Published March 30st, 2010
business briefs
Young Artist Starts Business
Notable Considerations, Jodie Aranda, Moraga, 963-2620
A 1996 graduate from Saint Mary's college, Jodie Aranda decided a little over a year ago to devote all her energy to starting her own artistic business. Recently being let go from her corporate job has given her the extra time needed to focus on her budding business. "When I was at Saint Mary's, earning my B.A. in English, I took as many studio art classes as possible," says the young artist, "Now I want to give my passion a chance to be more than just a hobby by turning my pencil and soft pastel drawings into cards that people will use." With a background in publication production and advertising, the transition was not too hard. Now Aranda gets a lot of art done in her Moraga home, while connecting with the community. "The first people in town to give me a chance were Bill Snider and Susan Marconi at Across the Way," she says, "I have my cards for sale in the store and they were nice enough to have me as their featured artist during one of their recent events." She was very energized by the public's response to the blank note cards. "There is a need out there for cards that are not pre-written, sometimes what a person has to say needs to be said in their own words. I hope my cards will give people a chance to really express themselves," says Aranda. Right now she is focusing on readying enough card designs for the Moraga Community Faire on May 8th, where she will have a booth.

News from the three Chambers of Commerce
Lafayette
 Shop Lafayette Committee Meeting on Friday, April 13 at 12:30
p.m. in the Chamber Conference Room.
 Mixer on Wednesday, April 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Restoration Piano,
3434 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette, with Orinda Chamber of
Commerce.
Moraga
 News from the Moraga Community Faire on May 8: Volunteers
are needed for traffic control, set-up and takedown, cotton-candy
booth and more. According to Moraga municipal code,
community event signs have to be pre-approved. On March 24,
the Council approved unanimously the hanging of about 20
banners around town to announce the Community Faire, from
April 20 to May 10, 2010. The banners will advertise the Faire
and display the name of a sponsoring business. For more
information on volunteer opportunity and banners, contact Ellen
Beans at elbeans@comcast.net.
Orinda
 Ribbon cutting on April 2 at noon for Cloud 9 Foot Hand
therapy, 1 Orinda Way, Suite 3, Orinda. (Read about Cloud 9 in
our November 25th, 2009 issue.)
 The Chamber of Commerce is continuing its support of the
California Independent Film Festival that takes place this year
from Thursday, April 22nd until Sunday April 25th at the Orinda
Theatre. For more information, go to
www.caiff.org/specialevents.html.
 Chamber members are invited to join with Lafayette businesses
for a duo-chamber Mixer Wednesday April 14 at Restoration
Piano, 3434 Golden Gate Way in Lafayette.

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Copyright Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA