Oct 11. See story on page 10.

Onstage Theatre presents “ Helen’s Most Favorite Day” by Mark Dunn, Directed by Helen Means. Love at 'second sight' and a magic wish doom Helen to repeat the best day of her life ad infinitum, unless she can be rescued by those nearest and dearest to her. Through Oct 11, Ticket prices: $15 general and $12 students/ seniors. Reservations: (925) 944-9006. School House Culture Center, 2050 Oak Park Blvd corner of Pleasant Hill Rd in Pleasant Hill.

Piano Jazz Café at the Lafayette Community Center Friday 10/10-1:30pm – 2:30pm. The music varies from show tunes and jazz standards to original compositions. There is no charge but, a small donation would be appreciated. Light refreshments are offered. Located at 500 Saint Mary’s Rd. RSVP (925)284-5050.

“The Luck Of The Draw,” artwork on display at Fastframe of Lafayette. Local elementary school children entered their artwork in a drawing coordinated by LASF, and the lucky winners received complimentary custom framing from Fastframe. The artwork will be displayed in Fastframe’s through mid-November. An opening reception for these young artists will be held on Sunday Oct. 5th from 1-4 p.m. Call Anthony at 283-7620 for more information.
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Moraga Art Gallery Show through Oct. 26th--"Summer of Decision" by local Bay Area and Lamorinda artists showing watercolors, oil painting, collage, ceramics, photography, mixed media, jewelry and glass design. Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St,. Rheem Valley Shopping Center/ next to Longs Drugs Moraga. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 12-5 pm, 925.376.5407.
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“A Novel Idea,” is the new show featured at the Lafayette Gallery from Oct. 7- 25, 2008. The four featured artists have incorporated references from both prose and poetry into their art. An opening reception is scheduled for Oct. 10 from 7 to 9 pm. Lafayette Gallery is located at 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. 925-284-2788. www.lafayettegallery.net Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 11am to 5pm.
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Gallery artists work in a variety of mediums including printmaking, painting, collage, jewelry, ceramics, photography, watercolor and mixed media techniques. Gallery Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm. 925-284-2788, www.lafayettegallery.net.
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Lindsay Wildlife Museum -Vanishing Wildlife- through November 16. Watercolor and mixed-media by Rita Sklar Vanishing Wildlife depicts American, European, Latin American and African wildlife. Critics describe her paintings as a mix of abstraction and realism, giving the paintings a feeling of movement and immediacy and praise them as capturing the subtle mood of the mystery of nature. Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek. www.wildlife-museum.org.

"Physics for Future Presidents" - 7:30 p.m. on Thu., Oct. 2 at the Lafayette Library. Dr. Richard Muller, a professor of physics at the University of California at Berkeley, explains what every world leader needs to know. The book provides the scientific know-how would-be leaders need to challenge ill- in informed, partisan advice on science-based issues such as terrorism, global warming, the value of manned exploration of space and the dangers of nuclear weapons. This free public lecture is based on his renowned course for non-science students which was voted "Best Class at Berkeley." Books will be available for signing and are sold by The Lafayette Book Store. 20% of the proceeds go to the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Sponsored by the Friends of the Lafayette Library. For more information, call (925) 283-3872 or go to www.lafayettelib.com.
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Thursday, Oct. 2, 4 pm, Paula Boswell will discuss and sign copies of her memoir, No Ordinary Life: The True Story of a Dutch Girl and an American Marine. Orinda Books, 276 Village Square, Orinda. 925/254-7606.
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The Friends of the Orinda Library will celebrate its 45th Annual Orinda Book Fair on Saturday, Oct. 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Orinda Library Plaza. Hundreds of gently used, hard-bound and paperback books of every genre and for every age group will be on sale at fantastic prices – some as low as .50 cents and $1.00. A special section of collectible books, videos and CDs will also be offered.
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Finding Gifted Children: Gifted Behaviors In and Out of the Classroom- Book Signing After the Event Free Event - Open to the Public- presented by Saklan Valley School & its Parent Association James T. Webb, Ph.D., ABPP-CL, has been recognized as one of the 25 most influential psychologists nationally on gifted education and he is the lead author of five books and several DVDs about gifted children, four of which have won “Best Book” awards. Thursday, Oct. 23rd 7pm - 9pm. Oakwood Athletic Club, Lafayette. Please RSVP at www.saklan.org, or call at 925-376-7900

Preschool Yard Sale- Sat, Oct. 4, 9am- 2pm - Moraga Bright Beginnings
1689 School Street, Moraga, (near Moraga Way and Country Club Drive)
Furniture, toys, clothes, books, DVDs, CDs, sports equipment, kitchen gadgets and much, much more.
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Sunday Tour of Homes-Orinda-view 6-8 homes in one afternoon. FREE!
Next Tour Dates: Oct. 7th at 1pm. www.SundayTourNow.com 800-414-4045 ID# 4073.
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Widowed Persons Support will be offering a series of six GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS. The next series of Grief Support Group Meetings will be on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to Noon. Oct 4 and 11th. St. Stephen’s Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. There is no charge and no reservation need. For information call: (925) 932-3448.

Sunday, Oct 5, "Oktober Fest”. From 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Join us at our annual fund raiser at St. Perpetua in Lafayette for great food, traditional drinks, fun games for kids and adults alike and a silent auction of exceptional
donated gift baskets. 3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette, CA 94549;
925-283-0272 or www.stperpetua.org.""
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Mount Diablo Challenge-Sunday, Oct. 5th. The Mount Diablo Challenge is a 10.8 mile timed bike ride, starting at Athenian School in Danville and climbing up Southgate Road 3,249 feet to the summit of Mount Diablo. All proceeds benefit Save Mount Diablo’s land conservation efforts. Registration cost is $50.00. To register please visit www.savemountdiablo.org or www.active.com. No Day-Of registration.

National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 5-11, 2008. The theme of Fire Prevention Week 2008 is “It’s Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires!” The Moraga-Orinda Fire District is marking this week with an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, from 10AM to 3PM, located at Station 41 – 1280 Moraga Way. Bring the whole family!
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Single Malt Tasting with Evan Cattanach- Metro Lafayette-Wednesday Oct. 8th at 7pm. Jackson’s Wine and Spirit will be hosting a tasting of single malts with Master Distiller Emeritus Evan Cattanach. Cattanach has spent more than 40 years of his life managing various single malt distilleries and serving as a Whisky Ambassador around the globe. He is one of the world’s greatest authorities on single malt whisky. Cost is $50 each. Hors d'oeuvres are included. 925-284-4100.
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Serbian Food Festival – Oct. 11, 12 Noon - 9 PM. Featuring authentic Serbian cuisine and pastries, live music and dancing. Great fun for entire family. Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. 925/376-6850.
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The Rainbow Community Center of Contra Costa Fundraiser-Casino Night- Friday Oct. 10th, 7 - 11 pm. Cost $50: includes over 25 Raffles for prizes; live auctions for 2 different Maui condominium stays; 1 free cocktail ticket for a glass of wine, a Cosmo or an Appletini; buffet dinner and a dessert bar. All the proceeds support programs for LGBT youth, LGBT Seniors and people living with HIV/AIDS in Contra Costa County. For more information about the RCC please visit www.rainbowcc.org
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Miramonte friends and alumni are invited to attend the dedication of the athletic field in Paul Yriberri's memory prior to the Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m.
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Ditch the routine, Join the Party! Latin/Reggaeton cardio total body workout. Experienced dancers will love moving to the unique and motivating music, and novices will get fit with the easy to follow moves. Register now at 284-2232 or www.LafayetteRec.org for the Thursday, 10:30 class. Call Debbie at (925) 395-6199 and checkout www.DebbieZumba.com for more info.
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Lamorinda Republican Women, Federated – Monthly Luncheon Meeting - “All the Answers to All the Questions You Have About the Republican Party, Politics and the Law” presented by special guest Charles Bell, General Counsel to the California Republican Party. Thursday, Oct 16: 11:30am – Arrival/Networking, 12 – Luncheon, 12:30 – Speaker. Orinda Country Club, 315 Camino Sobrante. $25 luncheon/$15 speaker only. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED: Meeting is open to the public. For details see website at lamorindarepublicanwomen.org. For reservations please call (925) 254-8617 on or before Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008.
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Las Trampas Celebrates 50 years- Thursday Oct. 16 11am to 2pm
See story page 10
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Widowed Persons Support group will have a luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 at 1 p.m. at Back Forty Texas B.B.Q., 100 Coggins Drive, Pleasant Hill. Cost: $16. Reservation required by Thursday, Oct 14. Call Molly Runnion (925)283-1119 or Millie Weisberg (925)906-9483. Widows and widowers are invited.
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Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Keith Ellison (D - MN 5) on Saturday, Oct 18 at 11 am. Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. Co-Sponsors: Social Action Committee of Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, Northern California Peace Alliance, Lamorinda Peace and Justice Group, Rossmoor Grandparents for Peace
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Open House-Hacienda de las Flores -Sunday, Oct 19th from 2 to 5 p.m. 2100 Donald Drive in Moraga. This romantic Spanish-style estate features a patio with central fountain, large lawn and beautifully landscaped gardens. Discover the beautiful historical buildings and share your views of what the Hacienda should become to better serve the community. Tours for all ages, Treasure Hunt for the younger crowd, refreshments and informal discussion with the Foundation members at 4:30 p.m.
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CERT Communications (FRS & Amateur) Workshop. Fred Lothrop is offering a workshop on "How to Use" your FRS or Amateur Handsets. Saturday, Oct 11. Elderberry Room, Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary's Road. FRS: 9am to Noon (includes classroom discussion and practical exercise) HAM: 2pm to 4 pm (information and practice with 2 meter and 450 MHz bands)
Bring your equipment with you. Seats are limited to 30. RSVP to Fred. K6req@comcast.net.
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Free Seminar on Pain Management by Anne Randolph, Physical Therapist Thu., Oct 16th, - 6:30pm to 7:30pm. Aegis of Moraga, 950 Country Club Drive in Moraga. RSVP to: Candice Moses, 925-377-7900
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Lafayette Community Center will host portrayer of flamboyant Quentin Crisp “The trouble with children is that they’re not returnable.” This is one of many pithy quotes of the late Quentin Crisp, an English writer, actor and raconteur, who will be portrayed by Richard James at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17. The performance is sponsored by Emeritus College, a Diablo Valley College program. Tickets are $15 ($13 for Emeritus members). For reservations, visit www.dvc.edu/emeritus or call (925) 906-9105. The community center is at 500 St. Mary's Road, Lafayette.
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Halloween masquerade ball Friday, Oct. 24th with live music, dancing, cash bar and a special planetarium show experience. The kids can trick or treat at Chabot on Saturday, Oct. 25 in their costumes and have a family fun day. Call the Box Office at 510-336-7373 to register. Box Office (510) 336-7373, Online tickets www.chabotspace.org