The last Saturday Artists’ Market of the summer will be on Sat, Aug. 8th from 11am-4pm at The Lafayette Gallery, 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette, California. The parking lot of the Lafayette Gallery is transformed into an inviting outdoor market place with artists displaying and demonstrating their art.
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The Moraga Art Gallery presents a group show “Transparent Emotion” featuring the work of Monet Foster and introducing new members through August 15th. Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St, Rheem Valley Shopping Center, next to Longs Drugs. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 12-5 pm.
(925) 376-5407.
www.moragaartgallery.com.
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“Feathers, Fur and Fins,” at the Lafayette Gallery, honors the creatures large and small that enrich our lives. The show is open through August 22nd. As a special feature during the show, the community is invited to bring in pet photos and related quips to be posted on the gallery’s bulletin board. On Sat. August 8th, a drawing will take place for bulletin board entrants. Two winners may choose a portrait of their pet as a prize. Gallery Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, 50 Lafayette Circle in downtown Lafayette.
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Bedford Gallery’s exhibition Full Deck presents an anthology of skate art from the 1960's to the present and will run through Sept. 13. Over 300 decks borrowed from artists, skaters, and makers from across the country, will be on display. EVENT: Bg Skate Day, Saturday, August 15, 1-4pm. Art activities in the gallery 1-3pm; Pro skate demo 3-4pm. Free admission. Telephone: (925) 295-1417. Website: www.bedfordgallery.org Admission: General $5; Youth (17 and under) $3; Children 12 and under, free; Tuesdays free.
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Susan Paulson will be exhibiting her original paintings during the month of August at Fastframe of Lafayette. Paulson, who grew up in Orinda and whose mother was an art teacher, is a mostly self-taught artist. She studied interior design at Western Design in SF and became an interior designer, which she credits for keeping her in a creative environment working with colors and textures. Last year Paulson studied art in Paris and was inspired, much like the impressionists, by the natural light in France. FASTFRAME is located at 3571 Mt. Diablo Blvd., next to Postino’s. Call owner Anthony Ruiz at 283-7620 for more information.
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The Moraga Art Gallery presents a new group show, "Bold Statements" by local Bay Area and Lamorinda artists showing watercolors, oil painting, collage, ceramics, photography, mixed media, jewelry and glass design. August 18 - October 31.
The Gallery is doubly featuring the work of Angelica Samame, painter and jewelry designs by Laura Paige. The public is invited to the Opening Reception on Saturday, August 22, from 3-5 pm. Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St, Rheem Valley Shopping Center/next to Longs Drugs. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 12-5 pm. (925) 376-5407.
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"California in Relief: A History in Wood and Linocut Prints" is on view through Sunday, Sept. 20, and features nearly 100 works of art spanning 100 years of California art history. The exhibition is curated by Art Hazelwood, who also curated the highly praised 2002 William Wolff retrospective, "Masquerade and Revelation." Public Hours: Wed - Sun, 11 AM - 4:30 PM. Admission: $3 adults; kids 17 and under free; Gallery members free. Gallery Telephone: (925) 631-4379. Website: hearstartgallery.org.
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Award-winning watercolor artist George Ehrenhaft will display 30 paintings at the Orinda Library Gallery during the month of August. See article page 7.

Orinda Books Poetry Reading, Saturday, August 8 at 3:00pm, Cheryl Dumesnil will read from her new poetry collection,"In Praise of Falling." 276 Village Square, Orinda (925) 254-7606. orindabooks@thegrid.net. www.orindabooks.com.
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Orinda Theology Group. A new theology discussion group has been formed by members of the Orinda Community Church . We select books of interest to the group members and meet once a month to share insights from our reading. We wish to invite anyone interested to join us every third Tuesday of the month, at 7p in the library of the church hall at 10 Irwin Way. We have taken the summer off but will reconvene Tuesday, Sept 15 at 7pm. The book currently under study is Deepak Chopra’s “The Third Jesus” which may be purchased at Orinda Books. Mention “Orinda Theologians” to get a discount there. If you have any questions, contact Orinda Community Church office at (925) 254-4906.

Wee Wednesday Summer Classes-(10:00am-10:50am) Each Wednesday brings a different topic to discover with your preschooler or toddler. Wee Wednesday classes are a combination of instructor-led lessons and self-guided, hands-on experimentation and exploration. Parents must attend the entire class with their children. $12 for first child / $10 each additional child. Members: $6 for first child / $5 each additional child. Call the Box Office at (510) 336-7373 to register. Chabot Space & Science Center. 10000 Skyline Blvd. just off Highway 13 in the Oakland hills. For more information, visit www.chabotspace.org.
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Back-to-School Shoe Sale to benefit kids in Africa, Saturday, Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The J.F. Kapnek Trust, which works with orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe, has partnered with The Nurture Center in Lafayette to sell hundreds of pairs of brand new children’s shoes to support preschool and pediatric HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Zimbabwe. Brands include Keen, Stride-Rite, Primigi and many more in sizes toddler to children’s 4. Each pair is only $15. All proceeds support Kapnek programs. Come early for the best selection. 3399 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Details: info@JFKapnekTrust.org or www.JFKapnekTrust.org.
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Orinda Idol 2009 Finalists Sing! Orinda Farmer's Market August 29th 10:15am-12:15pm, Orinda Idol 2009 FINALS! Orinda Theatre September 13th 11am-7:30pm It's Free! Come Early! Competition Schedule: 11:00-12:30 Elementary Gr. K-2 & 3-5; 1:00-2:15 Middle School; 2:45-4:00 High School; 4:30-5:45 Groups Gr. K-5 & 6-12; 6:15-7:30 Announcement of Winners.
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The Books and Band Bash Benefit- Dancing under the Stars -Sunday Sept 13, 4-9pm. Get your party shoes on and dress to impress! Enjoy live music, dancing, autograph sessions, book sales, celebrities, martial arts demonstration, great food, drinks, and mocktails. (No alcohol will be served.) Party features 1+3 bands, 13 music sets, 13 raffles, and 13 book contributors autographing the new book! $13 for event only (food and drinks not included) Place: Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. For ticket info call (925) 377-7827. Event is sponsored by Be the Star You Are!®, a local literacy charity, celebrating its 10th anniversary and is all organized by local high school teens. http://www.bethestaryouare.org/10thAnniv.html
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STS Foundation, a non profit student exchange organization, is looking for new host families in Lafayette for two students: Ulysse,a 16 year old boy from Colombes, France and Lorena, a 15 year old girl from Burgthann, Germany. They are both excellent students and will have their own spending money and health insurance. The family provides a separate bed, family meals and a safe environment. If your family is interested in being a host family please call Lillian at 1-800-522-4678 or send an email to lillian@stsfoundation.org. For more information visit www.stsfoundation.org.

On Saturday, September 19th from 10am – 2pm the town of Orinda will host the 5th Annual Classic Car Show. This free event, presented by Orinda Motors, continues to benefit the Seniors Around Town transportation service. In addition to American and European classic and modern exotic cars, this year’s event will feature special exhibits of classic and custom motorcycles as well as vintage race cars. If you are interested in entering a car or motorcycle, please email Chip Herman: ChipHerman@hotmail.com. The car entry fee is $50 for cars and $35 for motorcycles. Entry fees are a tax-deductible donation. The Show will be held in Orinda Village at Orinda Motors, located at 63 Orinda Way.
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Free Brain Gym Introductions for Effective Learning by, August 8 and September 12, 2 - 3:30pm, 58 Van Ripper Lane, Orinda. Are you a teacher, parent, specialist, OT/PT? Transition Point and Brain Gym bring to the table a playful, effective approach to whole brain integration that can change the course of anyone’s learning experience. Understand why learning is not all in your head. Learn easy skill building activities effective in organizing, resisting impulses, self-monitoring, stress reduction, reading, writing, concentration, coordination, etc. To RSVP call Pam Whitman (925)253-1223
www.transitionpoint.org.
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Appraisal Clinic at Hearst Art Gallery, Moraga: "What's In Your Attic?" On Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 10am to 3pm, when the Hearst Art Gallery of Saint Mary's College in Moraga will host a Bonhams and Butterfields appraisal clinic. Specialists will be on hand to appraise historic and modern California and American paintings, furniture, decorative arts, Asian art, and jewelry. Suggested donation is $10 per item, with all proceeds benefiting Hearst Art Gallery exhibitions and educational programs. Gallery admission is free on Wednesday with an appraisal donation.
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Join more than 500 Bay Area residents as we participate in The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network’s (FAAN’s) Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward a Cure. It will take place in San Francisco, at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, by the De Young Museum and California Academy of Sciences on Sat, Sept 12: Check-in 8:30 AM, Start 9:30 AM, Entertainment/Children’s Activities until 12:00 PM. FAAN (www.foodallergy.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to providing advocacy and education, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. Volunteer to help organize the Walk or to help on Walk Day. For more information, please visit
www.foodallergywalk.org.
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If you have an overabundance of fruits and vegetables from your back yard garden, here's a great way to help those in need. The Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center of Walnut Creek is collecting your fresh garden produce weekly and transporting it to the pantry shelves at the Monument Crisis Center (MCC) in Concord. There are three locations where you can drop off your fruits and vegetables. 1. Morning Drop-Offs at the Peace Center Office on Mondays between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The Peace Center is located at the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane in Walnut Creek 94596. The website is www.mtdpc.org. 2. Evening drop-offs Thursdays, from 6:00-8:00 PM at 1346 Keywood Court, Concord. 3. MCC, 2350 Monument Blvd. Suite B, Concord. The Center has Food drop off hours on the following days: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 3:00pm and Tuesday 9:00am - 6:00pm.
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The Widowed Persons Support offers the following activities during August: The LUNCH BUNCH will have a luncheon at TAHOE JOE’S, 999 Contra Costa Boulevard, Pleasant Hill on Saturday, August 15 at 1:00 p.m. Price $15.00, includes entrée, beverage, tax and tip. For reservations call Dorothy Bohannon 925/937-6883 or Carolyn Beasley 925/254-6297.
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The 40th Reunion for the Campolindo High School Class of 1969 will be held at Terzetto Cuisine 6p-11p, September 19, 2009. The cost is $35 pp and reservations are needed by September 1. Contact Rhonda at (925) 253-9043 or rlpd51@aol.com for more information.