A Walk in the Art: June 19, 11am-5pm, Theater Square, Orinda. The works of several local artists will be on display. The walk will include food, wine, and a chance to interact with the artists directly.

Plein air paintings by local artists will be exhibited at the Orinda Library Gallery through June 30. The Orinda Library Gallery is located at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda (in the hallway outside the Library and Auditorium).

Nancy Nankin, a former professional opera singer, runway model, and vineyard owner-turned artist, will be displaying her original paintings at Fastframe during the month of June. Nancy’s thoughtful paintings portray subjects as diverse as a small village street in China, a light-flooded domed church in Greece, and a flower-filled harbor town on the Riviera coast. Fastframe is located at 3571 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Call owner Anthony Ruiz at (925) 283-7620 for more information.

Moraga Art Gallery will present a new group show, "Summer Hues," featuring local artists showing watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, ceramics, photography, mixed media, jewelry and glass designs. The show began June 8 and is featuring the work of Natalia Udaltsova, painter and Laura Paige, jewelry creations. The public is invited to meet the artists at the opening reception Saturday, June 12, from 3-5 pm. The Moraga Art Gallery is located at 570 Center St in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center next to CVS Drugs. Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, noon-5pm. Phone: (925) 376-5407.

Andy Warhol's Quick Pix and Pop Icons will be on display through June 20 at the Hearst Art Gallery. A large selection of the College’s collection of 152 Polaroid photographs and 8” x 10” black and white gelatin silver prints, awarded through the Warhol Foundation’s Photography Legacy Project, forms the exhibition’s core, including portraits of Warhol's friends, runway shots, Studio 54 scenes, nudes, NewYork streets and bridges, as well as 1970s and 80s celebrities. Hearst Art Gallery, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St.Mary's Rd., Moraga. Gallery Hours: Wed. – Sun., 11am –4:30pm. Phone: (925) 631-4379.Website: www.hearstartgallery.org. Admission $3. The Hearst Art Gallery is honored to be a among 700 museums across the country who are offering free admission to military personnel and their families from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2010.

Summer Daze will be the exhibit at the Lafayette Gallery through August 8. Celebrate the warmth and lightheartedness of summer by bringing a welcome infusion of color and creativity into your life. View the artists' beautiful interpretations of local landscapes or warm weather travels. Some of the gallery artists have turned their attention to photography or impressionistic still-life paintings of summertime's juicy fruits. Unique hand crafted jewelry in rich colors and fine detail are additional treats. And wood wine bottle stoppers crafted from Bay Laurel and Redwood along with turned bowls are lovely notes and make wonderful gifts. The Gallery is located at 50 Lafayette Circle in Lafayette. Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Phone: (925) 284-2788.

Summer Artist's Market June 19th from 11am - 7 pm. The Lafayette Gallery's artists will set up exhibit booths in the shade of the large live Coastal Oak in front of the Gallery on Lafayette Circle. Residents are invited to stroll by, watch some of the artists work and peruse the exhibit.

A Chile Benefit Concert will take place in Moraga on Monday, June 14th (Flag Day) featuring performances by Internationally-acclaimed guitarist/composer/vocalist Rafael Manriquez from Chile. Joining him will be Moraga's own flutist/composer/vocalist Carol Alban, flutist Nancy Tyler, cellist Jukka-Pekka Vainio and some surprise guest musicians. Suggested donation: $10-$15. The concert will begin at 7pm at Terzetto Cuisine Restaurant in the Moraga Center located at 1419 Moraga Way. The restaurant will be open during the event and beverages, appetizers and dinner will be available for ordering. You are more than welcome to dine while enjoying the concert. Reservations: (925) 376-3832.

Campolindo High School seniors Sean Ross, french horn, and Michael Malvini, bass, along with Acalanes High School senior Amelia Gurley, bass, Patrick Brady, cello, will play their final Bay Area YPSO concert on June 13. Founded in Berkeley in 1935, YPSO is the oldest youth orchestra in California and the second oldest in the nation. The “Young People’s Symphony Orchestra 2010 Pops & Pre-Alaska Tour Concert” will be on Sunday, June 13, 2pm, Greek Orthodox Church Of The Ascension, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland. Tickets for the concert are $15 general, $12 for students and senior citizens, in advance or at the door. For tickets and information, visit www.ypsomusic.net, call (510) 849-9776.

The Moraga Summer Concert Series begins on June 17th with the country and western band Big Rain and on June 24th Plastic Onion, a Beatles tribute band. The concerts are from 6:30-8:30pm. Bring your picnic blanket or lawn chairs to the grassy hillside in front of the band shell at the Moraga Commons Park. Enjoy the music while your children enjoy the park. The volunteers of the Moraga Park and Recreation Foundation will even cook dinner for you; the Snack Bar opens at 6pm.

Atlantic Brass Quintet will perform on Saturday, June 19th, at 8pm at the Chapel, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Free Admission. Widely acclaimed as one of the world's finest brass ensembles, they have performed in 48 of the United States and more than a dozen countries across four continents. Winner of six international chamber music competitions, the quintet's distinctive sound, impeccable ensemble, stunning virtuosity, and warm, inviting stage presence have won praise from scores of critics. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Department of Saint Mary's College.

Orinda Summer Concerts in the Park. Come out and enjoy the series of free concerts held in the Community Park throughout the spring and summer sponsored by the Orinda Community Center Auxiliary, the City of Orinda, and the Rotary Club of Orinda sponsors. Tuesday Night Series, 6:30-8:30pm: June 22nd, Pacific Coast (classic rock and pop); June 29th, The Crises (blues and rock).

Summer Kirtans on Saturday, June 26th, 7-8pm. Where: Massage Cottage, 71 Lafayette Circle
Lafayette, (925) 284-2881. No cost but donations appreciated.

The highly acclaimed SHUMBA Marimba Youth Ensemble (www.shumbamarimba.org) will perform on Saturday, June 26 at 1pm at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. The performance is a fund-raiser for Trust in Education, a non-profit group that supports education, commercial and agricultural projects in Afghanistan. The musicians, ages 13 – 16, will play Shona music from Zimbabwe on eight hand crafted fine-tuned marimbas. The use of hoshos, or gourd shakers, rounds out the ensemble by creating an exciting sound that is wonderful for clapping and dancing. Following the performance, Budd MacKenzie will briefly discuss some of the accomplishments and challenges facing Trust in Education. Afghan snacks will be served. Cost of the performance is $20 for adult and $10 for children. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) Tickets can be purchased at the door or reserved by calling (925) 299-2011 or visiting www.trustineducation.org . For more information, contact Janet Thomas at (925) 946-0563 or thomas@silcon.com.

The traditional Irish group Celtic Sand will perform at the Orinda Library Summer Music Series "Listen to the World" on Wed., June 30 at 7pm. This summer series sponsored by Friends of the Orinda Library will occur the last Wednesday of each month, June through September. For more information, call (925) 254-2184.

Orinda Idol finalists and runners-up will entertain 4th of July celebrants from the gazebo in the park prior to the parade start at 11 am. Finalists range in age from kindergarten to 12th grade, and come from 15 Lamorinda schools. Please come cheer on these local students as they prepare for the Sept. 12 competition, to be held at the Orinda Theatre.

Open Opera returns to Orinda with a concert of opera classics and favorites on Sunday, July 25 at 4pm at the Orinda Community Center Park at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. Open Opera events are family-friendly and admission is always FREE. Residents are encouraged to bring a picnic basket and folding chairs or a blanket to lie on. Open Opera is dedicated to building community. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.openopera.net. The event is sponsored by Orinda Community Center, Auxiliary and Rotary Club of Orinda.

Agatha Christie's "A Murder is Announced" will be performed by Orinda Starlight Village Players on Fridays and Saturdays from June 4 - 26 starting at 8:30pm with additional performances on Sunday, June 13th at 4pm and Thursday, June 24 at 8pm. The outdoor theater is nestled in the hill in the corner of the Community Park next to the Orinda Library/Community Center, 26 Orinda Way. Tickets are $16 regular and $8 for seniors/minors. For more information, call (925) 253-1911 or email info@orsvp.org. Bring layers of clothing, a picnic dinner, camp chairs or pillows and enjoy one of Christie's best mysteries under the Orinda sky.

The Pastures of Heaven runs June 2-27 at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. Tickets are available through the California Shakespeare Theater Box Office, 701 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley CA, 510.548.9666, or online at www.calshakes.org.

Town Hall presents David Auburn's "Proof" through July 3. An intelligent and accessible play about family, relationships, math, and madness, the play has won a slew of awards – including a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, a Tony Award for Best Play and a New York Critics’ Circle Prize for Best Play and now is being brought to Lamorinda by two fantastic directors, MaryBeth Cavanaugh and Lisa Anne Porter. Info and tickets: www.townhalltheatre.com. (See article)

Lafayette Historical Society’s Speaker Series: The Sacramento Northern Railway, a talk by John Krauskopf of the Western Railroad Museum. Thurs., June 17, 3pm, Arts & Science Discovery Room, Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Long before people walked, jogged, and biked along the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail, trains carrying passengers and cargo chugged through the area—once part of the Sacramento Northern Railway’s 184-mile route. $10 donation requested to defray LHS’ costs. For more information call: 283-1848.

Homeopathy Everyday Study Group. Guest Speaker, Varda Wilensky, CCH, RSHom(NA), topic, "Homeopathy as a Medicinal System." She will give us her insight on what it is, what it can to conventional medicine add and how the two modalities work together. Thursday, June 17, 6-7pm. 43 Quail Court, Suite 215, Walnut Creek. www.homepathyeveryday.com, ph. 826-3858.

Preview of Grad Night at Campolindo High School in Moraga. Free and open to the community on June 10, from 7-9pm. The theme this year is from Shrek. In the fall, “Off to Far Far Away” was voted on as the theme title. Parents transform the Quad, Gym and Multi-Use Room into an all-night party with supervised activities, games, entertainment, dinner, snacks and raffle prizes.

A preview of Miramonte's Grad Night for Class of 2010 will be Thursday, June 10th, 7-9pm at Miramonte High School. Miramonte’s Grad Nite this year highlights the Class of mm”X”, by celebrating their eXtraordinary achievements, the eXciting opportunities ahead, their eXtreme sports, and all their eXtra efforts of these last 4 years. This eXtravaganza will fill the night with music, dance, eXhilarating entertainment and feasting. We welcome our neighbors and the community to preview the festivities.
How about a GRAD cap photo to highlight in calendar for both events?

Motorama World of Wheels car show will be on Father’s Day, June 20, from 9am-4pm in Lafayette. See classic cars, boats, motorcycles, and bicycles which enjoying food, beverages, wine tasting, a raffle, car swag, venders and a live band. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lamorinda Sunrise. The show will be held at 3565 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette, in the parking lot behind Postino’s Restaurant, the Clock Tower Building, and Bank of the West. There will be awards for the entrants. Admission is free but families can purchase a VIP ticket for $50. (See article)

Bring Dad aboard the historic USS Hornet Museum in Alameda on Father's Day, Sunday, June 20, to experience "Living Ship Day." Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in mission briefings, see airplanes lifted to the flight deck, and sit in a fighter jet cockpit. Family activities and ship tours will be held from 10am-5pm. There is ample free parking and a food concession. Admission is adults $14, seniors (65 and older) $12, Military ID and students $12, youth 5-17 $6, under 5 years free with paying adult. The Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet Museum is a registered State and National Historic Landmark, the ship is permanently berthed at 707 W. Hornet Avenue, Pier 3 in Alameda, CA. For more information, visit www.uss-hornet.org or call (510) 521-8448.

Bring the kids and their friends in their jammies to hear Lafayette mom Shelley Frost read from her new book, I See Kindness Everywhere! For ages 2 and up on Friday June 25 from 7- 8pm, Growing Light Montessori, Moraga. This free community event will include sing-along songs, a live illustration demonstration, and a coloring page to take home. Buy books and get them personally autographed; Shelley is donating part of her personal proceeds to charity. Growing Light Montessori is located at 1450 Moraga Road, Moraga, CA, on the south end of the Moraga Shopping Center. Phone (925) 377-0407.

Moraga Movers June meeting speaker is Gary Smith who shattered the pins on the Professional Bowling Association tour. Indeed he has 86 perfect 300 games. Gary's address promises to be entertaining whether or not you bowl. Social hour is 5pm, dinner at 6, on June 14, at St. Mary's College Soda Center. Interested local residents are welcome to join the Movers by calling 376-6622 for more information.

June 17: Green Film Night in Lafayette. Wine, Juices, Appetizers and featuring the awards-winning film, "Trashed." 6pm juices,appetizers & social, 7pm movie. “Trashed” is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America. The garbage business. Town Hall Theater, 3535 School Street, Lafayette, (925) 283-9149. www.pfse.net to purchase tickets in advance. Movie, juice tasting, and appetizers - $10 online, $12 at theater; Movie only: $8 online, $10 at theater; Student: $5 online or at theater. Sponsored by volunteers of Generation Green, Sustainable Moraga, Sustainable Lafayette & Parents for a Safer Environment.

Patty Coggan will be at Alternatives for Animals on Tuesday evening, June 29th, to share her technique with T-touch therapy. Patty works at the Oakland Zoo with the animals and also has an equine CranioSacral and T-touch practice. T-touch is a way of communicating with dogs that combines massage-like touches, body wraps and physical manipulation. T-touch for dogs can be performed by any owner and its benefits are amazing. T-touch can also be used for nervous dogs who are fearful of loud noises, people or other dogs. It can be used to help aggressive dogs relax and learn new alternatives to aggression. Join us for appetizers on June 29th at 5:00pm followed by Patty's T-touch class at 6pm. This is a free session, open to the public. If you are interested in attending please call us at (925) 283-6160 to sign-up. Alternatives For Animals, 1042 Brown Ave, Lafayette.

Get ready for July 4th at the Moraga Commons Park. Activities happening all day: starting with Fun Run and Pancake Breakfast at 8am; the Dog Parade at 9am; Bike parade at 10:30am; plus jumpies, games, community booths. A free concert featuring Larry Lynch & the Mob starts at 7pm with fireworks after dark. To donate to the fireworks show send your check, made payable the Town of Moraga, to 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga, CA 94556.

In Orinda on July 4th there are events for every age group starting with the annual Pancake Breakfast, flag raising ceremony, fun run, parade, live music, food, games and booths in the park following the parade. Everyone is invited to participate in the planning, sponsor a booth or event, participate in the parade, host a booth in the park, or just come and enjoy the events. See www.orindaassociation.org for a detailed schedule. The Orinda 4th of July parade begins promptly at 11am. The parade will proceed through the Crossroads business district, back down Camino Pablo under Highway 24, right on Santa Maria Way, then left on Orinda Way past the reviewing stand in front of the Orinda Community Center.

Athletic Endeavors for a Cause

The first annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for Contra Costa County will be held on June 19th at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek. Everyone is invited to participate. Since 1993, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer has been the American Cancer Society’s rallying cry to raise awareness and money to fight breast cancer. In that time, 6 million walkers have raised more than $400 million through Making Strides. The American Cancer Society has awarded approximately $388.4 million to breast cancer research since 1971. For more information about the Contra Costa Making Strides event, call Gina Bowen at (925) 934-7640 (3) or visit http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/contracostacounty.

Moraga Annual 4th of July Fun Runs. Join hundreds of Moraga residents for the annual 4th of July Fun Runs with either the 2 mile, 5 mile, or the exciting Kiddie Race. These races are sponsored by the Campolindo Cross Country and Track Teams. Not only are the 2 and 5 mile courses certified, but this year we are also adding a chip timing system! To add to the excitement, registered runners can head over to the Moraga Commons Park right after the race for a free pancake breakfast sponsored by the Moraga Youth Involvement Committee (MYIC). Go to www.campotrack.com for race information/registration or contact Race Director, Liz Faoro, at (925) 377-5930 or faorowg@comcast.net.

Celebrity Golf Tournament and Social, July 25-25, Orinda Country Club. Includes an elegant dinner and entertaining auction (non-golfers welcome). Benefits Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Bay Area, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, and the Oriinda Community Foundation. Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, Honorary Chair. Register at www.CelebrateEverydayheroes.org.

The most exciting cycling event, climbing the Bay Area’s most devilish peak, is open for early registration due to popular demand. The Mount Diablo Challenge is a 10.8 mile timed bike ride, starting at the Athenian School in Danville and climbing up Southgate Road 3,249 feet to the summit of Mount Diablo. Registration is first come first served and the first wave to start the race is always the most popular so early registration is key. More than 1,000 cyclists compete and prizes are awarded for several categories in a ceremony at the summit with food and beverages for all. Riders of all ages are welcome and can compete on any type of non-motorized cycle, including tandems, unicycles and hand powered vehicles. Interested cyclists can take advantage of early registration at http://www.SaveMountDiablo.org.

You are invited to attend the June 15th meeting of the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society from 10am to noon at the library of the LOS Church, 2949 Stone Valley Road, Alamo. Program: Race, Religion and Reading Records Right. Speaker: Lavinia Schwartz. The topic will of interest to both beginner and the more advanced genealogist. For information call Ed O'Donnell (925) 299-0881, or visit our web site http://srvgensoc.org.