The Lafayette Gallery presents the Heart Throb Exhibit. Show Opens Tuesday, January 4, 2011. The meet the artist's reception is 6:30-8:30pm on Friday, February 4. The current exhibit, Winter Wonderland, runs through Dec 24. Annual Holiday Gallery Hours are Tuesday - Saturday 11am- 5pm. Located 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Admission is free. For more information call (925) 284-2788 or go to www.lafayettegallery.net.

The Orinda Library Gallery will showcase over twenty images of Orinda from the early 1900’s as part of the exhibit New Images of Old Orinda – 1901 to 1920’s sponsored by the Orinda Historical Society (OHS). The newly discovered photos of Orinda were taken between 1901 and the mid-1920’s by Edward I. deLaveaga. The opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Friday, January 7th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Orinda Historical society at (925) 254-1353. See article.

The Moraga Art Gallery ushers in a new show, 2 plus 2 = 1, shorthand for “Two Artists, Two Visions: A Singular Experience,” on January 11, 2011. The exhibit brings together paintings in various media by Orinda’s Beryl Glen-Reiland and watercolors by Moraga’s George Ehrenhaft. An opening reception-- Saturday, January 15 from 3 to 5pm will feature live music by Andrea Farrell, a classical guitarist and singer. All are invited to the Gallery located in the Rheem Shopping Center, 570 Center Street, Moraga, to eat, drink, look and listen. For more information call (925) 376-5407.

The Gold Coast Chamber Players present: Harmony and Melody a celebration of Black History Month. Saturday, January 29 at 7:30pm and Sunday, January 30 at 2pm. General admission is 30$. For more information please call (925) 283-3728.

The Saint Mary's January Term's Children's Theater presents: A staged adaptation of the classic Grimm Brothers story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Performances on Wednesday, January 26 at 7pm and Thursday, January 27 at 4pm.
Where: LeFevre Theater, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Tickets: Only $8.00, available by calling (925) 631-4670 or e-mailing Sharon Cahill at scahill@stmarys-ca.edu.

San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival presents San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival Auditions on Jan 8, 10am-6pm; Jan 9, 10am-7pm; Jan 15, 10am-7:30pm; Jan 16, 10am-7pm, at Zellerbach Hall, University of California, Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley. More than 130 Northern California companies perform cultural dances in hopes of securing a slot in the 2011 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival! Cost: $10/day; Free for children 12 and under. For more info see
http://www.worldartswest.org or call (415) 474-3914.

5A’s 3rd annual “Santa’s Secret Wrapping Room” is free and open to the public through Dec. 24th. This decorated storage unit is set up with table, chairs, large rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbon – everything needed to get presents wrapped. This is especially handy if you’re trying to wrap presents away from the recipient of a surprise.

Moraga Police Officers Association is collecting new or gently used stuffed animals to benefit a charity called S.A.F.E. (Stuffed Animals For Emergencies), which distributes stuffed animals to children in need. For example, S.A.F.E. provides donated stuffed animals to be stored in police cars so officers can give them to children they may encounter in any type of traumatic or tragic situation. The donated stuffed animals can be dropped off at the Moraga PD lobby at 329 Rheem Blvd. now through Jan 9.

Ewaste Collection/Fundraiser For Citizens For The Lost Society.
Where: Lafayette Christian Church, 584 Glenside Drive, Lafayette
When: Saturday January 15th, 2011, 9am-4pm.
Citizens For The Lost Society is committed to finding children and bring them home to our communities.
Free to recycle televisions, monitors, laptops, cell phones, flatscreens & wires
$5.00 per item fee to recycle: stereos, telephones, printers, DVD players, radios, fax machines, small appliances etc.
Contact (925) 890-1324 for information.

Lamorinda Toastmasters will be hosting an Open House and Pot Luck on Tuesday, January 4, from 7:30pm to 9pm in the Social Hall at Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo, Lafayette - entrance to the Temple is on Risa Road. This is a special meeting honoring the educational achievements of members Mark Darfler, Karen Lloyd, Heather Stovall, and Gordon Steele.

Sons in Retirement Lamorinda Branch 171 meets the first Wednesday monthly at Holy Trinity Cultural Center 1700 School St. Moraga. Social hour 11am, lunch 12 pm. The after lunch speaker will be Christopher Lee, a licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who has a practice in Walnut Creek. He will speak on how Western medicine and acupuncture work well together to optimize you and your family's health. For membership information, call Larry at (925) 631-9528.

The OML Branch of AAUW promises another outstanding program at its Jan 18 monthly meeting at the Serbian Cultural Center in Moraga at 9:30 am in presenting well-known dancer Lois Flood who has been interpreting the exquisite dances of the incomparable Isadora Duncan for over 20 years. Duncan impacted the world of dance of the early 20th Century like no other dancer. Flood performs lecture/dance programs at theaters, museums and colleges all over northern California as well as teaching master classes in NYC, Paris and San Francisco. This program is free and open to the public.

Montelindo Garden 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 and garden accessory sale at 9am meeting at 9:30, and speaker at 10:30. The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. Web Site: www.montelindogarden.com. email contact: montelindogarden@aol.com. On Friday, January 21, our speaker will be Laural Roaldson, owner of Laural Landscapes in Walnut Creek. Her topic is "Maximizing Your Yard Without the Lawn."

The Moraga Community Chorus needs singers from all of Lamorinda. No audition required. Our spring program will consist of a requiem selection, opera choruses and Broadway pieces. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, January 4 from 7:30-9:30pm at the Miramonte Gardens clubhouse, 1 Miramonte Way in Moraga. The chorus enjoys community service, music, and each other. For more information call Tom Marnane at 925-376-6312 or Fred Lezak at 925-376-9468 or just come and sing.