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 through March 19.

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.

“Two Painters” - An Exhibit featuring Deborah Kirklin and Robert Poplack at the Jennifer Perlmutter Gallery. Husband and wife, both professors of art and artists themselves, in their first show together – still life and abstract, separate in subject but joined by a lifelong partnership. The exhibit runs Feb. 13 through March 19, with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 and an Artist Talk and Q&A at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.

Opening Feb. 14 and continuing through April, the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art will feature the following exhibits:  “Environmental Impact,” William Keith, and “The Battle for Hetch Hetchy.” In addition, “Instagaels,” a student Instagram exhibition, displays the best photographs the student community has to offer, but also provokes fundamental discussions about the identity of art, while David Maxim’s “Points of View” explores the eternal mysteries of metaphorical meaning and ambiguity. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For info, visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.

Valley Art Gallery “Water Works” exhibit runs through Feb 16. Water in all its moods and forms, from drips and drops, rain, rivulets, streams, rivers and oceans, has always attracted the attention of artists. For info, visit www.valleyartgallery.org or call (925) 935-4311.

MUSIC

Discovering Opera: Bizet’s “Carmen,” presented by Bradford Wade, opera lover for 35 years from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 at the Lafayette Library, Arts and Science Room. Lecturer Bradford Wade will give a guided tour of Carmen, with a description of the plot interspersed with musical examples. This lecture is given in conjunction with Opera San Jose’s Feb. 13-28 production of “Carmen.” Members: free; non-Members: $10.

Enjoy another musically innovative and thrilling evening presented by the Piano Composers group of the Contra Costa Performing Arts Society at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at the Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. The event is co-sponsored by Friends of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center. Parking is easy and there is no charge. For info, visit www.ccpas.org.

Soprano Litz Plummer will sing the greatest opera arias of all time, live at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Rheem Theatre in Moraga. She will be performing music from Gianni Schicchi, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart and Carmen by Bizet, among others. Tickets ($20) are limited and recommended to purchase online at www.lamorindatheatres.com.

The senior ensemble at California Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) is holding a benefit dance show “Gladiator in a Tutu” to raise money for Camp Okizu (a camp for kids with cancer) from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 at Bentley school. Tickets are available at the door: $15 adults; $12 students.
Love jazz music, like “Cantaloupe Island” by Herbie Hancock or “There Will Never Be Another You” by Harry Warren?  Can’t get enough classical?  Local community members can listen to the musical styling’s of award-winning student jazz combos, a string quartet and a “little big band” as part of the second annual “Orchestra and Band on the Run” event at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lafayette. The event includes dinner, an auction and dancing afterward to music provided by D.J. Scott Haney.  Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets, www.2016orchestraandbandontherun.brownpapertickets.com.

The Welsh-American Society of Northern California will hold its annual Gymanfa Ganu - Hymn-Singing Festival - at Lafayette United Methodist Church from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. Everyone who loves music is invited to attend. A Te Bach (Little Tea) will follow the singing.

THEATER

Role Players Ensemble presents “Good People” by David Lindsay-Abaire. Quirky, unpredictable and grounded in a genuine humor that comes from hitting rock bottom, “Good People” will have you laughing one moment and crying the next as it explores the nature of our loyalties and our hopes. The show through Feb. 14 – 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at Village Theatre, 233 Front Street, Danville. Tickets: $20-28; online at www.RolePlayersEnsemble.com; at Danville Community Center, 420 Front St, Danville; or call (925) 314-3400.

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 show times and ticket prices. For info, contact the Town Hall Theatre Box Office at (925) 283-1557 or visit www.TownHallTheatre.com.

Solo Opera’s “The Computer Kid’s Magic Night” is a great show for the entire family! The show runs at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek at 7:30 p.m. March 4 and 2 p.m. March 5. Seating is reserved, group discounts are available. Tickets $25-$35. For tickets call (925) 943-7469; or visit the Lesher Center box office, or online at
https://lesherartscenter.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=412.  For more info, visit www.SoloOpera.org.

