Lafayette Gallery‘s new show, “Ten Years Together,” runs from August 4th to October 10th. Since opening its doors to the public in 1999, the Lafayette Gallery has presented over sixty-five art exhibitions, each with a different theme. The founding members envisioned a gallery that would support art and artists. The Gallery features work in oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, pastels, printmaking, mixed media, collage, sculpture, pottery, woodworking, glass and jewelry. The new show will pair recent work with earlier work by the member artists. Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday; 11AM to 5pm. (925) 284-2788,
www.Lafayettegallery.net.
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Award-winning watercolor artist George Ehrenhaft will display 30 paintings at the Orinda Library Gallery during the month of August. The selection of landscape paintings includes several close-to-home sites such as Lafayette Reservoir, Moraga Ranch, Tilden Regional Park, and Mount Diablo, among others. Ehrenhaft, a resident of Moraga, prefers to paint plein-air rather than from photos in order to convey the shapes, colors, and mood he finds at a particular time and place. The exhibition runs from August 1st to 31st and is sponsored by the Orinda Arts Council.
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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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Martinez Gallery of artwork done by students of the “Green Youth Project”, a new arts program at Juvenile Hall. Karan Simoni is the Director of the program and is enthusiastic about her students work. Making use of dumpster diverted items to promote self awareness and healing has brought about some positive changes and generated new perspectives in the youth involved in the program. The exhibit runs from September 14 through the 21st. There will be a reception at the GALLERY on September 18th from 6pm to 9pm. 630 Court Street, Martinez. 925 370-6270. M-F 9-3, Sat. 9-1.
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Leslie Swartz, a member of the Moraga Art Gallery, and Moraga resident, will have a display of her paintings and drawings at the Moraga Library during the entire month of September. The theme for her show is 'A Celebration of Diversity'. Working with a variety of media--including oils, acrylics, graphite, pen, and pastel--Leslie draws inspiration for her productions from observations of nature, the photographs she has taken on visits to various destinations, and from her imagination.
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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.

San Francisco Opera Guild, East Bay Chapter Presents: Meet the Maestro! Sunday, August 30th, 5:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette. Hors d’oeuvres, wine and other beverages will be served. Cost: $45 (approx. $30 tax deductible). All proceeds benefit the San Francisco Opera’s education programs for students K-12 and to help promote the careers of aspiring young singers. Information: Silvia Lin, (925) 838-9255 or LLLLL@juno.com.
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Young People's Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) holds auditions for new members August 26, September 1 and 3 for the 2009-2010 season. Auditions are held at Crowden Music Center, Rose St. at Sacramento St. in Berkeley, 4:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m., by appointment. Candidates should prepare a scale and a solo, and will be asked to sight-read standard repertoire which is provided at the audition. YPSO is the oldest youth orchestra in California and the second oldest in the nation. The orchestra is comprised of 94 youths ages 11-22 who come from 28 Bay Area cities in five counties. Rehearsals are Mondays, 6:00-9:30 p.m., September through June, at Crowden Music Center. The season will end with a June tour to Alaska. For an appointment, visit
www.ypsomusic.net,
email ypsomusic@yahoo.com.
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The ‘Rock the Plaza’ series will take place in Lafayette’s [Elam & Margaret Brown] Plaza Park at the corner of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Moraga Road. The headliners start at 6:00pm and are presented free of charge. Arrive a little early for a good spot on the lawn.
August 21: The Spazmatics -due to popular demand, we’re bringing back the geeks- www.sfbands.net/Spazmatics.htm.
August 28: The Synthetics - popular & danceable covers- www.thesyntheticsband.com.
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On Tuesday, August 25 at 7 p.m., the final offering of the Summer Music Series at the Orinda Library is a lively change: The Real Placebos. This popular local group plays American Roots Music, which includes everything from acoustic blues to old time standards that originated in the deep south. The program will take place inside the library, beside the fireplace, which
allows for a casual, intimate atmosphere. It is free of charge and will last about an hour. The Orinda Library is at 26 Orinda Way in Orinda. For more information, please call (925) 254-2184 or visit the library website at http://ccclib.org.

