150 Years after the Civil War an NEH-sponsored exhibition, Lee and Grant, will be on view through Sunday, Mar. 20 at The Hearst Art Gallery at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. The museum is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am- 4:30pm. Adult admission is $4; admission is free for K-12th grade students and Hearst members. A battlefield re-enactment, featuring nearly one hundred NCWA volunteers, is planned for Saturday, March 19, on the Saint Mary's College campus.
Information: (925) 631-4379. See article

The Lafayette Gallery is presenting the Heart Throb Exhibit. There will be a "meet the artists" reception from 6:30-8:30pm on Friday, February 4. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm. Located at 50 Lafayette Circle, Lafayette. Admission is free. For more information please call (925) 284-2788 or go to www.lafayettegallery.net.

The Moraga Art Gallery's new show, 2 plus 2 = 1, shorthand for "Two Artists, Two Visions: A Singular Experience," The exhibit brings together paintings in various media by Orinda's Beryl Glen-Reiland and watercolors by Moraga's George Ehrenhaft. The gallery is located at the Rheem Shopping Center, 570 Center Street, Moraga. For more information call (925) 376-5407. See article.

First Friday Forum: Jonathan Dimmock, organist at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian (LOPC) Church will present "Organs, Churches and Acoustics: Working Together", on February 4 at 1:30pm in the sanctuary of LOPC, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. This is a free event open to all. Refreshments will be served in Fellowship Hall at 1:00pm. For further information call (925) 283-8722 or go to www.LOPC.org.

Generations In Jazz presents The Big Band Of Rossmoor Feb 25 for a big band dance and concert at The Veterans Memorial Building. Tickets are on sale at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for $10. Reserve tickets at 284-7404 or purchase at the door. Free dance lessons are available from 7-8pm with instructor Gail Enright. Then the dance and concert begins at 8pm.

Campolindo Jazz Dinner Dance featuring the Campolindo High School Jazz Band, is coming up on Saturday, February 26 at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette. Tickets are $55 ($60 after February 7) and on sale now. Visit www.campomusic.org or contact Diane Haley, 631-1439.

Campolindo Orchestra Winter Concert on Thursday, February 24 at 7:30 in the CPAC. This will be a benefit concert with the proceeds to assist the Campolindo Orchestra's trip to Beijing. Featuring violinist Jeremy Cohen, a three-time Grammy nominee, and Barry Green with his Green Man Bass Group as guest artists. An evening of great music not to be missed! Tickets are $10 only and on sale now. Call 270-8083 to reserve your ticket. More information on website www.campomusic.org. See article page S4

Town Hall Theatre presents The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams, February 19-March 19, with previews on February 17 & 18. For exact dates and show times, contact Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or go to www.TownHallTheatre.com. Town Hall Theatre is located at 3535 School St. in Lafayette.

Diablo Theatre Company presents East Bay premiere of "The Drowsy Chaperone," the award-winning Broadway show about a musical theatre addict known as "The Man in the Chair," whose favorite musical magically bursts to life in a combo of every classic, clich‚d plot thread ever to grace the stage. At 8pm Feb. 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and March 4, 5. 2pm Feb. 20, 26, 27. ($17-$48). Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek (925) 943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.org.

"OnstageTheatre" continues its 33rd Season with the timeless spirited comedy classic Heaven Can Wait, opening Feb. 11 and running through March 6 at the Lesher Arts Center in Walnut Creek. This comedy/fantasy, which opens the weekend before Valentine's Day, features married couple Edwin and Jennifer Brown Peabody in the romantic leads. For more information call (925) 943-SHOW. Admission is, $20 general $16 seniors $10 youth to 17.

Commonwealth Club presents The Obama Effect: Where Does the African American Community Stand Now? Monday, Feb. 7, 6:30pm, Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Time: 5:45 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program. Cost: $12 members, $22 non-members, $7 students. For tickets go to commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

Finding Solutions for Relationships: Plan B: How to Get Unstuck from Work, Family, and Relationship Problems. February 9, from 7-9pm, at the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Parish Hall (lower level) 66 St. Stephens Dr. Orinda. Stephanie Asker, retired psychotherapist and marriage counselor and author of Plan B, draws on her many years of experience to present an evening helping couples, families, and others in important relationships, find solutions to problems that trouble your everyday life.

The Lafayette Historical Society Speakers Series presents, Old Bones in a New Tunnel. Wednesday, February 11, at 3pm in the Art and Science room in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Limited seating, $10 for members, $15 for non members, donations requested.

The Friends Corner Book Shop announces its Winter Half Price Book Sale! The door will open and 9am and stay open until 5pm. The shop is located at 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard, #107, Lafayette.

The Moraga Library is having a book sale. Saturday February 5 from 10am-2pm. 1500 Saint Mary's Road, Moraga.

The award-winning Diablo Ballet of Walnut Creek brings to life the popular children's book "Angelina Ballerina" at several Saturday morning story times around Contra Costa County. Angelina Ballerina story times are Saturday February 5 at 11am at Borders Bookstore Pleasant Hill, and Saturday February 12 at 10:30am at the Walnut Creek Library (Storybook room). The events are free and great for children ages 3-10 years old.

Building Jewish Bridges presents Welcoming Ceremonies for Jewish Babies on Sunday, Feb 13, from 9:15-10:30am, at Temple Isaiah, 3800 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Having a Jewish baby? Learn about ceremonies that welcome babies. Come for answers. Cost is free. For more info see http://buildingjewishbridges.org or call (510) 845-6420.

Contra Costa County Search and Rescue, a volunteer team of the Sheriff's Department, is sponsoring an Outdoor Safety Poster Design Contest open to all Contra Costa County resident students in middle school, high school and college. The registration deadline is February 4th. Contest details are available on the Search and Rescue website www.contracostasar.org.

The Orinda Arts Council is pleased to announce that it will hold its 8th Annual High School Visual Arts Competition for high school students living or attending school in Orinda, Lafayette or Moraga. Online registration, as well as detailed information regarding the competition, is available at www.OrindaArtsCouncil.org. Deadline for all entries is midnight, February 17 with all artwork submitted Feb. 27-28. Esteemed judges include professional artists and art teachers. Cash prizes are awarded and all accepted entries will be displayed at the Orinda Library Art Gallery March 2-30.

Campolindo High School Parents Club and Healthy Choices Committee will present a Teen Drug Symposium hosted in the Campolindo High School Library on Monday, Feb. 28 from 7-8:30pm. The Symposium will feature testimonials from local parents and students who have dealt first-hand with drug addiction and recovery. Additionally, we will hear from Dr. Timothy Browne, a local Psychologist and addiction specialist. For More Information and to RSVP please contact Roxy Klein at roxygklein@comcast.net.

Small Vineyard Series and Viticulture Classes held at CaptainVineyards in Moraga are designed for home and boutique winegrowers; non-growers and wine enthusiasts are welcomed too. Classes cover basic principles of viticulture and practical aspects of small vineyard management. Instructions and handouts will help growers, with little or no previous experience in grape growing to learn about sustainability and environmental practices. Fee for each 2 hour class, including wine tasting, is $ 42.00. Register with Moraga Park and Recreation: http://moraga.ca.us or call (925) 888-7045.

Everyone is cordially invited to attend a reception February 7, from 4-6pm at the Orinda Library Gallery to celebrate the first anniversary of the founding of the Orinda community foundation and its 2010 grand recipients.

The Orinda Mandarin Chinese Language Program is inviting the public to its Chinese New Year Celebration on Wednesday, February 9. From 4:15-5:30pm there will be class performances, activities and food. Miramonte High School students will emcee. Everyone is welcome to this free event.

On Tuesday, February 15, the OML Branch of AAUW will hold its general meeting at the Serbian Cultural Center, l700 School St. in Moraga at 9:30 am. A lecture by local author Kurt Beyer, an entrepreneur in computers and programming, will tell us of his admiration for Grace Hopper, one of the few women in U.S. history to attain the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy, who was his mentor and inspiration at the Naval Academy. This program is free and open to the public.

The Ninth Annual "A Nite at the Races" will be staged by Rotary Club of Moraga on Saturday, March 12, at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center on School Street in Moraga. The cost is $45 per person. The proceeds from this event will help Moraga Rotary fund its local and international youth, educational, and humanitarian causes. For information or reservations, please contact Rotarian Frank May at (925) 376-8195 or at mayfrl@comcast.net.

The Moraga TreeLine Triathlon will take place on Saturday, April 30, 7:30 am at the Soda Aquatic Center, Campolindo High School, 300 Moraga Road. The event is ideal for the beginning triathlete as well as the more advanced competitor. The swim is a challenging 400 meter sprint, followed by a 22 K bike ride out to Canyon, and culminating with a 5 K run. New youth divisions have been added this year. Ages 5-7 will have a 200 meter swim, .6 mile bike, and a .5 mile run. The 8-11 division will swim 200 meters, bike .85 miles and run .9 miles. For more information and route details go to www.moragatri.com, or call (925) 888-7035.
Registration is open now.

Assembly Member Nancy Skinner presents Your Chance to Fix California's State Budget on Thursday, Feb 10, from 7-8:30pm, at Acalanes High School, 1200 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette. Come balance the state budget. Choose how much to spend on schools, health, prisons, the environment, and how to pay for them. This event is free. For more info see http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a14/Budget-Challenge/default.aspx or call (510) 286-1400.

Senator Mike Gravel will be speaking on Wikileaks and its Importance to Democracy, Friday, February 4 at 7pm. At the Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church, 55 Eckley Lane, Walnut Creek. $12 General, $9 Members $5 Students admissions, Donations suggested.
Suggested donation: $12 General, $9 Members $5 Students. No one turned away for lack of funds. Wheel chair accessible. Flyer for the event is available at www.mtdpc.org.

Moraga Movers' next luncheon falls on Valentine's Day, February 14, at St. Mary's College Soda Center. Social hour is at 11am with lunch served at noon. Guest speaker is John Muir Laws, a direct descendant of John Muir. His sketches of birds and wildflowers have been captured in a book treasured by local residents who have heard his stories. Books will be on sale at the luncheon.

It's challenging to care for someone with memory loss! Enrich your understanding and behaviors by attending the LARC Movie Night! Wednesday, February 2, 7- 9pm. "It's All In Your Approach" featuring dementia expert Teepa Snow. Snow educates, imitates, and energetically engages us to understand what it's like to have dementia, and how best to relate to our loved ones with this disease. Please join us for an enjoyable learning experience. Popcorn and hot chocolate will be served. This is a free event and everyone is welcome. Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church 433 Moraga Way, Orinda.

Moraga Garden Club, February 17, 2011-Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga:
9:30 general meeting-10:00 a.m. program. The speaker will be Joan Morris, Editor of Home and Garden Section at CCT on the topic "Our Garden at the Contra Costa Times." This event is free and all are welcome.

Montelindo Club general meeting and speaker is every third Friday of the month, September through May at Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Meeting place for February will be the Gardens at Heather Farm, 1540 Marchbanks Dr., Walnut Creek. Refreshments at 9am, meeting at 9:30, and speaker at 10:30. The meeting is free and welcomes guests and new members. For more information please go to http://www.montelindogarden.com.