ART

The Saint Mary's College William Keith (1838 -1911) Collection will welcome visitors into the expanded galleries of the new Museum of Art. Among never before seen recent acquisitions and newly restored paintings are magnificent early views of the Columbia River Valley, Pacific Northwest, Mt. Tamalpais and Russian River. Opening Day Lecture: Thinking About William Keith ~ Some Centennial Considerations, with Kevin Starr, Ph.D., October 2, 2 pm, LeFevre Theatre. $5 general admission, Members free. Advance reservations recommended online or by telephone. October 12 at 11 am, there will be Public Keith Tours with collection specialist Heidi Ehrman Donner. The museum is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays, 11am- 4:30pm. Information: (925) 631-4379.

Preserve Lamorinda Open Space Art Show: Sunday, October 2, 10am-5pm, St. Mary's College, Moraga. (At the Soda Center, across from the Hearst Gallery). Twenty-five of the Bay Area's finest artists will exhibit. Proceeds from paintings sold will support open space campaigns in Lamorinda. Admission is free. Event info: plos@robelia.com, (925) 878-9682.

MUSIC

The Mike Vax Big Band, with vocalist Denise Perrier, will appear at the Rheem Theatre in Moraga October 2, and perform a Sunday afternoon concert and dance 2-5pm. Tickets are $17 in advance by 9/30 (tickets held at door), $20 at the door ($10 students). Purchase them online at www.bigbandjazz.net, or by mail, by sending a check to FBBJ, 3316 Fir Ave., Alameda, 94502.

Mary Fettig, legendary saxophonist and flutist, will perform at the Moraga Library, Thursday, October 6, 7-9pm.  Having played with such brilliantly talented luminaries as Tito Puente, Roy Obiedo, Stan Kenton, and Flora Purim, Fettig's resume is one at which to marvel and behold.  Preregistration is encouraged; call the Moraga Library at (925) 376-6852 or go online at ccclib.org.  For more information, contact Beth Girshman at bgirshma@ccclib.org or (925) 376-6852, ext 200.

Pacific Chamber Symphony, Sunday, October 9, 4 pm, Community Hall Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette. Featuring Dvorak/Caliendo, Caliendo World Music Suite #2 (World Premier), Sheridon Stokes - Flute Soloist, Dvorak Serenade for Strings. Concert Tickets: $30 General, $25 seniors (65+), $10 students. Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets on line or call (800) 838-3006.

Generations In Jazz presents The Big Band Of Rossmoor on Friday Oct 14 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 Doris Burgman. Then the dance and concert begins at 8pm.

The Auerbach/Morley Organ/Piano Duo (organist David Auerbach and pianist Martin Morley) presents Eighty-Eight and Swell and Great, a program of piano/organ duets. On the program are classical selections by Bach, Handel, Saint-Sa‰ns and others. Sunday, October 16, 4 pm at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. Free admission; freewill offering. Contact: Martin Morley, (925) 283-3722, martin@oslc.net.

The Royal Society Jazz Orchestra ~ Playing the tunes that made 1920s San Francisco roar! Wednesday, October 19, 6:30-7:30pm at the Orinda Library.

Directed by David Morales, the Cantare Chorale presents Sit Down! You're Rockin' the Boat a family concert featuring a Duke Ellington medley, Broadway tunes, American folk, popular and patriotic songs. An aprŠs-concert ice cream social will cap off Cantare's Silver Anniversary Season opening event. Sunday, October 16th, 4 pm at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, 94549 Tickets: $10-$60 (510) 836-0789. For more info and tickets: www.cantareconvivo.org.

Voices of Musica Sacra presents a centenary celebration of the choral, organ and chamber works of visionary French composer, Jehan Alain, featuring John R.S. Walko, organist and young local musicians. John Kendall Bailey, Music Director. October 22, 2 pm, St. Mary's College Chapel, Moraga, and October 23, 2 pm, St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1101 Keaveny Ct., Walnut Creek. www.vmschorus.org, (925) 944-5239.

Saint Mary's Music Recital Series. Enjoy listening to students sing opera arias, perform piano sonatas and play Baroque trios and other chamber music on Wednesday October 26, 1 pm. Where: Soda Center, Saint Mary's College of California, 1928 St. Mary's Rd., Moraga. Admission: Free.

THEATER

Cal Shakes presents "The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, directed by Shana Cooper, September 21-October 16. For details and to purchase tickets go to www.calshakes.org or call (510) 548- 9666.

Town Hall Theatre presents "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" by Steve Martin, directed by Lisa Anne Porter, September 22-October 15. For tickets and show times call the box office at (925) 283 1557 or go to www.thtc.org. See article page B2.

The International Film Showcase will screen The Man Who Will Come, L'Uomo che verr…, beginning October 21, at the Orinda Theatre, as part of a UC Berkeley Law School symposium on the civilian massacres committed by the Nazis in Italy during World War II. On Saturday, October 22, the sponsors will host a special event, "The Man Who Will Come: A Conversation about Remembering the Monte Sole massacre of 1944," starting at 6:30 pm followed by the screening of the film and a Q&A session. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.lfef.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Orinda Books events: Thursday, October 6, 2 pm, Sisters in Crime Rhys Bowen and Penny Warner will discuss and sign copies of their new mystery novels, "Naughty in Nice" and "How to Party With a Killer Vampire." Wednesday, October 12 at 3 pm, the Second Wednesday Book Group will read and discuss "Seduced by Madness" by Carol Pogash. In a stunningly intimate recreation of one of the most sensational true-crime cases of recent years, Pogash demonstrates how the excesses of California's decadent therapy culture set the stage for a story that ends in murder. The book group meets monthly at Orinda Books and welcome new members. On Thursday, October 13 at 3 pm, Julia Glass, author of "Three Junes," will discuss and sign copies of her novel "The Widower's Tale." With equal parts affection and humor, Julia Glass spins a captivating tale about a man who can no longer remain aloof from his community, his two grown daughters, or the precarious joy of falling in love. Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda; (925)254-7606; www.orindabooks.com.

On October 25th at 6:30 pm the Commonwealth Club of California is hosting an exclusive event with University of California President Mark Yudof at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. With budgets being slashed, tuitions on the rise and more students than ever seeking limited UC acceptance, California's public higher education system is in troubled waters. What does the future of the renowned University of California hold and what does it say about the state of higher education in America? Join us for an exclusive conversation with UC President Yudof and get your questions answered. Time: 5:45 pm check-in, 6:30 pm program. Cost: $22 standard, $12 members, $7 students.

Book Sales - Friends of the Orinda Library: Thursday Oct. 6, 10am-1pm at the Book Shop and Sorting Room (Book Shop is open until 6 pm); Children's Book Sale, Saturday, Oct.8, 10am-1pm at the Book Shop and outside Library entrance. Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, Orinda (925)254-1358.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Teens: Volunteer in Latin America Summer 2012: Amigos de las Americas, a program which sends high school students to volunteer for 5-8 weeks in Latin America during the summer, announces its annual informational meetings for students and parents interested in learning more about the program. Meetings will be Sept. 27, 7:30 pm at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, and Oct. 5, 7:30 pm at Stanley Middle School in Lafayette. For more meeting times and locations, visit www.eastbayamigos.org. Training begins in November.

Lafayette School District Parent Education presents Michael Josephson, Ethicist, Founder, & President of Josephson Institute on Thursday, October 6th, 7:00-8:30pm; Acalanes High School, Theater, 1200 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette. Michael Josephson is the creator a character-development strategy based on universal ethical values called the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship). Tickets are $10/each and are available through PayPal at
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-click&hosted_button_id=UWCJAH74QXMN4.

"Parenting Teens in Today's Culture" seminar at Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, 10 Moraga Valley Ln, Moraga on October 13, 6:30-9:30pm. Join Mark Gregston, founder of Heartlight, a residential counseling program for teens, for an evening of practical wisdom and insights to help you navigate the teen years. Price: $10/person or $15/couple. Phone: (925) 376-4800. Email: dricketts@mvpctoday.org. For more information and resources: www.parentingtodaysteens.org.

It's time again for Sleepy Hollow Elementary School's Annual Pumpkin Patch - and you won't want to miss it! Head over to the school's grounds, located at 20 Washington Lane in Orinda, Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10am-3pm and enjoy a day of old-fashioned fun and games with family and friends.

FESTIVALS

Second Annual Olive Festival on October 2nd, 1-4 pm in The Nature Area, next to the Wagner Ranch Elementary School in Orinda; 350 Camino Pablo, on the SE corner of Bear Creek Road and Camino Pablo. See article page A7.

Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 15, 10am-1pm. Food, Fun for Kids, Prizes & Games. Free Admission. Diablo Valley Montessori School, 3390 Deer Hill Road Lafayette; (925) 283-6036.

Serbian Food Festival, Saturday, October 15, noon-9pm. Featuring authentic Serbian cuisine, music and dancing. Free admission. Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. For info. (925) 376-6850.

Oktoberfest at the Hacienda de Las Flores, Sunday, October 16, from 2-6pm. Big Lou and her German band will offer live music, the Golden Gate Bavarian Dancers will entertain with authentic Oktoberfest dances. Draught beer, bratwurst, weisswurst, strudel and pretzels are available for a nominal charge. Jumpy houses, pumpkin painting, and other activities will be available to entertain children. All proceeds used for improvements to the Hacienda de Las Flores.

OTHER

Donate Your Old Furniture to Hospice of the East Bay. Are you planning to update the look of your home and looking for a charitable organization that will accept your old furniture? Hospice of the East Bay thrift stores need your contributions and will come to your home to pick them up! For store locations and hours visit www.hospiceeastbay.org. Pick-up service for large items is available by calling (925) 674-9072.

Music, Dance, Conversation at Seniors Social. Music lovers, social fans, all-level dancers, couples and singles invited to join the fun Wednesdays 12:30-2:50pm, Live Oak Room, Lafayette Community Center, 500 St. Mary's Road. Large dance space, sociable table set-up, smooth new floor. Ballroom lessons first Wednesday of each month. $2 for Lafayette Senior Center members, $4 for non-members. Additional details and map: sites.google.com/site/lafayetteteadance.

Widowed Persons Support Group sessions are on-going at 10 am Saturday mornings at Saint Stephen's Church, 66 St. Stephen's Drive, Orinda. For more detailed information, please call Janice With at (925) 210-0333.

Blood Drive - Drop by and share a pint! Saturday, October 1, 9am-3pm, at MVPC, 10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga. It's a chance to be a hero, and to give someone another birthday. Sign up online at helpsavealife.org (Sponsor Code: Moraga925) or call Les Deane at 283-5648.

At 10:45 am on October 2, Our Savior's Lutheran Church will have a special service of appreciation and blessing for our pets (an acknowledgement of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi two days later). Fresh water and animal snacks available around the room on an easily-cleaned floor surface! 1035 Carol Lane in Lafayette. 283-3722, www.oslc.net.

Blessing of the Animals - 3pm Saturday, October 8. Join Orinda Community Church friends -- furry and feathery-- to celebrate the blessing of the animals. 10 Irwin Way, Orinda. All animals invited. We've blessed lizards, pictures of animals, stuffed animals. Bring dog/cat food and blankets to benefit local animal shelters.

Stanley Middle School Book Fair: October 3-7. Monday - Thursday: 7:50am-4pm, Tuesday: 6pm-8pm, and Friday: 7:50am-8:30am. Monday at lunchtime: Canine Companions for Independence. Tuesday at lunchtime: Author Talk with Bruce Cameron, author or A Dog's Purpose. Tuesday at 6 pm: Author Talk with Bruce Cameron and Top Dog Hot Dogs to be served for dinner. Wednesday at lunchtime: Local veterinarian, Dr. Pam Wittenberg, will answer questions about pets.

