LAMORINDA WEEKLY | business briefs


Chef Chao 343 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga

Mathnesium

3435 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, 283-4200,

http://www.mathnasium.com/lafayetteca

The Mathnesium method is true to the life research of math teacher and writer Larry Martinek who developed, over 20 years, a method of teaching math that combines oral, visual, mental and written modalities to help children develop Number Sense, a grasp of mathematical fundamentals. More than 200 Mathnesium centers have flourished in the United States and Ara Chakrabarti recently opened a center in Lafayette. Mathnesium claims to teach kids math the way that makes sense to them. In Lafayette, Mathnesium's Power Math Workout program is for students in grades 1-12 and is available year round. Students' time is spent working on foundational skills as well as one on one tutoring with their school math work. The program is drop in, no appointment required. Chakrabarti is an Engineering Graduate from the University of Michigan. His professional career encompasses developing mathematical and geometric modeling software to managing Information Technology organization for large global corporations.

A Makeover for Chef Chao

343 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga, 376-1740

Chef Chao, the Chinese restaurant next to 24-HourFitness in Moraga, celebrated its 30th anniversary last year and just got a brand new look. Chef Chao and his son, Henry Chao, continue to prepare and serve the food that has made this restaurant a Moraga staple.

Smart Cookie Learning

3182 Old Tunnel Road Lafayette, Phone: 297-5304

Smart Cookie Learning is a new academic tutoring center in Lafayette that offers, according to its owners, a "non cookie cutter" approach to academics. The center offers one-on-one or semi-private tutoring for subject mastery, or small, interactive and collaborative classes. Smart Cookie Learning offers personalized programs in Math, Writing, Study Skills, and SAT/ACT Test Prep. The team is formed of Maggie Jacobberger, Alycia McAlister, and Donovan Messier. Jacobberger was born and raised in Lafayette. She graduated from Harvard College after receiving a public school education in Lafayette. She has been tutoring and mentoring students in Lamorinda for over 16 years. McAlister holds degrees in Teaching, Psychology, and Child Development and has taught students and teachers at Stanley Middle School in Lafayette and Monterra Middle School in Oakland. After leaving the classroom proper, she was both a Director of Education and a Center Director for Sylvan Learning Center in San Ramon and Walnut Creek. Donovan Messier began tutoring students as a freshman at Saint Mary's College and has been teaching math to students for over 12 years.

Memory Screening

Senior Helpers of Moraga is sponsoring the Alzheimer's Foundation of America's 9th Annual National Memory Screening Day on November 15 at Aegis. "We are sponsoring this free, confidential memory screening that afternoon as a community service," says Senior Helpers' Director Kevin Reneau. The screening will take place at Aegis in Moraga, 950 Country Club Drive, on Tuesday November 15, 1:30-4:00 p.m. The five to ten minute test will provide seniors or their families some indication of one's memory and whether one should have a follow-up evaluation by a family doctor or neurologist. Call 376-8000 for more information.

Innovative Real Estate Agent Posts Videos To "Sell" Lafayette

Lafayette real estate agent Dana Green conceived of, and had professionally videotaped, a series of five videos focusing on why people love to live in Lafayette and presenting different neighborhoods. "Each of Lafayette's many neighborhoods has its own personality," says Green, "The best way to begin to learn Lafayette is to start by dividing the community into four quadrants that can be easily identified by our four Lafayette elementary schools." The short movies (about 2 minutes) are very well done, concisely edited and featuring lively narration by Green. The films are posted on Youtube and can be accessed on Green's new web site: http://danagreenteam.com/neighborhoods.

News from the Chambers of Commerce

Lafayette

Tonight! Monthly Mixer at Mosaic Financial Partners, Wednesday, November 9, Mosaic Financial Partners at 3620 Happy Valley Rd., Suite 100, 5:30pm.

Local Business Marketing & Low Cost Video in a Youtube World Workshop - Wednesday, November 16, 8:00am at the Lafayette Library & Learning Center. Free for Lafayette Chamber members, $15 for non-Lafayette Chamber members. Limited seating, RSVP at workshops@lafayettechamber.org.

Orinda

Chamber ribbon-cutting event at the Christian Science Reading Room & Bookstore on Wednesday November 16th, 3:00pm at 24 Orinda Way (next to the library). The Christian Science Reading Room & Bookstore, recently relocated from next to Morrison Jewelers to the Christian Science Church just down from Orinda City Hall offices.