The Lamorinda Arts Alliance is pleased to invite you to our 15th Annual Open Studios Tour on October 16 and 17. Meet the artists, drop by their studios, learn what motivates and inspires them to create. During this free showcase for the arts, you can visit over 30 artists in 15 venues who open their homes and studios for this exciting event. Venues on the Open Studios Tour will be open October 16 and 17 from 11am to 4pm. Maps are available at the Moraga Art Gallery (570 Center St., Moraga) or online at www.laa4art.org/openstudios.html. A kick-off reception will be held on Friday, October 15 from 6-8pm at the Moraga Gallery.

The Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary's College presents Gifted Hands: the Fine Art of Craft, featuring 90 objects by 15 major contemporary Bay Area artists, through Dec 12. On view are both functional and decorative objects: furniture, wearable art, jewelry, pottery, quilts, turned wooden bowls, and fabric and metal sculpture. Gallery Hours: Wednesdays to Sundays, 11 am - 4:30 pm. Suggested adult donation is $4; free for K-12th grade students. www.hearstartgallery.org.

The Lafayette Gallery's latest show, "Southwest Inspired" runs from October 12 through October 30. The public is invited to a Southwest themed reception on Friday, October 22 from 6:30-8:30pm. Located at 50 Lafayette Circle in downtown Lafayette. Gallery artists show work in many mediums including printmaking, oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media works, jewelry, wood, ceramics, photography and pastel. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-5pm. Phone (925)284-2788.

Moraga Art Gallery is presenting "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.

Oakland Museum of California presents: Days of the Dead Community Celebration, a special community celebration slated with an opening ritual, music, dance, food, entertainment, gallery tours, and an arts and crafts market Saturday, October 23, from noon-4pm at the Oakland Museum of California,1000 Oak Street, Oakland. Registration $6-$12.

The exhibit "Fresh Paint" brings two hundred new paintings to the collection available at Walnut Creek's prestigious art venue, Valley Art Gallery. This semi-annual juried exhibition features a huge variety of work from over 100 Bay Area artists. "Fresh Paint" runs Tuesday, October 23, through Saturday, from 11am-5pm at Valley Art Gallery, 1661 Botelho Drive, Walnut Creek. (925) 935-4311. www.valleartgallery.org. 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.

Big Band Ball Room Dance, Friday, Oct 15, 7-10pm, Veterans Memorial Building, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Come swing with your friends and neighbors-or just listen! Free dance lessons by Gail Enright at 7pm. Dance begins at 8pm. 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.

Under the direction of David Morales, the 100-voice Cantare Chorale begins its 24th season with I GOT RHYTHM, a concert for the entire family featuring Broadway tunes, Gershwin favorites, spirituals, and Irving Berlin's Give Me Your Tired and God Bless America. An aprŠs-concert ice cream social will cap off the season opening event. Sunday, October 17th, 4:30pm at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, 94549 Tickets: $10 youth, $25 general, $50 per family. (510) 836-0789. For more info and tickets: www.cantareconvivo.org.

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra presents: SFCO's Very First Concerts: Meet the Orchestra, October 24, 11-11:20am, 11:40am-12pm, & 12:20-12:40pmat the Crowden School, 1475 Rose St, Berkeley. These delightful 20-minute concerts for ages 0-6 teach musical concepts, offer hands-on activities, and encourage lots of movement and dancing. Three performances, all during Crowden's Community Music Day. Free admission.

Concert Pianist Christyna Kaczynski-Kozel presents a recital at 7pm Saturday, October 23 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. A musician possessing both technical power and passionate expressivity, Ms. Kaczynski-Kozel will perform works of Scarlatti, Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy. Free admission, freewill offering. www.oslc.net.

Organ Recital, Sunday, October 17, at 3pm, Chapel, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Legendary organist Dr. Gerre Hancock, Professor of Organ and Sacred Music at The University of Texas at Austin, will present a recital on the college's unique instrument. Admission is free. All are welcome. For more information: Contact Brother Martin Yribarren at (925) 631-4325.

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. (See article)

A treasured establishment for over 40 years, Glorietta Elementary school's annual Funfest is a wonderful carnival with all the charms of a traditional Fall Festival. There are games for all ages, prizes, pumpkins, great music, and a raffle with a Grand Prize iPad! Located at 15 Martha Rd Orinda, October 23, 10am-3pm.

Haunted House, Friday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct 24 at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 Saint Mary's Road, Lafayette. "Not too Scary" from 5-7pm and "Very Scary" 7:30-9:30pm (8+). Ages 7 & under: $3; ages 8 & over: $5. Sponsored by the Lafayette Youth Commission.

Everyone is welcome to the 34th Annual Halloween Carnival, Sunday, October 24 10am-2pm at Campolindo High School, 300 Moraga Road. Halloween Carnival is a perfect event for children ages 2 to 8. Participants will be able to choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, enjoy carnival games with prizes for all and a festive art center with hands on crafts. Pizza, snacks and refreshments will be sold at the Leaky Caldron Cafe. Admission is $5 per child, plus a small charge for game tickets and food. All children are encouraged to come in costume.

Witches & Goblins. Trick or Treat at Rheem Center on Friday, October 29, 3- 5pm. Costumed children must be accompanied by an adult. Enjoy free trick or treat bags and Halloween goodies while supplies last. Located at the corner of Rheem Blvd and Moraga Road in Moraga.

Sleepy Hollow Halloween Fall Carnival, Saturday, October 30th, 10am-3pm, 20 Washington Lane, Orinda. Featuring a Magical Harry Potter Haunted House; a wild and wacky cakewalk; giant slide and jumper, a petting zoo with miniature horses, ducks, geese, pigs, sheep; a rock wall & obstacle course, delicious food from Top Dog, Jamba Juice & Wood Fired Pizza, and homemade treats.

Lafayette's first Outdoor Movie Event will screen Pixar's Monster's, Inc. on Saturday, October 30 at 7pm at the Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mount Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Road). The movie is free of charge. All are welcome to attend! Residents are encouraged to pack a picnic, grab a blanket or two, invite the family and friends, and come enjoy this family-friendly movie, as a great way to celebrate Halloween Eve. Popcorn and hot chocolate will be available. Come in costume! Raffle tickets will be available for purchase with prizes awarded that evening. Please note that the screening will be cancelled in the event of rain.

Musuem of Children's Art Halloween crafts:
Saturday, October 23: Jack-O'-lantern Carving and Decorating, 1-4pm, $8 per child
Turn your plump pumpkin into a magical lantern or fanciful Halloween decoration using paints, spoons, and simple carving knives. Bring your own hefty squash or try one of our samplers.
Saturday, October 30: Create a Costume, 1-4pm, $8 per child
The Museum of Children's Art, MOCHA, 538 9th Street, Oakland, (510) 465-8770. www.mocha.org

The Special Parents for Special Kids Lafayette (SPSK) October meeting will be held at the Lafayette Library on October 14 at 7pm in the Homework Room. We will have Dana Sassone, Director of Student Services for the Lafayette School District as our guest. SPSK Parent and SEED Foundation Head, Nancy Wallace Ishii, will also be speaking about SEED (Special Education and Enrichment Development) to give an update on the past, present and future SEED funded programs. SPSK is a group of parents of children with special needs or learning differences who reside in the Lafayette school district and came together to form a support, education and advocacy group. For more information about SPSK and to rsvp to this event, please visit our website at www.spsklaf.org.

Saint Mary's college presents a super chemistry magic show, presented by Marvin Lang and Don Showalte, professors at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. It will be held in the Soda Center at Saint Mary's on Monday October 18, at 7pm. Drs. Lang and Showalter have received world wide acclaim for their programs and ingenuity as chemical educators. Limited seating but these chemistry professors are famous for this show.

The co-ed crew of the S.S.S. (Sea Scout Ship) Sea Witch invites teens 13-18 to join them for Safety At Sea Training by the Coast Guard on Saturday Oct. 23rd on Yerba Buena Island. No experience required! Training will include hands on use of emergency equipment like fire extinguishers, flares, life rafts, fire hoses, and ocean survival in gumby suits. Cruise over from Martinez on the ship Friday Oct. 22 or drive over for the day. Sea Scout ships & crews from all over the Bay Area will be participating. Advanced registration required. For more info. contact Communications Officer Rolf Lindenhayn at 917-0573 lindenhayn@sbcglobal.net and www.seascout.org.

Serbian Food Festival, Saturday, October 23, 12-10pm. Featuring authentic Serbian cuisine and pastries, live Serbian music and dancing. Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. (925) 376-5982.

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.

Join Lafayette Historical Society on Tues, Oct. 26 for a special guided tour of the Suisun museum, and for a ride on an interurban car, over five miles of restored Sacramento Northern Railway tracks. Bring lunch to enjoy in the museum's picnic area. Meet at 9:45am in front of Whole Foods store to catch the bus, which departs at 10 a.m. and will return around 3pm. $25 for members, $35 for non-members. Please send check made out to: LHS, P.O. Box 133, Lafayette, CA 94549. For more information, call (925) 283-1848.

The Lafayette Reservoir Run will take place on Sunday, October 31. This race is a "family affair," involving kids, parents, grandparents, and hundreds of serious runners from throughout the Bay Area. 2200-2500 participants compete in a 10k, 5k or 2 mile race through the heart of the downtown, around the reservoir and back. Sprinters, walkers, the "stroller brigade" and many of Lafayette's top four legged residents share the streets on that festive Sunday morning. For more info or to register: Phone: (925) 284-7404, Email: info@lafayettechamber.org, Website: www.lafayettechamber.org.

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.

Our Savior's will host Lara Mendel, Co-Founder of the Mosaic Project, on Saturday, October 30 at 7pm for a discussion on cultural diversity in our changing world where stereotypes survive because we have little or no exposure to those different from ourselves. The community is invited to come to this free event. Wine and tapas will be served before the program. Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. (925) 283-3722.

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.

Xenophon, the Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, invites you to a lovely event on Saturday, October 23 at 4pm at the Orinda Community Church Fellowship Hall at 10 Irwin Way in Orinda. Food, music, and wine to benefit Xenophon. For RSVP and more info check the Xenophon website at www.xenophontrc.org.

Lamorinda Adult Respite Center (LARC) sponsors a free Caregiver Support Group the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Facilitated by Dr. Ruth, this group offers education, guidance and hope for those caring for loved ones who suffer from memory loss disorders. Lamorinda Adult Respite Center, 433 Moraga Way, Orinda, CA 94563. (925) 254-3465. Everyone is welcome!

Lamorinda Adult Respite Center (LARC) is sponsoring a free Transfer Training: open to all, Friday, November 5, 9-11am, and Monday, November 8, 6-8pm. It's important to learn how to safely transfer those persons needing extra assistance moving from sitting to standing, standing to lying, moving into and out of cars, and other transfer challenges. 433 Moraga Way, Orinda.

Empowerment of Women Forum. When: Tuesday, October 19 Time: 5:30 -7pm. Where: Lafayette Library & Learning Center Community Hall. This forum is designed to appeal to a variety of women. 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 Sponsored By: Mechanics Bank, Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

On Tuesday, Oct. 19th the Lamorinda Branch of AAUW will sponsor a meeting at the Serbian Orthodox Church, l700 School St., Moraga starting at 9:30am to inform ourselves and the public on the issues raised by the nine initiatives on the ballot. Members and guests will be randomly seated at round tables, each of which is provided with materials from the League of Women Voters and other non-partisan sources concerning a single ballot measure. At the end of the discussions each table will report its observations and viewpoints to the entire group. General materials on all of the ballot measures will also be available. This meeting is free and open to the public.

Campolindo Orchestra's Rent-A-Student program has been launched in Lamorinda. Students will be doing odd jobs, like Babysitting, Petsitting, Home Repairs, Painting, Cleaning, Gardening, Tutoring, etc.. Funds earned will be used to help send Campo's String Orchestra to China, having been invited by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the International Arts Institute to perform in Beijing in the spring. Call 925-360-9635 and they will send a student with the skills you need at the time requested. For more info, visit website www.campomusic.com

Montelindos Garden Club meetings and speakers are every third Friday of the month, September through May. Located at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Refreshments and plant sale will be at 9am, and meetings at 9:30.
The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. Friday, October 15, Julia Lojo, owner of Bloomies, an Oakland/Rockridge florist shop, will speak about "Decorating from your Garden."

The Moraga Women's Society will meet on Monday, October 18th at 9:30am at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. The speaker will be Dale Walwark, a resident of Moraga and member of the Kiwanis Club. His presentation will be of his trip to Turkey. Visitors are welcome. Contact Judy Butler, President, (925) 372-7760.

The Suburban Woman's Club of Lafayette is holding their next meeting on Oct 21 at the Lafayette Community Center in the Elderberry Room at 11:30am. Lunch is provided by the members and we invite all women over the age of 55 to join us.
The speaker this month will be someone from PG&E who should give us some interesting information about the company in light of recent events. The Club meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month. For further information on the club and our activities contact Jean Cappa at Jeanc43821@aol.com or please join us at the next meeting.