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.

Guest Member Joanne Taeuffer will join Moraga Art Gallery for its next show, Chiaroscuro: Light and Shadow, March 22- June 4. The public is invited to view Taeuffer’s art along with gallery members’ work at the show’s opening reception, March 26, 3-5pm. The works in this exhibit are based on the attraction of light within the dark: the glow of the storefronts along Taeuffer’s hometown main street, the shimmering chandeliers in a festive restaurant or simply a corner with a welcoming chair and reading light. The gallery is located at 570 Center St. in Moraga. For more information, go to www.moragaartgallery.com or (925)376-5407.

St. Mary's NightinGaels perform on March 16 and 17. Under the direction of Dr. Julie Ford, this mixed chorus sings a cappella and accompanied repertoire from a wide variety of styles (classical, folk, pop, jazz) and is comprised of music majors and non-music majors alike. Join us in a casual campus setting as the College's chorus sings jazz and cabaret music. Gershwin and Ellington are among the composers featured in recent programs. Wed., March 16 at 1pm and Thurs., March 17 at 8pm, Saint Mary's College, Hagerty Lounge. Cost: Free.

The Contra Costa Performing Arts Society Friday morning concert, March 25th, will open with tenor arias by Faure, Reynaldo Hahn, and Augustin Lara. A piano, cello, and violin trio will play popular Irish melodies arranged by Frank Martin. This free concert concludes with Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals for two pianos. WHERE: Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. For more info go to www.ccpas.org.

The Campolindo High School Choral Music Department proudly presents the musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," about a poor dairyman, Tevye, and his five daughters in a small Jewish community as they try to address tradition, changing social mores, and growing anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia. Performances: Thursday, March 17 at 7:30 pm, Friday, March 18 at 7:30pm., Sat., March 19 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm, Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 pm, Friday, March 25 at 7:30 pm, and Sat., March 26 at 2 and 7:30pm. For ticket information go to www.campochoir.com.

Special events at the New Rheem Theatre in Moraga: Mar 19th at 5pm, a Special Screening of the 1982 Classic Film, "E.T.", April 8th at 7pm, Jazz Band Concert and Dance with The Big Band of Rossmoor. April 9th at 7pm, Macbeth with Special Guest Jonathan Moscone, Cal Shakes' Artistic Director. For info e-mail info@thenewrheemtheatre.com or call (925) 388-0752.

The Saint Mary’s College Performing Arts Department spring production will be ANGELS AMONG US, a selection of interesting and thought-provoking plays from long ago. The production will feature SMC students acting out stories from the Bible. Performances will run from April 5 through April 13. Performances will take place outside in front of Saint Mary’s College Chapel (in case of rain, performances will take place in LeFevre Theatre). General Admission -$10; Saint Mary’s Faculty, Staff and Students-$5. To purchase “chair” tickets please call Sharon Cahill at (925) 631-4670. Performances are slated for: Part One: April 5, 7, and 12 at 5pm; and April 9 and 10 at 2 PM. Part Two: April 6, 8,9*, 10 and 13 at 5pm. One FREE performance will take place on Saturday, April 9 at the Moraga Commons Bandshell at the corner of St. Mary’s Road and Moraga Road. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics, etc. and enjoy the shows. No reservations needed.

Dr. Amer Araim, President of the Islamic Community Outreach of California and an Imam at the Dar-Ul-Islam Mosque in Concord, will speak to the Lafayette Rotary Club on Thursday, March 24, at the Oakwood Athletic Club in Lafayette. Since 9-11, Dr. Araim has been engaged in constructive dialogue to build bridges and mutual understanding and respect of Muslims and their communities in America. The public is invited to listen to Dr. Araim’s talk which will begin promptly at 1pm. Parking is available and free. Because of space limitations, reservations should be made with Dick Holt at (925) 253-6332.

Lauren Masi, Physical Therapist, Athletic Trainer, and Certified Orthopedic Specialist will be giving an informative lecture on body maintenance and repair, posture, and injury prevention and care on Tuesday March 29 at 7pm. This is a free event but seating is limited; please RSVP to (925) 284-6150. Event will be held at Lafayette Physical Therapy, 3468 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Suite B110, Lafayette, www.LafayettePT.com.

For children ages 2-5 years, the Kinderdance program is offering a free trial class on Saturday, March 26. Registration is required for these free classes, so sign up today by visiting www.LafayetteRec.org or by calling (925) 284-2232. Classes will be held at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary’s Road, Lafayette.

The 2011 Stanley Science Expo sponsored by Lafayette Partners in Education and Stanley Middle School will be held on Thursday, March 31st, from 6:30 - 8:30pm, at Stanley Middle School. The Science Expo features numerous science exhibitors along with middle school student science projects. Exhibitors include NASA, Google Earth, and many more. Bring the entire family for an evening of hands-on science fun. Elementary school 5th graders are encouraged to attend to get a preview of Stanley events. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

Moraga Junior Women's Club presents Spring Egg hunt 2011 on Saturday, April 16, from 9am to 1pm, at Moraga Commons, Corner of Moraga Rd. and St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Ages 1 to 6. Two hunts at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Purchase online or at the Parks and Recreation Department. ADVANCE PURCHASE ONLY! Bring basket Cost: $5 egg hunt (no games), $5 wristband for unlimited games(no hunt), or $9 for both hunt ticket and wristband. For more info see http://www.moragajuniors.org or email info@moragajuniors.org.

Need Money for College? Contra Costa Association of Realtors Scholarship Foundation is offering scholarships to residents of Central Contra Costa County that have completed one year of full-time college, completed courses with emphasis on real estate, finance and/or business and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you qualify, scholarship awards can range from $1,500 to $2,500. Further information and applications may be found on line at www.ccarscholarship.com. Deadline is April 15th.

The Orinda Community Foundation Board of Trustees has an opening. Our current secretary has moved out of Orinda so position needs to be replaced. Those interested may email orindafoundation@gmail.com and/or attend next meeting on Wed., March 16 at 4 pm.

Outstanding personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, the U. S. Coast Guard and the Naval Sea Cadet Corps for youth will be honored in Lafayette on March 24 by the Contra Costa Council of the Navy League of the United States. Awardees are selected by their peers from active duty units in the Bay Area and are considered to be the “Best of the Best”. The dinner, an annual event, will be held at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building. Members of the public are welcomed to attend. Information may be obtained by calling Jeanne Sharkey, Immediate Past Council President, at (925)228-1375.

A Shredding Event with No Trace Shredding, Saturday, March 26, 10am to 1pm, Lamorinda Adult Respite Center, 433 Moraga Way, Orinda (Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church Parking Lot). Paper only - no cardboard! $5/box (equivalent to a Banker Box) Size 14" x 16" (length) x 11 1/4" All proceeds will be donated to Lamorinda Adult Respite Center. Call (925) 254-3465 or email: larc@holyshepherd.org.

Blood Drive: Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, working with the American Red Cross, is sponsoring a blood drive to help save lives in our local communities. Saturday, March 26, from 9am to 3pm at MVPC, 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga. Sign up online at helpsavealife.org (Sponsor Code: Moraga925) or call Les Deane at (925) 283-5648.

Wine and Wells Fund Raiser. Charity Travel Adventure— Ksenija Olmer is hosting a fun evening of wine tasting and virtual travel in support of an upcoming trip to Cambodia and Laos with an extension to Burma, where humanitarian projects will be conducted (such as the building of village wells) in the afternoons while the group will visit famous historical and cultural sites in the mornings. Olmer will lead a group of 12 people on the trip. The tasting of local wines and short presentation will take place at Captain Vineyards, 1969 Joseph Drive, Moraga (off of Bollinger Canyon on the Bluffs) on Friday, April 15 at 7pm. Please RSVP to Xenija@aol.com or (925) 708-0770.

Orinda In Action - A Community Service Day Sat, Apr 16, 9am-12Noon. Registration starts 8:30am at Library Plaza with coffee & bagels. A Free T-shirt to the first 300! A light lunch is available to all. Everyone welcome! To register, send an email to orindainaction@gmail.com or visit www.orindainaction.com.

ACALANES Class of 1971 - 40th Reunion coming... If you are part of the class - Please send your contact information to 71Acalanes@gmail.com.

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. For more information and route details go to www.moragatri.com, or call (925) 888-7035. Registration is open.

“Teachers' Unions Vs. The State” at the Commonwealth Club on Monday March 28, 6:30pm. As the fever that started in Wisconsin spreads across the country, school districts are suspending classes and Democratic state senators are on the lamb. Join Randi Weingarten (President, American Federation of Teachers) for a discussion of what's going on, and how teachers and state houses can solve this financial and educational crisis. Location: Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. Time: 5:45 pm. check-in, 6:30 pm. program. Cost: $12 members, $22 non-members, $7 students, $7 teachers and school administrators. For tickets go to commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

31st Annual PTA Advocacy Day Trip will take place on Tuesday March 29th; PTA Membership is not required for attendance. We all know our state is in financial trouble but we can’t let that stop progress on improving education; our children can’t afford to wait. Help bring that message to Sacramento. You will hear from key state education, PTA, and legislative speakers as well as a panel of education experts who will be sharing best practices in education reform. For Speakers, Legislators and Registration details please visit www.lastrampaspta.org OR www.srvcouncilpta.org.

The Moraga Women's Society will meet on Monday, March 21st at 9:30am at the Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School St., Moraga. The speaker will be Mary Volmer, instructor at St. Mary's College and author of the novel, "Crown of Dust." Visitors are welcome to hear her discussion. Contact: Jean Glaser (925) 376-7961.