Lavande Spa Adds New Services
Sleep Therapy, Allergy Relief and Reiki
3589 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, 299-8877, www.lavandespa.com
"We wanted to extend our offerings and add unique services for the community," says Frankie Pan, founding partner of Lavande Spa. Lavande will be partnering with local health professionals that offer services which complement those of Lavande. Its first partner is Robert deStefano, a Sleep Therapy consultant who's been featured on KGO-TV San Francisco. The Orinda resident had been suffering from sleep insomnia for 20 years and developed tools and methods to create a "sleep sanctuary" in the bedroom, naturally conquering stress-induced insomnia and recapturing vitality. At Lavande, he will teach clients to take charge of shutting down their day, getting their brain waves under control and getting peacefully to sleep (for more about deStefano go to www.destefanorobert.com). Additional partners are a medical doctor versed in alternative medicine who specializes in the treatment of allergies, and a Reiki practitioner from Moraga who will introduce a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that is also said to promote healing.

Donate to Haiti Now, Write Off in 2010
Peggy Hall - Hall of Taxes, 388-1040
Emergency legislation has been signed to allow taxpayers to immediately write off their charitable contributions toward Haiti relief.
The law allows such donations - which normally could not be taken as a write-off until the 2011 tax season - to be made as if the giving were done prior to December 31, 2009. "Taxpayers who make a qualifying donation after January 11 and before March 1, 2010, can deduct the amount from their 2009 Federal returns (as of now California does not conform to the new Federal regulation)," says Peggy Hall, a tax professional located in Moraga. "Note that the change applies only to monetary donations, and not to services or goods," adds Hall.

Alain Pinel Realtors (APR), the residential real estate company, announced the addition of Gianna Mayo to their Orinda Office. Joining APR from Pacific Union International where she was a Senior Consultant and Estate Member, Mayo specializes in domestic and international relocation. With a focus in high-end luxury property transactions in the Lamorinda, Blackhawk and San Ramon Valley markets, she has 28 years of real estate experience and over a $100 million in sales. Mayo can be reached at GiannaMayo@apr.com or 925.438.2025 (direct) or 925.963.1958 (cell).

Rockcliff Realtors announced that Marty Tuominen of the company's Lafayette office has earned the Distressed Property Expert and Short Sale Specialist designations after completing an intensive training series at Harris Real Estate University. "We are experiencing the most challenging real estate market conditions in decades," said Tuominen. "The designations I've earned provide me with the knowledge, tools and resources to be able to assist home owners more efficiently and effectively navigate the complexities and intricacies of dealing with short sale and distressed property transactions." J. Rockcliff Realtors' Lafayette office is located at 3799 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 100 and can be reached by calling 925.385.2330. Marty Tuominen can be reached directly at 925.482.4204 or mtuominen@rockcliff.com, and by visiting his website at www.MartyTuominen.com.

News from the Three Chambers of Commerce
Lafayette
 Mixer on Wednesday, February 10 at Town Hall Theatre,
3535 School St. starting at 5:30 p.m.
 Big Band Dance on Friday, February 19 starting at 7:30 p.m. at the
Veterans Memorial Building
Moraga
 Evening Mixer on Tuesday, February 23 from 6:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. Wine and appetizers will be served, place to be announced.
Orinda
 Chamber Mayor's Luncheon on Wednesday, February 10th, at
12:00 noon, Orinda Community Center, 28 Orinda Way. Reservations
on line on the Chamber's web site, OrindaChamber.org, $15 per person.
 The Orinda Chamber of Commerce proudly presents a new event
in 2010: A champagne-splashed evening of live professional comedy
in conjunction with Tommy T's Comedy House of Pleasanton, and the
Lamorinda Film and Entertainment Foundation. The whole community
is invited to fill the 750 seat Orinda Theatre to laugh until your sides hurt.
17 and over. Friday March 5th, Orinda Theatre, Theatre Square.

Copyright Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA