 | | | Local artist Lauma Johnson's winning poster Image provided
| | | | | | According to weather statistics, September is often the hottest month in Moraga. This year will be no exception with two consecutive Saturdays offering great community events.
Preserve Lamorinda Open Space presents its annual art show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 23 at Saint Mary's College on the lawn by the Soda Center. About 20 Bay Area artists will present and sell their most recent productions. "This is the seventh time we are organizing this show in the beautiful atmosphere of the campus," says Lamorinda Open Space Steering Committee member and well-known local artist Teresa Onoda.
The artists participating are chosen for the quality of their work and the way their productions foster awareness of our beautiful surroundings. "This show is such a good thing for our community," says Onoda, who feels blessed to live in Moraga where so much natural beauty has been preserved. Forty percent of the sales that day will go to Preserve Lamorinda Open Space. "The money is used to hire scientists and lawyers who help in the fight for good planning and development decisions," says Onoda.
A week later, on September 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 14th Annual Moraga Pear & Wine Festival will ignite the Moraga Commons Park. "This year we'll put a professional spin on our pear recipe contest," says Parks and Recreation Coordinator Kimberley Nelson who worked side-by-side with Pear Prince John Haffner to organize this year's festival. Nelson invited the Lafayette cooking school Back to the Kitchen to participate and be among the judges of this year's recipes.
"We'll have adult and youth categories and want all professionals on our judging panel," says Nelson. Nelson also started the poster contest for the festival that local artist Lauma Johnson won this year. The festival will include wineries, with three local wine makers, and the grape crushing event that got so many kids and adults worked up last year. And with this being an election year, the festival will feature the 'Political Pavilion' where candidates set up their tents and come out to meet the community.
"This is a venue for all the residents, from the youngest to the most senior," says Haffner. "There will be plenty of children's activities, including jumpies and a pie-eating contest (next to Weight Watchers and iTrim!), artists will come, many community organizations, food vendors," says Haffner. "This is really the spirit of small community fun."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA