Wenda Pyman, photographer, and Terry Hunt, potter and sculptor, will be featured in a new show at Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St, Rheem Center. The show begins March 23, with an opening reception from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on March 28. The reception is free and open to the public. Wenda Pyman is a landscape, travel and nature photographer; her body of work shows a heavy emphasis on Mount Diablo and images of other East Bay environs. Terry is attached to Japanese potter ideals, especially shino and temoku glazes, but also embraces a larger palette that includes ash-glazes and copper-reds.

Acalanes High School student artwork and photography is on display at Fastframe of Lafayette during March. Come and enjoy the artistic expressions of over 50 students from Acalanes High School’s digital photography and art programs. There will be pastels, watercolors, photography, oils, pen-and-ink, charcoals, and a variety of mixed-media. Fastframe is located at 3571 Mt. Diablo Blvd., next to Postino’s, and is open Monday-Saturday from 10:00-6:00. Tel: 925-283-7620.

Though March, see the variety of works of the artists friends and students of Dorothy Cutright Davis's studio at the Moraga Library, 1500 St. Marys Rd., Moraga. Open Tues &Thurs 12-8, Wed 10-6, Fri 1-5, Sat 10-5. Closed Sun & Mon.

The artists of Lafayette Gallery are pleased to present "Fresh and Beautiful," a show that extols spring in paintings, collage, prints, ceramics, photography, jewelry and much more. After a cold and wet winter, spring promises warmer and drier days, the bold colors of the season's first wildflowers, hikes in the verdant hills, the sweet taste of new strawberries. Lafayette Gallery is located at 50 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm.

Saint Mary's College will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador with two film screenings at Saint Mary's Chapel:
Monday, March 22, 2010, 7-9 p.m. Innocent Voices (2004). A young boy, in an effort to have a normal childhood in 1980’s El Salvador, is caught up in a dramatic fight for his life as he desperately tries to avoid the war which is raging all around him.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 7-8:30 p.m. ROMERO Film Screening & Panel Discussion. Excerpts from the 1989 film ROMERO followed by a panel of individuals sharing their lived experience of the Salvadoran civil war and reflecting on Archbishop Oscar Romero. Panelists include students, staff, professors, and other members of the community.

Town Hall Theatre is presenting Oscar Wilde’s Victorian satire "The Importance of Being Earnest" through March 27. For tickets, contact the Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or purchase online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Town Hall Welcomes the East Bay Children's Theatre's Presentation of Pinocchio - April 11 at 1pm & 3pm. The beloved tale of the little wooden puppet who becomes a real, live boy is magically brought to life onstage in a world-premiere musical theatre event. Award-winning playwright and composer Ron Lytle's version of the timeless classic features an all-new score of tuneful songs, delivered by a cast of unforgettably funny characters. Info and tickets: www.townhalltheatre.com.

"Sera" a world premiere play by SMC alum Angela Santillo, directed by Rebecca Engle. April 22 and 23 at 8 pm; April 24 at 2 pm and 8 pm; and April 25 at 2 pm. LeFevre Theatre, Saint Mary's College, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. For ticketing information, call Sharon Cahill, (925) 631-4670, or email scahill@stmarys-ca.edu.

Weekly Wednesday evening program features prominent speakers on environmental stewardship and sustainability issues. Program begins at 6:00 p.m. with dinner followed by the speaker’s presentation from 6:45 – 7:45. Admission is free, but donations for dinner are welcome. Please RSVP (925) 254-3770. Location: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephen’s Drive, Orinda Dates/speakers: March 24, Debbie Mytels, who has been called an “environmental entrepreneur” for her skills in working with start-up projects and involving community volunteers.

St. Mary's College's Kalmanovitz School of Education will have keynote speaker Rick Morris, author, educator and specialist in the field of student management, motivation and involvement, at its Distinguished Speaker Event on Saturday, March 27, from 8:30am-1:00pm. Register online at
www.stmarys-ca.edu/saturdayseminars or contact Lydia Wiley at lwiley@stmarys-ca.edu for more information.

Book Sale: Friends of the Orinda Library sale is Thurs April 1, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The book sale offers gently used books and many just-like-new ones for book lovers of all ages and interests. Money is used to fund new books, computers, speakers and other materials of interest to library users. Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda.Tel: (925) 254-1358.

First Friday Forum : Professor Maximillian Auffhammer will speak on The Economics of Climate Change April 9 at 1:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. An assistant professor of Agricultural Resource Economics and International and Area Studies, Auffhammer will discuss how they can predict and comprehend the impacts of climate change. Refreshments will be served at 1:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Come with your questions. This is a free event. Please note the change to the second Friday in April. For further information call (925) 283-8722 or click on lopc.org.

WomenSing, a 55-member auditioned chorus is holding a concert on Sunday, March 28, 4 pm, St. Mary’s Chapel, 1928 Saint Mary’s Road, Moraga. Be inspired by music that will illuminate familiar and unfamiliar places and emotions. The program will include the premiere of Jack Henry’s Sombra del Mar (part of the Youth Inspiring Youth project), Eric Whitacre’s sensual She Weeps Over Rahoon, lush double choir sonorities, and works by Schubert, Paulus, and Okamura. Tickets: www.womensing.org or call (925) 974-9169.

On Sunday March 28 hear the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra’s Music that Stands the Test of Time, presenting major works by beloved composers. Featuring Mozart’s delightful “Overture from the Magic Flute”, Bach’s energetic “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3”, Mendelssohn’s stirring “Reformation” Symphony, and Handel’s barge party favorite, “Water Music”. 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, Tickets: $15 - $18, at the door, by phone (925) 943-SHOW, or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.

Gold Coast Chamber Players concert, Bach-Bachianes on Sunday, April 25 at 2pm at The Community Hall located at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. General tickets are $30, Seniors $25, Students $10. Season packages of 3 concerts are available. Order tickets by phone through the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce (925)284-7404 or online http://gcplayers.tix.com. For more information call (925) 283-3728 or visit our website at www.gcplayers.org.

Swing to top notch Big Band jazz with the Michael Vax Big Jazz Orchestra at the Rheem Theatre on Sunday April 25, 2-4:30 pm. Sponsored by the Friends of Big Band Jazz and the Moraga Chamber of Commerce. Tickets for the event will be available at the Rheem Theatre Box office or on line at www.bigbandjazz.net. Adult tickets : $15, Students with ID: $10.

Need Money for College? Contra Costa Association of Realtors Scholarship Foundation is offering scholarships to residents of Central Contra Costa County that have completed one year of full-time college, completed courses with emphasis on real estate, finance and/or business and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you qualify, scholarship awards can range from $1,500 to $2,500. Further information and applications may be found on line at www.ccarscholarship.com. Deadline is April 30th.

Panel discussion: Helping Teens Learn in an Era of Digital Overload. The discussion will provide tools for parents to help them negotiate and set parameters for teens’ use of technology. Tips and strategies for parents to help teens manage school and media. Orinda Academy, 19 Altarinda Road, Orinda, on Saturday, March 20, 10 am – Noon. Fee:$10. To register go to: www.sos4students.com. Seating is limited.

Moraga's annual Spring Egg Hunt will be held, rain or shine, on Saturday, March 27 at the Moraga Commons Park located at the corner of Moraga Road and St. Mary's Road. The event is co-sponsored by the Moraga Junior Women's Club and the Moraga Parks and Recreation Department. Games will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Two egg hunts are scheduled: one beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the other at 11:00 a.m. Egg hunt tickets ($5) and wristbands ($5) are only available for purchase in advance online at www.moragajuniors.org or at the Moraga Parks and Rec located at 2100 Donald Drive in Moraga. Phone: (925) 888-7045. Adult admission is free. Tickets for the egg hunt must be purchased in advance. Only game tickets can be purchased at the event.

