Andy Warhol's Quick Pix and Pop Icons will be on display April 11 - June 20, 2010 at the Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Gallery Hours: Wed. – Sun., 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Main Telephone: (925) 631-4379. Website: www.hearstartgallery.org. (See article page L2)

Nationally recognized California artist Andrew Denman is hosting his first ever studio show. A Public Reception will be held on Saturday, May 1st, 4-7 pm at Denman Studios, 20 Parkway Court, Orinda. Call (925) 258-9342 to arrange a viewing by appointment. (See article page A6)

Wenda Pyman, photographer, and Terry Hunt, potter and sculptor, will be featured in a new show at the Moraga Art Gallery, 570 Center St, Rheem Center. Gallery hours are 12:00 - 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

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. Join us on April 17th between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. for a very special reception celebrating both spring and the reopening of our Sculpture Garden. Lafayette Gallery is located at 50 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette. Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

"California Dreaming" with the UC Alumni Chorus & the Claremont Chorale: An evening of choral music on Saturday, April 17 at St. Marks Episcopal Church (2300 Bancroft Way in Berkeley). Each chorus will be featured individually, and the two choruses will join forces to perform three Nocturnes by Morten Lauridsen, and two pieces by Eric Whitacre. Tickets may also be purchased at http://tickets.berkeley.edu or over the phone at (510) 642-3880. $15 general, $12 Seniors, Disabled and Students.

Swing to top notch Big Band jazz with the Michael Vax Big Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Cami Thompson at the Rheem Theatre on Sunday April 25, 2:00-5:00 p.m. 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 (925) 988-3411, or online at www.bigbandjazz.net. Adult tickets: $18, Students with ID: $10. Contact the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, Yelena Mucovich at (925) 376-6850 or FBBJ, David Pierce (925) 253-5424.

Join us as the Saint Mary's College student Jazz Band under the direction of John Maltester take the stage on Thursday, April 29, at 8pm. Where: Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Free and open to all.

The next Big Band Ball Room Dance featuring the Big Band of Rossmoor will be held on Friday, May 7th at the Veterans Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Come swing with your friends and neighbors-or just listen! Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the dance runs from 7:30 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. There will be a no-host bar open throughout the evening. Tickets $10 per person available at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Call 284-7404 for reservations www.lafayettechamber.org.

"Annie" will be performed by 72 OIS students in two casts, run by 32 OIS students on tech crew. Orinda Intermediate School, 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda, April 21st - April 24th (six shows, 3 for each cast.) Premium seats are $6 -$10. Bulldog Theater Ticket Manager, Julie Atkinson: julieanddickatkinson@comcast.net. Tickets are also available at the OIS box office in front of the MPR one hour before each show.

Sera performs in LeFevre Theatre on the Saint Mary's campus, April 22,23 and 24 at 8 PM; and April 24 and 25 at 2 PM. Tickets are: $15 general; $12 Seniors (65+); $12 non-SMC students; $12 SMC faculty and staff; $8 SMC students. For reservations: (925) 631-4670. An audience talk-back, with the cast and director, will follow the opening night performance on Thursday April 22nd. For reservations: (925) 631-4670.

With over 90 fourth and fifth grade students participating, Glorietta Elementary School presents its 12th annual spring musical filled with headstrong fairies, treacherous pirates, and ticking crocodiles. Performances of Peter Pan will be at the Glorietta Elementary School Multipurpose Room on Friday, April 30 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm and Saturday, May 1 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm. Tickets go on sale April 19th on the Glorietta website and are $10.00 (premier) seating and $6.00 (standard) seating.

Fee screening of the Disney-Pixar movie “Up” at 8:20pm on Friday, April 30th at the Moraga Commons Park. All ages welcome. Concessions will be available for purchase and include snacks, drinks, and pizza. A raffle will be held to give away prizes including a DVD copy of the movie “Up.” Raffle tickets will be available at the start of the movie. Come out for a night of fun, laughs, and entertainment. Questions? Call Melanie Giedlin at (925) 878-1457.

Saint Mary's College Dance Company presents works by critically acclaimed guest choreographer Janice Garrett, Internationally-known choreographer Jia Wu, Nationally recognized choreographers, Catherine Marie Davalos, Dana Lawton, Rosana Barragan and esteemed faculty members Shuanna Vella and Pope Flynn. Thursday May 6, Friday May 7, and Saturday May 8 in Le Fevre Theater, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. All shows at 8pm. Admission: $10 general admission, $8 seniors/non-SMC students, $5 SMC Community. Tickets and information available at (925) 631-4670.