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.
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Come experience storytelling with the Contra Costa Tale Spinners keeping the oral storytelling tradition alive! The swap meets the Fourth Thursday of every month at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way in the Gallery Room from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. This THURSDAY August 27 2009, Bobbie Kinkead tells an epic story from the Celtic Mabinogion, ‘Geraint and Ebin’ from Lady Ebin’s point of view about her husband’s quests as a knight. We welcome listeners and provide 70 minutes of open mike for all who wish to share a story, be it funny or sad, true or not. Contact Sally at (925) 372-7036 or Bobbie at (510) 655-5608.
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BOOK SALE - Friends of the Orinda Library - Thursday, Sept. 3 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sorting Room and Bookshop (Bookshop will remain open until 6 p.m.) This monthly sale offers quality books for all interests and all ages. Funds raised are used for new books, computers and other library materials and library programs. Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. (925) 254-1358.
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Friends of the Moraga Library present their annual sale of (sorted) books, CDs, videos etc. Saturday, September 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—Book Sale and bag sale from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. Moraga Library, 1500 Saint Marys Rd, (925) 376-6852.
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Celebrate Lafayette's Local Authors! Thursday September 3 at 7:30 pm. The Friends of the Lafayette Library invites you to honor our local literati--from the nature-inspired poems of David Seaborg to the gut-wrenching, real-life stories of Marie Estorge; from Hugh Winig's fascinating stories of a career spent listening to his patients to Maria Espinosa's novel of a troubled mother-daughter relationship to Pamela Prime's book about spiritual awakenings. Here, in our very own town, we find great talent and inspiration. Come hear these authors read and discuss the writing (and publishing) process.

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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Get your party shoes on and come celebrate the 10th anniversary of the literacy charity, Be the Star You Are! at our mega BOOKS AND BANDS BASH BENEFIT on September 13 from 4-9pm in Moraga. New York Times best selling author, Cynthia Brian, and contributors launch the new book, Be the Star You Are! for TEENS and you and your family can come dance under the stars with music from live bands. For tickets and information go to bethestaryouare.org. 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. Tickets: $13.
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Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Moraga Royale for a fun time celebrating Grandparent’s Day! Enjoy a Jazz Band, Pony Rides, Local Wizard of Oz actors, Snow Cones, Games, Bar-b-Que, Petting Zoo, Face Painting, and Balloon Art. Everyone Welcome & FREE. Date: Sat, Sept 19th. Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Place: Moraga Royale, 1600 Canyon Road, Moraga, CA.
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Children's Events at the Moraga Library: Wednesdays, Sept. 16, 23 and 30—Lapsit Storytime—10am - for babies 6 to 24 months and their caregivers. Wednesdays, Sept. 16, 23 and 30—Toddler Time—10:45am - stories, rhymes and fun for ages 2 to 3-1/2 with adult participation. Tuesdays, Sept. 15, 22 & 29—Crafty Storytime—4 pm- stories and crafts for ages 4-7. 1500 Saint Mary’s Rd, Moraga, (925) 376-6852.

Country Western BBQ & Dance, Sept. 19, 6:00 - 11:00 p.m., music provided by The California Cowboys, Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga, for info. (925) 376-6850.
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Fall’s 12-week series of Awareness Through Movement® classes starts Sept. 8th at Lafayette Community Center. Based on the Feldenkrais Method® of Somatic Education, lessons consist of following gentle and enjoyable movement instructions focusing on flexibility, balance and coordination. These classes can compliment any wellness program and no prior experience is necessary. Call (925) 284-2232 or go to www.LafayetteRec.org. for registration details. Contact instructor directly for further information about class content:
Peterboffey1@gmail.com or
(925) 395-1240.