ART

Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art will present Points of View with Mary Lou Correia and Paul Kratter, two of the East Bay’s most vibrant and spontaneous en plein air painters through Sept. 22. Marc Chagall: Stories of the Bible, which runs through July 7, features 16 etchings from one of his greatest bodies of work: the Bible series from the 1930s. Additional ongoing exhibits featuring western landscape paintings, European paintings, statuary, and a variety of other media through July 15. Admission: $5 adults, K-12 free. Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For info, call (925) 631-3379 or visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/saint-marys-college-museum-of-art.

Arts in Bloom...In the Park begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 at the Orinda Community Park, and includes a visual arts faire featuring artist exhibits and art sales, a silent auction, kids arts and crafts activities, and music by the EFO Big Band, which will be capped off at 6:30 p.m. with a performance by the 2013 Lamorinda Idol Finalists (formerly Orinda Idol) as part of the Concerts-in-the-Park series sponsored by the Orinda Community Center Auxiliary (OCCA). Free. Net proceeds will benefit The Orinda Arts Council in its ongoing 60-plus year mission of supporting and advocating for the arts in schools and the community. For info, visit www.OrindaArtsCouncil.org.

MUSIC

Free Summer Concerts in the Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday nights at the Orinda Community Center Park, 28 Orinda Way. Concert schedule: July 9 - Stone Soup; Classic Rock, with Loard's Ice Cream and Rebel Dog Catering starting at 6 p. m.; July 16 - A Special Night of Art, Food & Music from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. includes Arts in Bloom... In the Park, a community celebration of the visual and performing arts presented by the Orinda Arts Council, with music by Education Foundation of Orinda Big Band; Lamorinda Idol Singers will perform from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Event catered by Food Truck Mafia and Loard's Ice Cream starting at 5 p.m.  For info, visit www.cityoforinda.org.

The Friends of the Orinda Library invite you to another Summer Music Series performance by a fabulous local artist, Margaret Miles at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10 at the library. Miles performs original songs, as well as Celtic and American folk music. Accompanied by autoharp, bodhran (Irish drum) and pennywhistle, she also occasionally sings a cappella. Inspiring and often humorous, her songs mirror the American singer-songwriter tradition. The free series is sponsored by the Friends of the Orinda Library. Preregistration is not required.

Summer Concert Series at the Moraga Commons Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday evenings provided by the Moraga Park Foundation. Bring your picnic blanket or lawn chairs to the grassy hillside in front of the bandshell and enjoy the free concerts. Concession stand opens at 6 p.m. for dinner. Upcoming schedule: Thursday, July 4 Larry Lynch & the Mob - Rock (7 p.m. concert); Thursday, July 11 The Fundamentals - Motown dance band; Thursday July 18  Cal Alumni Big Band - Big band swing.

THEATER

Orinda Starlight Players present A Thurber Carnival by James Thurber Aug. 2-24 at the Outdoor Theater in the Orinda Community Center Park, 28 Orinda Way. Regular admission: $16; seniors $8. For tickets call the Box Office at (925) 528-9225, or email info@orsvp.org for reservations.

Be aware that this is an outdoor theatre and dress appropriately/bring blankets.  More information about exact show dates and times is available at www.orsvp.org.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

All ears reading at the Moraga Library at 4 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month from July to October.  Children in grades 1-5 can improve reading skills while enjoying the unconditional love of dogs by reading aloud to a dog from ARF Pet Hug Pack therapy dogs. Dogs and their handlers are available courtesy of a partnership between the Moraga Library and the Animal Rescue Foundation. Please register online or at the Library for a 10-15 minute reading session with a furry friend. Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. This program will be held in the meeting room at the Moraga Library, 1500 St. Mary’s Road, Moraga. For more info, visit ccclib.org or call Diane McDonnell at (925) 376-6852.

Fourth of July at the Berkeley Marina will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, food, rides, and kid stuff including pony rides from noon to 10 p.m. (fireworks at 9:30 p.m.) at 201 University Ave. Free, alcohol-free event. Parking: $15. Sponsored by the City of Berkeley. For info, call (510) 548-5335.

Join the fun at “Terrific Tuesdays" – a fun-filled preschool program for children ages 2-5 plus adult and are held from 10 to 10:45 a.m. every Tuesday morning at The Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek. The activities are designed to help your child learn and grow with our beautiful gardens providing the setting. Pre-registration is not required, please check in at the main office located at 1540 Marchbanks Dr. or call (925) 947-6712 for more information. Nut-free refreshments will be provided. Cost: $15 for the first child ($8 for garden members), $5 for each additional child, children under 2 free with one paid admission.

Moraga Police Department is once again teaming with the New Rheem Theatre to sponsor a fundraising event to benefit the Special Olympics Northern California. The “Kid’s Day” event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13 at the New Rheem Theatre, and will include a special matinee showing at 11 a.m. of the kids movie “Despicable Me” as well as a festival of fun activities including a bounce house, balloon animals and face painting, carnival games with prizes, kids fingerprinting, food, a raffle of prizes including items donated by local businesses, and more. For info, visit www.MoragaPOA.com or contact Sergeant Brian South or General Manager Lindsay Pirkle at the Theatre.

The new Design Quest exhibit at Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley provides young people with a platform for generating ideas and designing, building and testing their creations through Sept. 2. By building prototypes and optimizing them, kids get a chance to apply a process used by real engineers to solve problems. The Hall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission: $6–12; children under 3, members, and UC Berkeley students and staff, free. For more info on the exhibit, visit www.lawrencehallofscience.org/visit/exhibits/design_build_test/design_quest or call (510) 642-5132.

OTHER

Moraga Horsemen’s Association open house is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6 on EBMUD land off Canyon Road between Moraga and Canyon (see article page B4).

Sons in Retirement (SIR) Lamorinda Hills Branch 174, a social club, invites you to attend our luncheon meeting with speaker Ted Klauber of Palmer Advertising, who will critique the 2013 Super Bowl ads from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10 at Holy Trinity Cultural Center, 1700 School Street, Moraga. For info, call Fred at (925) 284-1763.

2013 Dance on Film Festival continues with the legendary 1952 musical “Singin’ in the Rain.”  The movie will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10 at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. The screening begins with fascinating, behind-the-scenes facts on the making of this classic movie with Lauren Jonas, Diablo Ballet’s artistic director, and Beau Behan, host of Beau’s Flicks & Nix, on the Comcast Hometown Network, Ch. 104. Presented by Diablo Ballet and Lafayette Library & Learning Center. Cost: $5.

Longtime wildlife biologist & naturalist James ‘Doc’ Hale will discuss Native Americans, and the edible plants they used for sustenance and medication at 3:30 p.m. Saturday July 13 as part of the outdoor classes offered at the Lafayette Community Garden. The garden is located across from the Lafayette Reservoir on Mount Diablo Blvd. For more information and to register visit lafayettecommunitygarden.org/signup-for-events (see article page B2).

For the third year in a row, Sustainable Lafayette will be hosting a summer film series at the Lafayette Library in the Community Hall featuring some of the most inspiring environmental documentaries that have been released recently. Upcoming movies include "Trashed" at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18; ''Elemental'' at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6. Cost: $5 donation suggested, no reservations required.

Orinda Community Foundation’s 4th Annual Everyday Heroes Golf Fundraiser is July 22, at Orinda Country Club. Registration starts at 10:30 a.m. followed by a complimentary lunch buffet. At noon, a shotgun start (two best balls of foursome shamble) begins the fun with complimentary food, drinks, and contests on the course. Following golf is an awards ceremony with complimentary appetizers. Heroes this year are firefighters Michael Rattary, Stephen Rogness and Kelly Morris, from Moraga-Orinda Fire Department. Sponsorships are still available and needed to help support the many recipients: Orinda’s 4th of July Parade, Library Improvements, Art in Public Places, Orinda Garden Clubs, Orinda Chamber of Commerce, Lamorinda Idol, Spirit Van Senior Transportation, Contra Costa Solano Food Bank and newest charity partners Cal Shakes Theater and Town Hall Theatre. For registration and sponsorship levels visit everydayheroes.golfreg.com.

The PSR West Coast Builder’s Second Annual Golf Tournament and Ride is all geared to honor fallen Oakland Police Officer John Hege while raising funds for OPEN (Oakland Police Emergency Net) and the California Transplant Center. Tournament begins at 10 a.m. Friday, July 26 at the Diablo Creek Golf Course, 4050 Port Chicago Hwy, Concord. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, make donations or play golf, contact Dawn Schadek at (925) 381-5873 or email        dawn.schadek@gmail.com.

“Shred Fest” Supports Moraga Lion’s Club. Destroy unwanted documents securely during Shred Fest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 27 at 485 Moraga Road (adjacent 5-A). A $5 fee for banker-sized boxes supports the Moraga Lion’s club local educational and service projects. Shred Fest is supported by 5-A Rent-a-Space, Moraga Motors, Coldwell Banker, Neighborhood Computers and Hall of Taxes. Security shredding is courtesy Shred Defense, Moraga.

Widowed Persons Support Group (WPS) meetings. The WPS support sessions are informal discussions of emotional and practical needs and concerns of the bereaving widowed persons. The sessions can be very beneficial and helpful, even if a period of years have passed. Meetings are held in the Oak Room at St. Stephens Church from 10 a.m. to noon each Saturday through July 27. Free. The meetings are facilitated by Gretchen Dabel and members of the WPS Board. For info, call Ruth Harrington at (925) 376-0321.

Relay For Life of Lamorinda begins at 9 a.m. on Aug. 3 and continues through the night, ending at 9 a.m. Aug. 4 at Burton Valley Elementary School, 561 Merriewood Dr., Lafayette. For info, visit relay.acsevents.org or contact Kelli Nahas at kelli.nahas@cancer.org.

POLITICAL GATHERINGS

Members of the Lamorinda Democratic Club invite local Democrats to join them and walk in the annual Fourth of July Parade in Orinda on Thursday, July 4 to display their patriotism. Each parade participant is asked to wear a “Democratic” T-shirt and bring a “Democratic” banner. Games, musical entertainment and booths displaying community information, including that of the Lamorinda Democratic Club, will be available in the Orinda Community Center Park following the parade. Assemble at the staging area at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 4 in the Orinda BART parking lot on the east side of Camino Pablo, 11 Camino Pablo, Orinda (parade starts at 10 a.m.). For more info, visit www.ldclub.org or contact Kathy Klein at (925) 284-9073 or kathyrklein@hotmail.com.

SENIORS

Words of Wisdom…From the Philosophical to the Lighthearted. Take part in this free-wheeling exchange of inspiration, information, and humor. Topics – from soup to nuts - will be explored, examined, and discussed by participants from10:30 a.m. to noon, the third Tuesday monthly in the Lafayette Community Center Sequoia Room. Stories and photographs will stimulate humorous discoveries regarding the benefits of becoming the ‘elders of our tribe.’  For info, call (925) 284-5050 or email seniors@lovelafayette.org to reserve a spot.