The Orinda Library invites everyone to help celebrate the 10th Anniversary with music by Orinda's own The Real Placebos on Wednesday, October 5 at 6:30 pm. The popular group plays American Roots Music which includes everything from Mississippi blues to traditional bluegrass and is perfect for the entire family. This program will take place inside the Orinda Library which is at 26 Orinda Way in Orinda. For more information, please visit the library website at ccclib.org or telephone (925) 254-2184.

5th Annual Martinez Home Tour on Saturday, October 8 from 10am-4pm. The Tour begins at the Shell Clubhouse, 1635 Pacheco Blvd, with displays of vintage clothing, antique cars, refreshments and music by "The Spinning Wheel." The tour includes the 1890 Borland House (home of the Martinez Museum), John Muir's 1882 Italianate Victorian Home, the Martinez Adobe and seven private historical homes circa 1880-1930. Tickets are tax deductible and are $20 in advance or $25 at the Shell Club House on the day of the event or on www.MartinezHomeTour.com.

Moraga Mover's October program will feature John Muir Laws, a direct descendant of John Muir, as the guest speaker. Naturalist, educator and artist John (Jack) Muir Laws delights in exploring the natural world and sharing this love with others. Guests are welcome for this dinner/program at the Soda Center, St. Mary's College on Oct 10. The cost is $15 per person and reservations can be made online by visiting www.moragamovers.org or by calling (925) 376-6622. Social hour begins at 5pm with dinner to follow at 6pm.

On October 12th at 7 pm in the Orinda Library Auditorium the Lamorinda Wildfire Forum will present a program remembering the 1991 Oakland Firestorm. If you plan to attend, please contact Jonathan Goodwin, CanyonFire@VFEmail.net. See article page A8.

Be Prepared: Top 8 Remedies for Emergencies. Dr. Golovanov & Myra Nissen, CCH discuss remedies that can keep you safe: Ease injuries, calm the shell-shocked, or save a life. Thursday October 13 6-7pm, Quail Court Office Park, 43 Quail Court, Suite 215,Conference Room, Floor 2, Walnut Creek. (925) 826-3858, register www.HomeopathyEveryDay.com.

The Moraga-Orinda Fire District is hosting their Fall Open House and Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, October 15th, from 8am-12pm (breakfast begins at 9am), at Station 41 - 1280 Moraga Way, Moraga. Bring the family to meet your local firefighters, representatives from local community groups, Smokey the Bear and take a tour of the fire engines and trucks. Come learn about fire prevention and emergency/disaster preparedness, Firewise and the CPR Anytime programs. Schedule a car seat check-up appointment, learn how to use a fire extinguisher and how to perform animal CPR. There will be a fire truck bounce house/slide, free popcorn, raffles and prizes for the kids!

On Friday, October 21 Gary Gragg, who is the President of Golden Gate Palms and Exotics in Richmond, California, will discuss subtropical gardening for Northern California. The lecture is at 10:30 am. A plant sale and refreshments are at 9am. The event is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. The event is held at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda.

Dark Dreams Haunted house returns to the Rheem Theater raising money for the California Independent Film Festival. Creepy movie sets and live monsters leave you shaking. Open 4-6pm Halloween with lights on, no monsters for curious little kids. Scary October 21&23, 28-31, 7-11pm 'til midnight on Halloween. $8.00 admission (sold at door) www.Hauntworld.com.

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) 726-3199 for information and to apply. Orientation is in November 2011 and classes for tax counselors start in January 2012.

Step into the world of amateur radio! Communicate wirelessly across town, across country, internationally or out into space. Learn about Amateur (ham) Radio and earn a Technician Class license through classes taught by Lamorinda area ham radio operators. Classes start, November 2, at 7 pm in the Sarge Littlehale Room of Orinda City Hall and run for two hours each Wednesday night through the month. The class is free, but participants will use Gordon West's book Technician Class 2010-2014. The book, normally $20, will be available at a reduced price at the first meeting.

Virtually anyone can become a licensed operator. Learning Morse Code is no longer a requirement for obtaining any amateur radio license. A federal license exam will be administered at the completion of the class. For details, call Keith at 925.376.3269 or Leasa at 925.631.6650, or e-mail K6KWR@arrl.ORG.