Superbly Independent: Early California Paintings through Sept. 19. Nearly 100 landscape paintings by three tenacious and talented early pioneer Western women painters: Annie Harmon, Mary DeNeale Morgan and Marion Kavanagh Wachte. Opening night lecture by art historian Erika Esau, Ph.D., author of Images of the Pacific Rim: Australia and California, 1850-1935, free admission. Exhibition admission: $4 adults; K-12 graders free. Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Gallery Hours: Wed. – Sun., 11am– 4:30pm. Main Telephone: (925) 631-4379. Website: www.hearstartgallery.org.

"Not For Sale" is Laura van Duren's solo show at Mercury 20 Gallery, Oakland, California September 2-25. This exhibition introduces van Duren's most recent sculpture, drawings and a large installation that explores the current state of slavery and personal responses to confinement. Address: Mercury 20 Gallery, 475 25th Street, Oakland. Hours: Thursday - Saturday, noon - 6pm. Gallery website: www.mercurytwenty.com. Van Duren is based in Lafayette. (See article page L3)

Moraga Art Gallery is presenting a new show, “Favorites," featuring local artists showing watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, ceramics, photography, mixed media, jewelry and glass designs. The show runs through October 23 and features the work of John Diestler and fused glassworks by Nancy Slack. The Moraga Art Gallery is located at 570 Center St in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center next to CVS Drugs. Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 12-5pm. Phone: (925) 376-5407.

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) presents "PIXAR: 25 Years of Animation," a major exhibition of over 500 works by the artists at Pixar Animation Studios, through January 9, 2011. Location: Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland. Csot: $12 general; $9 seniors and students with valid ID; $6 youth, ages 9-17. Free for children 8 and under and OMCA members. Free First Sundays. Website: www.museumca.org.

The Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek
is pleased to announce a new exhibit, "Fresh Paint," which opens with a Preview Reception on Sunday, September 26th from 3-5pm. Created by Bay Area artists, these works cover a wide range of styles, mediums and subjects. Also featured are fine craft and jewelry. Valley Art Gallery is a volunteer run, non-profit organization that has represented emerging and established artists of the Bay Area for over 60 years. Located at 1661 Botelho Drive, Suite 110 in downtown Walnut Creek.

The Orinda Community Foundation in conjunction with the City of Orinda will host an art show and reception to celebrate the City’s 25th anniversary. The event will be held on Saturday, October 2 from 4-7pm at the Orinda Library and will feature a fine arts exhibit highlighting the works of over 20 local artists. All art work available for purchase. Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. Music provided by members of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Proceeds to benefit the Orinda Community Foundation. For more information go to http://www.orindasilverball.com. (See article page L7)

The entire Orinda Library Gallery will be the site for Moraga Art Gallery to celebrate its 10 Year Anniversary, when all its artists will display their artwork during the month of October. The show will start on October 3rd, with the gallery hosting a Reception on the 9th of October at the Orinda Gallery, from 3-5pm. The public is cordially invited to attend and help celebrate this milestone with the local artists. The Orinda Library Gallery is located at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. Located at 570 Center Street in the Rheem Shopping Center, the Moraga Art Gallery is a cooperative, comprised of eighteen local artists.

The Orinda Library's “Listen to the World" Summer Music Series draws to a close with Ramana Vieira & Ensemble on September 29 at 7pm. Called the “Voice of Portuguese World Music,” Ramana Vieira sings fado, the 15th Century Portuguese songs of love, loss and life. An American of Portuguese descent, Vieira sings in English and Portuguese, bringing her own brand of soul and passion to the ancient art. This program is free, open to everyone and takes place next to the Fireplace inside the library. The Orinda Library is located at 26 Orinda Way in Orinda. For more information, please call (925) 254-2184 or visit the library website at ccclib.org.

Classical/jazz fusion trendsetters "Turtle Island Quartet" will perform at Saint Mary’s College on Wednesday, September 29 at 8pm in the Soda Activity Center. From stages around the globe to the international airwaves, winner of the 2005 and 2007 Grammy for Classical Crossover, the "Turtle Island Quartet" is the most acclaimed ensemble of its kind. Their performance at Saint Mary’s will celebrate the music of Jimi Hendrix and David Balakrishnan. $20 General Admission; $15 Seniors. Tickets: (925) 631-4670. (See article page L1)

Candlelight Cabaret: An evening of vocal jazz standards from the Great American Songbook. Friday, October 8th, 7:30-10pm, Fellowship Hall, Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Come and enjoy wine, appetizers, great music, and the company of friends! Bring guests! Ticket price: $30, benefiting Orinda Community Church.

The Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra will feature Marni Nixon, who was the singing voice of Audrey Hepburn and Natalie Wood, in a medley from The King and I, My Fair Lady and West Side Story. Also Copland’s “Appalachian Spring, Schuman’s “New England Triptych” and a world premiere by local jazz trombonist and composer, Doug Beavers. Come enjoy fascinating stories about the composers and their creations delivered by long-time music educator Timothy M. Smith, who is also the orchestra’s dynamic music director and conductor. Sunday, 10/10, 7:30 p.m. Lesher Center for the Arts, Tickets: $20-$28 at the door,by phone ((925) 943-SHOW), or online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org.

Orinda Starlight Village Players present "Wind In the Willows," adapted by Charlotte Meyer from the book by Kenneth Grahame through September 25th. Performances are held Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm, Sunday, September 19th, at 4:00pm, and Thursday, September 23rd at 8:00pm. Call (925) 528-9225 or email info@orsvp.org.

Diablo Theatre Company presents the family favorite “Annie,” the timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie in a show about hope and optimism with its chorus line of high-kicking orphan waits, a too-cute dog, and a delightfully wretched Miss Hannigan. Playing Sept. 10 - 26. Tickets ($29-$42). Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek; (925) 943-7469;
www.lesherartscenter.org; www.diablotheatre.org.

Come to Performers for Progress, a student run variety show featuring many talented Miramonte students on September 30th at 7:30 and October 1st at 7:30 in the Miramonte Theater. Tickets are $6 for students and $12 for adults. This fall, we will be raising money for SchoolBOX, an organization that supports schools in poor areas of Nicaragua. We will be helping the Segrado Corazon de Jesus school in Telica by remodeling part of their school, providing the students with school supplies and toothbrushes, as well as starting a soccer team. To learn more about Performers for Progress, visit our website at http://www.performersforprogress.com or email us at perforpro@gmail.com.

Town Hall Theatre’s 2010-2011 Main Stage season opens October 2 with the exciting and frightening Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher from the Robert Lewis Stevenson novella. This unusual adaptation brings all of the tension and thrills of the legendary story with a cast of only six actors, each playing multiple characters that create foggy Victorian London in the heart of Lafayette through Halloween. For exact times, more information and to buy tickets contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or purchase online at www.TownHallTheatre.com.

BOOK SALE - Friends of the Orinda Library monthly book sale is Sat. Oct. 2, 10am - 1pm. in the Book Shop and Sorting Room (Book Shop is open until 6pm) The monthly sales offer quality books for all interests and all ages. This sale features a large selection of books for children at very low prices; of interest to teachers and parents. Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, (925)254 -1358.

The Theology & Religious Studies Department of Saint Mary's College presents "Whatsoever You Did to the Least of These: Art, Ethics, and the Parable of the Sheep and Goats," a lecture by Saint Mary's College Professor Tom Poundstone.
When: Monday, September 20, from 7:30 - 9pm. Where: Soda Activity Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Road, Moraga. Cost: Free and open to the public.

Outdoor Movie Nights at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Admission is free. September 17: “Kung Fu Panda” at 7pm.

The NorCal Kids Triathlon will take place on Saturday, September 25 from 2-5pm at Miramonte High School in Orinda. Sponsored by Orinda Motors. Register online today at www.norcalkidstri.org.

Ready to have some fun this year? How about building a vehicle powered by mouse traps or a creating a Rube Goldberg contraption to make toast or producing a comedic play? Come join an Odyssey of the Mind team. We are organizing teams of Moraga students (K-12) for the 2010 school year. Come join us at meeting on September 16 from 7-8pm at the Moraga Library to find out more about this international creative problem solving competition.

Growing Light Montessori School of Moraga in conjunction with Food4Thought will be hosting a Wellness Event on Saturday, September 25th, from 10am-3pm, at the Growing Light Montessori campus in the Moraga Shopping Center. Parents can come and hear experts speak on a variety of conditions, including allergies, asthma, ADD/ADHD, autism, auto-immunity and other failure-to-thrive issues that may be affecting their children’s lives. For more information and to get tickets ($25 per person) go to www.food4thoughtca.com.

Join the co-ed teen crew of the SSS Sea Witch for two exciting Sea Scout events in September! Sept. 18th Redwood Rendezvous. This annual event takes place 8am - 9pm at the Port of Redwood City. Sept. 24 - 26th Clearlake Seaplane Splash-In. Departure from Martinez Sea Scout Base 9/24 at 5pm and return Sunday at 3pm. Sea Scouts is a non-profit co-ed youth maritime program. No experience is required. For more information contact Rolf Lindenhayn at lindenhayn@sbcglobal.net or 917-0573 or go to www.seascout.org.

15th Annual Art & Wine Festival, Saturday Sept 18 10am-7pm and Sunday Sept 19 10am-6pm, downtown Lafayette. Free Admission & Parking.
http://lafayettechamber.org/events/art-wine-festival.

3rd Annual Orinda Restaurant Tour: Tuesday, Sept. 28 5:30 - 6:30pm appetizers, 6:30 - 8:00pm"Sampling" Downtown Restaurants and 8 - 8:30pm Dessert. Admission will be $30 in advance & $35 at the door. Only 250 tickets to this popular event are available, so act quickly. Tickets available at www.orindachamber.com.

Friday September 24th, 7pm, Dancing with the Cars, Friday Night Party. We’re tenting Avenida de Orinda for a fun-filled, sneak preview of the next day’s car show. The evening will feature cocktails, dinner, music and a live auction. Proceeds of this event primarily benefit the Educational Foundation of Orinda. 2 cars in live auction! Car #1-Red 1992 Toyota Paseo . Car #2-Blue 1999 Saab 95. For tickets go to www.orindaefo.org.

The 6th Annual Orinda Classic Car Show will be held on Saturday, September 25, 10am–2pm in Orinda Village at Orinda Motors, 63 Orinda Way. Featuring over 130 classic cars and unique motorcycles, food and music. The event is free, but those who make a donation of $25 will have an opportunity to ride in one of the cars during the parade at the close of the show.

The 12th Annual Moraga Pear Festival will be held September 25 at the Moraga Commons from 10am to 4pm. Enjoy pear pies, live music, food, wine tasting, art and children's activities. Morning entertainment will be provided by local youth groups and from the Orinda Idol competitors. “Pacific Coast” will perform from 11-1 and the Dave Matthews Blues Band will perform from 1:30-4, thanks to a donation from the Moraga Park Foundation. This free festival is sponsored by the Town of Moraga.

The Contra Costa Master Gardeners are holding an Autumn Garden Sale that will have something for everyone! Saturday, October 2 from 9am to 2pm at the Contra Costa Times Visitors Parking Lot, 2640 Shadelands Drive in Walnut Creek. Garden art, bee boxes and birdhouses, as well as gently used decorative items for home and garden will be available for purchase. There will also be a plant sale with a huge variety of plants. You’ll find low water use plants, many of which are recommended by EBMUD and UC Davis, an exotic collection of succulents, delicious winter vegetable plants, annual and perennial color, herbs and much more. Further details can be found on: http://ccmg.ucdavis.edu.

Chabad of Contra Costa, under Rabbi Yaakov Kagan, is once again hosting Jewish High Holiday Services for the Lamorinda community. No membership is required and no previous background is required to fully enjoy the services. Special Children’s programs will take place at 11:30 am-12:30 pm each day. Rosh Hashanah Services will be held at Chabad of Contra Costa, 1671 Newell Ave., Walnut Creek. Yom Kippur Services will be held at the Renaissance ClubSport at 2805 Jones Road in Walnut Creek. For complete schedule of services and reservations visit www.JewishContraCosta.com or call Chabad at (925) 937-4101.

Salsa Dance classes at the Orinda Community Center will start Monday nights, beginning Sept. 13. There is no partner required and no experience necessary, $15/class to drop-in. Beginning 7-8pm, Intermediate 8-9:30pm, Orinda Community Center, 26 Orinda Way, to register: (925) 254-2445.

Our Peripheral Neuropathy Support Group is having an excellent speaker on Friday morning, September 24th—Dr. Leslie Delaney. She will speak about her Pain Management Programs. Most don’t know that there are over 20 million people with Neuropathy or that there are over one hundred different causes, including diabetes, and an array of treatments, many of which don’t work. The support group members understand how your feet can hurt, tingle or burn so intensely and how difficult it is to keep your balance. For more information contact Carolyn Cash (925) 254-8195.

The next Lafayette Pub Trivia event will be held on Wednesday, September 29th, starting at 6:30 pm at Petar’s in Lafayette. This month, we will be collecting donations for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, where we will anonymously donate the funds to individuals doing the 3-Day For the Cure walk in San Francisco, who have not met their required fundraising goals.

Lafayette Hiking Group, September 25 hike on Acalanes Ridge: From Pleasant Hill Road climb to the ridge and descend to Walnut Creek, past the newly acquired Lafayette Open Space property. From the ridgeline you can see Mount Diablo, the Carquinez Strait and the delta to the north. Moderately strenuous with hills, 5-6 miles. Leader Alison Hill. Meet in the parking lot out from Lafayette BART’s main entrance at 8:30 am. Bring lunch, water, layered clothing, and good walking shoes. Questions? Email LafayetteHiking@comcast.net.

AAUW is inviting the Lamorinda community to attend the 13th Annual Restaurant Walk, A Taste of Walnut Creek, Tuesday, September 28th, 6- 9:00 p.m. The 2011 AAUW Tech Trek Scholarships will be funded by the proceeds from ticket sales to this event. The evening includes a progressive dinner tour and a chance to sample delicious cuisines at some of the best restaurants in downtown Walnut Creek. Ticket books are $30 per person. Please send your check (made out to AAUW-OML) directly to Sandy Fox-Sohner at 27 Williams Drive, Moraga, 94556, before September 20.

Registration is now open for fall classes at Moraga Parks and Recreation (2100 Donald Drive, Moraga). Learn how to make Fresh Fruit Jam, practice Yoga, learn guitar or chess, and many more fun activities. Go online at www.moraga.ca.us or call (925) 888-7036.

Do you like working with people? Are you good with numbers? Contra Costa County AARP Tax-Aide is looking for volunteers to become members of a team providing free tax preparation for individuals of all ages. Volunteers are trained by Tax-Aide and become IRS Certified tax counselors. Other volunteer positions are available. If interested, call LaVerne Gordon, District Coordinator, at (925)405-5135 for information and to apply. Orientation is in November 2010 and classes for tax counselors start in January 2011.

Contra Costa Rose Society, Wednesday, September 22, 7pm, monthly meeting with a presentation by Greg Lowrey. His topic will be “Planting and Care of Own-root Roses.” Please join us for a fun evening. Free; the public is invited. Please call Cyndi at (925) 408-1256 or email her at cjreading50@yahoo.com for information, or visit our website www.ccrose.org. Monthly meetings are usually held on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at The Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek.

The First Annual Railroadiana, Mining & Western Artifacts Show & Sale Event will feature a broad spectrum of all types of historical western railroad, mining, Native American, cowboy and advertising artifacts from all over the western United States geared toward all levels of collecting interests. Show hours are Saturday, October 9th from 9am -3pm with a $5.00 admission. Early entry during the show's dealer set-up is available. Call for details. Location: Walnut Creek Elk's Lodge, Creekside Hall, 1475 Creekside Dr. Walnut Creek. For more information, please contact: Jack Lucas at (925) 260-0287.

Las Trampas, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities in the East Bay. We are having our 1st annual "Walk n' Roll" on Saturday October 23 from 8:30am-12noon. This family friendly event is a 1mile or 5K walk/roll or run on the beautiful Lafayette-Moraga Trail. Fee is $25 per person and includes: t-shirt, gift, refreshment and live entertainment. Register at www.active.com. For more information visit our website at www.lastrampas.org.

Save the Date! Empowerment of Women Forum. When: Tuesday, October 19 Time: 5:30 -7pm. Where: Lafayette Library & Learning Center Community Hall. We will feature a panel of working women, from both the profit and non-profit sectors, who will share their career stories with us. This forum will offer something for the current working woman as well as the woman who is looking to get back into the workforce. Come and enjoy an evening of shared experience. Information: Barbara Gilmore, 925) 284-7404. Barbara@lafayettechamber.org.

CLUBS

Montelindo Club general meeting and speakers, third Friday of the month, September through May. Meeting Place: Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Refreshments and plant sale at 9am, meeting at 9:30am. The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. Web Site:www.montelindogarden.com. Email contact: montelindogarden@aol.com. September 17 meeting: Charlice Danielsen, founder of the Native Here Nursery in Tilden Park, will speak about preserving California's native flora and vegetation.

The Moraga Garden Club meets 9:30a.m. third Thursdays monthly through May. September 16: Lafayette author/photographer, and rose expert, Carolyn Parker, will bring roses from her garden, and talk about her recent projects, which include highlights from her new book about remarkable rose women. Copies of her book, R is for Rose, will be available for sale, and signing. Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga. Membership is now open: Linda (925) 376-2809.

The Lafayette Garden Club is happy to announce that grant applications are currently being accepted for funds generated by the 2010 Gardens for Gardeners Tour. Proceeds from this fundraiser have been designated to benefit area schools and Lafayette Seniors’ garden education projects. Approximately $8,000 will be available for distribution. The Lafayette Garden Club is a non-profit, volunteer organization which strives to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening, to encourage home and community beautification, to improve the knowledge of horticulture and to encourage civic planting and conservation programs. Grant applications should be consistent with the club’s objectives. For more information or a grant application please contact:
Janet Tittiger: 925-284-2380 or janet.t@comcast.net

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the 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 Dan Ashley, the popular anchor of ABC News at 6 & 11 pm. Mr Ashley, who came to ABC News in 1995 has received a number of awards. His talk is entitled "Ratings and Responsibilities: The challenge of Television News." For membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528.

Moraga Juniors Women’s Club is currently looking for new members who live in Moraga. MJWC is a non-profit philanthropic and social organization of women committed to improving our local community through volunteering and raising funds for local charitable organizations. We are currently assembling this year’s list of prospective members and will be holding a new member social on September 29, 2010. Membership is open, and the club invites anyone to join without regard to race, color, creed, age, or national origin. Please visit www.moragajuniors.org and look for the “Join Us!” link.

On Tuesday, Sept. 21st at 9:30 a.m. the next general meeting of the Lamorinda Branch of AAUW will meet at the Serbian Church Cultural Center, l700 School St. in Moraga. The featured speaker will be Dr. Paul Licht, Director of the U.C. Botanical Garden. AAUW is a national organization dedicated to equity for girls and women through advocacy, education and research. This is the perfect venue for learning in depth the various facets by which those goals are achieved by visiting the tables where members will answer any questions you may have and welcome you to join.

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. The next meeting will be September 16. We invite all women over the age of 55 to join us. Lunch is provided by the members. This month we have a speaker from the Contra Costa County Youth Development Services who is going to give us an insight into the Foster Youth Services. Information we should all be hearing.