Steinbeck Night at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center on Tuesday, April 20, 7–8:30pm, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Join Cal Shakes Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone, playwright Octavio Solis, and Word for Word Artistic Director JoAnne Winter for a lively conversation about the process of adapting John Steinbeck’s The Pastures of Heaven for the stage, moderated by theater reporter Chad Jones. The event, part of Cal Shakes’ participation in the Glenn Seaborg Learning Consortium, is free and open to the public. No reservation is required; seating is limited, first-come, first-served. Call (510) 809-3290 for more information.

The Contra Costa Tale Spinners Swap meets at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way in the Gallery Room from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. April 22 is Long and Short Stories. Come hear, be delighted. We welcome anyone to share a story, be it funny or sad, true or not. Contact Sally at (925) 372-7036 or Bobbie at (510) 655-5608.

Register Now for Orinda Idol 2010 Auditions! The Orinda Arts Council invites K-12th graders to audition for a chance to be a 2010 Orinda Idol Finalist! New this year: All categories are open to all Lamorinda residents and students at Lamorinda schools (Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda). The registration form and relevant documents are available on the Orinda Arts Council’s website at http://www.orindaartscouncil.org/orindaidol.html. Registrants will be added on a first come, first served basis--so register early! Registration will close on April 21, 2010. Auditions will take place May 12-15 at Orinda Intermediate School.

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.

Preparing Parents for the College Transition: Coping with the Many Decisions and Emotions that Lie Ahead. A workshop for parents of juniors and seniors; presented by Maisha Beasley, Director of New Student and Family Programs at St. Mary’s College. Monday, April 19, 7:00 to 9:00pm, Miramonte High School Theatre, 750 Moraga Way, Orinda. For flyer see http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/parents/. Click on “High School Information Nights.”

Orinda Academy an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school serving grades 7-12 will hold an open house and tours for prospective students and their families on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 7 pm. The school is located at 19 Altarinda Road in Orinda, California. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and students. For more information, call Orinda Academy at (925) 254-7553, or visit http://www.orindaacademy.org.

Moraga Bright Beginnings Preschool will host its annual Animal Fair and Open House on April 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Come and pet the goat, pot-bellied pig, dogs, rabbits, chickens, worms, birds and much more. Visit the school and check out the preschool programs. 1689 School Street, Moraga. Call for more information: (925) 376-2600.

JF Kapnek 7th Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run on April 25th at 9:00am at Miramonte High School in Orinda. There will be races for children as well as adults along with music from Zimbabwe, children's crafts and activities and a delicious brunch. Proceeds from this event will go to the Trust's efforts to diminish the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the children and families of Zimbabwe. Registration fee includes brunch and a T-shirt. Register online at www.active.com (keyword: Kapnek) or go to the Trust's website at www.jfkapnektrust.org.

"Ready for Camp" Workshop - 7:00pm, Wednesday, April 28. A free workshop for parents not sure where to begin in selecting a summer camp for their child. Led by Roughing It Day Camp Director Ann Woods, this workshop covers the best questions for parents to ask camp directors, choosing the right camp for their child, available resources to help parents determine if their child is ready for camp, what to expect at camp and from camp, addressing homesickness and other common camp issues, and how to prepare children for a positive camp experience. Located at 1010 Oak Hill Road in Lafayette. RSVP at www.roughingit.com/forms/rsvp/ or (925) 283-3795.

Science Day of Discovery at the Lafayette Nursery School, Sat, May 1, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Make volcanoes explode, blast rockets into space and get your hands in some gooey flubber! Become an archeologist for the day and dig for dinosaur bones or learn how to blow huge bubbles! This hands-on science fair features exhibits and experiments designed for children preschool age through third grade. It’s fun for the whole family! Cost: Children aged 2-8 are $4.00 each. Lafayette Nursery School, 979 First Street, Lafayette. For more info call (925) 284-2448 or visit our website www.lafayettenurseryschool.com.

City of Orinda, Walk to School Day, Thursday, May 13. Sponsored by the City of Orinda and the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee in support of similar national programs.

Children's Hospital & Reseach Center located at 774 52nd St. in Oakland will be having a Family Science Festival on Thursday May 13 from 5-7pm. Come and join us at the Outpatient Center for hands-on activities for children and families to explore health and science. Admission is free! For more information, please call (510) 428-3367 or check out the hospital's events link: http://www.childrenshospitaloakland.org/upcoming_events.asp.

Saint Mary’s Guild 2010 Luncheon & Fashion Show, April 17, St. Mary’s College, Soda Center, 1928 St. Mary’s Rd, Moraga. Hospitality hour is from 11:00 a.m. to noon, followed by luncheon, raffle prizes and the “Peek into Spring” fashion show. $50 per person. For reservations contact Donna Jollymour: (925) 299-1651. The show is a fund-raiser for student scholarships.

