Guest Member Joanne Taeuffer joins Moraga Art Gallery for its current show, Chiaroscuro: Light and Shadow, March 22- June 4. 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.

Thai Dance and Drama Troupe from Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand will perform on April 5th at 7pm at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, 1801 Lacassie Ave (one block So of WC BART, off California Blvd.) The 80-minute program will feature a number of dances from the various regions of Thailand, as well as a traditional Thai melodrama (Likay) with English translation. The performance is free, but there will be an opportunity to contribute to the troupe’s expenses in making this tour.

Big Band Ball Room Dance, Friday, April 8 at the New Rheem Theatre in Moraga. Students from Acalanes, Campolindo and Stanley will be featured with the Rossmoor Big Band and students are encouraged to attend the dance. Attendees can take a dance lesson at 7pm with Gail Enright and then enjoy the Big Band music from 8-10pm. Tickets are $10.00, sold at the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce office, 100 Lafayette Circle #103. Tickets may also be purchased at the New Rheem Theatre. Purchase your tickets in advance, as this event has sold out in the past. Space is limited. Call (925)284-7404 or visit www.lafayettechamber.org for information.

April's Tuesday evening concert of the Performing Arts Society will begin with a quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon by Frigyes Hidas. The remainder of the concert will consist of two string quartets, one by Beethoven and one by Brahms, plus the Choral in A minor for organ by Cesar Frank. The public is invited to attend this free concert at 8pm, April 12, Grace Presbyterian Church, 2100 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. For info see www.ccpas.org.

Hear up-tempo numbers and ballads, swing and salsa, instrumental and vocal soloists at the SMC Jazz Band's free spring concert under the direction of John Maltester. Thursday, April 14th at 8pm in the Soda Center and Wednesday, May 4th at 1pm in Ferraggiaro Quad. Cost: Free.

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. One FREE performance on Saturday, April 9 only, when performances will take place 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 for free. No reservations needed.

S.T.A.G.E. Troupe, teen theater in Pleasant Hill, will present eight showings of the “You're a Good Man Charlie Brown,” a musical based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schultz at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Friday April 1 at 7:15 pm.; Saturday April 2 at 2:15 pm and 7:15 pm; and Sunday April 3 at 2:15 pm. To purchase tickets ($12 in advance or at the door), please contact the Lesher Center for the Arts by calling (925) 943-SHOW (7469).

Lafayette Historical Society’s Speaker Series, Wednesday, April 6th at 3pm; What’s Happened Since the Railroad’s Been Gone. Speaker Stuart Swiedler uses live images from his website (The Eastbay Hills Project) to unveil amazing visuals of the changes to the roadbed over the last 50 years. Lafayette Library and Learning Center, Arts and Science Room—Mezzanine Level. Donation requested: $10 members; $15 for non-members to help defray costs. Limited seating. Reservations call (925) 283-1848.

“Dress Under Difficulties: Civilian Fashion in the Civil War”, a lecture at The Orinda Library on Thursday, April 7 at 6:30pm. Shelley Monson will describe the fashions worn during the war as well as the shortages civilians encountered. Scarcity of all manufactured goods were especially experienced in the southern states where a lady commented in a letter that she had used up all her “whites,” that is her petticoats, as bandages for the wounded. Along with slides of period clothing, Monson will wear a costume she created complete from hat to “whites.” This free program will take place in the Gallery Room of the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way in Orinda. For more info please visit ccclib.org or call (925) 254-2184.

The Commonwealth Club presents: "The Science of Geniuses" on Thursday, April 21, 6:30pm. The celebrated MacArthur Fellows Program awards "Genius" grants to exceptional inventors, innovators and creative talents. The winners are offered $500,000 with no strings attached over the next five years to pursue work in their field of interest. Come out and meet the local Bay Area winners and learn about the projects that won them this esteemed award. Location: Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Time: 5:45pm check-in, 6:30pm program. Cost: $12 members, $22 non-members, $7 students. Get tickets online at commonwealthclub.org or call (415) 597-6705.

The Orinda Library will host a docent talk on Tuesday, April 12 at 7pm on Berkeley Repertory’s production of Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece “The Three Sisters.” The program will take place by the fireplace inside the library. It is free of charge and will last about an hour with time for questions and answers. 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.

Orinda Library Mystery Book Club: Mystery fans join us to talk about our favorite genre at 3pm on April 15. This month's title is "The Lost Garden: An English Garden Mystery" by Anthony Elgin. Check with the library for copies. We meet in the Tutoring Room inside the Orinda Library at 26 Orinda Way, Orinda. For more information call (925) 254-2184 or go to ccclib.org.

The Moraga-Orinda Fire District
is hosting their Annual Spring Open House and Hot Dog Lunch on Saturday, April 9th, from 10am to 2pm, at Station 45, 33 Orinda Way in Orinda. The theme for the open house is “Ready,Set,Go!” Kids and adults can meet their local firefighters, tour the fire trucks, eat hot dogs, and gather important wildfire safety & disaster preparedness information. Smokey the Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog will make special guest appearances throughout the day. For more info contact MOFD at ( 925) 258-4525.

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 their Spring Egg hunt on Saturday, April 16, at Moraga Commons, Corner of Moraga Rd. and St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Ages 1-6. Games will be open from 9am until 12pm. Two egg hunts are scheduled: one beginning at 10am and the other at 11am. The cost is $10 for a wristband which includes one egg hunt and unlimited games, crafts and bounce houses. Wristbands are only available for purchase in advance online at www.moragajuniors.org or at the Moraga Parks and Recreation Department located at Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive, Moraga. Phone: (925) 888-7045. Adult admission is free.

The Orinda Preschool TOPS invites you to the 16th Annual Art and Music Festival, Saturday April 16, 9:30am-Noon. Located at the Orinda Preschool, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. Join us for arts, crafts, musical performances, puppet show, baked goods and more. A morning of great family fun, tickets are $5 per person, children under 2 are free. For more information and tickets please contact TOPS at (925) 254-2551.

The Lafayette Rotary Club's Annual Egg Hunt is open to all children ages 2 through 3rd grade. The event takes place at Lafayette Plaza (corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd) in Lafayette, at 9:30am, Saturday, April 23. The park lawn will be covered with candy for the kids to put in their baskets. The youngest are always given extra time to get their share! The Bunny will be there to take pictures with the kids. Please arrive on time as it starts promptly at 9:30am.

Elementary to Middle School Transition Summit. Worried about the transition into 6th grade? Sign up for Teenage Dream, hosted by Miramonte and Campolindo high school students for an afternoon of games, videos, discussions, food and fun to ease the transition into middle school! This event is open to all Orinda 5th grade girls and is taking place on Saturday, April 16, in the Glorietta MPR from 1-3pm. Sign up and help support Girl Scouts Troop #30040 in their Silver Award Project while learning about the experiences you will have in middle school. For more information and/or a registration sheet, email: girlscoutstroop30040@gmail.com.

JF Kapnek 8th Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run, May 1st, 9am. Bring your friends and family to celebrate our accomplishments in Zimbabwe with the J.F. Kapnek Trust's 8th Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run on May 1st at Miramonte High School in Orinda. There will be races for children as well as adults along with music of Zimbabwe, children's crafts and activities and a delicious brunch. Proceeds from this event will go to the Trust's efforts to diminish the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the children and families of Zimbabwe. Registration fee includes brunch and a T-shirt. Register online atwww.active.com(keyword: Kapnek) or go to the Trust's website at www.jfkapnektrust.org for more information.

The deadline for the Spring Grants Cycle for the Lafayette Community Foundation is March 31st.
For information regarding grant applications, proposals and procedures please visit LCF's website at www.lafayettecomunityfoundation.org.

Saint Mary's Guild Luncheon and Fashion show, April 2, 11am, St. Mary's College, Soda Center, 1928 St. Mary's Rd, Moraga, will feature classic fashions from Draper's and Damon's. Hospitality hour from 11am - noon, followed by luncheon, raffle and the fashion show. For reservations, contact Jackie Brown at (925) 939-4222.

Moraga Movers meet at the St. Mary's College Soda Center on April 11 with social hour at 5pm and dinner at 6pm, followed by the monthly speaker. Julie Lindemann from the Moraga Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness (MNEP) will give a PowerPoint presentation on getting ourselves and our neighbors ready for an such an unpredictable catastrophe. Members and local residents may make their reservations by calling 376-6622, or by going to the new website www.moragamovers.org.

The OML branch of AAUW proudly invites the public to its annual only- evening meeting to be held at the Serbian Cultural Center, l700 School Street, Moraga at 7 pm. on Tuesday, April 12th. The scholarships for both Jr High School and High School students will be presented, following refreshments and a short business meeting. Dr. Kris Kulp- Group leader: Pharmacology and Toxocology Goup at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab will speak on "Biology as a Team Sport."

Orinda In Action - A Community Service Day Sat, Apr 16, 9am-noon. 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.

Earth Day Recycling, Sat Apr 16, 9am-4pm. E-recycling in the Orinda Rite Aid parking lot. Goodwill truck and Food Bank bins available all day in the Community Center parking area. In celebration of Earth Day, please recycle!

10th Annual Wildlife/Earth Day Festival on Sunday April 17th 1- 4pm, Wagner Ranch Nature Area, 350 Camino Pablo Rd., Orinda. The free festive program to celebrate and support environmental education programs in the Nature Area will offer an electric Volt to test drive, a Raptor Show, ARF dogs, Eagle Shield’s trailer of energy efficient systems, a giant solar balloon, native plants for your garden, arts and crafts, delicious food, music and games, and more – see www.fwrna.org.

Lafayette Earth Day celebration, Saturday, April 23rd: (9am - 11:30am) children K-5th grade can learn and practice bike safety on the outdoor course at Stanley Middle School with a festive parade to Lafayette Plaza Park; (11:30am – 1:30pm) enjoy a local, organic, sustainable lunch at the downtown Plaza Park with live music and activities; (11:00am - 3pm) Plaza Way will be featuring the ”Backyard of Tomorrow” that demonstrates the latest green gardening techniques and materials. Also visit booths by Sustainable Lafayette, The Urban Farmers, Lafayette Farmers’ Market, Trust in Education, CCC Solid Waste Authority, and more. For info see www.sustainablelafayette.org.

Next Freecycle - Save the date: Thursday, April 28th 9am-12:15pm at the Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, 10 Moraga Valley Lane. We will be in the breezeway up the first stairwell off of the parking lot Freecycle of gently used children's clothing and equipment. Bring items and take items, or just come and take! This is for everyone in the community!

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.

Lafayette Service League's Annual TOSSED TREASURES SALE will be held on Sat. April 30th (from 9 to 3) and Sun., May 1st (from 11 to 2) at the Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary's Road. The group is looking for donations. Proceeds will benefit Hospice Foundation of the East Bay and the Community Center. If you have items to donate, please call: Judy 284-9266, Diane 283-8790 or Jackie 284-4131.

Campolindo Sports Booster's Annual Dinner & Cocktail Party. Please join us in celebration and support of all our championship high school sports teams on Saturday April 30, at 6pm at the Holy Trinity Church in Moraga. The evening features fine food and beverages from our no-host bar and a special guest speaker, Cal head Rugby coach Jack Clark. Ticket are $50 per person if purchased by March 31st . After March 31st, tickets are $65 per person. You can order tickets at the following link: http://www.campoparents.com/SportsBoostersFundraiser.pdf.

Lafayette Garden Club meeting 9:30am on second Thursdays monthly, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church,
1035 Carol Lane, Lafayette. Program for April 14: Roses, Roses and More Roses.