LECTURE & LITERATURE

Moraga Movers and the Moraga Library present “Book Talking” at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. This program will take place in the Mosaic Room at the Hacienda de Las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive. Joann Reid will discuss “In the Kingdom of Ice” by Hampton Sides. This hour-long program will consist of a brief book review, including critical viewpoints and key components of the book as well as time for discussion.

Lafayette author Jil Plummer will discuss and sign her new book, “Remember to Remember,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at Papillon cafe in Lafayette.  The book is a fictionalized story of Brenda Oum, Papillon’s owner, who as a 5-year-old survived the horrors of the killing fields in Cambodia.

“Auschwitz: A Survivor’s Tale.”  The Lafayette Library welcomes 94-year-old Auschwitz survivor, retired physician and lecturer Dora Sorell, author of “Tell the Children: Letters to Miriam,” told in the form of letters to her granddaughter about her experiences during World War II and losses during the Holocaust. This free program will be held at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 in the Community Hall. Register online at tinyurl.com/DoraSorell.
Zulu nurse and healthcare activist Sister Abegail Ntleko, author of “Empty Hands” and a recipient of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama’s Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award will be visiting from South Africa to share her incredible story of overcoming poverty, racism, and sexism to earn her education, and live a life in service to her community by adopting dozens of children orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic over the course of her 80 years. This free program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center in the Community Hall. Register online at tinyurl.com/EmptyHandsLAF.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre Docent Lecture of the world premiere of Aubergine by Julia Cho at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25. This program will take place in the Mosaic Room at the Hacienda de Las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive.

“Facing Life and Death: a film and discussion” at the Orinda Library at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 in the Garden Room. Death is a subject that much of modern western society prefers to avoid. Following the 26-minute film screening Dr. Peticolas will lead a moderated discussion where participants may share stories and listen to the stories of others. For info, visit www.secretsoflifeanddeath.com. Free. For more information, call the Orinda Library at (925) 254-2184. (See story page B6)

KIDS, PARENTS & TEENS

Lafayette Library and Learning Center presents Operation Gratitude from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 in the Arts and Science room. Share the love from Valentine’s Day! Make paracord bracelets and write letters for our United States Military serving abroad. Register online at tinyurl.com/LAFgratitude.

Magical Zoology Collage from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20 at uBe Art, 2507 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley. Create Magical Creatures using magazines and paper. What’s more fun than creating ‘Art’ while sipping wine with friends? All materials included. Cost: $29. For more info, visit http://www.ube-art.com or call (415) 515-8094 or email info@ube-art.com.

Practice SAT - The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship Committee has scheduled the second test for 8:30 a.m. check-in 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/.

Contra Costa Camp and School Fair – fourth annual free event with booths for camps, schools, preschool, daycare, STEM and STEAM programs, sports, martial arts, gymnastics, enrichment, performing arts, scouts and family vacations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb 21 at Acalanes High School, 1200 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lafayette. Free admission and parking. For info, visit www.ContraCostaCampFair.com.

Moraga Summer Camp Expo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5 at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive in Moraga.

The 30th session of the California State Summer School for the Arts seeks teen artists, writers and performers for summer 2016 (July 9 through Aug. 5 – four weeks of embracing creativity). Applications must be completed by Feb. 29. Financial aid available. For info, visit CSSSA.ca.gov.

OTHER

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 211 or visit www.earnitkeepitsaveit.org.

Get Your Ashes Downtown (Lafayette and Orinda BART stations) on Ash Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. Call Pastor Marylee (925) 789-7794 for the station/time most convenient for you.

The Valentine Kitties R Coming! Take a chance on love at Community Concern for Cats Special Valentine Adoption Weekend, Feb. 13-14. All kittens and cats are only $75, down from the usual price of $125, at Pet Food Express in Lafayette and Pleasant Hill, Petco in Walnut Creek. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. except Saturday in Lafayette when it’s noon to 3 p.m. For more info, visit www.communityconcernforcats.org.