The Lafayette Rotary Club is pleased to announce the date for the “Annual Egg Hunt.” Open to all children ages 2-through 3rd grade. The event takes place at Plaza Park (corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd) in Lafayette, at 10:00am, Saturday, April 3, 2010. The park lawn will be covered with candy for the kids to put in their baskets. The youngest are always given extra time to get their share. The Bunny will be there to take pictures with the kids. Please arrive on time. We start promptly at 10:00am.

Sunday March 28 1:00- 2:30 p.m. California Shakespeare Theater - a consortium partner presents: "Kids Interactive Shakespeare...Hero or villain? Listen to and then act our stories from many of the Bard's famous plays at the LLLC Community Hall - Grades 3 - 7 free. Contact consortium@lafayettelib.com.

Chinese - Mandarin for children is now available through Orinda Recreation Dept. Storytelling method will be used in teaching. Students will be able to master Chinese Pinyin (pronunciation system), fundamental vocabulary and structure, simple and practical daily conversations, storytelling, and simple character writing. Students interested in taking SAT II or AP test in the future can start from these foundational courses. Classes start April 15th. Contact: Orinda Parks & Recreation (925) 254-2445.

Wednesday April 7 10:00 - 11:30 Oakland Zoo presents "ZooMobile" Learn about habits, habitats and survival challenges of rescued and exotic animals from the Oakland Zoo @ the Arts and Discovery Center at the LLLC - for families free. The Lafayette Library & Learning Center is at 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd in Lafayette. Contact consortium@lafayettelib.com.

The Moraga-Orinda Fire District is hosting our Annual Spring Open House on Saturday, April 10th, from 10am-2pm, at Station 45 – 33 Orinda Way, Orinda. Bring the kids to meet our local firefighters and see all the firefighting equipment. Kids and adults can learn about how to be safe around water, bicycle safety, and how to do a home safety hazard hunt. Adults can learn how to use a fire extinguisher using our live simulator. Families can also learn about how to keep their homes safer from wildfires. Smokey the Bear has been sighted in the area and will be there to greet and pose for photos. There will be a bounce house, free popcorn and raffle prizes for the kids.

AAUW OML invites you to meet our newest Tech Trek and Scholarship recipients from the Lamorinda middle schools, Acalanes District high schools and St. Mary’s College community. “What do Scientists do? Students’ Evolving Conceptions” will be the keynote talk by Susan Marston, PhE for the Scholarship and Tech Trek Awards program on Tuesday evening April 20, 7:00pm at the Holy Trinity Serbian Cultural Center, Moraga.

Dinner to honor “Team Library” as Lafayette’s 2010 Citizens of the Year is scheduled for Friday night, March 19th at the Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa. Tickets are available at www.lafayettechamber.org .

Pub Trivia will be held again on Wednesday, March 31st. Trivia begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. and lasts approximately two-hours. The event will be held at Petar’s, located at 32 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette. Get your friends, family, or co-workers together and form a team of two to five players. It's free to participate! Must be 21 years or older. Prizes awarded to winning teams. Pub food and drinks are available. Email questions to pubtrivia@live.com for additional information.

Orinda in Action. Clean up our City on Saturday, April 17 from 9am-1pm. Volunteer Check in: 8:30 – 9:00 am at Orinda Library Plaza. Volunteer to Help and/or suggest a project. Contact:
OrindaInAction@gmail.com. Co-Sponsored by City of Orinda and Orinda Association.

The 3rd Annual Fore Our Schools Golf Tournament is held at the Moraga Country Club on Monday, May 3, 2010. The four-person scramble format will begin at 11AM with a shotgun start. Check-in begins at 9am and the day concludes with a buffet reception at the pool. Prizes will be awarded to the top Net and Gross teams, including other distinctions such as closest to the pin, longest drive, and more. On-Line registration is now open: www.foreourschools.org. Golf Tournament benefits the schools of Camino Pablo, Los Perales, and Rheem Elementary Schools.

The Northern California chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold its annual Walk MS at Walnut Creek Heather Farm Park on Sunday, April 18. Registration is now open at walk.msconnection.org. Over 600 walkers are anticipated this year at Heather Farm Park. This year’s festivities include live music, entertainment and family fun at Heather Farm Park. Dogs are welcome and the walk will even have a doggy rest-stop. Walk MS also needs volunteers and groups are welcome. For more information about Walk MS, to register or volunteer, visit
walk.msconnection.org or call 1-800-344-4867 or email walk@msconnection.org.

Come to Acalanes high school electronic e-waste drive. This March 27th and 28th from 9:00am-3:00 pm at Acalanes High School’s front parking lot 1200, Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette. Drop off your old monitors, computers and electronics, and get your tax write off. For more information go to unwaste.com or call (888) 832-9839.

Blood Drive: Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, working with the American Red Cross, is sponsoring a blood drive to help save lives in our local communities. Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at MVPC, 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga. It's a chance to be a hero, and to give someone another birthday. Sign up online at helpsavealife.org (Sponsor Code: Moraga925) or call Les Deane at 283-5648. Drop by and share a pint!

Lafayette Service League presents the Annual Tossed Treasures Sale at the Community Center on Sat., April 24 (9 to 3) and Sun., April 25 (11 to 2). Proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and the Lafayette Community Center. The group is seeking donations, such as jewelry, glassware, special knick-knacks, collectibles, silver, china, crystal, kitchenware, linens and tableware, fabrics, small furniture, art work and decorative pieces, CD's and DVD's, books, baskets, childrens' items, tools and garden items. If you have donations or questions, please call Diane at 283-8790 or Jackie at 284-4131.

“Health Care Reform: What’s Next in California,” is the title of a public forum on Health Care Reform, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, to be held on Thursday, March 18, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in the Lafayette Public Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette. Everyone is invited. No charge for admission.

Lafayette Homeowners Council is sponsoring its annual meeting on March 25th at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Marys Road, in Lafayette beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Sequoia Room. All Lafayette residents are invited to attend. Mayor Brandt Andersson will speak on the “State of the City,” after which the audience will be invited to participate in a question and answer period on any City or homeowner issue of interest. This is your best opportunity to speak to your elected City officials. Come join us March 25.

The Suburban Woman's Club of Lafayette meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Lafayette Community Center in the Elderberry Room at 11:30am. We invite all women over the age of 55 to join us. Lunch is provided by the members and an interesting speaker is scheduled. For more information on the club and our activities contact Jean Cappa at Jeanc43821@aol.com.

Montelindo Garden Club general meeting and speakers, third Friday of the month, September through May. Meeting place for this meeting only is at Heather Farm Gardens, 15 Marchbanks, Dr., Walnut Creek. www.gardenshf.org. Refreshments and plant sale at 9 a.m., meeting at 9:30, docent tour of the gardens at 10:30. The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. Web Site: www.montelindogarden.com. email contact: montelindogarden@aol.com.

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Culture Center 1700 School St. Moraga. Social hour 11 am, lunch 12 pm. The after lunch speaker will be Steve Butler, President of Pension Dynamics Corp. in Pleasant Hill. Butler is a weekly financial columnist for the Contra Costa Times and has authored two books and had articles published in several financial magazines. Butler will share his advice on Staying Sane in this Insane World and putting this unruly economy in perspective. For details and membership information, call Tom Lenz at 376-7724.

Thomas Lifson, publisher and editor of American Thinker magazine is the featured speaker at the Thursday, March18th luncheon meeting of the Lamorinda Republican Women’s club. Lifson’s topic is “The New Media and Today’s Political Landscape.” This program is open to the public with advance reservations available through Monday, March 15th by calling (925) 682-3727; program details are available at the club’s website at: lamorindarepublicanwomen.org.