ART

“Intercepting Light: The Mind’s Eye” at the Moraga Art Gallery. The Moraga Art Gallery kicks off the new year with an exhibit of eye-catching landscapes by photographer Wenda Pyman, whose work calls to mind such masters as Ansel Adams and Eliot Porter. The show, which includes paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and more by the gallery’s 15 member artists and several guest artists, runs from Jan. 13 to March 19. The public is invited to an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.

The Lamorinda Arts Alliance invites you to its premier photography show at Town Hall Theatre Gallery in Lafayette. The new show, which features six local photographers, will run through Feb. 20. Works include black and white and color photos inspired by nature, travel and nostalgia. For more information contact JoAnn Lieberman, THT Curator at olabambola@sbcglobal.net.

The Lafayette Art Gallery’s newest show, titled “12x12” will run through Feb. 28. It will feature small works all done in a 1-foot by 1-foot format with some other, larger works in a square format also on display. In addition, the talented group of local member artists will be exhibiting numerous new works in various mediums: ceramics, glass works, sculpture and jewelry. February will theme around Valentine’s Day, with extra emphasis on jewelry and gifts, and a reception called “Bubbles, Baubles and Bling” will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6. For info, visit www.lafayetteartgallery.com.

“My Hero! Contemporary Art & Superhero Action” opens Sunday, Jan. 17 at Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery. Sunday’s opening reception runs from 3 to 5 p.m. and features a wearable art runway with superhero designs by local artists.

MUSIC

Under Arrest: Tales of Classical Music’s Most Notorious Felons. Although the connection between classical music and notorious crimes may seem obscure, Gold Coast Chamber Players’ Crime and Punishment will expose the criminal lives of Bach, Gesualdo, and others. Soprano Christine Brandes will be highlighted in a program for strings, voice and harpsichord. The concert is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 (pre-concert talk at 7 p.m.) at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. Tickets and information: www.gcplayers.org, (925) 283-3728. (See story page B2)

THEATER

Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer-winning magnum opus comes to its jaw-dropping conclusion on the Town Hall Theatre stage this February, as the entire cast of last season’s critically-acclaimed “Angels In America: Millennium Approaches” returns to finish what they began, beginning work on Part II: Perestroika. The show will run from Feb. 27 through March 19. Check online for showtimes and ticket prices. For info, call the Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557, or visit www.TownHallTheatre.com

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Moraga Movers and the Moraga Library present Book Talking at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13. Author Christopher Gortner will discuss his novel, “Mademoiselle Chanel,” a creative reimagining of the life of iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel.

An Educational Happy Hour. All teachers and librarians from public and private schools are invited to a special event just for them at 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14 at Orinda Books. Orinda Books staff will feature some of the exciting new titles coming out this spring and will also discuss what the bookstore can do to help teachers and librarians in their programs – by arranging author visits to schools, for example. Also highlighted will be what Orinda Books offers in discounts for teachers and librarians when purchasing books for school use. Refreshments will be served. For info, visit www.orindabooks.com.

The Moraga Chamber of Commerce will present a Moraga Business and Community Symposium at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at St. Mary’s Soda Center on the college campus. The event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. Four panelists will discuss various trends and influences on the Moraga business community and the challenges and opportunities for business in the town. (See story page A4).

A free lecture series, “Shared Humanity, Different Faiths,” will be presented by Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, at 433 Moraga Way, Orinda from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evenings with Rabbi Mates-Mushin (Judaism) on Jan. 13; Professor Ali Ataie (Islam) on Jan. 20; Father Nicholas Borzghol (Orthodox) on Jan. 27; Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein (Lutheran) on Feb. 3. Add to your understanding of current events. All are welcome.

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

The Moraga Library presents Penguin Awareness Day, with 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Penguin Storytimes, and a 4 to 5:30 p.m. Penguin Time on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Egg Waddle Races, Mr. Popper’s Penguins Math, penguin craft, and a movie.  Penguin costumes encouraged! Free program for children and families, no registration required.