On the Bayou/New Orleans Style dinner and silent auction at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 on the Saint Mary’s College campus in Moraga. Music will be provided by the “and that’s jazz” band from Alameda. The price for dinner and entertainment is $45 per person. For info, call (925) 254-3645.

Black History Month: freedom quilt craft and stories from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb 16. at the Moraga Library, 1500 St. Mary’s Road. For more info, call (925) 376-6852 or visit ccclib.org.

Celebrate Chinese New Year: Lion Dance performed by Contra Costa Chinese School at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Moraga Library, 1500 St. Mary’s Road. This free program is open to all ages, no registration necessary. For more info, call (925) 376-6852 or visit ccclib.org.

Contra Costa Living presents Solar Energy Seminar - Top 10 things to know before you install solar from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25 at Lafayette Veteran’s Memorial Center, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. You will learn about the top 10 things you must know before you invest in a solar energy system for your home. Free. For more info, visit https://10thingstoknowbeforeyoubuysolar.eventbrite.com or call (925) 297-5335 or email Pete@ContraCostaLiving.com.

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

Men “of a certain age” (semi- or fully-retired) are invited to hear a presentation from Linus Eukel who is the Director of the John Muir Land Trust during the SIRs regular lunch meeting at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga. SIRs welcomes new members. For details, visitwww.branch174.sirinc2.org or call Tyler at (925) 284-5561.

Sons In Retirement - Las Trampas Branch 116 welcomes guests to socialize at its monthly luncheon beginning at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15 at the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge, 1475 Creekside Drive. The speaker will be SIR Joel White, physician, who will explore the concept of shared-decision making in medicine in his presentation entitled, “What you need to know and do unless you are certain you will live forever.” The presentation will help attendees create better options and make choices that can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end. Please call (925) 322-1160 to make lunch reservations. Cost for lunch: $15.

Ready to give your brain a boost? Join author of “Strengthen Your Mind,” Kristin Einberger, for a workshop on the benefits of stimulating your brain and ways to strengthen your mind on Friday, Feb. 19 in Lafayette. You’ll be engaged in brain games and activities that will stimulate your mind, memories and senses. Workshop is open only to individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), early stage Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia, and their care partners. Cost: $15 per participant. Pre-screening is required. Exact time and location will be provided upon complete registration. For more information or to register, please contact Lan Trinh at 1-800-272-3900 or ltrinh@alz.org.

Mindful Aging at the Moraga Library: Aging in Place and Universal Design at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Robineve Cole, Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) will share how to remodel and prepare homes so they can be beautiful and practical as we age, as well as for family members of all sizes and abilities. Learn how to make changes big and small, on your own or with the assistance of a designer or builder, using Universal Design concepts.

GARDEN

The Moraga Garden Club meeting will be held at the Holy Trinity Church, 1700 School Street, Moraga, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. The speaker will be Linda Mizes, who will be giving a presentation entitled, “Habitat, It’s for the Birds, the Bees and It’s for Us.” Interested parties are welcome for the 9:30 a.m. social time, marketplace table and meeting at 10 a.m.

Montelindo Garden Club meeting will be at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 19 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 66 St. Stephens Drive, Orinda. Visitors welcome. Presentation: “Incorporating Succulents Into Everyday Garden” by Rebecca Sweet, owner of the garden design company Harmony in the Garden, author, and speaker.

Registration for the Sunday, May 1 Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is now open! This year’s tour will fill; register now to reserve your place. A variety of bird- and butterfly-friendly, pesticide-free, water conserving, low maintenance gardens that contain 60 percent or more native plants will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 1 at various locations throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties. More than 40 garden talks will be scheduled throughout the day. For info, visit http://www.bringingbackthenatives.net/registration-p1.