Learn about Important Tools for Managing Depression, Delirium and Dementia. This workshop will clarify what depression really is, its signs and symptoms, the wisdom needed as we cope more and more with loss in our lives, what distinguishes delirium from dementia, managing declining memory acuity and how to better communicate with a loved one who has dementia. Thurs, April 22, 11- noon. Lafayette Senior Services/Lafayette Community Center, 500 Saint Mary’s Rd, Lafayette. Call (925)284-5050 to reserve a spot.

C.O.O.L. Group (Concerned Orindans Oversight League) will be holding a public meeting to discuss the proposed Downtown Orinda plan. The meeting will take place on April 22nd from 7-9pm at the Garden Room at the Orinda Public Library.

Edy Schwartz has been named Moraga's Citizen of the Year by the Contra Costa Sun and she will be honored on Friday evening, April 23, in the Soda Center at St. Mary's College. If you would like to attend the dinner and program, you can write a check for $42 per person, payable to Larry Swindell, and mail it to Larry Swindell at 8 Thune Ave., Moraga ,94556.

The fourth annual Moraga Treeline Triathlon will be held Saturday, April 24. The swim is a challenging 400 meter sprint, followed by a 22 Km bike ride (about 13 miles) winding thru a scenic redwood forest. The event culminates with a 5 K (3.1mile) run thru the Campolindo subdivision before finishing with a lap around the Campolindo Track and a finish in front of the grandstand. After the event, athletes, family and friends enjoy the post-race feast and refreshments while awards are presented to the top three finishers in each division. For more information visit www.moragatri.com.

Wheel Day! On April 24th, Seedlings Preschool will host its 16th annual Wheel Day. There will be numerous vehicles parked all around LOPC’s parking lot, all there for viewing, climbing and horn honking. Admission is free, and snacks and refreshments will be available for a nominal fee.
Saturday, April 24th, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette.

Please join us for a relaxing afternoon of fellowship, beverages, tea sandwiches and pastries. Plan on wearing your favorite hat and participating in a hat contest. Browse through various vendor and silent auction tables. $18.00 per person. Sunday, April 25, 2pm - 5pm, Orinda Masonic Lodge, 9 Altarinda Road, Orinda. For Presale Tickets email Pam Lister zvyezda01@earthlink.net. Diablo Star participates in sending packages to the troops and providing layette's and hand crafted baby blankets for less fortunate mothers and their new born babies.

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). 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.

Celebrate locally....enjoy 16 delicious wines, artisan cheeses and charcuterie by wine connoisseurs and cheese mongers while supporting EFO, the Educational Foundation of Orinda on Sat. April 24th, 4-6:00 p.m. at the Wine Thieves in Lafayette, 3401 Mt. Diablo Blvd. $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Sign up now at www.winethieves.com under Events/Tasting Schedule listing, or buy tickets at the following locations: Orinda Books, Alma Music and Wine Thieves. Questions: (415) 676-7851.

On Sunday, April 25th, Lafayette will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by hosting a community “Picnic on the Green” at the downtown Plaza Park from 11:30-2pm, and you are invited! Bring your own or purchase a special lunch prepared with ingredients from local farmers ($5 for adults, $3 for kids). Preview the upcoming farmer’s market, enjoy live music, and see a sampling of the latest green products from local merchants. After lunch stroll down to the Library for a fun-filled afternoon of “Eco-Learning” from 1-4pm. Don’t miss a parent-organized “Self-Propelled Parade” leaving Stanley at 11:30am! For more details: http://www.sustainablelafayette.net/events/earthday/.

CILSA's 3rd annual 5K Run 4 Hunger at Saint Mary's College will take place on Sunday April 25. $5 or 5 canned foods to participate; the money will be donated to Oxfam America and food will be donated to the Solano and Contra Costa County Food Bank. Registration begins at 10am and run will begin at 10:30. Visit stmarys-ca.edu/academics/cilsa/ to register. E-mail: djbowen3@gmail.com with questions.

Lamorinda Transportation Commuter Fair, Wednesday, April 28, 11:30am – 1:30pm, Lafayette Library & Learning Center Community Hall, (3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd & First Street) Stop by to: Lower your commuter costs, save you & your employer money, apply for a free guaranteed ride home, find alternatives to driving, discover available parking options, find a carpool or vanpool partner, get ready for Bike to Work Day May 13, register for the “Spare the Air 2010”and get free lunch and goodies!

Moraga Junior Women’s Club’s 7th Annual Garden Tour, Saturday, May 1, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., rain or shine. All tour proceeds to benefit the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County’s Farm 2 Kids program.
Tickets on sale for $30 at Across the Way in Moraga, McDonnell Nursery in Orinda, Orchard Nursery in Lafayette, and online at www.moragajuniors.org. (See article page OH1)

The 3rd Annual Fore Our Schools Golf Tournament is held at the Moraga Country Club on Monday, May 3. The four-person scramble format will begin at 11:00 a.m with a shotgun start. Check-in begins at 9:00 a.m. 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.

Cinco De Mayo, Tuesday, May 5, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. The evening will include Mexican food, music, piñatas and games for kids and fun for the entire family. Bring your family, friends and neighbors. This event is sponsored by the Hacienda Foundation & Town of Moraga Parks and Recreation Department.

Senior Picnic with music and softball, Friday, May 7, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Join us for an old fashion outdoor picnic at our Community Park, just down the road from the Community Center. Light Hearts Trio will perform songs for your enjoyment. Bring your softball equipment for a fun, friendly game (optional). Cost: $3 members /$5 non-members includes picnic food and beverages. For more information or to sign up, call Lafayette Senior Services at 284-5050.

2010 Moraga Community Faire, Sat May 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Rheem Shopping Center. Featuring: classic car show, local artists, wine and beer, Kidz Zone with chalk drawing & bounce house, good food, local jazz bands, and much more. To reserve a space for a business or non-profit, get registration form at
www.MoragaChamber.org.

Orinda Baseball Association Car Wash: On Sat May 8th and Sat May 15th Orinda Motors will host over 300 players from Orinda Baseball Association. From 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. players from all levels will be cleaning cars to raise money for the Ricksen Fund benefitting Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland.

Experience the 11th Annual Tour of Lafayette’s Kitchens, hosted by Lafayette Juniors, Saturday, May 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tour six spectacular new and newly remodeled kitchens and receive a comprehensive program detailing all elements of each kitchen. Tickets are $35 and available for purchase through Lafayette Juniors members or in person at these Lafayette locations: Douglah Designs(284-4560) or Premier Kitchens (283-6500). Proceeds benefit Brighter Beginnings and other local charities. For more information go to www.lafayettejuniors.org.

Lafayette Garden Club Presents “Gardens for Gardeners Tour” May 13, 10 am – 3 pm. Come and tour four, beautiful, private gardens in Lafayette and the Burton Valley School Garden Classroom. There will be a boutique with handcrafted items, refreshments and plants for sale at one of the gardens. Proceeds from this tour will benefit area schools and Lafayette Seniors’ garden education projects. Price: $25 per ticket, $100 for 5 Tickets. Tickets available day of tour for $30. For Ticket Sales Contact: Julie Carlson. Phone: (925) 284-7547, E-mail: jacarls@comcast.net. (See article page OH1)

Orinda Lodge # 122 F&AM will sponsor Orinda Troop 122 for special needs boys age 11 and older. Meetings will be held at the Orinda Masonic Center, located at 9 Altarinda Rd in Orinda, at 6:30 p.m. on the second and forth Thursdays of each month. Prospective scouts from the Acalanes High School District and area elementary schools are invited to participate. Eagle Scouts and/or other experienced scout leaders are invited to contact us to offer guidance in launching the troop. Contacts: Herb Lederman at (925) 631-0229 or Mary April at (925) 674-6122.

Widowed Persons Support of Alameda/Contra Costa Counties will be offering a series of 6 Grief Support Meetings on Saturdays 10:00 A.M. to noon. The series begins April 17 and ends May 22. These meetings will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. No charge. These meetings are not church affiliated and are led by trained widowed facilitators. You need not attend all 6, but just come when you can. Questions? Contact Jan (925) 210-0333.

The Contra Costa County Fair needs helping hands during our Exhibit Judging days. We will need people to assist the judges and clerks on May 19th and May 26th. Volunteers will be handling and organizing the exhibits for the judges. By helping on a judging day, you will get a sneak peak at all of the exhibits entered in the Fair! It’s the perfect volunteer experience for those interested in crafts, quilts, painting, school projects, etc. For more information, please contact Karen Howe at (925)757-4400 or e-mail khowe@ccfair.org.

Help shelter animals! Please help Cheyenne Ziermann, a Campolindo junior, collect 200 reusable blankets and towels for the Peninsula Humane Society. Other pet supplies like toys, unopened treats or pet foods are needed, too. Cheyenne is part of Girl Scout Troop # 31997 in Moraga and this is her Gold Award project. Please bring all donations to 60 Corte Yolanda, Moraga (drop box provided). Any questions, contact Cheyenne at SheebaJeans68@comcast.net. Thank you.

Looking for a few good classic automobiles for the Moraga Classic Car Show. Area residents who own classic cars are invited to participate in the 2nd annual Moraga Classic Car Show, which takes place May 8 from 11am to 6pm as part of the 2010 Moraga Community Faire. The $10 registration fee includes car caption card, two hot dogs and beverages per car, a commemorative photo and a chance for owners to display their restoration work to the public. The registration deadline is April 24. To register, go to www.moragachamber.org/faire. Questions? Contact: Taylor at (925) 980-8186 or Andrew at (650) 307-2207