The Saklan School Parents’ Association will present “Helping Your Child Build a Happy and Meaningful Life” with Emily Campbell from the Greater Good Science Center. This free event will take place at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22 at the Willow Spring Church, 1689 School Street.

Lafayette Library and Learning Center presents “After School Anime with Asian Snacks” from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 in the Teen Center. Watch an anime film while enjoying some snacks. Register online at tinyurl.com/LAFanime.  Then from Feb. 1-29, take part in the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s Geocaching Adventure. LLLC will hide multiple caches throughout Lafayette. Find them all to be entered into a raffle to win various prizes such as gift cards and books. After registering, pick up your geocaching log starting Feb. 1 at the Information Desk. Register online at tinyurl.com/LAFgeocache.

Practice SAT - The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship Committee has scheduled two tests for 8:30 a.m. check-in: one on Jan. 30 at Miramonte High School in Orinda, and the other on Feb. 20 at Campolindo High School in Moraga. A week or so later, parents and students return to receive their scores and participate in an interpretive discussion. Space is limited.  Registration required. Cost: $35. For more information and to register for the test, visit the website at Miramonte: oml-ca.aauw.net/mhs/ or at Campolindo: oml-ca.aauw.net/chs/.

OTHER

Lamorinda Meditation meets every Monday and Thursday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at 1036 Country Club Drive, Suite 100 (Career Wisdom Institute). There is a suggested $5 donation to help cover costs of the beautiful space. For info, contact Gaby Mozee at gcmozee@gmail.com or call/text/leave a message at (925) 255-3046.

The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley presents its monthly Saturday program and discussion about water – our precious resource by watching and discussing the award-winning film “Last Call at the Oasis” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 in the Cedar Room, Lafayette Community Center. This film examines current water availability and distribution systems and introduces viewers to individuals who are trying to improve access. Learn, discuss and share. Light refreshments served. League and non-League members welcome.

Brush those January blues away with a wonderful cat or kitten from Community Concern For Cats this weekend, Jan. 16 and 17 at Pet food Express, 3610 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays; and at 2158 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill from 1 to 4 p.m. both days.

“Dementia: Understanding Behaviors and Finding Solutions” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 at Eldercare Services, 1808 Tice Valley Blvd., Walnut Creek. Includes tools on how to have conversations about needs when denial is present, giving you permission to “stretch the truth” for dignity, safety and self-esteem, and understanding the different types of dementia.

The Soroptimist 24-680 Crab Feed - silent auction, raffles, dessert auction, wine raffle. Cost: $55, includes all-you-can-eat crab, pasta,salad, bread and dessert at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Shadelands Art Center 111 N. Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek. For tickets or more info, call (925) 283-2279 or visit www.Soroptimist24-680.org.

Lamorinda Lions Club’s 35th annual Crab Feed-live auction and raffle. Cocktails and silent auction begin at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 at Trinity Serbian Church, 1700 School Street in Moraga. Dinner at 7 p.m. Cost: $55 adults; $27.50 for children 6-12.  For tickets and information, contact Bob Murtagh at (925) 283-1841.

The City of Lafayette is providing another formal opportunity for the residents and businesses to comment on their Downtown Creeks Plan. A community workshop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2 at the Lafayette Library’s Community Hall. Workshop facilitators will present options for creek enhancements and discuss priorities. For more information, contact Steven Goetz via email at sgoetz@ci.lafayette.ca.us and visit www.lovelafayette.org/creeksplan.

The Orinda Aquatics Masters, an adult swimming program, will be offering an evening workout at the Soda Aquatic Center (Campolindo High School) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. running through Feb 4. These workouts will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Swimmers may pay $10 per swim. For more info, contact Tiffany Forbes at tforbes267@gmail.com.

Free Tax Preparation for the 2016 tax season is available starting February 2016 from AARP’s Tax-Aide and United Way’s Earn It, Keep It, Save It (EKS) programs. All tax preparers are trained and certified by the IRS. While both programs serve taxpayers of any age, Tax-Aide does not have an income limit in whom they can serve but EKS can only serve individuals whose incomes do not exceed $50,000. For general information and site locations, call: (925) 726-3199. For information on EKS sites call 2-1-1 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

Lafayette resident, Papa John Kiefer, will offer workshops on “How to Raise Your Own Chickens.” Topics will include raising young chicks, laying hen maintenance, and sustainable coop construction. Workshops are free and will be held in Lafayette from 1 to 3:30 p.m., on Sundays, Feb. 14 and 28. Reservations are required. For info, contact jhkiefer@comcast.net.

SENIORS

“Mindful Aging at the Moraga Library – Introducton to Tai Chi for Better Balance” at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14. Cynthia Black, trained in Tai Chi for a better balance and certified in Chair Chi, a form of Tai Chi practiced from a chair will show participants how to improve their balance through Tai Chi. This program will meet in the La Sala Building at the Hacienda de Las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive.

As this new year begins you may be thinking of activities you would like to pursue. SIRs Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guest to socialize at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18 at our monthly luncheon at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive, and learn of membership activities which include book discussions, bridge, computers, dine-outs, dominoes, fishing, golf, hiking/walking, investments, poker, travel, wine tastings and more fun things. For more info about SIRs activities for retired men, visit www.Branch116.org. Please call (925) 322-1160 for lunch reservations.  Cost for lunch: $15.

Cooking Basics: Soups and Chowders with Mike Weller, Byron Park executive chef and former Le Cordon Bleu director of education from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26 at Byron Park, 1700 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. Who doesn’t love the smell of a hearty batch of soup simmering on the stovetop? These one-dish meals are the ultimate comfort food on a cold winter’s night. Come taste Chef Mike’s scrumptious recipes and watch as he demonstrates these easy-to-prepare soups and chowders. Space is limited; reservations required by Wednesday, Jan. 20. Call Lafayette Senior Services: (925) 284-5050. Cost: free for members; $10 non-members.

GARDEN

From the Ground Up - Enjoy your garden’s bounty around home and hearth. Reap the benefits of cultivating a garden with a series of inspired classes designed to make green thumbs blossom. The Gardens at Heather Farm’s Adult Education series, “From the Ground Up” continues in 2016 featuring practical lessons on developing gardens, then using the garden’s bounty to create table arrangements and specialties for the home and body. The first class begins Wednesday, Jan. 13. Visit www.gardenshf.org or call (925) 947-1678 for more information. Classes typically range from $15 to $30.

The Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center is accepting applications for individual or family memberships for the 2016 season. The season opening is March 12. If you are interested in getting more information, visit www.lafayettecommunitygarden.org. To apply for membership, download and fill out a membership form and send it to the address on the form. If membership is full, you will be put on a waiting list. For info, call (925) 946-0563.

The Lafayette Garden Club monthly meeting will feature speaker Shari Bashin-Sullivan, who will give a container planting demo/presentation and answer container gardening questions from 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. To see some of Bashin-Sullivan’s projects, visit www.enchantingplanting.com. For info, email cpoetzsch@gmail.com.

Montelindo Garden Club’s next meeting featuring speaker Sarah Malone, who will discuss Form and Foliage at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. Visitors welcome. For info, visit www.montelindogarden.com.

Mt Diablo Nursery Winter Pruning Class will provide an informative, interactive pruning demonstration of fruit trees, roses and perennials by an experienced nurseryman who will answer pruning questions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 at 3295 Mt Diablo Blvd Lafayette. Free. For info, visit mtdiablonursery.com or call (925) 283-3830.

The Moraga Garden Club will hold its general meeting at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 21 at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. Guest speaker will be Nicholas Staddon, director of new plants for Monrovia, who will give a presentation entitled, “The New American Garden.” Interested parties are welcome for the 9:30 a.m. social time, marketplace table and meeting at 10 a.m.

Winter Rose Pruning workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at McDonnell Nursery, 196 Moraga Way in Orinda.  To reserve a seat, call (925) 254-3713 or email info@mcdonnellnursery.com.